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TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 • 23 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6694 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Message from UAE Job loss fears Advisory Council among Filipino engineers urges govt to baseless: Official develop villages By Raynald C Rivera DOHA: A Filipino official has allayed fears over reports that thousands of Filipino engineers The Council is of the view that and architects might lose their Move to stem these inhabitants be not only given jobs for not meeting the deadline ownership documents of the land to comply with requirements of migration to they are occupying but their chil- Qatar’s Urban Planning and Devel- congested cities and dren be allotted plots to encourage opment Authority (UPDA). them to continue to live there. Patricia B Licuanan, Chairper- towns Council members argue that son of the Commission on Higher people living in villages have been Education (CHED) of the Philip- doing so for a long time and brav- Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday pines said yesterday: “There is no ing all kinds of challenges and received a written message from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the United Arab real crisis. People are not about to The Peninsula odds in the absence of basic needs Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan. UAE Ambassador to Qatar, Saleh bin Mohammed Al lose their jobs.” like water and electricity and their Licuanan along with Profes- Amri, delivered the message on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest to the Prime Minister. ancestors have undergone immense sional Regulation Commission sufferings. (PRC) acting chairperson Ange- DOHA: The Advisory Council has The Council members, there- line T Chua Chiaco yesterday urged the government to develop the fore, want basic infrastructure like concluded their visit to Qatar dur- country’s rural areas and provide road, sewage, water and electric- ing which they met with officials needed infrastructure and services. ity networks as well as schools and of UPDA and Qatar’s Minister of This is to be done to make sure primary healthcare centres and No Zika case in Qatar: Ministry Education and Higher Education. that the people living there do not shopping complexes to be built in “The purpose of our visit was feel the need to migrate to congested these remote areas as part of an primarily to pursue possible meas- urban centres. extensive rural development plan. ures to help Filipino professionals, The villages, once fully The Council has been discuss- The Peninsula expatriates to postpone non-essen- pants, socks, and tents). Travellers specifically engineers and archi- developed, could also provide ing this proposal for a long time tial trips to the 24 affected countries. must sleep in screened-in or air-con- tects, who are now required to opportunities to locals to build and its services committee has held The advisory applies especially to ditioned rooms. register with the UPDA and we homes for living and renting out. three meetings to debate the issue pregnant women who are more vul- The ministry said that it is work- wanted to explore ways of coun- At its regular weekly meeting at length. After this, it has come out DOHA: The Ministry of Public Health nerable to the virus. ing closely with the WHO EMRO teracting the downgrading of our yesterday, the Council decided to with concrete proposals. said yesterday that no case of Zika Women who plan to become office to ensure that all needed steps Bachelor’s degree to a diploma.” recommend to the Cabinet plans to When the Council initially made virus has been detected in the coun- pregnant in the near future have also are taken. All expatriate engineers and develop the villages in the country’s this proposal to the government, the try till now. However, the health been advised to delay their travel to Zika virus infection is a mild architects are required to register interior. then Minister of Municipality and sector has been alerted to be ready to affected areas. febrile viral illness transmitted to with UPDA which issues equiva- One of the key recommendations Urban Planning was invited to one deal with any suspected case among Zika virus is transmitted by mos- people through the bite of an infected lency certificates to enable them of the Council is that those who have of its sessions to shed light on the travellers retuning from affected quitoes mostly active during daytime. mosquito from the Aedes genus, to legally practise their profession. been living in the remote villages be issue. countries. It’s important that all travellers vis- mainly Aedes aegypti in tropical During the implementation of given land ownership documents. The then minister (H E Sheikh The Aedes aegypti mosquito that iting affected areas continue to take regions. The most common symptoms the law, however, it was discovered This would help clear legal hin- Abdulrahman bin Khalifa Al Thani) transmits the virus is not present in protective measures to prevent mos- of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, or that the Philippine basic educa- drances in the way of developing had said that the government had Qatar. Further studies are however quito bites through the day. conjunctivitis (red eyes). Other com- tion system is two year short of the Qatari villages. actually made a lot of progress in its going on, said the ministry. The precautions include wear- mon symptoms of the infection that regular cycle, hence the Bachelor’s In the good old days, there was rural development plans and even Although the World Health ing long-sleeve shirts and trousers, has drawn global headlines include degree was considered equivalent no system to register homes and made designs of some outer areas. Organisation (WHO) has not pro- using insect repellents and mosquito muscle pain and headache. to a diploma. farmhouses in the remote villages, posed any travel restrictions, the nets and wearing permethrin-treated so people have just been living there. → Continued on page 6 ministry has advised all citizens and clothing and gear (such as boots, → Continued on page 6 → Continued on page 6

Over 63,000 Push for presidency visited Britain New irrigation system from Qatar in saves half the water nine months The Peninsula technical team is currently devel- oping the scientific method of The Peninsula experiment to be implemented soon. DOHA: A new irrigation system has The pilot project tested the been accredited by the Department quantity of water used in the new DOHA: Over 63,000 visitors from of Public Parks at the Ministry of public realm guidelines and then Qatar visited UK between January Municipality and Environment after the quantity specified by the tech- and September 2015, of which 46 being tested for over 15 months. It nical committee of the public parks percent were Qataris, a top official uses half the water traditional irri- for (park) irrigation showed differ- of ‘VisitBritain’ campaign has said. gation systems consume. ences in the consumption levels by The numbers show a sharp The implementation of the 50 percent. jump of over 33 percent compared system took 15 months — from The technical team has devel- to the same period in the previous September 2014 to December 2015 — oped a daily monitoring system for year, said the official. the Ministry said in a press release follow-up of the plants, including Sumathi Ramanathan, yesterday. different types of trees, flowers and Regional General Manager (Asia- While saving 50 percent of other fauna to see their response to Pacific and Middle East) region, water, the new system helps in keep- the quantity of water used. The team said ‘visitor-spent’ for Qataris to ing the plants healthy and green documented that through the Cen- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines, the UK was £123m (about QR643m) while ensuring good level of growth, tral Irrigation System. for the first nine months of last Iowa, before the much anticipated state Iowa caucuses. US presidential candidates made a frenzied, said the press statement. The result was positive, and year, up about 19pc compared to final push to lock in Iowa voters on the eve of the first nominating contest of the 2016 election season. This new irrigation system is set accordingly the department has → See also page 19 the same period last year. to be proposed as the standard one accredited the system so that it can Qatar and UK have been for all government bodies that rely be used in the government’s green- working closely to deepen ties. on irrigation. The department also ery and beautification projects. According to the British Ambassa- pointed out that the standardisation The ministry said this outcome dor to Qatar, Ajay Sharma, Qatar’s and specifications related to con- will help expand green areas and investments in the UK touched struction will be amended, namely, plantations and will have a posi- about £30bn (over QR156bn), Israel-Palestine stalemate worries UN chief Chapter 28 regarding public parks. tive impact on the environment and which includes real estate, stakes Following the success of this combat desertification. in companies, hotels and hospi- project, the Department of Pub- The technical committee has tality sector. The bilateral trade Reuters reaching the point of no return for a published in the New York Times late lic Parks is planning to conduct recommended new designs for the value for 2015 stood at £5bn two-state solution. on Sunday. “Keeping another people experiments on current water con- irrigation networks and to increase (QR26.13bn). Qatar Airways yester- “The time has come for Israelis, under indefinite occupation under- sumption patterns by enriching soil the size of the current main water day announced it will start flying UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary- Palestinians and the international mines the security and the future of texture and improving its properties, pipes by more than 0.75pc to assure to Birmingham from March 30. General Ban Ki-moon is concerned community to read the writing on both Israelis and Palestinians.” in addition to linking the irrigation the possibility of pumping more a stalemate in the peace process the wall: The status quo is untena- system to the weather station. water in case of emergency, espe- → See also page 3 between Israel and Palestinians is ble,” Ban wrote in an opinion piece → See also page 7 The ministry emphasised that a cially during hot summer months. 02 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME Career Fair opens at HBKU Student Centre

finance, media, oil and gas, technol- Students from ogy, education and research, with several employers inviting students Education City to take part in on site interviews and campuses are company sessions. The fair was officially inaugu- meeting more rated yesterday by Maryam Hamad than 100 potential Al Mannai, Vice-President, Student employers from six Affairs, HBKU, and Adam Al Saadi, Director, the HBKU Career Develop- sectors to explore ment Centre. career paths as The event is organised in collabo- ration with Virginia Commonwealth they determine how University in Qatar, Weill Cornell best to apply the Medicine-Qatar, Texas A&M Uni- versity at Qatar, Carnegie Mellon knowledge and skills University in Qatar (CMU-Q), Geor- they have gained getown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Northwestern Uni- during their study versity in Qatar, HEC Paris in Qatar and UCL Qatar. “HBKU and the other universi- ties within Education City continue By Fazeena Saleem to graduate ambitious, innovative and The Peninsula hard-working students. By helping facilitate conversations with potential employers at the fair, HBKU hopes to help its students find career opportu- DOHA: Students from Education City nities where they can put into practice campuses are meeting more than 100 what they learn at the university and potential employers from six sectors at thrive,” said Al Mannai. a unique career fair to explore career Alham Al Hajaji, Head, Educa- paths as they determine how best to tion City Career Fair committee, said, apply the knowledge and skills they “The main idea of the fair is to bring have gained during their study. the universities together. Hamad Bin Khalifa University “Last year was a huge success as (HBKU), of Qatar Foundation (QF) is more than 1,000 students and their hosting the second joint two-day Edu- alumni attended. We had almost 93 Maryam Hamad Al Mannai, Vice-President, Student Affairs, HBKU, and Adam Al Saadi, Director, HBKU Career Development Centre, tour the fair cation City Career Fair at the HBKU companies at the fair. This year we after its official inauguration yesterday.Pic: Abdul / The Peninsula Student Centre. have 100 companies and nine uni- The fair offers students and versities at the fair, along with six alumni from universities across Edu- sectors.” everyone is doing different things.” internships and permanent posi- excellent opportunity for senior stu- computer engineering student at cation City an opportunity to meet On career path interest of Qatari More than 600 students and tions at a wide range of government dents and graduates to match their HBKU, said, “I’m not sure what I want representatives of local, regional youth at the fair, Al Hajaji said, “Ear- alumni attended the fair yesterday, entities, non-profit organisations and skills to the market, and it is also help- to do after I graduate, but I think after and international companies and lier many females were interested in and similar numbers are expected private sector companies. ful for students who may be looking visiting this fair, I’ll have a clearer idea organisations. business studies and males in engi- today. Attendees are able to gather Asma Al Mohannadi, a member of to pursue internships.” about my future.” The fair is Spon- The sectors represented include neering, but now things have changed, information about available CMU-Q Class of 2015, said, “ It is an Bashayer Al Mohammed, a sored by Qatar Shell.

FM holds talks QRCS to build ‘Bin Sraiya Charitable Town’ for displaced Syrians with Syrian opposition chief The Peninsula

QNA

DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) will set up ‘Bin Sraiya Charita- DOHA: Foreign Minister H E ble Town’ for 1,600 displaced Syrians Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdurrah- with a QR4.28m donation from Qatari man Al Thani yesterday met Riyad businessman Nasser Rashid bin Sraiya Hijab, General Coordinator of the Al Kaabi. High Negotiations Committee and The donation is in support of the other HNC delegates representing ‘Honourable Life,’ a development the Syrian opposition. project initiated by QRCS to provide Talks dealt with latest devel- adequate housing to Syrian families opments in Syria, particularly as protection against the cold weather. negotiations in Geneva, and the The donation will be used to deterioration of humanitarian establish the town to be built in the conditions in many cities under same manner as the clay houses siege by the Syrian regime. completed by QRCS in Afes in Idlib countryside, using clay blocks from the natural environment in Syria. The new project involves building Qatar-Canada 200 60sqm clay houses with complete Some of the clay houses completed by QRCS in Afes in Idlib countryside, using clay blocks from the natural environment in Syria. infrastructure — water supply, surface ties reviewed water well, tank, sewerage network, power supply, roads, land levelling, works is estimated at over QR1.93m. activation of the trade and economic of QR866,739. The phase involved preparation, infrastructure and utili- and gardens. This part of the project The project is expected to serve activity, as well as camp residents building 100 clay houses with water, ties. QRCS is preparing for the second DOHA: Minister of Awqaf and will cost over QR2.34m. 200 families (1,600 people) with who will have more access to the sewage, electricity, roads and gardens phase, which involves building 2,000 Islamic Affairs H E Dr Ghaith bin The project also includes a school widows, orphans and people with dis- available health and other human- for 100 families (600 people). clay houses this year in several towns Mubarak Al Kuwari yesterday met to be operated for one year, bakery, abilities living in makeshift camps in itarian services. Each 36sqm house consists of of Aleppo and Idlib countryside, with Canadian Ambassador Adrian health centre, workshop for widows, the district. QRCS has handed over the first two rooms, a reception hall, one new design and execution techniques Norfolk and discussed with him market, two mosques, and solid waste Also, there will be thousands batch of clay houses for 100 fam- kitchen and one bathroom and cost to make use of site-specific advan- cooperation and matters of com- removal system. The cost of these of indirect beneficiaries from the ilies (600 people) in Afes at a cost QR6,100 apart from the cost of land tages and better equipment. mon interest.

Ashghal opens Jerayan Nejaima Intersection Qatar attends Cairo meeting

QNA headquarters in the Egyptian cap- The Peninsula ital yesterday. The two-day meeting is dis- CAIRO: Qatar is taking part cussing the statute and internal in a meeting of Arab govern- regulations for the standing tech- DOHA: The Public Works Author- ment delegations tasked with nical committee for intellectual ity (Ashghal) opened the Jerayan the establishment of a perma- property and will brief the next Nejaima Intersection near the nent commission on intellectual session of the economic and social North Atlantic College of Qatar, property that began at the Arab council at the ministerial level on in all directions, on Sunday. League’s General Secretariat its adoption. Some pavement and util- ities installation works are in progress on the roads leading to Envoy presents credentials to Ghani the intersection. The opening of the intersection KABUL: Afghanistan President further progress and prosperity will contribute to easing traffic to Dr Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to the government and people and from the nearby universities received the credentials of Qatar’s of Afghanistan. Ghani entrusted and schools in the area, given the Non-Resident Ambassador Al Mansouri to convey his greet- usual congestion at peak hours. Extraordinary and Plenipoten- ings to the Emir and his wishes of The opening is part of a project tiary to Afghanistan Saqr bin further prosperity and progress to develop roads surrounding Mubarak Al Mansouri. to the Qatari people. The presi- the camp in Al Duhail and Ash- The ambassador con- dent also wished the ambassador ghal’s efforts to enhance traffic veyed greetings of Emir H H success in his new posting in sup- and ease congestion across the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al porting and enhancing relations country by converting several Thani to Ghani, wishes of best and cooperation between Qatar roundabouts into signal-control- of health and happiness and and Afghanistan. A part of the Jerayan Nejaima Intersection. led intersections. HOME TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 03 Qatar Healthcare STEAM Fair winners in Intel contest Council awards their talent on a global stage,” said Eight students Dr Dirar Khoury, Executive Direc- tor, Research Coordination and represent Qatar in the Special Initiatives, and Acting Exec- accreditation to Sidra four-day sixth Intel utive Director, Education, Training and Development, Qatar Foundation International Science Research & Development (QF R&D). The Peninsula recent celebration with the council. Competition Arab Qatar STEAM is gearing up for the “Receiving the accreditation is second edition of its annual compe- an honour and is due to the collec- World in Alexandria, tition as the February 11 deadline tive effort of the Sidra community Egypt for submission of research abstracts DOHA: Sidra Medical and Research and the assistance of the council’s approaches. The second edition will Centre (Sidra) has been awarded Accreditation Department.” be held from March 8 to 10. accreditation by Qatar Council for Dr Al Kaabi thanked Sidra phy- Through collaboration, QF R&D, Healthcare Practitioners. sicians, nurses, pharmacists, allied The Peninsula Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) The accreditation is important as health practitioners and adminis- and the Supreme Education Council Sidra is now accredited as a Contin- trators who spent hours to build the (SEC) are responsible for organis- uing Medical Education/Continuing CME/CPD infrastructure. ing Qatar STEAM event. So far, 220 Professional Development (CME/ He also acknowledged those who DOHA: The 2015 Qatar Science, research plans have been submit- CPD) Provider. planned and implemented quality Technology, Engineering, Art and ted to the judging panel, more than The healthcare practice is con- CME/CPD educational activities used Math Fair (Qatar STEAM Fair) win- double compared with 80 abstracts stantly changing. There are new as evidence to support the council in ners recently represented Qatar at last year. developments in all fields that its accreditation application. the sixth Intel International Science The nationwide competition will require practitioners to participate Dr Samar Aboulsoud, Acting CEO Competition Arab World in Alexan- see students from secondary schools in learning to update their practice. of the council, congratulated Sidra dria, Egypt. compete for awards in various sci- As part of the National Health on its accreditation. The four-day competition brought entific categories. It encourages Strategy, the council instituted man- She acknowledged Sidra’s together 130 students from 11 Arab creativity with scientific inquiry and datory CME/CPD requirements for all commitment to provide quality countries to compete for $20,000 in enables students to develop skills to healthcare practitioners licensed in healthcare and continuing educa- prize money. succeed in the field of science. the country. CME/CPD is the proc- tion for healthcare practitioners in Hussam Aitel Qadi, who won Qatar STEAM 2015 winners at the Intel ISEF, the world’s largest Winners of Qatar STEAM Fair will ess by which healthcare providers Qatar and said she is looking for- the top prize at Qatar STEAM for his international pre-college science competition. get the chance to represent Qatar at are engaged in continuous learning ward to the CPD/CME opportunities research project, ‘Innovative Game the 2016 edition of Intel ISEF in and stay abreast of new knowledge, Sidra will offer to staff and the wider Software for Improving the English May in the US and Intel Arab Fair in skills and professional attributes that healthcare community in Qatar. Language Skills of Non-Native Speak- interact with other people equally submitted their research projects to December. enable them to provide the highest Sidra is one of four institutions ers’, was among eight students who passionate about research.” doctoral level scientists for review, By engaging budding young sci- quality patient care. which participated in the council represented Qatar in the Intel Arab Last May, five winning teams showcasing their innovative research entists who will be part of the next Following the accreditation, and college’s Pilot Programme for fair in Egypt. from Qatar STEAM joined more and competing for prizes worth more generation of Qataris and help- Sidra is eligible to provide CME/ new and more stringent standards Qadi said, “It was incredible to than 1,700 high school students from than $5m. ing them lead the country towards CPD credits according to stand- and criteria. be introduced to the amount of inno- over 70 countries at the Intel ISEF in “Prestigious regional and interna- its vision of becoming a knowl- ards and criteria set by the council Sidra is committed to be a vative research being conducted in Pittsburgh, US, the world’s largest tional scientific competitions such as edge-based economy, Qatar STEAM and the Royal College of Canada groundbreaking hospital, research the Arab world. Participating in the international pre-college science Intel Arab and Intel ISEF are geared Fair supports QF’s mission to build International. and education institution, focus- competition taught me how crucial competition. towards creating excitement in sci- and develop the country’s capacity Dr Abdulla Al Kaabi, Acting Chief ing on the health and wellbeing of research is in improving the lives of The event brought together the ence and a culture of research among for creativity and critical thinking Medical Officer, Sidra, praised the children and women regionally and people and society. world’s top young scientific minds, the nation’s youth, while offering through research in education and centre’s accreditation team during a globally. “It was an honour to meet and including Qatari students who them the opportunity to showcase science. Qatar Airways to start Birmingham flights from March 30

London has been the focal point of QA’s concentrations. QA has been consistently increasing frequencies and investing more resources to enhance its product and serv- ices. It operates six daily flights to London with the state-of-the-art equipment . “Our A380 operations to London with triple configuration (First, Business and Economy classes) along with 777 and 787 operations (with twin-cabin configuration) has helped us boost the number of passen- gers on the route,” Waqas said. “In 2014, we announced our operations to Edinburgh (the capital city of Scotland), which has proven to be one of those inspiring tourist destinations, providing us with a platform to enhance our traffic numbers.” Recently QA increased frequencies to Muhammad Waqas, Sales Manager, QA, Manchester, a very high revenue generat- speaking at the launch of ‘VisitBritain’ ing market, with double-daily flights (787) campaign. as it also caters to tourist traffic.

British Ambassador to Qatar Ajay Sharma (centre); Sumathi Ramanathan (right), Regional General Manager, VisitBritain (Asia Pacific and Middle East); Christina Bruns (left), Manager (GCC), VisitBritain; and senior representatives of the Qatar-based Social Media Influencer Khalifa Haroon (second left) and Hamad Al Amarai pose for a group picture after the event. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula

By Mohammad Shoeb Birmingham, a major city in England’s West being a high yielding market, has been of great The Peninsula Midlands region, taking the total weekly fre- importance to our airline. We have been expe- quencies to the UK to over 65. riencing a double-digit growth (year-on-year) “Britain being one of the most preferred in the number of passengers.” destinations of our customers, we are going The ceremony at Grand Hyatt hotels was DOHA: With the rising number of tourists to start multicity operations in the country. opened by British Ambassador Ajay Sharma. visiting the UK, Qatar Airways (QA) yesterday Our services to Birmingham start on March 30, Also present were Christina Bruns, Manager announced that it would begin operations to providing our customers with more options,” (GCC), VisitBritain, and senior representatives Birmingham, the airline’s fourth gateway to said Muhammad Waqas, Sales Manager, QA. from Social Media Influencer Khalifa Haroon the UK, from March 30. Waqas was speaking at the launch of and Hamad Al Amarai, also a leading Qatari There will be four weekly services to the ‘VisitBritain’ campaign in Qatar. “Britain comedian. Ooredoo enhances online customer service

The Peninsula control over their services and dedicated customer service pro- registered, they can log in to find expand Ooredoo’s digital universe file on Twitter. registered services, including the programme, will provide the eas- The profile, which will be Online Support Service. iest and fastest way for customers managed by the customer service Customers who don’t have DOHA: Ooredoo has launched to interact with Ooredoo. team, aims to provide quick and a My Ooredoo account can also a new service on its popular ‘My Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, effective feedback to customers raise and view issue tickets online Ooredoo’ website portal, which Director, Community & Public online and help support the influx using the service via the ‘My Oore- gives customers a dedicated place Relations, Ooredoo, said: “We of feedback received daily via the doo’ website portal. ‘My Ooredoo’ to contact the company, register wanted to give our customers a company’s social media accounts. enables Hala and Shahry cus- issues and receive feedback. dedicated hub to contact us since “More and more of our cus- tomers to monitor their bills and Recognising the growing increasingly people look for sup- tomers want to be able to contact subscribe to post-paid and pre- demand for social media response, port and services online. us on-the-go and wherever they paid services wherever they are the company has also launched a “With the launch of this serv- are in the world. in the world, via laptop, desktop, dedicated @OoredooCare Twit- ice, customers will be able to “@OoredooCare will offer a tablet or smartphone. ter profile. contact a dedicated team mem- dedicated space for people to ask Ooredoo continues to innovate The new ‘Online Support ber, who will be responsible for us questions, tweet concerns or in the ways it supports the cus- Service’ will enable customers to answering questions and resolving find out about a service from their tomer experience online. In 2014, submit any issues and receive eas- problems. This will deliver a faster phones,” Al Kuwari added. it launched ‘Ooredoo Community’, ily-tracked ticket numbers from response to customers and ensure To take full advantage of the a space for customers to ask and the customer support team. a better overall experience.” new ‘My Ooredoo’ feature, cus- answer questions about services The feature, which has been Ooredoo’s new social media tomers should register for a My and technical issues with a com- launched to give customers more account @OoredooCare, is a Ooredoo account. If they are munity of members. 04 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME HMC receives ANCC re-accreditation with distinction

The Peninsula It places HMC among an elite class of health- high-quality continuing education programmes HMC among the top 10 percent of organisations care organisations and demonstrates the and ANCC accreditation demonstrates that HMC worldwide to receive the honour; only organisa- Ministry recalls importance placed on supporting clinical staff has met comprehensive, evidenced-based crite- tions that demonstrate zero deficiencies achieve by providing high-quality professional devel- ria centred on international standards. accreditation with distinction. HMC’s re-accred- 2005-2010 DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has opment opportunities. “It signals our commitment to develop well- itation is valid for four years. earned re-accreditation as a provider for Contin- Professor Ann Marie Cannaby, Chief Nursing trained clinical staff prepared to practice at the Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review Toyota models uing Professional Development (CPD) from the Officer, HMC, said the department under- highest standards,” said Professor Cannaby. process to strengthen and sustain the qual- American Nursing Credentialing Centre (ANCC). went an extensive evaluation prior to receiving She said earning this level of accreditation ity and integrity of continuing nursing Doha: The Ministry of The accreditation distinguishes organisa- re-accreditation. not only speaks of the high-quality continuing education through defining standards for high Economy and Com- tions that demonstrate quality and excellence She said the accreditation validates a com- education activities HMC certifies, but also hard performance. merce, in collaboration in the design and delivery of continuing nurs- mitment to provide access to the highest calibre work and expertise of the department. The ANCC, a subsidiary of the American with Abdullah Abdulghani ing education. of continuing nursing education. In February 2014, HMC became the first Nurses Association, is the world’s largest and & Bros Co W.L.L, dealer Re-accreditation was obtained with dis- “To be re-accredited with distinction is a tre- organisation in the GCC and third in the Middle most prestigious nurse credentialing organisa- of Toyota vehicles, has tinction by the Department of Nursing and mendous accomplishment and a great source of East to be accredited as a provider of continu- tion. Its internationally renowned credentialing announced the recall Midwifery Education and Research and sup- pride for our nurses and midwives. ing nursing education by ANCC. programmes certify nurses in speciality prac- of Toyota Yaris, Corolla, ported through the Academic Health System. “We are committed to providing Re-accreditation with distinction places tice areas. Rav4, Sequoia and Camry models of 2005-2010 due to a defect in the power window master switch. The ministry said the recall is within the framework of its efforts British minister visits Qatar Charity to protect consumers and ensure car dealers fol- low up on vehicle defects and repairs. The minis- try said it will coordinate with the dealer to fol- Talks deal with low up on maintenance cooperation on and repairs and commu- nicate with customers to humanitarian work in ensure repairs are carried various fields out. It urged customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud DOHA: A delegation from the Department through hot- Department for British International line: 16001; email: info@ Development visited Qatar Char- mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @ ity recently to discuss humanitarian MEC_Qatar; Instagram: work in various fields. MEC_Qatar; and its mobile Minister of International Devel- app for Android and IOS: opment Desmond Swayne, led the MEC_Qatar delegation which included Jessica Ervin, DFID Representative - Gulf States; Ajay Sharma, Britsh Ambassa- Qatar-Tunisia dor to Qatar; Yousef Isma’il, Secretary for Politics, Economics and Energy at ties discussed the British embassy in Qatar; and Ollie Sharp, Secretary at the department. Desmond Swayne, British Minister of International Development, and his delegation with Qatar Charity officials. Tunis: Tunisian Finance The delegation was received by Minister Salim Shaker Yousef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, CEO, field of international humanitarian development agencies and organisa- convention in Yemen from February delivered, highlighting QC, its efforts yesterday met Qatari QC; Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamedi, work, and hoped that such bestowal tions active in the humanitarian field. 22 to 24 in coordination with its part- and its favoured position among inter- Ambassador Abdullah Director of Operations for Interna- that reflects Qatar’s bright side would This keenness, he said, stems ners and regional and international national humanitarian organisations. bin Nasser Al Hamidi and tional Development; and Jasim Al continue. from QC’s keenness to alleviate the humanitarian organisations. Al Kuwari presented a memorial discussed cooperation Najmawi, Director of Monitoring Al Kuwari welcomed Swayne suffering of the people affected by He also stressed the keenness of shield to Swayne. Swayne invited QC between both countries and Evaluation Unit in International and his delegation and stressed that humanitarian crises around the the department to participate in the to visit the department in Britain and and means of enhancing Development. QC has a great desire to cooperate world, especially in Syria and Yemen. convention. hold talks on cooperation and coor- them. Swayne praised QC’s role in the and coordinate with international He said QC is organising a A short presentation was dination in various fields. Al Fakhoora’s Dynamic Futures Programme hugely successful in Gaza

The Peninsula gramme (UNDP). The report showcases A total of 580 students have ben- the outstanding results achieved impact- efitted from the Fakhoora Scholarship ing the lives of Palestinian youth in terms programme, including a balanced male/ of interpersonal skills and employment female representation of 550 undergrad- DOHA: Al Fakhoora, a programme of opportunities. uates and 30 graduate students. Education Above All Foundation, yester- The most significant outcome of the Participants engaged in life skills day unveiled an Impact Assessment of programme is the economic empower- training and volunteering activities and the Dynamic Futures Programme active ment given to Palestinian youth: 73 percent said they felt an increase in self-confi- in Gaza since 2009 in partnership with of alumni were able to obtain short- and dence and a strong sense of pride. the United Nations Development Pro- long-term job opportunities. They also said they had developed skills in communicating with and lead- ing others. One student highlighted the bene- fits of the programme and said it helped “break the barriers of fear, shame, con- fusion and lack of personal skills and self-confidence”. Farooq Burney, Director, Al Fakhoora, said: “The programme empowers Pal- estinian youth to become leaders of their communities and globally through education. “We are proud to see the direct impact of our academic programmes and train- ing on the lives of youth in Gaza. “The results unveiled today are very rewarding and encouraging. We will con- tinue our efforts to support the education Some of the beneficiaries of the programme. sector in the Gaza Strip.” The report takes a holistic approach to assessing progress over the past five years of the programme, tak- ing into account responses from former participants, participating educational institutions, implementing partners and other stakeholders. The key quantitative and qualitative results high- lighted speak for themselves: Evaluation of quality of education: 214 participants have completed academic programmes; 75 percent of students achieved a GPA range between outstanding and very good; high GPAs are partly due to the secu- rity felt by students, allowing them to concentrate on their education; 21 classrooms benefitted from new IT equipment; 42 academic staff were trained with four courses and 140 hours of instruction; Evaluation of student affairs: 82 percent of students are satisfied by the services provided by student affairs managed by Al Fakhoora house. Evaluation of leadership development: 90 percent of students think the programme helped them highly value the importance of voluntary work, particularly needed in a context like Gaza; As a result, 44 percent of students are involved in community services; the Vir- tual Majlis experience was a lifetime experience for 80 percent of Gazan youth. The Dynamic Futures project aims to provide 1,000 scholarships by 2016 and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People. HOME TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 05 2022 ‘source of pride for everyone in Arab world’

Arabia for the world’s biggest football tour- the SC to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup one nament, Hussein said: “If you started selling with a legacy for the people of the region. “If you started selling tickets for the 2022 World Cup now, they’d “Previously, for us the World Cup was just tickets for the 2022 sell out in a matter of hours.” a series of matches we’d watch on television. He also spoke about the passion for the But after our dream of hosting a World Cup World Cup now, they’d World Cup in the Arab world, saying: “There’s in the region became reality, we will now sell out in a matter of tremendous enthusiasm for the World Cup.” see matches in Doha. Any fan who so wishes hours,” says Saudi actor One of the leading media personalities in can see more than one match every day. Fans Saudi Arabia, Hussein has worked as a jour- from the Gulf and the rest of the Arab world Omar Hussein nalist, writer, actor and a stand-up comedian will get to meet international stars.” and is the most viewed Saudi media person- The Saudi comedian said teams from ality on social media, with 20 million page the region could put on a strong showing in visits in one year. Doha. “We’ve managed to bring the World The Peninsula He is also ranked the 10th most influ- Cup to the region and by that same logic we ential media personality in the Arab world. can win. No one is better than anyone else so Hussein told www.sc.qa that prepara- long as we have the opportunity to train our tions for the tournament have made him teams to international standards. We can get DOHA: During his recent visit to Qatar, optimistic about the future. “This work shows real results by training early and systemat- famous Saudi actor and journalist Omar how serious and ambitious the Qatari lead- ically. Nothing is impossible in the world of Hussein made a stopover at the Supreme ership is. The same seriousness and ambition football.” He also talked about Saudi football Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) head- was the reason why Qatar won the rights to and the country’s chances of participating quarters and put into words exactly what it host the World Cup in 2022, becoming the in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “I think Saudi means for the Arab world to have the 2022 first country in the Gulf and the Middle East Arabia will qualify for 2022. The fans won’t FIFA World Cup Qatar within such close to do so. This is a source of pride for every- forgive the team if they don’t qualify for a Saudi actor, journalist, comedian and media personality Omar Hussein during his visit proximity. one in the region,” he added. World Cup hosted in their second homeland to the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) headquarters. Asked about the excitement felt in Saudi Hussein also praised the steps taken by – Qatar.”

Mercury could drop below 10 Katara beach at night degrees over next two days

The Peninsula minimum temperature in Doha in The conditions will be too windy February is 14.4 degrees C. The aver- on Thursday as northwesterly wind age maximum during this month of may initially move at speeds of 15 to the year in the city is 23.4 degrees C, 25 knots an hour, becoming gusty at DOHA: The mercury could drop said the special bulletin. times and moving at 35 knots in the below 10 degrees Celsius at night in The temperatures forecast for the day. northern, southern and some other five days, from today until Saturday, A sea warning will, therefore, be open areas of the country over the are normal averages for this time of in effect from tomorrow until mid- next two days. the year, said the bulletin. Friday when high waves may range The weather will, though, be The weather is expected to from five to eight feet high, rising up mild during the day in these areas become partly cloudy to cloudy to 12 feet high in some places. and some areas could witness iso- tomorrow due to the passage of a Meanwhile, the previous night lated, light rains tomorrow. cold air mass in the upper levels of was cold and in many places like Al The illuminated Katara beach last night. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula However, from today until Sat- the atmosphere with chances of iso- Wakrah and Messaieed the mercury urday, nightly temperatures in other lated light rains in some parts. fell to 10 degrees C. parts of the country are expected to A ridge of high pressure extend- In Doha it was 13, 11 in Al Khor, average between 12 and 14 degrees C. ing from northwestern Arabian 16 in Al Ruwais, 15 in Dukhan and 11 Day temperatures will be mod- Peninsula is expected to affect the degrees C in Abu Samra. erate and vary between 21 and 24 country by mid-day tomorrow. Day temperatures have been degrees C on average during these The high pressure will be accom- forecast for today at between 18 and five days, says the weather bureau. panied by northwesterly moderate to 22 degrees C. In Doha, the day tem- In a special bulletin issued yes- fresh winds inshore becoming strong perature forecast is 22 degrees C, said terday the bureau said the average over all areas on Thursday. the weather bureau’s special bulletin.

Nairobi National Dance Ensemble performs

The Nairobi National Dance Ensemble performs at Katara as part of Cultural Diversity festivities organised by the Unesco office in Doha and Cultural Village Foundation- Katara. Pic: Baher / The Peninsula.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds unveils ‘Hearts of Love’ jewellery collection

The Peninsula in different colours like white gold, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is also yellow gold and rose gold at a spe- showcasing a collection of unique cial promotional price of QR1,850. designs in gold and diamond jewel- The chain has also unveiled lery from Italy, Turkey, Bahrain and DOHA: Malabar Gold & Diamonds limited edition of twin-heart and tri- India to suit the tastes and budget of has launched a special edition of dia- ple-heart pendants sparkling with customers, who can also choose gifts mond-studded jewellery collection diamonds ranging from QR650 to for their loved ones from the branded named ‘Hearts of Love’ to celebrate QR2,650. jewellery segment that includes Era the season of love. It is also offering multiple number - uncut diamond jewellery, Ethnix As demand for heart-shaped jew- of amazing diamond jewellery sets - handcrafted designer jewellery, ellery goes up during this season of to celebrate the season and each set Mine - diamonds unlimited, Precia love, the jewellery chain launched an comprises beautifully crafted pen- - precious gem; jewellery and divine exclusive collection of heart-shaped dant, pair of earrings and finger ring. – Indian heritage jewellery. jewellery to meet demand. The sets are available from the The promotional sets are availa- The spectacular piece of heart- affordable price of QR1,950. Custom- ble at the retailers’ outlets in the UAE, shaped 3 in 1 diamond pendant is ers can also avail a branded Esprit or Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, a perfect gift to express true emo- Westar watch for free with this lim- Bahrain, Singapore and Malaysia tions to your loved ones. It available ited edition jewellery. until February 14. 06 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 HOME

First global arbitration forum on Falcon and Hunting Festival ends energy disputes begins tomorrow

The winners receive The Peninsula and Executive Board member of the ICC said that the conference comes prizes, including as a continuation of the ICC’s efforts QR500,000 and a to facilitate business in the State of DOHA: Under the patronage of Qatar. new Land Cruiser VXR H E Minister of Energy and Indus- He said the conference is a good try Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al opportunity to bring together experts Sada, the first international arbitra- and concerned parties to exchange tion conference on energy disputes their experiences, ideas and visions The Peninsula begins tomorrow. towards settlement of disputes, The aim of the conference is to pointing out that the conference has promote arbitration as an effective found a big government support with and easy tool to resolve disputes. participation of all local and interna- DOHA: The Qatar International Fal- The International Chamber of tional oil and gas companies, local cons and Hunting Festival-2016 has Commerce (ICC) - Qatar is organiz- and international law offices and the concluded, with the winners bagging ing the conference in collaboration most prominent stakeholders. attractive prizes, including a cash with the Qatar International Center Secretary-General of the ICC prize of QR500,000 and a brand new for Conciliation and Arbitration, International Court of Arbitration Land Cruiser VXR. Qatar Chamber, the International Andrea Carlevaris said the confer- The concluding ceremony was Court of Arbitration, Squire Patton ence is a good initiative. Head of graced by H H Sheikh Jassim bin Boggs in Doha and Al Sulaiti Law Al Sulaiti Law Firm, Mubarak bin Hamad Al Thani, Special Represent- Firm. Abdullah Al Sulaiti, said the energy ative of the Emir, and H E Sheikh Joaan Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin sector is a basic and important sec- bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman tor and the legal framework ensures Olympic Committee (QOC), as patron of Qatar Chamber and the Interna- flow of energy without any obstacles of the event. tional Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and maximum efficiency. Mesfar bin Marzuq Al Fahadi won the first and second prizes (as he participated with two falcons) and received QR500,000 and QR300,000 Legal ‘hindrances blocked progress’ in cash as first and second prizes in Al Mazain falcon competition, followed by Mobarak bin Abdullah Al Maadid H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), and other officials with Continued from page 1 who ranked third and bagged a cash the winners. prize of QR200,000. Abdullah Fakhro ranked first in “But legal hindrances came in the way and blocked the progress as those Hudadud Tahaddi competition and Hamad Saleem Al Marri ranked first Abdul Hadi Ubaid Al Mehran got the competition followed by “Al Zam’ living in the remote areas do not have legal ownership documents,” said Al received a Lexus car and the remain- and received a brand new Land third prize and received QR100,000 team which ranked second and got Thani. He said the legal challenge before his ministry was that it was actu- ing 17 participants were given away Cruiser (VXR) followed by Abdul Hadi as cash prize. Sheikh Abdullah Jabar Nissan SGL vehicle. Jassem Moham- ally its duty to protect the property of the state as those living in remote cash awards of QR100,000 each. Hamad Al Hudwan who ranked sec- Al Thani got a Toyota G for bagging the mad Al Kaabi ranked third and bagged areas are using state land. The civic ministry has been recently renamed In local Al Tala falcon competition, ond and also got a Land Cruiser (GX), first prize in Al Daw local Hur Qarnas QR50,000 as cash prize. the ‘Ministry of Municipality and Environment’. Three dealers forced to replace Applicants have four chances to pass exam in Qatar five defective cars with new ones

Continued from page 1 So in a sense they have been quite liberal also may have their own The Peninsula protection. The law clearly stipulates in extending deadlines and I thought that was programme for that consumers are entitled to choose To take the exams that will lead to the quite positive and reassuring,” she added. retrenching, for cost whether to repair, return or exchange granting of equivalency certificates, Filipino Licuanan said the list of accredited schools cutting and this will defective products, said a press state- engineers and architects should have gradu- are to be updated and they will come up with affect Filipinos as well DOHA: The Ministry of Economy ment issued by the Ministry yesterday. ated from a school on the list of 92 accredited the final list as soon as they can. The list she as other employees. and Commerce has forced at least The measures, according to the schools as well as passed the PRC licensure said comprises 500 schools “ that have rec- That is one of the real- three automobile dealers to replace Ministry, come as part of its ongoing examination in the Philippines. ognition from CHED, centres of excellence, ities of the economic five defective cars and provide brand efforts to safeguard consumers’ rights The applicants are given four chances to centres of development and autonomous insti- situation. I think the new ones in their place to their woe- and ensure that auto dealers follow up pass the examination in Qatar to be granted tutions,” among others. Qatari government ful buyers. on vehicle defects and repairs. the equivalency certificate. “This is not a dif- She also said they will make sure to help has no intention of los- The Ministry said the dealers were The Ministry has reiterated it will ficult requirement. They did say too that from the Filipinos who have not taken the PRC exam ing the very precious compelled to replace the vehicles after continue with its massive crackdown their experience the Filipinos pass it on the to take it. “It’s something that would be use- human capital here in their service centres failed to repair drives to ensure consumer rights’ first or second try. But in the very unlikely ful for them even though initially they didn’t the person of Filipinos. recurring faults. The cars had manu- protection and intensify inspection event that they fail four times, it still doesn’t need it here, now they do and they certainly But it is also very clear facturing defects and the buyers filed campaigns to fight fraud. Violators will mean they will lose their job. Their job title need it at home.” to us that the Qatari complaints with the Ministry which be referred for legal action, said the might just change.” The issue have been exaggerated and government is very boasts a consumer rights’ watchdog Ministry, adding it wouldn’t spare any Licuanan said the issue “caused a lot of there had been rumours going around. “That’s serious about imple- cell. Inspectors from the Ministry effort to make sure that consumers’ problems, obviously a lot of anxiety. We would why we really had to hear what’s going on. menting this law. It investigated the complaints before rights are protected at any cost. People hear horror stories at home from various There might have been some lay-offs but for Patricia B Licuanan, had been around since notifying the three car dealers of the must report violations of the above law sources and the most urgent thing the rea- totally different reasons. Companies are going Chairperson, Commission 2005 but people were need to replace them with new ones. to the Department of Consumer Pro- son we’re here is that we also heard that there through this cost-cutting measure, so there on Higher Education, of taking it for granted The dealers were notified in tection and Anti-Commercial Fraud was a January 31 deadline,” said Licuanan. might be some lay-offs because of that but the Philippines addressing but now they’re seri- accordance with Article 10 of Law using the hotline 16001 or email (info@ “While there should be a sense of urgency not because of this.” the media at the Philippine ous of implementing it No 8 of 2008 guaranteeing consumer mec.gov.qa for all of us, there are no absolute deadlines. “We cannot deny the fact that companies embassy yesterday. so we should take that as a warning.” “Having met Filipinos here in Doha, it’s very clear that Filipinos play a very important role in Qatar so I don’t think they will be let go very easily. We are a very important resource and I’m very proud to see Filipinos doing so well. We see this around the world. As a major educational reform, the Philippines has already introduced a K-12 education system, which follows the 12-year basic education cycle which com- plies with requirements of Qatar and other countries. Qatar Motor Show ends DOHA: The sixth annual Qatar Motor Show has con- cluded after five days of activities that saw more than 40 brands on display, giving visitors the unique oppor- tunity to bask in over 20 GCC and local premieres from leading carmakers that chose Qatar to launch their new models. Held at Doha Exhibition and Conven- tion Center between January 28 and February 1, the event revealed the first concept sports car designed in Qatar. Conceptualized by Texas A and M University at Qatar graduate Abdulwahab Ziaullah, the model was brought to life in partnership with Ali Bin Ali Group.

Call for more research on Zika

Continued from page 1

Reports from several countries, notably Brazil, demonstrate an increase in severe fetal birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes in babies whose mothers were infected with Zika virus during pregnancy. Addi- tional international research is necessary and ongoing to determine the link between Zika virus and fetal damage, said the ministry. The disease is relatively mild and requires no specific treatment. People sick with the virus should get plenty of rest, drink enough fluids, and treat pain and fever with common medi- cines. If symptoms worsen, they should seek medical care and advice. There is no vaccine available. The ministry has asked the public to report any suspected cases through Health Protection and CDC ( Communi- cable Diseases Section) hotline 66740948 / 66740951. MIDDLE EAST TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 07

Hamas hints at new prisoner Israel blocks non-residents from Ramallah swap with Israel

measure to be punishment for Sun- AFP A decision on when day’s attack. One woman in her 30s waiting in to lift the measure a taxi gave her name as Aline and said would depend on she was missing a court date in Nab- GAZA CITY: The Islamist mili- lus in the northern West Bank. tant Hamas movement on Sunday security assessments, “The question is until when this raised the prospect of exchanging says military will happen?” she asked. an Israeli soldier declared dead in “Every time someone has a gun the territory’s 2014 war in return spokeswoman and goes to shoot the Israeli army? for Palestinian prisoners. Neither the (Palestinian) president is Abu Obeida, spokesman for harmed or anyone else. Only the peo- Hamas’s military arm, the Ezzed- AFP ple are harmed.” ine Al Qassam Brigades, said that Violence since October has killed “the resistance has... cards in its 25 Israelis, as well as an American hands that will force the enemy and an Eritrean. At the same time, to release you”, referring to pris- RAMALLAH: Israel blocked non-res- 161 Palestinians have been killed by oners in Israeli jail. idents from Ramallah yesterday after Israeli forces, most while carrying out Israeli soldiers, dead or alive, a checkpoint shooting wounded three attacks but others during clashes and have in the past proved valuable soldiers, keeping commuters out of demonstrations. bargaining chips. the West Bank city where the Pales- The checkpoint shooting was one The bodies of two soldiers tinian Authority is based. of two attacks on Sunday. killed in the 2014 Gaza war, The unusual move also applied to Later in the day, an attempted Oron Shaul and Hadar Gol- foreigners, although United Nations car-ramming occurred at a military din, are believed to be held by officials, international NGOs and dip- checkpoint in the West Bank north Hamas, which has not clarified lomatic staff were being allowed in, of Jerusalem, with the attacker shot their fate. diplomatic and UN sources said. and taken to hospital for treatment, On Friday, the movement’s Palestinians seeking to leave Israel’s military said. No Israelis were Gaza chief Ismail Haniyah said Ramallah were also undergoing secu- reported wounded. Qassam Brigades were prepar- rity checks, leading to frustration in An Israeli soldier stands guard as he checks Palestinians’ vehicles on their way out of the West Bank village Yesterday morning, a 17-year-old ing “for any future clashes with lengthy queues. of Ein Sinya in northern Ramallah, yesterday. Palestinian was shot dead after try- the Zionist enemy”, including by “In accordance with situation ing to stab soldiers near the Jewish building tunnels on the border with assessments following yesterday’s settlement of Salit in the West Bank, Israel. shooting attack in Beit El, security though shootings have occasionally officer had been implicated in an A large number of Palestinians, Israel’s army said. Salit is near Israeli He said a collapsed tunnel that measures have been taken in the area occurred. attack in the current wave of violence. aid workers and diplomats commute territory, not far from Tel Aviv. killed seven militants in Gaza last and only residents of Ramallah are The military spokeswoman said The checkpoint where it occurred, to Ramallah for work or other reasons Some analysts say Palestinian week was like the one used to allowed to enter the city,” a military yesterday a decision on when to lift regularly used by diplomats, jour- on a daily basis. frustration with Israel’s occupation capture Shaul and that led to the spokeswoman said. the measure would depend on secu- nalists and humanitarian workers, While diplomats were not directly of the West Bank, the complete lack release of Palestinian prisoners Sunday’s attack saw a Palestin- rity assessments, with Israel seeking was closed last morning, a journal- impacted, “the travel restriction on of progress in peace efforts and their in return for Israeli soldier Gilad ian who had worked as a guard for to halt the wave of attacks. ist reported. Palestinians is having an effect in own fractured leadership have helped Shalit in 2011. the attorney general’s office in Ram- It was not clear when the last time A number of other roads connect- terms of our ability to engage”, one feed the unrest. The tunnels were “strategic allah open fire at a checkpoint outside such a move had been taken by Israel, ing Ramallah with the northern West Western diplomat said. Israel blames incitement by Pal- weapons” against Israel, Haniya the city, wounding three Israeli sol- though heavy restrictions were put in Bank were also closed or restricted, “A number of meetings have been estinian leaders and media as a main said, adding that Hamas fighters diers before being shot dead. place during the second Palestinian although checkpoints near Jerusalem called off because Palestinian inter- cause of the violence. were also training and acquir- It was the latest in four months of intifada, or uprising, between 2000 were open. locutors have not been able to get to Many of the attackers have been ing “all the means to fight and Palestinian knife, gun and car-ram- and 2005. Later in the day, it appeared that the meeting site.” young people, including teenagers, resist”. ming attacks targeting Israelis. Most Sunday’s shooting marked at least enforcement of the measure varied Palestinians queueing to leave who appear to have been acting on Senior Hamas official Kha- of the attacks have been stabbings, the second time a Palestinian security between locations. Ramallah said they considered the their own. lil Al Haya drove the point home on Sunday. “The tunnel in which our seven martyrs died is the same one that was used by Qassam to capture the New Libya government must UN urges Turkey to probe soldier Oron Shaul,” he said. Israel has accused Hamas have Tripoli HQ: UN envoy of rebuilding tunnels destroyed alleged shooting of civilians during the 2014 war with the aim of launching fresh attacks against it. AFP In mid-December, a minority of The 50-day war in July-August lawmakers from both sides signed AFP Zeid said, describing the footage as operations that activists say have 2014 killed 2,200 Palestinians and a deal to unify the government and “extremely shocking.” killed dozens of civilians. 73 people on the Israeli side, and said the cabinet should be based in The video, which can be viewed Cizre in Turkey’s Sirnal province it destroyed or damaged thou- ALGIERS: UN envoy Martin Kobler Tripoli. on Youtube, shows a chaotic scene near the Iraqi border has been under sands of homes in the besieged on Monday urged the speedy for- A national unity government GENEVA: The United Nations yester- in which Tekin falls to the ground, curfew since December, when the Gaza Strip. mation of a Libyan national unity headed by businessman Fayez Al day called on Ankara to investigate his own blood apparently spilling in army launched an “anti-terror oper- The tunnels have been used in government and said it should be Sarraj and comprising 32 minis- the suspected shooting of a group of front of the lens, with what looks like ation”, marking a new escalation in the past to store weapons or stage installed in the capital Tripoli, Alge- ters was formed in January but unarmed people in Turkey’s south- dead bodies splayed on the ground in six months of fighting with the PKK attacks. rian state media reported. was rejected by the recognised eastern Kurdish-dominated region, front of him. since a two-and-a-half-year truce On Sunday, Israeli Prime Min- Kobler said the turmoil that has parliament. caught in “extremely shocking” video “I’m very concerned that the collapsed. The army said last week a ister Benjamin Netanyahu warned wracked Libya since the 2011 revo- The legislature demanded a footage. cameraman, who was himself total of 20 Kurdish rebels were killed Hamas against any attempt to lution that toppled dictator Moamer trimmed line-up and Sarraj has been Speaking to reporters in Geneva, wounded, is facing arrest once he in Cizre and nearby Sur, bringing the attack his country. Kadhafi had created a “political and holding consultations with several UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hus- leaves hospital,” Zeid said. total number of militants killed in the “We are systematically prepar- military vacuum” and helped the key players to press for its creation. sein voiced outrage at an incident “Filming an atrocity is not a two towns since December to some ing for all threats -- including from spread of the Islamic State group, Sarraj, who on Saturday met caught on camera in the town of crime, but shooting unarmed civil- 600. Hamas,” he said. the APS news agency said. controversial army chief General Cizre around 10 days ago. ians most certainly is,” he added. Zeid yesterday warned that the “If we’re attacked through tun- “We must advance on the Khalifa Haftar who is opposed by The footage, apparently shot by “It is essential there is a thorough, video showing the apparent shooting nels from the Gaza Strip, we’ll act political process by installing a gov- the Tripoli-based administration, is a cameraman named Refik Tekin, independent, impartial investigation of unarmed civilians “raises major very forcefully against Hamas, ernment in Tripoli,” it quoted Kobler expected to announce a new line-up shows a group of unarmed civilians, into this and any other events that question marks about what exactly with far much greater force” than as saying after talks in Algiers with within days. led by a man and woman holding have led to the wounding or killing has been going on in Cizre and other two years ago. the minister in charge of Maghreb Delaying the formation of a white flags, pushing what appears of civilians.” parts of southeastern Turkey, which “I hope we won’t need them, affairs, Abdelkader Messahel. government plays into the hands to be dead bodies on a handcart, as Vowing to flush out the out- the security forces have allegedly but our abilities — both defensive Libya has had two rival admin- of IS, Kobler warned. Messahel, they are observed at a distance by lawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party sealed off from the outside world.” and offensive — are developing istrations, with the recognised also quoted by APS, agreed with his security forces in an armoured mil- (PKK) from Turkey’s urban centres, “I am urging the Turkish authori- rapidly, and I wouldn’t recom- authorities based in the country’s far assessment. “We are impatient to see itary vehicle. the authorities have in recent weeks ties to respect the fundamental rights mend anyone tries them,” he said east and a militia-backed authority this government installed in Tripoli,” Suddenly, “they are appar- enforced curfews in three locations of civilians in its security operations,” in a speech to Israeli diplomats. in Tripoli since the summer of 2014. he said. ently cut down in a hail of gunfire,” in the southeast to back up military he said.

Hammond with Jordan King Sinai attacks S Sudan troops suffocated leave 4 security forces dead 50 people in container

AFP AFP “About 50 people suffocated in a container on about 22 October. The investigation was protracted. CAIRO: Two Egyptian policemen Attribution of responsibility: Gov- and two soldiers were killed on ADDIS ABABA: South Sudan gov- ernment Forces,” the report read. Sunday in two bombing attacks in ernment troops killed some 50 In South Sudan, metal containers the country’s restive Sinai Penin- people by stuffing them into a are often used as makeshift prison sula, where Islamic State (IS) shipping container in baking heat, cells. militants have regularly attacked ceasefire monitors have said in a Temperatures in the northern security forces. In one attack at report noting the latest atrocities in battleground state of Unity regu- dawn, a remotely-detonated bomb two years of war. larly top 40 degrees Celsius. Other hit a police vehicle as security Despite an August peace deal, crimes listed include rape and mur- forces were carrying out a search fighting continues, and the conflict der, and the capture and looting of operation in the Rafah region, on now involves multiple militia forces UN river barges. the border with the Gaza Strip, who pay little heed to paper peace There was no immediate killing two policemen. deals, driven by local agendas or response from South Sudan’s army, An army officer and a soldier revenge attacks. but spokesmen have rejected a long were also killed in a similar attack The report, by the Joint Moni- list of previous reports detailing in the Sheikh Zuwaid region of toring and Evaluation Commission accusations of atrocities. northern Sinai, the officials added. (JMEC), was submitted to the Afri- Last month, a UN panel of There was no immediate claim can Union (AU) summit and made experts said South Sudan’s Pres- of responsibility but the region public. ident Salva Kiir and rebel chief Jordanian King Abdullah II with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond (centre) in Amman yesterday. is an IS stronghold. Militants The atrocity, titled “concerning Riek Machar should face sanc- have regularly attacked security the killing of civilians in Unity State”, tions for their role in the war.“The Hammond is visiting Jordan ahead of a donor conference in London this week to discuss the refugee forces in the peninsula since the was one of several listed as exam- government’s action has led to an crisis and ways to support them and the host countries. army ousted Islamist president ples of ceasefire violations carried impasse,” Mogae said, in an appeal Mohamed Mursi in July 2013. out by forces on both sides. to the AU. 08 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Syria opposition begins talks with UN envoy

monitors. The new deaths reported from Assad” but experts say the The main opposition Monday by the UN humanitarian West is backing off from demands organisation (OCHA) took place in that he leave before any such tran- group HNC is insisting Moadimayet al-Sham southwest of sition starts. that humanitarian aid Damascus, the site of a 2013 chemical In addition to humanitarian aid, weapons attack. OCHA said there the HNC -- which only reluctantly reach towns under had been a “sharp deterioration of arrived in Geneva late on Satur- government siege the humanitarian situation” in the day -- is also demanding the Assad before it will agree town, which has been besieged by regime free prisoners and that its Assad’s forces since 2012 although Russian backers stop bombarding to enter indirect conditions improved after a 2014 civilians. talks with President truce deal. Syrian rebels fought back against De Mistura’s brief in Geneva is an offensive by government forces Bashar Al Assad’s to coax the warring sides into six near a supply route into the city of government, which months of “proximity talks” as part Aleppo yesterday and said there had of an ambitious roadmap agreed by been no letup in Russian air strikes, are scheduled to last the many outside powers embroiled despite a promise of goodwill moves six months. in the war. by Damascus to spur peace talks. The plan, hammered out in The British-based Syrian Vienna in November, envisions elec- Observatory for Human Rights said tions within 18 months, but the key government forces were gaining AFP question about the future of Assad — ground in the area, and had captured Iraqi forces keep position during clashes with militants from the Islamic State (IS) group in the eastern backed by Iran and Russia — was left most of the village of Duweir Al Zei- until later to resolve. tun near Bashkoy. It reported dozens suburbs of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq’s Anbar province, yesterday. British Foreign Secretary Philip of air strikes last morning and Syr- GENEVA: Syria’s main opposition Hammond said the talks “must ian state television said government group met formally for the first time deliver a political transition away forces were advancing. yesterday with the UN special envoy Carpet-bombing in IS fight although it was unclear whether they would agree to indirect peace talks with the Assad regime. EU to commit around $2.2bn against our values: US general The preliminary meeting between the High Negotiations Com- mittee (HNC) and Staffan de Mistura in aid at donor meeting came as the UN reported eight more AFP the extremists, even if these lead to sophisticated and can hit a target deaths from insufficent medical care Reuters higher numbers of civilian deaths. with great accuracy. Critics, though, in one of the many towns besieged by Most notably, Texas Senator say the number of civilian deaths is government or rebel forces. Ted Cruz, who is vying to become likely to be far higher. The HNC is insisting that human- WASHINGTON: The commander the Republican Party’s presidential MacFarland claimed the anti-IS itarian aid reach towns under BRUSSELS: The European Union is set to promise some ¤2bn ($2.2bn) in of the US-led coalition fighting the nominee, in December said Amer- fight is making progress in both Iraq government siege before it will agree Syrian refugee aid at an international donor conference on Thursday, offi- Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq and ica should be carpet-bombing parts and Syria, and said the jihadists had to enter indirect talks with President cials said, although much will be spent outside Syria barring an end to its Syria yesterday dismissed calls to of Iraq and Syria. lost about 40 percent of the territory Bashar Al Assad’s government, which civil war. European governments and EU institutions in Brussels are seeking carpet- bomb the militants. MacFarland said that is exactly they once held. The most important are scheduled to last six months. to respond to a call by Britain, Germany and Norway, which are hosting the “We are bound by the laws of the tactic Russia is accused of using event to date was the recapture of The talks are part of the big- conference in London along with the United Nations and Kuwait, to double armed conflict. It doesn’t only mat- as it wages a separate air campaign in Ramadi by Iraqi security forces at the gest push to date to chart a way humanitarian aid to the region. ter whether or not you win, it matters Syria to prop up the regime of Pres- end of last year, he said. out of the tangled Syrian war that “We need to ensure that all Syria’s neighbours are supported,” an EU how you win,” Baghdad-based Lieu- ident Bashar Al Assad. “Right now, But he cautioned that many has killed more than 260,000 peo- official said, referring to Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. “Inside Syria, London tenant General Sean MacFarland told we have the moral high ground and months of fighting remain, and said ple and forced millions from their needs to demonstrate that the EU and others are ready to provide humani- reporters in a video call. I think that’s where we need to stay,” Iraqi generals did not think they homes since the violence began in tarian access to all areas as soon as a ceasefire is agreed,” the official added. “Indiscriminate bombing the three-star general said. would be able to recapture Mosul — March 2011. Heads of state and government and ministers from countries around the where we don’t care if we are kill- US commanders have officially another key Iraqi city — until the end The urgency to find a solution world will converge on London for the “Supporting Syria and the Region” ing innocents or combattants is just recognized the deaths of only 21 of 2016 or early 2017 at the soonest. was brought home Sunday when conference, which aims to raise funds for humanitarian crises caused by inconsistent with our values.” civilians in the 18-month-long cam- “That’s their estimate and we are attacks claimed by the Islamic State the Syrian war. UN agencies are appealing for a total of $7.73bn to cope In recent weeks, hawkish oppo- paign, which has seen some 10,000 looking at that,” he said, though he extremist group killed 71 people with Syria’s needs this year with a further $1.2bn required by regional gov- nents of President Barack Obama’s bombs dropped in Iraq and Syria. noted he was looking at a range of near a revered Shiite shrine outside ernments for their own plans to deal with the impact of Syria’s conflict. battleplan to defeat the IS group have Officials frequently point out that “accelerants” to increase the speed the capital Damascus, according to called for stepped-up actions against many of these munitions are highly of the fight.

Detained Egypt cartoonist who Over 3,500 Syrians flee to Turkey in four days mocked Sisi freed Reuters “In Syria’s Turkmen region, fol- been relatively safe until a military 35,715 people have been uprooted representatives are seeking a halt to lowing the intensifying attacks offensive over the last two months, by another government offensive to attacks on civilian areas, the release AFP against Turkmen population thou- including 300 air raids. retake the strategic town of Sheikh of detainees and a lifting of blockades. sands of families had taken shelter The was why people from these Maskin, the UN said. Most of Syria’s pre-war popu- ISTANBUL: More than 3,600 Turk- in the Yamadi camp across the Syr- communities were now being dis- AFAD said as of yesterday after- lation have been forced out of their mens and Arabs fleeing advancing ian side of the border,” AFAD said in placed in large numbers, the United noon, 3,648 people had already homes by the war, 5 million as refu- CAIRO: An Egyptian cartoon- pro-government Syrian forces in a statement. Nations said. crossed through Pulluyazi, a village gees and 6.5 million displaced within ist known for mocking President the north of Latakia province have “As the attacks have spilled over The Turkmens are ethnic kin of near the border town of Yayladagi in the country. Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has been crossed into Turkey over the past four to Yamadi camp, the first group of 731 the Turks, and Turkey has been par- Hatay province. “On average, since 2011, 50 Syrian released after he was detained days, Turkish disaster agency AFAD migrants, mostly babies, children, ticularly angered by what it says is The influx has accelerated since families have been displaced every for running a website without said yesterday. women and the elderly, have entered Russian targeting of them in Syria. Jan. 24, when Rabiya, a rebel-held hour of every day,” UNHCR said in its permission, his lawyer and the A Turkmen official said sev- our country on Jan. 29,” it said. At least 12,733 civilians have been town in Latakia province, was cap- latest Syria report. prosecution service said yesterday. eral thousand more migrants were About 200 people have been sent displaced in two months of fighting, tured by Syrian pro-government Russian air strikes have killed Islam Gawish, known on social expected as a camp mostly shelter- to a camp in Guvecci, in southern and more displacement is expected forces. nearly 1,400 civilians since Moscow media networks for his cartoons ing Turkmens in the Syrian village Turkish province of Hatay, itv added. if pro-Assad forces advance towards The Syrian government’s military started its aerial campaign in support mocking Egyptian officials, was of Yamadi was being evacuated after Rural towns in a province tra- Kensaba town and along the Turk- campaign came as the U.N. struggled of Assad nearly four months ago, the arrested on Sunday, in a move that the pro-government forces backed by ditionally seen as a stronghold of ish border, a UN humanitarian report to convene the first peace talks in two Syrian Observatory for Human Rights raised fresh alarm over freedom of Russian air strikes advanced. President Bashar Al Assad have said. In southern Syria, a further years in Geneva, where opposition monitoring group said on Saturday. expression in Egypt. “He has been released after interrogation,” his lawyer Ahmed Abdel Raham said. The prosecution service confirmed that Gawish had been freed with- Sana’a bombing Rafsanjani slams Khomeini out any charges. Gawish was arrested at work, the office of a local information grandson vote exclusion website that operates without the required legal permits, the inte- AFP existed.” Hassan Khomeini, a cleric rior ministry said in a statement on aged 43 who has ties to reform- Sunday. It said he was detained for ists in Iran, said Friday he would “administering a personal site on the appeal being barred from running Internet without a licence in viola- TEHRAN: Former president Akbar in the polls. tion of the law”, and also accused Hashemi Rafsanjani lashed out He is among hundreds who him of using pirated computer soft- yesterday at Iran’s vote vetting have been excluded from elec- ware. Gawish’s cartoons are posted panel over its exclusion of a grand- tions next month for the assembly, on a Facebook page followed by son of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah which monitors the work of more than 1.6 million people. Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Iran’s supreme leader and has the A joint statement by sev- republic. authority to replace him. eral small opposition parties “Who gave you the right to The Guardian Council, a con- had demanded the cartoonist’s judge? Who gave you the stand to servative-dominated panel that “immediate release”, and had address Friday (weekly) prayers decides who can run for public denounced what it called a policy and state television?” he said, office, said only 166 of 800 can- of “restricting freedom of opinion referring to Hassan Khomeini’s didates were approved. and expression adopted recently failed candidacy for elections Khomeini, who failed to attend by the state apparatus”. to Iran’s powerful Assembly of a qualifying exam, said other can- “We warn about the con- Experts. “May God forgive you,” didates had been vetted even sequences of a return to the said Rafsanjani, a veteran of without taking the test. police state and the repression Iranian politics and two-term Voting for the 88-member of freedoms,” said the statement president, quoted by state news assembly, of which Rafsanjani signed by eight parties including Yemenis walk past a building destroyed by an airstrike targeting a neighbourhood, in Sana’a, yesterday. agency IRNA. is a member and for which he is the liberal Al Dostour, founded by The Saudi-led coalition launched an investigation into allegations of violations in Yemen, including “Without Imam (Ruhollah) running again, will take place on Nobel Peace laureate Mohamed the death of innocent people and numerous casualties. Khomeini, none of these people February 26, the same day as par- ElBaradei. (on the vetting panel) would have liamentary polls. ASIA / PHILIPPINES TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 09

China’s Xi sets up five Decorations for sale in Metro Manila new ‘battle zones’

Reuters Late last year, Xi, the rul- ing Communist Party chief and The move reclassified also chairman of the Central Mil- seven military regions itary Commission which runs the BEIJING: China yesterday inaugu- military, inaugurated a general rated the military’s five new “battle into five — the East, command unit for the People’s Lib- zones”, the Defence Ministry said, the West, South, North eration Army (PLA), a missile force latest step in President Xi Jinping’s and Middle battle and a strategic support force. efforts to reform the country’s armed Weeks later, he split the PLA’s forces. zones four military headquarters into 15 Xi’s push to reform the military new units — covering everything coincides with China becoming more from logistics to equipment devel- assertive in its territorial disputes in a joint operational command struc- opment, political work and fighting the East and South China Seas, and ture by 2020 and rejigging existing corruption. as its navy invests in submarines military regions, as well as cutting Yesterday’s move, which had and aircraft carriers and its air force troop numbers by 300,000, a sur- been flagged in advance by state develops stealth fighters. prise announcement he made in media, reclassified seven military The reforms include establishing September. regions into five - the East, West, South, North and Middle battle zones. They will constitute what the Defense Ministry said in an online A mother carries her daughter while looking at Chinese New Year decorations for sale at a stall at the statement was each zone’s “high- est-level joint combat command Chinatown in Binondo, Metro Manila, yesterday. structure”. Xi said the new zones shoulder the responsibility of responding to their respective “security threats, upholding peace and constraining conflict”. “All battle zones must unwaver- China arrests fourth Japanese ingly listen to the Party’s direction, insist upon the Party’s absolute lead- ership,” Xi said. State media showed Xi handing flags to the zone’s new over espionage activities commanders. Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said in a separate state- AFP has detained people of other nation- The arrests of the Japanese came ment posted online that China would alities on security-related suspicions. after China in 2014 detained a Cana- maintain its “defensive national Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s top gov- dian missionary couple for alleged defence policy” and that the coun- ernment spokesman, said China espionage. try’s development and foreign policy TOKYO: Japan yesterday denied informed Japan last month that a China said on Friday that it has would be unchanged. that it carries out espionage activities fourth Japanese had been formally charged one of the Canadians with China has been moving rapidly abroad as it announced that Chinese arrested after being detained in Bei- spying and stealing state secrets. to upgrade its military hardware, but authorities have formally arrested a jing in June. Last month Swedish activist integration of complex systems across fourth Japanese citizen on suspicion “Japan does not engage in spy- Peter Dahlin was held on suspicion a regionalised command structure of spying. ing activities in any country,” Suga of endangering national security, has been a major challenge. China and Japan have been told reporters. apparently caught up in a crackdown The troop cuts and broader taking steps for more than a year “The government is preparing on human rights lawyers. reforms have proven controversial, to improve relations that remain to support (those citizens) properly He was deported last week. though, and the military’s newspaper plagued by tensions over the legacy through diplomatic offices overseas.” China passed a new “national has published a series of commen- of World War II as well as a maritime Few details have been released security” law in July that was criti- taries warning of opposition to the dispute. Ties, however, remain shaky about the detained Japanese. Suga cised by rights groups for the vague reforms and concern about job losses. and the Chinese allegations of spying previously announced that three are wording of its references to “secu- Xi has also made rooting out by Japanese nationals have become men and one is a woman. All were rity”. This raised fears it could give deeply entrenched corruption in the a new irritant. apprehended last year, with news of police wide-ranging discretionary military a top priority. The arrests also come as China the formal arrests coming in stages. powers over civil society. Ivory Coast’s Ouattara sought ‘power by force’: Gbagbo lawyer

AFP the battle of Abidjan was, simply put, The row triggered a bitter standoff and a youth militia group organised preparations for the assault on Abid- four specific incidents in the orgy the very implementation of this strat- that saw Gbagbo holed up in the for- by Ble Goude, had clung to power by jan were made. of violence in the world’s top cocoa egy,” defence lawyer Emmanuel Altit tified presidential palace and Abidjan “all means necessary”. “The plans for military action producer, once held up as a beacon told the International Criminal Court — the country’s main city and com- But Altit countered Monday that had been drawn up by the plot- of democracy in a troubled continent. THE HAGUE: Defence lawyers for (ICC). Gbagbo and his co-accused mercial capital — turned into a war there had been a deliberate campaign ters and schemers ... in cooperation One incident is the shelling of a fallen Ivorian leader Laurent Gbagbo Charles Ble Goude, a firebrand mili- zone. “France did not want peace to to make Gbagbo “out to be some of with French military leaders dur- market in the northern Abobo suburb yesterday accused his bitter rival tia leader, have denied four charges of be negotiated,” Altit said. kind demon” and “paint Ouattara ing the entire crisis,” he said. “A fleet on March 17, 2011 when pro-Gbagbo President Alassane Ouattara of seiz- crimes against humanity after 3,000 Then French president Nicolas as the good guy.” “This is nothing of French military aircraft delivered forces are alleged to have killed 40 ing power by force aided by former people were killed following a dis- Sarkozy “had shown unwavering sup- more than a political narrative that heavy weapons to pro-Ouattara com- people and injured 60 others. colonial ruler France after disputed puted Ivory Coast vote. port for his friend Ouattara,” defence has been heated up and re-served.” batants in the north of Cote d’Ivoire in Altit recalled how the incident had 2010 elections. Their highly-anticipated trial lawyer Jennifer Naouri told the court. Gbagbo lawyer Agathe Bahi Baroan February and March 2011, once again been loudly condemned at the United In an opening statement on the opened on Thursday at the court Gbagbo became the first ex-head added that Gbagbo was “not a despot”. breaking the UN embargo,” he said, Nations. But it led to a “ground offen- third day of Gbagbo’s landmark trial based in The Hague and is set to last of state to go on trial at the ICC and “All his life he fought to defend using Ivory Coast’s French name. sive which had been prepared well in on charges of crimes against human- three to four years. Gbagbo declared Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda democracy in the Ivory Coast. Per- If the two men are convicted, the advance, craftily, sneakily, by French ity, defence lawyer Emmanuel Altit himself the winner of the vote in painted a vivid picture of the turmoil haps someone wants us to forget” maximum penalty is usually up to 30 forces,” he said. sought to unmask what he called a late 2010, but major powers includ- saying “the Ivory Coast descended alleged abuses committed by pro- years in prison. Judges can impose a And he regretted that no French deliberate “smear campaign” against ing France and the United States, as into chaos and was the theatre of Ouattara forces, Altit said, adding life sentence “when justified by the witnesses had been called by the his client. well as the United Nations, backed unspeakable violence.” that even before the elections Ouat- extreme gravity of the crime”, accord- prosecution, saying only they “have “Ouattara and his supporters Ouattara, who had snatched a nar- She alleged on Thursday that tara had been recruiting mercenaries ing to the court’s guiding statute. the information needed to get” to the wanted to seize power by force and row victory. Gbagbo, aided by the military, police in neighbouring Burkina Faso, where Prosecutors are focusing on truth of what happened.

Rare birds in safe shelter Chinese airline passengers start transiting Taiwan

Reuters A flight from Kunming and another from Chongqing will tran- sit later, the official said. Allowing Chinese passengers TAIPEI: Chinese passengers will be flying from China to transit Taiwan able to transit Taiwan and fly to a benefits the development of the third destination effective yester- civil aviation industry and deepens day, signalling a step toward greater exchanges between Taiwan and transportation links between the two China, the SEF said in a statement. political rivals. China’s announcement of the The plan had been discussed transit trial came just before national for years and China announced elections in Taiwan swept in the early last month that it would start independence-leaning Democratic the transit programme with three Progressive Party, which is seen as trial cities, Nanchang, Kunming and less friendly toward Beijing. Chongqing. Taiwan has been self-ruled since Two Chinese passengers tran- 1949 when the defeated National- sited Taiwan yesterday on a flight ists fled to the island after a civil from Nanchang, before flying on to war with the Chinese Communists. A chick eagle owl (left) and a Philippine tarsier, one of the 11 tarsiers that were confiscated from an officer of the Office ofTransport the Bangkok, according to an official Beijing deems Taiwan a wayward Security, are sheltered at the Wildlife Rescue Centre in suburban Manila yesterday. Authorities at the Philippine main airport have taken with the island’s quasi-governmental province to be taken by force if nec- possession of 47 rare animals or birds which an officer of the office of the Transport Security was allegedly trying to smuggleJapan. to Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), essary, especially if it makes moves which is in charge of the programme. toward independence. 10 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL

New era for Myanmar The US can’t fight terrorists

yanmar entered a new political era yesterday as the in Africa directly newly elected parliamentarians of Aung San Suu Kyi’s party National League for Democracy (NLD) started their work in the capital Naypyidaw. It was a day of a significant difference without footprint” on the continent. Mali and Niger have found it celebration and huge hope for the country. Win Myint, as overstepping its orders. But as Its mission is to coordinate challenging just to locate the Mlower house speaker, said: “Today is a day to be proud of in Myanmar’s the problem of Islamist insur- diplomacy, development and violent extremist organisa- political history and for the democratic transition.” gencies continues, the United defense policies while keep- tions threatening them. The States will have to watch out for ing a small presence on the surveillance drones solve that It’s a tough road ahead for Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate known mission creep. continent and avoiding direct problem, enabling US allies all over the world as a democracy icon. Leading an independence How the US usually combat missions. These con- to target their military for- movement and getting incarcerated for several years is one thing, approaches insurgencies straints are intended to ays effectively. Not only do the but changing a country after coming to power quite another. Her Currently, US military pol- reassure African governments surveillance drones help tre- performance will be monitored closely at home and abroad, and she icy tilts back and forth between afraid of new colonial ambi- mendously while staying within will be required to perform a trapeze act to satisfy various segments. counterinsurgency and coun- tions, even though the United the mandates for a “small foot- terterror operations (or COIN States had also remained print” and for avoiding combat, The Muslim Rohingyas, whose persecution at the hands of authorities and CT, in military parlance). cautious in Africa since its but Americans stay in con- and the Buddhist majority has grabbed global headline, must be given Counterterror operations experiences in Somalia in 1993. trol of the drones -- avoiding justice and brought back into the mainstream as tens of thousands of aggressively target people who As a result, defense opera- the potential embarrassments Rohingyas are still trapped in bleak displacement camps. It won’t be By Charles G Thomas are violently attacking (or plan- tions have been deemphasized (like a US-trained military easy. Suu Kyi has already attracted criticsim for not doing enough to The Washington Post ning to attack) the United States in favor of diplomacy and civic officer launching a coup) that protect the lives of Rohingyas. At or its allies. The goal: Destroy development. The military have been far too common. It’s the same time, at home she is seen our enemies, or at least, make it operations pursued have been a creative, low-cost, low-risk much harder for them to attack largely focused on training and extension of the US military’s as sympathetic towards the plight oko Haram kidnaps our friends. The United States equipping US allies’ militaries mission in Africa. As the newly of Rohingyas, though she hasn’t hundreds of Nige- now has counterterrorism so that they could safeguard It’s a creative solution -- but elected done anything substantial to change rian schoolgirls. Al operations -- teams of Spe- ongoing development efforts. there are drawbacks parliamentarians their plight. What she needs is the Qaida in the Islamic cial Forces troops and armed So if it can’t fight, how can Of course, there are flaws. determination and tactic of a leader Maghreb guns down drones -- underway in Yemen AFRICOM help fight Islamist Popular local figures have begin their work, to give justice to a population who Bdozens of victims at the Splen- and Afghanistan. terror? worried that even the smaller did Hotel in Ouagadougou, numbers of noncombatant US the international don’t have anyone to look up to. The other major approach Here’s the problem. Since Burkina Faso. Still other ter- is counterinsurgency, or COIN. Moammar Gadhafi fell, leav- military personnel can desta- community wants The country will now choose a rorists attack the Radisson Blu Counterinsurgency tries to ing Libya in violent turmoil and bilise the region. And the effort Suu Kyi to address new president to succeed President in Mali, just one week after the strengthen local social struc- without a clear government, shifts resources away from Thein Sein, the former general who Islamic State attacked Paris. tures to “win hearts and violent Islamists have surged AFRICOM’s primary goal: the woes of in 2011 launched dramatic political Africa has been suffering from minds,” so that local peo- across the Sahara Desert into building a functioning civil Rohingyas. and economic reforms which still more terrorist shootings, ple stop supporting armed the weak states along the Saha- society across the continent. culminated in the election. Suu Kyi bombings and suicide attacks, combatants. Counterinsur- ra’s southern border, a region The most significant dan- regularly. gency does include limited called the “Sahel.” Despite ger, however, is that these has been barred from the presidency How should the United direct combat or police actions AFRICOM’s multiyear efforts proliferating counterterror by a clause in the junta-drafted States respond to these increas- against terrorists or insur- to build up partner militaries operations are increasingly constitution because her children are British. But she will be the de facto ing Islamist attacks in Africa? gents to protect efforts to build in Sahelian states, such as undermining AFRICOM’s basic president and will control the government without having to face the The US command there has fig- a functioning local commu- Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and principles, which guide its daily heat. She will have to be extremely cautious in her dealings with ured out a clever way to make nity. But its real goal is to build Nigeria, the militaries have overall strategy. the army which still retains enormous powers. The military’s political a social and stable state that’s been largely inadequate in Because the United States powers are not limited to parliament. The 2008 constitution that was less likely to deteriorate into fighting off this new wave of has been reacting quickly, terrorism, usually through violent extremists. bringing its counterterror prepared under ex-dictator Than Shwe gives the army chief control over developing representative And so AFRICOM’s mil- operations where needed, three crucial ministries: home affairs, defence and border affairs. government structures like itary-minded officers have AFRICOM’s counterterror Myanmar’s 51.5 million people expect the NLD to quickly fix several constitutions and voting, and started counterterror opera- efforts are expanding rapidly problems they are facing -- from rebuilding a sick economy to bringing Victorian Britain local investment, and build- tions in West Africa. The idea and with little outside notice or peace to ethnic states. Suu Kyi has to rely on people who have no ing infrastructure that will is that the United States could popular outcry. This should be experience in governance. But she has a rare and wonderful opportunity never intended to improve citizens’ lives. shift more efforts to bring down watched with extreme caution, But AFRICOM is differ- local threats like Boko Haram lest it become a major military to lead her country into the future. Any opportunity missed will be lost maintain a large ent from all other US military while continuing to help part- commitment. forever. presence in Africa commands. ner states like Mali and Nigeria British historians John Gal- and that its massive Striking that balance is strengthen their police and lagher and Ronald Robinson particularly difficult in Africa. military efforts through train- assert that Victorian Britain empire on the The United States Africa Com- ing and armament programs. never intended to maintain a continent came mand, known as AFRICOM, But while other combatant large presence in Africa and controls all US military activ- commands run counterter- that its massive empire on the Quote of the day from continuously ity on the continent. Most of ror operations by sending in continent came from continu- reacting to local the other regional combat- US Special Forces and armed ously reacting to local threats ant commands, such as Pacific drones in partnership with to its local interests and allies. Eighty percent of the people threats to its local Command, are almost purely local governments, AFRICOM Since this British expe- interests and military. cannot - because it has neither rience is central to the first infected by Zika do not AFRICOM is a very dif- the personnel nor the mandate. “Scramble for Africa,” US mis- develop significant symptoms. allies. Since this ferent animal. While it rolled The solution: Send in sion creep may be a greater British experience several preexisting military unarmed drones to help with danger than anyone now A large number of people have missions into its structure surveillance, while continuing recognises. the virus with no symptoms, is central to the when it was founded in 2008, to train and equip local allies first “Scramble for AFRICOM commanders also like Nigeria and Cameroon to so the situation is more serious oversee efforts for the State foster regional cooperation Africa,” US mission Department and the United among those allies. Thomas is an assistant that we can imagine. States Agency for International The unarmed drones strike professor of comparative creep may be a Development (USAID), in addi- the right balance. By send- military studies at the Air greater danger tion to running its skeletal ing them, AFRICOM refrains Command and Staff College Marcelo Castro than anyone now military headquarters staff. from military adventuring, as in Montgomery, Alabama Brazil’s Health Minister AFRICOM was conceived per its mission, while helping Area The views expressed in recognises. with a commitment to being a its partners tremendously. The this article are those of the noncombatant with a “small militaries of Cameroon, Chad, author .

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected] ADVERTISING TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] OPINION TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 11 Is this a sign of Doomsday?

try to convince them to pull the boycott country will continue the ban visits by the said, “It is unfortunate to dub a military visit to Israel was considered by Arabs to decision. In a recent move, the speaker of Swedish Foreign Minister. It is well-known operation as massacre. The economic giant be an act of betrayal. the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein held a meeting that relations between two countries have (Brazil) became a political dwarf’”. Israeli tourism and trade has become with the President of the European Par- been tense since 2014 when Sweden rec- On the other hand, the drive launched to more active within the western part of Arab liament, Martin Schulz in Berlin. Edelstein ognised Palestine’s statehood. In the wake boycott Israel culturally and academically region, despite all the issues that have taken said in the meeting that Israel will stand of November 2015 Paris attacks, Ms Wall- in Western Countries has gained remark- the Israeli-Palestinian issue from bad to firmly against the decision and resort to strom also angered Israel by saying a sense able momentum especially in university worse. Is it right for us to indulge in such the judiciary to cancel the boycott decision. of hopelessness among Palestinians was a circles. This move made Israel angry and unreasonable and strange behaviour, add- He further said that the boycott decision factor behind the rise of Islamist extrem- forced it to hold an international conference ing this to the list of already manifested would also affect the Palestinian workers ism in Europe. in Tel Aviv in March of this year to discuss minor signs of the Last Days before the and it would cut their source of income. There is also a diplomatic row between how to tackle these growing phenomena. Day of Judgement or ‘Doomsday’? The decision would also lead to a desta- Israel and Brazil over the appointment of There are more news reports about boy- bilisation of peace in the areas being used a West Bank settler leader, Dani Dayan as cotts by the Methodist Church of Israeli banks, Fahmi Huwaidi is an Egyptian jour- commonly by both countries (Israel and Israel’s next ambassador to the country. and crises between the Israeli Embassy in nalist & columnist. Palestine). Netanyahu who is also Foreign Minister of Paris and the French Newspaper ‘Liberation’ By Fahmi Huwaidi At a time when Israel is clashing with Israel said that he is still adhering to his due to the writing? of a Palestine freedom the European Union, we find it also in decision regarding the nomination that fighter, Marwan Barghouti, who is consid- conflict with the Swedish Foreign Minis- was made two months ago, but he rejected ered by Israel as terrorist. Another crisis is ter, Margot Wallström who demanded an to comment on the stand of Brazilian gov- with Ukraine which threatened to punish srael is worried about the move made examination of whether the killings that ernment that refused to accept Dayan. those Israelis supporting Russian occupa- by the ministers of the countries of have taken place in the recent months of The Marif Newspaper quoted the Dep- tion in Quram (Crimea). the European Union to support the unrest between Israelis and Palestinians uty Foreign Minister of Israel as saying After reading this news, a person will boycott of products originating in Isra- were extra-judicial and without trial. “the Ministry will never accept the stand of reach the conclusion that there are some After reading this news, Iel’s illegal colonies in the West Bank. This Recently, 155 Palestinians were shot the Brazilian government, because disap- contrasts, as Israel is facing crises with a person will reach the encourages consumers of their countries to to death by Israeli (security personnel) proving of an Israeli diplomat on the basis some countries in European Union and conclusion that there also boycott these products. The Interna- who claimed that most of the Palestini- of their ideology is a red line and Israel Latin America but the relationship of Israel tional Community recognised Israel with ans attacked them. However, the Palestine rejects it.” The future of the diplomatic with the Arab World is heading towards are some contrasts, as pre-1967 borders. As per the international nationals said that a big number of Palestin- row is unknown, but according to Netan- betterment. In addition, there is secu- Israel is facing crises law, the territories occupied by the Israel ians were killed just based upon suspicion. yahu, Israel will downgrade diplomatic rity coordination between Israel and the after 1967 are considered illegal. Israel is Therefore, the Swedish Minister demanded relations of Israel with Brazil- a country Palestine Authority and some Key Arab with some countries in angry with this stand. Israeli Prime Min- thorough, credible investigations into these that accommodates some 110,000 Jewish countries as well. European Union and ister, Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to deaths, in order to clarify and establish citizens. However, some 200,000 Jews of Israel has accessed the Gulf region by Latin America but the boycott the European Union, dubbing its responsibility. Brazilian origin live in Israel. establishing offices for its representation. stand as immoral. Netanyahu, who decided to boycott the Brazil recalled its ambassador to Tel Last week, the Sudanese Foreign Minis- relationship of Israel Israel summoned the representatives Swedish delegation, commented on the Aviv after Israel’s attack on Gaza in 2014. ter expressed his readiness to normalise with the Arab World of the European Union to Tel Aviv to reg- statement of Wallström issued on January The then Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff relations with Israel. This was after the Pres- ister its protest against their stand. Israel 15, saying that, “it is outrageous, immoral described the Israeli military operation as ident of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir received a is heading towards has also sent its representatives to the cap- and stupid”. Meanwhile, the Deputy For- carnage. The Israeli Foreign Ministry criti- visit by the Chair of the Friends of Israel betterment. itals of the European Union countries to eign Minister of Israel announced that his cised the Brazilian stand as its spokesman association. Previously the same woman’s

A file picture of hundreds of UK scholars announcing boycott of Israeli universities. The war on Muslim converts is ramping up

This is followed by the assertion that man is or what he is actually doing in has been in any way substantiated- so name for their own ends. his denial is worthless as it was made Syria. However, as a journalist, I won- why run so heavily with it? His mother Meanwhile, the intelligence serv- ‘despite being photographed giving (an) der where the ‘smoking gun’ actually and father dispute this utterly, saying he ices have kept tabs on Mr Letts for over a ‘extremist’, ‘tawhid’ gesture.’ lies within the fairly extensive media is not married nor does he have a son. year, due no doubt to his youth, his con- What is this alarming pose that output, so far. It can’t just be – some There appear to have been pecu- version to Islam, the fact he has learned clearly indicates membership to a ter- bloke goes to Syria, grows a beard, liar and semi-aggressive Facebook Arabic and the fact he has posted pho- ror group? Is it a secret sign, like the and points in the air– he’s an extrem- exchanges with friends, which Letts, tographs of himself (unarmed) in Syria. Freemasons have? It must be some- ist. Can it? who knows about the accusations, The most relevant piece of evidence thing reminiscent of an act of murder The family of ‘Jihadi Jack’ has told claims were made when his account about Jack Letts and his activities, is so or mutilation. I dread to think what it a number of journalists that, despite was hacked. No photos have been found vital, any news writer should include is. In fact, what the Mail and others being hugely concerned for their sons of him posing with any weapons. Nor it at the ‘top’ of a news piece, or pref- are referring to is the mundane pose wellbeing, he has let them know exactly have any been published of him doing erably in the headline. It is this: ‘The of pointing a right index finger in the where he is in Syria and that they are ‘aid work,’ proof of which appears to police and security services say they air, to say ‘there’s only one God.’ The not giving his location for the sake of be patchy, at best. have no evidence he (Jack Letts) has single digit symbolizes ‘one.’ Chilling. his safety. They believe their son is What must concern us for now, is done anything wrong’. By Lauren Booth It is necessary here to make some- helping refugee children in camps. the willingness of mainstream news Instead, this critical piece of infor- thing very clear. Just because Daesh or Yet the Sunday Times report ran a desks to race to bend circumstantial mation lies buried deep, deep down other militants do something that may report painting a very different picture. evidence into the narrative they want it in the articles currently in circula- have roots in Islamic faith practices “Letts, a keen footballer and highly to fit. Who can forget the incident ear- tion. Meanwhile, a suburban couple hite converts to Islam are or Muslim culture doesn’t mean that: regarded student, admitted to his par- lier this month when a 10 year old boy are having their lives pored over, and being served up for pub- a) they created it ents that he was with Isis in Syria in from Lancashire, wrote a school essay accusations made about their son, in a Wlic delectation at an ever b) they own the copyright to it September 2014”! To fit the current about his life in a terraced house. Alleg- deeply disturbing (and so far) unwar- increasing rate by the media. We are c) When others do it they sympa- extremist mould – Letts should: edly, he mis-spelt ‘terraced’, putting ranted media storm. And a young man on the press menu. So how would you thize with the group. a) Marry a more radical ‘foreigner’ ‘terrorist’ instead, triggering a full on who points in the air in photos, is hav- like us – skewered, or well done-over? When I liked funk music I would preferably an Arab investigation of his family under the ing his life back home, trashed. This week, a 20 year-old man from wave my hands in the air like I didn’t b) Have a child and change his 2015 Counter Terrorism and Security Insha Allah, Sally and John Letts Oxford has become the latest headline care, but I didn’t beg ‘Cameo’ to take name to ‘Abu so and so’ (father of so Act. The authorities now deny a spell- will get legal representation and explore What must concern catching convert, for allegedly being me on tour. The fact that a beardy man and so) bringing the tantalising pros- ing mistake was at the route of the a defamation case and demand an IPSO us for now, is the the first, middle class, white person, to or a hjabi woman points a finger at the pect of a second generation jihadist issue, although ‘no further action’ will investigation. ‘Insh Allah’ means ‘God willingness of go to Syria and join Daesh (ISIS). The sky, in no way shows that they are a child into the mix. be taken against the shocked family. willing’ by the way. Being a white Mus- man in question, Jack Letts, appeared cheerleader for jihadists. It’s a thing The Sunday Times report went on Look at that catchy moniker “Jihad lim convert, I’d better hope some bloke mainstream news out of nowhere, with the readymade, we Muslims do- like saying ‘Allahu to state, ‘it is understood Letts married Jack’. The Letts family are angry at the in a beard in Syria doesn’t say it on cam- desks to race to fit-for-purpose, alliterative, nickname, Akbar!’ in celebration when something a woman from the Iraqi city of Fallujah nickname, recognising that it inflames era. Or I will doubtless be in trouble ‘Jihadi Jack.’ Before we follow the press important happens. By the way, that shortly after arriving in Syria.’ Bingo! their situation and provokes a pub- for using ‘extremist’ rhetoric. bend circumstantial pack baying for his blood. Let’s just take means ‘God is great’ not – we’re com- Jack Letts has been reported as lic reaction against their, possibly evidence into the a moment to examine some of the cir- ing to get you and your first born (Faux being a frontline fighter for the terror innocent, son. The Daily Mail infers cumstantial evidence (that is all there Arab chilling laugh to be added here). organization, Daesh, having ‘settled in that some of Letts old school friends narrative they want is so far), against Letts. A good place to There are serious issues raised by Fallujah’ (not Syria as his parents say nicknamed him ‘Jihadi Jack’ but dis- it to fit. start is the Daily Mail. Their headline this media incitement dressed up as or think) and having an Iraqi wife and appointingly fails to give more details. Lauren Booth is an English broad- has Jack Letts saying ’I’m no terrorist.’ news reporting. I have no idea who this child. The problem is that none of this His parents say the press invented the caster, journalist and activist.

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA

China sentences Suu Kyi’s party strides two to death for killing into Myanmar House British monk AFP

opening session which saw the law- Suu Kyi’s relationship with the still- BEIJING: China has sentenced makers sworn in and the appointment powerful military, which holds key two men to death for stabbing to Wearing pastel of a close ally, Win Myint, as lower ministries as well as the 25 percent death a British monk who founded orange uniforms, house speaker. parliamentary bloc. Europe’s first Tibetan monastery “Today is a day to be proud of in Suu Kyi may try to persuade the over a financial dispute, state lawmakers from the Myanmar’s political history and for army to help her change the charter media said. National League for the democratic transition,” Win Myint clause that blocks her path to power, Akong Tulku Rinpoche, co- Democracy (NLD) said in an acceptance speech. analysts say, although it has so far founder of Scotland’s Samye The new government faces a baulked at any attempt to redraft it. Ling monastery, was found dead arrived for their first daunting rebuilding task in one of After decades under the military with multiple stab wounds at his day of work in the Southeast Asia’s poorest countries, yoke, Myanmar’s people queued in home in the southwestern city of whose economy was crushed by their thousands to cast ballots for Chengdu in 2013. capital Naypyidaw, almost half a century of junta rule. Suu Kyi and her party last Novem- A court in the city sentenced buoyed by a massive Many NLD MPs are also political ber, throwing their support behind two men, named in Chinese as novices, unskilled in the business of her simple campaign message of Tudeng Gusang and Tsering Ban- popular mandate government. They must swiftly adapt “change”. jue, to death for the murders of from November’s to a difficult decision-making process With a resounding parliamentary Akong and two other men, while in a legislature where unelected sol- majority, her lawmakers are — at least an accomplice was sentenced to election diers occupy 25 percent of all seats. initially — expected to act as a rub- three years in jail, the state-run “It’s a historic moment for the ber-stamp for her government. China News Service reported late country,” said Myanmar political ana- While the NLD majority will need on Sunday. lyst Khin Zaw Win. to time to find their feet, the military It cited authorities as saying AFP The country will now choose a has had plenty of time to prepare for that Gusang, who had worked at new president to succeed President the handover. A quasi-civilian gov- the Scottish monastery, and Ban- Thein Sein, the former general who ernment has steered reforms since jue had stabbed Akong, his nephew in 2011 launched dramatic political outright army rule ended in 2011. and a driver to death in a dis- NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar entered a and economic reforms which culmi- The military has appointed “more pute over a 2.7m yuan ($410,000) new political era yesterday as Aung nated in the election. senior and experienced, and probably payment. San Suu Kyi’s pro-democracy MPs Suu Kyi herself is barred from the better prepared” soldiers to parlia- The verdict, posted by the court took their seats in parliament, bear- post by a military-scripted constitu- ment, according to Renaud Egreteau, on social media, said the murders ing the hopes of a nation subjugated tion because she married and had an analyst who has studied Myan- were “brutal” and that the sus- for decades by the military. children with a foreigner. mar’s legislature. pects would be “treated severely in Wearing pastel orange uniforms, The 70-year-old has vowed to Thein Sein has led the opening up accordance with the law”. lawmakers from the National League sidestep this hurdle by ruling “above” of the long-isolated country, spurring Britain said in a statement that for Democracy (NLD) arrived for their a proxy president, although she has international investment with sweep- it communicated its opposition to first day of work in the capital Nay- yet to reveal her choice for the role. ing political reforms. the death penalty to Beijing. pyidaw, buoyed by a massive popular While there is no clear sched- But Myanmar remains blighted Akong, who was in his early mandate from November’s election. ule for the selection of candidates, it by civil wars and ethnic and religious 70s, took British citizenship after That poll saw the NLD wrest a could be within days. Elected mem- divisions. Poverty rates are high and fleeing Tibet in 1959, and founded majority from the army establishment bers of both houses and the military the bureaucracy is poorly funded and the facility in rolling Scottish hills and has spurred hopes of a new politi- will nominate three candidates to riven with corruption. in 1967. cal dawn in the long-repressed nation. replace Thein Sein, who retains his On the streets of Yangon, however, He had the title of Rinpoche, Suu Kyi, the centrepiece of Myan- post until the end of March. ordinary people were optimistic about an honorific given to the most mar’s struggle for democracy, entered The new president will then be what Suu Kyi could achieve. “We have respected teachers in Tibetan Bud- the cavernous parliament building chosen by a vote of the combined been hoping for an NLD government dhism, and his monastery said at Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi leaves after attending without comment. houses. for a long time. I feel happy now,” said the time of his killing that he had She took a seat alone for the short Observers are closely watching 22-year-old dentist Kyaw Htet. the first day of a new parliament session in Naypyidaw yesterday. been “assassinated”. The institution was a pilgrim- age site for artists and musicians including Leonard Cohen as well as senior Tibetan monks includ- Toll climbs to 85 in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria village ing the Dalai Lama. Despite fleeing China, Akong had maintained a relationship with authorities in Beijing, regu- AFP commissioner Haruna Mshelia said could have died today,” vigilante Musa Mustapha Anka said the assail- humanitarian support to Nigeria and larly returning to Tibetan regions. 75 bodies were brought into hospi- Adamu, a member of a civilian force ants had opened fire after arriving the region in tackling this threat and Many Tibetans say that China tals and 10 others buried. assisting the military, said. in the village on motorbikes and in in ensuring the sound development represses their religious freedom “A total of 65 bodies were depos- Malam Masa Dalori, a community two cars and had then begun torch- of the region,” it said. and culture. Beijing says it has MAIDUGURI: At least 85 people died ited at the specialist hospital, 10 leader, said that the assailants “came ing homes. Nigerian President Muhammadu brought massive investment to this weekend when Boko Haram others are being deposited at UMTH in Golf saloon cars and began to shoot Three female suicide bombers Buhari, who in December alleged the relatively undeveloped region. insurgents stormed and torched a (another hospital), while another 10 sporadically. Many people ran to the who initially tried to mingle with the that Nigeria had largely won the fight Rights groups say China exe- village near the restive northeast were buried yesterday evening at the bush including myself,” he said. villagers “were intercepted then blew against Boko Haram, urged local peo- cutes more people than the rest of Nigerian city of Maiduguri, a state Dalori community cemetery” Mshe- “When we came back in the themselves up,” he said. ple to help the security forces in their the world combined, though the commissioner said yesterday. lia said. morning the entire community had The assailants also tried to pene- bid to crush the group. annual number sentenced to death It was the third deadly attack to The attack was swiftly con- been razed,” he added. trate a camp for people displaced by “I urge all citizens wherever they has declined significantly over the hit the area in four days, after suicide demned by the European Union, Visiting the scene on Sunday, the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency live to own the war against terror and past decade. Beijing regards the bombers killed at least 24 people in which said it was committed to sup- witnesses found the village largely situated just outside the village, but to be part of the fight because it is the figure as a state secret and does two separate attacks on towns to the porting regional African states in the reduced to piles of smoking ashes were repelled by troops, he said. only way we can finish the remaining not release it. south. Nigeria’s army said the gun- fight against such extremist groups. scattered with charred cooking pots Following the Nigeria attack, work that needs to be done to make The British embassy in Beijing men attacked Dalori just outside Eyewitness Bulama Malum said and household items. the EU reiterated the bloc’s commit- our country safe again,” he said in a said it was aware of the outcome Maiduguri late on Saturday after he saw some 20 bodies burnt beyond Small groups of women and chil- ment to provide ¤50m ($54m) “to statement. of the trial, adding: “The British evening prayers, burning down the recognition and that 15 villagers were dren sat on the ground, gazing at the assist countries of the region to fight Boko Haram which seeks a hard- government maintains its long- village and sending residents fleeing missing, as another source put the toll devastation as men wandered past terrorism”. line Islamic state in northern Nigeria standing opposition to the death into the bush. at 100 or more. burnt-out cars and ruined structures “The EU remains commit- has killed some 17,000 people and penalty, and has formally com- A first toll on Sunday put the “Even as of last night the people that blackened by fire. ted to providing a comprehensive forced more than 2.6 million others municated this to the Chinese deaths at 50 but Borno State health died were over 100. I am sure many Army spokesman Colonel range of political, development and to flee their homes since 2009. government.”

Alert at Sydney Girls High School African Union to press Burundi to accept peacekeeping force

Reuters President Pierre Nkurunziza, endorsed the peacekeeping force whose bid for a third term angered “with a mandate to disarm militias opponents and sparked months of and protect civilians, in addition violence, rejected it. Western powers to a larger human rights observer ADDIS ABABA: The African Union are pressing African states to inter- mission.” Those details could not will send a mission to troubled vene to prevent Burundi sliding back be confirmed. When Chergui was Burundi to press the government to into the kind of ethnically charged asked if more AU monitors would go accept a peacekeeping force after conflict it witnessed in a civil war to Burundi, he said: “That question the president rejected such a move, a that ended in 2005. is too early.” senior AU official said after a summit. “We want dialogue with the gov- Yahya Jammeh, president of African leaders, who held a two- ernment of Burundi,” Smail Chergui, Gambia, which is on the 15-member day summit, may also ask the UN the AU’s Commissioner for Peace and AU peace and security council, had Security Council to exert pressure Security, told reporters after the sum- said on Saturday some African states with a possible sanctions threat if it mit, saying a “a high-level” delegation were against sending any peacekeep- refuses, a senior Western diplomat would seek Burundi’s approval to ers to Burundi against its will. He had who followed the proceedings said. deploy the force. raised fears the AU was wavering Officials said a final communique He did not give further details, on the issue. Violence in the nine- was awaiting clearance from Afri- but the senior Western diplomat said month-old crisis has already killed can capitals. The senior official and the AU was also expected to ask the more than 400 people, in a coun- diplomat were citing its main points UN Security Council to pass a Chap- try that emerged from an ethnically before it was endorsed. ter 7 resolution, “which could mean charged civil war in 2005. The AU’s Peace and Security sanctions if the Burundians remain U.N. assistant secretary general Council announced plans in Decem- defiant.” Chapter 7 of the UN char- for human rights, Ivan Simonovic, ber to deploy a 5,000-strong force, ter covers the council’s authority to said on Saturday that the African Police officers patrol Sydney Girls High School following a threat, in Sydney, Australia, yesterday. It saying it could invoke an article of the enforce decisions with sanctions or Union, if it did not send peacekeep- is one of nine schools across Sydney that had been reportedly targeted with threats, only four days AU’s charter that allowed it to inter- military force. ers, should at least boost the number after another similar incident. vene whether or not the government The Western diplomat said he of human rights monitors it has there agreed. understood that African leaders had or send some police. PAKISTAN TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 13

Private schools No security plan for schools in tribal areas refuse to buy AK-47s for guards region, have been completely ignored. the civil secretariat, Fata, had pre- The provincial governments have There are 5,572 educational insti- Elaborate security measures are pared cosmetic Standard Operating been taking precautionary measures tutions in Fata where around 574,512 Over 80 percent being adopted in the federal capital Procedures (SOP) in the aftermath to ensure security of public sector students have been enrolled. Internews of educational and four provinces to ensure safety of terrorist attack on the Army Pub- educational institutions. Private sector has also made of students, but surprisingly security lic School, Peshawar, on December The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gov- inroads in education sector in the institutions in tribal of schools in Fata has been entrusted 16, 2014. ernment has spent Rs 10bn on the tribal areas. Schools in the violence- PESHAWAR: Private education region are without to local tribes. He said that SOPs were issued to provision of allied facilities in schools ravaged region always remained institutes in the city have refused The authorities are also looking the political agents in tribal agencies across the province during the last the soft target for militants and to comply with police notices to boundary walls and towards foreign donors to provide and concerned deputy commission- one year. The federal government around 1,500 institutions have buy at least three AK-47s for each basic facilities like funds for the construction of bound- ers of six Frontier Regions to prepare as well as the Sindh, Punjab and been destroyed in militancy-related building. Administrations have drinking water and ary walls and provision of other basic security plan for educational institu- Balochistan governments are also activities. said the weapons are no longer facilities in the Fata schools. tions in their respective areas. adopting security measures. The government has allo- easily available in the market. toilets, admitted the Officials admitted that over 80 Under the SOPs, the political The KP government under the cated around Rs 5bn in the Annual “We had a meeting with the authorities percent of educational institutions in authorities have been directed to ask Sensitive and Vulnerable Estab- Development Programme for Fata Peshawar commissioner where the the tribal region were without bound- the local tribes to set up committees lishments and Places (security) Act in 2015-16. It has placed ban on CCPO and SSP were also present,” ary walls and other allied facilities, for the protection of schools in their has also asked the private sector to construction of new schools and Private Educational Institutions including drinking water and toilets. areas. He said that officials of the improve security of schools by ensur- focused on reconstruction of dam- Management Association Presi- Even girls’ schools don’t have the political administrations would reg- ing installation of CCTV cameras, aged buildings and improvement of dent YawarNaseer said. Internews facilities, they said. ularly visit schools. deployment of security guards and existing facilities. “We informed the commis- “Students of both the public and “Basic requirement for safety of increasing height of the boundary “The secretariat needs Rs 7bn sioner about the police decision; private educational institutions are students is the construction of bound- walls up to 10 feet. immediately for provision of allied he supported us saying one can- exposed to threats and there is no ary walls. If a building is without a Sources in the civil secretariat, facilities,” said an official, adding that not keep automatic rifles without PESHAWAR: While the federal and plan to ensure security of schools boundary wall then how the admin- Fata, said that a proposal was under construction of boundary walls and permits.” Naseer added, “We told provincial governments are chalk- especially in those areas which are istration will ensure security of a consideration to seek donors’ assist- other essential facilities was not pos- him AK-47s are no longer availa- ing out security plans for educational close to the border with Afghanistan,” school,” said the official. ance for provision of allied facilities in sible in the available ADP. ble openly.” He added they have institutions after the terrorist attack said an official. He said that teachers often took schools. They said that USAID would He said that the secretariat been asked not to conduct morning on Bacha Khan University, Charsadda, Another official dealing with the classes under trees in summer and in be approached through the United needed approximately Rs 12bn for assemblies. Naseer said they met schools in the Federally Administered security-related matters in Fata said the sun in winter because of unavail- Nations Development Programme provision of basic facilities in edu- police officers who insisted these Tribal Areas, the most vulnerable that law and order department at ability of required facilities. to provide grant for schools. cational institutions in Fata. steps be taken. 20 dead as Taliban bomber strikes outside police base in Kabul

Agencies were civilians,” he had said. witness Mohammad Ajmal said. Kabul police spokesman Basir The Taliban claimed responsi- Mujahid however earlier reported bility for the attack, with insurgent a death toll of nine, adding that as spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid KABUL: A Taliban suicide bomber many as 12 people including a woman claiming on Twitter that up to 40 blew himself after joining a queue to were wounded. The officials later police were killed and wounded. enter a police office in Kabul yester- confirmed the death toll to be 20. The militants routinely exag- day, killing 20 people and wounding In a separate statement, the NATO gerate the toll in attacks on the at least 29 in the worst such attack mission condemned the attack, which Afghanistan government. this year. it said killed 20 police officers and The carnage comes just ahead The Afghan capital was hit by a wounded 25 others as well as seven of a third round of four-country series of suicide attacks last month Afghan civilians. “roadmap talks” trying to lay the as the Taliban stepped up their cam- “Once again, terrorists have groundwork for direct dialogue paign against the Western-backed targeted a populated area with between Kabul and the Islamist government. They coincided with no regard for innocent lives,” said group. renewed efforts to revive a peace Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, Reso- Delegates from Afghanistan, process with the Islamist insurgent lute Support deputy chief of staff for Pakistan, China and the United States movement that stalled last year. communications. are set to convene in Islamabad on The Interior Ministry said in a The health ministry said some of February 6 in a bid to seek a negoti- statement that 20 people had been those wounded were hit in the chest ated end to the Taliban insurgency, killed and 29 others wounded in the by flying shrapnel and are in criti- now in its fifteenth year. A woman reacts as she looks for her relatives at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul yesterday. bombing. cal condition. The Taliban have stepped up However, earlier in the day, Dep- On getting information, ambu- attacks on government and foreign Kunduz, the first urban centre to fall attempt to wrangle greater conces- the insurgents belatedly confirmed the uty Interior Minister Mohammad lances rushed to the scene, which was targets in Afghanistan this win- to the insurgents, and have seized ter- sions during talks. death of longtime leader Mullah Omar, Ayoub Salangi twitted that “Ten cordoned off by authorities. ter, when fighting usually abates, ritory in the opium-growing southern Pakistan —the Taliban’s historic sparking infighting within the group. people were reported to killed and “I saw three bodies on the underscoring a worsening security province of Helmand. backers —hosted a milestone first The first and second round of 20 others were wounded in a sui- ground and a number of other people situation in the country. Observers say the intensifying round of talks directly with the Tal- the four-country talks were held cide attack in Deh Mazang square wounded, then ambulances arrived In recent months the Taliban insurgency highlights a push by the iban in July. last month in Islamabad and Kabul of Kabul city.” “Most of the victims and took all the victims away,” briefly captured the northern city of militants to seize more territory in an But the negotiations stalled when respectively. Sharif to attend nuclear summit in US in March An armed man on

Internews Abbas Jilani represented Pakistan Since then Nuclear Security Sum- summit process and will determine at the meeting. mits have taken place in 2010, 2102 pathways to secure and build on the US President Barack Obama will and 2104. This will be the fourth and achievements of the whole process. mission against polio host the fourth and the final Nuclear final summit as President Obama “The United States has been ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Security Summit (NSS) on April 1 in completes his final term this year. very appreciative of Pakistan’s par- Sharif will represent Pakistan at a Washington. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani ticipation in these meetings and Internews nuclear summit in March this year Leaders from 50 countries and attended 2010 and 2012 summits. has periodically recognised Paki- when the outgoing Obama admin- international organisations will par- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attended stan’s active engagement with global A soldier, Muhammad istration would try to reach some ticipate. Chinese President Xi Jinping the last summit in The Hague in 2014. community on the issue of nuclear Akram meets people understanding with recognised and and India’s Prime Minister Narendra “Such high-level participation security,” Ambassador Jilani said. ISLAMABAD: For Muhammad unrecognised nuclear states to control Modi will also be among the leaders by Pakistan manifests the impor- In a policy statement on Paki- Akram, the gun slung over his shoul- and explains to them proliferation, sources said yesterday. expected to attend the meeting. tance attached to this issue and as a stan’s nuclear programme, the US der has had no role to play in the the importance of Earlier this week, Pakistan The NSS process has been Pres- reflection of its strong commitment to Department expressed confidence battle he has won. attended a sherpa (preparatory) ident Obama’s flagship initiative nuclear security as a nuclear weapon that the country was “well aware of A risaldar in the Balochistan administering polio meeting for the summit in San since his first term when he under- state,” Ambassador Jilani said. its responsibilities with respect to Levies Force for the past five years, drops to children Francisco. Foreign Secretary Aizaz lined security of nuclear materials as The summit meeting will dis- nuclear security and has secured its Akram is also a member of the Agh- Chaudhry and Ambassador Jalil a priority of his administration. cuss the future of the nuclear security nuclear arsenal accordingly”. berg Union Council in Quetta —the union council he has helped become a polio-free zone. to get their children vaccinated. During his tenure and as a tribe But that didn’t discourage Official told to elder of the Pashtun tribe Bazai, Akram. Instead, he used his Levies Supporting family Akram realised the peril of polio and and tribal sources to reach out to the the threat it posed for the children families and advocate the impor- resolve pension of Pakistan. This made his resolve to tance of the polio drops. “There were eliminate the crippling disease even a total of 40 families in the town that cases in 30 days stronger. refused the administration of polio According to the World Health drops,” he recalls. Organisation, polio still remains Akram’s role in overturning ISLAMABAD: Senior Advisor (Law) endemic in the country. Balochistan, refusal cases has helped him achieve Grievance Commissioner for Over- however, was polio free for more than a significant status in his union seas Pakistanis WafaqiMohtasib two years till July 2014. Akram soon council of about 50,000 people. Secretariat Hafiz Ahsaan Ahmad took it upon himself to make his rather To honour his volunteer work, Khokhar has directed the Accountant small but conservative area polio free successive deputy commissioners General Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) to by targeting 3,800 children under the of Quetta, Shaheed MansoorKakar resolve and decide all pending cases age of five in the region. and Dawood Khilji, awarded him the of pension of government employees Through active participation, Pride of Performance Award twice. in next 30 days and submit a report. he has not only advocated the ben- Quetta has as many as 1,580 per- Hafiz Ahsan issued a letter efits of the polio drops, but has also sonnel deployed for security of polio to AGPR on the advice of Federal successfully convinced Ulema and workers, with each team of vaccina- Ombudsman Pakistan M Salman opinion makers in the vicinity to join tors flanked by two securitymen. . Faroqui to immediately help mitigate hands for the cause. Moreover, the Falcon Police, sufferings of a number of retired gov- Today, a contingent of 30 per- Frontier Corps of Balochistan and ernment employees. sonnel of the Levies force under his SHOs of concerned police stations It is also advised to set certain command is actively combatting patrol the areas covered during a standards of procedure to deal with the disease of polio. certain drive in order to deal with pension issues and instructed AGPR Making the council 100 percent any untoward incidents. to submit the strategy that all pen- polio free wasn’t easy. Many believe It is Akram’s effort that has sion cases would be decided in 30 A child returns home after collecting firewood at Jala Bela village outside Peshawar, yesterday. the main hurdle in eradicating polio turned his union council into an days in future. from Balochistan is parents’ refusal example for the rest of Quetta. 14 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 INDIA

J&K governor to Child on fire! discuss govt formation today

unless the central government gave assurances on time-bound imple- BJP and PDP leaders mentation of the agenda of alliance to meet Vohra today between her party and the BJP. She is not a member of the hung amid uncertainty assembly and represents Anantnag in state under in the Lok Sabha. There has been governor’s rule speculation that she may ditch the BJP and embrace the Congress and smaller parties. BJP state president Sat Pal IANS Sharma meanwhile flew to New Delhi with former deputy chief min- ister Nirmal Singh and Lok Sabha MP Jugal Kishore to meet party leaders. JAMMU/SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: Sharma said there were no pre- Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N conditions from the BJP vis-a-vis Vohra yesterday asked the PDP and the PDP. the BJP to meet him today regard- He also said there were no dif- ing government formation but the ferences between the two parties two appeared to be drifting apart. and hoped that an elected govern- Political sources in Srinagar ment comprising the PDP and BJP said that after being delayed by would soon be in place in the state. three weeks, government formation But he ruled out any further A Kashmiri boy sets ablaze a shroud he is wearing to protest the demolition drive by the Lake and Waterways Development Authority was looking increasingly a remote assurances on the alliance agenda. inside Nigeen Lake on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, yesterday. possibility. Governor Vohra has asked both In Srinagar, PDP legislators met the PDP and the BJP to call on him and asked their president Mehbooba today to discuss government for- Mufti to meet Vohra in the winter mation. Leaders of both parties will capital Jammu today. meet him separately. “The MLAs authorised Mehbooba On Sunday, Mehbooba Mufti told Mufti to convey the legislature par- her party colleagues she was was not Trash piles up as Delhi cleaners remain unpaid ty’s views to the governor,” senior ready to become the chief minister Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the state “for nothing”. leader and former minister Naeem The sources say it is now a game Akhtar told reporters. of brinkmanship between the PDP AFP January 27. Sanitation workers yester- the city,” he told AFP, adding such were withholding funds handed over The legislators did not elect Meh- and the BJP. day dumped rubbish outside a Delhi protests would continue. by the government that were meant booba Mufti, an MP, leader of the Meanwhile, Vohra is reported government minister’s home, one of Using brooms and shovels, Delhi for workers’ salaries. legislature party in the 87-member to have finalised a list of advisors several targeted as part of the protest government ministers, along with “We have said this repeatedly that state assembly. Party leaders said he needs to run the country’s only NEW DELHI: Rubbish piled up on over unpaid salaries. other officials and volunteers from we have given the dues to the civic the matter was not even discussed. Muslim-majority state during Gov- New Delhi’s streets yesterday as “The Delhi government spends the Aam Aadmi Party, took to the agencies,” Sisodia, whose home has The state came under Governor’s ernor’s Rule. refuse collectors vowed to push ahead millions on advertisements, why can’t streets at the weekend to clean up also been targeted with piles of rub- Rule on January 8, a day after Chief Under its own constitution, the with a nearly week-long strike, the it release the funds for our salaries,” the rubbish. The Delhi government bish, told reporters. Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed state can be under Governor’s Rule latest crisis to hit the world’s most said Sanjay Gehlot, president of an has blamed the city’s three municipal “Now, the civic bodies must give — Mehbooba’s father — died. for six months. polluted city. umbrella group of 60,000 to 80,000 corporations, controlled by its arch accounts of what they did with the He had headed an alliance of his If the governor is convinced Already reeling from danger- protesting municipal workers. rival, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), money and why aren’t the workers PDP and the Bharatiya Janata Party there are no chances of a gov- ously high levels of toxic smog, the “Today we dumped garbage out- which rules at the national level, for getting paid,” he said. (BJP). ernment taking power, he can Indian capital is now grappling with side the Delhi tourism minister’s the crisis. Delhi deputy chief minister There was no immediate com- Mehbooba has said she would recommend dissolution of the state uncollected garbage that has been residence in our symbolic protest and Manish Sisodia reiterated yesterday ment from the corporations on the not stake claim to power in the state assembly and seek fresh elections. mounting in parts of the city since caused roadblocks in other parts of his accusation that the corporations strike.

Fresh bribery Plate-making allegations Outrage after cops against two beat up students Kerala politicians AFP “There was no provocation from the side of the protesters. It was a small group, non-violent IANS and unarmed. The police could NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minis- have easily managed such a small ter Arvind Kejriwal accused the crowd without using brute force,” THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/ city’s police yesterday of terroris- photographer Vikas Kumar, who KOCHI: Whistle-blower bar owner ing protesters after video footage covered the protest, said on the Biju Ramesh yesterday opened a of them belting university students Catch News website. new can of worms in Kerala, alleg- with sticks at a peaceful demon- Police have ordered an inquiry ing that Rs20m was paid to then stration went viral. into the violence which sparked state Congress president Ramesh Delhi University students outrage on social media yester- Chennithala and Rs2.5m to staged a protest in the Indian cap- day, while the video was being Health Minister V S Sivakumar as ital last weekend over the death of played repeatedly on India’s TV bribes. Both leaders denied the a young Dalit scholar who commit- news channels. “We have ordered charge. ted suicide after he was suspended an inquiry into the incident and Refuting Ramesh’s allega- from a campus in the country’s are analysing the video,” police tion, Chennithala, who is now the south. spokesman Rajan Bhagat told AFP. home minister, said that every Video of the protest held Kejriwal claimed officers time money is received as party outside the headquarters of a were being manipulated by his fund, it is not only accounted but right-wing Hindu outfit shows arch rival, the Hindu national- also audited. police hovering around the plac- ist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Sivakumar also denied the ard-waving and chanting students which rules at national level and is allegation, saying he deals with before suddenly beating them with in charge of the city’s police force. health issues and not with bars. wooden sticks and their fists. The protest on Saturday was Ramesh had earlier alleged The students are heard held outside the offices of the Rash- that bribes were paid to Excise screaming and running away as triya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Minister K Babu and Finance Min- police chase them, with some the hardline ideological parent of A worker operates a lathe machine while making iron plates at a utensils manufacturing unit in ister K M Mani — both of whom grabbing protesters by the hair and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s later resigned. Kolkata, yesterday. pinning them to the ground. BJP. Yesterday, he said the bar own- ers paid Rs20m to Chennithala and Rs2.5m to Sivakumar. “We (bar owners) handed over the money to Chennithala at his office in the state party headquar- Lawyer slaps case on Ram for sending wife Sita to forest ters and it was given to see that government policies when taken will not affect the bar owners. “The money to Sivakumar IANS such an ancient incident?” the law- The complaint-case was filed towards his wife as to send her to live village under Majorganj police station. was paid to his staff,” Ramesh told yer said. against Ram and his brother Lak- alone in a forest? the petitioner said. “Sita, who was a devoted wife, reporters. The judge also asked the peti- shman in the court of chief judicial The court had admitted the case always fulfilled her duty. How could UDF leader Antony Raju told PATNA: As a Bihar court yesterday tioner why has he filed a case for such magistrate in Sitamarhi on Saturday and fixed the hearing for yesterday. such a crime be committed against the media that the government has began hearing of a case against Ram an ancient incident and who will be by lawyer Thakur Chandan Kumar “I have filed a case under Section her? Rama also ignored the fact that got “valuable leads” about the con- for exiling his wife Sita to forest, as his witness? “You have also not men- Singh. 367/34 and other sections of the IPC, a lonely woman would have to spend spirators behind these revelations, told in Ramayan, it asked the peti- tioned the date on which Rama ousted In his petition, Singh said Ram seeking direction of the court for jus- time in deep forest,” Singh said. and in the next few days more tioner who it should punish for an Sita and sent her to forest. And what is sent Sita to a life in exile in a for- tice to Sita in this regard,” Singh said. Stating that Sita was from Mith- details will emerge. Meanwhile, incident that took place ages ago, a the basis of the complaint,” the judge est without any fault of hers and for He said according to Ramayan, ila in Bihar and justice was not done Babu, who had quit, returned to government lawyer said. posed, according to the lawyer. which there was no justification. Ram sent Sita to the forest after her to her by Ram, Singh said the aim of office yesterday after the ruling “Judge of the court asked the peti- The petitioner said he approached Sita was exiled for no fault of hers. moral purity was questioned by a his petition was to seek justice. “My UDF asked him to take back his tioner soon after hearing in the case the court to seek justice for Sita. “I am It was a hypocritical order of King washerman of his kingdom Ayodhya. petition in the court is not to hurt reli- resignation. began, whom should he punish in in court, begging justice for Sita.” Ram. How can a man be so cruel Singh is a resident of Dumri Kala gious sentiments.” INDIA TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 15 13 Pune college students drown in sea during picnic

AFP Dozens of students from Pune city, adding that 10 women and three men swept away by the tides,” Inamdar with locals who prefer it to the inter- Mumbai trying to save a girl who fell in Maharashtra, were on an excursion had died. said. nationally renowned tourist state into the sea while taking a selfie. to Murud beach in the Raigad district The victims were enrolled at He said that 14 people had of Goa. Murud is around 140km south The girl and two friends fell off of the western Indian state, when dis- Abeda Inamdar College, an arts, drowned, ten women and four men, of Mumbai. Inamdar said between rocks into the Arabian sea while click- MUMBAI: A college picnic to the aster struck yesterday. science and commerce institute in although police insisted that the death eight and ten college staff had accom- ing photos of themselves. beach turned into a tragedy yester- “A total of 155 students from Pune Pune. toll was still at 13 late yesterday. panied the students on their trip and A passerby, 37-year-old Ramesh day when at least 13 students drowned went to Murud main beach and some P A Inamdar, a trustee at the col- Inamdar said all other students he had been told that there hadn’t Walanju, jumped in and helped save off India’s west coast after they went of them went swimming around lege, told AFP that the students had had been accounted for while Patil been any lifeguards on duty at the the two friends but was washed away swimming, police and officials said. 3.30pm this afternoon,” Assistant been on a picnic to Murud, which also said everyone else on the excur- time of the tragedy. by the choppy waters and his body The tragedy was the latest drown- Inspector of Raigad police Arvind had been organised by the educa- sion was “safe” after a massive rescue “I don’t think there were life- was found floating in a nearby creek. ing incident in India, where many Patil said. tional institute. operation involving the Indian coast guards on the beach. That is the basic The girl is still missing. people are unable to swim and lax “Thirteen students are dead due “They were on an excursion and guard. problem,” he said. In February 2014, 29 people died safety standards mean beaches are to drowning. The victims were all must have gone into the sea against Murud sits on the Konkan coast, Yesterday’s drowning comes a when a passenger boat capsized in often without lifeguards. aged between 19 and 23,” Patil said, the advice of the teachers. They were which has dozens of beaches popular few weeks after a man drowned off the eastern state of Orissa. Modi reaffirms Difficult act support for Afghanistan

At yesterday’s meeting, Abdul- Afghanistan’s Chief lah Abdullah said that the visit Executive Officer re-energised the strategic partner- ship between the two countries. Abdullah Abdullah “He deeply appreciated the sup- meets PM port being extended by India for infrastructure development and capacity building in Afghanistan,” the External Affairs Ministry state- IANS ment said. “The two leaders shared views on further deepening the strategic partnership, both in the bilateral and NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Naren- regional context.” dra Modi yesterday reiterated India’s An agreement for visa-free travel commitment for building a peace- for diplomatic passport holders of ful Afghanistan when Afghanistan’s the two countries was exchanged in Chief Executive Officer and Head of the presence of Modi and Abdullah the Council of Ministers Abdullah Abdullah. Abdullah called on him here. The Afghanistan Chief Executive “The prime minister expressed later held a meeting with External deep gratitude towards the govern- Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ment and the national security forces during the course of which India A performer at a Jumbo Circus show in Bangalore. Over 160 artistes, aged between 16 and 52 years from different parts of the country, of Afghanistan for their bravery and approved the third phase of 92 small sacrifice in order to protect the Indi- development projects in Afghanistan. perform in the circus. The Indian circus industry, once a favourite form of entertainment, is struggling to survive. ans, especially during the attack on External Affairs Ministry spokes- the Indian consulate in Mazar-e- man Vikas Swarup tweeted that Sharif on January 4-5, 2016,” the Sushma Swaraj has approved the External Affairs Ministry said in a “strategic partnership for the ben- statement. efit of (Afghan) people”. “The prime minister reiterated Abdullah Abdullah, who arrived Spiritual guru for letting women intoShani temple India’s commitment to extend all here on Sunday on a five-day visit possible support to the efforts of the to India, will leave for Jaipur today Afghan people in building a peace- where he will deliver the keynote ful, stable, prosperous, inclusive and address at a conference on coun- IANS “The Shani temple committee can the temple management has accepted across the country as well as abroad democratic country,” it stated. ter-terrorism organised by the India adopt the Kashi Vishwanath temple to his suggestion. though women are not allowed at the On his part, Abdullah Abdullah Foundation in collaboration with model where everyone is allowed to An AoL spokeperson told IANS temple’s elevated platform where the recalled positively the maiden and Sardar Patel University of Police, BENGALURU: Favouring women’s enter or the Tirupati model where that Ravi Shankar is likely to visit the deity is installed. successful visit of Modi to Afghani- Security and Criminal Justice, Jodh- entry into the Shani temple in Mahar- only the priest is allowed inside the Shani temple in the coming days, as The temple is open on all sides, stan in December last year. pur. President Pranab Mukherjee ashtra’s Shinganapur village, seer and sanctum sanctorum,” he said in a he is visiting Tamil Nadu now. has no walls or roof. A ‘svayambhu’ During Modi’s visit to Kabul on will inaugurate the conference today. Art of Living (AoL) founder Sri Ravi statement here. Located at Shinganapur village in (self-emerged) five-foot-high black December 25, the new Afghan par- The first counter-terrorism con- Shankar yesterday suggested two Favouring more women repre- Ahmednagar, 300km from Mumbai, stone, deified as the temple deity liament building, constructed with ference was held in March 2015 in models to overcome the centuries- sentation on the Shani temple trust the unique Shanidev temple attracts stands on a raised platform and is India’s aid, was inaugurated. Jaipur. old taboo. committee, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said millions of tourists and devotees from worshipped as Shanidev.

Rape victim says In the works I am nobody’s agent, harassed again in hospital says governor

AFP IANS “The media misquoted the report. I never mentioned cow slaughter in my report but men- NEW DELHI: A teenage rape ITANAGAR: Raj Bhavan in Aru- tioned ‘mithun slaughter’. Union victim was allegedly sexually nachal Pradesh was not the Minister of State for Home Affairs assaulted a second time while in headquarters of the BJP or the RSS, Kiren Rijiju had clarified the mat- hospital receiving treatment for Governor J P Rajkhowa said yes- ter,” Rajkhowa said. the original attack in India’s east, terday, and claimed that he was However, Rajkhowa exuded con- police said yesterday, in the latest “nobody’s agent”. fidence that President’s Rule in the case of violence against women. Rubbishing the Congress’s accu- frontier state could be withdrawn The 15-year-old girl has told sation of using the governor’s house once normalcy returns. police that she was raped on as the BJP and RSS headquarters, “The state assembly has not Sunday by a security guard at Rajkhowa said he was not an “agent” been dissolved but was kept under the hospital where she had been of any political party. suspended animation and it can be admitted in Jamshedpur city in the “I am nobody’s agent. I was never withdrawn anytime by the president impoverished state of Jharkhand. an agent. I have never used Raj Bha- once the political crisis is resolved. “We registered a case and van as the office of political parties “I wish the political crisis ends as arrested the private security and have no inclination towards any soon as possible but it has to be a sta- guard posted at the hospital after political party but working under the ble government,” the governor said. the girl’s complaint and are now ambit of the Indian Constitution,” “President’s Rule is only for a awaiting her medical report,” Rajkhowa told journalists. temporary period. Sooner or later, police superintendent Chandan “I am not a political person as I a democratically elected govern- Jha told AFP. was never a member of any political ment will be here. Until then, law and “The girl has (now) been party. I have never visited any office order has to be maintained effec- referred to the best hospital in of any political party but I do things tively at all costs and also we have to the city for further treatment and on my own conscience and ration- ensure good governance and contain rehabilitation,” he added. ale,” he added. the menace of corruption,” he said. The girl had been admitted He denied that he mentioned The governor appealed to all several days earlier to the MGM cow slaughter in his report to the political parties for cooperation and Hospital after informing police that Union Home Ministry as one of the urged them to have patience. she had been raped by a teenager Labourers work at a building construction site in Mumbai yesterday. reasons for breakdown in law and He said funds will be distributed in her neighbourhood on the city’s order for promulgation of Article 356 equitably and rationally, without outskirts. in Arunachal Pradesh. discrimination. 16 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 EUROPE Britain and EU warn more work needed for Brexit deal

to do in all four areas —more work in some areas than others.” The EU Commission The four demands include safe- said there was guarding EU countries like Britain progress but stressed that are not part of the euro single currency, ensuring greater EU eco- that any deal still nomic competitiveness, opting out needed the backing of the goal of ever closer union and restricting access to benefits for EU of all 28 EU nations workers in Britain. Cameron’s spokesman hailed “substantial” signals from the Euro- pean Commission on a deal for a AFP so-called “welfare brake” that would allow London to exclude EU migrants from benefits, such as income top-ups for low-paid workers. BRUSSELS: Britain and the EU The Commission —the power- warned yesterday that more work is ful executive arm of the EU which is needed to seal a deal on changes to responsible for initiating legislation — Britain’s membership of the bloc by said there was “progress” but stressed the end of the day and allow David that any deal still needed the backing Cameron to hold a referendum as he of all 28 EU nations. hopes this summer. “We are not there yet. Nothing is Diplomats were locked in inten- agreed until everything is agreed,” sive talks in Brussels after the British Margaritis Schinas, a spokesman premier and European Union pres- for Commission chief Jean-Claude ident Donald Tusk set a 24-hour Juncker, told reporters. deadline for a draft accord after Although Cameron has only set talks in London broke down on Sun- a deadline of the end of 2017 to hold day night. a referendum and insists he is in “no Without a draft there will be no hurry” for a deal, sources have said he time for European capitals to sign off is keen to push a vote through by June. on a full deal at an EU summit later That would avoid any new flare- this month, in turn ruling out Cam- up in Europe’s migration crisis this eron’s preferred date of June for a summer and before British euro- vote on whether Britain should stay sceptics, particularly in his own in the bloc. Conservative party, become even London’s bid to transform its more unruly. membership of the EU has sparked Former Polish prime minister Tusk European Council President Donald Tusk (left) speaks to British Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street in London on Sunday. turmoil, coming as the 28-nation alli- said on Twitter on Sunday that “inten- ance struggles with the biggest influx sive work” in the next 24 hours was strongly to Cameron’s original Paris set a red line by warning Lon- votes are unacceptable,” the Financial campaign to stay in a reformed EU of migrants since World War II and the “crucial”. demand for a four-year ban on EU don that it would block the proposal Times reported, saying France would in the referendum. fallout from the eurozone debt crisis. He is set to decide whether or workers claiming benefits, saying it on protection for non-euro countries reject any “backdoor veto” for the City The number of European job seek- “There is more hard work to be not to go ahead with plans to sub- was discriminatory and could require if it went too far. of London finance hub. ers has become a hot political issue done,” Cameron’s spokesman told mit a proposal for a British deal, EU change to the EU’s founding treaties, “To French officials, any pro- Cameron, who was re-elected in Britain and a key driver of anti-EU reporters in London. “We are mak- sources said. a very difficult procedure. visions giving non-euro countries in May with a surprise majority, sentiment —a phenomenon increas- ing progress but there’s more work Other countries had objected But a new challenge arose when power to indefinitely stall eurozone has said a deal will allow him to ingly seen across the bloc.

Cultural tie Kadyrov threatens Russian Hollande pardons woman jailed for opposition figures in video killing husband

AFP but would look into the matter. Kara-Murza said the footage PARIS: French President Francois used in Kadyrov’s post was filmed by Hollande pardoned a woman who LifeNews, a sensationalist channel was jailed for 10 years for killing MOSCOW: Pro-Kremlin Chechen known for its ties to Russian security her husband after he abused her leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who rules services. It was shot while the two for decades, the president’s office his southern Russian region with men took part in meetings —includ- announced. an iron grip, yesterday published a ing one dedicated to Nemtsov —of “In the face of an exceptional video showing opposition figures in the Parliamentary Assembly of the human situation, the president the cross hairs of a sniper scope. Council of Europe (PACE) last month wanted to make it possible for The clip, posted on Kadyrov’s in the French city of Strasbourg. (Jacqueline) Sauvage to return to popular Instagram page, features According to Kadyrov’s post: her family as soon as possible,” the former Russian prime minister “Kasyanov went to Strasbourg presidency said. in a statement. Mikhail Kasyanov —who heads the to receive money for the Russian The case of Sauvage, 68, had Parnas opposition party —alongside opposition.” become a cause celebre in France, Vladimir Kara-Murza, the party’s Russian parliamentarians have with more than 400,000 people deputy leader, targeted in the sights. snubbed PACE since 2014 in response signing a petition demanding her “Whoever did not get it will get to Western sanctions against Mos- release. it now!” Kadyrov wrote in the vid- cow for its annexation of Crimea. Hollande met with her daugh- eo’s description, which also alleged Kadyrov, who rules a North Cau- ters and lawyers on Friday. the ex-premier had gone to France casus region that was the scene of Sauvage was married for 47 to raise money for the Russian two separatist wars, has threatened years to Norbert Marot, a violent opposition. Kremlin critics on several occasions alcoholic who she said beat her Kara-Murza said he and in the past. and her three daughters and also Kasyanov considered Kadyrov’s Last month, the Chechen leader abused her son. Instagram post a “direct incitement penned a lengthy diatribe in pro- On September 10, 2012, the day to murder.” “This is the result of the Kremlin daily Izvestiya against after her son hanged himself, Sau- impunity that has reigned since Boris Putin’s critics, calling them a “gang vage shot her husband three times Nemtsov’s murder,” Kara-Murza of jackals” who “dream of destroy- in the back with a rifle. (FROM LEFT) Louvre Museum Director Jean-Luc Martinez, Dutch Minister of Education Jet Bussemaker, said, referring to the opposition pol- ing our state.” She was found guilty of mur- French Minister of Culture and Communication Fleur Pellerin and Rijksmuseum Director Wim Pijbes itician gunned down steps from the The remarks caused an uproar der and sentenced to 10 years in pose in front of the portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit, painted by Rembrandt van Rijn Kremlin last year. and several people publicly criti- prison in October 2014, which before their wedding in 1634, at the Louvre in Paris, yesterday. France and the Netherlands signed Vladimir Putin’s spokesman cised Kadyrov, prompting Chechen was upheld on appeal in Decem- the final agreement on the joint purchase of the wedding portraits. Dmitry Peskov said Kremlin “does not authorities to organise a mass rally ber 2015 as the state rejected her monitor Kadyrov’s Instagram account” in support of their strongman leader. plea of self-defence. Finnish PM says Refugees bring entrepreneurial spirit to risk-shy Germany he can’t put up Reuters start-up boom in certain areas such Germany’s IW institute, warns that Around a third of those who Of the 1.1 million who arrived last refugee family as Berlin, Germany still has a rela- a lack of high-tech start-ups and applied for asylum last year came year, 25,000-50,000 might realistically tively low level of entrepreneurial a tendency towards risk aversion from Syria, where a culture of entre- set up their own business, estimates Ralf activity compared with other indus- could hurt economic growth in the preneurship is widespread. The Saenger, an expert in self-employment at HELSINKI: Finnish Prime Minis- BERLIN: Syrians Hiba Albassir and trialised economies. medium-term. biological father of Steve Jobs, who the Institute of Social Research in Mainz. ter Juha Sipila has said he will not her husband Khaled arrived in Ger- Statistics show that the over- During the 1960s and 1970s, Ger- co-founded Apple, emigrated to the Many newcomers have exhausted be able to fulfil a promise to put many two years ago with only the all number of companies founded man industry recruited large numbers United States from Syria. their savings on people smugglers to up a family of asylum seekers for bags they could carry. But that didn’t each year has shrunk by more than of “guest workers” from Turkey, North “Being self-employed is very pop- cross the Mediterranean and will now because of security concerns. stop them from setting up their own 40 percent over the past decade and Africa and the former Yugoslavia. ular. Arabs are able tradespeople,” struggle to raise finance. Others may Sipila, a former telecoms business. For them it was natural to that the entrepreneurial activity of However, as technically temporary said Cologne-based Syrian lawyer have their hands full just finding a executive, stirred controversy in rebuild the company they had left young people has decreased as a long- residents, they came to work in low- Oussama Al-Agi who advises Arab place to live and learning German. September by saying he would behind, whereas among many Ger- term trend. skilled jobs at German firms and not entrepreneurs who want to set up This is true for Syrian-born Akram open his second home in north- mans this entrepreneurial spirit is in With good jobs relatively plentiful, to establish new businesses. firms in Germany. Many migrants Alfawakheeri who arrived in Germany ern Finland to refugees. short supply. many German-born graduates pre- This time, the latest influx of ref- may have little choice. last June. The 25-year-old previously But he told public radio that he “Starting with nothing is not fer the greater safety of working for ugees —many of whom like Albassir The experience of immigrants founded a start-up in Istanbul and is had had to put the plan on hold, very easy, but just sitting around and an established company rather than ran a business back home —is seen from eastern Europe shows they often keen to try again in Berlin but wants though he would support a refugee doing nothing is much harder,” said taking the risk of setting up on their as an opportunity to make Germany struggle to get jobs that match their first to learn German, make connec- family in other ways until the sit- 48-year-old Albassir whose company own, said Rolf Sternberg, professor more enterprising. skills as employers don’t recognise tions and improve his IT skills. uation changed. “I asked security “Khashabna” —meaning “Our Wood” for economic geography at the Uni- Migrants are already responsi- their qualifications. Rather than be “I like the entrepreneurial way of experts to evaluate whether it would in Arabic —sells hand-made garden versity of Hanover. ble for one in five new businesses set shunted into lower paid work, they things,” Alfawakheeri said at a work- be safe for a family with children to furniture imported from their former “In Germany the culture prevails up in recent years, according to KfW, choose self-employment. shop in Berlin aimed at showing move in. Due to heavy publicity, the warehouse in Damascus. that if you fail, it’s not easy to shake a government-owned development Still, experts play down talk that the refugees how to start companies. “I situation is such that it would not be The Global Entrepreneurship off the stigma,” said Sternberg. bank. This is higher than their share recent flood of new arrivals could lead failed once and I am willing to fail again reasonable right now.” Monitor finds that despite a recent Michael Huether, head of of the population. to a rush of start-ups in the near term. until I can make something work.” EUROPE TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 17

UK mother gets Authorities step up security for Cologne carnival 6-years jail for joining IS group shocked the nation. they could to make people feel secure the Nazi Gestapo makes such tools action against offenders and support More policemen will Every year revellers in the city, during the February 4-9 carnival but unpopular. teams will look after any victims. famed for its twin-spired gothic safety could never be 100 percent Police have banned 38 peo- Some revellers said they would in Syria be put on duty with cathedral, don colourful costumes guaranteed. ple from entering certain areas of be extra cautious. dark areas lit and and paint their faces for the raucous “We’ll celebrate the traditional, Cologne and nearby Leverkusen, “I’ll go but I’ll keep a closer eye festival. Party-goers sway to jolly unique and world-famous carni- Mathies said. on my friends and pay more atten- AFP video surveillance be songs and attend parties or masked val much to everyone’s delight like Cologne authorities will light 30 tion to my surroundings,” said Hanna, used to make people balls. we have always done in Cologne,” dark areas and close off a square a 19-year-old archaeology student. safe in the wake of But this year, a shadow looms she said. “We have reacted to the that is too dark to be lit as they spend Others have decided not to cel- LONDON: A mother who took over the festivities. The last time big events of New Year’s Eve with spe- €478,000 ($520,685) more on keep- ebrate in the city centre. Jana, an her toddler to Syria and joined attacks on New Year crowds gathered here on December cific measures.” ing the city safe and clean than last 18-year-old schoolgirl, will go to a the Islamic State (IS) group was 31, hundreds of women were groped, More than 2,000 police will be year, city director Guido Kahlen said. smaller carnival outside the city. sentenced to six years in prison assaulted and robbed outside the on duty for ‘Weiberfastnacht’ (wom- Transport companies said they “I’ll definitely have my pep- yesterday after becoming the first central train station. Regional inte- en’s carnival day) —the first big day would boost staffing at their trains per spray with me and I won’t go to British woman to be convicted Reuters rior ministry and police reports said of revelry and the number of officers and at stations to improve security. Cologne - I usually do but I won’t dare after returning home. most of the men there were of North on regular duty will be significantly The huge number of people, make this year after the incidents at New Tareena Shakil, 26, was found African and Arab appearance. increased, Cologne Police Chief Juer- it hard to guarantee security, police Year’s Eve,” she said. guilty by a court in Birmingham, More than any other incident, the gen Mathies told reporters. chief Mathies said. Police received The Cologne carnival committee central England of IS membership COLOGNE: As Cologne gears up for attacks fuelled growing criticism of Police will use video cameras to around 50 complaints of assaults dur- has printed flyers for migrants in Ger- and encouraging terrorism in posts its annual carnival, authorities said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision monitor potential trouble. On New ing last year’s festival. man, English and Arabic inviting them on Twitter before leaving Britain. yesterday they would put more police to open Germany’s doors to more than Year’s Eve, there were none in the “We can’t rule out that such crim- to take part and tell them not to worry “You were well aware that the on duty, light dark areas and use video a million migrants. square outside the station, partly inal offences will happen again this if they see people dressed as soldiers future which you had subjected surveillance to make people feel safe Cologne Mayor Henriette Reker because surveillance by the com- year. We need to be realistic,” Mathies because their guns are made of wood your son to was very likely to be after assaults on women at New Year said city officials had done everything munist-era East German Stasi and said, adding his force will take firm and loaded with flowers. indoctrination and thereafter life as a terrorist fighter,” Judge Mel- bourne Inman said. The court heard that Shakil was radicalised online and in Russia sending Dead sperm whales in Germany October 2014 told her family she was going to Turkey for a beach weapons to holiday. Instead, she crossed the border into Syria and went to IS strong- east Ukraine: hold Raqa. “I left to build us all a house in Poroshenko heaven, Allah promised us heaven if we sacrifice our worldly life,” she wrote in a message to a relative. AFP “I’m not coming back.” In Raqa, she was kept in a large house with other sin- gle women and posed with her BERLIN: Ukraine’s president yes- son for a selfie while wearing a terday accused Russia of sending black balaclava branded with the troops and weapons into the ex- IS symbol. Soviet state’s conflict-torn east, and Other pictures found on her warned that a fragile peace deal phone showed her posing with an was not being fully implemented. AK-47 assault rifle and a handgun. “It’s terrible that after the Minsk However, Shakil found life agreement ... we still face serious under IS rules too strict. security problems in the Donbass,” In January 2015, after repeat- Petro Poroshenko said in refer- edly looking up “I want to leave ence to the pro-Russian separatist ISIS” on the Internet, she and her region, ahead of talks in Berlin with son travelled by road to the Turk- German Chancellor Angela Merkel. ish border. Kiev and Moscow finalised a They ran one kilometre to ceasefire deal brokered by France escape into Turkey, dodging a and Germany in the Belarus cap- three-man IS patrol before hand- ital of Minsk last February, but ing themselves in to the Turkish sporadic clashes still took place military, she told the court. on the frontline. She was arrested when police Poroshenko accused “Russia Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani witnessed last evening the arrival of Fath Al Kheir 2 at Katara Cultural village beach. boarded her flight home at Lon- and its proxies” of failing to observe don’s Heathrow Airport last The event was also attended by H H Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al Thani, Representative of the Emir.Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula → See also the ceasefire, and of some 1,200 February. During her trial, Shakil pageEight dead26 sperm whales were washed up on a beach near Friedrichskoog, Germany, yesterday. They were lying close to each other in shellings in January alone. claimed she only travelled to Syria Observers from the Organisa- the mudflats of a restricted area of the Wadden Sea national park, officials said. because she wanted to live under tion for Security and Cooperation sharia law. in Europe (OSCE) are denied access to the border, he said, adding that “this is not surprising as Russia still supplies troops, heavy weap- ons and ammunition to Donbass Scientists get nod for genetically modified human embryos research over the border and does not want witnesses to these illicit activities.” Merkel also noted that “unfor- Reuters from London’s Francis Crick Insti- Niakan plans to carry out her Niakan says she has no intention Bruce Whitelaw, a professor tunately we still, as before, do not tute, was granted a licence to carry experiments using CRISPR-Cas9, a of genetically altering embryos for use of animal biotechnology at Edin- have a sustainable ceasefire”. out similar experiments. technology that is already the subject in human reproduction, but wants to burgh University’s Roslin Institute Noting that full implementation “The Human Fertilisation and of fierce international debate because deepen scientific understanding of on Scotland, said the HFEA’s deci- of the peace deal was a prerequisite LONDON: Scientists in Britain have Embryology Authority (HFEA) has of fears that it could be used to create how a healthy human embryo devel- sion had been reached “after robust to any easing of Western sanc- been give the go-ahead to edit the approved a research application babies to order. ops, something that could, in the assessment”. tions against Russia, the German genes of human embryos for research, from the Francis Crick Institute to CRISPR can enable scientists to long term, help to improve infertil- “This project, by increas- Chancellor said: “We think it is for using a technique that some say could use new ‘gene editing’ techniques find and modify or replace genetic ity treatments. ing our understanding of how the the good of everybody if Minsk is eventually be used to create “designer on human embryos,” Niakan’s lab defects, and many of them have At a briefing for reporters in early human embryo develops and implemented.” babies”. said yesterday. described it as “game-changing”. London last month, she said the grows, will add to the basic scien- Kiev and the West have Less than a year after Chinese It said the work carried out “will David King, director of the UK first gene she planned to target tific knowledge needed for devising accused Russia of supporting the scientists caused an international be for research purposes and will look campaign group Human Genetics was one called Oct4, which she strategies to assist infertile couples insurgency and sending regular furore by saying they had genet- at the first seven days of a fertilised Alert, has called Niakan’s plans “the believes may have a crucial role and reduce the anguish of mis- troops across the border, claims ically modified human embryos, egg’s development, from a single cell first step on a path ... towards the in the earliest stages of human foe- carriage,” he said in an emailed that Moscow has repeatedly denied. Kathy Niakan, a stem cell scientist to around 250 cells”. legalisation of GM babies”. tal development. comment.

AyyayayayayayayyyyPromoting art Greece arrests man with Iraqi passport stolen by IS group

AFP Security concerns in Europe are in November said Greece was failing high after revelations that some of to properly register and fingerprint the jihadists behind the Paris ter- migrants, but Athens insists the situa- ror attacks in November slipped tion has drastically improved with the ATHENS: An Iraqi Kurdish man has into Europe by posing as refugees. arrival of additional EU staff and reg- been arrested at Athens airport in On Sunday, Greek police said they istering equipment. possession of a passport known to had arrested two men with Swed- Greek leftist Prime Minister have been among a haul of official ish passports suspected of links to Alexis Tsipras yesterday said accu- documents stolen by Islamic State jihadist groups. sations of negligence based on a jihadists in Iraq, Greek police said The suspects —a 28-year- two-month report were “unfair”. yesterday. The 37-year-old, who lives old man of Bosnian descent and a “Now is the time to prove that in Athens, was detained after flying 19-year-old of Yemeni origin —were Greece is meeting its obligations... in from the Turkish city of Istanbul carrying machetes, army uniforms we have decided to speed up proce- on Sunday, police said in a statement. and other combat paraphernalia dures,” Tsipras told visiting European The passport was one of a batch of and will be taken before a magis- Migration Commissioner Dimitris blank travel documents seized by IS trate today. Avramopoulos, who is also Greek. fighters during a raid in Nineveh prov- The 28-year-old is known to The government on Sunday ince, and subsequently cancelled by European authorities for ties to jihad- decided to send the army to com- Iraqi authorities, the statement added. ists, having been convicted in the past plete registration centres —known Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani witnessed last evening the arrival of Fath Al Kheir Greek police routinely uncover for planning a terrorist attack and as hotspots —on five Aegean Sea 2A atmember Katara of Cultural the auction village house beach. staff The poses event withwas “EOW also attendedon her Blue by Eiderdown”H H Sheikh byJassem German bin bornHamad artist Al Frank Auerbach during a photocall to promote Bonham’s upcoming “Post-War and Contemporary false or illegal travel documents was under surveillance by Swedish islands handling the bulk of refugee Thani, Representative of the Emir. Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula → See also page 26 among migrants hoping to reach authorities, police sources said. and migrant arrivals from neighbour- Art” sale in London yesterday. northern or western Europe. A European Union report compiled ing Turkey. 18 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 AMERICAS Zika virus outbreak worse than believed: Brazil

reporting of cases by local govern- relationship was “strongly suspected”. international experts —began ments next week when most states Zika is also believed to be linked shortly after 1200 GMT. No decision is World Health will have labs equipped to test for to a neurological disorder called Guil- expected before today at the earliest. Organisation experts Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that lain-Barre syndrome. Such consultations are relatively has quickly spread through Latin Brazil sounded the alarm in Octo- rare, underlining the scale of con- began emergency America. ber when a rash of microcephaly cern felt by the organisation. The UN talks yesterday on Castro said Brazilian researchers cases emerged in the northeast. agency will be looking to take res- are convinced that Zika is the cause It has since become the country olute action on Zika after coming in whether a Zika virus of the 3,700 confirmed and suspected worst affected by microcephaly, with for stinging criticism over its initially outbreak suspected cases of newborns with brain defects 270 confirmed cases and 3,448 sus- sluggish response to the devastating of causing a surge in in Brazil. He said the virus cannot be pected cases, up from 147 in 2014. west Africa Ebola outbreak. transmitted from person to person, As alarm grows over the surge in Ebola, which has killed more than serious birth defects only by mosquito. number of cases, Colombia, Ecua- 11,000 people in west Africa since late in South America Brazil will follow the U.S. decision dor, El Salvador, Jamaica and Puerto 2013, was declared a global health last week to prohibit blood dona- Rico have warned women to delay emergency in August 2014 and con- should be declared tions from people who have been conceiving until the Zika outbreak is tinues to carry that label. a global health infected with Zika, he said. The dis- brought under control. As for Zika, there is currently no ease, detected for the first time in the Jitters over Zika have spread far treatment and the WHO has said it emergency Americas in Brazil last year, has no beyond the affected areas to Europe would likely take more than a year to vaccine and no known cure. The mosquito Aedes Aegypti in San Jose. Costa Rica’s Health Ministry and North America, where dozens develop a vaccine. The virus is trans- World Health Organisation announced that as part of efforts to combat the Aedes Aegypti that of cases have been identified among mitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, experts began emergency talks in transmits zika, dengue and chikunguna, it plans to use a bacteria to people returning from holiday or busi- which also spreads dengue fever and Reuters & AFP Geneva yesterday on whether a Zika attack it. The bacteria called ‘spinosad’ (Saccharopolyspora spinosa) is ness abroad. the chikungunya virus. It produces flu- virus outbreak suspected of causing a applied as a pill in water tanks large, natural or not, where mosquito In a bid to forge a response to the like symptoms including a low-grade surge in serious birth defects in South outbreak, Chan called yesterday’s fever, headaches, joint pain and rashes. breeding is suspected. America should be declared a global closed-door meeting of the WHO’s WHO has so far refrained from BRASILIA: Brazil’s Health Minister health emergency. emergency committee to determine issuing travel warnings related to Marcelo Castro said yesterday that the The UN health agency warned last admitting it was slow to respond to condition in which a baby is born with if Zika should be considered a “pub- Zika, stressing that the most effec- Zika epidemic in his country is worse week that the mosquito-borne virus the recent Ebola outbreak that rav- an abnormally small head and brain. lic health emergency of international tive form of prevention is getting rid than believed because in 80 percent was “spreading explosively” in the aged parts of west Africa. While it has yet to be defini- concern”. of stagnant water where mosquitos of the cases the infected people have Americas, with the region expected to Although symptoms of the mos- tively proven that the microcephaly The emergency meeting — a glo- easily breed, and using personal pro- no symptoms. see up to four million cases this year. quito-borne virus are relatively mild, cases are caused in some way by bal telephone conference grouping tection against mosquito bites such In an interview with Reuters, Cas- The WHO is under pressure to act it is believed to be linked to a surge in the Zika virus, WHO chief Margaret senior WHO officials, represent- as using repellant and sleeping under tro said Brazil will start mandatory quickly in the fight against Zika, after cases of microcephaly, a devastating Chan warned last week that a causal atives of affected countries, and mosquito nets.

Boy attacked by chimps Bull fighting in Mexico City recovers after surgery

Reuters improve further as swelling subsides. A subsequent surgery this summer also is meant to enhance the move- ment and look of the lips. STONY BROOK: Just weeks after a “We’re really happy. We got more surgical team on New York’s Long than we expected,” Dagum said. Island began a series of operations After surgery, Sibomana to rebuild both lips of an 8-year- remained sedated for a week as the old boy mauled by chimpanzees in healing began. His hospital room is Africa, the sound of success filled a filled with stuffed animals and bal- play room at Stony Brook Children’s loons and manned 24 hours each Hospital. day by volunteers from Smile Rescue “Slurp!” was heard as Dunia Fund for Kids, the charity that paid Sibomana sipped a spoonful of for his travel to the hospital, which chicken broth through his newly cre- donated the medical treatment. ated lips. The surgery has already He woke surrounded by the helped him keep food inside his American family he has been living mouth, speak more clearly and stop with - Jennifer Crean and her three constant drooling, said lead surgeon children Collin, 16, Eian, 12, and Dr. Alexander Dagum, the hospital’s Grace, 10, of the Long Island ham- chief of plastic and reconstructive let of Hauppauge. surgery. Enough donations have poured Two years ago, Sibomana was into SmileRescueFund.org to allow playing with children in his native Sibomana to attend boarding school Democratic Republic of Congo back in Africa, which costs less than when chimpanzees attacked, rip- $700 a year, said charity founder ping off his lips and killing his Leon Klempner, a retired Stony younger brother. The rare double- Brook dentist. lip reconstruction requires several “Home — I need home! Ziggy!” surgeries over the course of about said Sibomana, a native Swahili A general view of the Plaza Mexico bullring during the bullfight of Spanish matador Jose Tomas with his first bull, named ‘Bellotero’ (522kg) nine months, and the first took place speaker who is picking up English, on January 11. calling out the name of the Crean as part of the ‘Temporada Grande 2015-16’ (Big Season) in Mexico City. Complications arose during family dog as he waited to be dis- the surgery, which was expected to charged from the hospital last week. last eight hours but stretched to 14, It will be another week before as Dagum harvested a rectangle of Sibomana is allowed to play outside, skin, nerve, tendon and vein from the Dagum said, but by then the snow child’s forearm and used it to form from the blizzard that crippled the Nine dead at teen the circle of both lips. U.S. Northeast on Jan. 23 may have Study: Encryption fears for It turned out the vein was too melted away. short to reach a crucial blood supply But hospital food direc- birthday party in in the neck so Dagum scrambled to tor Michael West, who witnessed law enforcement overblown collect a second vein from the boy’s Sibomana’s excitement over seeing upper arm to make the connection. snow for the first time, said he made southern Mexico Racing against the clock to keep sure the boy would not miss the fun the transferred tissue alive by sur- of building snowmen or having a AFP government officials can intercept communica- gically restoring the blood supply, snowball fight. As the blizzard raged tions and seek access to stored communications AFP Dagum looked through a microscope on, West said, he brought a bucket of held by these intermediaries by obtaining a war- and sewed vein to vein and nerve to the white stuff into Sibomana’s hos- rant, court order, or subpoena, provided that the nerve. In the end, Dagum said he was pital room. “I was soaking wet - he WASHINGTON: Encrypted communication is company is capable of producing the information ACAPULCO: A teenager’s 15th birthday party surprised by the extent Sibomana is has a pretty good arm on him and he making law enforcement and counterterrorism sought,” it added. became the scene of a ghastly massacre in now able to move his lips, which will has good aim,” West said. investigations more difficult, but fears of “going The encryption debate has heated up in the United southern Mexico where nine people were dark” are overblown, a study said yesterday. States and other countries in light of concerns raised fatally shot, including two minors, officials The report by Harvard University’s Berkman by FBI and National Security Agency officials who said yesterday. Center said that despite efforts to boost encryption claim investigations are being hindered by encryption. The shooting occurred on Friday at a in smartphone and online services, investigations US presidential candidates and others have argued “quinceanera” coming-of-age celebration in the still can gain access to data in many circumstances. for solutions that could allow encrypted data to be Mexican state of Guerrero, not far from the bor- The study sought to evaluate claims by US law delivered with an appropriate warrant. der with Michoacan, where drug-related crimes, enforcement and intelligence officials that encryp- But the Berkman report said that “short of a including homicides, are a regular occurrence. tion is leading to a situation where they are unable form of government intervention in technology that Soldiers and police arriving on the scene to obtain data even with a legitimate warrant—a appears contemplated by no one outside of the most were met with a hail of bullets, said Governor scenario described by some as “going dark.” despotic regimes, communication channels resist- Hector Astudillo. Once the gunfire died down, “We question whether the ‘going dark’ metaphor ant to surveillance will always exist.” they found the dead bodies of two minors, accurately describes the state of affairs,” the report It also noted that for national security, “we must whose ages were not given, and seven men said. “Are we really headed to a future in which consider whether providing access to encrypted ranging in age from 18 to 50 years old. our ability to effectively surveil criminals and bad communications to help prevent terrorism and Astudillo initially gave a death toll of 11, but actors is impossible? We think not.” The research- investigate crime would also increase our vulner- prosecutors later lowered it to nine. No secu- ers acknowledged that it has become increasingly ability to cyber espionage and other threats.” rity force members were reported wounded. difficult to get data from encrypted smartphones The researchers said that despite the latest A woman was also killed when gunmen powered by software Apple or Google software. But encryption efforts, many software systems are opened fire on a couple Sunday near the same they also pointed out a distinction between data “at “fragmented” and that a lack of coordination will municipality, Coyuca de Catalan, officials said. rest” on smart devices and in transmission. leave open some avenues for investigation. The The couple was driving toward the Pacific “The distinction is important because an report said that with the number of connected resort town of Zihuatanejo when they came overwhelming percentage of Internet users com- devices on the rise, “this has the potential to dras- under attack. The woman, 29, was badly Dunia Sibomana, 8, who was attacked two years ago by chimpanzees municate through web-based services, such as tically change surveillance. The still images, video, wounded and later died in hospital. in his village in the Democratic Republic of Congo, opens presents webmail, instant messages, and social network- and audio captured by these devices may enable Like Michoacan, Guerrero, one of the poor- from schoolmates welcoming him home after being discharged from ing websites that are not end-to-end encrypted,” real-time intercept and recording with after-the- est states in Mexico, has seen an explosion in hospital, at the home of his host family, in Stony Brook, New York. the report said. “In the course of an investigation, fact access.” drug-related abductions and homicides. AMERICAS TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 1917 Trump’s campaign faces moment of truth in Iowa

caucus-goers were still uncertain who can win in November.” For the and could be persuaded to switch to winners in Iowa, the prize will be val- Opinion polls showed another candidate. uable momentum that could stretch Trump, a billionaire Iowans will begin choosing can- for months, while many of the losers didates at 7pm CST (0100 GMT today), on the Republican side could quickly businessman who with results expected within a few begin dropping by the wayside. has never held public hours. The caucuses will be the first Dave Burggren of Asbury, Iowa, a time Trump, a real estate tycoon and precinct leader for his local Republi- office, with a small former reality TV star, has put his can caucus, has been to seven or eight lead over Cruz, a political appeal to the test. candidate events, checking out Trump, A win could validate an aggres- Rubio, former business executive Carly conservative US sive campaign that has alarmed the Fiorina, and even Sanders, but said he senator from Texas. Republican establishment, dwarfed still did not have “any idea” which can- Clinton had a slight the efforts of many seasoned pol- didate he would support. “ iticians and has been marked by The 2016 election is shaping edge on Sanders, controversies such as his calls for a up to be the year of angry voters a US senator from temporary ban on Muslims entering as disgruntled Americans worry the United States and for a wall along about issues such as immigration, Vermont the Mexican border. terrorism, income inequality and A loss for Trump would dent healthcare, fueling the campaigns his carefully cultivated campaign of Trump and self-declared demo- persona as a “winner” and create cratic socialist Sanders. Reuters immense pressure for a better per- Some 73 percent of voters likely formance in the next nominating to head to the polls in November’s contests — in New Hampshire and election say they think the country South Carolina — later this month. is on the wrong track, according to a DES MOINES, IOWA: Donald Trump said he was confident that Reuters/Ipsos poll last month. Trump’s ground-breaking White Iowans who have attended his rallies On the Republican side, opin- House campaign faces a moment of in large numbers would turn out for ion polls show foreign policy hawk truth today when Iowa voters begin him on Monday. “It’s been an amaz- Rubio might win third place in Iowa the nationwide process of choosing a ing journey, and there’s a lot of love and stake a claim as the best hope new US president, with polls showing in those rooms so I would think that for the party’s mainstream. him in a tight battle with Ted Cruz to they would show up to vote. I hope For the Democrats, Clinton needs be the Republican nominee. so,” he told NBC’s Today programme. a win in Iowa to prevent a poten- On the Democratic side, front- The Iowa caucuses give the Mid- tial two-state opening losing streak runner Hillary Clinton is hoping to western state a political influence far that would raise fresh questions fend off a stiff challenge in Iowa from greater than its population of just 3 about a candidate who was consid- insurgent Bernie Sanders in the first million would suggest and kick off a ered the clear front-runner just two of the state-by-state battles to pick process that leads to the parties’ formal months ago, before a surge of sup- party candidates for the November 8 presidential nominations this summer. port for Sanders. Clinton often touts election to succeed President Barack The caucuses are a long and her years of experience in politics, Obama. sometimes arcane ritual, taking and says she will defend much of Late opinion polls showed Trump, place in 1,100 schools, churches and Obama’s legacy. a blunt-spoken billionaire business- other public locations across the Mid- Sanders has attacked from man who has never held public office, western state. At least two Republican the left, saying he would do more with a small lead over Cruz, a con- caucuses will be in private homes and than Clinton to take on Wall Street servative US senator from Texas. a Democratic one will take place at excesses and to help American Clinton had a slight edge on Sand- an equestrian center. workers who feel left behind by the ers, a US senator from Vermont. White House hopefuls descend slow economic recovery. But there is a large bloc of unde- on the state early and often and give cided voters in both parties in Iowa people the chance to see them up and no certainty on who will turn up close, meaning many Iowans are at the caucuses on a wintry evening, slow to decide who to back. given that many supporters of Trump “I’m still checking them out. The Iowa kicks off polls with complex caucus and Sanders are new to the process and field is large and it requires some disenchanted with traditional politics. thought,” said Paul Albritton of Car- A Des Moines Register/Bloomberg lisle, Iowa, a training coordinator at AFP secretary of state. Only Republicans people are not mobile. For both par- gather in one area of the caucus room Iowa poll on Saturday showed three Iowa State University, as he waited to can vote in Republican caucuses, and ties, most meetings begin at 7pm local — backers of Hillary Clinton, say, in in 10 likely Democratic caucus-goers see US Senator Marco Rubio of Flor- Democrats in Democratic caucuses. time (0100 GMT). one corner and those favoring Bernie and 45 percent of likely Republican ida last week. “I’m thinking about Voters are allowed to register on site. • Republican method Sanders in another. WASHINGTON: Residents of the US Those who turn 18 by election day on Republican voters gather at Candidate groups lacking a min- state of Iowa will cast the first votes November 8 are eligible to participate the appointed time and, after some imum of 15 percent support are in the months-long 2016 race for in the February 1 caucuses. organisational formalities, candidates’ eliminated, and their backers are the White House. Instead of holding Turnout was about 20 percent for representatives each make a short then invited to join another preference primaries, the state hosts local meet- Republicans in 2012 and 39 percent speech urging voters for support. A group. It is during this realignment ings known as caucuses, which are for Democrats in 2008, an excep- secret ballot is then held. The polling that leaders try to rally supporters to organized by the Democratic and tional year due to the high-profile station reports the results to the party, their candidates. The groups’ support- Republican parties as they launch clash between Barack Obama and which aggregates the results from the ers are then counted, and a candidate the process to determine who will be Hillary Clinton. precincts and announces the winner is attributed a certain number of dele- their nominees in November’s gen- • Where are the polls? who has received the most votes at the gates proportionally. Due to rounding, eral election. Each party organises precinct state level. a stronger candidate may end up with The parties use distinct and dif- meeting locations, mostly in pub- The precinct results for Repub- the same number of delegates as one ferent methods. Here’s a look at the lic places like schools, libraries and licans — and for Democrats too with fewer caucus supporters. crucial process, which can seem like other government buildings, but also — will be delivered via a new dig- These delegates are technically a byzantine puzzle to those not famil- in private homes. The Republican and ital application specially developed designated for county conventions in iar with it. Democratic caucuses are often located by Microsoft, which will replace an Iowa’s 99 counties. The evening is not • Who votes? close to one another, sometimes just outdated telephone system. over yet. The party calculates a ratio In Iowa, as in many states, voters down the hall in the same building. • Democratic method by which a candidate’s delegates to register as Democrat, Republican or Democrats will host some 1,681 It’s complicated. Among Demo- the state convention are determined, independent. Among Iowa’s 3.1 mil- caucuses, and Republicans roughly crats, there is no secret ballot, and based on the number of county dele- lion inhabitants, there are currently the same. There will also be a virtual some critics argue the process sub- gates a candidate receives. about 584,000 active Democratic “tele-caucus” for US military person- verts the “one person, one vote” The candidate who accrues the US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks as her voters, 611,000 active Republican vot- nel deployed out of state or overseas, principle proclaimed by the US most state delegates, out of a total of husband former president Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea ers, and 725,000 registered under no and “satellite” caucuses at locations Supreme Court. Following initial for- 1,406, is proclaimed the winner of the accompany her at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa. party affiliation, according to Iowa’s including nursing homes, where malities, supporters of each candidate party’s caucuses. Bid to rescue Haiti election process

Reuters one of the main sources of irregularities.” The runoff, with tighter controls on voting by party representatives, was supposed to be disputed between ruling party favourite Jovenel Moise and opposition challenger Jude Celestin. PORT-AU-PRINCE: A special mission sent by the Organ- Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has strug- isation of American States met Haiti’s President Michel gled for decades to build a stable democracy, with critics Martelly on Sunday as part of intensifying efforts to resolve saying that foreign assistance has often fallen short of an electoral crisis that threatens stability in the Carib- expectations, including after the devastating 2010 earth- bean nation. quake. Jean-Louis said Martelly requested OAS help to Martelly is due to leave office on February 7 but has avoid the political crisis worsening after February 7. no successor because violent protests over alleged fraud Anti-government protesters have voiced opposition in a flawed first round led electoral authorities to call off to the OAS initiative, which they believe may help Mar- a runoff vote scheduled to be held a week ago. telly remain in power beyond the constitutional date The government and the opposition remain at logger- for his departure. At least four proposals for what to do heads, with each side holding protests almost daily and after February 7 are on the table, including options for an no agreement on who will rule the country if Martelly interim government that would be tasked with organis- leaves office without an elected replacement. ing elections. The proposal most strongly resisted by the “The OAS mission discussed with president Martelly opposition is for Martelly to stay on until elections are held. and they will meet representatives of different sectors The opposition, which includes members of several to help us find a solution likely to facilitate the comple- parties who dispute the results of a first round election, tion of the electoral process”, Fritz Jean-Louis, a minister threatens to intensify protests. dealing with election issues, said. The crisis deepened this week when members of Criticism of the October 25 first round focused on hun- the nine-member electoral council resigned. Only three Police officers block the way to demonstrators demanding the resignation of Haitian President Michel Martelly, dreds of thousands of party agents permitted to vote in remain in office. Organising a vote will be difficult if they any polling station, which the OAS has said was “seen as are not replaced quickly. in Port-Au-Prince. The country will hold elections on February 7.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 13o C Maximum: 22o C

FAJR 04.58 am ZUHR 11.48 am MAGHRIB 05.21 pm HIGH TIDE 00:30 - 10:00 Partly cloudy with slight dust. SHOROOK 06.17 am ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 06.51 pm LOW TIDE 04:45 - 17:45

20 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK ONLINE CHART BUST Greek grandmother & fisherman www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MOST READ among Nobel Peace nominees

Saudi Arabia ready to manage oil mar- 1 ket but all must cooperate: Al Hayat

Russia’s Karymsky volcano spews An 85-year-old grandmother 2 ash up to 3,000 meters from the Greek island of Dubai airport 2015 traffic up 10.7%, world’s Lesbos, fisherman Stratis 3 busiest Valiamos, who has rescued scores of refugees from drowning, and Hollywood TWEET OF THE DAY actress Susan Sarandon, who spent Christmas helping refugees in Greece, were nominated by Greek academics and the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the Nobel Peace Prize

Reuters Emilia Kavisi, who has helped the volunteers since the start of the refugee crisis, at her home in Lesbos.

by Greek academics and the Hellenic Olympic under Nazi occupation. ATHENS: “What did I do? I didn’t do anything,” Committee. Thousands of people, including all “We saw people crying in the boats, people asked Emilia Kamvisi, an 85-year-old grandmother lawmakers, can make nominations, which must leaving their homes, people sleeping in the streets,” from the Greek island of Lesbos, when she heard be postmarked no later than February 1. The $1.2m she said. Greece, stretched to its limits after years of she’d been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. award will be announced in October. economic depression, has struggled to cope with the INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY Kamvisi’s flash of fame came after she and two The Norwegian Nobel Institute does not publish refugees. Locals and volunteers like Kamvisi and friends aged 89 and 85 were photographed bottle- names of nominees, but Nobel watchers have said 40-year-old fisherman Stratis Valiamos fill the void. feeding a Syrian baby last autumn, as they helped former US spy agency contractor Edward Snow- “People say ‘you’re a hero,’ but this isn’t her- refugees who had survived the treacherous boat den and peace negotiators in Colombia have also oism, it’s the normal thing to do” said Valiamos. journey from Turkey. been nominated. “When you’re fishing and a boat is sinking next Education City Four months later, she is among three peo- Last year, Greece was the main gateway into to you and they’re screaming for help, you can’t pre- Career Fair at ple nominated for the Nobel prize to symbolically Europe for more than a million people fleeing war, tend to not hear them, he said. Qatar founda- represent the “behaviour and attitude of Greece, persecution and poverty in countries like Syria, In October, a shipwreck where more than 240 tion student organisations and volunteers towards the huge ref- Iraq and Afghanistan. people were rescued took place among “a sea of centre ugee crisis”. On the island of Lesbos, new menus and signs dead bodies,” he said. To make the journey, the ref- Fisherman Stratis Valiamos, who has rescued are in Arabic and cafes are full of refugees charg- ugees must be leaving even more horror behind, he Photo by: scores of refugees from drowning, and Hollywood ing mobile phones. Bright orange life jackets cover said. “No one wants to leave their home, to take a Abdul Basit actress Susan Sarandon, who spent Christmas parts of the shoreline. Kamvisi, herself the daugh- suitcase and five babies and walk for five months helping refugees in Greece, were also nominated ter of refugees, said the scenes reminded her of life and get on a plastic boat,” he said.

Photocall Kung Fu Panda 3 kicks up Self-driving car technology poses box office rankings high hacking risk

AFP starring Leonardo DiCaprio and showered with Oscar nominations, IANS settled into second after topping the rankings last week. LOS ANGELES: Kung Fu Panda 3 Exhibitor Relations estimated the kicked its way to the top of the North film made $12.4m its sixth week in NEW YORK: While major auto American box office over the week- theatres. Star Wars: The Force Awak- companies are working on intro- end, bouncing "The Revenant" to the ens, continued its blockbuster run for ducing the futuristic self-driving number two spot, industry estimates a seventh week, pulling in another technology in cars soon, this showed. $10.8m. It has piled up $895.4 mil- threatens to open new security The computer-animated com- lion in North American ticket sales problems for them as hackers edy from Fox -- the third installment in seven weeks. have sensed an opportunity here, of the Kung Fu Panda franchise — Fourth was The Finest Hours, a a researcher has predicted. took in an estimated $41m its first rescue-at-sea drama that made an "We are a long way from weekend in North American the- estimated $10.3m on its debut week- securing the non-autonomous atres, industry tracker Exhibitor end. Starring Chris Pine and Casey vehicles, let alone the autono- Relations said. Affleck, it's based on the true story mous ones," said Stefan Savage, Following the adventures of of a 1952 rescue of a ship that breaks computer science professor at the Po as he evolves from martial arts apart during a raging New England University of California-San Diego, student to teacher, the US-Chinese nor'easter. in MIT Technology Review. production features the voices of Comedy Ride Along 2 was fifth Pointing out security flaws stars Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman with $8.3m in receipts. A sequel star- to car companies which are into and Angelina Jolie. ring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, the driverless car technology, the US actor Jack Black during a photocall for the film ‘Goosebumps’ in Berlin, Germany, yesterday. "The Revenant," a grisly tale of comedy has been in theatres for researcher said that extra comput- back-country survival and revenge three weeks. ers, sensors and improved internet connectivity required to make a car drive on its own increase the possible weak points. Tech giant Google is work- Afraid to speak out, Kazakhs let numbers talk for them ing on autonomous cars as part of Google X project to develop tech- nology for mainly electronic cars. The software installed in Goog- Reuters “There is so much I would like has lost nearly half of its value against since 1989 and navigated the late grocery shopping has almost dou- le's cars is called Google Chauffeur. to say, but I can’t,” complained one the dollar since August when the 1990s oil crash, warned the nation bled to about 14,000 tenge ($38.41) Recently, with the help from Facebook user, explaining in private authorities abandoned their pegged last month against seeking culprits for since last August, while her commis- NASA space technology, auto- that she fears speaking negatively of exchange rate policy. its economic woes, describing them sion-based pay is falling, says Madina, maker Nissan successfully ALMATY: In Kazakhstan, where peo- the government would jeopardise her According to government esti- as a global phenomenon and urging adding that some of her customers are test-drove its all-electric, driver- ple worry they may lose their jobs or employer’s business and the careers of mates, economic growth slowed to Kazakhs to rebuff “provocations”. downsizing or even shutting down. less car at NASA's Ames Research be jailed for criticising the author- her relatives. “’Don’t blabber’, my rela- 1.2% last year from 4.4 5% a year ear- Also last month, police said they State-controlled oil firm KMG EP Centre in California. Swedish ities, some have found a new way tives tell me,” she said, adding that she lier. But indicators such as electric were looking for the source of a warned the government in January automobile giant Volvo is also to express the economic pain they reserves her views for “the kitchen”, power output point to a contraction, widely circulated WhatsApp mes- that without tax breaks its OzenMun- developing intelligent high band- are feeling: a web site whose name a reference to the Soviet-era tradi- something which has not been offi- sage urging Kazakhs to stock up on aiGas upstream unit would not make width streaming capabilities in roughly translates as “Oh My God!” tion of discussing sensitive topics only cially registered since 1998. groceries before prices jump. enough money to keep carrying its collaboration with Ericsson's cloud The site, entitled oibai.kz, shows with one’s family and closest friends. In other countries, people have And a court in the capital Almaty “big social burden” which includes expertise and network to create a nothing but updated rates for the ex- Kazakhstan, ruled by President taken to the streets to protest but sentenced government critics employing 14,000 people. highway full of autonomous cars. Soviet oil producer’s tenge currency Nursultan Nazarbayev for 26 years, is in Kazakhstan, demonstrations are Serikzhan Mambetalin and Yermek The warning has ominous Tesla Motors, an American and the world oil price - both of which one of a clutch of oil exporting coun- small and rare, even though the Narymbayev to two and three years undertones because in late 2011, Ozen- automotive and energy storage have been plummeting - against a tries whose economies are in crisis downturn has hit hard. in prison respectively on charges of MunaiGas workers were among strikers company, is also serious about gloomy black-and-white photo of now the price of crude is so low. Most Kazakhs apply self-cen- “inciting hatred” in Facebook posts who clashed with police after protests self-driving car tech and hired government buildings. Fellow ex-Soviet states Russia sorship in public and on online about a banned book. over pay cuts; at least 11 people died. processor design veteran Jim Kel- The only commentary is a sound- and Azerbaijan are also experiencing social networks. It is acceptable, for For ordinary Kazakhs, the eco- The only noticeable protests over the ler to lead its autopilot hardware track of sad piano music, while hardship, and further afield, coun- instance, to criticise or ridicule the nomic crisis has mostly meant price latest tenge slide involved a few dozen engineering team. How this tech- sharing a link to the site on social tries such as Algeria and Nigeria are central bank head, but not the pres- increases and the loss of confidence in people in Almaty in January who had nology works? The self-driving media adds an exclamation mark struggling too. ident. The authorities are keeping the future. Recruiter Madina, 39, says taken out dollar mortgages and were cars, or prototypes, rely on sensors and an icon of a man in a traditional The oil price crash has slashed a tight lid on any display of dissent summer vacations in Europe are now struggling to repay them. Several to determine the surroundings and Kazakh hat, his hands framing his Kazakhstan’s total exports by more that crosses those invisible lines. out of question for her family of four. protesters have since been fined on objects like pedestrians, cyclists open mouth in shock. than 40 percent. The Kazakh tenge Nazarbayev, who has been in power Her typical bill for weekend charges of hooliganism. and other vehicles around it. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 23 QE 9,547.83 +66.57 PTS PAGE | 24 Head of DOW 16,397.47 -68.83 PTS Carney may raise General Electric FTSE100 6,060.10 -23.69 PTS interest rates first France to quit BRENT $34.53 -$1.46 time from 1949

TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 • 23 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Goldman sees GCC sovereigns to tap global loan market coordinated

yields up later in the year, though in maintaining their quasi-sovereigns and local banks; oil output cuts Qatar looks for $10bn most cases yields were unchanged or currency pegs. Oman finalised its Islamic financ- even lower than at the start of 2015. Indeed, Saudi Ara- ing framework, which allowed it to ‘highly unlikely’ from syndicated Meanwhile, debt issuance picked bia, Bahrain, Kuwait, issue its first ever sovereign sukuk; loans from up as sovereigns turned to the debt and the UAE all Bahrain increased its sovereign debt markets to finance their emerg- increased key pol- ceiling and updated its debt manage- international banks ing fiscal deficits. According to NBK icy rates immediately ment framework; and Kuwait drafted DUBAI: The world’s biggest oil analysts yields are likely to climb fur- or within days of the legislation that would permit sover- producers including Russia and ther in 2016 if current expectations Fed move in Decem- eign sukuk issuance and is looking Saudi Arabia are set to keep pump- By Satish Kanady of further hikes in the US federal ber. Central Banks at setting up the necessary frame- ing crude into a glutted market and The Peninsula funds hold. More upward pressure is in Qatar and Oman work within the Ministry of Finance forgo coordinated output cuts as also likely if oil prices fail to recover were the exception, for debt issuance. Opec seeks to shut down higher- from recent lows. Issuance activity keeping policy rates The focus on domestic market cost suppliers, analysts at Goldman was robust in 2015, driven largely unchanged. issuance has put some pressure on Sachs Group Inc said. DOHA: Key GCC sovereigns, including by sovereign activity. It is expected With most GCC banking system liquidity, as is evident Efforts by the Organisation of Qatar, are looking to issue syndicated to remain healthy in 2016, with debt countries expected by the rise in interbank rates. Liquid- Petroleum Exporting Countries loans financed by international banks. markets, including bonds and sukuk, to register fiscal defi- ity has already come under pressure to cut output now would be coun- Qatar is seeking $10bn, while Oman likely to play a more central roles as environment. Conditions changed cits in 2015 and 2016, financing needs as government revenues from oil ter-productive as its strategy of is looking to tap $1bn. financing needs grow and domestic by the middle of the year, with yields are expected to be high. The IMF pre- receipts declined. This has led some preserving market share is start- GCC sovereigns have increas- liquidity is pressured. moving mostly upward, though in dicts a financing gap of $650m over to consider issuance in international ing to work, the analysts, among ingly issued syndicated loans in 2015 GCC debt market yields rose in most cases they finished at or slightly the next five years for Saudi Arabia markets in an effort to limit pressures them Damien Courvalin and Jef- in an efforts to tap international mar- tandem with global rates during the below their 2015 starting levels. Yields and Kuwait alone. on banking system liquidity. Indeed, frey Currie, wrote in a report. kets. The sovereigns mainly looking to second half of 2015, though in most on Dubai 2021 and Qatar 2022 paper Most Sovereign issuance in 2015 Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman Benchmark Brent crude has tap this market are Qatar and Oman, cases yields closed the year at or ended the year at 3.64 percent (flat on targeted domestic markets. This are contemplating international fallen more than 30 percent in NBK’s economic update on GCC debt below their levels at the start of 2015. the year) and 2.81 percent (down 19 added much needed activity and bond issuance. GCC issuance activ- the past year as Opec maintained market noted. NBK’s research note said Yields on sovereign paper maturing basis points), respectively. supported the development of debt ity is expected to pick up as regional output amid increased production GCC debt yields were volatile in 2015 in 5-6 years across the GCC trended Regionally, policy interest rates financing frameworks. Saudi Arabia financing needs remain large and from non-member states such as before moving higher in the second mostly downward during the first are expected to move largely in tan- established a domestic credit rat- issuers maintain robust ratings. Sov- Russia and from US shale oil drill- half of the year. Rising US rates and half of the year on the back of recov- dem with hikes in the federal funds ing agency, signaling its intention ereigns will turn to debt markets in a ers. Eulogio Del Pino, oil minister further declines in oil prices pushed ering oil prices and stable global rate, with central banks keen on to expand its investor base beyond bid to protect their reserves. of Opec member Venezuela, will meet his Russian counterpart Alex- ander Novak in Moscow to discuss ways to boost crude prices. Del Pino will travel afterward to Qatar, Trade between Qatar and India set to increase this year Iran and Saudi Arabia, all of them producers in Opec, which supplies about 40 percent of the world’s oil. “We continue to view a coor- By Sachin Kumar our exports (from India to Qatar). The import fig- to purchase an additional 1 million metric at top level, like, chairmen, managing directors, dinated production cut as highly The Peninsula ure slightly decreased due to fall in oil prices,” tonnes of LNG annually from RasGas through board members coming to Qatar. Our business unlikely and ultimately self- said Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador of India to Qatar the remainder of the 25-year contract, ending partnership is very strong and it is going to fur- defeating,” the Goldman analysts on the sideline of an event organised by Qatar in 2028. This is in addition to the existing con- ther increase,” he added. said. Chamber on Sunday. tract to purchase 7.5 million tonnes annually. According to the ambassador, traffic of Shale’s short production cycle DOHA: The trade figures between Qatar and “On December 31, 2015, an additional agree- India imports more than 80 percent of its Indian corporate Doha is on the rise. and the nascent supply response Indian are likely to rise in current year, despite ment was signed between RasGas of Qatar and LNG from Qatar and it is also one of the largest As per the latest figures on balance of trade from non-Opec producers indicate sharp decline in oil prices. The recent pact for Petronet of India for additional supply of 1 mil- importers of fertilisers from Qatar, particularly of released by the Ministry of Development Plan- that the group will keep pumping additional supply of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) lion metric tonnes of LNG per annum. This is in Urea. He said that there is huge potential for ning and Statistics, in December 2015, Japan near current levels to try to force between inked between the two countries will addition of existing long term contract of 7.5 mil- trade between Qatar and India. “A number of our was at the top of the countries of destination of the market to readjust, they said. give boost to bilateral trade. lion metric tonnes. So we will see from this year world class companies are already present here Qatar’s exports with QR4.4bn, having a share Goldman doesn’t expect any cuts “Qatar is an extremely important partner the total export figures from here will grow,” (in Qatar) in infrastructure, construction, roads of 21.9 percent of total exports, followed by unless economic growth weakens of India. The trade between the two side two he added. and highways, stadiums, power sector, refinery, and India with QR2.6bn and a share of 12.9 “sharply,” a scenario the bank’s years back was $17bn in which nearly $16bn was Petronet LNG, India’s largest LNG importer, information technology and other sectors,” he percent, South Korea with QR2.5bn, a share of economists don’t foresee, accord- export from Qatar to India and almost $1bn was said in a statement last month that it has agreed said. “Every week there are several businessmen 12.4 percent. ing to the report. Renault opens ORYX GTL honours first China factory long serving staff

The Peninsula Communication Manager, Thamer WUHAN: French car giant Renault Ali Al Kaabi, welcoming words on opened its first car factory in China behalf of Executive yesterday, the last major manufac- Management, “Thank you all turer to set up a plant in the country DOHA: ORYX GTL, always commit- for joining us for this special event as it looks to tap into the world’s big- ted to motivating and appreciating its tonight, to celebrate and to honour gest auto market. employees, held its annual Long Serv- the long service achievement of our The $1.2bn facility in Wuhan, a ice Award Ceremony, to honour and employees. Your loyalty and support carmaking hub in the central prov- celebrate those employees who have over the years is greatly appreciated ince of Hubei, is a joint venture with been part of the ORYX GTL family for and has shaped ORYX GTL into the Chinese manufacturer Dongfeng over 5 and 10 years, at the company’s company that we are today”. and will have an initial production management headquarters. Al Kaabi said that Together we capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year. ORYX GTL Executive Manage- have worked through many chal- China’s total auto sales grew at ment and managers thanked the 127 lenges, contained opportunities, their weakest pace in three years recipients of this award for their key and grew both as individuals and in 2015, as a slowing economy and role and contributions to the com- as an organisation. Al Kaabi pointed a stock market rout slammed into pany’s sustained successes. out that “People” is one of our core demand. But the country remains The honoured employees Values and “we consider you as our “a g rowth driver for the global included 84 people, who completed most valuable asset. By recogniz- auto industry”, Renault CEO Carlos 10 years of service in ORYX GTL and ing and upholding this value and all Ghosn said. The factory was a “first 43, who completed five years in the our other corporate values we will Renault Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn (centre) cuts a ribbon to mark the inauguration of the company’s big step” for the development of the company. The ceremony started ensure success in achieving opera- Dongfeng-Renault joint venture. assembly plant in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. with ORYX GTL’s Public Relation & tional excellence.” 22 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Puerto Rico for Qatar to benefit from Mideast fund plans lenders taking

percent of them expect to increase fuel prices. The survey of 14 leading last month’s survey, when 50 per- manager at Abu Dhabi’s Invest AD, $22.7bn haircut their Qatari allocations, the highest fund managers, conducted over the cent anticipated increasing equity said that while he expected markets Qatari allocations to level since February 2014, and 7 per- past 10 days, does not suggest funds exposure and 14 percent expected to to remain weak and volatile over the go up highest since cent to reduce them; last month, the are heavily bullish on the regional reduce it, Reuters reported. next quarter, there would be bright SAN JUAN: Puerto Rico proposed February 2014 figures were 36 percent and 7 percent. stocks; many see a risk of further “Volatility in the international spots in some companies that were that its creditors slash its debt by “We are increasing our alloca- losses as austerity policies, adopted markets increased pressure on oil resilient to the economic downturn. $22.7bn to enable the US territory tion in the regional banking sector, by governments in response to low oil prices, which dropped to levels below The survey also shows managers to strengthen its finances and turn especially in Qatar, because they offer prices, weigh on economies. many of the Gulf countries’ conserva- becoming somewhat less bearish on around its economy. The Peninsula attractive valuations and high div- But the survey does suggest that tive average crude price assumptions fixed income, after January’s global Just ahead of negotiations with idend yields,” Muhammed Shabbir, funds have gone so far underweight used for their 2016 state budgets,” market volatility appeared likely to bondholders, the struggling Carib- head of equity funds at Dubai-based on equities that they feel there is little said Mohammed Ali Yasin, manag- make the US Federal Reserve more bean island proposed that holders Rasmala Investment Bank, told room to continue cutting allocations, ing director at Abu Dhabi’s NBAD cautious about tightening monetary of its tax-funded debt — that to be DOHA: As Middle East Fund man- Reuters. and that the next major change in Securities. policy. repaid with general government agers expect to start rebuilding their In many sectors and mar- allocations will be to increase them. But he added, “We believe the first Fourteen percent of fund man- tax receipts — cut the total value regional equities holdings in the next kets, however, earnings growth Forty-three per cent of respond- quarter of 2016 is an opportunity to agers now expect to reduce their from $49.2bn to $26.5bn. few months, Qatar looks like a major has become a major concern as ents expect to raise their Middle East build a portfolio based on value stocks allocations to regional fixed income It also proposed that interest beneficiary of any rebuilding of equi- companies are forced to adapt to gov- equity allocations in the next three with low price-to-equity values and and 7 per cent to increase them, com- payments, which would only begin ties positions. A monthly Reuters ernments’ austerity measures, such as months, while 7 percent expect to high dividend yields.” pared to ratios of 36 per cent and zero in 2018, be limited to 15 percent survey of fund managers shows 43 cuts in electricity, gas feedstock and cut them. That is little different from Sachin Mohindra, portfolio last month. of current government revenues, down from the current draw of 36 percent, which Puerto Rico says is “unsustainable.” “This proposal is a reflection of Commercial Bank wins our commitment to work with our creditors on a sustainable solution that does not place the burden on one stakeholder group alone,” said best contact centre award Puerto Rico Secretary of States Victor Suarez in a statement. “A crisis of this magnitude The Peninsula 2015 in the Contact Centre category must be addressed in concert, oth- during a ceremony held in January erwise we risk our ability and the in Dubai. opportunity to escape the spiral of Commercial Bank’s Contact a stagnating economy, endless def- DOHA: Commercial Bank has bagged Centre has been on a two year pro- icits and increasing debt.” the “Best Contact Centre” award at the gramme of improvement to deliver The island proposed that hold- ‘Gulf Customer Experience Awards an enhanced service experience to ers of the $49.2bn in debt agree to 2015’, said a statement yesterday. all customers. covert them to $26.5bn of new, The Gulf Customer Experience Call recognition through custom- mandatorily payable “Base Bonds”. Awards celebrate best practice in ers’ registered mobile numbers means In compensation for the hair- delivering outstanding customer the Bank’s automated telephone sys- cut, bondholders were also offered experience across a broad range tem can direct customer calls swiftly $22.7bn in new “Growth Bonds” of industries and categories in the to the correct team or a helpful self- which would only pay off if, after Gulf. service option. 10 years, Puerto Rico’s revenues As well as providing companies With many customers travel- exceed current baseline projec- Senior officials with the award. with recognition for their hard work, ling frequently, overseas calls to the tions “as a result of real economic the awards aim to support organ- Contact Centre are fast-tracked to an growth.” isations by promoting continuous agent, as the Bankrecognises these any query that previously required customer service is a core objec- Centre that deliver an enhanced “By sharing in the island’s eco- improvement and learning. calls are often urgent. customers’ time in a branch. tive for Commercial Bank and I’m customer experience. This award nomic recovery, creditors would Competing against the region’s A new and dedicated Customer Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, Commer- delighted our efforts have been recog- reinforces how important this jour- have the opportunity to recover the most prominent companies, Commer- Care Unit has also been established cial Bank’s, CEO, said: “Understanding nised through this regional award. We ney has been for us and how proud principal amount of their invest- cial Bank was chosen as the winner at within the Contact Centre to give cus- of our customer demands and are proud of the significant improve- we are to provide our customers with ments,” the government said in a the Gulf Customer Experience Awards tomers an end-to-end resolution of expectations to deliver outstanding ments to Commercial Bank’s Contact the best experience possible.” statement. Nokia settles patent case with Samsung, shares hit Tablet market ended

Reuters last April, partly due to the dilution 2015 on weak note of the patents business and also due to worries about integration. The annualised run-rate for its HELSINKI: Nokia said it had set- patent unit following the Samsung AFP their tablets longer than expected tled a lengthy patent dispute with deal is now about €800m, Nokia said. before replacing them. One bright South Korea’s Samsung yesterday, This compared with average analysts’ spot in the tablet market however but investors were disappointed by forecasts for the unit’s 2016 sales of has been the “detachable” segment the financial terms of the deal. about €900m. WASHINGTON: The global market with removable keyboards such as Nokia’s shares fell more than 10 “There have been expectations for tablet computers ended 2015 with the iPad Pro, which is growing at a percent after the Finnish firm said the that Nokia could make more money a whimper, as the once sizzling mar- strong pace, according to IDC. Samsung deal would lift patent unit with their patent portfolio than (rival) ket showed further signs of cooling, For 2015, detachable tablets Nokia Technologies’ sales to around Ericsson.. This outcome did not sup- a market tracker said. reached an all-time high of 8.1 mil- €1.02bn in 2015, from €578m in 2014. port that... Estimates will be revised,” Research firm IDC reported a lion units, the report said. “One of The patent business is set to said Nordea analyst Sami Sarkamies, 13.7 percent year-over-year drop the biggest reasons why detacha- become a smaller part of Nokia who has a “hold” rating on Nokia. in worldwide tablet sales in the bles are growing so fast is because after its proposed €15.6bn takeover Sweden’s Ericsson, which recently fourth quarter, with 65.9 million end users are seeing those devices of French network gear rival Alca- signed a license deal with Apple, has a units shipped. For the full year, IDC as PC replacements,” said IDC’s Jean tel-Lucent, whose shares fell by 11 patent sales run-rate of about €1.2bn. The research centre0 of Nokia in Ulm, Germany. said the number of tablets shopped Philippe Bouchard. percent following news of the Sam- In 2014, Nokia sold its once-dom- fell 10.1 percent from a year earlier Jitesh Ubrani, an IDC analyst, sung patent deal. inant phone business to Microsoft Samsung and Nokia entered into Nokia added it expects to receive to 206.8 million. Tablet sales had said the Apple’s iPad Pro “was the Samsung’s stock was up by 1.1 (MSFT.O), leaving it focused on tel- a binding arbitration in 2013 to settle at least €1.3bn of cash during 2016- been gaining momentum through clear winner this season as it was percent. ecoms network equipment while additional compensations for Nokia’s 2018 related to its settled and ongoing 2014 but failed to live up to many the top selling detachable, surpass- Nokia shares have fallen since the retaining a large portfolio of hand- phone patents for a five-year period arbitrations, including the Samsung forecasts as consumers shifted to ing notable entries from Microsoft announcement of Alcatel-Lucent deal set patents. starting from early 2014. award. slim laptop computers and kept and other PC vendors.”

Lamborghini on display US factory activity edges up and momentum remains weak

Reuters month, the fourth straight month of Consumer spending, which contraction. A reading below 50 indi- accounts for more than two-thirds cates a contraction in manufacturing. of US economic activity, was previ- However, the index remains above ously reported to have increased 0.3 WASHINGTON: US manufacturing the 43.1 threshold which is associ- percent in November. activity appeared to stabilise a bit in ated with a recession. The buoyant Spending increased 3.4 percent January, but a recovery is unlikely dollar has combined with tepid global in 2015 after advancing 4.2 percent in the near term as factories grap- demand to undermine US exports. At in 2014. ple with a strong dollar and lower oil the same time, businesses are work- That data was included in last prices force energy firms to further ing to reduce a huge pile of unsold Friday’s fourth-quarter gross domes- cut spending. merchandise clogging warehouses, tic product report, which showed Other data yesterday showed which has left little scope to place consumer spending growth slowed consumer spending was flat in new orders with factories. Manu- to a 2.2 percent annual rate from the December as households reduced facturing accounts for 12 percent of third quarter’s brisk 3 percent pace. their purchases of automobiles and the economy. Moderate consumer spending, unseasonably mild weather hurt In a separate report, the Com- weak export growth and the ongoing heating demand. However, a jump merce Department said consumer inventory bloat helped restrict eco- in savings to a three-year high sug- spending was unchanged in Decem- nomic growth to a 0.7 percent pace gested consumption could rebound ber after an upwardly revised 0.5 in the fourth quarter. in the months ahead. percent increase in November. More cutbacks in investment by The Institute for Supply Man- Spending on long-lasting manufac- energy firms struggling with lower Attendees of the Philadelphia Auto Show view a Lamborghini on display in Exotic Alley at the agement said its index of national tured goods such as autos dropped oil prices also hurt GDP growth. But Pennsylania Convention Center in Philadelphia yesterday. factory activity increased 0.2 per- 0.9 percent. Purchases of nondura- economists expect output to pick up centage point to a reading of 48.2 last ble goods also declined 0.9 percent. in the first quarter of 2016. BUSINESS TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 23 Third EEDF to take place next month

High ranking officials from the develop and increase the contribu- Education: Educating the New Gen- Entrepreneurship public and private sectors, as well as tion of SME’s in the economy. Within eration of Entrepreneurs (How can leading academicians are expected the country’s economic diversifica- education channel students into in Economic to participate and attend as guests tion efforts, we aim to assist in the Entrepreneurial path)’; ‘Financing Development Forum and resource speakers, and regional creation of an entrepreneurial system Entrepreneurs & Entrepreneurial decision makers, influential keynote that attracts potentials and value- Ventures: Institutional Financing, will run for two days speakers. added projects.” Angel Investors, Crowd - funding, and from March 7 “Entrepreneurship plays a major “Accordingly, we need to pro- other sources’; ‘Obtaining Funds for role in shaping and developing a pose a specific plan of action that Your Venture - Options, Conditions diversified economy in conjunction will make Qatar University, as well and Requirements’; ‘Brand identity with the growing role of SME’s in the as other Gulf universities and edu- and the means of social communi- The Peninsula country in line with Qatar National cational institutions, as incubators cation: Traditional VS Conventional Vision 2030,” said Abdul Aziz Al Kha- of young entrepreneurs,” said Dr. methods’; ‘Effective Methods of Using lifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank Nitham Hindi, Dean of the College of Social Media to Ensure the Success (QDB). “With Qatar and the rest of the Business and Economics at Qatar Uni- of Entrepreneurial Ventures. (Social DOHA: The third edition of the countries in the Gulf region focus- versity. “This can be done by devising Media)’; and ‘Building an Effective ‘Entrepreneurship in Economic ing their attention on increasing the and implementing degree programs Entrepreneurship Ecosystem - Do Development Forum’ will take place role of private sector businesses and that aim specifically at developing the we have what it takes?’. from March 7 to 8 in Qatar. enterprises, comes the importance of right skills in business, decision mak- Among the key sponsors and Organised by Qatar University entrepreneurship. ing and risk management.” partners of this year’s event include and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) “From here, there is an urgent Among the topics that are Qatar Shell as Diamond Spon- in collaboration with Interactive need to foster a generation of young expected to be discussed in the sor; Commercial Bank as Platinum Business Network (IBN), this year’s entrepreneurs and equip them with Forum include ‘Government Interven- Sponsor; Manateq as Economic Zones Forum will be held under the patron- the knowledge and business culture tion with SME’s and Entrepreneurs’; Partner, Qatar Science and Technol- age and presence Prime Minister and to take advantage of the wealth of ‘Realizing Potential – Developing the ogy Park (QSTP) as Gold Sponsor; Ahli Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdul- opportunities in the future,” he added. Traits of a Good Entrepreneur’; ‘Entre- Bank as Gold Sponsor; Mannai Cor- lah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. “QDB works within a clear plan to preneurship Within and Through poration as Bronze Sponsors.

GE France’s Chairman Clara Gaymard (left) and GE Integration Leader Mark Hutchinson in Paris. Hutchinson will replace Gaymard. Saudi Telecom raises stake in Head of GE France to quit Kuwait’s VIVA Reuters approached by French conglomer- KUWAIT CITY: Saudi Tele- ate Bouygues to join its board after com Co said it has raised its the Alstom deal closes. share in Kuwait Telecom Co “The closing of the Alstom deal (VIVA) to a controlling stake PARIS: The head of General Electric has just been completed and it was after acquiring 25.8 percent in France, Clara Gaymard, is leaving a good time for me to prepare a new of shares for $425m. the US conglomerate after its takeo- stage in my professional life,” Gay- STC, the largest Arab ver of the energy business of French mard told French business weekly telecommunications firm in group Alstom. Challenges in comments published terms of capitalisation, had Gaymard, who accompanied GE on its website on Sunday. “I had held a 26-percent stake in Chief Executive Jeff Immelt in talks thought about continuing with GE VIVA since its establishment with the French government over but we came to a mutual agreement in 2008 and was running the Alstom job guarantees, is a mem- that it was the right time to part.” company. ber of the board of energy and waste GE closed the takeover of group Veolia and has also been Alstom’s business in November. Workers sort parts at an electronics company in Tengzhou, in China’s eastern Shandong province yesterday. China manufacturing index falls to three-year low

AFP Bloomberg survey of economists. Hong Kong. “We believe economic PMI readings above 50 signal growth may start to lose steam again, expanding activity, while anything after stabilising a little.” below indicates shrinkage, and inves- It was the sixth consecutive BEIJING: Manufacturing activity in tors watch the figures closely as the month that the official index showed China contracted at its fastest pace first available indicators of the coun- contraction, which Bloomberg said in more than three years in January, try’s economic health each month. was the longest such series on record. government data showed yesterday, Chinese shares closed down as “The manufacturing sector will underlining weakness in the world’s the weak figures weighed on senti- likely face a tough year ahead on the second-largest economy. ment, with the benchmark Shanghai back of overcapacity, weakening glo- The official Purchasing Managers’ Composite Index falling 1.78 percent bal demand, and government’s plans Index (PMI), which tracks activity in and the Shenzhen Composite Index, to tackle pollution,” ANZ economists factories and workshops, fell to 49.4, which tracks stocks on the coun- Liu Ligang and Louis Lam said in a figures from the National Bureau of try’s second exchange, retreating report. Statistics (NBS) showed. 1.04 percent. The manufacturing China’s economy, which is a vital It was the lowest figure since slowdown “points to weaker growth driver of global expansion, grew 6.9 49.2 in August 2012, and was below momentum”, said Yao Zhang, China percent last year, its weakest rate in the median forecast of 49.6 in a economist at Nomura Holdings in a quarter of a century. Gulf Air sponsors Bahrain Travel Guide

The Peninsula

DOHA: Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bah- rain’s national carrier, has recently collaborated with Arab World Tours, a Bahraini travel agency committed to promoting the Kingdom globally, and sponsored a special edition of 101 Things to See and Do in Bahrain — a comprehensive travel guide con- sisting of over a hundred activities, suggested itineraries and places to visit in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Commenting on thecollaboration, Mohammed Amin Hulaiwah, Gulf Air Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, said: “As a proud national carrier and the Kingdom’s Officials at the launch of the comprehensive travel guide. global ambassador, we are com- mitted to promoting Bahrain to the world.By sponsoring this book we to encourage inbound tourism and of interest in Bahrain that tourists have taken a huge step towards this to educate potential visitors about and new residents can discover. goal. The book is a gem of informa- Bahrain and its tourism and hospi- Museums, forts, historic buildings, tion and it is useful to both tourists tality assets.” beaches, markets and many more and locals, first time visitors as well Ali Mushaima from Arab World sights and activities are included in as recurring travellers to Bahrain, to Tours said: “This travel guide, which this comprehensive guide. I thank discover all that our Kingdom has to is the result of the consolidated Gulf Air for their contribution and offer. We plan to promote this travel efforts of a team of local and inter- sponsorship of 101 Things to See and guide and distribute it via our inter- national writers, photographers and Do in Bahrain – helping to promote national offices and representatives researchers, highlights all the places the Kingdom globally.” 24 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Toyota may Ryanair doubles quarterly profit suspend domestic 118.2m euros anticipated by ana- lysts, Europe’s biggest discount airline Shares of Ryanair said traffic should jump 26 percent rose as much as in its final quarter, 4 points more production than expected, allowing it to report 2.3 percent before a full-year profit at the upper end of TOKYO: Japan’s Toyota Motor trading 1.5 percent a 1.17bn-euro to 1.22bn- euro range. Corp said yesterday that it will The buyback, to be made in light suspend all domestic production higher at €13.89. The of “rising profitability and improving of its vehicles from February 8 stock has gained 39 cash flow,” will commence on Feb. 5 through the same month 13 as an percent over the past and span nine months, Ryanair said in explosion at a steel plant in cen- a statement. Once the process is com- tral Japan in January has caused 12 months, valuing plete the carrier will have returned parts shortages. the company at more than 4bn euros to investors over It will be the first time the the past eight year, it said. Japanese auto maker has stopped €18.4bn Shares of Ryanair rose as much as all production within the coun- 2.3 percent before trading 1.5 percent try since 2011, when the massive higher at 13.89 euros as of 8:10 am in earthquake and tsunami hitting Dublin. The stock has gained 39 per- northeast Japan disrupted its sup- Bloomberg cent over the past 12 months, valuing ply chain. The temporary closures the company at 18.4bn euros. will affect 4 Toyota Motor assembly Ryanair has grounded 10 fewer yards in Aichi Prefecture as well as planes this winter than previously, affiliated companies in Fukuoka, LONDON: Ryanair Holdings Plc dou- while benefiting from a decline in Iwate, Mie and other prefectures. bled fiscal third- quarter earnings as jet fuel prices of almost 40 percent Some Daihatsu and Hino Motor passenger numbers surged and said over the past 12 months. Still, air fares Passengers boarding an aircraft of Ryanair parked on the tarmac at Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands, factories, which build vehicles for it will return 800m euros ($868m) to weakened after the November ter- yesterday. Toyota, will also suspend produc- investors via a share-buyback pro- ror attacks in Paris, and a 1 percent tion. Toyota said that it will resume gram. decline in the third quarter is set to Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said in guidance is hence “heavily dependent and families. The repositioning strat- operations on February 15th after Profit after tax increased to 103m accelerate to 6 percent in the current an interview. The fourth quarter will on the absence of further unforeseen egy, known as Always Getting Better, procuring materials from other euros in the three months ended period, it said. also see yields impacted by a weaker events,” especially over Easter, it said. helped keep the proportion of seats steelmakers. The automaker said December 31 from 49m euros a year “We noticed a bit of softness post- British pound, and earnings will be Ryanair has sought to refine its filled above 90 percent in the third that it will do all it can to mini- earlier, aided by a 25 percent surge in those events, and as we always do crimped by an Italian tax and an no-frills image by improving its web- quarter. Ryanair attracted 100m pas- mize the impact of the suspension, passenger numbers to 20m, Dublin- when there is a bit of softness in the increase in non-fare ancillary reve- site, offering more services to primary sengers in calendar 2015 and said it including extending operat- based Ryanair said yesterday. While market, we stimulated it with fare nue that will lag behind track growth, airports and providing paid-for extras aims to fly 106m in the fiscal year, up ing hours in the latter half of the the earnings figure was short of the promotions and discounts,” Chief Ryanair said. The carrier’s full-year to entice more business passengers 1m from the previous target. month. Carney may raise interest rates first time from 1949

Bloomberg Investec Securities in London. “You will raise interest rates in March. Glo- of disinflationary pressure. That may don’t have to go much further than bal and domestic pressures have been encourage Ian McCafferty to keep what the market’s telling you now stacking up against the BOE. up the lone push for higher rates he to see the end of his term coinciding Oil prices dropped 30 percent started in August. LONDON: As Bank of England Gov- with no hike, though it’s not our cen- since it last published projections in “There’s been a dovish wave of ernor from 1944 to 1949, Catto never tral forecast.” November, and the fallout from China’s sentiment, though the data haven’t Citigroup appoints changed interest rates the entire time Carney has other options to avoid slowdown has roiled global markets. been all one way,” said Simon Wells, he was in office. The way the outlook becoming the next Catto - - he hinted At home, wage data have been par- an economist at HSBC in London Elissar Antonios to is shaping up, Carney (pictured) may in Parliament last week that he may ticularly disappointing, with growth and a former BOE official. “They’ll be next to hold that distinction. seek to extend his tenure to the full in basic pay back to its weakest since be cautious on Thursday but I don’t Surprise Bank of Japan negative eight years permitted by legislation. February. The buildup to the vote think they’ll necessarily want to head UAE business interest rates and warnings from When he arrived from the Bank of on UK membership in the European rubber stamp the current market the Federal Reserve about the glo- Canada in July 2013, he said he’d only Union is also creating a headwind. expectations.” LONDON: Citigroup Inc named bal economy reinforce both a sense stay five years. Carney said salaries were key to Wells forecasts the first BOE Elissar Farah Antonios (pictured) of caution among central banks and All economists forecast the key the timing for the first rate increase, increase will come in November this as chief executive officer for the the prospect that UK rates aren’t mov- rate will stay at 0.5 percent on Thurs- BOE meets at a time when the rest and MPC members Gertjan Vlieghe year, while Investec’s bet on the fourth United Arab Emirates as the bank ing from 0.5 percent any time soon. day, where it’s been since March 2009. of the world is turning to easier -- or and Kristin Forbeshave concurred. quarter matches the median estimate seeks to expand in the Persian Moreover, inflation pressures are so As Carney prepares to present the easier-than-expected -- monetary Even Martin Weale, who’d been argu- of 32 economists surveyed. UK eco- Gulf region. Antonios, who joined weak that investors have pushed out Monetary Policy Committee’s new policy to shore up subdued inflation ing for rate increases a year ago, said nomic growth unexpectedly picked the US bank in 2005, was most bets on a full quarter-point increase to forecasts alongside the decision, in the face of external risks. The BOJ he wouldn’t vote to tighten until pay up some momentum at the end of recently the head of the Lebanon the first three months of 2018, shortly he’ll be aware of the sizable shift in has followed European economies growth improves, though he noted 2015, though that was led entirely by office, Citigroup said in a state- before Carney’s term is scheduled to Sonia forwards from the start of the by adopting a negative interest rate in a Bloomberg interview that the services. ment yesterday. In her new role, end. year, when investors bet on a quar- for the first time last week. Fed funds pound’s drop is becoming a more Purchasing managers indexes for she will report to Atiq Rehman, “It’s not impossible that Car- ter-point hike in November 2016. The futures pricing suggests that market important factor. Sterling’s 5 percent January published this week will be head of the bank’s Middle East and ney leaves without raising rates,” MPC will probably cut its growth and participants view it as increasingly drop on a trade-weighted basis in the important for the MPC as they assess Africa region. said Philip Shaw, an economist at inflation projections for 2016. The unlikely that the US Federal Reserve last three months softens one source the strength of gross domestic product. Docomo jumps the Mitsubishi UFJ’s profit falls 27% most since 2000 Bloomberg

TOKYO: Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.’s third- quarter profit fell on $4.1bn buy back 27 percent, led by a drop in bond trad- ing and lending income and lower gains from the sale of its sharehold- ings. Bloomberg “The company has strong sub- Net income at Japan’s biggest scriber numbers, rising ARPU, an bank slid to 253bn yen ($2.1bn) in improved churn rate and reduced the three months ended December capex,” Hitoshi Hayakawa, an ana- 31 from 348.3bn yen a year earlier, GRACE HUANG: NTT Docomo Inc. lyst at Credit Suisse, wrote Monday figures derived from a nine-month shares jumped the most in almost in a note to clients. “We expect NTT statement showed Monday. That com- 16 years after Japan’s biggest mobile Docomo shares to continue gaining pared with the 249.8bn- yen average phone carrier said it will buy back for the time being.” estimate of four analysts surveyed by as much as 500bn yen ($4.1bn) of its The carrier left its projection Bloomberg. own shares. unchanged for net income of 490bn The result came after another day The stock surged 14 percent to yen in the year ending March, 19 per- of declines in bank shares following close at 2,885 yen, the highest since cent more than the previous fiscal the Bank of Japan’s surprise deci- 2003, in Tokyo trading. The com- year. Sales will probably be 4.49 tril- sionFriday to start charging lenders pany will repurchase about 5.7 lion yen, 2 percent more than a year 0.1 percent for some of their depos- People working inside a branch of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group’s bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ in percent of non-treasury stock out- earlier, unchanged from the compa- its, a move that may crimp earnings. Tokyo, yesterday. standing starting Feb. 1, it said Friday ny’s Oct. 30 forecast. MUFG and its peers also face head- after the market closed. Operat- “Our full-year results are likely winds from the recent global market securities dropped 30 percent and were released, the biggest decline in interest rates and weak loan demand ing income climbed 19 percent to to beat forecasts,” Kaoru Kato, turmoil that risks damping fee busi- income from fees and commissions four months. The Topix Banks Index squeezed margins. The negative rate 222.9bn yen in the three months Docomo chief executive officer, told ness and gains from shareholdings decreased 4 percent. Credit-related lost 8.5 percent in the past two ses- will apply to additional cash that ended Dec. 31, it said separately. reporters at a briefing after the earn- they pledged to sell as part of a cor- costs grew to 28.1bn yen from 10.3bn sions, the worst performance on the banks deposit at the BOJ, removing Average revenue per user, or ings announcement Friday. porate governance overhaul. yen a year earlier. benchmark Topix, which climbed 5.1 the incentive to park money that they ARPU, rose last quarter and the Docomo’s plan to offer a 5 giga- Nine-month profit fell 8.1 per- Gains on sales of stock holdings percent in the same period. are unable or unwilling to put to use company said it expects full-year byte family sharing data plan to cent to 852.3bn yen, representing 90 fell 60 percent to 22.6bn yen in the The introduction of 0.1 percent elsewhere. The central bank will con- results to beat its own forecast after subscribers also soothed con- percent progress toward the Tokyo- third quarter, the results showed. negative interest rates could shave 1.5 tinue to pay 0.1 percent on existing it improved an unlimited calling plan cern that offerings for light users based bank’s full-year target of 950bn MUFG, among banks that have percent off profits at Japanese banks, deposits and offer zero interest on and reduced “churn,” or the number would undermine earnings, Satoru yen. pledged to sell shares held in cor- Goldman Sachs Group Inc analysts required reserves. of users that switch to rivals. The Kikuchi and Yu Sato, analysts at Net interest income, or revenue porate clients, booked 63.6bn yen including Katsunori Tanaka wrote in Governor Haruhiko Kuroda’s pol- company also cut costs and plans to SMBC Nikko Securities Inc., wrote from lending minus payments on from offloading equities in the nine a note on January 29. icy board said the three-tiered system reduce incentive payments for new in a note to clients. The planned buy- deposits, declined 6 percent last quar- months, trailing the 78.9bn yen it The nation’s lenders already have will minimize any impact on lenders’ customers and discounts for hand- back “exceeded our expectations,” ter from a year earlier. Profit from made a year earlier. Shares of MUFG among the lowest loan profitability earnings and beating deflation will set buyers. they said. trading government bonds and other fell 5.5 percent before the results in the world after years of shrinking benefit them in the long run. BUSINESS TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 25 BoJ rate cut no solace for top funds

the nation’s stocks. The firm, which interview. “It remains a concern in 2015. Istyle surged 14 percent on advises on 25bn yen ($210.8m) in that global economy may be head- Monday, the biggest gain since Nov. Concerns about a assets, boosted cash last year and has ing toward deflation.” 16, while Ariake rose 1.9 percent to global recession no plans to get back in the market Japanese stocks rose for a second a record high. because it expects stocks to remain day after the Bank of Japan’s decision Osezawa said he is short- because of China’s volatile over the next three to six on Friday. The Topix index added 2.1 ing Pachinko-related companies economic slowdown months even after the central bank percent in Tokyo, trimming the year- because players of the recreational lowered its interest rates to minus 0.1 to-date decline to 5.5 percent. machine game tend to be people in have sent major percent on certain holdings. J Flag’s The hedge fund advisory firm their 60s and older, which means Japanese indexes long-only fund rose 24 percent in runs the Simplex J Flag Fund, a 1.5bn demand will decline going forward. plunging by more 2015, the fourth best- performing yen long-short fund, which has about He wouldn’t identify companies his fund among 26 Japan-focused peers half of its assets in cash, and the Sim- funds are shorting. than 10 percent this tracked by Eurekahedge Pte. plex J Flag Japan Equity Fund, a 1bn By a 5-4 vote, the Bank of Japan year Concerns about a global reces- yen long-only fund, which holds 10 Governor Haruhiko Kuroda led his sion because of China’s economic percent in cash, Osezawa said. The colleagues to introduce a rate of slowdown have sent major Japanese long-only fund’s declines in 2016 minus 0.1 percent on certain excess indexes plunging by more than 10 have been in line with the Topix cash holdings after he rejected percent this year, before the Bank Index, he said, which fell about 7.5 the idea of negative rates just last Bloomberg of Japan’s surprise move on Friday percent this year through Friday. month. Even after Friday’s gain, the pushed the Topix index to the highest Two stocks the fund owns more Topix has declined 7.5 percent so level in more than two weeks. than doubled last year, helped by far this year, while the Nikkei 225 Hisashi Osezawa, chief execu- inbound tourism and demand for Stock Average has dropped about 8 TOKYO: J Flag Investment Co an tive officer of J Flag, said gains may Japanese goods. percent. investment advisory firm which helps not be sustainable as the outlook Shares of Istyle Inc., an online “There are just too many nega- run among the top five funds in Japan, remains unclear. cosmetic retailer that also owns tive factors in the global market right says the Bank of Japan’s move to neg- “Even though the stocks were up, shops, surged by more than 8 times, now. It is not a good time to get into ative interest rates won’t assuage it is hard to tell whether this will con- while Ariake Japan Co., a maker of the market.”said Osezawa. “We are People walk past an electric quotation board flashing the Nikkei key investor anxiety or damp volatility in tinue,” Osezawa said in a telephone natural seasonings, rose 128 percent just in the beginning of this.” index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) in Tokyo, yesterday.

Poland to test post downgrade No end in sight for Turkish bond fiasco bond market after floater success

Bloomberg “The answer to fix it is so easy. Raise from a laundry list of investor con- “It’s most likely that Turkey will interest rates. But nobody wants to cerns,” among them unorthodox see double digit inflation in the first Bloomberg program, delivering on campaign hear that.” monetary policy, political uncertainty six months of this year and that is the pledges that gave it a landslide victory Inflation climbed to a higher- and conflicts in the region, said Yacov main reason the yield on two-year’s in October’s general election. Foreign ISTANBUL: Accelerating inflation than-expected 8.8 percent in Arnopolin, a money manager at Gold- are rising faster than the yields on investors reduced their holdings of in Turkey, and the central bank’s December, 3.8 percentage points man Sachs Asset Management. 10-year’s,” said Batuhan Ozsahin, WARSAW: Even after a record sale zloty bonds in January from 206.7bn reluctance to raise interest rates to above the central bank’s target. After The yield on two-year notes strategist at Ata Invest in Istanbul. of floating-rate notes, Poland may zloty, or about 40 percent of the total, rein it in, is spelling more gloom for keeping the rates unchanged on Jan- climbed 13 basis points last month “On the good side, the weakening in struggle when it auctions securities at the end of the year, Piotr Marczak, the nation’s bonds after three months uary 19 for the 11th month, Basci said to 10.99 percent, the third-biggest lira has slowed down, therefore the more popular with foreign investors head of the public debt department at of losses. pass through effect on inflation will this week as the sovereign returns to the Finance Ministry, said by e-mail Landesbank Berlin Investment be less this year.” debt markets following last month’s on Friday, without specifying the out- GmbH said shorter-dated Turkish The lira weakened 1.3 percent shock rating downgrade. flow. Non-residents held 84 percent yields would need to rise another in January, following a 20 percent The government will offer up to of fixed-rate bonds maturing in July 150 to 200 basis points to make them depreciation last year that was the 8bn zloty ($1.96bn) of bonds including 2025, the most popular longer-term attractive after the rate on two-year steepest decline since the global benchmark 10-year 2.5 percent- zloty note, ministry data shows. debt touched a 3 1/2-month high last financial crisis. Foreign investors coupon securities at an auction on The yield on the note due in July week. Goldman Sachs Asset Manage- pulled a record of $10.6bn from Turk- Thursday. The Finance Ministry is 2026 that will be offered at Thurs- ment cited investor concerns over the ish bonds and stocks in the 12 months seeking to capitalize on global appe- day’s auction rose four basis points potential erosion of policy-making through January 22, according to cen- tite for fixed-income securities amid to 3.18 percent at 10:10am in War- credibility as one reason for main- tral bank data. the stocks rout after last week’s sale saw, increasing the premium over taining an underweight call on the Basci’s inability to rein in infla- targeting local buyers drew the most similar German bunds to 286 basis nation’s credit and the lira. tion risks exacerbating a selloff across bids since July 2014. points, the highest since March 2014. Central bank Governor Erdem emerging markets, fueled by con- “We don’t see much enthusiasm The zloty rose 0.1 percent to 4.4159 Basci has rattled investor confidence cern China’s economic slowdown towards the longer bonds and the per euro, trimming this year’s loss to with his decision to hold benchmark will spread and tumbling commod- recent strengthening hasn’t changed 3.5 percent, the worst performance borrowing costs at 7.5 percent for ity prices will hurt producers. that tendency,” Rafal Benecki, the among 16 European peers. The cur- almost a year even as the lira’s 20 Global sentiment played a major Warsaw-based chief economist at rency fell to a four-year low after last percent slide contributed to driving role in the selloff in Turkish assets this ING Bank Slaski SA, said on Friday. month’s downgrade. inflation to a 13-month high Decem- year, according to Ogeday Topcular, “There’s been a change in the percep- Last week’s sale of 8.1bn zloty of ber. The government has exerted a money manager who helps oversee tion of Poland after the downgrade bonds, including 4.7bn zloty of float- pressure on policy makers for years $300m in fixed-income assets at Ram and it has influence over the behav- ing-rate notes maturing in 2020 and to prioritize the economy over con- Turkish lira banknotes. Capital SA in Geneva. ior of real-money investors.” 2026, was “clearly tailored to fit local sumer-price growth, leaving doubts “The reason Turkey performed The government is trying to shake investors,” according to Miroslaw over central bank independence. worse than most is because on top off the negative attention it received Budzicki, a fixed-income strategist “Foreign investors completely lost Tuesday that price stability will only increase among 22 emerging markets of this, it still has the inflation prob- after Standard & Poor’s cut its rat- at Poland’s largest lender PKO Bank confidence in the inflation-manage- be achieved in 2018. He raised the tracked by Bloomberg. The 10-year lem,” he said. ing on Jan. 15, citing concern over the Polski SA. Foreign investors held 1 ment credibility of the central bank,” inflation forecast for this year to 7.5 rate rose eight basis points to 10.82 “We expect global sentiment to independence of key institutions. The percent of the 2020 floaters and said Lutz Roehmeyer, who oversees percent, citing the government’s 30 percent. The bond sel loff continued deteriorate more so we expect we cabinet needs to keep its financing 6 percent of those due in 10 years. about 1bn euros ($1.1bn) of develop- percent increase in the minimum on Monday, with the shorter-dated could see higher yields keeping in options open to cover a record 2016 Polish banks held at least 43 percent ing-nation debt as director of fund wage. “We believe the under-per- yield increasing nine basis points to mind inflation expectations and the budget deficit as the Law & Justice of both series of notes, ministry data management at Landesbank Berlin. formance of Turkish assets stems 11.08 percent by 10:51am in Istanbul. central bank approach.” party implements its family-benefits shows.

UK govt to levy credit firms to China’s stocks extend worst rout since 2008 fund loan shark Bloomberg dropped to 49.4 in January, a record Securities Group in Hong Kong. “The sixth straight month of deterioration. Chinese government will do what it crackdown Most short-term money-market rates can to try and steer its economy to a fell to their lowest levels in at least rebound. But they face huge issues like HONG KONG: Chinese stocks a week as the central bank pumped state-owned enterprise reform and LONDON: Britain’s government extended the steepest monthly sell off cash into the financial system before a growing the service sector at a time said yesterday it will fund a crack- since the global financial crisis after week long holiday begins February 8. when cadres are reluctant to act in the down on loan sharks through a an official factory gauge slumped “The headline number is a dis- face of anti-corruption clampdowns.” levy on thousands of consumer to a three-year low, some of the appointment to the market as output The non-manufacturing PMI credit firms. Curbs on payday nation’s largest companies warned and new orders show no signs of a for services edged down to 53.5 last lenders were introduced in Janu- of disappointing earnings and trad- rebound,” said William Wong, head of month from a 16-month high of 54.4 ary last year, a step regulators had ers unwound margin debt. sales trading at Shenwan Hongyuan in December. The Caixin China Man- said could propel people into the The Shanghai Composite Index Group Co. in Hong Kong. “Trading this ufacturing PMI rose to 48.4 last month arms of loan sharks. slid 1.8 percent to 2,688.85 at the week will remain shallow ahead of from 48.2 in December. The finance ministry said a law close, extending its loss this year to the Chinese lunar new year holiday.” A gauge of energy companies going through parliament will be 24 percent. PetroChina Co., which has The CSI 300 Index fell 1.5 percent. in the CSI 300 tumbled 2.8 percent amended to give the Financial the biggest weighting on the bench- The Hang Seng Chinese Enterprises for the biggest loss among 10 indus- Conduct Authority (FCA) powers mark gauge, dropped after saying Index dropped 1.6 percent in Hong try groups. PetroChina, which cited to introduce a new levy to fund annual net income probably fell as Kong at 3:32 pm while the Hang Seng weaker energy prices for the esti- enforcement action against ille- much as 70 percent. China Life Insur- Index retreated for the first time in mated drop in full-year earnings, also gal money lending across Britain. ance Co. declined to a 14- month low four days, losing 0.7 percent. Trading dropped 2.8 percent. FCA teams in England and after reporting earnings for last year volumes in Shanghai were 27 percent China Life, the sixth biggest Wales have already prosecuted that trailed forecasts. Leveraged bets below the 30-day average for this weighted stock on the Shanghai Com- more than 300 illegal money lend- on Chinese stock exchanges fell for a time of day. posite, plunged 3.1 percent after the ers, written off over 50 million record 21st day on Friday to the low- The official manufacturing gauge’s largest Chinese insurer said last year’s pounds of illegal debt, and helped est level since the depths of the last six months below 50 is the longest net income may have risen as much over 20,000 consumers, the min- year’s rout. stretch of readings below that level as 10 percent from 32.2bn yuan ($4.89 istry said in a statement. Funding The Shanghai Composite has in NBS data since the start of 2005. billion) in 2014. That compares with for the teams will be kept at the tumbled the most among global The PMI slumped last month because Pedestrians walk past an electronic sign displaying the Hang Seng the average profit estimate of 43.5bn same level until the levy is intro- benchmark indexes this year amid of weak demand and efforts to reduce Index (HSI) from the Hong Kong stock exchange. yuan based on 22 analysts surveyed duced in the 2017/18 financial year. concern the economic slowdown and overcapacity, the National Bureau of by Bloomberg. China’s capital out- The FCA was given powers in April the weakest currency in five years Statistics said in a statement Monday. earlier. “Operating conditions con- contract at faster rates,” said Andrew flows jumped in December, with the 2014 to begin regulating Britain’s will accelerate record capital out- Indicators for new export orders and tinue to deteriorate at a modest pace, Sullivan, managing director for sales estimated 2015 total reaching $1 tril- 50,000 consumer credit firms. flows. The purchasing managers index imports also decreased from a month while output and employment both trading at Haitong International lion according to a Bloomberg gauge. 26 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 9,547.83 0.70 % QE Total Return Index 14,840.72 0.70 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,400.63 0.85 % QE All Share Index 2,533.33 0.54 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,562.18 0.65 % QE All Share Industrials 2,848.33 0.02 % QE All Share Transportation 2,208.71 0.16 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,079.06 1.22 % QE All Share Insurance 4,047.28 0.27 % QE All Share Telecoms 1,004.3 2.00 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,251.64 0.06 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 01-02-2016 Today 31-01-2016 Previous day Index 9,547.83 9,481.30 Change 66.53 209.29 % 0.70 2.26 YTD% 8.45 9.09 Volume 8,781,114 11,377,366 Value (QAR) 237,216,215.81 316,161,831.16 Trades 4,219 5,138 Up 22 | Down 16 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 5094.262 37.666 0.74 5379.6 4857.9 Cac 40 Index/D 4383.62 -33.4 -0.76 4586.11 4084.68 Dj Indu Average 16466.3 396.66 2.47 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 19595.5 -87.61 -0.45 21794.84 18534.3 Iseq Overall/D 6427.2 83.96 1.32 6791.68 6146.61 Karachi 100 In/D 31878.15 579.55 1.85 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 17865.23 346.93 1.98 18951.12 16017.26 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1812.29

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1650 QR 5.2386 INTERNATIONAL MARKETS - A LIST OF SHARES FROM THE WORLD Euro QR 3.9129 QR 3.9676 COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME CA$ QR 2.5692 QR 2.6200 NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED Swiss Fr QR 3.5435 QR 3.5931 Yen QR 0.0298 QR 0.0303 A C C-A/D 1274.2 33.8 18538 Emco-B/D 31.9 4.15 241116 Jmc Projects-T/D 213.2 1.8 20302 Thirumalai-B/D 196.9 9 14074 Aus$ QR 2.5537 QR 2.6051 Aarti Drugs-B/D 525 0.5 1379 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.99 0.04 178004 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 129.6 -0.5 7778 Til Ltd.-T/D 442.4 21.15 6296 Ind Re QR 0.0532 QR 0.0542 Aban Offs-A/D 190.15 -0.2 203614 Escorts-A/D 136.25 1.45 64425 Kalpat Power-B/D 203.4 5.8 14454 Timexgroup-T/D 30.7 -0.95 18230 Ador Welding-B/D 265 -5 1991 Essar Oil-T/D 260.5 0.4 34445 Kalyani Stel-T/D 151.2 2.1 108102 Tinplate-B/D 70.05 2 54870 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Aegis Logis-B/D 99.6 -3.8 53156 Eveready Indu-/D 246.8 -3.6 12367 Kanoria Chem-B/D 69.25 1.45 74767 Ucal Fuel-B/D 108.6 -3.6 5552 Peso QR 0.0757 QR 0.0772 Alembic-B/D 39.2 -0.4 149451 F D C-B/D 193.5 -3.1 1775 Kg Denim-B/D 53.3 -0.6 65350 Ultramarine-B/D 116 1.2 7340 SL Re QR 0.0249 QR 0.0257 Alok Indus-A/D 5.12 0.01 2630431 Federal Bank-A/D 46.8 0.65 453910 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 68.5 0.35 8823 Unitech P -A/D 5.57 -0.1 4711227 Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0470 Apollo Tyre-A/D 144.15 -3.45 122319 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.3 0.15 15785 Kinetic Eng-B/D 105.4 0.8 6488 Univcable-T/D 79.65 3.75 10707 Asahi I Glass-/D 151 -0.2 2706 Finolex-A/D 320 2.55 7838 Kopran-B/D 59.95 2.2 293176 Uppergsugar-T/D 76.15 3.25 11823 Nep Re QR 0.0333 QR 0.0339 Ashok Leyland-/D 91.3 1.95 1201223 Gail-A/D 366.75 -0.35 70855 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 396 11 1486 LONDON SA Rand QR 0.2248 QR 0.2293 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1478.45 -2.35 1067 Galada Power-B/D 14.6 -0.55 9083 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 49.65 -2.6 2132 Ballarpur In-B/D 16.55 0.6 292168 Gammon India-T/D 18 0 102609 Lgb Broth-B/D 472.5 -12.25 1664 Banaras Bead-B/D 53.25 -1.5 8887 Gangotri Tex-T/D 1.73 0.08 1501 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.5 0.54 8664 3I Group/D 439.9 -2.1 511638 GOLD AND SILVER Bata India-A/D 468.8 -7.35 35652 Garden P -B/D 24.95 -0.4 20986 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 6.89 0.17 27392 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3138 -12 264674 GOLD QR131.8871 per gramme Beml Ltd-A/D 1050.05 3.45 15676 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1279.25 57.35 68822 Lumax Ind-B/D 443.6 -0.6 6067 Barclays/D 184.5 -1.5 20731187 Bh Electronic-/D 1227.55 -3.55 24990 Goodricke-B/D 184.9 0.4 26696 Lupin-A/D 1701.35 -8.9 58151 Bg Group/D 1043 -11.5 3273331 SILVER QR1.6842 per gramme Bhansali Eng-T/D 21.4 1.25 115679 Goodyear I -B/D 496 1 3704 Lyka Labs-T/D 92.85 -2.25 28405 Bp/D 366.1 -10 18437721 Bharat Bijle-B/D 885.25 43 32517 Hcl Infosys-B/D 45.6 0.2 319168 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 268.5 -7.2 2807 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3857 -40 998094 Bharatgears-B/D 74.85 -3.85 8099 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 21.55 0.75 3102412 Mah.Seamless-B/D 149.9 2.7 1921 Bt Group/D 499.5084 14.6 13177155 Bhartiya Int-B/D 560 7.5 12360 Himat Seide-B/D 202.45 1.3 138005 Mangalam Cem-B/D 183.6 4.5 4040 Centrica/D 204.3 -0.5 7657230 Bhel-A/D 140.45 1.6 1016041 Hind Motors-T/D 5.88 0.05 57417 Maral Overs-B/D 30.35 -0.2 3530 Gkn/D 278.1 -0.6 1661380 Gold claws its way Bhuwalka Stl-X/D 8.45 -0.44 2100 Hind Org Chem-/D 15.5 -0.05 28039 Mastek-B/D 138.1 0.3 21434 Hsbc Holdings/D 482 -10.3 12775941 Bom.Burmah-B/D 417 10.55 6942 Hind Unilever-/D 800.9 -16 57704 Max India L-A/D 372.9 7.5 12340 Imperial Tobac/D 3754.5 -31.5 915494 Bombay Dyeing-/D 53.5 0.15 110152 Hind.Petrol-A/D 806.45 -9.35 55459 Mrpl-A/D 64.75 -0.4 45248 Kingfisher/D 323.6 -2.5 1789082 higher on weak Canfin Homes-B/D 1047 -9.45 2368 Hindalco-A/D 71.1 0.55 943640 Nahar Spg.-B/D 106 -0.4 12189 Land Secs Grou/D 1094 -1 980363 Caprihans-Xc/D 91 -1.75 1722 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1179.5 1.9 43476 Nation Alum -A/D 34.65 0.15 171641 Legal & Genera/D 238.4 -4.9 6443439 Castrol India-/D 417 -3.8 18338 I F C I-A/D 22.25 -0.05 638518 Navneet Edu-B/D 91.4 0.75 9148 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 64.69 -0.74 52237573 factory data Century Enka-B/D 174.8 2.4 10296 Idbi-A/D 58.5 -0.4 939900 Nepc India-T/D 2.11 -0.09 5855 Marks & Sp./D 422.1 -2 1258720 Century Text-A/D 525.5 0.95 202186 Ifb Agro-B/D 440.5 -3.3 1092 O N G C-A/D 224.85 -1.25 267108 Next/D 6875 -50 130413 Chambal Fert-B/D 57.75 0.1 34863 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 380.65 -29.75 3567 Oil Country-B/D 29.25 -0.15 2079 Pearson/D 798.5 9.5 1206255 LONDON: Gold edged higher yesterday, extending its Chola Invest-A/D 652.7 17.45 4926 India Cement-A/D 91.2 -2.65 298622 Onward Tech-B/D 82.1 -3.5 2186 Prudential/D 1325.5 -41.5 2524324 recent rally on worries about global economic growth Chowgule St-T/D 18.5 0.05 2440 India Glycol-B/D 86.75 0.45 3868 Orchid Pharm-B/D 46.8 1.35 461388 Rolls Royce Pl/D 552 -3 1878937 and hopes for easier monetary policy after weak factory Cimmco-B/D 89.3 1.7 16202 Indian Hotel-A/D 109.65 -1.7 39513 Orient Hotel-T/D 23.15 -0.55 9685 Rsa Insrance G/D 412.9 -3.5 1153311 data in Asia and Europe. Cipla-A/D 597.8 12.1 82049 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1124.1 29.6 19216 Orient.Carb.-T/D 540 12.25 1782 Sainsbury(J)/D 244.9 -0.2 1692741 China’s official measure of manufacturing in Jan- City Union Bk-/D 82.4 2.95 26441 Indusind-A/D 926.4 -0.5 98189 Orient.Carb.-T/D 540 12.25 1782 Schroders/D 2705 -19 84170 uary fell to the lowest since mid-2012 while factory Colgate-A/D 861.15 4.75 18572 J.B.Chemical-B/D 262.1 -3.05 17837 Oudh Sugar-B/D 40 1.5 7301 Severn Trent/D 2193 4 223839 growth across Container Cor-/D 1193.1 8.7 5626 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 67 0 3352 Patspin India-/D 9.51 0.11 2586 Smith&Nephew/D 1155 -7 779466 the euro Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 373 -24.3 7301 Jagson Phar-B/D 46.15 1.35 27671 Punjab Chem.-B/D 155 3.3 1620 Smiths Group/D 930.5 -13 345797 zone slowed Dcm Shram Ind-/D 94 4.6 5950 Jamnaauto-B/D 152 6.6 425482 Radico Khait-B/D 115.1 1.2 45347 Standrd Chart /D 459.05 -11.95 2278633 as incom- Dhampur Sugar-/D 68.1 4.6 176612 Jbf Indu-B/D 221.8 -1.55 17471 Rallis India-A/D 164.8 -0.35 28402 Tate & Lyle/D 622 -3 339180 ing orders Spot gold added 0.6 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3050 -53.6 49184 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.37 0.01 59928 Rallis India-A/D 164.8 -0.35 28402 Tesco/D 171 -2.4 17952684 showed no percent to $1,124.37 E I H-B/D 113.35 -3.1 29780 Jct Ltd-B/D 7.99 0.06 515769 Reliance Indus/D 367.2 -3.55 59847 Unilever/D 3066.5 -18.5 1110608 meaningful E.I.D Parry-A/D 183.35 -1.05 60778 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 9.81 -0.29 15052 Ruchi Soya-B/D 24.05 0.05 77765 United Util Gr/D 959.5 3 498076 increase. an ounce by 1422 Eicher Motor-A/D 17138 591.25 6514 Jik Indust-T/D 1.12 0.01 2000 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 536.1 5.1 6361 Vodafone Group/D 223.35 -0.55 21160816 “That GMT. Bullion gained Electrosteel-B/D 21.15 -1.05 158156 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 91.7 0.75 146023 Saur.Cem-B/D 55 -0.65 67843 Whitbread/D 4028 28 267001 China data was disap- 5.4 percent last pointing, month, its largest rise very weak in since January 2015. both manu- Gulf loses steam as oil retreats; banks buoy Abu Dhabi facturing and non-manu- facturing, which coupled with the ongoing turmoil on global markets and uncertainties about growth going strong fourth-quarter earnings percent on Sunday when it said 1.12bn dirhams. The two banks’ either this year or in 2017. Egypt’s forwards have helped gold to get above the $1,115/20 at two major banks boosted Abu it was in talks with creditors after strength appeared to ignite buy- index dropped 1.4 percent with resistance level,” said Robin Bhar, head of metals research Saudi builders Dhabi, while Egypt resumed fall- failing to make the first repayment ing in National Bank of Abu Dhabi, major real estate developer Palm at Societe Generale in London. are among the ing because of currency jitters. of 650m riyals ($173m) on a 3bn which fell in early trade but ended Hills Development down by the Spot gold added 0.6 percent to $1,124.37 an ounce Qatar’s index edged up 0.7 per- riyal loan from the government. 3.9 percent higher; last week it same amount. by 1422 GMT. Bullion gained 5.4 percent last month, its companies hardest cent as the most heavily traded Saudi builders are among the posted 24.5 percent drop in profit. Bank of America Merrill Lynch largest rise since January 2015. The spot price touched a hit by cuts in stock, Vodafone Qatar, gained companies hardest hit by cuts Most actively traded Abu Dhabi said in a report that if bilateral and 12-week high of $1,127.80 tomorrow after the Fed said it government 1.5 percent. in government spending due to stocks barely moved, however. multilateral aid pledges material- was keeping a close eye on the global economy and finan- Bourses in the Gulf had surged low oil prices, as well as by ris- Dubai’s stock index, which had ised on time, Egypt could avoid a cial markets and their impact on the US economy. US gold spending due to low over the past few days as an oil ing labour costs. jumped 4.9 percent on Sunday, sharp currency devaluation this for April delivery rose 0.8 percent to $1,124.90 an ounce. oil prices, as well price rebound encouraged inves- Abu Dhabi’s index climbed pulled back 0.6 percent yesterday. year. “In the longer term, we still expect the dollar will go tors to return to buy beaten-down 1.3 percent as First Gulf Bank Emaar Properties slid 1.4 percent. But it added: “We think the higher ... and we still have three (US interest rate) hikes as by rising labour stocks. This buying quickly dimin- jumped 3.1 percent. Late on National Central Cooling Co authorities’ plan remains the in our scenario, but there is uncertainty around that ... costs ished yesterday as Brent crude Sunday it reported an 11 per- (Tabreed) gained 4.6 percent after same: muddle through due to and gold has benefited,” ABN Amro analyst Georgette slipped 2 percent to below $35.50 cent quarterly profit rise to 1.72bn it reported a 6 percent rise in 2015 import restrictions and exter- Boele said. a barrel. dirhams ($468.4m), well above net profit. nal aid, hoping that foreign Weaker fourth-quarter US economic growth under- The Saudi Arabian index analysts’ average forecast of In Bahrain, Al Baraka Islamic direct investment can pick up pinned hopes that the Federal Reserve would slow the Reuters edged down 0.2 percent as pet- 1.46bn dirhams. The stock had Bank tumbled 7.1 percent in its self-sustainably. pace of future US rate increases, aiding gold by cutting rochemical stock retreated, with soared 12.4 percent on Sunday heaviest trade since last May. Chief “However, the pledges the opportunity cost of holding it and keeping a lid on the Saudi Basic Industries down 1.8 in anticipation of the earnings. executive Adnan Ahmed Yousif obtained are not sufficient to dollar. Data on Monday showed US consumer spending percent. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank said on Sunday that the bank boost FX reserves into a safer was flat in December. “Gold has staged a January rally DUBAI: Most Gulf stock mar- Construction company Jabal surged 4.8 percent after posting planned to open a sharia-com- zone, and thus we continue to see for three consecutive years,” JP Morgan analyst Allan kets lost steam yesterday as Omar Development Co dropped a profit of 1.19bn dirhams, at the pliant lender in France next year pressure on the Egyptian pound Cooke said in a note. oil prices pulled back although 2.5 percent, after slipping 1.6 top end of forecasts of 986m and and to acquire a bank in Indonesia playing out.” BUSINESS VIEWS TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 27

Mayer to make case Million reasons why cheap that Yahoo can be turned around oil might hurt Philippines

By Brian Womack that investors have lost all Bloomberg confidence in management and the board,” Starboard said after Yahoo abandoned arissa Mayer is gear- a year-long plan to separate ing up for yet another the Alibaba stake in a tax-free Mturnaround plan for transaction. Mayer detailed Yahoo! Inc. Given the compa- a new initiative to spin off ny’s persistent growth slump, Yahoo’s main business, a proc- even a sweeping overhaul ess that could take another may do little to fend off activ- year. Other disgruntled share- ist investors threatening to holders have voiced their wage a proxy war aimed at frustration, including Can- her removal. yon Capital Advisors, which Yahoo’s chief executive said Yahoo needs to priori- officer, who has overseen fall- tise the sale of some assets, ing sales in 7 of the past 10 the Web operations or the quarters, promised to detail entire business. SpringOwl a plan to cut costs and boost Asset Management also crit- growth. The effort, set to be icised Yahoo’s management announced with quarterly and strategy and called for earnings today, will probably deep cuts. include job cuts. Apart from Alibaba, Yahoo Once a major gateway to also owns a $7.61bn stake in the wealth of information, Yahoo Japan Corp, which will communities and enter- also report earnings this week. tainment on the Internet, After accounting for those people have in recent years two holdings, Yahoo’s mar- ditched Yahoo in favour of ket capitalisation of $27.9bn Google, Facebook Inc and effectively values its main other companies at the cen- business at less than zero. tre of people’s digital lives. Although Mayer and the board Since her hiring in 2012, Mayer downplayed any drastic sce- has made scant headway in narios last year, they may be Filipino commuters ride a public train in Manila, Philippines. efforts to restore growth at warming up those possibilities. the Web pioneer. Now, she’s Yahoo is considering an out- mired in a complex project to right sale of its business. The By Ditas Lopez and the University of the Philippines in Manila. decouple Yahoo’s main busi- company may need another Lilian Karunungan “Some of them are coming home also in ness from its $25bn stake in new plan in the face of an Bloomberg part due to war, which only magnifies the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. expected proxy fight by an problem.” Activist investors dissatis- activist investor. The share of remittances coming fied with progress have all but “At this point everyone’s from the Middle East could be as high as threatened a proxy war. tired and just wants the board heap oil should be a good thing for 40 percent, compared with 23 percent in “She’s almost out of time,” and management to agree a country like the Philippines that the official data, according to a January Many Filipinos work said Ryan Jacob, who man- and entertain some offers for imports almost all of its fuel, but 27 research note by Michael Wan, a Credit ages Yahoo shares as part of the core business to be sold,” there are 10 million reasons why Suisse Group AG analyst in Singapore. overseas, many of them his Jacob Internet Fund. “At said Sameet Sinha, an ana- that may not be the case. Remittance growth slowed to 3.6 percent on rigs, tankers and this point, it’s hard to imagine lyst at B. Riley & Co. “Yahoo CThat’s how many Filipinos work over- in dollar terms last year through Novem- as domestic help or a proxy fight being averted. doesn’t have any sort of killer seas, many of them on rigs, tankers and as ber, from 5.8 percent in 2014, central bank I would welcome it, given products that can change the domestic help or construction workers in data show. Volumes have held up reasona- construction workers the changes at Yahoo have trajectory of the business.” oil-producing nations in the Middle East. bly well so far, said Wan. in the Middle East. just been incremental. That’s Mayer has remained res- Together they sent home $22.8bn in the Brent recovered to around $35 yester- what’s been frustrating share- olute in the face of activists, first 11 months of 2015, around 10 percent day after falling to a 12-year low of $27.10 Together they sent home holders for years.” insisting the company can of gross domestic product. The potential for a barrel on January 20. $22.8bn in the first 11 While boasting more than be turned around — and that a slowdown in remittances is being closely “Before, when the trouble would be 1 billion users, Yahoo has these kinds of changes won’t monitored, the central bank said last week. concentrated in one of the countries in the months of 2015, around struggled to keep pace with happen overnight. “We see a A prolonged period Middle East and North Africa, the workers 10% of GDP growth in online advertising, unique moment and oppor- of oil at less than $30 a could just simply move to a neighbouring with Yahoo’s share of the US tunity for Yahoo as we move barrel could create an country and find employment,” central bank market projected to shrink to into 2016 to narrow our strat- economic headache for Governor Amando Tetangco said on January 3.5 percent in 2017 from 5.1 egy and focus on fewer the successor to Pres- 25. “Now the trouble is more widespread.” percent in 2014, according to products with higher quality ident Benigno Aquino, The Department of Labour is monitoring EMarketer Inc. Analysts project to achieve better growth and who steps down in June, the situation in the Middle East in the light of Manila. “They have many laid-up ships. 2015 revenue, minus sales better results,” she told ana- and may further weaken the possible retrenchment of Filipino work- There will be more job losses.” passed on to partners, will fall lysts in October. the peso, which has ers there, although has yet to see any major That could take a toll on the Philip- 8.2 percent to $4.04bn, its Mayer has already been fallen the most in South- job losses, Communications Secretary Sonny pines’ current-account surplus,which biggest decline since 2009. trimming costs, reducing the east Asia this year. The Coloma said in a statement yesterday. The narrowed to $5.6bn in the nine months Starboard Value LP, which workforce by more than 30 A prolonged period of negative impact on department “is prepared to assist workers through September from $6.8bn in the last disclosed a holding of less percent since she joined and oil at less than $30 a remittances and less that may be affected in securing alternative year-earlier period, according to the cen- than 1 percent of Yahoo, has closing some sites. There’s barrel could create an revenue from fuel taxes employment and livelihood opportunities,” tral bank. GDP, already rising the fastest voiced the biggest complaints. a chance she could surprise will outweigh the posi- he said. among Southeast Asia’s major economies On January 6, the investor investors with something rad- economic headache tive effects, according As well as declining oil prices, a more at a 5.8 percent pace in 2015, will increase urged an overhaul of manage- ical, such as slashing half the and may further to Benjamin Diokno, the general slowdown in global trade is affecting 6 percent this year. ment and the board, stressing staff, but that’s not likely to country’s budget secre- the job prospects of Filipino seamen. Many External risks are on the rise, but the that “significant changes” happen — and even then a weaken the peso, tary from 1998 to 2001. drillers and oil-service companies have sus- Philippines has enough buffers in place were needed, including a pos- proxy fight could still happen, which has fallen the “We’re heavily pended operations and shipping companies including $80.6bn of foreign- exchange sible sale of Yahoo’s main said Brian Wieser, an analyst dependent on overseas are also hurting, said Nelson Ramirez, the reserves and growing revenue from its Internet business. “It appears at Pivotal Research Group. most in Southeast Asia Filipino workers,” said president of United Filipino Seafarers. business-process outsourcing industry, this year Diokno, who is now an “I have talked to one of the biggest crew said Paulo Magpale, treasurer at BDO Pri- economics professor at suppliers of offshore vessels,” he said in vate Bank Inc. in Manila. Krung Thai Bank aims to join regional banking powers

By Chanyaporn Chanjaroen on regional acquisition. The problem is Thai shareholder will give KTB an edge over Thai- debt should account for 4 percent of total and Anuchit Nguyen banks are too small.” land’s family-run banks in doing deals because loans at this year, close to the level in the three Bloomberg Southeast Asian banks are bracing for tycoon owners fret more about ownership months ended in September, Vorapak said. increased competition from within and beyond dilution, he said. That would mean improved profit, he said. the region, which is driving consolidation. With a valuation of 245bn baht ($6.8bn), Thananchai Jittanoon, a Bangkok-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc, Japan’s KTB ranks fourth among Thai lenders and 15th analyst at UOB Kay Hian Securities (Thai- rung Thai Bank Pcl, Thailand’s sec- biggest lender by assets, is buying stakes in among Southeast Asian banks. Siam Com- land) Pcl, said it’s premature to evaluate KTB’s ond-largest lender by assets, is emerging Asian markets. Kuala Lumpur-based mercial Bank Pcl, Thailand’s largest lender growth ambitions. “The bank’s most urgent cleaning up its balance sheet and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd is seeking a pres- by market value, ranks ninth in the region, task is to deal with the bad debt problem,” he preparing to make acquisitions in ence in all 10 members of the Association of followed by Kasikornbank Pcl, run by the said Friday in a telephone interview. “The level Ka bid to join the ranks of the biggest South- Southeast Asian Nations. By 2020, a banking Lamsam family. Singapore-based DBS Group of bad loans is unlikely to peak until the mid- east Asian banks. integration agreement between the region’s Holdings Ltd. is Southeast Asia’s biggest lender, dle of this year.” After making large provisions last year finance ministers will allow greater cross-bor- with a market capitalisation of $23.7bn. Thananchai has recommended buying for Thailand’s largest default since the 1997 der market access for qualified banks. Any domestic acquisition would need to KTB shares since 2010, according to Bloomb- Asian economic crisis, Bangkok- based KTB KTB plans to close its gap with domes- be large enough to bring KTB up to the size of erg data. He said the lender’s expansion in is boosting profits and positioning itself to tic rivals in terms of growth, profitability and a major regional bank, Vorapak said, without high-yielding loans — such as to small- and Southeast Asian buy another Thai bank, according to Chief other performance measures by 2018, Vorapak mentioning any specific banks. CIMB, which medium-size businesses, and retail — has Executive Officer Vorapak Tanyawong. That said. The bank needs to grow to avoid getting operates in almost all Southeast Asian coun- delivered “impressive results,” boosting net banks are bracing for purchase should give KTB the scale to pur- sidelined by a competitor, he said. tries and is the major regional lender nearest to interest margin. The bank’s push in advisory increased competition sue a merger with one of the region’s biggest “My top priority is to turn KTB into a very KTB’s valuation, has a market value of $8.1bn, services will increase fee-based income, he lenders, he said. strong bank in terms of asset base and profit- 19 percent higher than the Thai bank. said. This year’s target for loan growth is from within and “First step, KTB needs to be strong enough ability,” Vorapak said. “If a Thai bank makes a KTB has been weighed down by its lending around 3 percent to 3.5 percent, at par with beyond the region, to act,” Vorapak, the former Thailand coun- regional acquisition, it will be either via cash to Sahaviriya Steel Industry Pcl, whose default expected economic expansion and a “con- try head at New York-based JPMorgan Chase tender or share swap. Either way, the bank last year became Thailand’s largest since the servative” goal, Vorapak said. KTB also is which is driving & Co, said. “For Thai banks including KTB, must have a strong base to prepare for a 1997 regional financial crisis. The prospects diversifying its revenue mix, making a push consolidation it would be too slow to expand overseas by merger of equals.” are brightening this year for the bank amid in Thailand’s debt capital market to rely less opening branches. We have to seriously focus Having the government as majority signs that problem loans are stabilising. Such on traditional lending. 28 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

You can still buy a Defender, sight but not a new one Rupee to restrain

AFP/Reuters Rajan as deficit risks stokes inflation he last-ever classic Land Rover Defender, the 4x4 known the world over Bloomberg and with famous owners including Queen Eliz- A larger deficit Tabeth and featured in Hollywood MUMBAI: The threat of a would force Modi blockbusters, rolled off the produc- slumping rupee and an ill- dis- tion line on Friday, 68 years since first ciplined budget will probably to borrow more, being built. prevent Indian central bank giving Rajan India’s Tata Motors-owned car- Governor Raghuram Rajan from maker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) had cutting interest rates today. leverage to press already announced in late 2013 that The rupee’s 2.3 percent loss for fiscal discipline the group would stop making the leg- this year, the most in Asia after endary Defender at its car plant in South Korea’s won, risks wors- in return for Solihull in central England. ening inflation if Prime Minister keeping benchmark Production of the final Land Narendra Modi cuts stimulus rates low Rover Defender was cheered by spending rather than subsidies workers at the JLR factory with its to narrow Asia’s widest budget lights flashing and horns blaring. deficit this month. Thirty-six of 38 JLR decided to axe the legendary economists in a Bloomberg sur- Modi’s administration may 4x4 due to difficulties in maintain- vey predict the Reserve Bank of have to reassess its budget deficit ing safety and emissions standards. India will leave the benchmark target for the year starting April “They want safer vehicles, they repurchase rate at 6.75 percent, 1 if growth slows. “Any weaken- want vehicles with air bags, they while two see a cut to 6.5 percent. ing of the commitment to fiscal want vehicles with lower fuel emis- “Primarily, the RBI will be consolidation would provide even sions. This vehicle’s for farmers,” and What Car? “The truth is the time-consuming than many other waiting for the budget and its more reason for the RBI to bring Patrick Cruywagen, deputy editor Defender today doesn’t sell in high vehicles which have a higher degree focus will be both on the quantity the rate- cutting cycle to an end,” of Land Rover Monthly magazine, enough numbers. The challenge is of machine assembly. and the quality of fiscal consol- said Shilan Shah, Singapore-based told Sky News. how to broaden its appeal without But the offroader has become idation,” said Sonal Varma, an India economist at Capital Eco- But he told Defender fans not to ruining the key aspects that make it synonymous with Britain thanks to economist at Nomura Holdings nomics Ltd. despair as “70 percent of Land Rov- so appealing,” he said. owners such as the queen, who has Inc. in Mumbai. “If you have an A larger deficit would force ers ever made are still on the road JLR is a unit of India’s Tata been pictured riding and waving to easy fiscal policy, then the room Modi to borrow more, giving Rajan —you can still buy a Defender but not Motors, which bought it from Ford crowds from the back of the 4x4 from for an easy monetary policy closes leverage to press for fiscal discipline a new one”. for $2.3bn in 2008 at the height of the as early as 1957 in Hyde Park and up.”Twenty-six of 27 economists in return for keeping benchmark More than two million Defenders global financial crisis. A new Land during a visit to Melbourne in 1977. Designed originally in a separate Bloomberg survey rates low. Since the government have been produced since 1948 as it Rover model is planned to start pro- The first model was built in 1948, for farming and also predict that Rajan will keep meets about 85 percent of its defi- became one of the most-loved and duction from 2018. just three years after the end of World banks’ cash reserve ratio at 4 per- cit funding needs from the market, long-lived road vehicles. Designed originally for farming War Two, with rationing still in place agricultural use, the cent on Tuesday, compared with a yields will stay elevated if the supply Defenders have featured in a and agricultural use, the offroader and British industry trying to recover offroader became call for a 50-basis point cut from of bonds outstrips demand, Nagaraj number of films such as James Bond became an iconic British vehicle, from heavy bombardment. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. econ- Kulkarni, senior Asia rates strat- movie “Skyfall” and “Edge Of Tomor- popular with celebrities including Due to a lack of steel, lightweight an iconic British omist Tushar Poddar. egist at Standard Chartered Plc, row” featuring Tom Cruise. Beatles singer Paul McCartney and aluminium was used for the body- vehicle, popular Consumer-price gains are wrote in a January 14 note. The Queen took delivery of her late actor Steve McQueen, selling over shells and the vehicle has undergone currently on pace for 5.40 percent Rajan warned the govern- first Defender shortly after coming 2 million since 1948. a series of engine and design updates with famous by then, Michael Patra, a top RBI ment against boosting growth by to the throne in 1952 and has used “Any conventional vehicle would over nearly seven decades. owners including official, told analysts in December. borrowing more from the mar- Land Rovers to drive on private roads have been replaced many times over Neil Watterson, deputy editor An expected increase in gov- kets. “Deviating from the fiscal around royal estates ever since. in the lifespan of Defender,” a spokes- of Land Rover Owner International Queen Elizabeth, ernment salaries and military consolidation path could push Land Rover’s status as an official woman at Jaguar Land Rover said. magazine, said the vehicle had Beatles singer Paul pensions risks stoking demand up government bond yields, both supplier to the royal Family goes back “We’ve now got the technology, remained successful over so long due McCartney and further. Economists see only a sin- because of the greater volume of to 1948 when the queen’s father King pioneering engineering capabil- to its broad appeal. “It’s always been gle quarter point rate cut this year bonds to be financed and because George VI viewed the original Land ity and design expertise to evolve a classless vehicle,” he said. late actor Steve after 125 basis points of reduc- of the potential loss of government Rover. “The world has overtaken it Defender.” “It could be driven by the game- McQueen, selling tions in the past year. Swaps are credibility on future consolida- to a point where they can no longer It takes 56 hours to make the keeper on the estate or it could be pricing in the possibility of a half- tion,” Rajan said in a lecture in keep on the right side of emissions largely hand-built Defender at the driven by the landowner, or the over 2 million since point reduction. New Delhi. and safety laws,” said Jim Holder, edi- firm’s Solihull factory in central Eng- garage-owner with the breakdown 1948 torial director of magazines Autocar land, making it more expensive and truck and the fire brigade.”

Capital Inequality is different from country to country & region to region. Equality is Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Managing Director, Comment right morally & economically World Bank

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Nigeria in talks with Bank of England @ DealB%k WB for $3.5bn loan bankofengland NAME IN THE MARKET: CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENT PRA fines & bans C. Bloomberg proposed boosting this year’s McIntosh,CEO of Mill- Barclays and Credit Suisse budget to a record 6.1 trillion burn Insurance Co naira ($30.7bn). Adeosun said Ltd,for serious regula- will pay a combined $154.3 on Jan. 21 that authorities will tory breaches & also million to settle allegations LAGOS: Nigeria’s government is borrow about $5bn in external fines Millburn in talks for concessionary loans debt from multilateral agen- that they misrepresented worth $3.5bn from the World cies and the Eurobond market their private stock trading Bank and African Development to plug record budget gap of 3 Moody’s Ratings News @ Bank to help finance a planned trillion naira. MoodysRatings services. record budget this year, Finance Lawmakers in Nigeria’s par- Minister Kemi Adeosun said. liament will begin deliberations Australian mortgage While discussions are going this week on the 2016 spending delinquencies to rise on, a formal request hasn’t yet plan, Adeosun said on Sunday. on slowing housing been made to the World Bank Authorities will begin non-deal market and rising mac- for $2.5bn and the AfDB for roadshow meetings with inves- roeconomic challenges Wealth Adviser $1bn, Adeosun said by telephone tors to sound out a potential sale on Sunday. The government of $1bn of Eurobonds in Febru- Gulf Intelligence @ plans to tie them to specific cap- ary, she said. gulf_intel ital projects, she said. A request Nigeria has issued dol- Some of the biggest names hasn’t been made for assistance lar bonds twice, most recently in the hedge-fund industry from the International Mone- in 2013. Crude oil prices have EU considers limiting are piling up bets against tary Fund. dropped about 46 percent since the amount of govern- President Muhammadu June last year and were trading ment debt that banks China’s currency, setting up Buhari’s government is seek- as low as $35.14 a barrel in Lon- can hold a showdown between Wall ing to spend its way out of an don on yesterday. economic crisis triggered by a The West African nation’s Street and the leaders of Financial Times @FT collapse in oil prices. Nigeria is economy probably grew 3.2 the world’s second-largest Africa’s biggest oil producer and percent last year, the slow- Economists see 20% relies on crude for almost all its est pace since 1999, according chance of US recession economy. exports and two-thirds of gov- to a Bloomberg survey of ernment revenue. Buhari has economists www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32 Chelsea captain Guardiola to Terry to leave at drive Man City’s end of season European dream

TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 • 23 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Cyclists compete in the final stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar in this file picture of last year’s race.

2016 Ladies Tour of Qatar Stage set for cycling extravaganza Stage 1, Today: Test Event Doha 2016 Stage 2, Tomorrow: Sheikh Faisal Museum – Al Khor Corniche Stage 3, February 4: Al Zubarah Fort Four-time winner Wild of Hitec – Madinat Al Shamal Products will attempt to win her fifth Stage 4, February 5: Aspire Zone – Opening stage of title in Qatar where she did not com- Doha Corniche Ladies Tour of Qatar pete last year. But the 33-year-old will have 2016 Ladies to be a trial run for to keep an eye on the Wiggle High- the October 9 to 16 Five team which has roped in Emma Tour of Qatar World Championships Johansson, who was ranked number 15 teams: the main contenders : 1 in the world in 2013. Australia Emma will join Australian team- mate Chloe Hosking, who finished Australian National Team: Wells (Aus) By Rizwan Rehmat runner-up in the Ladies Tour of Qatar Orica - AIS: Elvin (Aus), Van Vleu- The Peninsula (which she won in 2013), but also 3rd ten (Nld) in the Gent-Wevelgem last year. Belgium This year, Eleonora van Dijk will Lares – Waowdeals: Van de Ree (Nld) DOHA: The world’s leading cyclists lead the Boels Dolmans Cycling Team. including Dutch legend and title After a podium result last year, she France French national team: Jeuland favourite Kirsten Wild will get a first- hopes to do better in 2016. Canyon (Fra), Delzenne (Fra) hand look at one of the routes at this SRAM Racing (ex- Velocio-SRAM), Germany year’s UCI World Road Championships which has two strong chances for the Canyon SRAM Racing: Brennauer (Ger), when they feature in today’s first stage overall win with Trixi Worrack (4th Cromwell (Aus), Worrack (Ger) of the Ladies Tour of Qatar. last year) and Lisa Brennauer (2014 The opening 97.8km stage round world championship runner-up), will United Kingdom will snake through Pearl Qatar, one be another force to be reckoned with. Wiggle HighFive: Johansson (Swe), of the loop venues of the UCI Road Italy’s Annalisa Cucinotta (winner Hosking (Aus), Longo Borghini (Ita) World Championships to be held of stage one in 2015) and Australia’s Hong-Kong from October 9 to 16. Katrin Garfoot (Orica- AIS), who has “This year’s edition is very just recently won the Santos Women’s China Chongming Liv – Champion Sys- important. We will do a trial stage Tour (Female Tour Down Under), are tem: Jiang (Chn) for the UCI World Road Champion- expected to do well this week. Italy ships. There are top-notch teams. Merckx said the Ladies Tour of Ale Cipollini: Tagliaffero (Ita), Cuci- The weather looks great. We wel- Qatar remained a priority for rid- notta (Ita) Italian National Team: come the cycling world to Pearl ers ahead of this year’s World Road Sanguinetti (Ita) Qatar where the first stage will be The President of Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani (third left), poses for a Championships. held,” Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani, picture with Sport Technical Director, John Lelangue (left), Race Organiser, Eddy Merckx (second left), and “The Ladies Tour of Qatar was Norway President of Qatar Cycling Federa- QCF Executive Director, Ahmed Al Hemaidi, after a press conference held to announce the Ladies Tour of first held in 2009. This will be the Hitec Products: tion (QCF), said. Qatar. Picture by: Salim M/The Peninsula sixth edition. We thank Qatar for pro- Wild (Nld), Kitchen (Aus) “We will test the security issues moting women’s cycling around the The Netherlands at the opening stage. We know that track that will cover a distance of exciting for the riders and the fans. wind. International teams are here. region. Every year we have 4 stages. residents of Pearl Qatar can have 15.3kms inside Pearl Qatar, the coun- Qatar is the only region that hosts We will do a test stage. We have to Participation of riders will give them Boels Dolmans Cycling Team: access to the race. We would like try’s man-made island spanning a women’s race. Sponsor support thank Qatar who were the first to experience ahead of the 2016 World Van Dijk (Nld) to see how things pan out,” Sheikh nearly four million square metres. is picking up. A number of cycling bring cycling events in 2002 as we Road Championships,” the 70-year- Rabo Liv Women Cycling Team: Brand Khalid, who is also the chairman of “This year’s Ladies Tour will be shops have opened up in the coun- started with men,” Merckx, a five- old said. (Nld), Gillow (Aus) the Local Organizing Committee of exciting like always. Very important try,” Sheikh Khalid said. time Tour de France champion, said. “On the course, the laps are spe- Team Liv Plantur: Kirchmann (Can) 2016 UCI World Road Champion- event since we will do one round at Belgian cycling legend Eddy The battle for the top honours cial. You can see the riders from three United States ships, added. Pearl Qatar. During the men’s tour Merckx echoed Sheikh Khalid’s this week is going to be tough as different spots at Pearl Qatar. It’s a Cylance Pro Cycling: Olds (Usa), Scan- Sheikh Khalid said the UCI Pres- (Feb 8 to 12) we will do more laps,” sentiments. sprinters who can battle strong very nice course. Then there’s the dolara (Ita) ident will be joined by the cycling Sheikh Khalid said. “I think Tour of Qatar is a great winds usually emerge as jersey wind. The wind makes things inter- family as riders get a feel of the loopy “We are confident it will be very success. It will be a tough ride in the winners. esting for the riders,” he said. United Healthcare: Rivera (Usa) Former champion Wild eager to launch Qatar campaign

The Peninsula “It’s good to see the course and you can feel Lotto-Belisol Belgium Tour, Boels Rental Ladies haven’t raced much (but) we have a mixed bunch. how it will be like during the 2016 World Road Tour and Giro della Toscana Femminile. There are some strong sides here,” she said. Cycling Championship. You have to improve all When asked about her missed trip to Qatar “I hope so,” Wild said when asked about the DOHA: Experienced Dutch rider Kirsten Wild the time,” Wild said. last year, Wild said: “It’s true I didn’t come to Qatar possibility of winning her fifth title in Qatar. (pictured) - a four-time champion in Qatar - is “For the world championship, we will have a last year. There was no time for me to come here “I like windy conditions. I favour windy condi- eager to launch her bid for a fifth title at the Ladies really good team. So that will be a good thing,” because of the world track championship. I did not tions. Holland is also cold so for me it is not much Tour of Qatar starting today. Wild said. have the time to be here. That’s why I went there of a big difference here,” she said. The 33-year-old rider, who skipped the event Wild is into her second year with Hitec Prod- and did not make my trip to Qatar.” Wild’s chief rival Chloe Hosking of Australia is last year to train for the Track Cycling World ucts, having signed the contract in September 2014. Wild said Qatar remains one of her top pri- also eyeing a good run in Qatar this week. Championships, feels ready to compete at the The Hitec Products team is based in Norway and ority races. “I’m looking at Qatar – not as a dress rehearsal four-day event. produces systems and technologies for oilfields “I really like racing here. I don’t know why, for Worlds,” Hosking said. “It’s always nice to be here. I like to race here. and drilling. it is my type of races. It doesn’t mean I will win “I think Worlds as a one day race will be so I didn’t race this year on the road. I get energy by Enjoying remarkable success in her sprint again. We will see. There are many strong riders different, but you never know. I like starting my seeing the nice roads here. I have already started career, Wild has competed for top teams like here,” Wild said. season strong, and with the Worlds in Qatar this my track season. I am in the middle of the track Giant-Shimano, Argos-Shimano, AA-Drink and She admitted to feeling a ‘bit of pressure’ ahead year, I really want to have a good showing,” the season,” Wild said. Cervelo Test Team. of today’s stage one start at Katara Cultural Vil- 25-year-old Wiggle HighFive rider said. The Hitec Products sprint queen said the Some of her best wins have come at Tour de lage. The first stage ends at Qatar University after “If I start the year with a win in Qatar, it will coming four days of racing in Qatar will prepare Pologne Feminin, Holland Ladies Tour, Omloop Het the riders complete a distance of 97.5km. be hard to look past me as one of Australia’s pro- her team for the 2016 UCI World Road Cycling Volk, Tour du Grand Montreal, Giro d’Italia Fem- “A little bit pressure,” Wild said with a smile. tected riders at the World Championships,” she Championships. minile, Omloop van Borsele and GP star Roeselare, “We have a nice team with nice young girls. We told cyclingnews.com. 30 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Song edges Spieth to win Singapore Open

SINGAPORE OPEN SCORES: Korean edges role 272 Song Young-Han (KOR) model and world 70-63-69-70 273 Jordan Spieth (USA) 67-70-70-66 number one Spieth to 274 Liang Wen-Chong (CHN) win by one shot 71-67-67-69 275 Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 69-67-71- 68, Shintaro Kobayashi (JPN) 66-69-69-71 AFP 276 Wang Jeung-Hun (KOR) 73-67- 67-69, Hideto Tanihara (JPN) 68-67-71-70 277 Lee Won-Joon (AUS) 71-69- 67-70, Chapchai Nirat (THA) SINGAPORE: South Korea’s Song 69-70-712-67, Brett Munson Young-Han won the $1.0m SMBC (USA) 71-67-70-69 Singapore Open yesterday, edging out world number one Jordan Spieth in a nail-biting finish. Song shot a one-under-par 70 playing two groups behind, refused over the final round to finish the tour- to buckle and parred his final three nament at 12-under 272, one stroke holes to secure the title. Song Young-Han of South Korea posing with the trophy following ahead of the American who wrapped It was Song’s first career victory up a 66 yesterday. after six second-place finishes in his win in the Singapore Open at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore China’s Liang Wen-Chong (69) Japan and Korea since 2013. yesterday. Right: Jordan Spieth of the US (left) and Song take a selfie was alone in third place on 274, while Song became the first Asian to win on the final day of the Singapore Open. Miguel Tabuena (68) of the Philippines the Singapore Open since India’s Jeev and Japan’s Shintaro Kobayashi (71) Milkha Singh took home the trophy event was no easy ride for the world “Last night felt like a week,” the It was also a restless night for play-off. I’m really happy I put a good were tied fourth on 275. in 2008. number one. 24-year-old said. Spieth as he awaited the cliff-hanger stroke on it.” Despite his less-than- The final round at the Serapong The South Korean never relin- Playing in his seventh compe- “I couldn’t eat because the whole finale. perfect week, the American said he Golf Course on Sentosa Island was quished the lead after Friday’s second tition in nearly four months, the night I was thinking about the 16th “It was tough to sleep on a putt enjoyed playing in the tournament, suspended Sunday because of thun- round when he fired a blistering eight- 22-year-old Texan was plagued by green. that you have to come back (to), even which returned from a three-year hia- derstorms just as Spieth was lining under 63 that equalled the course inconsistent form and entered the “I ‘hated’ Jordan last night,” he though it wasn’t the most challenging tus under a new sponsor. up a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th record. final round trailing the South Korean added. putt,” he said. “Overall, great experience and I green. Spieth was playing in Singapore by five strokes. “The situation made me very “Still a very nerve-wracking had a really great time here. I fought Spieth got his birdie when play for the first time, but the co-sanc- Song said yesterday he had felt the nervous and I just left it to luck and one to hit, knowing that you have to hard in the final round but (I) was just resumed yesterday morning but Song, tioned Asian Tour and Japan Tour pressure building overnight. the golfing gods.” make it for what you think will be the a little too far back,” Spieth said.

Snedeker shines, SAN DIEGO OPEN LEADERBOARD Walker leads at holes played rounds South Korea’s Kim captures -7 Jimmy Walker (US) 10 69 71 68 weather-hit -6 Brandt Snedeker (US) 18 73 70 70 69 Torrey Pines K.J. Choi (Korea) 10 68 67 72 LPGA season opener -5 Kevin Streelman (US) 13 69 69 72 Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 11 69 69 71 AFP -4 J.B. Holmes (US) 13 70 68 72 AFP Kim answered by sinking an PURE SILK BAHAMAS LPGA -3 Scott Brown (US) 10 66 71 70 eight-foot birdie putt at the par-3 CLASSIC SCORES LOS ANGELES: Brandt Snedeker Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 11 77 66 66 17th and then parred the par-5 18th (USA unless noted, par-73) fired a remarkable three-under par MIAMI: South Korea’s Kim Hyo-Joo for a two-stroke edge with Lewis in -2 Hudson Swafford (US) 11 70 71 69 274 Kim Hyo-Joo (KOR) 70-70-68-66 69 on Sunday but won’t know until Gary Woodland (US) 11 68 67 73 captured her third career LPGA title the fairway behind her. yesterday if it gives him a chance at on Sunday, firing a seven-under par “I knew on the last hole you can 276 Kim Sei-Young (KOR) the US PGA Tour’s Torrey Pines title Ben Crane (US) 12 71 68 71 66 to win the Pure Silk Bahamas get on for two so I was a little nerv- 71-68-69-68, Stacy Lewis 73-68- after a weather-disrupted day in the John Huh (US) 11 69 69 71 LPGA Classic at Paradise Island. ous coming up 18,” Kim said. 67-68, Anna Nordqvist (SWE) Farmers Insurance Open. Hiroshi Iwata (Japan) 12 69 73 68 The 20-year-old rising Asian star Lewis put her second shot into 70-69-68-69 277 Pornanong Phatlum (THA) Final-round play was suspended over 78 and of those who finished, Martin Laird (Britain) 13 69 68 73 charged to victory with two runs of greenside rough and had a chip shot for the day after three weather the next-best score to Snedeker’s was three birdies in a row, finishing 72 for eagle to force a playoff. But it 71-72-69-65, Paula Creamer Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 14 73 69 69 delays, with gusting winds and driv- the 73 of Ireland’s Shane Lowry. holes on 18-under 274 to beat Amer- bounced past the cup to hand Kim 68-72-71-66, Lee Il-Hee (KOR) ing rain pushing up scores on the Nine players shot in the 80s even -1 Patton Kizzire (US) 16 67 73 71 ican Stacy Lewis, Sweden’s Anna the triumph. 71-72-66-68 difficult Torrey Pines South Course. though tournament officials moved Billy Horschel (US) 18 67 70 74 76 Nordqvist and defending champion “(Kim’s) 7-under is a great score,” 278 Brittany Lincicome 70-71- “It was like playing a British tees forward and opted for more 0 Jhonattan Vegas (Venezuela) Kim Sei-Young of South Korea by two Lewis said. “I knew it was going to 72-65, Kwak Min-Seo (KOR) Open on a US Open set-up,” said wind-protected pin placements in 12 72 69 69 strokes. take something like that. Got off to 69-70-72-67, Charley Hull (ENG) 68-70-69-71 Snedeker, the only player in red anticipation of the stormy weather. Shane Lowry (Ireland) 18 71 71 73 73 “My goal coming into today was a bit of a slow start but proud of the numbers for the day when he walked “I wish I could tell you why I shot top 10 but I’m really happy and really way I came back on the back nine 279 Jang Ha-Na (KOR) 72-72-68-67, Michael Kim (US) 11 70 69 70 off the course with a six-under par what I shot today,” said Snedeker, pleased to win,” Kim said through a there and gave it a shot.” Megan Khang 70-68-71-70 total of 282. who opened with a bogey but had 1 Colt Knost (US) 17 70 73 68 translator. The runner-up effort was the 280 Haru Nomura (JPN) 68-70- Jimmy Walker (pictured) was four birdies in five holes -- at 10, Charles Howell III (US) 18 70 71 73 75 Kim won her first major title at 12th top-three finish for Lewis since 74-68, Park Hee-Young (KOR) seven-under for the tournament 12, 13 and 14 -- to surge up the Paul Dunne (Ireland) 16 69 71 71 Kyle the 2014 Evian Championship, an her most recent LPGA victory 19 72-72-66-70 through 10 holes -- one-over for leaderboard. Stanley (US) 15 69 73 74 opening-round 61 helping her edge months ago at the 2014 Northwest 281 Mika Miyazato (JPN) 68-74-72-67 the day when play was suspended “It’s one of those days where 2 D Fathauer (US) 16 74 65 72 Australia’s Karrie Webb by a stroke Arkansas Championship, her ninth 282 Brittany Lang 73-72-71-66, Jane for the day. you had to throw everything out of in France, and added last year’s LPGA second-place showing in the span, Jason Kokrak (US) 14 75 67 69 Park 72-72-71-67, Candie Kung Overnight co-leader K.J. Choi of your mind and go play golf -- try to Founders Cup trophy. the second-longest win drought of Kim Si-Woo (Korea) 18 70 68 75 77 (TPE) 71-77-66-68, Lexi Thomp- South Korea was at six-under for the grind and shoot the best you possi- Kim birdied the par-5 fourth, her career. son 74-69-71-68, Alison Lee tournament, three-over for the day, bly could.” Dustin Johnson (US) 14 70 66 74 par-3 fifth and par-4 sixth and eighth Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum 68-73-70-71 through 10. Snedeker’s hopes of finishing holes to leap into the title chase. She fired a 65 to match the tournament Tony Finau (US) 18 71 71 71 77 283 Minjee Lee (AUS) 73-74-70-66, Scott Brown, who shared the with a flourish at the par-five 18th followed with birdies at the par-3 record and share fifth on 277 with 3 Smylie Kaufman (US) 18 69 71 75 76 Jessica Korda 72-74-70-67, Brit- third-round lead, was six-over were undone when his chip shot 12th, and par-4 13th and 14th to seize American Paula Creamer and South Harold Varner III (US) 15 67 76 73 tany Altomare 71-73-72-67, for the day and in a tie for sev- from the greenside rough came out a three-shot lead. Korea’s Lee Il-Hee. Cristie Kerr 77-65-72-69, Aus- enth, just one of many struggling hot and finished up on the other side Robert Streb (US) 14 71 72 75 But Lewis made her third birdie American Brittany Lincicome tin Ernst 73-69-72-69, Brooke in the adverse conditions on the of the green. Bud Cauley (US) 18 71 69 72 79 in a row at the 15th to pull within two also shot a 65 to share eighth on 278 M. Henderson (CAN) 71-72-70- coastal course north of San Diego, “I thought it would come out and Kim missed an eight-foot par with South Korean Kwak Min-Seo 4 Kyle Reifers (US) 15 69 74 74 70, Catriona Matthew (SCO) California. really soft,” Snedeker said of the shot putt at 16 for her lone bogey, leaving and English teenager Charley Hull. Jason Gore (US) 18 70 72 70 80 68-71-71-73 Overall, the scoring average was into the wind. Lewis only one stroke back. Cookson confirms motor found on bike in new cycling storm

Reuters Yet the 19-year-old Van den Driessche “I’m aware I have a big problem. I have now about the possibility of this,” he said. “I denied suggestions she had deliberately done nothing wrong,” she said. In a sport am committed and the UCI is committed to cheated in the women’s under-23 race and that has long battled doping problems, sug- protecting the riders who do not want to cheat was in tears as she told Belgian TV chan- gestions and rumours of ‘motorised doping’ in whatever form and to make sure that the PARIS: Cycling was being forced to confront nel Sporza: “The bike was not mine. I would have floated around too but nothing has right riders win the race. fresh controversy on Sunday after the sport’s never cheat.” been uncovered in major competitions “To all the people who want to cheat, yes- head confirmed the first top-level case of Van den Driessche said the bike looked until this case. terday we sent a clear message: we will catch “technological fraud” with a hidden motor identical to her own but belonged to her UCI regulations on ‘technological dop- you and we will punish you because our tech- being found on a Belgian cyclist’s bike. friend and that a team mechanic had given ing’ were introduced last year with guilty nology to detect such fraud seems to work.” The electric motor was discovered inside it her by mistake before the race. riders liable to a minimum suspension of The UCI reportedly used a computer the frame of the machine being used by The bike was taken for inspection along six months and a fine of between 20,000 which can read radio frequencies to detect teenager Femke Van den Driessche at the with others after she had pulled out on the and 200,000 Swiss Francs. the hidden motor and then removed the seat world cyclo-cross championship in Belgium, last lap of Saturday’s race with a ‘mechan- The governing body had brought in bike post to see wires sticking out. Brian Cookson, president of the Interna- ical problem’ and had to walk to the finish. checks for road racing over the past season, “There is no place to hide,” Cookson tional Cycling Union (UCI), said. “It wasn’t my bike, it was my friend’s and including at the Tour de France where win- added. The affair quickly caused a furore “It’s absolutely clear that there was was identical to mine,” Van den Driessche ner Chris Froome’s bike was among those at the cyclo-cross championships with Bel- technological fraud. There was a con- told Belgian TV channel Sporza. tested, a move that Froome applauded gian national coach Rudy De Bie talking of cealed motor. I don’t think there are any “This friend went around the course Sat- because “of all the rumours that are out his “disgust” and telling Sporza: “My rela- secrets about that,” Cookson told a news urday before dropping off the bike in the there.” tionship with her (Van den Driessche) is conference. truck. A mechanic, thinking it was my bike, The Van den Driessche case prompted over.” The man elected to fight the long-stand- cleaned it and prepared it for my race.” Cookson, who confirmed the case would be Great Britain team manager Chris Young, Belgian cyclo-cross cyclist Wout Van Aert during ing scourge of doping in his sport also Van den Driessche said she feared her investigated by the UCI’s disciplinary com- who had celebrated a win in the race by insisted there would be “no place to hide” career could now be over but she still hoped mission, to pledge riders would be protected Briton Evie Richards, told Cycling Weekly: a press conference, in Brussels, after he won for anyone attempting to cheat with motor- for a second chance and was not afraid of against technological fraud. “Every rider just can’t believe what has hap- the World Championships in Heusden-Zolder, ised help. any investiagtions into the case. “We’ve heard some stories for a long time pened. It’s as bad as drug doping if not worse. yesterday. SPORT TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 31

Ibrahimovic blasts Paris

Chelsea’s John Terry applauds the fans at the end of their into record books FA Cup Fourth Round match against Milton Keynes Dons AFP the game. “This team seems unbeat- on Sunday. able,” Galtier said. “We’ve never seen anything like it in this league, not even Lyon when they were domi- PARIS: A Zlatan Ibrahimovic brace nating everything.” saw Paris Saint Germain stretch Paris now have 63 points from 23 their lead atop Ligue 1 to a massive games after twenty wins and three 24 points on Sunday in a 2-0 away draws, while in second Monaco have win over a spirited Saint Etienne. 39 points after losing 3-0 to third Not only was this a club record placed Angers, who now have 37, 13th straight win, it also sees the on Saturday. rampaging Paris side equal Nantes’ The hosts threw everything they 20-year-old record of 32 league had at the champions and drew sev- games without defeat. eral key saves from ‘keeper Kevin PSG have not lost in Ligue 1 since Trapp, notably through captain a 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux on March Franck Tabanou. 15 last year. “My players showed great cour- “There’s been a great deal of talk age and we shook them up. But we about the record and it helped me came up against a good ‘keeper,” motivate the players, even if they added Galtier. don’t really need that,” PSG coach PSG’s Argentine winger Angel di Laurent Blanc said after the game. Maria was a constant menace with “I ask a lot from the players, I his runs and passes and set up Ibra- demand it. And what I take away himovic for a cheeky back-heel shot tonight as much as the record is the by lobbing the static defence. way this team never gives up.” But the opener came when Saint Etienne coach Christophe Ibrahimovic ran onto a perfectly Galtier had joked before the game weighted Serge Aurier cross to fire that Ibrahimovic must hate his team home at full stretch from the six yard so often does he score against them. line just after the hour. Chelsea captain Terry to And the giant Swede duly The clincher came in the closing clinched his 18th league goal of the moments after a sobering exhibition campaign on the hour with a cer- of PSG’s masterful passing game tain venom before scoring his 19th, found the striker unmarked at the leave at end of season a simple tap in, with the last kick of back post.

FOOTBALL: CHELSEA with a series of controversies Chelsea’s most SKIPPER SET TO LEAVE during his long playing career. John Terry - Fact Box In November 2011 he was successful investigated by the police and $Born on December 7, 1980 in London, age: 35. skipper’s contract The 35-year-old Terry, who later the Football Association CHELSEA CAREER expires but the has spent his entire career at for alleged racist abuse against $Joined Chelsea aged 14 as a trainee and spent seven weeks Chelsea making almost 700 Anton Ferdinand of Queens on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2000 before returning to Stam- 35-year-old may appearances, apart from a brief Park Rangers. Although Terry ford Bridge. Was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s FA Cup final loan spell at Nottingham For- was later acquitted in court, he triumph. yet be offered a est when he was a teenager, has was banned by the FA for four $He was the last player to emerge from Chelsea’s academy new deal been the most successful skip- matches. system and establish himself as a regular first team starter. per in the club’s history. He was twice stripped of the $ Terry, who made his debut England captaincy and also fell Made his debut as a late substitute in a League Cup tie as a substitute in a League Cup out with former Chelsea team against Aston Villa in October 1998. Agencies tie versus Aston Villa in October mate Wayne Bridge, who refused $Chelsea’s most successful captain since they were founded 1998, has led them to victory in to shake his hand before a match in 1905, having led the club to Premier League titles in 2005, the Champions League, won following media allegations that 2006, 2010 and 2015, FA Cup success in 2007, 2009, 2010, four Premier League titles, five Terry had an affair with one of 2012 and three League Cup trophies in 2005, 2007 and 2015. Paris Saint Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) LONDON: Chelsea captain will FA Cups and three League Cups Bridge’s former girlfriends. $Chelsea also won the Europa League in 2013 after failing to leave the Premier League cham- as well as the Europa League. However, a spokesman for make the later stages of that season’s Champions League, al- celebrates next to Saint Etienne’s French goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier pions when his contract expires He also played 78 times for the Premier League champi- though he missed the final against Benfica through injury. after scoring a goal during the Ligue1 football match between AS at the end of the season, he told England, scoring six goals. ons said that he may yet be $Missed a chance to win the 2008 Champions League final Saint-Etienne and Paris Saint Germain, on Sunday at the Geoffroy British media on Sunday. Last season when Chelsea offered a new deal despite hav- against Manchester United in Moscow when his penalty in the Guichard Stadium in Saint Etienne, central France. “It’s not going to be a fair- won the title, he played every ing announced his departure shootout struck the post after he slipped on the wet pitch. ytale ending, I’m not going to minute of every league match. from the club, INTERNATIONAL CAREER retire at Chelsea,” Terry was That run ended when he was But a club spokesman $Played 78 times for England, scoring six goals, after making quoted as saying after his side’s substituted at halftime in the said late on Sunday: “John his debut in 2003. 5-1 win over Milton Keynes Dons second game of this season by requested a meeting with the ‘ Prove it!’ Neymar says $Played at Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, after which in the FA Cup fourth round. then-manager Jose Mourinho club the week before last. In he was named England skipper by former manager Steve Mc- “I was in last week before in a 3-0 loss at Manchester City. that meeting he asked about of Brazil tax charges Claren. the Arsenal game and it (Chel- He was then sent off in his the possibility of an extension $ sea contract) is not going to be next game against West Brom- to his existing contract. Re-appointed captain in August 2008 after Fabio Capello extended. It’s a no at the minute. wich Albion as Chelsea’s early “John was advised that while took charge of England. AFP declaration. The case involved the I needed to know now like I have season woes continued, culmi- no new deal was currently on the $Sacked by Capello as skipper in February 2010 after intense player’s father, whom Neymar also done every January and some- nating in Mourinho’s departure table, that situation could change media speculation following allegations about his private life. defended in the Globo interview. times it takes a couple of months in December. in the coming months. The club $ Continued to play for England and was part of the team heav- “My father is doing everything to to get done. Unfortunately, it was Terry’s form may have has the utmost respect for John ily criticised for disappointing performances at the 2010 World SAO PAULO: Barcelona football star ensure that I can just focus on play- a no. It took me a couple of days dipped this term but a glimpse and everything he has helped us Cup in South Africa when they were eliminated by Germany in the Neymar insisted on Sunday he is ing football. He handles the books. to get over. of what he means to the fans achieve to date. second round. innocent of tax evasion allegations, But in the moment when you see “But I knew before the Arse- came when he equalised late “He is a fantastic servant $ Reinstated as England captain in March 2011 but stripped of days after losing an appeal against someone you love suffering, it starts nal game and my performance in stoppage time to force a 3-3 of Chelsea Football Club and the role for a second time 11 months later after he was accused of a $112,000 fine for filing irregular- to hurt,” the star forward said. isn’t going to change - the way I draw with Everton on January 16, a superb captain and, as such, racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. ities in 2007 and 2008. Neymar is also embroiled in train, what I give for the club. I to preserve Chelsea’s unbeaten the club will keep the channels $ Terry is later cleared in a court of law but the Football Associa- “I am happy within myself,” he legal action in Spain, where he has want to give everything and fin- run under interim coach Guus of dialogue open.” tion’s decision to strip him of the armband before his case was said in an interview with Brazil’s been ordered to give evidence today ish on a high. I couldn’t play for Hiddink. His former team-mate Frank heard prompted the resignation of manager Capello. Globo television. over alleged fraud surrounding his another Premier League club, it Jumping on to the hoardings Lampard paid tribute to the $ Despite being acquitted in the law courts, the FA chose to “Before saying nonsense - that transfer to Barcelona from Santos in will be elsewhere for sure,” he surrounding the pitch to cele- ex-England captain, posting a we hid this, or hid that - they should 2013. The $112,000 fine is unlikely bring case against Terry who was subsequently banned for four was quoted as saying on British brate, he was almost engulfed picture of the pair on Instagram prove it,” he said. On Thursday, Ney- to perturb the Brazilian star too matches. Never played for England again, despite being widely media websites. by the adoring supporters. accompanied by the simple cap- mar lost his appeal against a fine much as he reportedly earns around Chelsea were not immedi- However, Terry has not been tion: “#captain #legend #chelsea regarded as the best centre-half in the Premier League. imposed by tax authorities in 2012 $215,000 a week at European cham- ately available for comment. universally popular in England #winner @johnterry.26” for irregularities in his income tax pions Barcelona. Ronaldo hat-trick propels Real rout

AFP goal ensured a repeat scoreline from when break with an audacious piece of skill to skip the sides met earlier this season. past Alvaro Gonzalez before blasting into the Victory also moves Real just a point top corner on his left foot. Madrid’s intensity behind local rivals Atletico Madrid after their dropped after the break with the points in the MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 29th 2-1 defeat to Barca in a top of the table clash bag, but Ronaldo wasn’t to be denied another La Liga hat-trick as Zinedine Zidane’s Real on Saturday. However, Barcelona also have hat-trick as he nodded home Jese Rodriguez’s Madrid moved back to within four points of a game in hand on both Madrid clubs. cross to register his 30th goal of the season. leaders Barcelona with a 6-0 thrashing of Real have now struck 41 goals in seven And Duarte’s own goal rounded off the Espanyol on Sunday. games at home since being thrashed 4-0 by scoring from another dangerous Jese cross. However, Gary Neville’s terrible La Liga Barcelona in November. Zidane’s men again In contrast to Zidane’s comfortable run since taking charge of Valencia con- made a flying start as Rodriguez’s cross from start to life in La Liga, Neville’s Valencia tinued with a 1-0 loss to Sporting Gijon on the right picked out Benzema to take his tally nightmare continued as his winless streak Sunday - Los Che’s first home defeat since for the season to 22 goals in 21 games after stretched to eight games. Antonio Sanabria’s November 2014. seven minutes. Ronaldo hit five when the penalty five minutes into the second-half In keeping with their fast starts under sides met earlier in the campaign and was handed Sporting their first away win since new boss Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu, among the goals once more as he doubled October as Valencia paid for missing a host Madrid raced into a 4-0 half-time lead with the lead from the penalty spot after being of clear-cut chances, most notably through Karim Benzema and James Rodriguez’s first brought down by Enzo Roco. captain Alvaro Negredo. goal since November adding to Ronaldo’s Rodriguez’s deflected effort killed the Victory moves Sporting out of the rel- Real Madrid’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (right) scores his third goal through double. game as a contest after just 18 minutes and egation zone up to 16th with Valencia now The three-time World Player of the Year Benzema could easily have made it four as just six points off the drop zone in 12th. Yet, a header while RCD Espanyol’s Lithuanian goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis looks on during sealed his latest La Liga hat-trick nine min- he shot wide after a lovely one-two with Isco. Neville denied his position was fast becom- the Spanish Liga Primera Division soccer match played at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, in utes from time before Oscar Duarte’s own Ronaldo did get the fourth before the ing untenable. Madrid, Spain on Sunday. 32 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Klopp feels the squeeze ahead of today’s clash against Leicester

AFP Hammers was Liverpool’s 37th fixture Stewart and Joao Teixeira and full- One player set to retain his place will ask more taxing questions. After important three points against Stoke. of the campaign, and it is mathemat- back Brad Smith. is central defender Dejan Lovren, who facing Liverpool they will take on We’re solid and we believe in our- ically possible that they could end up But Klopp has indicated that he took the opportunity to build up his Manchester City and then Arsenal, selves. We are a really good team playing 69 competitive matches this will return to his tried and trusted match fitness after recovering from a the only other club to beat them in a on the field and we will try to keep LEICESTER: Jurgen Klopp’s most season. senior players to face Leicester. recent hamstring injury. league game in 2015-16. winning. significant challenge as Liverpool With that in mind, Klopp rested as “Those players are in our squad He played his part in a Liverpool Defender Christian Fuchs said: “People writing us off isn’t a topic manager at the moment is figuring many of his senior players as he pos- because they are an option for us,” clean sheet at the weekend; only their “We’ve got three games against big for us. We focus on our work and we out how to manage his squad in the sibly could at the weekend, making 10 Klopp said. “But we have to decide if third in nine matches. teams and they are important. do it well.” face of an ever-expanding fixture list. changes to the side who had secured it is the right moment or not. Liverpool are one of only two “We want to win against Liver- Ranieri will hope to name an Having played nine games in Jan- a League Cup final place by overcom- “Young lads often have waves in clubs to have beaten Leicester in pool and the (5-2) defeat to Arsenal unchanged team from the win against uary - more than any other Premier ing Stoke City on penalties at Anfield their development. They have ups and the league to date, so Tuesday’s was one of our worst games. It was Stoke. League team - Klopp’s side’s trip to four days earlier. downs, and if you bring them in at the game gives Claudio Ranieri’s men our biggest defeat of the season and Winger Jeff Schlupp faces another leaders Leicester City today is the first Teenager Cameron Brannagan, wrong moment, then it’s not too good an opportunity to avenge that defeat we want to win there. month on the sidelines with a serious of at least seven matches in February. making only his fourth senior start, for their development. in December and offer further proof “I don’t see the game against Arse- hamstring injury, while midfielder That tally will rise to eight if they took the opportunity to make a posi- “They have time to develop. That’s of their title credentials. A 3-0 win nal as a title decider. We’re just having Matty James will not be involved beat West Ham United in next week’s tive impression against West Ham, as the best thing. They have enough against an in-form Stoke last week fun. We keep winning at the moment after suffering a minor setback in FA Cup fourth-round replay. did other players with limited experi- pressure. You don’t need to make that answered many of the doubts about and we will try to do our best. his recovery from a long-term knee Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the ence such as fellow midfielders Kevin pressure bigger.” the Foxes, but their next three games “We’re all happy and it was an problem.

Messi seeks to meet Afghan Guardiola to drive boy in grocery bag jersey Man City’s

The FIFA Player of the European Year may set meeting with five-year-old dream fan at a European destination

Reuters that Manchester City had their eyes AFP on Guardiola to fire their own bid for European success having failed to make any impression in recent LONDON: English Premier League seasons since becoming one of the KABUL: Barcelona star Lionel Messi club Manchester City have named world’s richest clubs and twice win- is hoping to arrange a meeting with Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardi- ning the Premier League. an Afghan boy who shot to fame after FIFA World ola as their new manager from July, Pellegrini, a Chilean who took pictures of him dressed in a striped Player of hoping the Spaniard can emulate the over at City in 2013, said at a news plastic bag jersey went viral, Kabul’s the Year glory years he enjoyed at Barcelona. conference yesterday that he would football federation said yesterday. Lionel Messi Manuel Pellegrini will leave finish at the club on June 30. Five-year-old Murtaza Ahmadi the job on June 30 to make way for City currently stand second in idolises the Argentine soccer star Guardiola, who has signed a three- the Premier League, three points but a jersey of his favourite player is year contract with City, the club said behind surprise leaders Leicester beyond the means of his poor fam- in a statement yesteday. City. They face Dynamo Kiev in the ily in the volatile province of Ghazni The move ends months of spec- last 16 of the Champions League. near Kabul. ulation about the future of the As a player, the Catalonia-born His elder brother Homayoun, 15, charismatic Guardiola, one of the Guardiola spent most of his career made him the blue-and-white-striped most sought-after coaches in the as a midfielder with Barcelona, win- plastic shirt with Messi’s named world. He had turned down a new ning the old European Cup in 1992 scrawled in marker pen and posted contract with Bayern Munich last and four La Liga titles in a row from the photos of Murtaza wearing it on year and said he would quit at the 1991 to 1994. He went on the man- Facebook in mid-January. end of the season. age the club for four glorious years Jorge Messi, the father of Argen- Guardiola, who turned 45 on before taking a sabbatical and then tine legend, said on Saturday that January 18, won 14 titles with Bar- taking the reins at Bayern in 2013. the footballer was aware of the pho- F ive-year-old Afghan boy Murtaza Ahmadi, a young Lionel Messi fan, playing football in Kabul yesterday. celona in a four-year coaching spell, Guardiola’s record in the transfer tos that made waves on social media Barcelona star Lionel Messi is hoping to arrange a meeting with an Afghan boy who shot to fame after including the Champions League in market at Bayern was impressive, and “wants to do something” for his pictures of him dressed in a striped plastic bag jersey went viral, Kabul’s football federation said yesterday. 2009. bringing players to the club who young fan. At Bayern, he won back-to-back went on to become resounding suc- The Afghanistan Football Feder- league titles and leaves with the side cesses such as Xabi Alonso, Thiago ation (AFF) yesterday said Messi was embassy in Kabul said it would do from grocery bags discarded by their on course for a third. But his record Alcantara, Douglas Costa and Kings- keen to meet Murtaza as soon as pos- FOOTBALL: OPPORTUNITY whatever possible to facilitate a neighbour - has touched a chord with is dimmed by the Bavarian club’s ley Coman among others. sible, though no date or venue has so FOR MESSI FAN meeting at a European destination. football fans around the world. Sport failure to bring home Europe’s top He constantly rotated his side far been finalised. Murtaza’s father, a poor farmer in was rarely played under Taliban rule, club prize. and made bold tactical changes, “Messi has been in communica- Ghazni’s Jaghori district, admitted he and the football stadium in Kabul was They twice stumbled in the such as moving right back Philipp tion with the federation to set up a could not afford to buy him a replica a notorious venue for executions, Champions League’s semi-final Lahm into midfield in the twilight of meeting with the young boy,” AFF five-year-old will travel to Spain or jersey, adding that Murtaza only had stonings and mutilations. stage, losing heavily to Real Madrid his career. Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz spokesman Sayed Ali Kazemi said. they will meet in a third country.” a punctured ball to play with. Football and cricket are the two in 2014 before being edged out by Rummenigge said last week the club “We are working to see whether There was no immediate com- Photos of the boy wearing the most popular sports in the war-rav- Juventus the following year. would support Guardiola in his work Messi will come to Afghanistan or the ment from FC Barcelona. The Spanish improvised Messi jersey - made aged country. It has long been an open secret until his last day there. Birnbaum’s late Neymar, Barca in the dock header lifts US over murky transfer

AFP come in time.”Iceland’s Kristinn AFP part of the transfer fee was con- with then vice-president Bartomeu Steindorsson opened the scor- cealed by Barcelona and Santos. taking charge. By splitting the fee ing in the 13th minute, finding The deal was originally valued at between a number of different con- the goal with a deflection off 57.1 million euros ($62.1 million) tracts between Santos and Neymar LOS ANGELES: Steve Birn- defender Orozco. MADRID: Barcelona star Ney- by Barca, 40 million of which was himself, Barcelona stand accused of baum’s 90th-minute header The Americans equalized in mar and President Josep Maria paid to the N&N company owned defrauding the Spanish taxman of lifted the United States to a dra- the 20th minute when Bradley Bartomeu will be called to give by the player’s father with Santos 12.7 million euros. Prosecutors are matic 3-2 victory over Iceland on chipped a pass over a defender’s evidence this week in the murky receiving just 17.1 million. seeking a prison sentence of two Sunday in an International Foot- leg to Altidore, who flicked a left- case over the deal which brought However, Spanish judicial years and three months for Bar- ball friendly. footed shot past the sprawling the Brazilian to the Catalan giants authorities have estimated the tomeu and nearly seven years for The 25-year-old defender for goalkeeper for his 32nd inter- from Santos in 2013. number of simultaneous deals in Rosell, as well as a 22.2 million euro Major League Soccer’s DC United national goal, fourth on the Bartomeu was due to attend the transfer amounted to at least fine for the club. No date for a trial leaped high in the heart of the all-time US list. Spain’s national court yesterday 83.3 million. has been set so far. penalty area to receive a free A quick free kick in the 48th with Neymar to follow today. After hearing the testimony, a A Brazilian court has also kick from Michael Bradley and minute by Iceland set up Aron Sandro Rosell, Bartomeu’s judge will decide whether the case taken action freezing $47 million nodded the ball into the back of Sigudarson, who blasted a right- predecessor who was President of will progress and charges be filled. in assets belonging to Neymar over the net for the decider, the Amer- footed shot past US goalkeeper the club when Neymar was signed, However, it is just one of a tax evasion allegations between icans’ first lead on the day. Luis Robles and inside the far and the player’s parents have also number of legal battles facing the 2011 and 2013. Neymar’s Argen- Toronto striker Jozy Altidore post for a 2-1 Iceland lead. been called to testify.Public pros- club, whose reputation has been hit tine teammates Lionel Messi and and Tijuana’s Michael Orozco The Americans pulled level ecutors filed for action to be taken by a series of off-field scandals in Javier Mascherano have also been also scored for the United States, again in the 59th minute when against all the parties after a com- recent times despite their contin- in trouble with the Spanish author- which seized a 3-2-2 edge in the Birnbaum headed a centering Steve Birnbaum (right) of plaint of fraud and corruption was ued success on the pitch. ities over tax issues. all-time rivalry with Iceland. pass to the far side of the goal the United States celebrates launched by the Brazilian invest- In a separate lawsuit, a judge in Five-time World Player of the “We’re trying to get our legs and saw Orozco nod it home. his goal with Lee Nguyen. ment fund DIS, which held 40 May 2015 ordered Bartomeu, Rosell Year Messi will stand trial for tax under us,” Altidore said. “It’s nice Orozco had been a Friday USA beat Iceland 3-2 during percent of Neymar’s sporting rights and the club itself to stand trial over fraud charges on May 31 along with to play a real opponent. We have addition to the US squad after the final minutes of the when he played at Santos. alleged tax fraud linked to the sign- his father for allegedly failing to to get fitter and just be a little bit recovering from an ankle injury game at StubHub Centre on DIS has claimed it was cheated ing. The scandal over the concealed declare 4.16 million euros ($4.69 sharper. Sometimes that first that sidelined him for the start Sunday in Carson, California. of its real share of the benefits of transfer fee led to Rosell’s resigna- million) related to his image rights pass wasn’t there but that will of the Mexican League season. the 23-year-old’s transfer because tion as president in January 2014 between 2007 and 2009. SPORT TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 33

TENNIS ATP TOUR SINGLES Things we STANDINGS (MEN) Djokovic fears only ‘karma’ learned from the Rank/Name/Country Points Australian Open 1 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 16790 2 Andy Murray (Britain) 8945 Men’s tennis needs a rivalry 3 Roger Federer (Switzerland) 8795 4 Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland)6325 in Grand Slam history quest The world is impressed and 5 Rafael Nada l(Spain) 4880 amazed by Novak Djokovic’s 6 David Ferrer (Spain) 4325 dominance but it isn’t much fun watching him trample over his 7 Kei Nishikori (Japan) 4235 TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN The world number OPEN RECAP competitors time and time again. 8 Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 4200 The wins keep coming for 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 2905 one, who holds 11 the Serb and his ruthless recent 10 Richard Gasquet (France) 2760 Grand Slam titles, “Because if I do, the person treatment of Rafael Nadal, Roger 11 Milos Raonic (Canada) 2630 says he is still part of becomes too arrogant and thinks Federer and Andy Murray, in Sun- 12 John Isner (US) 2585 that he’s a higher being or better day’s one-sided final, underline his 13 Marin Cilic (Croatia) 2495 the ‘Big Four’ than everybody else. You can get supremacy after what was a dom- a big slap from karma very soon. I inant 2015. 14 Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 2305 don’t want that. Djokovic’s main threat is 15 Gilles Simon (France) 2235 “I try to still follow the same now time, as he pursues Feder- 16 David Goffin (Belgium) 1970 AFP kind of lifestyle and routine, things er’s all-time record of 17 Grand 17 Gael Monfils (France) 1800 that I’ve been doing all these years Slam titles. 18 Roberto Bautista (Spain) 1775 that have been helping me to get to Tennis is a sport of two players 19 Dominic Thiem (Austria) 1725 where I am.” and Djokovic needs a true com- MELBOURNE: Another overpower- He added: “I hope this kind petitor across the net to make his 20 Bernard Tomic (Australia) 1720 ing win kept him head and shoulders of approach will help me to get to matches truly compelling. 21 Benoit Paire (France) 1686 above his peers at the Australian where I am. I don’t want to step away John McEnroe and Jimmy 22 Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 1600 Open, but Novak Djokovic said fears from it.” Connors, Federer and Nadal are 23 Jack Sock (US) 1570 of a “big slap from karma” make him Djokovic said he sets no “bound- rivalries which caught the imagi- 24 Fabio Fognini (Italy) 1515 humble as he continues his quest for aries” as he contemplates a career nation and made tennis fans tune 25 Viktor Troicki (Serbia) 1475 Grand Slam history. which could yet outdo anything pre- in. Djokovic clinically disman- The achievements keep com- viously achieved on a tennis court. tling Murray 6-1 in the first set of TENNIS ATP TOUR SINGLES ing for the supreme Serb after he Last year he put together one a Grand Slam final isn’t quite the STANDINGS (WOMEN) smashed world number two Andy of the best seasons ever seen, win- same. Murray 6-1, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) in two ning three Grand Slam titles - a feat 1 Serena Williams (US) 9245 hours, 53 minutes Sunday to lift his he also managed three years ear- Serena’s not a robot 2 Angelique Kerber (Germany) 5700 fourth trophy in five Grand Slams. lier in 2011. 3 Simona Halep (Romania) 5545 It moved the 28-year-old to 11 This season, the first ever men’s Serena Williams has come to 4 Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 5210 Grand Slam titles, joint fifth on the ‘Golden Slam’, which is the four dominate women’s tennis so com- all-time list and, at his current rate, major titles plus Olympic gold, is on pletely that in the women’s final, 5 Garbine Muguruza Blanco(Spain)4991 closing fast on Roger Federer’s all- the table, a fact which will not have few gave Angelique Kerber any 6 Maria Sharapova (Russia) 3672 time record of 17. gone unnoticed by Djokovic. hope at all. 7 Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 3611 Not only has Djokovic become But the main priority is com- But in a mesmerising two 8 Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 3595 the first man in nearly 50 years to pleting the career Grand Slam by hours and eight minutes at Rod 9 Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 3582 win six Australian titles, he has also winning his first French Open title, Laver Arena, the German con- 10 Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) 3580 established himself as a class apart the only big trophy to elude him founded all expectations as she 11 Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 3260 from his main rivals: Murray, Fed- last year when an inspired Stan handed the world number one her erer and Rafael Nadal. Wawrinka left him in tears in the first defeat after six previous victo- 12 Venus Williams (US) 3091 Novak Djokovic of Murray never recovered from a final. ries in the Melbourne final. 13 Karolina Pliskova (Czech Rep.) 3090 first set which passed in a blur 6-1 - He said: “I’ve heard actually one Serbia celebrates It capped a women’s compe- 14 Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 2935 suffering the same fate as Nadal and nice metaphor yesterday. It’s much his win against Andy tition that was full of drama, with 15 Timea Bacsinszky (Switzerland) 2894 Federer, who lost the first set by the easier for the wolf that is going uphill Murray of Britain world number two Simona Halep 16 Roberta Vinci (Italy) 2885 same scoreline in their heavy defeats and running up the mountain... he during the Men’s Final knocked out in the first round and at the Australian Open 17 Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 2535 to Djokovic this year. was hungrier than the wolf stand- Naomi Osaka and Zhang Shuai But Djokovic said he refuses to ing on the hill. tennis tournament in enjoying a dream tournament 18 Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 2511 accept that he has separated him- “You can observe it from differ- Melbourne in Australia along with Johanna Konta, who 19 Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 2505 self from the top echelon of men’s ent sides, but I believe that all the on Sunday. became the first British woman 20 Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 2461 tennis, previously dubbed the ‘Big guys that are out there fighting each since 1983 to reach a Grand Slam 21 Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 2405 Four’, although results may show week to get to number one are very semi-final. 22 Sara Errani (Italy) 2405 otherwise. hungry to get to number one, and I Kerber’s win also set up the 23 Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 2230 “I don’t want to allow myself to know that. women’s season nicely as, along 24 Madison Keys(US) 2060 be in that frame of mind,” he said, “I can’t allow myself to relax and with becoming the sport’s newest sitting next to the Norman Brookes enjoy. I mean, I can. Of course I want Grand Slam champion, it left Wil- 25 loane Stephens (US) 1965 Challenge Cup for the sixth time in to enjoy, and I will, but it’s not going liams with work to do to win the the depths of Rod Laver Arena. to go more than few days.” Grand Slam title that will put her level with Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22. “As much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not. I try to. But, you Murray insists he is not far off Djokovic know, I do the best that I can,” Williams said. “I try to win every single time I step out there, every single point, but realistically I can’t AFP do it,” Serena said. Britain’s Andy Murray’s face is reflected on the Tennis has a corruption runner-up plate as he problem MELBOURNE: Andy Murray insisted he looks at it after losing wasn’t far away from matching Novak his final match against It wasn’t news to those in the Djokovic despite his fourth defeat to the Serbia’s Novak Djokovic know, but to everyone else it came runaway world number one in the Aus- at the Australian Open like a rocket: tennis matches are tralian Open final. tennis tournament preyed on by match-fixers, and Dad-to-be Murray paid the price for at Melbourne Park, players who have been in the top a slow start as he went down 6-1, 7-5, Australia on Sunday. 50 have repeatedly fallen under 7-6 (7/3) in a one-sided men’s final Sun- suspicion without facing action, day which only underlined the Serb’s according to a bombshell report supremacy. by the BBC and BuzzFeed. But Murray, before making a dash to It sparked a flurry of reve- the airport to fly home to his pregnant lations and accusations, with wife, said he felt he remained in touch with Djokovic among the players to Djokovic despite their widening head-to- confirm a match-fixing approach head statistics. early in his career. “I don’t know how far off I was tonight. The report was initially The first set, you know, I wasn’t there, but greeted with barely disguised irri- Britain’s Johanna Konta the second and third sets I do think were tation by tennis authorities, but as very close,” said the British world number the controversy snowballed they two. wisely took action and announced “I do think I could have played a bit an independent review of the better. I didn’t think I hit my forehand as sport’s under-fire corruption- Britain’s Konta well as I could have done. When I did in the fighting body. third set, that helped me out a lot. Tennis thus used a damaging “I was able to get myself into the net scandal to paint itself in a favoura- out of Fed Cup more. I was able to play more offensive ble light, unlike other sports which tennis then. have become mired in scandal in “I mean, most of the matches we recent months. played in Slams I think have been com- Reuters will win promotion to World petitive. Whether that looks the same from It’s only a game Group level. the outside or not, I don’t know.” “I have been advised by Murray’s latest defeat to Djokovic made A healthy dose of perspective LONDON: Britain’s Johanna the doctors that playing there him only the second man in the Open era was offered by Andy Murray, who Konta, who reached the Aus- would jeopardise an ongoing - after Ivan Lendl, his former coach - to shrugged off his latest Australian tralian Open semi-finals, will intestinal issue that got pro- lose five finals at the same Grand Slam Open final defeat - his fifth - with miss next week’s Euro-Africa gressively worse through the tournament. nonchalance. zone rounds of the Fed Cup in Australian Open,” she said in Murray lost to Roger Federer in the The reason was that Murray Israel with an intestinal issue, a statement. 2010 final, and he was also runner-up in has been facing matters of life she said on Sunday. Britain will play Geor- 2011, 2013, 2015 and now 2016, watching and death over the past fortnight, Konta became the first gia and South Africa in the Djokovic lift the winner’s trophy each time. with his first baby on the way and British woman into the last round-robin phase, with His head-to-head record with the Serb it is the Serb who has accelerated in reunited with his wife, Kim Sears. his father-in-law collapsing at Rod four of a grand slam in over the group winner facing a moves to 22-9 in Djokovic’s favour, includ- front. It has been a tough fortnight for Laver Arena in the tournament’s 30 years before her exhil- play-off. ing 11 of their last 12 matches and their last Djokovic has 11 Grand Slam titles to Murray, who almost pulled out of the first week. arating run was halted on “While its obviously very four Grand Slam meetings, going back to Murray’s two, 61 career trophies to 35 and tournament when his father-in-law Nigel He summed it up early in the Thursday by eventual cham- disappointing, we still have Murray’s Wimbledon win in 2013. $97 million in prize money compared to Sears, Ana Ivanovic’s coach, collapsed at tournament when he stated firmly: pion Angelique Kerber. a squad of players capable of Murray and Djokovic, both 28, were $44 million for the Scot. Rod Laver Arena last week. “For me, my child is more impor- She had been due to com- winning through the Euro/ born a week apart and have known each However, it seemed to matter little to “I’m proud that I got into this position,” tant to me, and my wife is more pete in Eilat, Israel where two Africa Zone Group 1,” cap- other since their junior days, and while the Scot, whose first priority was catch- Murray said. “Just quite looking forward important to me, than a tennis of the 14 teams taking part tain Judy Murray said. they are both at the top of men’s tennis ing the first plane out of Melbourne to be to getting home now.” match.” 34 TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 SPORT Scott steals show as Pacific win All Star Game

Joe Pavelski of the EASTERN CONFERENCE VS San Jose Sharks and Winger scores a brace WESTERN CONFERENCE John Scott (down) of the Arizona Coyotes in win over Central celebrate a goal during Division before the Western Conference playing star role in goalies are,” Perry said. Anaheim semi-final between the goalie John Gibson picked up the Central Division and the Atlantic victory win with seven saves, making a cou- ple in the last minute after the Atlantic Pacific Division as part pulled Bishop for a fourth skater. of the NHL All Star Game Scott’s MVP performance was in Nashville, Tennessee a fitting ending to a day where the Agencies on Sunday. form chart, such as it is in any All Star event, was flogged. Both semi-final favourites – Cen- tral and Metropolitan – lost and an NEW YORK: Left winger John Scott expected flurry of goals in the cham- captained the winning Pacific Divi- pionship period never materialised. sion team on Sunday at the All Star Montreal defenceman PK Subban’s Game, scoring two goals in a 9-6 vic- marker at 15:22 of the first semi-final tory over the Central and helping his lifted the Atlantic to a 4-3 decision squad blank the Atlantic 1-0 for the Jaromir Jagr (centre) of the Florida Panthers takes a shot against over the Metropolitan. championship and $1m. Jonathan Quick (left) of the Los Angeles Kings during their NHL All Bishop delivered five saves in the The Scott story ended in a fashion Star Final Game between the Eastern Conference and the Western final minute after the Metro went to that would be rejected by any Hol- Conference at Bridgestone Arena on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee. an extra attacker. lywood screen writer, as he won the Most players said the new format fans’ write-in vote for Most Valuable lent itself to a better quality of play Player decisively despite not being more toward hitting and the occa- that stuff up.” Scott added a second than most All Star games, although listed on the original ballot on the sional fight than scoring. goal at 13:27 as Burns sprung him on the Central-Pacific period was basi- scoreboard. Arizona traded Scott to Montreal a breakaway down the middle. That cally a track meet on skates. The sellout crowd of 17,006 lust- on January 15 and the Canadiens sent was part of a six-goal explosion by But talk about the format change ily booed and started chanting “John him down to their AHL affiliate in St. the Pacific in the last 10 minutes that was totally overshadowed by Scott’s Scott” during the last 6 1/2 minutes. John’s, Newfoundland. featured two markers from Edmon- unexpected performance and award. Scott’s team-mates lifted him on their The NHL opted at that time to ton left winger Taylor Hall. “He’s probably on cloud 1,000,” shoulders just before he was named invalidate the fan vote, only to have Goals were surprisingly scarce Subban said of Scott. MVP and then banged their sticks on to change their minds three days later in the championship period, with “Good for him.” the ice in approval as the audience after a backlash. Anaheim right winger Corey Perry Besides his share of the $1m for roared. The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Scott the only one to crack the code. Perry the winners, which comes out to about “I’m not going to lie to you,” he was seen as a poor fit for the new ripped a wrister by Tampa Bay goalie $90,000, Scott also won a car. said. “It’s probably one of the better 3-on-3 format that emphasizes Ben Bishop at 13:22 off a pass by Van- His wife is scheduled to give birth weekends of my life.” speed and skill, yet he scored on his couver left winger Daniel Sedin. to twins in the next week, which will Winner of a fan vote to captain the first shift at 47 seconds of the Pacif- Florida goalie Roberto Luongo and double his family to four children. Pacific team, Scott absorbed criticism ic’s semi-final game, tipping in a pass Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick “I don’t know if it’s going to sink from some around ice hockey who felt from San Jose defenceman Brent combined for 22 saves, 12 by Luongo, in any time soon,” Scott summed up. he did not deserve a spot in the game, Burns. in a breathtaking exhibition of save- “I never thought the fans would get based on his five goals in 285 career “I didn’t expect to score first shift,” making over the first 10 minutes. behind me like that. You can’t put that games and a skill set which leans Scott said. “It’s crazy. You can’t make “Just shows you how good the into words.”

NFL says no League limbers rule against Warriors crush New York Knicks as up for Super Raiders move Bowl 50 with to Las Vegas Bosh stars in Heat’s win over Hawks exhibition AFP AFP AFP

NEW YORK: An NFL memo sent SAN FRANCISCO: National Foot- to clubs in the wake of Oakland LOS ANGELES: The NBA champion ball League fans hungry for the Raiders owner Mark Davis visiting Golden State Warriors dominated the Super Bowl 50 showdown between Las Vegas says there is no rule New York Knicks 116-95 at Madison the Carolina Panthers and Denver against moving a team to any city. Square Garden on Sunday with the Broncos got an appetiser on Sun- The note, made public over the help of forward Draymond Green’s day with the Pro Bowl exhibition weekend, leaves open the door to ninth triple-double of the season. in Hawaii. the possibility of relocating the Green scored 20 points, pulled As the Panthers and Broncos Raiders, or any club, to the US down 10 rebounds and handed out 10 arrived in San Francisco, shifting gambling centre despite the NFL’s assists as the Warriors notched their the center of the NFL universe to hard stance against any betting seventh straight victory to improve the Bay Area, league stars whose associations to preserve credibility their league-leading record to 44-4. teams didn’t make it to the Feb- of results. He tied Tom Gola for most tri- ruary 7 championship spectacle The Raiders have no lease for ple-doubles by a Warrior in a season strutted their stuff at Aloha Sta- next season after being thwarted and helped Golden State bounce dium in Honolulu – where the in a bid to relocate to Los Angeles back from Saturday’s sloppy show- all-star team captained by former starting next season. ing against the 76ers in Philadelphia, Dallas Cowboys great Michael Las Vegas has long sought where the league’s worst team nearly Irvin defeated the team captained a top-level pro sports team but rallied for an upset before the Warri- by former 49ers legend Jerry Rice thus far has been snubbed by the ors sealed a 108-105 win with a late 49-27. NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball three-pointer. Seven different Team Irvin and the National Hockey League, Green admitted after that game players caught touchdown passes, although an NHL expansion bid that in chasing a triple-double against and their team-mates intercepted from Las Vegas for a new arena Philadelphia he made too many turn- six passes in the victory. under construction there is being overs -- an confession that drew Seattle Seahawks quarter- studied by league officials. praise from coach Steve Kerr. back Russell Wilson threw three The memo, sent to 32 NFL “It was awesome that Draymond touchdown passes while Vikings team public relations directors, admitted that publicly, admitted to his signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater mentioned the reports of a plan by teammates that he was going for a tri- and Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon ple-double, and it kind of messed with each threw two scoring passes – Adelson to build a $1b domed the flow of the game,” Kerr said. “I’ve the delight of Irvin. stadium, a 65,000-seater on the never heard a player actually admit Irvin, a Hall of Fame receiver, Golden State Warriors power forward Draymond Green (right) drives against New York Knicks shooting University of Nevada-Las vegas to that.” picked Wilson first in the Pro Bowl campus that could be built even Green didn’t have to press for 10 guard Langston Galloway during the first quarter of their NBA game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. roster draft and surrounded him without an NFL team as a tenant. assists against the Knicks, and once with young running backs and “If your club owner or the Warriors got through a low-scor- elite receivers. Wilson connected executives are asked about this, ing first quarter in which they had fill the void, posting his ninth game discovery here. “It’s frustrating. But for touchdowns with receiver Julio there is no need to comment,” the eight turnovers to just seven baskets, this season of 30 or more points with NBA ROUND-UP it’s been frustrating... We’re not dis- Jones, running back Devonta Free- NFL memo said. their vaunted offense began to click. 34. ciplined. We’re not. That’s it. It’s true. man of the Atlanta Falcons and It noted that all relocation They connected on 14 of 17 shots Reserve guard Jamal Crawford It’s a fact,” he added. Rams rookie running back Todd decisions require 75 percent in the second period, led by six at scored 26 points as the Los Ange- since then.” Clippers guard JJ Redick In Miami, Chris Bosh scored a Gurley in the first half. support from the 32 club owners halftime and never trailed after the les Clippers’ bench came up big in a scored 21 points, hitting all four of game-high 18 point to help the Heat Team Irvin led 28-14 at half- and that no proposal has been made interval. Stephen Curry, the league’s 120-93 victory over the visiting Chi- his three-point attempts. Point guard beat the Atlanta Hawks 105-87, time. Wilson competed eight of to the league for relocation to Las top scorer, had a quiet night with just cago Bulls. Chris Paul had 19 points and seven Miami’s fourth victory in a row. 12 passes for 164 yards and three Vegas. 13 points. With his team up by dou- The Clippers reserves outscored assists and center DeAndre Jordan It’s the Heat’s first four-game touchdowns, and he was named “It would be speculative to ble-digits he played little in the fourth the Bulls bench 58-18, following up on added 17 points, 20 rebounds and four winning streak since superstar LeB- the game’s Most Valuable Player. suggest that your club would or period. Guard Klay Thompson helped a Friday contest in which the Clippers’ blocks for the Clippers, who captured ron James headed back to Cleveland Wilson said after the game that would not support such a proposal. second unit out-scored the Los Ange- their fourth straight win. after the 2013-14 season. he would “never take for granted” If such a proposal is made, it would NBA RESULTS les Lakers reserves 56-25. Bulls guard Jimmy Butler had 23 “Now that we’ve passed that, any chance to play football. be considered under the league’s “We were so down after that points and Derrick Rose added 20 hopefully we can extend it,” Bosh But the quarterback who led LA Clippers 120 Chicago 93 relocation policies,” the memo Toronto game because for a month points for Chicago, who have now said. “That was like a mental hur- the Seahawks to the Super Bowl said. Miami 105 Atlanta 87 that’s not who we’ve been,” said dropped four of their last six games. dle for us. We jumped it for today,” the past two seasons, winning “There is no prohibition under Orlando 119 Boston 114 Crawford, referring to a 112-94 loss It was especially disappointing added the seasoned player. Amare once and coming up short against league rules on a team moving to Dallas 91 Phoenix 78 on January 24 when the Raptors’ after the Bulls’ strong performance Stoudemire had 12 points and 12 New England last year, admitted to any particular city. Any proposal Golden State 116 NY Knicks 95 backups held a 51-29 advantage over in a victory over the Lakers on rebounds for his first double-double a TV interviewer in the second half for relocation would be evaluated the Clippers’. Thursday. “The lack of consistency of the season and the Heat also got that “obviously it sucks to not be in Portland 96 Minnesota 93 based on the same standards as “We got our butts kicked that is very noticeable,” said centre Pau 17 points apiece from Dwyane Wade the Super Bowl. But to be here, I’m apply to any proposed move.” Charlotte 101 LA Lakers 82 game. We’ve bounced back nicely Gasol. “It’s nothing new. There’s no and Luol Deng. grateful as can be.” SPORT TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 35 Struggling SA look to make amends in one-day series

De Villiers’ team eyes win in five-match ODI series against England starting Australia’s David Warner (left) and Steve Smith take part in fielding tomorrow practice at the MCG, in this February 13, 2015 file photo. Smith is looking to improve away record in New Zealand series.

AFP NZ aim to avenge Aussie BLOEMFONTEIN: South Africa will be keen to avenge a Test series defeat Cup drubbing at home when they meet England in five one- day internationals, starting at the Mangaung Oval tomorrow. “There are no soft series or less AFP important series, they are all impor- CRICKET: AUSTRALIA IN tant, particularly coming off a Test NEW ZEALAND series loss,” said South African coach Russell Domingo. WELLINGTON: New Zealand this Both teams will be looking to week face Australia in a one-day Australia arrive as favourites build on recent good results follow- international for the first time since despite mixed form at home against ing disappointing campaigns in the the Baggy Greens humiliated their India, when they won the ODI series 2015 Cricket World Cup in Australia Trans-Tasman rivals in the World 4-1 but lost 3-0 in the T20 format. and New Zealand. Cup final last March. Captain Steve Smith said he South Africa showed patchy While the pressure proved too was keen to improve his team’s form in the World Cup but reached much on that occasion as Brendon away record, particularly on seam- the semi-finals, where they were McCullum’s men slumped to a seven- ing wickets such as those in New beaten by New Zealand. Since then, wicket loss in Melbourne, this time Zealand. they have won a home series against New Zealand are on home soil and “We’re very hungry for New South Africa’s AB de Villiers (centre left) celebrates with team-mates after taking a wicket during their the Black Caps and an away series in a rich vein of ODI form. Zealand. We haven’t performed in India. World Cup Pool B match against Ireland in Canberra, in this March 14, 2015 file photo. The Black Caps have just beaten extremely well away from home,” England had a poor World Cup, Pakistan 2-0 in a three-match series, he said. failing to reach the knock-out stage building on a 3-1 series win over Sri “That’s top of my agenda, to after losing all their matches against Australia and beat Pakistan 3-1 in with our fast bowlers because there Lanka. make sure we’re playing well away other Test nations. But they then beat the United Arab Emirates. Several of ODIS: ENDLAND IN SOUTH is no Steyn, no (Vernon) Philander, Opener Martin Guptill said from home.” AFRICA New Zealand 3-2 in a home series, England’s leading one-day players did no Kyle Abbott,” said Domingo, who the New Zealanders approached Australia controversially left lost by the same margin against not appear in the recent Test series expressed concern about the work- their fixtures match-by-match and the in-form Usman Khawaja out against South Africa, including wick- load of Morne Morkel and new star claimed they had not even spoken of the touring party and Smith said etkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler, who hit Behardien and leg-spinner Imran Kagiso Rabada. about facing the Australians yet, let the batsmen who did make the trip SQUADS England’s fastest one-day century off Tahir. “The big concern is the fact that alone raised the prospect of revenge. needed to adapt to local conditions. South Africa: AB de Villiers (captain), 46 balls in the series decider against South African captain AB de Vil- Rabada and Morkel have played a lot But he said there was no doubt “Guys are working hard and we Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Pakistan in Dubai. liers, the world’s number one-ranked of cricket of late and have bowled so Australia was the main drawcard for know what to expect,” he said. Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Other new faces include captain one-day international batsman, will many overs, we need to manage them Kiwi fans during the New Zealand The tourists will also be with- Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy, Faf du Eoin Morgan, opening batsman Jason hope for a return to form after mak- over the next few days.” summer. out coach Darren Lehmann for at Plessis, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Roy and bowlers Reece Topley, Chris ing three ducks in his last three Test “It is going to be pretty excit- least the beginning of the tour as he Morkel, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Jordan, David Willey and Adil Rashid, innings against England. ing, and talking to people wherever recovers from deep-vein thrombosis Rilee Rossouw. who all had some success in England’s South Africa added fast bowler ODI FIXTURES we have been everyone is excited (DVT). “Obviously (I’m) still recov- England: Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen comfortable win in a warm-up match Marchant de Lange to their squad fol- Tomorrow (In Bloemfontein) about the Australians coming,” he ering from the DVT, but for me it’s Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos against South Africa A in Kimberley lowing the injury-forced withdrawal Saturday (In Port Elizabeth) said after Sunday’s three-wicket win just about hopefully getting medi- Buttler (wkt), Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, on Saturday. South Africa’s one-day of Dale Steyn and the unavailability Tuesday (Feb 9): (In Centurion) over Pakistan. Hostilities commence cal clearance later on in the week Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben specialists include hard-hitting left- through injury for the first match of tomorrow in Auckland with the first and see where we go from there and Friday (Feb 12): (In Johannesburg) Stokes, James Taylor, Reece Topley, David handed batsmen David Miller and Kyle Abbott. of three one-dayers, followed by join the New Zealand group,” he told Willey, Chris Woakes. Rilee Rossouw, all-rounder Farhaan “Marchant gives us more options Sunday (Feb 14): (In Cape Town) Tests in Wellington and Christchurch. reporters on Sunday. Ajmal banks on PSL to make Injured Finch Shane Watson confident return ahead of World T20 (right) of Australia of attaining celebrates his century with AFP Travis Head fitness soon during the third Twenty20 AFP against India ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s discarded in Sydney last off-spinner Saaed Ajmal (pictured) Sunday. SYDNEY: Australia captain Aaron says he is hopeful of proving his form Finch yesterday predicted he in a forthcoming domestic league as would be fit for next month’s ICC he targets a return to national col- World Twenty20 competition, after ours in the World Twenty20 this officials said a hamstring injury March. would not require surgery. The 38-year-old, whose accu- The 29-year-old hurt his left racy and deceptive doosra helped the world’s number one bowler in leg running between wickets drive his team to victory in the 2009 ODIs and was almost as impressive during a match against India on edition, has struggled to make an in Tests. He famously captured 24 Friday, eventually limping off the impact since coming back last Feb- wickets in three Tests against Eng- field after being run out. ruary from a five-month ban for land in 2012. “Aaron had scans on his chucking. He took just one wicket “When I made my comeback injured left hamstring that in two ODIs when he last played, against Bangladesh I was lacking confirmed a moderate grade ham- against Bangladesh, in April, and a match practice,” he said. “I needed string injury,” sports medicine paltry 16 wickets at 55 apiece for his some time. Now I’ve had some time manager Alex Kountouris said. English county side Worcestershire. and I’ve been able to work on myself. “Although this current injury But speaking on the sidelines of I’ve got my variation back and you doesn’t require surgery there is a a launch event for Islamabad United, will see the results in the PSL. Watson bids to open at World T20 period of rehabilitation required one of five teams taking part in the “There were several issues. My before he can resume playing.” Pakistan Super League (PSL) to be arm was falling off too much to the Finch is set to miss the one- held in the UAE this month, Ajmal side and I’ve worked on that and day series in New Zealand which said he had worked on technical straightened it up. I’ve worked on my AFP loss. “But there’s no doubt that I cer- said. But the Australian said there begins tomorrow, but Kountouris flaws and rediscovered his old men- main ball and my doosra as well as tainly do enjoy opening the batting. was not “a hell of a lot to worry said it was not a recurrence of an ace. “I’ve gotten a good platform and my arm ball. It has always suited my game, suited about” within his team, although he old hamstring injury which needed working on my goals. You are going “The variation I got from the rev- SYDNEY: Australia’s stand-in skip- my mentality as well.” admitted the workload of players was surgery in 2015. to see the Saeed Ajmal of old,” he olutions I’d put on the ball in the air per Shane Watson has declared his India’s Virat Kohli also praised intense over the southern hemisphere “We are aiming to have Aaron said. -- I’ve got that back and you’re going preference for opening the batting Watson, who retired from Test cricket summer. fit for the ICC World T20 in India “The World Cup is after this. and to enjoy watching it.” with a blistering 124 not out against last year but was recently overlooked Australia’s busy schedule saw the but will have a better idea about I want to perform well and make Despite his optimism, it is India, just weeks out from the ICC for the Australian one-day squad. Twenty20 series against India fin- his fitness for that tournament in myself available for the team.” unclear how much opportunity World Twenty20. “He batted out of his skin,” Kohli ish Sunday, just three days before a the coming weeks once we see Ajmal, who was picked as a last Ajmal will get to play as he com- But Watson’s huge total, which said. one-day series starts in New Zealand how he responds to treatment minute ‘supplementary player’ by petes for a place against team-mate came off 71 balls at the Sydney Watson said India – who suc- tomorrow. and a rehabilitation programme,” the capital’s team, pointed to bet- Samuel Badree, the West Indian leg Cricket Ground on Sunday, was ceeded in running down Australia’s Watson said because the series he said. ter showings in Bangladesh’s T20 spinner who is currently the world’s not enough to prevent India from total of 197 after smashing 17 off the were so close, it had meant that play- The top-order batsman had lit- league last November as proof the number one Twenty20 bowler. winning the match to sweep the last over with a four off the final ball ers have “come in and out a lot more tle doubt, however, tweeting: “I’ll magic had not deserted him. Before But with Pakistan’s favoured three-game T20 series. – were the clear favourites going into regularly than what would normally be in.” India will host the World being suspended in September 2014 slow bowler, leg spinner Yasir Shah, “I am happy to bat anywhere the world Twenty20. have happened”. Twenty20 from March 8 to April for exceeding the 15-degree elbow currently suspended for a doping because I really am loving being “I think no matter how things But he said he was confident that 3, with Mumbai and New Delhi flex limit set by the International offence, the door could remain ajar out there and playing the game,” the panned out exactly here, they were they would have solidified their roles staging the semi-finals and Kolk- Cricket Council, Ajmal was ranked for an improbable comeback. 34-year-old all-rounder said after the always going to be favourites,” he well ahead of the World Twenty20. ata the final. TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2016 36

In-form Kohli Tough test awaits contenders in Qatar rested for SL T20 series

Qatar’s Nasser bin Saleh Al Attiyah IANS Legendary Nasser bin Saleh in action at the Qatar International Al Attiyah and Al Naimi eye Rally, in this February 7, 2015 file good show as Finland’s photo. MUMBAI: Vice-captain Virat Kohli was yesterday rested from Koivio excited ahead of the squad for the three-match Qatar International Rally T20 series against Sri Lanka this month, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced in a release. The Peninsula Delhi left-arm spinner Pawan Negi earned his maiden call-up to the India side. He used to play for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian DOHA: Top 15 drivers face tough test as the Premier League (IPL). eagerly-awaited Qatar International Rally is set It was the only change made by to begin on Thursday with the trial tests sched- BCCI’s selection committee to the uled to be held today. team that beat Australia in a T20 Nasser bin Saleh Al Attiyah is hot favourite series away from home recently. to annex another title but it may not be a walk in Kohli, India’s premier bats- the park for Qatar’s Rally legend as other con- man, is in the midst of a rich vein tenders are promising a tough fight for the title of form, helping India thrash Aus- in Qatar. tralia 3-0 in a three-match T20 Besides Qatar, drivers from Kuwait, Leb- series, hitting scores of 90 not out, anon, Jordan and Turkey will showcase their 59 not out and 50 to be adjudged skills and will attempt to challenge Al Attiyah’s the Man of the Series. dominance on home soil. His exploits helped him The rally, divided into a total of 13 stages become the No.1 T20 batsman in including the link stages, with a total distance the rankings, displacing Austral- of 535.24km will see diversity in the path. the Qatari. “I am ready to go and very much con- rallies” Pre-event favourite Al Attiyah said he ia’s Aaron Finch. The rally will start with the Super Special QATAR INTERNATIONAL RALLY fident of the success. But I will have to be very would be firing on all cylinders to retain the title. The decision to rest him has Stage with the kick off set in front of the QMMF TRIAL TESTS TODAY cautious as little mistake may cost any team “This year is crucial for me,” said the Qatar been taken with an eye on the headquarter. The second day will consist of 3 dearly.” star. Asia Cup, to be hosted by Bang- stages with the drivers covering a total distance Al Naimi’s Italian Co-driver Nicola was “I will do my best to win the title, as it will ladesh later in the month and the of 227.86km including the 124.13km stages. The final day also includes the longest stage of upbeat of starting the new year with success. be the a good start to this season Middle East World Twenty20 tournament in The first stage of the day will be called Al 25.90km and is being named as the QMMF stage. “ We are seeking new achievements in 2016 championship,” he added. India from March 8. Kharsaah while the second stage will be known One of Qatar’s motorsport champions, and we are entering this event with confidence. “Geographical diversity is the most impor- India take on Sri Lanka in the as Al Shabana. The third stage has been named Rashid Al Naimi said a mistake in the Qatar “I think he (Al Naimi) has a good experience tant feature of this championship which attracts first T20 match on February 9 at as Umm Wishah. International Rally may cost any team dearly to be the champion, this is what I have touched a large number of the participants from Europe,” Pune. Stages will be repeated on the final day as he termed the event as a tough contest for closely. We will cooperate together to have a added Al Attiyah, who is also a ace shooter and on February 6, with drivers slated to dive for all the contenders. good result in Qatar International Rally and the has won a bronze medal at the 2012 London 257.38km, including the 117.58km link stages. “ I am ready to compete in the event,” said other rounds of Middle East Championship for Olympic Games. The co-driver Laos Savaas SQUADS also vowed to give a good show in the prestig- Men’s: MS Dhoni (Captain), Rohit ious event. Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Finland’s Kim Koivio hoped to achieve for Rahane, Manish Pandey, Suresh the first experience of competing in Qatar. Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Hardik Pandya, Iranian driver Mohammed Ghalehbani “Our participation in Qatar International Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ash- accelerates on the opening day of Rally is a new experience for us as a team,” he win, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Qatar International Rally in Doha, in this said.” Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar February 8, 2015 file photo. “My participation in Qatar International Kumar, Pawan Negi. Rally 2016 is an important thing for me and for Women’s T20I (Women): Mith- my team, as we didn’t race before on a desert ali Raj (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, land, it’s something totally new for me , it’s also Veda Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet the first time to participate in a race outside the Kaur, Anuja Patil, Jhulan Goswami, European boundaries , so it will be a new expe- Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, rience and a challenge for our small team as Sushma Verma, Poonam Yadav, VR well,” he said. The Finn also lauded Qatar for Vanitha, Sneh Rana, Thirushkamini the promotion of motorsport. MD, Ekta Bisht, Niranjana Nagarajan. “I would like to mention the prominent role ODI Team (Women): Mithali Raj displayed by Qatar in supporting the motorsport, (Captain), Smriti Mandhana, Veda which I think it should a model to be followed Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet Kaur, by all countries,” he said. Thirushkamini MD, Jhulan Goswami, Koivio stated that he has a good ambition Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gay- to take part in the other rounds this season, as akwad, Sushma Verma, Poonam it would be so interesting, but it depends on the Yadav, Deepti Sharma, Punam Raut, availability of sponsors as we are a small team R Kalpana, Niranjana Nagarajan, and have limited resources. Preeti Bose. Doha Dash set to light up Qatar’s National Sports Day

The Peninsula start at 8am, 9.15am and 9.45am respectively, with a warm up period of 10 minutes preceding each race. The 1km Mini Doha Dash will start DOHA: Anticipation and excitement at 10:45, followed by the 1km Ladies are building for the start of the Dol- Walk at 11:00 am. Prize giving cere- phin Energy Doha Dash 2016, which monies for the 10km, 5km and 3km is now just less than a couple of weeks races will also be held on the same away. day. More than 3,000 participants Double Olympic gold medal- are expected to turn out at this year’s ist Dame Kelly Holmes, the event’s event set to light up Qatar’s National ambassador for the second year Sports Day on February 9 at the Losail running, Mariam Farid, the Qatari International Circuit. National title holder for the 400m The website for the race www. hurdles, also a Dolphin Energy Doha dohadash.com will remain open for Dash 2016 ambassador and Ali registration until tonight. Longmate, fitness expert and radio The Dolphin Energy Doha Dash personality, will all be present at the 2016 will open to the public at 7am. event and are scheduled to participate The 10km, 5km and 3km races will in the different races. Ali Longmate will also lead all warm up sessions RACE DAY SCHEDULE ahead of the races. EVENT OPENS 07:00 The Dolphin Energy Doha Dash Doha Dash 10km warm-up 07:50 2016 will also feature a number of fun activities to keep spectators and Doha Dash 10km START 08:00 young families entertained through- 10km prize giving 09:00 out the event, including the GO Sport Dolphin Energy Doha Dash 5km warm Fitness Centre equipped with state- up 09:05 of-the-art fitness equipment, Dolphin Energy Doha Dash 5km START GO Sport basketball challenge 09:15 and experts offering tips and training GO Sport 3km Doha Dash warm up 09:35 techniques. The race’s airline partner, Etihad Airways will be bringing their GO Sport 3km Doha Dash START 09:45 Scene from the last year’s Doha Dash race. state-of-the-art Formula 1 simulators 3km / 5km prize giving 10:15 for everyone to enjoy. 1km Mini Doha Dash warm up 10:35 Hassan Al Emadi, General Man- and would like to wish everyone the an important feature of the Doha cal- fun-filled family day.” Supporting the in 2013, the event has seen a steady 1km Mini Doha Dash START 10:45 ager Qatar, Dolphin Energy, said: “It very best of luck.” Andrew Fairall endar. We believe in the importance vision behind Qatar National Sports year-on-year increase in participa- 1km Ladies Walk START 11:00 has been wonderful seeing the posi- General Manager, Go Sport, com- of exercise and leading a healthy and Day, the Dolphin Energy Doha Dash tion. More than 2,500participants tive response to the event. Personally, mented: “For the second year, Go active lifestyle; Doha Dash embodies has established itself as one of the took part in the 2015 event, a 77% 1km Mini Doha Dash prize giving 11:10 I am looking forward to joining thou- Sport continues to support this pop- this vision. We are excited to welcome most popular community events in increase from the inaugural event EVENT CLOSES 13:00 sands of runners at the starting line ular community event, which is now all participants and look forward to a the Qatari Capital. Since its launch in 2013.