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QPMC signs four Al Eid caps dream deals for supply of run with another aggregates. win in Doha.

MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 • 24 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6665 the peninsula newspaper @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Who will hold it, finally? Emir greets Cuban SCJ removes President on Independence Day

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim several court bin Hamad Al Thani sent yester- day a cable of congratulations to Cuban President Raul Castro on his country’s Independence Day, experts reports QNA. Obama to hold can be sought by a court to decide a gun control meet Legal action sought case of highly technical nature. For example, experts with spe- against specialists cialisation in the field of medicine WASHINGTON: US President shown the door for or finance or civil or chemical engi- Barack Obama will take part on neering are roped in and when there Thursday in a town hall-style meet- dereliction of duty is a case in a court involving any of ing to discuss new efforts to stem these specialisations, the court can what he has called an epidemic of seek help from one or several experts gun violence across America. to give its verdict in a fair manner. World number one Novak Djokovic (right) of Serbia is pictured with Grand Slam star Rafael Nadal of Obama will take questions By Mobin Pandit and An extensive list of the experts Spain holding the Qatar ExxonMobil Open trophy during a promotional event in Doha yesterday. The from the audience during the Mohamed Osman is with the committee concerned in two top seeds will feature at the ATP Tour event which starts today. → See also page 29 event, to be aired on CNN at 8pm The Peninsula the Supreme Judicial Council and the (2300 GMT). courts are free to access the list and seek help from any of these experts in deciding a litigation. DOHA: The Supreme Judicial Coun- Qatar News Agency (QNA) cil has removed several court experts reported last week that the Supreme Saudi severs ties with Iran; Qatar condemns attack from their jobs and wants legal action Judicial Council has recently removed against them for alleged dereliction several court experts from the list of duty. and referred them to the Public Pros- AGENCIES Embassy and its consulate in Iran. Iranian authorities bear full respon- The demonstrations highlighted Some of these experts have been ecution for questioning for alleged The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said sibility for the assaults after they failed fury over the killing of Nimr, a Saudi referred to the Public Prosecution so wrongdoing or dereliction of duty. in a statement yesterday that the attack to prevent them in line with the Vienna Shia who spent more than a decade the latter could question them and In some cases, court experts not RIYADH: Foreign Minister Adel Al violates the Vienna 1961 Convention 1961 Convention on Consular Relations. studying theology at Iran’s seminaries. see if any legal action can be taken. doing their job seriously led a court Jubeir announced yesterday that Saudi on Consular Relations. The Ministry The GCC also condemned Iran’s Nimr, 56, was a force behind anti- Legal sources tell this newspaper concerned to make undue delays in Arabia was severing diplomatic ties called on the Iranian government to hostile statements against Saudi Ara- government protests in eastern Saudi that these experts have actually been deciding a litigation. Roped in by a with Iran after demonstrators stormed provide protection to diplomatic mis- bia for executing terrorists and called Arabia in 2011. He was executed Sat- suspected of either ignoring their work court, an expert or several of them are its Tehran embassy to protest against sions and take legal steps against those it an intervention in the internal affairs urday along with 46 Shia activists and or siding with parties to a court litiga- asked by the judge or panel of judges Riyadh’s execution of a Shia cleric. behind the attack. The statement also of the country. Meanwhile, protests in Sunnis who the Saudi Interior Min- tion in violation of rules and code of to file a report on the technicalities Jubeir also said that all Iranian underscored Qatar’s support to Saudi Iran yesterday spread to Bahrain, Paki- istry said were involved in Al Qaeda ethics. The Supreme Judicial Coun- of a court case, based on which the diplomats must leave Saudi Arabia Arabia. The Secretary-General of the stan, Indian Kashmir and Lebanon a killings. Some were beheaded, others cil has a committee within it which judge or judges decide the case. within 48 hours. GCC, Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zay- day after a mob set fire to the Saudi were shot by firing squad. selects and ropes in experts special- Qatar yesterday strongly con- ani, also condemned the attacks. Embassy in Tehran and ransacked it ising in different areas so their help → Continued on page 5 demned the attack on the Saudi Al Zayani said yesterday that before dozens were arrested. → See also page 7

IS threatens Britain in new video

AFP not clearly identify which countries at the beginning of December, also they worked with, but one mentions began targeting the jihadists in Syria. the international coalition led by the “Only an imbecile would dare BEIRUT: The Islamic State group United States battling IS in Iraq and to wage war against a land where threatened Britain in an Internet Syria. The video said they passed vid- the law of Allah reigns supreme and video yesterday showing the kill- eos or photos of the living conditions where the people live under the justice ing of five “spies” it said worked with in Raqa to people in Turkey, or mon- and security of Shariah” or Islamic the international coalition fighting itored the movements of IS fighters. law, the fighter says. IS in Iraq and Syria. The following sequence shows the “We will continue to wage jihad... The SITE Intelligence Group said five wearing orange jumpsuits and and one day invade your land, where the video shows five men from Raqa, kneeling before five masked fighters, we will rule by the Shariah.” capital of the self-declared jihad- all in military fatigues and armed with He said those who want to con- ist “caliphate” straddling Syria and pistols. “This is a message to David tinue fighting “under the banner of Iraq, confessing to carrying out acts Cameron,” says one of the gunmen. Cameron” should ask themselves: of espionage. “How strange it is that we find “Do you really think your govern- In it, an English-speaking IS ourselves today hearing an insignif- ment will care about you when you fighter mocks British Prime Minis- icant leader like you challenge the come into our hands, or will they ter David Cameron for challenging might of the Islamic State.” abandon you as they have aban- IS, and calls him an “imbecile”. British warplanes, which were doned these spies and those who The “confessions” of the five do already attacking IS positions in Iraq came before them?”

Only patients given access Italy investigates to HGH multi-level parking childbirth deaths AFP The Peninsula getting into the hospital. But when we went in the morning the secu- rity guards at the gate checked the ROME: Italian health authorities DOHA: The usually crowded multi- appointment slip and allowed us to yesterday ordered investigations storey parking facility at Hamad park in the multi-storey facility,” a after five women died in childbirth General Hospital (HGH) was almost visitor told this daily yesterday. in seven days, shocking a nation empty yesterday as many visitors and A visit to the parking lot by The with one of the lowest maternal staff were stopped from parking their Peninsula around 9am yesterday con- mortality rates in the world. The cars there. firmed that there were only a few deaths occurred across the coun- The parking lot was restricted to cars parked there. try between December 25 and 31. only patients with an appointment at A security guard told this daily While all appear to have explica- the outpatient clinics at HGH, it has that since 6am yesterday, only patients ble causes, their concentration over been learnt. and their companions were allowed the holiday period has raised ques- Security guards at the main gate of to park at the facility. Hamad Medi- tions over hospital staffing and also the hospital were seen stopping every cal Corporation (HMC) staff were also over whether older mothers-to-be vehicle and directing visitors with an not allowed to park there. HMC offi- are being sufficiently monitored for OPD appointment to the multi-storey cials were not available for comments. warning signs of potentially fatal parking. “Usually we face much dif- conditions. ficulty in parking the vehicle before → Picture on page 2 → See also page 16 02 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 HOME RAF builds 375 mosques in 23 countries Greeting cables sent to Cuban Donation campaign in President Castro Qatar raised QR24m last year. DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a cable of congratu- The Peninsula lations to Cuban President Raul Castro on his coun- try’s Independence Day. Prime Minister and DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Interior Minister H E Foundation for Humanitarian Services Sheikh Abdullah bin (RAF) collected QR24m in donations Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani last year to build mosques in several sent a similar cable to countries. Castro. The donation campaign was launched in Qatar and citizens and expatriates made generous contribu- 2007-9 models of tions to the cause. With the money, some 375 mosques Chevrolet were built by RAF in 23 countries in three continents, according to a report Captiva recalled posted on RAF’s website. The donation campaign launched DOHA: The Ministry of by RAF for the purpose evoked mas- Economy and Commerce, sive response, so much so that in one in collaboration with Jai- call-in radio programme, QR5m was dah Automotive, dealer raised. of Chevrolet vehicles in The radio program ‘Abwab Al Qatar, has announced the Rahma’ (the Doors of Mercy) was recall of Chevrolet Cap- organised by RAF in collaboration tiva models of 2007-2009 with Radio of Holy Quran. over a potential defect in The donation drive aimed to build the ignition key cylinder. 80 mosques in five Asian and African The ministry said the countries, including 30 in Ghana, 15 recall is within the frame- in Malawi and 10 each in Niger, India Officials and guests at a mosque built by RAF on Sumatra island of Indonesia. work of its ongoing efforts and Kenya. to protect consumers and The cost of building a mosque var- ensure dealers follow up ies from country to country. in Malawi and QR53,800 in Niger. around QR69,700, the RAF report said. Ben 37. India and the Philippines had in Thailand, Kenya, Senegal, Somalia, on vehicle defects and For instance, a donor should part The costs are bit higher in India and Of the 375 mosques built last year, 21 mosques each. Malawi, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, repairs. with QR49,000 to build a mosque in Kenya — QR58,900 to build a mosque 66 were in Ghana and 58 in Mali. Some 16 mosques were built in Niger Morocco, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Yemen, The ministry will coor- Ghana. However, it will cost QR55,000 in India, while in Kenya the cost may be Mauritania had a share of 49 and and the remaining mosques were built Brunei, Tajikistan and Burkina Faso. dinate with the dealer to follow up on mainte- nance and repairs and communicate with cus- tomers to ensure repairs are carried out. It urged Hukoomi to process telecom import applications customers to report any violations to its Consumer The Peninsula granted after careful evaluation of to access public e-services offered Protection and Anti-Com- the applications received through by different Government entities,” mercial Fraud Department Hukoomi portal at: https://portal. said a CRA statement. through hotline: 16001; DOHA: All applications from compa- www.gov.qa. For clarifications and more infor- email: [email protected]; nies seeking authorisation for import However, to ensure a smooth mation, applicants may call CRA Twitter: @MEC_Qatar; of telecommunications and radio transition, CRA will also accept Hotline 103, visit the Government Instagram: MEC_Qatar; equipment will now be processed submissions manually till the end Contact Centre at Al Nasr Tower B, and the ministry’s mobile through the e-government portal, of February. After the two months or send an e-mail to spectrumaf- app for Android and IOS: Hukoomi, effective from today, the grace period is over, the applica- [email protected]. MEC_Qatar Communications Regulatory Author- tions will be exclusively processed CRA regulates the communica- ity (CRA) said yesterday. digitally. “Through this decision, tions and information technology CRA authorization is necessary CRA intends to enhance the exist- sector, postal services, and access to 13 food outlets for sale of cellular phones and private ing application process and make it digital media. In all its activities, the mobile radio devices. The required more convenient and practical for CRA seeks to ensure the provision closed down The awareness campaign in progress. approvals and relevant documents people of Qatar. Hukoomi is the cen- of advanced, innovative and reliable such as licences and certificates are tralized digital platform for residents ICT and postal services across Qatar. last month

Doha: As part of an Community Police holds intensive inspection cam- paign conducted by food inspectors from Doha safety awareness HGH opens multi-storey parking facility Municipality, 13 food out- lets were closed down last month. campaign for campers The municipality con- ducted 2,079 inspections and shut down the food outlets across the city for The Peninsula violating the provisions of Law No. 8/1990 and the amended Law No. 4/2014 regulating and monitor- DOHA: The Community Police Department, in collaboration with the Civil ing food meant for human Defence Directorate, the Traffic Department, the Qatar Red Crescent Society consumption. and the Environmental Protection Department at the Ministry of Environ- Mohammed Al Sayed, ment, organised a two-day campaign titled ‘Safe camp’ in Al Ghaariya. Director of the municipal- The campaign aimed to make camp-goers aware of safety procedures ity, issued administrative during camping, the importance of keeping the environment clean and the decisions to shut down need to take care of children when they are taking them on a ride on dune the outlets. buggies. The campaign also focused on making camp-goers aware of first The inspection drive aid and how to use it in emergencies. aimed to monitor food Lieutenant Jamal Hamad Al Nuaimi, Community Police Officer at Al facilities and whether Shamal Public Security Department, said the campaign was part of his they were complying department’s programmes to help prevent accidents and curb crimes. with the food law and to The camping season is an opportunity for raising awareness due to the enforce the provisions of Many parking slots seen empty at the multi-storey parking facility at the Hamad General Hospital presence of a large numbers of people in the area. The camp-goers were the law, the Ministry of happy about the campaign which they said helped them avoid risks that (HGH) yesterday morning with entry restricted to OPD visitors. Pic: Abdul/The Peninsula Municipality and Urban some of them may get exposed to. Planning said on its web- site yesterday. Inspectors issued warnings over 161 viola- tions and marked them WISE Learners’ Voice Programme residential session today for further follow-up and asked the violators to rec- tify their status according to the law. The violations The Peninsula Summit, will attend the first of two Fellows Programme will hold work- evolved to include residential sessions, Voice Programme was established included preparing food core residential sessions until Janu- shops in leadership and communication online activities and the development in 2010 as an initiative of WISE to in unhygienic conditions, ary 12, which are designed to impart skills. The focus on education, leader- of group projects. A successful story is engage the perspectives and creative selling expired food- a foundational understanding of key ship and communication is designed that of the Orenda Project developed energies of young people in debates stuff or food found unfit DOHA: The World Innovation Sum- concepts and evolving trends in educa- to support the participants as they during the 2013-14 Learners’ Voice around important education issues for human consumption mit for Education (WISE) Learners’ tion, as well as knowledge of pressing research and develop innovative Programme by four students from and challenges. and rotten vegetables Voice Programme will host a residen- global education challenges. projects throughout the year-long Georgetown University School of For- This year’s learners, aged 18-25, found in their kitchens. tial session today in Doha. WISE, a global initiative of Qatar programme. eign Service in Qatar (GU-Q) and one represent 29 countries and will benefit The legislation includes It will bring together 33 young Foundation, is aligned to QF’s mission of The second residential session of from the UK’s University of Warwick. from the expertise of the WISE team and fines and jail terms, but learners, including three Qataris, for helping transform Qatar into a knowl- the Learners’ Voice Programme will The Orenda Project is based on global education specialists, includ- neither appears to have an intensive 10-day workshop on edu- edge-based economy and through its be held in June in Madrid. The 2015-16 the concept of co-creation as a way ing faculty from Yale University and been applied in the above cation leadership at Qatar National youth-empowerment initiative, it brings learners were chosen from over 1,300 to increase access to education and Babson College. The Learners’ Voice cases. Punishments Convention Centre. the voice of young people to the chal- applicants from around the world. works directly with target populations Programme is supported by partners included closure of outlets The 2015-16 students, who began lenge of rethinking education. Learners’ Voice has had a lasting to establish schools in a sustainable, Banco Santander through its Univer- for a week or two. their journey at the November WISE Specialists from the Yale World impact on its participants as it has community-driven way. The Learners’ sities Global Division. HOME MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 03

Es’hailSat, Ooredoo key sponsors Qatar-Eritrea ties reviewed of Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2016

The tournament hosted by Qatar Tennis Federation will be held from today until January 9. Qatar National Human Rights Committee (NHRC) Chairman Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri met yesterday Eritrean Ambassador Ali Ibrahim Ahmed and discussed cooperation on issues of common DOHA: Es’hailSat, the Qatar Satellite concern and the exchange of experience and expertise in the Company, is the gold sponsor of Qatar field of human rights. ExxonMobil Open 2016 hosted by Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF). The tennis tournament takes place in Doha from today until January 9. Es’hail-1, Qatar’s first satellite at the 25.5/26°E TV hotspot will broadcast the 80pc of govt employees tournament live and in HD through- out the satellite coverage spanning the Qatar Tennis Federation officials with ATP Tour members at the draw ceremony of the Qatar ExxonMobil Middle East and North Africa (Mena) Open in Doha. The tournament will be played from today until January 9. Pic: Salim/The Peninsula engaged in jobs: Survey region. With over 300 million viewers in Mena, the tournament is yet another important sporting tournament brought For details, check out our Twitter and every year starting from the field of Kids Zone to ensure everyone enjoys The Peninsula to the audiences via Es’hail-1. Facebook pages.” play to the organising of the event, an incredible sporting experience. Vis- Es’hailSat’s CEO Ali Ahmed Al Meanwhile, Ooredoo will be the and our association with well-estab- itors will be able to use a full range Kuwari, said: “This is the third year telecommunications partner for the lished brands such as Ooredoo which of services on the Ooredoo Supernet DOHA: The Joaan Bin Jassim Joint Command Staff College under Major we have sponsored the tournament. event, providing media areas and is a gold sponsor.” to share selfies, moments and photos General Nasser Al Sulaiti invited Professor William Scott-Jackson of Oxford The extended viewership of the tour- offices with world-class global con- Yousuf Abdulla Al Kubaisi, Chief from the event. Strategic Consulting to present and discuss their latest advanced research nament in our core market, Mena, is an nectivity, and supporting visitors and Operating Officer, Ooredoo Qatar, Tickets are available at www. into the Gulf Arab Leadership Style with the Qatar Armed Forces. opportunity to build awareness about fans with 3G, 4G and 4G+ broadband said, “Ooredoo supports a full range qatartennis.org and at City Center, A recent survey for a major GCC government entity by Oxford found that Es’hailSat and our broadcasting capa- services on the Ooredoo Supernet. of sports, because we know that sport Lagoona, Landmark and the Khal- 80 percent of their employees were either somewhat or highly engaged in bilities. The tournament is the right Nasser Al Khelaifi, QTF President inspires people to pursue healthy ifa International Tennis and Squash their job roles compared to around 25 percent worldwide. premium content we seek to broadcast and Chairman, Higher Organising lifestyles. The tournament brings Complex. The survey asked about 3,500 employees to rate their workplace satis- through our existing and planned fleet Committee, said, “The tournament world-class tennis to Doha every year, Ooredoo sponsors a broad range faction on several key metrics. of satellites from the hotspot. is always an ideal way to showcase and we are delighted to be working of sports and healthy living initiatives Oxford claims that the Gulf Arab Leadership Style plays a key role in “Come along to the Es’hailSat hos- the sport in Qatar. QTF is pleased to again with QTF.” throughout the year and will host the maximising engagement and can be applied in any organisation – with les- pitality tent and find out more about our continue its relationship with Oore- As well as providing an inspiring fourth Ooredoo Marathon on January sons even for non-GCC enterprises. services. We will run events and com- doo and its support is of great value to sporting spectacle, the tournament also 8, as the company encourages peo- Professor Scott-Jackson explained that there are several distinctive petitions throughout the tournament. the tournament, which gets stronger has a Public Village, VIP Village, and ple to get fit. dimensions of the leadership style, each being different from best practice leadership as developed in Western economies. The differences have major advantages in many situations and contexts confronting government entities like Qatar Armed Forces. For Qatar Armed Forces, high levels of engagement are crucial in high A windy day stress, life-critical situations. Greater emphasis on building relationships and creating more under- standing between employees helps gain mutual trust and respect. As a result, employees are better placed to deal with crises or difficult situations because the people element has been thought about beforehand. Oxford Strategic Consulting is an Oxford- and GCC-based entity spe- cialising in building human capital in the GCC and Europe.

Police Shooting Championship

It was windy yesterday and today also will be the same. The weather bureau has forecast high northwesterly winds as well as slight fall in day and night temperatures — it could be a bit chilly today. Northwesterly winds may move at speeds of 12 to 22 to 25 knots at places inland. Offshore, there will be high seas, with strong northwesterly winds moving at speeds of up to 30 to 35 knots. In the deep seas, Members of the organising committee of the 5th Police Shooting waves could jump up to 13 feet high at places at times. The maximum temperature today could be 19 degrees C and the nightly mercury Championship are pictured at the prize ceremony at the conclusion levels will vary from 16 to 12 (in Abu Samra). In Doha, the maximum and minimum temperatures expected are 19 and 14, respectively. of the event. Pic: Salim/The Peninsula GU-Q concludes International Negotiation and Crisis Simulation

The Peninsula tremendous learning opportunity for our students regardless of the major they are pursuing,” said Dr. Christine Schiwietz, Assistant Dean, DOHA: Georgetown University in Academic Affairs, GU-Q, and pro- Qatar (GU-Q) has concluded a diplo- gramme organiser. macy training event, the International “Critical thinking skills and nego- Negotiation and Crisis Simulation exer- tiation tactics they learn in the process cise. of resolving the diplomatic crisis will .Students developed and prac- empower our students in a personal tised negotiation and strategic and professional capacity, not just for decision-making skills in the simu- those pursuing careers in foreign serv- lation exercise about a fictional crisis ice,” Dr. Schiwietz added. in the South Caucasus: the Rising Ten- Dr. Schiwietz said students were sion between Armenia and Azerbaijan prepped for the exercise with a work- Over Nagorno-Karabakh. shop that introduced them to the The annual event engaged teams of fundamental principles of interest- students representing Armenia, Azerba- based negotiation found in the book, ijan, Nagorno-Karabakh, Iran, Russia, ‘Getting to Yes: How to Negotiate Agree- the US and Turkey, actual parties to the ment without Giving In’, presented by real conflict on which it was based, in Dr. Jim Seevers, former US diplomat intensive, bilateral and multilateral and Director of Studies, Institute for negotiations that reconstruct real- the Study of Diplomacy. world diplomatic processes. The workshop was open to all GU-Q Georgetown University in Qatar students and officials take part in the diplomacy training event. The flagship event, unparalleled students. For Salman Ahad Khan, a sen- by any other programme in Qatar or ior majoring in international politics, the region, is organised in collabora- who attended this and last year’s sim- tion with Georgetown’s Institute for ulations, diplomacy workshops were during my four-month internship at Katharine Danilowicz, who took on “There were a few times in the who was calm. I learned that politics the Study of Diplomacy (ISD) in Wash- beneficial outside the classroom as well. the US embassy in Qatar last year,” the role of delegate for the Russian negotiation where conversations got only happens when everyone man- ington, DC. “They helped further my under- Khan said. Federation, keeping a level head was heated, and it was advantageous at ages to calm down and realises what “The crisis simulation is a standing of the US Foreign Service For undeclared freshman, the most vital skill in diplomacy. that time to be the person in the room they want,” Danilowicz added. 04 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 HOME

Camp owner faces action over littering Over 200,000 newborn screened since 2003

HMC screening programme helped many babies avoid the risk of disability and save the lives of many others.

The Peninsula

DOHA: The newborn screening programme at Hamad Medical Cor- The Women’s Hospital. poration (HMC) successfully checked more than 200,000 babies since its launch in 2003, says an official. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for prema- pain during operation. Using a spe- Dr Hilal Al Refai, medical director ture babies. The section for premature cial device, the patient can control at Women’s Hospital told Al Sharq that births has well-trained and qualified the dose to reduce pain. The machine the screening programme ( for early doctors and well-equipped ambu- will automatically prevent overdose. detection of inherited metabolic dis- lance service, he added. The section currently has 26 people eases) has helped many babies avoid Quoting the head of the anaesthe- besides five anaesthesia experts. The the risk of disability and save the lives of sia section at the hospital, the daily number of consultants rose from three many others. He said 27 new beds have said that it has set up a new unit for to 12 last year, with seven specialists. been included for the newborn care treatment of pain following anaes- An anaesthesia expert is availa- unit at the Women’s Hospital as part thesia, with trained staff. This aims ble round-the-clock in addition to a of an expansion completed recently. at relieving pain of the patients after consultant for emergency cases who A new advanced isolation room operation. can be made available in 15 minutes. for respiratory diseases has been set The section has also introduced With advanced techniques, the The Ministry of Environment has referred a camp owner to concerned authorities for leaving waste in up along with four rooms for mother latest equipment for anaesthesia, section has reduced the rate of anaes- an undesignated place in Al Mazroua, the ministry said on its official Twitter account. and child care. The current expansion some of which can be handled by thesia related complications to the included addition of 11 new beds in the the patients themselves to reduce minimum, said the expert. QC licensed to work in Pakistan

The Peninsula this has proved the credibility and trans- of Pakistan’s four provinces –Punjab, parency of QC’s work. Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber- as well He added that QC conveys through as Kashmir. QC’s office coordinates with its offices a message of hope to all the 7 orphanages in Punjab and Khyber. DOHA: The Pakistani authorities granted needy people around the world, regard- Pakistan’s office coordinates with Qatar Charity (QC) a licence to practise less of their identity. QC –he said- would Unicef to implement projects of water and humanitarian work in the country’s ter- continue on the road that was built on sanitation, health facilities, awareness ritories. QC becomes one of the first two professionalism and transparency. and suburban seminars, and to organise of 127 acting nongovernmental organisa- Many of those concerned with the festivals on the occasion of “World Day of tions which had applied for the licence. humanitarian work in Pakistan praised Clean Hands”. QC also works with Unicef This was part of the Pakistani govern- the news via the media. QC’s office in to construct facilities for the disabled ment’s attempt to organize the activities Pakistan also received many calls of and sewage networks for the displaced of civil society organizations on their felicitations. of Waziristan Region. land after they had banned all the mem- QC started its activity in Pakistan Having 19 offices around the world, orandums related to licensing NGOs. in 1992 as a local association. It works QC has the ability to rapidly intervene The Pakistani government has set a through five field offices in Sindh, Pun- in case of catastrophes. QC’s offices are number of standards and mechanisms jab, and Khyber. in: Sudan, Palestine, Mali, Mauritania, for field work in Pakistan. It also has representatives in Kash- Somalia, Bosnia, Albania, Kosovo, Paki- The 127 organizations applied for mir and Balochistan. Its activities include stan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Burkina the licence and the first two approved the fields of health, education, economic Faso, Niger, Yemen, Tunisia, Comoros, applications were from QC and the Bel- enabling, relief, water and sanitation, Kenya, Chad, and Djibouti. gian Doctors without Borders. and crafts training centres. QC’s Operation Department is plan- Faysal Al Fahida, QC’s Director of In the field of social care, QC spon- ning to open new field offices in Morocco, Operation, thanked the Pakistani Author- sors more than 4,000 orphans, poor Jordan, Turkey, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, ities for trusting the Association saying families, and students in the 21 districts and Ghana. Qatar Charity officials hold a meeting with members of the community. Quality Retail and Malabar Adukkala Food Festival 2016 from Thursday

The Peninsula

DOHA: Call it a gourmet treat or a gastronomical feast, it doesn’t get tastier than this. As the fifth ‘Quality Food Festival’ by Quality Retail Group opens on Thursday at Quality Mall in Al Hilal, in association with Malabar Adukkala, the renowned social media cookery fame, the food lovers of Qatar are in for a three-week food and fun- themed event with cookery shows, cooking and eating competitions, eating out at your favourite restaurants at a discount, lots of fun and happy shop- ping of a wide range of food products from around the world at all Quality Retail outlets in the country. While foodies can expect mouth-watering selec- tion of Indian and South Asian cuisine, one of the major highlights of the festival is a Little Chefs cook- ing competition for participants under 15 and an eating competition for all, irrespective of their age. Located in Al Hilal/Nuija, the festival at Quality Mall in Al Hilal is easy to reach and perfectly placed for weekday and weekend visits. Whether you pop in on your lunch break or after work, or spend the whole weekend exploring with friends and family, the spectacular culinary event should not be missed. In addition, many exclusive and attractive pro- motions have been arranged at all Quality Retail outlets in Qatar to add joy to the culinary celebration. To participate in the competitions and know more about the event, contact any of Quality Retail outlets or call 50393238. HOME MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 05 QU hosts scholarship, sponsorship students event

President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham highlights Qatar University’s role.

The Peninsula

DOHA: The Scholarships and Part- nerships Office at Qatar University yesterday held its fifth Annual Schol- arship and Sponsorship Students’ Gathering. The event aimed to highlight the current status and achievements of the office and showcase the number of past and current scholars who have studied or are studying or preparing to study at international universities. QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham welcomed the attendees who included ambassadors Adrian Norfolk QU President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham with ambassadors and other officials at the event. (Canada), Dana Shell Smith (US) and Eric Chevallier (France). Also attending were representatives efforts of our scholarship and spon- QU or in the local labour market. way possible.” (College of Arts & Sciences), Mohamad Leeds in the UK, among others. of the Japanese and Italian embas- sorship students and to celebrate the “Our students’ academic achieve- The recently-returned students Al Sada and Faisal Al Jaber (College Last year, the office selected 24 sies as well as the British Council, a ones who recently graduated. ments will open the way for them to be included four PhD scholars — Hadeel of Engineering) and Khaled Al Hash- students from various colleges and number of scholars including those “In this event, we share our pride in the future leaders and today, we are so Al Khatib (College of Education), Saad imi (College of Business & Economics) departments to pursue scholarships who recently graduated, several past our students and their achievements. proud to see our students’ determina- Al Sobhi (College of Engineering), — all having successfully completed and sponsorships. graduates and those awaiting finali- Today, we can see our contribution to tion and persistence to take their place Mohamad Al Safran (College of Arts their studies at universities around the Currently, 95 students are being zation of their arrangements to join Qatar’s bright future. The university among the country’s leaders. and Sciences) and Reem Al Ansari world such as Washington College of managed by the office — 62 scholarship universities abroad. continues in its role to provide the Qatari “They were provided with oppor- (College of Law); seven MA schol- Law and Indiana University in the US, students who are pursuing Masters and In his remarks, Dr Al Derham said: society with distinguished graduates tunities to study in the most prestigious ars — Abdulla Al Mulla and Khaled and School of Oriental and African PhD programmes, four under spon- “It is a pleasure to welcome you to this who are effectively able to engage in international universities and they rep- Al Shammari (College of Law), Mar- Studies, Middlesex University, Impe- sorship, and 29 preparing to leave for annual event in which we honour the the development process whether at resented their alma mater in the best yam Al Kuwari and Aisha Al Dosari rial College London and University of studies abroad.

Experts selected Ooredoo campaign winners meet PSG players in Doha by courts ‘must The Peninsula act honestly’ “We have set the goal for PSG to become one of the top global sport Continued from page 1 DOHA: The winners of Ooredoo’s brands. Our partners are aligned with global advertising campaign with us on this aim and we are proud to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), ‘Fans work hand-in-hand to achieve this Contacted for comment on the Do Wonders’, was in Qatar to meet shared ambition. Together, we can issue, prominent lawyer Yusuf Al the players and be part of a friendly dream even bigger.” Zaman told this newspaper that a match between Inter Milan and PSG Alongside its YouTube success, court expert plays such a key role on December 30 at Al Sadd Stadium. Ooredoo received more than one mil- in deciding a court litigation that The winners from Algeria, Tuni- lion visits to the website, 126,000 new he actually acts like a judge. sia, Palestine, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, fans on the group Facebook page and “An expert selected by a court the Maldives, and Indonesia, got 24,000 mentions on Twitter. to help in resolving a dispute must the chance to watch the match and Ooredoo began its partnership act honestly and just like a judge,” attend a training session with the with PSG in September 2013, working said Al Zaman. players on December 28 in Aspire together to develop youth and commu- However, if an expert fails to Zone. nity support across Ooredoo’s footprint do his job seriously or he shows The campaign was a major suc- in the Middle East, North Africa and bias, and a party to a dispute being cess for Ooredoo Group with over Southeast Asia. decided by the court feels affected, 13 million YouTube views, a record Both organisations have collab- he has the right to complain. interaction for the company. orated on ‘PSG Academy brought to Such complaints are filed with The innovative campaign fea- you by Ooredoo’ which has organ- the Supreme Judicial Council and tured five of PSG’s most recognisable ised football camps for young people the Council can refer the cases to The winners with players. players – forward Zlatan Ibrahi- in Qatar, Tunisia, Oman, Algeria, the the Public Prosecution for inves- movic, defenders Thiago Silva and Maldives and Kuwait. tigation, Al Zaman added. David Luiz, and midfielders Blaise to June. Over 8,000 messages were Group CEO, Ooredoo, said: “To see stars with our technology. Matuidi and Lucas Moura – and sent during the campaign and 15 the success of the campaign is inspir- “I hope the winners had a great invited young people to get involved winners, who composed the best ing. Using our Supernet, we have time in Qatar and congratulate PSG by sending messages to the players messages had them displayed at spread the word of sportsmanship on their victory against Inter Milan.” via a dedicated sitewww.fansdow- the PSG stadium on the teams LED and healthy living across our foot- Nasser Al Khelaïfi, President, onders.com, or via Twitter, with the banners during the matches. print, and hopefully set in motion PSG, said: “We are delighted by the hashtag #fansdowonders from April Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, the next generation of footballing great success of the campaign.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds presents campaign prize

Sathya Seelan, one of the winners of ‘Malabar Gold & Diamonds Festival campaign’ receives the prize of 100 gold coins from Raju T Johny, Deputy Head, Doha branch, in the presence of other officials of the retailer. 06 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 GULF / MIDDLE EAST IS raid kills 12 Iraq police trainees Saudi bans eggs,

said its commando reached a centre chicks from two Seven suicide where 1,200 cadets were being trained, sparking clashes that lasted four hours. regions in France attackers managed Speicher is located in Salaheddin to enter the huge province, which was one of the regions DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s conquered by IS when it swept across agriculture ministry has military base, which much of Iraq’s Sunni Arab heartland imposed a temporary ban lies about 160km in June 2014. on incubating eggs and The sprawling military base itself chicks from the Landes north of Baghdad. was never fully controlled by the and Dordogne regions of jihadists but at the beginning of their France due to the pres- offensive they committed one of the ence of bird flu, the state conflict’s worst atrocities there. news agency SPA said AFP IS fighters assisted by local insur- yesterday. gents rounded up hundreds of cadets Several cases of from Speicher, marched them to H5N1 bird flu have been Tikrit and massacred them in sev- detected in France since TIKRIT, IRAQ: Suicide attackers from eral locations. November, the first the Islamic State (IS) group killed at least Hundreds of bodies were discov- known ones in the coun- 12 Iraqi forces yesterday in a brazen ered in shallow graves when the Iraqi try in eight years. attack on police training at a military forces retook Tikrit in April 2015 but base yesterday, officials said. other victims were shot and thrown A commando of fighters equipped into the Tigris and will likely never Mauritania seeks with rifles and suicide vests snuck into be found. Speicher base, near the city of Tikrit, The highest estimates put the escaped militant in the middle of the night. number of executed cadets at 1,700. Their target was a large group of Security officials said Sunday raid NOUAKCHOTT: Maurita- nian authorities have said police forces from Nineveh, a northern was launched from the western side of Iraqi soldiers display guns and ammunition recovered during a military operation to disarm local militias province of which Mosul is the cap- the base, a desert area where IS remains they are hunting for a mil- caught up in inter-communal clashes, in the southern city of Basra, yesterday. ital, who were undergoing training. able to operate despite the increased itant who escaped from “Under the cover of fog, they broke presence of Iraqi forces. prison where he was into Speicher,” said Mahmud al-Sor- The group has launched a number awaiting execution for his chi, spokesman for the paramilitary of attacks since losing control of the Ramadi. “We don’t think the enemy getting extraordinarily desperate when SDF some 50km from Raqa, killing 21 part in a plot to assassi- force being set up to take back IS-held city of Ramadi in the western prov- has enough combat power in down- it comes to manpower,” he said. Kurdish fighters. Late on Saturday, “16 nate President Mohamed Nineveh. ince of Anbar a week ago. town Ramadi to be able to recapture The loss of Ramadi is the latest in jihadists were killed and 19 wounded” Ould Abdel Aziz. “Nineveh police managed to kill After taking the strategic govern- the city,” he said. a string of setbacks for IS, which ana- in clashes with the SDF near Ain Issa, A statement released seven attackers but three were able to ment complex in the centre of the city, “We haven’t seen anything more lysts say is under increasing pressure. said Rami Abdel Rahman of the Syr- on public television urged detonate their suicide vests,” he said, elite counter-terrorism forces have than small teams of ISIL (IS) fighters The group has since released a ian Observatory for Human Rights. residents to provide adding that three officers were among been expanding their grip and sweep- (four to eight individuals) trying to con- flurry of statements that either claim The SDF also recaptured an area information on the mili- the 12 policemen killed. ing each neighbourhood for holdout duct harassing attacks,” Warren said. responsibility for attacks or show scenes seized by IS a few days earlier, he said. tant, whom they named. He also said 20 policemen were jihadists and trapped civilians. The group has continued to carry of daily life attempting to convey that The alliance, made up of units from It did not say when or wounded in the attack. A number of IS fighters remain in out suicide attacks in various loca- IS’s so-called “caliphate” is still strong. the Kurdish People’s Protection Units how he escaped. Several other security sources in Ramadi but they are not in position to tions, including on Friday north of Meanwhile, Arab and Kurdish (YPG) and Arab fighters, has carried He was arrested in the region confirmed the attack, which mount a fightback that would chal- Ramadi and over the weekend near forces have killed at least 16 fighters out several major operations against IS. 2011 over alleged links to was claimed by the Islamic State group. lenge the Iraqi forces’ control of the city. the other main cities of Anbar, Fallu- from the IS group during fierce clashes On December 26, it seized the three vehicles containing The jihadist organisation said “Over the last 24 hours, the Iraqi jah and Haditha. north of the jihadists’ stronghold of Tishreen Dam from IS along with sev- explosives heading for seven suicide attackers managed to forces have cleared several more hun- Warren said at a recent briefing Raqa, a monitor said yesterday. eral villages on the Euphrates’ eastern Mauritania’s coastal capi- enter the huge military base, which dred square metres of the city,” said that months of daily strikes against The militants launched an offensive bank. The dam, held by IS since 2014, tal, Nouakchott. lies about 160 kilometres (100 miles) Colonel Steve Warren, spokesman of the group, which the Iraqi government last Wednesday against areas held by helps generate electricity for large parts One of the vehicles north of Baghdad. the US-led coalition whose trainers has lost half of the territory it took in the Syrian Democratic Forces coali- of the northern Aleppo province, the was said to have been In a statement posted online, IS and aircraft helped Iraqi forces retake 2014, are paying off. “The enemy is tion near to Ain Issa, a town held by the Observatory said. targetting Abdel Aziz, who had ordered mili- tary strikes in Mali against jihadist bases in 2010 Dubai Ruler honours firefighters Turkey rescues 57 migrants and 2011. Israeli soldier stranded on rocky islet shot, wounded

AFP coastguard vessels could not approach Jerusalem: An Israeli the rocky islet. woman soldier was shot They were then taken to Dikili and slightly wounded in ISTANBUL: Turkish coastguards res- port, it added. the flashpoint West Bank cued 57 migrants seeking to reach Turkey, which is home to some city of Hebron yesterday, EU member Greece by sea after they 2.2 million refugees from Syria’s rescue services said. were stranded on a rocky islet in the civil war, has become a hub for The young woman Aegean Sea, official media said yes- migrants seeking to move to Europe, was evacuated to Jeru- terday. many of whom pay people smug- salem’s Shaare Tzedek The migrants were trying to reach glers thousands of dollars for the hospital, an official said. the Greek island of Lesbos but their risky crossing. The shooting hap- boat hit trouble after leaving the resort The UN refugee agency and pened near a holy site of Dikili in Izmir province on Tur- the International Organization in the heart of Hebron’s key’s Aegean coast, the Anatolia news for Migration (IOM) have said more Old City, which is known agency reported. than one million migrants and ref- to Muslims as the Ibra- They were stranded on a rocky ugees reached Europe in 2015, most himi Mosque and to Jews islet off Dikili, with pictures showing of them by sea. as the Cave of the Patri- the migrants, who included women The vast majority of people — archs. Some 500 Jewish and several children, looking for help over 800,000 — landed in Greece, settlers live under tight from the tiny islet. according to the figures. guard among around Twelve of the most vulnera- The onset of winter and rougher 200,000 Palestinians in UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum ble, including three children, were sea conditions do not appear to have the southern West Bank with civil defence members and firefighters in front of Address Downtown Hotel in Dubai, yesterday. winched to safety by coastguard deterred the migrants, with boats city. Firefighting teams extinguished a blaze that injured 16 people at the hotel on New Year’s eve. helicopters while the other 45 were still arriving on the Greek islands picked up by fishing boats as the larger daily. Housing boom as Mogadishu emerges from ashes of war

AFP Somalis to buy affordable homes, by them a more secure place to live. violence and political instability, leaving the densely populated neigh- “I came back to this city to buy a Somalia is on a positive trajec- bourhoods of Mogadishu, and to come new home in Daru Salaam neighbour- tory,” OCHA said, while warning and stay with families here,” Ali said. hood... the houses are well built,” said the “promising trend” takes place MOGADISHU: Somalia’s elegant colo- “According to our plan, we are going Abdiqadar Jimale Roble, 34, who grew amid a “precarious” humanitarian nial villas were left in ruins by two to build 500 homes that can cover the up in Sweden from the age of 12 after and security situation. decades of street fighting among war- residential needs for 500 families in Somalia spiralled into civil war in the “Humanitarian needs remain vast lords, and the seaside capital Mogadishu the first stage, and then will construct early 1990s. and Somalia’s humanitarian crisis was dubbed the most dangerous city more houses.” “I have been out of Somalia for long remains among the largest and most in the world. Tens of thousands forced to flee time but I came back because eve- complex in the world,” OCHA added. But now new housing estates are their homes still live in plastic and rag rybody needs his country -- and the But the estate is symbolic of the being built amid an economic boom shelters in the capital, sometimes in country is making much progress,” possible changes in Mogadishu. as diaspora Somalis return and newly the ruins of war-shattered buildings, Roble added. “The security here is very good and wealthy businessmen capitalise on the and more than a million people are still “I had to take part in that progress, there have been no problems,” said Fuad relative peace in the city. in need of emergency aid in a country and everybody should have a house Ahmed Warsame, marketing director Some seven kilometres(four miles) ravaged by famine in 2011, the United in his country.” of Daru Salaam Real Estate, which is outside Mogadishu in a formerly largely Nations says. For those returning with dollars A man walks through Daru Salaam city, a new housing estate built amid building the new neighbourhood -- rural area, new homes are springing Car bombs and assassinations are earned abroad, the estate reflects the an ecomonic boom, in north Mogadishu. meaning “house of peace.” up, with almost 50 houses now ready still common, and a 22,000-strong possible profits to be made even in a The company is headquartered in on an estate, builders say. African Union force fights alongside still dangerous country. central Mogadishu’s famous Bakara Mohamed Abdullahi Ali, from the army to protect the internationally- Sadia Sheikh Ahmed, who also grew $130,000, while a more simple bun- the lowest in the world”, the World Market, the city’s commercial heart, Salaam Somali Bank, said it was a backed government from attacks by up in Sweden after fleeing Somalia, said galow comes in at around $70,000. Bank says, noting the Horn of Africa once infamous as the 1993 battle when “great honour” to back the estimated the Islamist Shebab insurgents. she had helped her relatives abroad Those are hefty sums in one of the nation is “heavily dependent” on aid fighters shot down two American Black $20m (¤18m) project. The streets in the new estate offer snap up property. poorest countries in the world, with and remittances. Hawk helicopters. The bullet scars there Construction began in early 2015 a very different vision of Mogadishu. “Initially we wanted to buy two a gross domestic product per capita Over 308,000 children are acutely have long been covered up with busi- and the project was touted as offer- Those returning to Somalia — houses, but now we and our relatives of just $284, according to the World malnourished, according to the UN ness booming. ing commercial returns and helping including investors wanting to start have bought eight homes, scheduled Bank, against a sub-Saharan Africa Office for the Coordination of Human- “Our plan is to build a new neigh- rebuild the nation. new business in the their homeland to be completed soon,” she said. average of $1,300. itarian Affairs (OCHA). bourhood with a good environment, “It is a new neighbourhood for all — say the Daru Salaam estate offers A two-storey house can cost some Development indicators are “among “After more than two decades of new designs,” added Warsame. GULF / MIDDLE EAST MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 07 Saudi accuses Iran of sponsoring terror

agency. The statement was the second Iran-linked cells smuggling explo- By defending the after the kingdom’s foreign ministry sives and arms to Bahrain and Kuwait announced it had summoned the Ira- have also been uncovered, the king- acts of terrorists the nian ambassador in Riyadh to protest dom recalled. Iranian regime is an “aggressive” statement by Tehran Saudi Arabia’s “justice system is on the execution of Saudi Shia cleric independent, just and transparent and considered a partner Nimr Al Nimr. does not... operate discreetly as the in their crimes and “Iran’s regime has no shame as it is case in Iran,” the statement added. rants on human rights matters, even Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of is held completely after it executed hundreds of Iranians Foreign Affairs yesterday summoned responsible for its last year without a clear legal basis,” Iran’s Ambassador Mohammad Reza said the statement. Fayyad. The official WAM news agency policies of incitement Iran’s statements reveal its “true said that the ministry handed the and escalation, face as a backer of terrorism, which Ambassador a written protest note says Saudi foreign is a continuity of its policies in under- over the Iranian intervention in the mining security and stability in the sovereign affairs of the Kingdom of ministry. region,” the unidentified Saudi min- Saudi Arabia and the attacks on the Smoke comes out from the windows after protesters stormed the Saudi embassy building in the Iranian istry spokesman said. headquarters of Saudi diplomatic mis- capital Tehran, yesterday. “By defending the acts of terror- sions in Tehran and Mashhad. ists... the Iranian regime is considered “These acts represent a violation Agencies a partner in their crimes and is held of international charters and norms,” called for de-escalation and dialogue gas and buckshot clashed with protest- misused social media for illegal pur- completely responsible for its policies the agency quoted the UAE Ministry between the two countries. ers throwing petrol bombs in several poses” were also detained, the official of incitement and escalation.” of Foreign Affairs as saying. Police in Bahrain clashed with Shia Shia suburbs of the capital Manama, was quoted as saying. RIYADH/ABU DHABI/VIENNA: Saudi Iran has offered “many Al Qaeda The foreign ministers of Saudi Ara- protesters a day after neighbouring witnesses said. Some injuries were It was not clear how many peo- Arabia accused Iran of sponsoring ter- leaderships safe haven since 2001” in bia and Iran have told their Austrian Saudi Arabia executed a leading cleric. reported. Witnesses said the violence ple were arrested or when. ror and undermining regional stability, addition to “offering an Iranian pass- counterpart Sebastian Kurz that they An interior ministry official said was worst at Sidra west of the city, The official said “the parents of as a diplomatic spat between both port” to a Saudi suspect involved in have no interest in a further heighten- that several people, among them with some 400 demonstrators clash- several minors were also summoned” countries escalated over the kingdom’s 1996 bombings in the kingdom who ing of tensions after Riyadh’s execution minors who took part in protests, had ing with police. under legislation which stipulates they execution of a prominent Shia cleric. was arrested last year, the ministry of a Shia cleric, a spokesman for Kurz been arrested along with others who The same sources said security could be jailed or fined for “crime or “The Iranian regime is the last said. said yesterday. “misused social media”, state-run BNA forces used tear gas against protest- delinquency” committed by their chil- regime in the world that could accuse It criticised Iran’s “flagrant “Both foreign ministers gave the news agency reported. ers in Duraz who blocked a road and dren, BNA said. others of supporting terrorism, con- interferences in regional countries, assurance that no one can have an Demonstrations erupted in Bah- hurled stones at police. Authorities had said that they sidering that it is a state that sponsors including Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon, interest in a further escalation,” the rain after Saturday’s execution of Nimr BNA said the “assistant undersec- would take “all necessary legal meas- terror, and is condemned by the United as well as Syria where it has directly spokesman said, adding that Kurz had Al Nimr, a driving force of protests in retary of legal affairs” at the interior ures” against any “negative” actions Nations and many countries,” said a intervened through its Revolutionary spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Saudi Arabia’s east in 2011 who was ministry announced that “several riot- in response to the death sentences, foreign ministry spokesman in a state- Guard and Shiite militia” causing the Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Saudi among 47 people put to death in the ers and vandals have been detained”. which they would consider as “inciting ment carried by the official SPA news death of tens of thousands of Syrians. counterpart Adel Al Jubeir and had kingdom. Yesterday, police using tear “A small number of people who sedition and threatening civil order”.

Palestinians mourn Erdogan backs criminal probe against pro-Kurdish opposition leaders

Reuters “The statements of the HDP leaders are over accusations he “provoked and armed” constitutional crimes. There are investiga- protesters. tions started by prosecutors against them. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) first ISTANBUL: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan These should be followed up,” Erdogan told took up arms in 1984 to push for greater auton- has said he backs a criminal investigation into reporters in comments published by the Hur- omy in the southeast, and some 40,000 people leaders of the pro-Kurdish opposition over riyet newspaper on Saturday. have been killed in the violence. It is desig- comments about Kurdish self-rule, saying “I believe the process that will start with nated a terrorist group by the United States those who committed constitutional crimes the removal of immunities will have a pos- and European Union. Erdogan said on Thurs- must pay the price. itive impact on the mood of our country in day there would be no let-up in a military A Turkish prosecutor opened an investiga- fighting terrorism,” he said. campaign that he said had killed more than tion into Selahattin Demirtas, co-head of the As members of parliament, Demirtas and 3,000 militants last year. pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), other HDP leaders would normally enjoy Demirtas has said the campaign is tar- last week after a two-day congress of Kurd- immunity from such cases, although they geting local people who are presented as ish groups called for greater self-governance. could be prosecuted and have the sentence “terrorists”, a charge the government denies. Mourners carry the body of a 16-year-old girl Ashraqat Qatanani, who allegedly The probe comes as predominantly Kurd- suspended until a time when they no longer The HDP said on Saturday that around ish southeast Turkey experiences some of its have immunity. Erdogan urged parliament 1,000 people were trapped in the Zap dis- carried out an attack against Israelis, after her body was released by Israel, during worst violence since the 1990s after a two- last July to lift the immunity of politicians with trict of Silopi province in the southeast, many her funeral in Askar refugee camp near the West Bank city of Nablus, yesterday. year ceasefire between Kurdish militants suspected links to militants, after a prosecu- sheltering in the basements of their houses, and the state collapsed in July. tor launched an investigation into Demirtas as the area came under tank fire. Israelis charged over deadly 157 terrorists killed in Algeria attack on Palestinian family last year

AFP from the justice ministry said. The minor was also accused The attack drew renewed of having taken part in an arson QNA attention to Jewish extremism and attack on the Dormition Abbey in accusations Israel had not done east Jerusalem. LOD, ISRAEL: A court charged two enough to prevent such violence. Two other Israelis, including a ALGIERS: A total of 157 ter- Israelis yesterday over a firebomb- Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- minor, were charged for implica- rorists, including ten leaders ing last year that killed a Palestinian yahu labelled it “terrorism” — a word tion in “other terrorist acts”. who had joined terrorist groups couple and their toddler, in an attack usually used by Israelis to refer to These included the arson attacks since 1994, were killed in 2015 that sparked condemnation globally. violence committed by Palestinians. on the Dormition Abbey in May 2014 in Algeria, said the annual oper- The charges are the first step in Israel came under heavy pres- and the Church of the Multiplication ational report of the People’s a legal case whose slow progress sure to try those responsible, with in June 2015, as well as vandalism National Army and security rights groups have criticised. rights groups questioning the delay of Palestinian property. forces, published by the Min- They come more than five in the case and contrasting it to the The charges follow criticism last istry of National Defence. months after the pre-dawn attack swift reaction often following Pal- month over a video of gun-waving The year 2015 was marked on the Dawabsha family home in the estinian attacks. Jewish extremists celebrating the by unprecedented results in West Bank village of Duma that killed The Shin Bet internal security murder the Dawabsha toddler. the fight against terrorism, 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawabsha, service held suspects under admin- Netanyahu called the video organised crime, smuggling, and fatally wounded his parents. istrative detention, denied some of “shocking” and said it showed “the and weapons and drug traf- His brother, who was four at the them the right to see a lawyer part true face of a group that constitutes ficking, by the elimination and time of the attack on July 31, was of the time and used physical force a danger to Israeli society and to the the arrest of a great number of the sole survivor from the imme- during investigations. security of Israel”. Israel arrested terrorists, the breaking-up of diate family. Supporters of the suspects — reli- four Jewish men suspected of being many terrorism support net- Amiram Ben-Uliel, 21, from the gious extremists known as “hilltop among them. But his grandparents, works and the destruction of northern settlement of Shilo in the youth” who oppose the “secular” next to their son’s torched house in many caches and bunkers serv- occupied West Bank, was charged Israeli state — denounced those Duma, said they did not believe in ing of refuge for terrorist groups, with three counts of murder and one methods as torture. Shin Bet denies “unfair Israeli justice”. Algeria Press Service (APS) said, of attempted murder, arson and con- using any illegal methods, and has “This trial is a parody,” Moham- citing the report. spiracy to commit a hate crime, said stressed that the entire investigation mad Dawabsha, 68, said. “If they The report added that 548 the Israeli court indictment. was conducted under the supervi- really wanted to punish them, they caches and bunkers for terrorist A 17-year-old, who remained sion of attorney general Yehuda would have done it the first day and groups were destroyed. Dur- unnamed under a gag order, was Weinstein. would have told us from the begin- ing the different operations of charged with being an accessory to Ben-Uliel’s wife Orian ning that it was them who killed our fight against illegal migration, committing a racially motivated mur- denounced the charges as she left children.” the coastguards thwarted ille- der. Ben-Uliel and the minor, who the court room and said her husband In the Duma attack on July 31, gal migration attempts of 1,500 lived in another wildcat settlement had been “tortured to give infor- masked assailants reportedly hurled people and units of the Army near Duma at the time, in July 2015 mation on acts he didn’t commit”. Molotov cocktails through the win- and border guards arrested plotted to avenge a Palestinian shoot- “I know he was at home that dows of the Dawabsha home, which 2,718 illegal immigrants, most ing dead Malachi Rosenfeld near night and that he didn’t do any- were left open because of the sum- of them of African nationali- Shilo one month earlier, a statement thing,” he said. mer heat. ties,” said the report. 08 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Protests in HK Colour Fun Run in Manila over ‘pro-Beijing’ appointment

pay.” Organisers said 3,000 people took part in the protest, while police The rally staged by estimated the crowd at around 800. teachers, students Li, a member of Hong Kong’s Exec- and alumni comes in utive Council, the top advisory body to the government, started his three- the wake of Arthur year term on January 1. Li’s selection last He is widely known to be close to Leung, who is also the chancellor month as chairman of all the city’s universities. of HKU’s governing “The appointment is not just about HKU, it’s not just about universities. council. This is an issue of governance in all of Hong Kong,” Benny Tai, a key figure in last year’s pro-democracy move- AFP ment, told the crowd. “The government just does not listen to public opinion,” added Tai, who also teaches at the school. HONG KONG: Large crowds pro- Protester Timothy O’Leary, a tested in Hong Kong yesterday after humanities professor at HKU, told a pro-Beijing official was appointed local broadcaster Cable TV: “I think to a senior role at the main university, this is a disappointing appointment. as fears grow over what critics see I think this is an indication that the as political interference in the city’s government does not want to move education system. The rally staged by forward in helping.” teachers, students and alumni comes Li’s appointment comes after in the wake of Arthur Li’s selection the university’s council, criticised as Coloured powder is poured on runners as they celebrate during a “Colour Fun Run” in Manila yesterday, last month as chairman of HKU’s gov- being pro-Beijing, rejected liberal law erning council. scholar Johannes Chan as pro-vice The appointment taps in to wider chancellor at the university, spark- concerns that academic freedoms in ing protests from staff and students. the city are under threat, particularly At a non-binding vote in November in the wake of last year’s student-led by HKU alumni on whether Li should Pacific cyclone mass pro-democracy rallies. be appointed, 98 percent said no. Anti-China protesters return Demonstrators marched to the The Hong Kong government bears down on Government House, the residence of defended the appointment yester- unpopular Hong Kong leader Leung day. “The decisions are based on Fiji, many flee Chun-ying, who appointed Li. the merits of individuals, including from Philippine-held island The protesters held banners that their ability, expertise, experience, read “defend the university’s auton- integrity and commitment to public omy” and “uphold academic freedom”. service,” a government spokesman AFP Others shouted “Arthur Li, you will said in a statement. AFP The end of the trip by the 47 Fil- had accused the Philippine govern- ipino youths coincided with a fresh ment of not doing enough to stand flare-up between China and claim- up to China. ant Vietnam over the contested sea, Photographs of the group, posted SUVA: Fiji warned residents yester- MANILA: Nearly 50 young Filipinos as Hanoi accused the Asian giant of on their Facebook page, showed the day to brace for destructive winds returned yesterday from a remote Phil- landing a plane on a disputed reef. youths camping on the island and pos- as severe tropical cyclone Ula bears ippine-held island in the South China Beijing insisted the operation took ing with patriotic banners. Reacting to down on the Pacific nation. Sea where they had staged a week- place within Chinese territory. the trip, the Chinese foreign ministry Meteorologists reported the cat- long protest against Beijing’s claims The Philippine Department of For- had previously said it was “strongly egory three storm had maintained in the disputed waterway. eign Affairs has said it will also file a dissatisfied with the actions and words its intensity after forcing hundreds The group arrived at Pag-asa protest over the incident. of the Philippine side.” of people to flee their homes on Sat- island on December 26 as part of an The youth group, organised by a Despite having one of the weakest urday in neighbouring Tonga. effort to stir up popular opposition former navy officer, is called Kalayaan militaries in the region, the Philippines It was tracking south-west to China’s claim to most of the con- Atin Ito, which translates as “Kalayaan, has been vocal in challenging China’s towards Fiji’s eastern Lau island tested sea, including Pag-asa, also This Is Ours”. claims to the South China Sea, a vital packing winds of 150km per hour known as Thitu. The 47 youth have “Kalayaan” is the name of a town- sealane and rich fishing ground which at its centre, the Fiji Meteorologi- now returned to Palawan island in the ship established by the Philippines is also believed to hold vast mineral cal Centre said. Philippines, Joy Ban-eg, a coordina- in the Spratlys to assert its territorial resources. “Initially it showed that it was tor of the group, confirmed. claim and is also the Filipino word The Philippines has an interna- going to weaken, however, it has Pag-asa island is part of the Sprat- for freedom. tional arbitration case now pending slowed down and maintained its lys chain in the South China Sea. China The Philippine government had in the Hague where it is challenging intensity over the last 12 to 24 hours,” Protesters face off against the police as Hong Kong University claims most of the sea but the Phil- previously praised the group’s “patriot- China’s territorial claims, though Fiji director of meteorology Ravind students, faculty and alumni protest growing fears of loss of academic ippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam ism” but had urged them not to proceed China has refused to recognise the Kumar told the Australian Broad- freedom and institutional autonomy, in Hong Kong, yesterday. and Taiwan have conflicting claims. with the trip, while the youth group proceedings. casting Corporation.

Myanmar’s museum to showcase prisoners of war China rejects Vietnam

IANS The museum, originally scheduled to It also highlights a coal-fired C-0522 build the railway linking Thanbyu- protest over ‘flight’ be inaugurated in April, will instead engine, which was used on the death zayat in Myanmar and Kanchanaburi open today, to coincide with the coun- railway, and a memorial place where in Thailand. YANGON: A Death Railway Museum, try’s Independence Day, Xinhua news the railway line originated. More than 16,000 prisoners of located in Myanmar’s Kayin state, is agency reported. During the Second World War, the war died during the construction of AFP ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh in going to showcase the life of prisoners The museum will exhibit historic Imperial Japanese Army forced more the railway. Several thousands who Hanoi. Vietnamese officials also said of war who died during railway con- photos, paintings, sculptures and 3D than 120,000 Allied prisoners of war died were buried at the Thanbyuza- they had asked Beijing to investigate struction, officials reported yesterday. images related to the “death railway”. and labourers from Southeast Asia to yat graveyard. the ramming and sinking of a Viet- BEIJING: Beijing has rejected a pro- namese fishing boat by a suspected test from Vietnam after a Chinese Chinese boat. plane landed on a contested reef in the The fishermen were around 60 South China Sea, saying the operation nautical miles from Con Co Island in China cracks down took place within Chinese territory. central Quang Tri province on Fri- Quezon landslide A Chinese “test flight” landed day when a foreign boat crashed into on food, drug on Fiery Cross reef, foreign minis- their craft. The 11 crew members were safety crimes try spokeswoman Hua Chunying said rescued but the boat sank, the fish- in an online statement. Vietnam also ermen told the VNExpress news site. claims the reef. The captain was quoted as saying IANS China has asserted its claim to that he saw Chinese characters on the almost all of the South China Sea by foreign boat. Ha Le, deputy head of rapidly building artificial islands the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance BEIJING: Chinese authorities have including airstrips said to be capa- Department, said that Chinese officials recently unveiled measures to ble of hosting military jets. had offered to check on the report if facilitate coordination between It began work in 2014 on a 3,000- more details became available. administrative and judicial organs metre (9,842 feet) runway on Fiery Relations between the commu- in handling food and drug safety Cross reef in the Spratlys island group, nist neighbours have grown tense in cases, the media reported yes- around 1,000km from China’s island recent years over the disputed Spratly terday. province of Hainan. and Paracel island chains. Measures have been drawn Hua said the test flight was civilian Rioting broke out in Vietnam after up streamlining standards and in nature, adding that the “relevant Beijing sent an oil rig into contested procedures of works includ- activity falls completely within Chi- waters in 2014, and at least three Chi- ing transferring of cases from na’s sovereignty”. nese people were killed. administrative bodies to police, Hanoi earlier strongly protested Since then the two sides have tried lead sharing and joint investiga- at the flight, labelling it a violation of to mend relations. China’s President tion of major cases. sovereignty which “influences peace Xi Jinping visited Hanoi in November Authorities have also called for and stability in the South China Sea”. but that visit also saw anti-Chinese Filipino villagers hold on to a motorcycle in crossing a landslide in the mountains of Sierra Madre, an online information platform that “Vietnam resolutely protests Chi- protests. Hanoi has stepped up coop- enables cases of suspected crimes Infanta township, Quezon province, Philippines. Affected villagers appealed to government for help na’s above-mentioned action, asking eration with the US, in what analysts to be transferred, heard and super- to clear landslides in many roads for the passage of relief goods. China to immediately end while not say is a hedge against China’s ris- vised via the Internet. repeating similar move,” said foreign ing power. ASIA / AFRICA MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 09

Sirisena pledges land for Smog to persist in China 100,000 war victims

provinces, and also the northwest- not specified the total area of land ern coastal region of Puttalam, by the to that will be handed out. Sri Lankan President middle of this year. The families set to He said the government was also to give land to receive the land are currently stay- working on a mechanism to investi- ing in camps in those areas. gate allegations of war crimes in the civilians displaced by During a visit to the northern city final stages of the conflict, but said it war in the embattled of Jaffna last month, where much of the could take time. civil war fighting took place, Sirisena “We can’t rush the accountability northern and eastern said he visited a refugee camp that process,” Sirisena said. “Some people provinces, and also has been home to about 1,300 fami- want it to be like instant noodles. We lies for the past 25 years. can’t do that. We have to be responsi- the northwestern “This is an unacceptable situa- ble and respect rule of law.” coastal region of tion. I want to end this problem once Sirisena’s predecessor Mahinda Puttalam, by the and for all,” he said. Rajapakse’s regime faced repeated “For many people the main issue UN censure over his failure to inves- middle of this year. was lack of land and that is something tigate allegations that at least 40,000 we will resolve in the next six months.” Tamil civilians were killed by troops As part of a parallel scheme, he under his command while crushing AFP is also planning to free up additional Tiger guerrillas in 2009. private land occupied by the military, However, Sirisena said the inter- mainly in the former war zones in the national community has changed northern and eastern provinces, start- its attitude towards his government, COLOMBO: Up to 100,000 people ing in the next two weeks. which has already established nine still living in camps six years after He said he would return to Jaffna independent commissions to run the the end of Sri Lanka’s brutal ethnic this month to formally hand over about police, the elections office, the judiciary war will be given land to build homes 700 acres (283 hectares) of land as and the public service among others. within six months, President Maithri- part of the plan, in line with his elec- “There is a big change in the way pala Sirisena said yesterday. tion promise. the leading democratic nations of The leader, elected last January, Sirisena, 64, came to power with the world view us today. We have has won praise for starting to hand the backing of Sri Lanka’s minority tremendous international good will back land after the end of one of South Tamils and Muslims, on top of the and support,” he said. “Their expec- Asia’s longest and bloodiest ethnic majority Sinhalese who supported tation is that we ensure democracy wars, which pitted the government him, on the back of pledges to ensure and good governance and that is what against Tamil separatists. But he is ethnic reconciliation and end cor- are committed to.” also under international pressure to ruption and nepotism that plagued Sirisena said he will mark his first do more to reconcile the ethnically his predecessor’s rule. year in office on January 9 by call- divided nation. Soon after his election, Sirisena ing for proposals on constitutional “It is an ambitious target, but I will ordered security forces to return thou- reforms to ensure that Sri Lanka see that all the internally displaced sand of acres of private land they remains peaceful. Visitors feed gulls during a hazy day in Qingdao, Shandong province, yesterday, Smog will persist people are given land to build homes,” occupied in the Jaffna peninsula, the “We can either have a brand the president said in an interview with de facto capital of Tamil Tiger rebels. new constitution or amend the one in China till morning, as the meteorological centre renewed its yellow alert. Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, AFP. “I am setting up a mechanism The area saw some of the bloodiest we already have,” the president said. Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hunan, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Sichuan areas will to complete this process within six fighting during the war that claimed “My preference is to abolish the experience smog until today. Public has been warned to take protective measures while engaging in months.” over 100,000 lives between 1972 executive presidency and go back to a outdoor activities and those having respiratory diseases have been advised to stay indoors. China has Sirisena said he would give land and 2009. Sirisena said the new land (parliamentary-style) system we had a four-tier colour-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe weather, to civilians displaced by war in the pledges were in addition to that pre- till 1978” which would see a greater followed by orange, yellow and blue. embattled northern and eastern viously promised, although he has dispersion of power.

Nepal’s Madhesi Morcha has not US slams Kagame move to run for third term split: Mahto AFP for more than 20 years laboured so hard Opponents and some international 2010 and he had said that the outcome Both houses of parliament are to establish,” State Department spokes- observers say Kagame has effectively of the referendum would determine dominated by his Rwandan Patriotic IANS man John Kirby said in a statement. stifled democracy in the nation of 10 whether he continued in office. Front (RPF). WASHINGTON: The United States Kagame said on Friday that million. “You have asked me to lead the His supporters maintain that Kag- hit out late on Saturday at Rwandan he would run again in line with a “The United States believes con- country after 2017. Given the impor- ame, an English speaker from the KATHMANDU: An ailing Sadb- President Paul Kagame’s intention constitutional amendment that stitutional transitions of power are tance you ascribe to this matter, I can Tutsi ethnic group targeted in the hawana Party president Rajendra to run for a third term, saying it was won overwhelming backing in a essential for strong democracies and only accept,” he said in a televised New genocide by Hutu majority extrem- Mahto yesterday stoutly denied that “deeply disappointed” and concerned referendum. that efforts by incumbents to change Year address. ists, is not an autocratic figure but the Madhesi Morcha, an alliance of by the move. The December 18 referendum saw rules to stay in power weaken dem- “You clearly expressed your choices a beacon of stability who has over- four parties of Nepal’s Terai region Washington and the European voters massively approve constitutional ocratic institutions,” Kirby said in the for the future of our country. The proc- seen economic growth. demanding amendment to the coun- Union have consistently expressed amendments allowing Kagame, 58, to strongly worded statement. ess allowed us the time to make certain Several African states have recently try’s statute, has split. strong opposition to Kagame, once run for an exceptional third seven- “We are particularly concerned that the proposed changes had merit lifted or tried to lift constitutional bars Mahto’s assertion came in a darling of the West, running again, year term in 2017. by changes that favour one individ- and wisdom,” said Kagame, who to multiple presidential mandates. the wake of media reports from and had called on him to step aside Thereafter, new rules will come ual over the principle of democratic described national unity as “unshak- Such was the case in neighbour- Kathmandu that the Samyukta in 2017 to allow new faces to emerge into force enabling him to run for a transitions.” Kirby called on Rwanda to ably strong.” ing Burundi, which descended into Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha, spear- and democracy to flourish. further two five-year terms through respect the right to freedom of expres- The referendum followed more bloodshed in April when President heading the over four-month-old “With this decision, President Kag- to 2034, cementing his hold on a coun- sion and to protest—“the hallmarks of than 60 percent of voters signing a Pierre Nkurunziza announced his protest, had split with Mahto opt- ame ignores a historic opportunity to try he has effectively controled since true democracies.” petition calling for the drafting of con- intention to run for a controversial ing for continuing the agitation reinforce and solidify the democratic his rebel force ended the 1994 geno- Kagame was elected with some 90 stitutional changes that would allow third term in a July election that he separately. institutions the Rwandan people have cide, which left 800,000 dead. percent of ballots cast both in 2003 and Kagame to stand again. went on to win. Speaking from his hospital bed in Medanta, in Gurgaon, where he is recovering from injuries received in a clash with the police at Biratnagar on December 26, Mahto said: “The Bousouzoku motorbike Missing booksellers were Madhesi Morcha remains united and shall continue the struggle which it ‘working on Xi’s love life’ has been waging for the past more than four months.” “Our struggle is historic and we AFP Lee to have disappeared in the city. shall achieve our goal... We are pre- “We have a reason to believe he pared to carry on our agitation for was politically abducted and illegally as long as it takes to secure our gen- transferred to the mainland,” he said. uine demands....” Mahto reiterated HONG KONG: A Hong Kong lawmaker Ho, a customer at the publishing the resolve that the planned agita- said yesterday that he believes Chi- firm’s bookshop in Causeway Bay, tion programme would be carried nese security officers kidnapped five said he had heard from other store forward and denied that there was publishing company employees who regulars that the company was about any change advised by him therein have gone missing in the city, possibly to launch a book about Xi’s former as reported in the Nepali media. because of a planned book about the girlfriend. According to reports, the Sad- former love life of President Xi Jinping. “To my knowledge... the book con- bhawana Party was reported “Hong Kong people are very cerns the story about the girlfriend... to have announced that it will shocked and appalled,” Democratic (from) some years ago,” he said. focus on non-violent activities legislator Albert Ho said. “There were warnings given to like mass prayers in memory of The five work for a publishing the owners not to publish this book. deceased protestors, fasting, sig- house known for producing books This book has not yet gone to print, nature campaign and campaigns critical of the Chinese government. but probably it has something to do to internationalise the Madhesi The disappearances add to grow- with this book,” Ho added. issue through social media. ing unease that freedoms in the Pro-Beijing lawmaker and former Mahto said these activities semi-autonomous Chinese city are Hong Kong security chief Regina Ip were proposed by him to Madhesi being eroded. Under Hong Kong’s urged the city’s government to “seri- protestors from his hospital bed in mini-constitution, it enjoys freedom ously handle the matter” as mainland the B P Koirala Institute of Health of speech and Chinese law enforcers officials were not entitled to carry out Sciences at Dharan where he had have no right to operate in the city. official duties in Hong Kong. been admitted for treatment of his It is unclear where the men are or Lee’s wife said Saturday her hus- injuries following the December how they went missing. Small groups band told her he was “assisting in an 26 incident. of protesters marched through central investigation” in a phone call after For more than four months, Hong Kong yesterday, while activists he failed to return home for dinner A biker poses on his Bousouzoku motorbike at the Dangouzaka rest stop in Yamanashi, west of Tokyo, the plains of the Nepal Terai have expressed shock at the case that saw Wedesday. been simmering with Morcha-led Japan, yesterday. Police halted a group of about 24 Bousouzoku bikers who paraded their noisy employee Lee Bo disappear last week. She reported him missing to protests against the country’s new motorcycles during an annual New Year outing in the Mount Fuji region. This Japanese motorcycle Four of his colleagues from the police on Friday and said the call Constitution that was adopted by subculture dated back in the 1950s and regularly chafes with the police because of their provocative Mighty Current publishing house went he made to her was from a number the Constituent Assembly on Sep- traffic behaviour and bike customising, that is often deemed illegal. missing in October. in the neighbouring Chinese city of tember 20. Ho said it was “outrageous” for Shenzhen. 10 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

Pension reform Graft shadows lurk as Sri

REECE, which has been forced to implement a painful austerity programme by its creditors, is finding one of Lanka heads into the year their prescriptions very hard to swallow – the pension reform. Pension reform, a euphemism for pension cuts, has been a thorny issue between Greece and its international pursued, vigorously. reign, on a platform of democ- Gcreditors, with the former finding this demand unreasonable and the Bigger problems are emerging for the “One of the major expecta- racy, end to authoritarian rule, latter considering it an essential part of the austerity measures. The tions of the people was to see the transparency, good governance government as disappointment and law being enforced against the and upholding human rights — pension cuts could create social tension and even rebellion in a country frustration by civil society grows over culprits who were behind mas- similar issues that later led to which has suffered more than enough during the financial crisis. A sive fraud and corruption that Rajapaksa’s 2015 defeat. vulnerable segment of population will be pushed into penury, with no the state’s inability to jail politicians, took place during the Rajapaksa Four years later (in 2012) help forthcoming from any quarters. businessmen and officials involved in regime,” says Gamini Viyan- Nasheed stepped down as dis- Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said that his country was widespread corruption. goda, a prominent journalist. enchantment grew over his ready to respect all terms of its agreement with the creditors, but not the But, he pointed out in com- failure to punish corrupt politi- ments reported at the weekend cians and sack corrupt officials demands he considers “unreasonable and undeserved”. The statement in the local Sunday Leader entrenched during the Gayoom comes just days after Athens got one billion euros under the terms of newspaper, that; “investigations years. Asked why probes against its third bailout programme and it comes ahead of crucial talks on the By Feizal Samath in the form of former President are going on at a very unsatis- the corrupt were slow and crucial pension reforms. The creditors -- the European Commission, in Colombo Mahinda Rajapaksa whose key factory pace”. why tainted officials were not the European Central Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the The Peninsula success was ending a 30 year- Trade unionist Saman removed, Nasheed responded: ESM – had agreed to a third Greek old war between government Ratnapriya, another promi- “We must follow the nor- debt rescue programme in August troops and Tamil militants dur- nent activist who campaigned mal procedures. We must not ing his tenure, which ended against the Rajapaksa regime, be vengeful (in removing offi- worth $94bn after Greece looked to fter an event-filled in January 2015 after he was also agrees that the govern- cials)”. That appeared to be his be on the brink of crashing out of the 2015, Sri Lanka’s defeated at the presidential ment has failed to tackle fraud downfall. eurozone. 12-month-old coali- poll by Sirisena. Wickremesin- and corruption as promised on Mahinda Rajapaksa’s days After six years of As Greeks enter a new year, a tion government heads ghe, who backed Sirisena, was political platforms a year ago. are not over yet. He still has a Ainto the New Year on a promise installed immediately as the “One of the main reasons (for mass following having secured economic crisis, majority are not optimistic about the future after six years of economic of speeding up probes against Prime Minister. slow action) is the shrewd way 47.6 per cent of the vote against corrupt politicians and officials The political coup d’etat the culprits have manoeuvered 51.3 per cent by Sirisena at the turmoil which has crippled their Greeks are not and resurrecting an economy came as disenchantment themselves. Most of the money January 2015 presidential poll. very optimistic lives. According to a poll conducted swamped in debt. grew during the later stages of has been shipped off to other The prospects of Rajapaksa for a local newspaper, 55 percent of A mixed bag of reviews has Rajapaksa’s 10 year-tenure, even countries. The officials involved making a political come- about 2016. respondents said they believed things greeted the administration from his close aides as his fam- in such scams are still serving back have haunted not only would get worse this year while 61.1 headed by former political foes ily took control, accumulating in the government. They can- the present rulers but also the percent said a Grexit scenario would — President Maithripala Sirisena wealth from deal-making and not be fired at once either. So the media. The media has been resurface. But an exit from the EU is from the Sri Lankan Freedom government contracts. Later, system goes on,” he lamented in closely following the former Party (SLFP) and Prime Minis- Rajapaksa aggressively pro- comments in the Sunday Leader President ever since his down- highly unlikely because the country ter Ranil Wickremesinghe from moted cronyism and ‘pounced’ newspaper. fall and his public life is still a has bid goodbye to the worst of the United National Party (UNP) on critical media. Parliamen- President Sirisena concedes strong and widely-read front economic crisis and the forthcoming negotiations on pension reform are — on its completion of a year in tary elections later in August that the process is slow but denies page story in local newspapers. unlikely to lead to an explosive situation. But the poll reflects the deep office. sealed the fate of Rajapaksa and it’s for reasons other than mak- Meanwhile, the opposition pessimism of Greeks about the state of affairs in their country. It could Colombo’s respected Sunday his followers in the SLFP. The ing sure the investigations are is hoping for a better showing also stem from the hard realisation that their government will finally Times newspaper in an edito- UNP and Sirisena’s SLFP faction conducted without any bias. “The at the forthcoming local gov- rial last week summed up the secured enough parliamentary corruption is vast and complex. ernment elections scheduled succumb to the demands of its creditors despite the initial protests. This performance as follows: “At the seats to continue their coalition And we must follow the rules and for mid-2016, a litmus test for had happened several times in the past, and is likely to be repeated. The end of the first year of a National partnership. not break them as others (pre- the new regime. The Rajapaksa signs are already there. For example, the government is already working Unity Government, the credits Today the ouster of the once, vious regime) did. The process camp has been discussing the on overhauling the pension system. The labour ministry is working on and debits would arguably even unassailable Rajapaksa by an of justice is slow and cannot be formation of a new party. a new social security system under which state-guaranteed pensions out, with the tilt on the credits. unexpected dark horse, seems rushed. If we try to speed (up) Like Sirisena, Rajapaksa will be reportedly cut by half to a minimum of 384 euros and the rest will There is confusion all around; the easy part. Bigger problems there is a danger of ‘accidents’,” has been hoping that conflicts depend on a person’s income and years of social security payments. there is indecision; there is are emerging for the govern- he told the state-owned Sunday in the government or the SLFP too much cackle and too little ment as disappointment and Observer in an interview. will swing members to either The government must work hard to rebuild the economy and Greeks action; but there is an element of frustration by civil society Some analysts believe there side; from the Rajapaksa camp have no option but to support their government. tranquility”. grows over the state’s inability are other reasons for the slow to the Sirisena government and Agrees Jehan Perera, a peace to jail politicians, businessmen pace of investigations. “It’s only vice versa. Some members in and officials involved in wide- one year after Rajapaksa lost Rajapaksa’s faction are said to spread corruption. Burgeoning power but he is still popular. be jumping ship on the prom- debt during the Rajapaksa years One reason for the inaction may ise of ministerial positions in the has spilled over to the current be because the current regime government. Quote of the day Some members in administration forcing the gov- doesn’t want to make mar- For the moment, however, Rajapaksa’s faction ernment to seek help from the tyrs out of the Rajapaksas and the government, though con- IMF as revenues drop. is hence pacing out the probes fronted with instability, seems are said to be jumping I have to say what I have to Even the few probes that (and looking for the right time on top. However the feeling of ship on the promise of have begun are over minor to take action),” analyst Jehan suspicion over delays in action say. And you know what I have issues relating to the misuse Perera told the Peninsula news- against the corrupt will pervade ministerial positions in to say? There’s a problem. We of public funds running into a paper. “Another reason could the administration in the next the government. few millions of rupees. Only be that the government doesn’t few months. “People suspect have to find out what is the the statements of both Mahinda want to be seen as vengeful corrupt powerful politicians and Rajapaksa and his once-pow- against its opponents”. officials of the former regime problem. And we have to solve erful brother, former Defence If that is true then the are being protected by some that problem. Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa Maithripala-Ranil combine higher-ups in the government,” have been recorded by investi- could be heading for hitherto, said one analyst, reflecting a activist and widely-read polit- gators while graver corruption unseen issues. In neighbour- widely-held view. ical commentator: “Whatever issues like alleged hoarding of ing Maldives, Maumoon Abdul If that isn’t enough to keep the pluses and minus in the millions of US dollars overseas Gayoom was defeated at the the government on its toes, then Donald Trump past year, people are able to in places like Dubai, the Far East 2008 presidential poll by youth- an economy strained by ris- US presidential frontrunner speak freely and express their and Seychelles, and hounding ful contender, 41 year-old ing expenditure, could push it thoughts.” of political opponents includ- Mohamed Nasheed, ending into pulling out every trick in the Uncertainty however lurks ing alleged killings, are yet to be Gayoom’s 30-year unbroken book to stay alive!

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The Yemen quagmire 2015: A year that happened

By Alexandra Petri The Washington Post

was going to write a wrap-up of the year, but thanks to all the election coverage I had been labouring under the misap- prehension that it was 2016 and had been so all year, and the news that there were still 11 months of campaign to go — and I10 more primary debates — nearly broke me. Still, now that I have my bearings, I refuse to accept the gen- eral valuation that 2015 was an unmitigatedly terrible year. Some good things happened. Adele released the massively success- ful album “25” after her initial pick, “I Am Young! Just Look How By Mohamed Al Rumaihi Young I Am! What Have You Ever Done With Your Life?” was ruled less marketable. A new “Star Wars” movie came out and was actually good! People complained about it by saying things like “This was too he new year has begun and there is no much like the original Star Wars” and “The female protagonist was more hope, especially for the east- too strong and great and I found her far less annoying than Luke ern part of the Arab region, which Skywalker !” which — is riven by conflicts. The interna- spoiler alert! — are not tional community doesn’t want to complaints. Especially Tsettle them, either the Competing Powers compared with the com- want to benefit from them, to achieve their plaints they had about Late-night network TV goals like the wars in Iraq, Syria and Libya. the prequels, which were went from a slate of There is a war or wars, the international things like “Has a human community wants to forget it, especially the being ever uttered that white male hosts named Yemen war. sentence?” and “Jar Jar.” Jimmy, Jimmy and Dave So, the new year opens on wars no one 2015 was many to a slate of white male wants to solve, and wars wanted to be forgot- things. It was, weirdly ten, and the last one can be called the Yemen enough, the first year hosts named Jimmy, trap. Why trap? Because the great nations A fighter of the pro-government Popular Resistance Committees stands guard near when America realised Jimmy and Steve. like United States and Russia consider this an entrance to Yemen’s southwestern city of Taiz, yesterday. how terrible Woodrow war not necessary. Wilson was. Why it took The war in Yemen must be transferred to us nearly a century to war between tribes, and some of them can the points that they have to discuss, except to the international community, in addition to notice that Woodrow Wilson was terrible is unclear, but the second be fight each other for decades without that ask ceasefire and to release Ali Saleh’s money! showing the Houthis and Saleh’s incredibil- we realised, everyone frantically tried to delete him from their his- affect that on the countries’ general strat- Negotiations sessions in Switzerland ity and end the bloodshed in Yemen. tory. We also did this with Ashley Madison. egies, or make any risks on their interests. showed that the real negotiator is Houthis, The new development is about Yemeni- Late-night network TV went from a slate of white male hosts Houthis project became known for all, it while Ali Saleh delegation was mostly repeat- Yemeni dialogue which expected to take place named Jimmy, Jimmy and Dave to a slate of white male hosts has two phases, the first one to become “kings’ ing what Houthis saying, and has one thing in the coming days. But the coming negotia- named Jimmy, Jimmy and Steve. maker” in Sanaa by letting Ali Abdullah Saleh to release Saleh’s funds. Houthis didn’t pay tion will not be better than the previous ones There was a wildly successful campaign to put women on the to become a president, and he is a person and attention to that important point to Saleh, because it is serious attempt by the Houthis $20 bill, after which the Treasury announced that it was going to regime expelled by Yemeni people. because their leader has no account banks and Saleh to distract attention from the core . . . put women on the 10, the only piece of currency that no one And after that step, Houthis becomes outside Yemen, or interests outside Yemen, issue saying “it is Yemeni war against foreign had any complaints about. The $10 bill, in fact, is the only piece of he is there in Cave in Saada. hostility” and this finally will lead to failure of currency so popular that it spawned a blockbuster musical, “Ham- The most discussion in the first (round) the negotiation. The strategy adopted by the ilton,” which has attracted a cult-like following so potent that tour restricted on the minor things and not Houthis and Saleh is not far from the view of large sections of the Internet are conducted entirely in “Hamilton” the main issues, in order get a reasonable Iran and perhaps Russia which seeks to drag quotes. solution in Yemen, which most of its people Arab countries into this war and then make If you were a gun, it was a great year. Guns in America are the The strategy adopted by the Houthis suffers today from poverty. them give up on other issues such as the Syr- only things that get constantly fired and get to keep their jobs. Pol- and Saleh is not far from the view of The steps provided by legitimate delega- ian case. The war then is not on the battle iticians responded to another year of mass shootings by suggesting tion didn’t matched by positives ones from field rather it is diplomacy and this needs that we take simple, common sense measures like replacing all Iran and perhaps Russia which seeks Houthis and Saleh, even they didn’t reply on unified view from the Arab Alliance sup- Americans with guns or banning lightsabers from movie theatres. to drag Arab countries into this war one simple humanitarian question “Are Detain- porting the legitimate government in Yemen. They took down the Confederate flag over the statehouse in and then make them give up on other ees that you have, and among them Defense So there is need for counter strategy South Carolina, raising the question: Wait, we were still flying the Minister and a number of politicians, dead or based on the fact that the war in Yemen is Confederate Flag over the Statehouse in South Carolina in 2015? issues such as the Syrian case. alive?.. even this humanitarian question didn’t to defend legitimacy in Yemen, and to meet Did no one realise how the war ended? 2015 marked the first year reply. The international community is hypo- the demands of Yemenis to get rid from the when if someone told you that “All Lives Matter” that person was critical about what Arab people face in their old regime and his elements. Secondly the probably being a jerk on social media. John Boehner was released daily lives. At the same time, he admits the negotiators must not accept to change the from his captivity as House Speaker and a new tribute, Paul Ryan, legitimate government, it issued UN resolu- war into endless and forgotten or war for was selected to take his place. Boehner sang “Zip-a-Dee-Doo- like Hizbullah in Lebanon, which means to tion 2216 included all punishments and under exhaustion. Perhaps this is the first time to Dah” as he left, while Ryan has grown a long beard and sometimes, become control the country without to govern the chapter seven, which is the possibility of see international law changing rapidly. UN if you listen, you can hear his sobbing echo across the Potomac. it directly. Through this situation it becomes intervention by force in case the causing of decision No 2216 considered the Houthis and Hillary Clinton continued her ineluctable progress toward the weapon can be use for Iranian interests, just all humanitarian disasters not responding Saleh as outlaw groups and now they are presidency, just as she has done each year since her birth. This year when Iran decided that and in the place they (in this case Al Houthis and Saleh). trying to make the resolution meaningless she did many relatable, human-like things, such as announcing a choose. And the negotiations in Switzerland Under the excuse of factors on the ground, by accepting them as partner in the com- six-phase plan to be more human-like and relatable. She gave nine during last month has showed that clearly. the international community does not want ing negations. hours of testimony on Benghazi, which seems like an awfully long The legitimate government delegation to give much attention to the UN resolution The upcoming meeting on January 14 will time to talk about an upcoming Michael Bay movie. brought a project commenting on the paper 2216 making the Yemeni government respon- be meaningless and waste of time unless the On the Republican side of the aisle, something like 35 people named “Neutral”, which provided by The United sible for finding solution for the problem. The legitimate government refuse changing the ran for president. If you ran into someone it was safest to assume Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould government went to Geneva negotiation in war in Yemen into a trap. that he was running for president and let him correct you later. Cheikh Ahmed, while delegations of (Houthis – order not miss the chance of finding solution The writer is an academician and Saleh) have no clear attitude or position about and to avoid creating further confusion in researcher in GCC affairs. Are US and allies supporting Bashar Al Assad?

that, between 2012 and 2014, his agency it still receives supports from its allies, This asserts the falsehood of Assad’s of Palestine, and seem to reflect a plan sent a number of messages warning Russia and Iran, and the main loser is claim that he is facing a global con- for a ‘War on Terror’ and division of of the impact of overthrowing Assad’s the Syrian people. spiracy through support provided to Muslim majority Middle Eastern coun- regime. Accordingly his agency began Even the so-called “Friends of the the armed opposition groups. Without tries which General Wesley Clark of to provide the regime with intelligence Syrian People” seem much closer to Israeli and American cover his regime the USA knows all about. information, without the approval of the regime than the people of Syria. would have been overthrown long ago. the politicians, aiming to support the Those ‘friends’ allowed the regime to So what do the superpowers want regime in its war against ‘common ene- use different type of weapons against from Syria if all states in the East and The writer is an internationally mies’ like Al Nusra Front and ISIS (which his people and they deprived the rev- West are supporting the regime and renowned television personality America had also supported directly olution from having weapons to resist protecting him and insisting on mak- based in Qatar. He is known for host- or indirectly). the destruction and collective killing ing him part of any political solution? ing the famous and controversial live What Hersh has stated clearly of innocent people which are taking Some believe that the regime has suc- debate show The Opposite Direc- contradicts what the regime usually place on daily basis. How can it be the ceeded in arming the revolution by tion on Al Jazeera Arabic Channel. claims. Assad claims that he is fac- case that the US and its Arab allies releasing thousands of extremists from By Dr Faisal Al Qasim ing the conspiracy of US and its allies were conspiring against the regime prisons to join the opposition and thus because of the “resistance position” when they left him for five years to managed to turn the revolution from a Syria took against Israel and US- for do whatever he wanted against his civil, popular revolution into extrem- example allowing Hamas a safe haven. opponents? In fact if the regime rep- ist and terrorist groups, providing a n a report carried by the London The regime repeatedly claimed that resents such a bastion of resistance to good excuse to keep bombing. If this Review of Books, the prominent the main aim of the current revolu- the US and Israel, they would not have is correct then why did others send How can it be the case that the US American investigative journal- tion against him is to force him move allowed Russia to intervene and res- their extremists to Syria to join these and its Arab allies were conspiring ist and political writer, Seymour from the resistance’s side to the US cue him. If Assad and his allies Iran groups? In fact it seems that the goals IHersh, who has been for a long time and allies side. and Hezbollah represent the “resist- of the major actors in Syria have coin- against the regime when they left been close to the Syrian President However, looking at the situation ance bloc”, then Israel would not have cided upon the aim of targeting the him for five years to do whatever he Bashar Al Assad, made the statement in Syria after five years shows us that allowed them to reach its border. people of Syria and not the regime. that, “the American Joint Military Staff the “discourse of resistance” used by Regarding the situation in Syria; The question that should now be wanted against his opponents? In provided the Syrian Army with secu- the regime does not fit the situation on Russia is coordinating with Israel, answered is what is their purpose in fact if the regime represents such a rity information through Germany, the ground. If there is a real conspir- which in turn means coordination destroying the Syrian civilisation, and bastion of resistance to the US and Russia and Israel”. acy it definitely it is not going against through Russia with the Syrian regime, emptying Syria of most of its inhabit- Former Director of the American the regime but against Syria and its Iran and Hezbollah. This means that ants? Unfortunately, these events seem Israel, they would not have allowed ‘Defense Intelligence Agency’ (DIA), people. Although the regime has suf- the so-called “resistance bloc” is in the eerily similar to Iraq, and Libya, and to Russia to intervene and rescue him. Michael Flynn, also told the magazine fered big military and financial loses, same trench with Israel and Russia. the beginning of the Israeli occupation 12 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 PAKISTAN

Pakistan to hold Protest in Karachi population census in March

of census data. The population cen- sus will yield statistics about internal The budget approved migration, urbanisation, as well as for the census is rural and urban population across the country. The population data will be Rs14.5bn, which will used for delimitation of the constitu- be shared by the encies of the national and provincial assemblies, a requirement under the provinces. constitution. The exact dates have not yet been finalised. However, it has been decided Internews to hold census at the end of March. The budget approved for the census is Rs14.5bn, which will be shared by the provinces. ISLAMABAD: With a gap of over The population census will be con- 17 years, the government of Paki- ducted in one go; The first three days stan yesterday gave final touches to for a house-listing operation and the arrangements for carrying out pop- following 15 days for the main count, ulation and housing census in March which include filing of census forms this year. Preliminary results will be on house-to-house level and a day compiled within three months. for homeless people. The governing council of the The PBS says that the census will Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), be held with the full support of armed headed by Finance Minister Ishaq forces, at a man-to-man level, as was Dar, approved a revised timeline for done in 1998. An official statement Shias chant slogans as they hold flags and signs for Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, who was executed along with 46 others in Saudi Arabia, during the census. The preliminary results issued after the meeting by the finance will have to be completed by June this ministry said that Finance Minister a protest rally in Karachi yesterday. year, while other aspects, including Ishaq Dar at the outset welcomed the district-wise data reports, will have newly appointed PBS members and to be completed by December 2017. mentioned that they had joined the An official source privy to the organisation at a crucial time, just meeting said that although com- a couple of months before the sixth pilation of population reports after Population and Housing Census. census normally took around three They would have to shoulder the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif attacked years, the government wanted it to responsibility of making the census be completed before the next gen- successful, he said. Chief Statistician eral elections, due in 2018. Asif Bajwa informed the meeting that, MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN: The official, who was hunkered government forces had launched an an explosives-packed car. The assault The compilation of all reports by as per the decision of the governing Explosions and gunfire rang out late down in a secure area within the operation to gun down the assailants, comes a week after Modi paid a sur- December 2017 will give enough time council, PBS has adjusted the tar- yesterday as militants tried to storm the complex, said all consulate employ- but it was not clear if they had man- prise visit to Pakistan, the first by an to political parties and the Election get dates for preparation of census Indian diplomatic mission in a north- ees were safe and accounted for. No aged to breach the consulate. Indian premier in 11 years. Commission to use data for election- reports by December, 2017. ern Afghan city, officials said, in the group immediately claimed responsi- Vikas Swarup, a spokesman for The surprise visit immediately fol- eering purposes. At the moment, there He said that the PBS had initiated latest assault on an Indian installation. bility for the attack, which comes just a India’s ministry of external affairs, lowed a whirlwind tour of Kabul, where are a number of bills pending before all preparations and held meetings The attack on the consulate in day after a deadly assault by suspected said that no Indian casualties had been Modi inaugurated a smart Indian-built both houses of parliament seeking with provincial authorities to brief Mazar-i-Sharif comes after Prime Min- Islamist militants on an Indian air base reported so far. parliament complex built at an esti- increase in the number of seats for them about their responsibility in ister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped near the Pakistan border. The consulate assault is the latest mated cost of $90 million, and gifted minorities as well as representation making the census successful and diplomatic outreach to arch-rival A local police spokesman in Mazar- in a series of attacks on Indian targets three Russian-made attack helicop- of provinces, especially Balochistan, transparent. Dar said it was the prime Pakistan following his first visit to i-Sharif, a city in the relatively tranquil in Afghanistan. ters to the Afghan government. in the National Assembly. responsibility of PBS to conduct cred- Afghanistan. “We are being attacked,” province of Balkh, said security offi- Nine civilians, including seven A day after his visit, Pakistan’s pow- While taking up those bills, the ible census. He said that utmost care an Indian consulate official told AFP cials had cordoned off the area where children, were killed in August 2013 erful army chief General Raheel Sharif committees of the two houses had should be taken to complete the task by telephone from inside the heav- sporadic gunshots were ringing out when suicide bombers targeted the travelled to Kabul in a bid to prepare already decided to defer consider- in a transparent manner for a cred- ily-guarded compound. “Fighting is after a series of explosions. Indian consulate in the main eastern the ground for fresh peace talks with ation of the bill until the finalisation ible data. still going on.” Another official told AFP that Afghan city of Jalalabad, detonating the resurgent Taliban. Gas cylinder Cybercrimes bill unlikely to Fate of registered Afghan refugees explosion kills 13 in Pakistan hangs in the balance bus passengers pass Pakistan Senate test AFP Internews Internews Standing Committee on Information Technology, as many lawmakers and civil society activists have reserva- PESHAWAR: A gas cylinder explo- tions on the bill. PESHAWAR: The Ministry of sion in a passenger bus killed at ISLAMABAD: Pakistan government’s Rabbani was speaking during the States and Frontier Regions and the least 13 people and wounded six proposed cybercrime legislation has Senate session after Interior Minis- United Nations High Commissioner others in northwestern Pakistan met a stumbling block in the oppo- ter Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan offered for Refugees (UNHCR) requested yesterday, police said. sition-dominated upper house of to tone down the bill to address the interior ministry, chief secretar- The bus, which was part of a parliament. Senate Chairman Raza ‘genuine concerns’ of the opposition. ies and provincial governments to wedding convoy, careered off the Rabbani has vaguely told the govern- While briefing the upper house ensure registered Afghan refugees road and plunged into a ravine, ment the controversial bill will not on the performance of the 20-point are not harassed or victimised till triggering an explosion in a com- be passed unless it is made accept- National Action Plan, Nisar requested the National Policy on Afghan Ref- pressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder able to all stakeholders. the opposition to support the gov- ugees is finalised. fuelling the vehicle in northwest- Expressing reservations over ernment’s cybercrime legislation for Insiders familiar with the mat- ern Karak district. the ‘very controversial’ draft of the monitoring online activities of sus- ter said that the last date to send “The explosion killed 13 pas- Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill, pected militants. The bill, he added, 1.5 million Afghan refugees back sengers including five women and 2015, the Senate chairman last week has been delayed already and is to their country was December 31, five children,” senior local police asked the government to initiate fresh still pending in parliament for final 2015, but the government has not official, Ishtiaq Ahmad, said. He consultations while calling for the approval. yet decided to extend the period added six passengers were injured. formation of a parliamentary com- The Senate chairman, however, or deport them from the country. Explosions in CNG fitted pri- mittee to develop consensus on it. disagreed. He suggested a parliamen- In August 2015, the Afghan vate and public transport vehicles He also suggested the government tary committee be constituted and all government had requested the are relatively common in Pakistan, withdraw the earlier draft of the bill stakeholders called for consultations relevant authorities in Pakistan to often resulting in loss of life. presented by the National Assembly to iron out differences. allow nearly 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees to stay in Pakistan for another two years, but the gov- ernment has not yet announced an extension on their stay. Huge smuggling attempts foiled Meanwhile, Afghan refugees in Peshawar claim police harass- ment against Afghan nationals in the city. During the president’s visit Internews a court of law whereas other accused in the case includ- to Peshawar on December 30, 2015, ing his uncle and others were also arrested by customs a large number of refugees were investigators. He owns six shops at the Lahore Airport arrested by city police and banned and among those some are located inside the Interna- from travelling. LAHORE: Although the arrest of Ayyan Ali by the Cus- tional Passenger Departure Lounge. Afghan refugee women gather for renewal of their family cards at the Sabir Jan, an Afghan refugee, toms authorities remained talk of the town in 2015 for In another incident, the customs officials foiled a bid said their movements have been lim- Chamkany registration centre on the outskirts of Peshawar recently. her alleged involvement in currency smuggling case, the to smuggling 2kg of gold during the baggage’s search of ited to their houses and they cannot authorities also foiled many attempts of gold and currency two passengers who arrived at Allama Iqbal International go out for work. “Our proof of reg- harassing them. be communicated to all stakehold- smuggling at Lahore Airport, valuing more than what she Airport, Lahore from Dubai. istration (PoR) cards have expired A letter issued by the Ministry ers in due course of time. was allegedly smuggling. Besides, the Customs officials managed to confiscate and we fear that police will arrest of States and Frontier Regions to However, Sajjad Khan, a spokes- A month after the arrest of Ayyan Ali at Benazir Bhutto 600-tola gold from the possession of another passenger us,” he said. interior ministry and all provincial person for Peshawar DC’s office, Airport, Islamabad, customs authorities at Lahore Airport at Lahore airport. According to Jan, police harass governments, stated that PoR cards said so far they have not received apprehended a passenger who was carrying currency The accused was bringing the gold, consists of 60 them and demand bribes in case of had expired on December 31, 2015, any instructions related to Afghan worth 1,700 Saudi Riyals, 46,600 UAE Dirhams, 240,000 baskets, while tying with his legs. It may be mentioned an arrest. He urged the federal and and the government is in the proc- refugees. He denied the arrest or har- Euro, 41,000 Swiss Franc, amounting total to Rs30.32m here that in May 2015, the Collector Customs (Preventive) provincial governments to extend ess of finalising the national policy assment of Afghan refugees, saying and 1,300 tola gold, amounting Rs60m. The passenger Lahore Mukarram Jah had revealed that customs officials the time limit of their cards and on management and repatriation of all decisions regarding them will be wanted to smuggle the currency and gold to Dubai. could check only five per cent of total passengers at air- direct the police to refrain from Afghan refugees. The decision will taken by the federal government. During investigation, he confessed his crime before ports as per policy of the federal government. INDIA MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 13 Battle continues in Pathankot, NSG officer killed

took place while he was trying to lift operation continued at the IAF base Seven security something in the air base. and nearby areas. The army, NSG, National Security Guard (NSG) IAF commandos, para-military forces personnel killed so commandos and the army’s para- and Punjab Police were involved in far. NSG commandos commandos (special forces) were the operation. engaged in a gunfight with terrorists IAF helicopters flew over the base and special forces still believed to be inside and have been and nearby areas through the night engage in a gun fight cornered in one area of the air base. and since early Sunday to assist the Four of the terrorists, who stormed ground forces. with terrorists inside the sprawling IAF base on Pathankot’s “The search operations are con- the IAF base. outskirts, were killed on Saturday after tinuing. Everything is being looked they killed three Indian Air Force (IAF) at minutely. The operation will end personnel in the pre-dawn suicide only after the search is completed,” attack. Three other IAF personnel, a senior Punjab Police official said. IANS from the Defence Security Corps (DSC), Security agencies were probing succumbed to their injuries yesterday. possible local support the terrorists Official sources said one or two got in the area after sneaking into terrorists appeared to be still in the India from Pakistan on December PATHANKOT: A powerful blast killed complex and were engaged in sniping 30-31. The border is about 30 km an NSG officer at the IAF base near at security forces who were trying to from here. At least four terrorists here and firing was heard inside yes- catch them alive if possible. breached a high-security perime- terday as security forces searched for “Firing is still going on in the base,” ter and entered the IAF base. terrorists still holed up after an auda- Deputy Inspector General of Police Uncertainty prevailed on the cious terror attack that has left seven (Border Range) Kunwar Vijay Par- number of terrorists killed at the security personnel dead. tap Singh said, “We were aware that base, with Rajnath Singh withdrawing Home Minister Rajnath Singh there may have been more than four an earlier tweet putting the number announced the death of the NSG terrorists.”Saturday’s gun battle lasted at five. Authorities finally put their officer, Lt Col Niranjan, saying he was for over 15 hours. number at four. All of them were killed in “mopping up operations” in The technical area where the IAF’s reportedly in touch with their han- Pathankot. MIG-21 fighter jets, MI-35 attack hel- dlers in Pakistan even as they took The minister did not give details of icopters and other critical assets are on the security forces. In view of the the death, but official sources said he stationed was secure, said the sources. attack, security has been beefed up Police officials and dog squad walk along railway tracks at a station in Jammu as part of security checks in was killed when a powerful explosion A thorough search and combing in the region. view of the Pathankot attack. NSG officer’s last rites Security agencies on to be held in Kerala the trail of terrorists Bomb scare on IANS train, security IANS local support that the terrorists got in commando, were killed and four others the area after entering Indian territory were injured in the attack that started beefed up KERALA: The body of the NSG officer from the border belt with Pakistan on around 3.30 a.m. The counter offen- killed in the operation at the Indian December 30-31. The Pakistan bor- sive lasted over 15 hours. Air Force base in Punjab’s Pathankot PATHANKOT: A day after terrorists der is about 30 kms from here. “We have also lost security per- NEWDELHI: The secu- town, will be brought back to his attacked the Indian Air Force (IAF) “The Innova taxi that the terror- sonnel in the Pathankot attack. My rity has been beefed hometown in Palakkad here today frontier base near Pathankot town, ists used to travel towards Pathankot heartfelt condolences to their families. up at Nizammudin and for the last rites, a relative said yes- search and combing operation con- from the border areas is suspected We can never forget their sacrifice,” New Delhi railway sta- terday. tinued yesterday. to have been booked through a call Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted tions yesterday after the Lt Col Niranjan Kumar of the Security agencies including the made from a Pakistani number. This on Saturday. A fierce gunfight between Delhi-Lucknow Shatabdi National Security Guard was killed army, National Security Guards (NSG), is being investigated,” the official said. the terrorists, believed to be from Express was evacuated at in “mopping up operations” in Air Force, para-military forces and The taxi driver, Ikgaar Singh, 24, Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish- Ghaziabad in the morning Pathankot, union Home Minister Punjab Police were involved in the was killed by the terrorists on Friday e-Muhammad (JeM), and security following a bomb scare, a Rajnath Singh announced earlier, massive search operation inside the by slitting his throat. forces had continued through Sat- police official said. “We received informa- yesterday. Niranjan Kumar IAF base and nearby areas. The terrorists had then hijacked urday after the terrorists entered the Niranjan Kumar, whose parents IAF helicopters could be seen flying the Mahindra XUV car of superintend- IAF base, located around 250 km from tion of a bomb from Delhi hail from here, was settled in Ben- over the base and nearby areas through ent of police Salwinder Singh and slit Chandigarh. Police around 6 30am. galuru. He is survived by his wife The officer’s father has left from the night and since early morning on the throat of his friend Rajesh Kumar. At the IAF base, MIG-21 Bison Nothing was discov- and a two-year-old child. Bengaluru for Delhi to receive his Sunday to assist ground forces in the Senior officials of the Army, Air fighter jets, MI-35 attack helicopters, ered when the train was His uncle said that the martyred son’s mortal remains, which will then search and combing operations. Force, para-military forces and the missiles and other critical assets were checked at Ghaziabad officer’s last rites would be performed be brought to Bengaluru yesterday “The search ops are continuing. Punjab Police were supervising the secure and the terrorists were pre- railway station,” Neeraj here today. “The body will be brought night. Locals recalled that the officer Everything is being looked at minutely. search operations since Saturday vented from getting near the technical Sharma, senior railway by road from Bengaluru today. It would was a popular personality of the area The operation will end only after this after the security forces neutralized area where the assets were stationed, official said. be placed at a school near here for and had a jovial nature. Chief Min- is completed,” a senior Punjab Police the terrorists. IAF sources said. The IAF said that the “We have deployed the public to pay their homage,” said ister Oommen Chandy will also be official told IANS. Security agencies At least three IAF security per- terrorists’ plan to destroy “valuable bomb disposal squad Niranjan Kumar’s uncle. in Palakkad to pay his last respects. were particularly investigating the sonnel, including an IAF Garud assets” was “foiled”. and intensified the gen- eral checking,” Dumbere Millind Mahadeo, deputy commissioner of police, Railways, said. “But there is no need to panic.” Punjab seeks more BSF strength after the attack The national capital was put on high alert on Saturday, following a ter- ror attack at an Indian IANS Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said yesterday. attack in Punjab in just over five months. On lines and a commando battalion in Pathankot Air Force frontier base “The BSF strength is not adequate. Because July 27, 2015, terrorists from Pakistan launched for quick response. Also a SWAT (special weap- in Punjab’s Pathankot this (Punjab) is a peaceful state, the strength is a terror attack on Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur ons and tactics) quick response team will be town. Securitry measures less. We need more strength (of the BSF), espe- district, leaving seven people dead, including a stationed here,” Badal said. have also been beefed in PATHANKOT: The present BSF strength in the cially because this area is close to the border police official. He said the Centre will be requested to make almost all the major pints Punjab sector was inadequate, and the Punjab with Jammu and Kashmir. Badal, who is also the state home minis- available better technology to prevent infiltra- across the country. government wants the force strengthened in the “There have been two major incidents of infil- ter, said Punjab Police will also have a “second tion in the area. “We want technology to be used, state in view of the terror attack on the Indian tration in Punjab through the same sector,” Badal line of defence” in the area to counter any ter- like lasers. We should use technology to prevent Air Force base near Pathankot, Deputy Chief pointed out. This was the second major terror ror threat in future. “We will have a new police infiltration,” Badal said. Attacks galore on journalists in Advani says Bardhan Art shrinks to fingertip 2015: Report NEWDELHI: There have the ‘voice of the poor’ been eight deaths, 27 cases of attacks, 15 cases of threats and five arrests IANS issue of agrarian distress and growing of journalists and people hardships on labour. He had to brave belonging to the creative several challenges and struggles to community during the make a place for himself in politics year, said a report by The NEWDELHI: Senior BJP leader L.K. and social work,” the BJP leader said. Hoot released last week. Advani in his condolence message yes- “I mourn A.B. Bardhan’s passing There were 21 cases terday described veteran Communist away. May the departed soul rest in of censorship on films, Party of India leader A.B. Bardhan as peace,” Advani added. four cases of censor- “voice of the poor”. Bardhan, 92, died at a hospital ship on broadcast media, “I am deeply grieved to learn about here on Saturday. Bardhan had suf- three cases of censorship the passing away of A.B. Bardhan. He fered a paralytic stroke on December on print media, two cases was fully committed to his ideology 7, following which he was admitted of censorship on music and principles. He was a leading fig- to the hospital. and 13 cases of censor- ure of the trade union movement and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ship on cyber media. The a voice of the poor. He will always be expressed his condolences on Twitter, report said there were remembered for his excellent ora- saying: “Will always remember Shri 81 cases of defamation, tory,” Advani said in a statement here. A B Bardhan as a passionate Commu- 26 cases of sedition and He said Bardhan’s politics involved nist, fully committed to his ideology & eight cases of surveil- more than the issue of Kisan (farmer) principles. May his soul rest in peace.” lance against journalists. and Mazdoor (labourer). Congress president Sonia Gandhi 2015 was a hugely eventful A child plays with a tablet next to artworks on sale, displayed at the 13th annual ‘Chitra Santhe’ (Art “Protecting the secular fabric also expressed her condolences. “In year for free speech in India of the nation was one of his other his demise, the entire nation has lost Fair) organised by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bangalore yesterday. commitments apart from raising the a good leader,” said Gandhi. 14 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 INDIA Smart cities will tackle rapid urbanisation: PM

population will live in cities and economic growth, employment Nearly 40 percent three billion people will join 3.5 bil- opportunities and prosperity, they lion dwellers, with 90 percent of the have to be sustained to become loco- of the global urban increase from developing countries,” motives of our economies and havens population live in Modi said at the 103rd Indian Science of healthy living,” he said. Congress being held in the Univer- Admitting that much of the urban informal settlements sity of Mysore here. infrastructure was yet to be built, he or slums, facing Quoting some studies, Modi said told the galaxy of scientists, Nobel the country would have over 10 per- laureates and hundreds of students a range of health cent of the global urban population that affordable and practical solu- and nutritional by 2025 and 50 percent of its people tions had to be found for solid waste in urban habitats by 2050. management, converting waste into challenges. “About 40 percent of the global building material and energy and urban population lives in informal recycling waste water. settlements or slums, facing a range “Though we need sound policies of health and nutritional challenges,” to achieve our goals, we will rely on IANS he said after inaugurating the five- science and technology to provide day annual science jamboree in the creative solutions. 700-acre sprawling Mansagagotri We have to also develop better MYSURU: Terming rapid urbanisation campus in the heritage city. scientific tools to improve city plan- as a challenge and critical for sus- Observing that many urban ning with sensitivity to local ecology tainability, Prime Minister Narendra clusters in Asia would exceed the and heritage and reduce demand for Modi yesterday said smart cities would population of mid-sized countries transportation, improve mobility and make the cities networked to become in the world over, Modi noted that reduce congestion. efficient, safe and better in delivery cities account for more than two- “We need your inputs to make our of services. thirds of global energy demand and cities immune to consequences of “For the first time in human his- result in up to 80 percent of global natural disasters and homes resilient. tory, we are in an urban century. greenhouse gas emission. This will also mean making retrofit A Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) performs manoeuvres during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi By 2050, two-thirds of the world’s “As cities are major engines of of buildings affordable,” Modi added. to lay the foundation stone of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore yesterday. Goa defence expo project hits another snag

IANS Expo, the official website stated to the ninth in the series of biennial Land, assembly summed up the angst of the claiming it would provide employment BSF seizes 8kg contrary. Naval and Internal Homeland Secu- state administration vis a vis the ten- opportunities to locals. He assured “Are the defence ministry and the rity Systems Exhibition organised by dency of the Indian armed forces to that no land would be acquired for of narcotics Goa government colluding to grab more the defence ministry. The land hogging not relinquish land tracts. the project. PANAJI: The Congress has alleged that land in Goa? Why has the air force base by the armed forces and central gov- “It is easier to get the army to vacate “There will be no land acquisition an air force base is surreptitiously being issue never been made public until ernment agencies has been a prickly from Lahore, but not from even an inch to host Defence Expo. It will be held near Bangla planned at a village in South Goa which now when the land has already been issue since 1961, when Goa was liber- of land in Panaji...” Parrikar had said in a temporary structure where the is to host the Defence Expo in 2016, a allotted for the Expo?” Kamat said. ated from the Portuguese rule, thanks then, while criticising the Indian Army defence equipment will be displayed,” border; 3 held project that has faced opposition from “However, video/aerial pho- to India’s clinical military action. for its failure to vacate a prime piece Parrikar said on Friday, claiming that local politicians. tography over Indian aerospace or Critical installations and land tracts of land in the heart of the state capi- the opposition was misleading people The Indian Air Force (IAF) base is photography in the operational area captured by the Indian army from the tal despite being allotted an alternate on the issue. Parsekar has also insisted Kolkata: The BSF has being planned at the Naqueri, Quitol of the Air Force Station Quitol, without Portuguese forces during the action land tract on the outskirts of Panaji. that no land was being acquired by apprehended three men plateau, near Betul village, the party permission of the Ministry of Defence, were then taken over by the defence Congress’s Rajya Sabha member the defence ministry for the event and and seized over eight has alleged. Quoting an excerpt from Government of India, shall not be per- ministry after the brief spell of mili- from Goa Shantaram Naik also opposed that it was only a temporary arrange- kilograms of narcotics the Defence Expo India 2016 official mitted,” says the official website of tary administration of the state. the Defence Expo’s relocation to Betul. ment for now. in operations near the website, Congress’s Goa state unit sec- the Expo. Successive state governments have “The BJP government in Goa has “As regards permanent destina- Bangladesh border in retary Durgadas Kamat alleged that Traditionally held in the national maintained that the Indian Navy has put Goa on sale. It is unfortunate that tion (for Defence Expo) is concerned, West Bengal, an official while Defence Minister Manohar Parri- capital, the Defence Expo is being been illegally occupying 1,840 acres Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar we have not taken a decision yet. We said yesterday. kar and Goa’s Chief Minister Laxmikant shifted to Goa because a new conven- of land on which the Dabolim air- is the official broker of the Goa gov- will take it separately. We will first In the first operation Parsekar had said six lakh sq. metres tion centre is being built at the Pragati port is located. Parrikar, when he ernment...” Naik told IANS on Friday. see how the Expo benefits Goa when near the Nawada bor- of land at Betul was only being tem- Maidan in New Delhi. was Goa’s chief minister in 2012, had Parrikar, however, has defended the it is held in March 2016,” Parsekar der outpost in Malda porarily allotted to host the Defence The Defence Expo 2016 is the during a debate in the state legislative relocation of the Defence Expo to Goa, said. district, troopers of the Border Security Force intercepted three men moving suspiciously on a bike near the border on RSS rally India-Bangladesh border Saturday night. “During frisking, 3 in Assam to be sealed 05kg of brown powder, suspected to be opium, was seized from them. IANS Assam Accord and assured the AASU All the accused are resi- leaders he would make a visit to the dents of the district and India-Bangladesh border with their were handed over to the delegation. Narcotics Control Bureau GUWAHATI: Union Home Minis- The union minister is likely to for further legal action,” ter Rajnath Singh yesterday visited address a public rally at Karim- said a BSF officer. Karimganj sector of the India-Bang- ganj yesterday before returning to In another operation, ladesh border in Assam and said the Guwahati. troopers of the BSF’s 43 porous border will be sealed this year. He is scheduled to meet promi- battalion seized 3 5kg The home minister, who arrived in nent intellectuals of the state at the of ganja from near the Assam yesterday on a two-day visit, Brahmaputra State Guest House in Narsaripara border out- inspected the Stemerghat Border Out Guwahati in the evening. post and 1 8kg of ganja Posts (BOP) in Karimganj district. He Today, Singh will visit Dhubri sec- from near the Nandan- said the porous border should have tor of the India-Bangladesh border pur border outpost in been sealed long time ago. with the AASU delegation to take stock Nadia district on Satur- Singh was accompanied by union of the situation. day night. Minister of State for Sports and Youth He is scheduled to address a public Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal, who rally in the district before returning hails from Assam, some Bharatiya to New Delhi. Janata Party leaders and a delega- “The minister had expressed his 3 women held tion of the All Assam Students’ Union desire for a joint visit of the inter- (AASU), including its chief adviser national border during a seminar with 300 rare Samujjal Bhattacharyya, president organised by us in New Delhi last year. Dipank Nath and general secretary Today, he has come to visit. We turtles in Bihar Lurinjyoti Gogoi during the visit to have showed him the open interna- the border. tional border in Karimganj district. Patna: Three women In August last year, Singh partic- The union home minister has were arrested yesterday Hindu pilgrims sing as they arrive to take part in a right wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ipated at a seminar organised by the assured that the border would be for smuggling over 300 rally in Pune yesterday. All Assam Students Union (AASU) in sealed within this year,” said AASU turtles from Bihar’s Roh- New Delhi on implementation of the president Dipank Nath. tas district, police said. “The arrested were part of a gang smug- gling rare turtles,” said Government Railway Foundation stone laid for multi-level flyovers in Hyderabad Police official Vinod Kumar Singh. The three women, who hail from Uttar Pradesh, told IANS Banjara Hills and at Mindspace and without anybody’s help,” he said in will be developed at 10 junctions at a Secunderabad —said Hyderabad would police that seven sacks Rajiv Park in Hitec City. an oblique reference to the central cost of Rs886 crore. become the No.1 state capital in the full of turtles were Union Labour Minister Bandaru government. Around the sprawling K B R. Park, country. brought from Allahabad Dattatreya, Telangana Deputy Chief He said the SRDP was prepared to which connects the posh Banjara Hills This has been termed a tremen- and they were to hand HYDERABAD: Taking the first step Minister Mahmood Ali and other state meet the growing requirements of the and Jubliee Hills to the Hitec City, multi- dous development by many as it will them over to a man in towards redesigning the entire road ministers attended the foundation stone city, which has a population of over level flyovers will be constructed at help to boost the overall growth. Asansol in West Bengal. network in Hyderabad, the Telangana laying ceremony. one crore. Under the plan, multi-level six junctions at an estimated cost of In addition to this, Prime Minis- The rare species of government yesterday laid the foun- Tarakarama Rao, the son of Chief flyovers, skywalks and signal-less junc- Rs510 crore. The TRS government laid ter Narendra Modi pushed for early turtles had distinct star dation stone for multi-level flyovers Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, said tions will be developed at 54 places the foundation stone for the mega completion of the Hyderabad Metro marks on their shells. at three places in the city. multi—evel flyovers and skywalks like in the city. project with an eye on the elections Rail Project and also assued all sorts India banned the trade State Information Technology those in cities across the world would Under the first phase, 50 flyovers to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal of supports from the central govern- of turtles under the Minister K. Tarakarama Rao laid the be built in Hyderabad in three years at will be built at 18 junctions at a cost of Corporation (GHMC), likely to be held ment for finishing all sorts of projects. Wildlife Protection Act, foundation stone for the multi-level a cost of over Rs20,000 crore. Rs1,096.71 crore this month. The Prime Minister also urged to fin- 1972. flyovers under the Strategic Road Devel- “We will go ahead with the major At three places where foundation On the occasion, Dattatreya -- ish the metro project in private public opment Plan (SRDP) at K B R. Park in plan for road improvement with or stone was laid yesterday, 26 flyovers who is the Lok Sabha member from partnership at utmost quality. EUROPE MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 15 Refugee crisis may shake up German political scene

Not only is Chancellor Merkel look- in Berlin acknowledge in private, if such Currently the AfD is polling between In response to the new law, the AfD including Merkel’s conservative bloc. ing more vulnerable than ever before an attack were carried out successfully 8-10 percent, roughly double the 4.7 asked its supporters for donations and Add to that the three leading parties Merkel enters new because of her welcoming stance by people who entered Europe with percent the party won in the last federal raised roughly €2m in just three weeks, of the left, the Social Democrats (SPD), year under pressure towards the hundreds of thousands the flood of migrants, as was the case election in 2013, when it narrowly failed a testament to its drawing power. Greens and hard-left “Linke”, and Ger- to cut refugee flow as of refugees fleeing war in the Middle with two of the men involved in the to clear the 5 percent mark needed to In three state elections that are due man politics looks more fragmented East, but the rise of the anti-immi- November 13 attacks in Paris. enter the Bundestag. to be held in March, the AfD’s new- than at any time since reunification anti-immigrant AfD grant Alternative for Germany (AfD) Even if Germany is spared such a That seems relatively harmless if found strength will be on stark display. in 1990. shoots to new highs. party has injected a new element of horror, the refugee crisis will continue you compare it to other like-minded It is on track to win 7 percent in the Merkel could yet emerge as the big surprise into the political landscape. to dominate the political debate this parties across Europe, like the National western states of Baden-Wuerttem- loser from the new German political Add to that an unprecedented splin- year, polarising voters and embold- Front in France, the Freedom Party in berg and Rhineland-Palatinate and landscape if she is unable to stem the tering of the electorate, which means ening Merkel’s opponents on the right Austria or the Danish People’s Party, roughly twice that in Saxony-Anhalt tide of refugees in the months ahead. Reuters that six parties have a legitimate shot and left. which enjoy more than twice as much in the east. “In every one of these elec- If she is successful, it may be her of entering most state parliaments, and So far the most damaging attacks support. tions, the performance of the AfD will coalition partner in Berlin, the SPD, Germany’s normally cozy, consensual have come from her conservative sis- But the AfD’s rise looks more sig- be key in determining what constel- who suffer most. BERLIN: For the past decade, German politics begins to look a bit less pre- ter party, the Bavarian Christian Social nificant when one considers that it lations are possible,” Torsten Krauel The rise of the AfD and return of politics has been a relatively dull affair, dictable, and potentially more divisive, Union (CSU). has occurred against a backdrop of wrote in a front-page editorial in Ger- the FDP would make it more diffi- with Angela Merkel dominating at the than it has in a long time. “If we don’t see success in limit- infighting and financial trouble within man daily Die Welt last week. cult for the SPD to form left-leaning national level and the major parties in The wild card is the threat of an ing the tide of refugees, we could have the party that might have crushed it. The rise of the AfD and a nascent majorities at the state or federal level, agreement on all the big issues, from attack by Islamist extremists on Ger- a grassroots political tremor in Ger- In the past half year, the party has comeback by the Free Democrats condemning it to second-tier status euro zone bailouts and refugees to the man soil, a risk highlighted on New many,” said one senior government weathered the departure of its founder, (FDP), a business-friendly, socially for the foreseeable future. phase-out of nuclear energy. Year’s Eve when authorities received official, who declined to be named embarrassing slurs about African repro- liberal party that was the kingmaker And that weakness could turn But that may change in 2016, when a tip that Iraqi and Syrian nationals because of the sensitivity of the issue. ductive habits from one of its leading of German politics for decades before the SPD into a more confrontational five of Germany’s 16 states hold elec- were planning suicide bombings at “If Merkel doesn’t deliver, you could politicians, and a party financing law imploding in the last federal vote, means and unpredictable partner for Mer- tions in the build-up to the next federal train stations in Munich. see the AfD approaching 20 percent in from the government that threatened that there are now three legitimate kel as the next federal vote in 2017 vote a year later. It could be fatal for Merkel, officials the polls,” the official predicted. to strip bare its coffers. right-of-centre parties in Germany, approaches.

Drowned kid Bubbly children ‘Germany becomes first should limit 2016 casualty migrants in Aegean to 200,000’ AFP

AFP ATHENS: A drowned two-year- old boy became the first known migrant casualty of the year on BERLIN: Germany only has capac- Saturday after the crowded din- ity for a maximum 200,000 asylum ghy he was travelling in slammed seekers a year, about a fifth of the into rocks off Greece’s Agathonisi number it received in 2015, Bavarian island, the coastguard said. premier Horst Seehofer said yes- The other 39 passengers, terday. including a woman who had fallen “In Germany, the arrival of overboard, were rescued after local 100,000 to a maximum 200,000 fishermen raised the alarm. Ten of asylum seekers and war refugees a the survivors were taken to hospi- year would pose no problem,” See- tal to be treated for hypothermia. hofer, who heads the Christian Social The rubber vessel had set off from Union (CSU), the Bavarian sister Turkey in windy weather. party of Chancellor Angela Mer- The charity Migrant Off- kel’s Christian Democrats (CDU), shore Aid Station, which helps told Bild newspaper. save migrants and refugees at The CSU, which has been up in sea, deployed its fast-rescue arms over Merkel’s welcoming ref- Responder boat to help bring the ugee policy, is calling for Germany stranded passengers to safety in a to cap the number of asylum seek- joint operation with the Hellenic ers it takes in. coastguard. “Limiting the number of The toddler’s body was pulled migrants must be the main objec- out of the water by fishermen, tive in 2016,” Seehofer said ahead according to the coastguard. of the CSU’s annual conference The migrants, including the Visitors and children play with big and small bubbles in Cologne, Germany, yesterday. this week in the Bavarian moun- child’s mother, were taken to the tain resort of Wildbad Kreuth that port of Pythagorio on Samos, the Merkel and British Prime Minis- nearest island, which is 50 kil- ter David Cameron are scheduled ometres away. There was no to attend. immediate information about “This figure (of 200,000) is tol- their nationalities. Art dealer in court over inheritance spat erable and, in that case, integration “Nothing can prepare you would also work properly. For me, for the horrific reality. Today we anything above that is excessive,” he came face to face with one of the added, warning of up to 1.5 million youngest victims of this ongoing AFP fraud and money-laundering. began looking into his affairs follow- Wildenstein assumed control of the arrivals in 2016 unless measures to refugee crisis. Franco-American Guy Wildenstein, ing accusations he concealed much of arts business, while younger sibling check the migrant tide were taken. “It is a tragic reminder of the 70, and his entourage are at the heart his inherited fortune from the taxman Alec concentrated on horse breeding. Merkel has so far categorically thousands of people who have died of the investigation and could face up and from his heirs via a web of opaque But Guy also assumed control of the refused to set a limit. In her New trying to reach safety in miserable PARIS: A multi-generational inher- to 10 years in jail in a saga which has trusts and tax havens. latter when Alec — who achieved pub- Year’s address she told Germans conditions,” said MOAS founder itance squabble in one of the world’s gripped high-society watchers. Sylvia Roth, widow of the galler- lic renown for his messy divorce from the influx was “an opportunity for and US entrepreneur Christopher foremost art-dealing dynasties with The case follows an investiga- ist’s father, Daniel Wildenstein, filed a Swiss socialite and cosmetic surgery tomorrow”. Germany took in almost Catrambone in a statement. a penchant for thoroughbred race- tion into years of alleged coordinated criminal complaint against her step- devotee Jocelyne Perisse, nicknamed 1.1 million asylum seekers in 2015, Despite the recent cold and horses will be played out in a Paris attempts by the dynasty to place assets son to that effect in a bitter dispute “Bride of Wildenstein” — died in 2008. five times the 2014 tally, local media choppy waters, large numbers of court from today. beyond the reach of the taxman. over the size of the family fortune. French tax authorities believe the reported this week, citing unpub- migrants and refugees are still In a case worthy of a soap opera, the Wildenstein, an art dealer who Daniel Wildenstein died in 2001, Wildensteins could owe some €550m lished official figures. setting sail from Turkey to make spotlight will be thrown on the activ- owns and breeds race horses, was in whereupon, the French authorities ($600m). In 2008, the dynasty valued Bavaria is the main crossing the hazardous journey across the ities of New-York based Wildenstein 2009 awarded France’s highest award allege, his heirs began hastily trans- Daniel’s estate at just $61m after Guy point into the country for migrants Aegean in the hope of reaching and Company when several family by then-president Nicolas Sarkozy. ferring abroad assets of the dynasty took over as president of the family’s fleeing war and poverty in the Mid- Greece. members go on trial on charges of tax But a year later, French investigators from New York. After his death, Guy gallery empire. dle East, Asia and Africa.

Four children dead in Russia blaze Gas leak forces European Commission to evacuation in London debate Polish media law

QNA AFP broadcasters, was rushed through parliament, despite EU concern and condemnation from rights watchdogs. LONDON: Hundreds of people Ahead of the debate, Commission Vice were evacuated overnight after BRUSSELS: The European Commis- President Frans Timmermans sent two a huge gas leak in south London, sion said yesterday it would debate letters to the Polish government “ask- police and local media said. the rule of law in Poland this month ing for information about the changes Some 500 people were in the first stage of a potentially-puni- to the law”. The statement was issued evacuated to four reception tive procedure after Warsaw seized after EU Commissioner Gunther Oet- centres from several streets control of public broadcasters. tinger threatened to put Poland on notice in the Penge area late Satur- Commission President Jean- for infringing common European val- day, returning to their homes Claude Juncker “has placed a first ues in an interview with Germany’s around 5 am (0500 GMT) on debate on the rule of law in Poland Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) Sunday, reports said. on the agenda of the commission’s newspaper. “Residents start returning meeting on January 13,” a statement “Many reasons exist for us to acti- to their homes in Penge,” the said in reference to the controversial vate the ‘Rule of Law mechanism’ and police said. Ambulance and fire media law which went into force on for us to place Warsaw under mon- crews had been put on standby Wednesday. itoring,” he said. The Rule of Law Firefighters extinguishing blaze at a wooden house in Pesochnoye, Yaroslavl region, Russia, yesterday. while engineers worked over- The legislation, which gives Poland’s mechanism was set up in March Six people including four children died in the fire and about twenty escaped. night to fix the leak. conservative government power 2014 to tackle “systemic threats to to directly appoint heads of public the rule of law”. 16 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

French singer Poland wants UK help over Nato troops Delpech

told reporters. were being discussed in tandem. with some states wary of violating a cash payment to families with chil- passes away Polish foreign With hundreds of thousands of Asked whether Britain could 1997 NATO-Russia agreement on the dren, in the hope Polish workers will Poles living in Britain, Warsaw is one offer Poland something to soften its size of forces the alliance can have stay in Poland instead of emigrating. minister says it can of the EU’s staunchest critics of Prime opposition to Cameron’s proposal, in former Warsaw Pact countries, of He said Warsaw opposed any cuts compromise over Minister David Cameron’s proposal Waszczykowski said: “Of course. Brit- which Poland is one. in benefits in Britain that singled out to cut benefits for migrants as part of ain could offer something to Poland in Moscow would almost certainly potential recipients based on their British demands his planned overhaul of Britain’s EU terms of international security. regard the establishment of a stand- origin. “We’re aware that the British to limit the rights membership terms. “We still consider ourselves a sec- ing Nato presence on its borders as a welfare system is very elaborate and Cameron has set a deadline of the ond-class Nato member-state, because hostile act. that it may not be able to bear it. We are of European Union end of 2017 for an in-out referendum in central Europe ... there aren’t, aside Some western European allies have therefore addressing this by increas- migrants . on Britain’s membership of the EU, but from a token presence, any significant also been sceptical about basing large ing our benefits, and we also want to recently gave his strongest suggestion allied forces or defence installations, numbers of troops and equipment in raise salaries in Poland,” he said. yet that he hopes to hold it in 2016. which gives the Russians an excuse to Poland at a time when defence budg- EU heads of state are due to dis- Cameron left Warsaw empty- play this region,” he said. ets are tight and question the military cuss British proposals at a summit in Reuters handed last month after a visit to In 2014, Poland’s then foreign min- logic of tying down large numbers of February. Nato defence ministers are discuss his push, with Poland’s Prime ister said he wanted the alliance to troops in one place. scheduled to meet next month in prep- Minister Beata Szydlo saying further station two Nato heavy brigades — “Britain could support our expec- aration for the Nato summit. talks were needed. typically between 3,000 and 5,000 tations related to an allied military “It would be very difficult for us to Reuters WARSAW: Poland could be open to Szydlo’s new conservative gov- troops — on Polish soil in response to presence on Polish territory,” Waszc- accept any discrimination,” Waszc- compromise over British demands ernment, however, is keen to score a Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, where zykowski said. zykowski said, referring to the migrant to limit the rights of European Union diplomatic victory at a summit of the Moscow denies it is actively assisting Waszczykowski said Poland talks with London. “Unless Britain PARIS: French singer Michel migrants if London helps it bolster the Nato military alliance due to be held pro-Russian rebels. wanted to offset the impact of any helped us really effectively with regard Delpech, whose songs Chez Lau- Nato presence in central Europe, For- in Warsaw in July. The alliance is reluctant to perma- benefit cuts for its citizens living in to the Polish defence ambitions at the rette and Quand j’etais chanteur eign Minister Witold Waszczykowski Waszczykowski said the issues nently station troops in central Europe, Britain by planning to offer a monthly summit in Warsaw.” helped capture the mood of the 1960s and 1970s, died on Satur- day. He was 69. Delpech had been in hospital Britain to spend in Puteaux, in Paris’s western sub- Umbrella sculpture urbs, battling throat cancer, his wife more funds to said, sparking a wave of tributes. “Michel Delpech died without improve flood ever having aged,” French Presi- dent Francois Hollande said in a defences statement. “His songs touched us because they spoke to us. To our emotions as well as our difficulties. He reflected Reuters the 70s better than anyone.” Pascal Negre, the head of Uni- versal Music France, chimed in, LONDON: Britain’s government has tweeting that Delpech was “a poet promised more than 40m pounds speaking about the lives of people, ($59m) to rebuild and improve the an unparalleled melodist and an country’s flood defences that failed endearing man”. to protect thousands of homes over Born on January 26, 1946 in the Christmas holidays. Courbevoie, Delpech was rasied Homes and businesses across in a modest family. His father had a northern England, Scotland and small metal plating workshop and northern Ireland were hit by storms his mother was a housewife. and torrential rains in December, He released his first song aged leaving many without electricity and just 18, and quickly broke out with some under metres of water after his first hit, Chez Laurette, in 1965. river levels reached all-time highs. Delpech soon also lived the Prime Minister David Cameron lifestyle of a music star, once tell- has been criticised by the oppo- ing the newspaper France-Soir of sition lawmakers for not doing his image as “Prince Charming, a enough to protect the country from singer for women wearing polka severe weather and the Observer dot shirts”. “I had in me a combina- newspaper yesterday said many tion of pride and arrogance,” he told of Britain’s flood defences were the daily. But his meteoric rise was being abandoned or maintained accompanied by a sharp fall, with to minimal levels because of the divorce in the late-1970s plunging government cuts. him into depression that sent him In a statement, Cameron looking for answers in Hinduism, announced a package of more clairvoyance and psychoanalysis. than 40m pounds to improve flood Though he recovered, in 2013 defences after Storm Eva brought he was diagnosed with the can- gales and torrential downpours to A sculpture constructed of umbrellas is seen in the rain in a street in central London, Britain, yesterday. cer that eventually claimed his life. Northern Ireland, Wales, England and parts of Scotland in late December. He said 10m pounds would be used to improve the Foss barrier protecting the northern English city of York, which was overwhelmed at the height of Storm Eva. Italy in shock over spate in childbirth deaths The other 30m would be spent on defences on other rivers in northern England. AFP been a factor and also over whether to try and establish what happened a fall at home. Her son was delivered save so many women in the delivery The government would also older mothers-to-be are being suffi- in the Brescia clinic and three of the alive but died several hours later. room,” said Rosalba Paesano, Professor support charities helping those ciently monitored for warning signs other four fatal cases. The one case not being investigated of Gynaecological Science at Rome’s caught up in the deluge by match- ROME: Italy’s health minister has of potentially fatal conditions. According to media reports, the concerned a 23-year-old from Foggia La Sapienza university. ing every pound of the first two ordered a series of investigations after In the latest case, Giovanna Laz- tragedy in Brescia was triggered by a who died suddenly at home. Doctors “But the health ministry does million pounds raised, he said. five women died in childbirth in seven zari, 29, already a mother of two who detachment of the placenta from the were able to perform a post-mortem not say they are required, in reality days, shocking a nation with one of was eight months pregnant, died on wall of the patient’s uterus. Cesarean and save her daughter. because they cost too much. The pro- the lowest maternal mortality rates New Year’s Eve in Brescia, said her In two of the other cases, both of Although the tragedies being inves- cedures are obsolete,” Paesano told in the world. partner Roberto Coppini. which resulted in still births, the moth- tigated all appear to be explicable, a La Repubblica. The deaths occurred across the As her condition deteriorated, doc- ers, aged 35 and 39, suffered cardiac gynaecologist said some of the victims According to World Bank fig- Catalan head country between December 25 and 31. tors attempted an emergency Cesarean arrest during labour. may have paid the price for inadequate ures, Italy has had an average of four While all appear to have explicable but were unable to save either the Anna Massignan, 34, who died on screening for the risk of thrombosis or childbirth related maternal deaths per fails to get causes, their concentration over the mother or the foetus. “ Christmas Day, succumbed after an heart problems emerging during the 100,000 live births since 2004, mak- holiday period has raised questions Health minister Beatrice Loren- emergency Cesarean eight months into latter stages of pregnancy. ing it one of the top ten safest countries backing to over whether hospital staffing may have zin has dispatched a team of experts her pregnancy, reportedly following “With preventative checks we could for women having a baby. form new govt AFP Belgian nuclear reactor Carnival La Vijanera

MADRID: Catalan far-left party CUP said yesterday it would not support shut down after restarting acting regional head Artur Mas for another term as leader, forcing a fresh round of local elections and weakening an independence move- AFP was caused by a “normal safety mech- ment that seeks a split from Spain. anism”, in order to restart it safely. The drawn-out process of Belgium agreed last month to forming a government in Catalo- extend the life of Doel 1 and Doel 2, nia echoes the political stalemate BRUSSELS: An ageing Belgian nuclear both of which are 40 years old, until gripping Spain at a national level reactor shut down on Saturday, three 2025 under a deal that ended years following general elections two days after it was restarted, but there of battles that threatened the coun- weeks ago in which no party was was no safety risk, the power utility try with power blackouts. handed a clear mandate to lead. that operates it said. The two reactors can produce 866 The prospect of new elections The Doel 1 reactor Belgium was megawatts, equivalent to around six in Catalonia, most likely in March, restarted on December 30, after orig- percent of Belgium’s total electricity plunges the Spanish electoral land- inally being shut down in February in capacity. Environmentalists have crit- scape into more uncertainty as the line with a law that called for the coun- icised extending the life of reactors make-up of both the regional and try’s gradual exit from nuclear power. which they say are too old to be con- national governments that will be “Doel 1 automatically shut down sidered safe. Belgium has suffered a negotiating the future of the wealthy at 6pm,” a spokeswoman said. “Eve- series of nuclear mishaps in recent Participants parade during celebrations of La Vijanera carnival in Silio, in the northern Spanish province northeastern region are unclear. rything went according to procedure. years, with three of the country’s seven of Cantabria, yesterday. It is the first carnival on the calendar in Europe, and a colourful masquerade Parties are in talks to form a coa- There was no impact on safety, and no reactors closed at one point, in two involving approximately 60 characters performing in different acts with a desire to banish the last lition government in Madrid after impact on staff and local residents”. cases due to the discovery of micro- year and pave the way to the next year. Spaniards voted for new parties. The company said the shutdown cracks in the reactor vessels. AMERICAS MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 17 Obama returns from Hawaii, says ‘fired up’ for 2016

shifts to the presidential election. executive actions on guns, while At the top of Obama spent much of his vaca- Republican candidates largely oppose tion out of the public eye, playing golf efforts to expand background checks Obama’s priority list with friends and dining out on the or take other steps that curb access is executive action island of Oahu with his family. He also to guns. worked on his final State of the Union In his weekly radio address, that is expected address, scheduled for January 12. Obama said tens of thousands of to expand when The address to Congress is a high- people have died from gun violence profile opportunity for the president since background check legislation background checks to try to reassure the public about his stalled three years ago. are required for gun national security stewardship after “Each time, we’re told that com- purchases. the terrorism attacks in Paris and San monsense reforms like background Bernardino, California. Advisers say checks might not have stopped the Obama will also look for other oppor- last massacre, or the one before that, tunities to keep security issues at the so we shouldn’t do anything,” Obama forefront as he tries to ease Ameri- said. “We know that we can’t stop AP cans’ concerns. every act of violence. But what if we “Over the coming weeks and tried to stop even one?” months, the American people should Federally licensed gun sellers are HONOLULU: President Barack expect the president to continue to required by law to seek criminal back- Obama is returning to the rancor of communicate directly about his com- ground checks before completing a the nation’s capital after two weeks mitment to fighting terrorism and sale. But gun control advocacy groups of fun and sun in his native Hawaii, protecting the homeland,” spokes- say some of the people who sell fire- saying he’s “fired up” for his final year man Eric Schultz said. arms at gun shows are not federally in office and ready to tackle unfin- Congressional Republicans have licensed, increasing the chance of ished business. outlined a competing agenda for Janu- sales to customers prohibited by law At the top of Obama’s priority list ary, saying they’ll spend the first days from purchasing guns. is executive action that is expected to of 2016 taking another crack at elim- Despite his deep differences with expand when background checks are inating keys parts of the president’s Republicans, Obama has cited two required for gun purchases. Obama is health insurance law and ending fed- agenda items for 2016 that have bipar- meeting with Attorney General Loretta eral funding for Planned Parenthood. tisan support: a free trade agreement Lynch today to discuss a three-month The legislation is unlikely to become with 11 other nations called the Trans- review of what actions he could take law, but it is popular with the GOP Pacific Partnership and changes in to help reduce gun violence. base in an election year. the criminal justice system that would The actions, which are staunchly The debate over Obama’s gun reduce incarceration rates for nonvi- opposed by Republicans and likely to actions will quickly spill over into olent offenders. He often points out spark a legal fight, underscore Obama’s the presidential campaign. Demo- that the US accounts for 5 percent of US President Barack Obama greets service members and their families before boarding Air Force One at Joint desire to keep up an aggressive agenda cratic front-runner Hillary Clinton the world’s population and 25 per- Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Obama family is returning to Washington after concluding in 2016, even as the public’s attention has already called for more aggressive cent of its inmates. a 15-day holiday vacation. Mexico mayor Trump backers: New Hampshire voter database ‘huge’ is slain a Bloomberg database that is nearing 100,000 people Word of the effort comes as Trump up at his rallies, but the events have National Committee has given Trump day after — many of whom have never voted in himself is moving to address one of the become spectacles, too, where people and other candidates access to their a Republican primary or haven’t voted biggest questions sceptics raise about are going just to say they were there,” database, Trump’s other New Hamp- NEW HAMPSHIRE: As the campaign in several cycles. his campaign: Can the billionaire real- said Dante Scala, associate political shire campaign co-chairman, Fred taking office to win the nation’s first presidential pri- “It’s huge,” said Stephen Stepanek, a ity TV star turn the huge audiences he’s science director at the University of Doucette, said their database is filled mary heads into its final weeks, New state representative and co-chairman drawn to rallies around the country to New Hampshire. “Nobody knows the with names the RNC doesn’t have. Hampshire supporters of Donald Trump of the Republican presidential front- votes at the ballot box? percentage of Trump’s rally-goers “Most of the people at Trump’s AP say they’ve been quietly building a voter runner’s New Hampshire campaign. “Of course diehard supporters show who are seriously intending to vote.” events who are in our database The usually uber-confident Trump had a sour taste in their mouth and may be wondering the same thing. they haven’t voted in 10 years,” said MEXICO CITY: The mayor of a city In recent days, he’s added a new riff Doucette, who is also a state repre- south of Mexico’s capital was shot to to his stump speeches that suggests sentative. “But this is a movement,” death on Saturday, less than a day he’s taking nothing for granted. “On he added. “They’ll show up in num- after taking office, officials said. the ninth, you’ve got to get out there bers the establishment won’t believe.” Gunmen opened fire on Mayor and you’ve got to vote,” Trump told Stepanek said that while other Gisela Mota at her house in the city supporters in Nashua, referring to the campaigns have their own data- of Temixco, said the government February 9 date of the New Hamp- bases, the Trump database is unique of Morelos state, where Temixco shire primary. because “most our our people aren’t is located. Two presumed assail- Trump’s insist their campaign is in anyone else’s database but we ants were killed and three others about more than just the show Trump got ‘em because they showed up detained following a pursuit, said puts on at this rallies. They say they’ve to our rallies.” Morelos security commissioner been making voter lists in each of Scala remains dubious. He said it Jesus Alberto Capella. He said the the early-voting states for months. doesn’t help a campaign much to iden- suspects fired on federal police and But New Hampshire’s importance tify thousands of people who aren’t soldiers from a vehicle. to Trump has escalated in recent weeks going to vote. “Who cares if they’re On his Twitter account, More- as he has lost his lead in Iowa, where in the database?” Scala said. “Trump los Gov Graco Ramirez attributed the first presidential caucuses will be has to figure out how to convert their Mota’s killing to organised crime, held on February 1 to US Senator Ted energy into the political system—a without citing a particular drug Cruz of Texas. system they don’t believe in.” cartel or gang. Cartels seeking to Moreover, Trump’s supporters Rival candidates with high hopes control communities and towns think New Hampshire’s same-day for New Hampshire — such as US Sen- have often targeted local officials voter registration laws represent an ator Marco Rubio of Florida, Ohio and mayors in Mexico. advantage to their candidate, because Governor John Kasich, New Jersey Mota’s leftist Democratic Rev- they make it easy for disaffected voters Governor Chris Christie, and former olution Party released a statement (those who aren’t currently registered), Florida Governor Jeb Bush — might describing her as “a strong and brave independents, and Democrats to cast also each have voter databases “but woman who on taking office as mayor, a Republican primary vote for Trump. they could all be seen as interchange- declared that her fight against crime “We’ve been building a very sig- able votes for one another,” said Scala. would be frontal and direct.” nificant database since the summer “There’s no way for either of those Temixco is a city of about and we have an on-going voter iden- campaigns to know which votes they’ll 100,000 people neighbouring tification system,” said Stepanek. He even be able to turn out until the last Cuernavaca, a resort and indus- said Trump staffers are busy using the minute,” the New Hampshire politi- trial city which has been suffering data to help educate potential sup- cal scientist added. “This thing is just kidnappings and extortion linked Republican Donald Trump speaks at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi. porters. And while the Republican way too fluid right now.” to organised crime groups. Though Cuernavaca is the capital of More- los, Temixco is the seat of several state institutions including the Public Security Commission, which coor- dinates state and local police forces. Completing US-Mexico border wall to be daunting task Morelos also neighbors drug car- tel-plagued Guerrero state. Mota, who had been a federal AP of the Secure Fence Act passed in 2006, the If kept at this rate, the wall would cost nearly Wealthy landowners demanded more compen- congresswoman, was sworn into government built some 650 miles (more than $10bn to complete just for materials, and chal- sation or refused to allow construction. office on New Year’s Day. She was 1,000km) of wall along the 1,954-mile (3,144km) lenging geography could bring it much higher. Hundreds of property owners were sued just killed the following day. Morelos BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS: Close to the south- US-Mexico boundary. While 2,018km of that “With every twist and turn of the Rio Grande to build the existing chunks of wall. Some 400 Gov Ramirez vowed there “would ern tip of Texas a border wall suddenly ends. Its border is in Texas, the state has only about and every steep terrain in Arizona, it would cost relinquished properties ranging in size from a be no impunity” in her killing and final post sits in a dry cornfield half a mile (less 160km of wall. easily that much,” said Adam Isacson, a border driveway to commercial lots and farms, cost- promised that state officials would than a kilometre) from the nearest bend in the Republican presidential candidates insist expert for the Washington Office on Latin America. ing the government at least $15m, according to not cede to what he described as a Rio Grande river, the actual border with Mexico. they’ll finish it. But completing the Texas part of Officials overseeing the wall’s construction an AP review of land cases in 2012. “challenge from criminals.” It would be easy to walk around it. Tyres left the wall would be a daunting task thanks to the faced a legal and logistical nightmare from the Among them was Eloisa Tamez, who refused Federal and state forces are by the border patrol rest nearby. Agents drag border’s sheer length, the fact that it sits in the start, according to emails obtained under the to cede her three acres in San Benito, land that deployed in Cuernavaca and munic- them behind trucks to smooth the cracked earth center of the snaking Rio Grande, and because Freedom of Information Act and litigation by had been in her family for generations. A fed- ipalities near the Guerrero state and check for footprints. treaties with Mexico prevent either country from Denise Gilman, a law professor at the Univer- eral judge ruled in the government’s favour, and border in what is called operation Unlike other famous barriers in history such constructing within the river’s flood plains. And sity of Texas. The hundreds of emails, which Tamez was compensated $56,000, with which “Delta”. Capella did not provide as the Berlin Wall or the Great Wall of China, the unlike in other southwestern states, most bor- Gilman shared with The Associated Press, show she funded a scholarship at the University of more details about the attack on US version is not much of a wall. What stands in der land in Texas is privately owned. that from the planning phase some 105km of the Texas Rio Grande Valley where she works as a Mota, but said that when the sus- Texas is fragmented series of fencing, composed Finishing the some 1,300 miles (more than proposed route sat a half mile to a mile (a kil- professor. “It might be just a little piece of land,” pects were detained, authorities of enormous steel bars embedded in concrete 2,000km) of border fencing would also be costly. ometer to nearly 2km) from the border, making she said. “But to me it meant my life.” found a 9-millimeter gun, an Uzi, close together. The rust-coloured thick bars that According to a 2009 Government accountabil- it not a true border wall. Some residents have found themselves cut ski masks and an SUV with Mex- must reach a height of 18 feet loom over the land- ity report, pedestrian fencing, meant to keep Officials struggled to find places where off by the wall. Pamela Taylor, who lives near ico State licence plates. scape, forming teeth-like slats that split farmland, out smugglers and migrants crossing on foot, construction could start fast to meet Congress’ Brownsville, originally fought the wall’s con- Morelos Attorney General Javier slice through backyards, and sever parks and has run anywhere from $400,000 to $15.1m per deadline of building 410km by December 2008. struction. Now her Texas home sits behind the Perez Duron said the detained sus- nature preserves. mile, averaging $3.9m. More recent construction They sought contingency fencing that did not wall on the side facing Mexico. The wall “doesn’t pects have been tied to other crimes, There are miles of gaps between segments has been even more expensive, with segments require “significant real estate acquisitions” or do any good. It’s a waste of money,” she said. But but declined to provide more details. and openings in the fence itself. As a result constructed in 2008 costing $6.5m per mile. cut through sensitive wilderness, the emails show. she’s gotten used to it. 18 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS Payphones in New York become Wi-Fi hot spots

after an earlier wave of enthusiasm percent of those inspected last year faded, New York officials say their were inoperable. The first of at least project is democratizing data access The city experimented with pro- 7,500 planned hot while modernizing outmoded street viding Wi-Fi from a few payphones in phones. For now, the first hot spot is 2012, then hatched the current, eight- spots are due to go still being tested and sits under a gray year “LinkNYC” plan. online early next cover. But some passers-by like the A consortium of companies, sound of what’s in store. including wireless technology player year, promising “It’s always helpful” to have Wi-Fi Qualcomm Inc., is to pay the estimated superfast and free to reduce the bite that apps and web- $200 million installation cost and take surfing take out of cellular data service, half the revenue from the kiosks’ dig- Wi-Fi service. which is capped in many consumers’ ital advertising, projected at $1 billion plans, Jack Thomas said this week over 12 years. The city gets the other while texting near the dormant kiosk. half, more than doubling the $17 mil- AP But others have qualms about New lion a year it gets from payphones now. Yorkers linking their devices to a pub- Each hot spot covers about a lic network as they stroll down the 150-foot radius with what’s pledged street, though the city has said data as one-gigabit-per-second service, NEW YORK: Operator, won’t you help will be encrypted and any informa- about 20 times the speed of aver- Arnold City Park flooded by the Meramec River in Arnold, Missouri. me replace this call? A 9-foot-tall, tion harvested for advertising will be age home Internet service. Officials narrow structure installed this past anonymized. have said the service is intended for week on a Manhattan sidewalk is sig- “I think it makes us all more vul- outdoor use; it’s not clear whether it naling a plan to turn payphones into nerable to wrongdoers,” Bee Mosca might extend inside some businesses what’s billed as the world’s biggest said as she eyed the future hot spot. and homes. Missouri assesses flood damage, and fastest municipal Wi-Fi network. Payphones may seem like telecom Though many Americans now The first of at least 7,500 planned relics when 68 percent of Americans carry Internet connectivity in their hot spots are due to go online early own smartphones, according to the pockets, the network “can be a win southern US still imperiled next year, promising superfast and Pew Research Center on Internet, Sci- for users who can save on their data free Wi-Fi service, new street phones ence & Technology. But about 8,200 plans, and it can be a win for (cellular) with free calling, ports to charge per- payphones still dot New York streets. networks if they’re really overtaxed,” sonal phones and a no-cost windfall Some were pressed into service said Erik Stallman, general counsel of Reuters trail of destruction,” the governor said. on Saturday for country singer Craig for the city. amid outages after 2012’s Super- the Center for Democracy and Tech- The National Weather Service Strickland of the band Backroad With some cities nationwide mak- storm Sandy, but their numbers and nology, a group that advocates for reported Mississippi floodwaters in Anthem. He had gone duck hunting ing renewed pushes for public Wi-Fi usage have declined overall, and 37 Internet liberties and access. Illinois and Missouri began cresting on an Oklahoma lake on the stormy Tourists without local cellu- EUREKA, MO: Missouri Governor Jay and receding on Saturday after thou- day, and his friend, Chase Morland, lar service also could benefit, noted Nixon on Saturday toured communi- sands of people had to be evacuated was found dead on Monday. John Breyault, a National Consumers ties ravaged by flooding that killed at from their homes earlier in the week In Thebes, Illinois, about 201km League vice president. least 31 people in several states and when the floods destroyed hundreds from St. Louis, the floodwater was LinkNYC isn’t without opponents: forced large-scale evacuations, as of structures. expected to crest at 47.5 feet, more A payphone company has sued the the danger of rising waters shifted Retired Eureka homeowner Tracy than 1.5 feet above the 1995 record. city, saying it created a monopoly for to Arkansas and beyond. Wolf, 58, spent the last three days try- Major flooding continued in the the new consortium. The city has said Nixon visited Eureka and Cape ing to keep water away from the sides state of Arkansas. Large swaths of it believes the arrangement is legal. Girardeau in eastern Missouri, where of his house with sandbags and out of parkland in Little Rock along the Many U.S. cities strove to cover floodwaters caused widespread his basement with vacuums. river were covered with floodwa- themselves in Wi-Fi in the early 2000s. damage, and announced the federal “Wednesday night it came in ters, and some homes and farmland But a number of the plans foundered government had approved his request through the windows,” Wolf said. in the Arkansas Delta were flooded. as home access proliferated, usage to declare an emergency to help with “We slept three hours the first night Signs that floodwaters were headed and ad revenues disappointed and the massive cleanup and recovery now ... I don’t even know what day it is.” south began to emerge as the NWS some Internet service providers com- under way. Twelve counties have been issued a major flooding designation plained the city networks were unfair The governor described the scale declared disaster areas in Illinois, for Osceola, Arkansas, where the Mis- competitors. of the flood damage as other worldly. where Governor Bruce Rauner on sissippi River reached above 35 feet, But some cities have recently recast “It’s almost as if you’re living on Saturday toured several communi- well above the 28-foot flood stage. and reinvigorated their efforts. Boston some other planet,” he said, stand- ties hard-hit by flooding. On Friday, Officials in Louisiana are checking is working to expand a “Wicked Free ing near a pile of debris in a park in he ordered Illinois National Guard levees daily. Workers in southwest- WiFi” network with over 170 hot spots, Eureka, about an hour’s drive west troops to mitigate damage and help ern Tennessee prepared sandbags in and Los Angeles is encouraging pri- of St. Louis on the banks of the Mer- with evacuation. The floods claimed hopes of limiting damage from the vate companies to provide free basic amec River, which flows into the lives of at least 31 people in Illinois, Mississippi when it crests at Memphis wireless to all homes and businesses, Mississippi. Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas. next week, state emergency manage- People walk near a covered wireless kiosk at an intersection in New York. with outdoor coverage as a goal. “This is just a tiny fraction of the Authorities continued searching ment officials said. As US abortion case looms, both sides seek personal touch

Reuters —other states in imposing regulations affect- the young and inexperienced. Taking a page privileges at a local hospital. The clinics chal- Former Democratic Texas state senator ing women’s access to abortion. from the successful approach of gay-marriage lenging the regulations as an unconstitutional Wendy Davis, who led a filibuster against the A ruling in the dispute over the socially proponents, they have sought lawyers and other burden on women say Texas is using costly, abortion legislation in 2013 and revealed her and politically contentious issue of abortion professional women who say abortions helped needless requirements to shut down facili- two abortions in a memoir a year later, said AUSTIN, TEXAS: As the US Supreme Court pre- rights is expected by late June. them for economic, medical or other reasons. ties and restrict access to the procedure. Texas she was asked in August to join a brief of pub- pares to hear its first abortion case in nearly Some opponents of abortion are seizing on They hope the vignettes from lawyers will help counters that it is safeguarding women’s health. lic officials. She agreed. a decade, both sides have been quietly gath- past comments by Kennedy, who has said that justices identify with their view. The Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Davis terminated two pregnancies in the ering vivid personal accounts from women to some women come to “regret” the procedure The diverging experiences will emerge in a New York-based non-profit group, is repre- 1990s for medical reasons. “Did I grieve tre- supplement the dry legal arguments, believing and, while affirming a right to abortion, has “friend of the court” briefs —the clinics’ set due senting the clinics in the case of Whole Woman’s mendously? Yes, I did, in an indescribable way,” the effort could appeal particularly to swing- voted for certain regulations governing the today, the Texas state government’s set on Feb- Health v. Cole. Texas’s legal strategy is being she said. “But never did I regret it.” vote Justice Anthony Kennedy. procedure. Seeking to bolster the argument ruary 3. The briefs, known as amicus curiae, coordinated in Austin by state Solicitor Gen- Heather Busby, director of NARAL Pro- The case, which arises from a challenge for Texas’s strict requirements, they are sign- are compiled to represent the broader outside eral Scott Keller, who worked as a law clerk Choice Texas in Austin, provided her story for to new Texas regulations covering clinics and ing up women who say they suffered medical interests at stake in a case, and are rarely so to Kennedy in 2009-2010. a brief to be filed on behalf of lawyers who had physicians that perform abortions, could have complications. devoted to personal narratives. For months CRR lawyers have been reach- abortions. She said she often wonders whether broad political repercussions in a presidential The group of health clinics challenging the The disputed Texas law requires clinics ing out for personal testimonies through emails she would have finished college and gone to election year. Depending how the nine justices state, meanwhile, is trying to counter any per- that perform abortions to have hospital-grade and phone calls, according to women who have law school if she had not ended an unwanted rule, the court could embolden —or discourage ception of abortion as an option used only by facilities and clinic doctors to obtain admitting been contacted in Texas and elsewhere. pregnancy at age 22, two decades ago.

Flood fury in Argentina Armed protesters occupy US wildlife headquarters in Oregon

Reuters Hammonds to be returned to prison Bundy’s cattle after he refused to pay after ruling their original sentences grazing fees. Federal agents finally were insufficient. backed down, citing safety concerns, An unknown number of protesters and returned hundreds of cattle to BURNS: A group of self-styled mili- were occupying the refuge’s headquar- Bundy. tiamen occupied the headquarters of ters building in Princeton yesterday, Bundy and his brother Ryan were a US wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon according to Jason Holm, a spokes- among of the Hammonds inside the in a standoff with authorities, officials man for the Fish and Wildlife Service refuge building, according to a report and local media reports said yester- and the Bureau of Land Management. in the Oregonian. day, in the latest dispute over federal No employees were in the building, “We want the government to abide land use in the West. he said in a statement. by the Constitution ... and to play by The occupation, which began on Militia leaders said as many as the rules,” Ammon Bundy told CNN in Saturday followed a march in Burns, 100 supporters were with them at the a phone interview on Sunday. Bundy a small city about 80km north of the refuge, according to the Portland Ore- said some of the occupiers were armed. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, to gonian newspaper. “We have no intention of using protest the incarceration of ranch- Leaders of the occupation include force or being aggressive or going on ers Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Ammon Bundy, the son of Cliven Bundy, the offense, but just as all people have Steven Hammond. The two were con- owner of a ranch in Nevada where his the right to defend themselves, that’s A view of a flooded area of Concordia, Entre Rios Province, Argentina. Flooding and mudslides have victed in 2012 of setting fires on public family staged an armed protest against exactly what that meant—means.” killed at least 10 people and driven more than 150,000 from their homes in Paraguay, Argentina and land to protect their property from the Bureau of Land Management in On Saturday, Bundy told the Ore- Uruguay in recent days. wildfires. April 2014, local media reported. gonian, “We’re planning on staying A federal court had ordered the The agency had sought to seize here for years, absolutely.”

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 14o C Maximum: 19o C

FAJR 04.59 am ZUHR 11.39 am MAGHRIB 04.59 pm HIGH TIDE 02:15 - 11:00 Slight to blowing dust at places with SHOROOK 06.20 am ASR 02.37 pm ISHA 06.29 pm LOW TIDE 05:15 - 19:00 scattered cloud and cold by night.

20 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST You can Year of the Monkey recover www.thepeninsulaqatar.com politicians’ deleted tweets MOST READ NEW YORK: Social net- Saudi embassy attacked in Tehran: working website Twitter 1 news agency and Politwoops have struck a deal that would allow peo- Beijing rejects Vietnam protest over ple to access the controversial 2 South China Sea landing tweets that politicians posted and later deleted after pub- Ministry of Economy recalls 2007-2009 lic outcry. 3 Chevrolet Captiva vehicles Politwoops will relaunch in the “coming months” and it provides services in countries TWEET OF THE DAY including India, the US, France and Canada, CNET. com reported. Run by the US-based Sunlight Foundation and managed by a Netherlands-based transparency group Open State Foundation, the Politwoops is a website that archives controversial Visitors looking at a 24m x 25m image of two monkeys displayed to celebrate the “Year of the tweets that politicians make and then delete these Monkey” from the Chinese zodiac at the Hitachi Seaside Park in the Japanese city of Hitachinaka, after public outcry. yesterday. The display was made up from around 15,000 pine cones and plants collected in the park. The “website of erased Twitter gaffes” was disrupted last year as Twitter stopped giving it access to code that made preservation of the tweets possible, claiming that the Why people love ads on archive broke its rules and hurt privacy. Twitter had previously said that “it supported Facebook more than on TV increasing transparency in politics and using civic tech and open data to hold NEW YORK: Advertisements on the on television were more likely to Facebook News Feeds. INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY government accountable social networking site Facebook act make purchase decisions after On the second day, both groups to constituents but saving as a teaser similar to a movie trailer viewing the ad on day two. watched the same ads during a TV and publishing deleted and are more strongly associated with For the study, Neuro-Insight show. During the test, participants tweets broke its rules the brand than the ads on television, divided a group of 100 Facebook in each group wore EEG caps that and violated its users’ a study has found. users in the US — between the ages measured responses correlated privacy”. The research by Facebook and of 21 and 54 — into two groups. with real behaviour from different However, the marketing agency Neuro-Insight The agency used two different parts of their brains. Pearl Qatar Politwoops argued found how consumers respond types of ads during testing: video The study found that at the back that “a citizen’s right to to television ads that they have ads originally produced for TV and participants who were primed ground of Doha information outweighs already seen either on Facebook or video ads that were optimised for with the TV ad performed below port with rainy a political figure’s right on TV, SocialTimes.com reported. Facebook — with the latter shorter the 50th percentile for memory clouds. to retroactively edit a The findings showed that while in length and including branding encoding while participants statement”. printed ads on Facebook were early on. One group watched a who were primed with the ad on Pic: Abdul Basit able to increase the brand impact, TV show with ads on the first day, Facebook scored above average for people who watch advertisements while the other browsed their memory encoding.

Piracy kills Snow game ‘Game of Thrones’ author’s Guyana’s latest installment delayed

music industry AFP of Winter,” the sixth volume of the series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” could be published early this year. Georgetown: Musicians WASHINGTON: “Game of The author also missed a previ- and singers in Guyana Thrones” fans were let down Sat- ous deadline, at Halloween, on the have called on the gov- urday, when author George R R last day of October. With the latest ernment to crack down on Martin admitted he had missed a delay, Martin warned, “The Winds copyright infringement, December 31 deadline to complete of Winter” will “most certainly” not warning piracy is putting the latest installment in the fan- be published before the sixth sea- the country’s unique music tasy series. son of “Games of Thrones” airs on industry at risk. Existing “THE WINDS OF WINTER is HBO in April. legislation in the South not finished,” Martin announced Will the show, then, get ahead American state is 50 years in a lengthy blog post shortly after of the novel? old and does not take into midnight. “Maybe. Yes and no,” Martin account the appearance “You’re disappointed, and wrote. “For years my readers have of CDs, DVDs and MP3s, Al you’re not alone. My editors and been ahead of the viewers. This Jazeera reports. publishers are disappointed, HBO year, for some things, the reverse The loophole allows is disappointed, my agents and for- will be true. How you want to han- music pirates to make eign publishers and translators are dle that... hey, that’s up to you.” copies of tracks with disappointed... but no one could The author was cautious to impunity and streets in possibly be more disappointed avoid speculating on when “Winds the capital Georgetown than me.” Martin had hoped to of Winter” will hit bookshelves. are replete with hawkers submit the manuscript to his pub- “Deadlines just stress me out,” he selling bootleg copies of Skiers and snowboarders in action on the slope in the Matraszentistvan some 106km northeast lishers by late 2015 so “The Winds admitted. songs. of Budapest, Hungary, yesterday. Artistes find it difficult to sue those who copy and sell their music, and in the Palm Springs Festival rare occurrence they suc- cessfully do, fines are so Russian minister’s social network account hacked low, there are little point in taking legal action. Teni Housty, a lawyer, Reuters back”. Minister Nikolai Nikiforov’s of improving ties with Turkey’s says politicians are doing Instagram account was blocked leadership, while Moscow imposed little to stop the violations. by “The Börteçine Cyber Team” economic sanctions on Ankara. “You can create the MOSCOW: A social network account hackers, according to screenshots Turkish media reports momentum for change of Russia’s communications minister of the account, published by suggested in late December that but this will be stopped at was temporarily blocked in a cyberat- Russian and Turkish media and Russian hackers could be behind the doors of parliament,” tack carried out by hackers presenting featuring Turkish flags, a portrait recent cyberattacks on Turkish Housty told Al Jazeera. themselves as a Turkish activist group of Turkey’s founding father Mustafa internet servers handling more Guyanese artistes and parading images of a warplane Kemal Ataturk, and a warplane. than 300,000 websites. hope that by protect- and Turkish flags. Instagram, where users post On Dec. 25, Turkish banks ing the music industry, Russia’s ties with Turkey their pictures and videos, later reported sporadic disruption to they will be able to make suffered a severe blow when a restored Nikiforov’s account and credit card transactions, with local US actress Amber Heard (left) and actor husband Johnny Depp their culture stand out Turkish fighter shot down a Russian his profile photo, but the minister media repeating suggestions that from their Caribbean bomber near the Turkish-Syrian complained that the technical the bombardment of public and arrive for the 27th Palm Springs International Film Festival in Palm neighbours. border in November, a move support team had not reacted to the financial websites could be coming Springs, California, yesterday. The Palm Springs International Film described by Russian President incident for more than nine hours. from Russia, or staged by hacking Festival honors actors in eleven categotries at it’s awards gala. Vladimir Putin as “a stab in the Putin said he saw no way group Anonymous. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 22 QE 10,313.74 -115.62 PTS PAGE | 23 GreekGreek centralc banker DOW 17,425.03 -178.84 PTS KBW Investments,, urges ggovto on bailout FTSE100 6,242.32 -31.73 PTS Progen Group set uupp reforms BRENT $37.28 +2.25% partnership

MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 • 24 Rabia I 1437 the peninsula newspaper @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

QPMC signs four agreements for aggregates supply

for public and private sectors in Qatar. QPMC CEO Eisa Al Hammadi said commented “From our side, we value The actual implementation of the that the construction materials sup- QPMC’s vision and mission. We are New contracts to add agreements start early 2016, which con- plied by the companies will be imported delighted to support the government’s over 19 million tonnes tribute to the revitalization of the role from Oman and the United Arab Emir- arm in the supply of aggregates which of the most important economic sec- ates via private Qatari companies with sees itself supporting the economic to supply chain tors in Qatar and the achievement of quarries abroad. cooperation between Qatar and the Gulf sustainable development, in line with Seperate agreements were countries with its utmost determination QPMC’s vision. They also ensure the signed by Dr Mohammed Al Kubaisi, to secure the future and continuous The Peninsula delivery of all the required quantities Chairman of Qatar Engineering Alli- cooperation between the public and in addition to the stability of prices of ance Co, Sheikh Fahad bin Jassin Al private sector projects, by supplying primary materials in the local market Thani,Chairman of Continental Trading primary construction materials.” DOHA: QPMC wrapped up 2015 by and pushing forward further economic Company, Ali Al Mesned, Chairman of Eisa Al Hammadi added: “QPMC signing four new agreements for the development while speeding up the Al Baida and Abdullah Al Hail, Chair- operates in line with Qatar national supply of 19,980,000 tonnes of high completion of major construction and man of The Gate (Al Bawaba) Primary vision to activate the interaction quality aggregates (gabbro and lime- infrastructure projects. Materials. between public and private sectors stone) over the next three years from QPMC supplies the needed pri- Continental Trading Company, and the diversification of the local various sources. mary materials to meet the local Qatar Engineering Alliance Co and stockpile, to push forward the devel- The agreements were signed to market demand of primary materi- Al Baida Technical Services will supply opment of local infrastructure projects”. ensure that Qatar’s fast growing con- als of limestone and gabbro, to suit all the required amount of primary mate- Al Hammadi said the agreed vol- struction sector continues to thrive construction requirements. rials from Sultanate of Oman whereas ume of aggregates will enter Qatar in the right direction by securing the The procured materials will be Al Bawaba, The Gate Primary Materials through the sea. All imported mate- required materials and thus maintain- stored in QPMC-owned facilities in will provide the contracted quantity rials match the Qatar Construction ing market stability. Lusail, Mesaieed and RasLaffan which from UAE. Specifications (QCS): “specifications The four agreements were signed will ensure accessibility of materials Sheikh Fahad bin Jassin Al Thani, also meet the local market needs and QPMC CEO Eisa Al Hammadi and Dr Mohammed Al Kubaisi, Chairman with the companies ,The Gate Primary in the north, south and the capital city Chairman of Continental Trading Com- align with the Ministry of Environment Materials, Continental Trading Com- of Doha and timely delivery to all con- pany, said: “We are very pleased with required specifications”. of Qatar Engineering Alliance Co, at the signing ceremony. pany, Qatar Engineering Alliance Co struction sites around the country as our partnership with QPMC, to pro- QPMC’s Gabbro Berth Terminals and Al Baida Technical Services. These well as customer satisfaction including vide the needs of the existing projects operate 24 hours to guarantee the high agreements come in line with QPMC’s contractors and customers of primary in our beloved country.” quality of the material supplied to the agreements marks one of QPMC’s domestic prices of primary materials vision of diversifying supply sources to materials from the private and gov- While engineer Ali Al Mesned, local market. main strategic achievements for 2015 and keep up with Qatar’s fast grow- secure the needed primary materials, ernment sectors. Chairman of Al Baida Group, The mentioned additional – which succeeded in stabilizing the ing construction industry.

Qatar’s nominal GDP estimated at QR147.43bn for Q3 Tesla delivers 17,400 The Peninsula led to sharper decline in nominal GVA of 0.2 percent. The construction sec- of this sector. tor is placed at QR13.61bn in Q3,15, up vehicles in Q4, The nominal GVA estimate of non- by 16.6 percent on year-on-year, an DOHA: Qatar’s real GDP recorded a 3.8 mining and quarrying is at QR96.88bn, increase of 3.3 percent on Quarter- hitting target percent growth in third quarter (Q3) an increase of 2.3 percent over the Q3, on-quarter. Compared to the previous of 2015 year-on-year. Nominal GDP or 2014 estimate of QR94.69bn. quarter, the sector grew 5.9 percent. GDP at current prices is estimated at The real GVA of these sectors in The trade, hotel and restaurant Bloomberg QR147.43bn for Q3, a decrease of 22.8 Q3,15, totaled QR100.95bn, a growth group is estimated at QR15.24bn, an percent from a year ago. When com- of 7.8 percent over the corresponding increase of 8.5 percent on y-o-y. pared to the previous quarter (Q2,15), quarter of Q3,14. However, compared The Transport and Communi- SAN FRANCISCO: Tesla Motors the country’s nominal GDP is down to the previous quarter (Q2,15) , there cation sector generated a value of Inc. delivered 17,400 vehicles by 2.9 percent. has been a rise of 4.4 percent in the QR6.89bn,against QR6.53bn, a rise in the fourth quarter, hitting its According to the preliminary GCA of this sector. The high growth in of 5.5 percent. Compared to the pre- target of at least 50,000 vehi- figures released by the Ministry of the Q3,15 is mainly due to the increase vious quarter, Q2 of 2015, the sector cles for the year. Development Planning and Statis- seen in construction, social services recorded an increase of 7.4 percent. The The maker of electric cars tics (MDPS) yesterday the mining and financial sectors. Finance, real estate & business services and energy storage devices and quarrying sector’s, including oil The nominal GVA of manufactur- group grew 8.7 percent to QR26.27bn. reached a total of 50,580 deliv- and gas sector, nominal gross value ing sector in Q3 of 2015 is estimated However, compared to Q2,15, the sec- eries in 2015, Tesla said in a added (GVA) is estimated at QR50.55bn at QR15.02bn showing a drop of 25.5 tor declined 3.5 percent. statement yesterday. for Q3,15, a decline of 47.6 percent on percent over the estimate of corre- Transport and communication The fourth-quarter results year-on-year. sponding quarter 2014. added QR6.89bn, a 5.5 percent increase were the low end of its target The reduction in international price Compared to the previous quarter, year-on-year. Compared to the previ- of 17,000 to 19,000 vehicles, levels of crude oil in this quarter has there has been a marginal decrease ous quarter, the sector grew 7.4 percent. after selling 33,180 through September. Tesla is producing two all- electric vehicles, the Model S sedan and the Model X SUV, on Greece, Arab-Turkish fund sign a shared assembly line at its factory in Fremont, California. The company turned over €400m deal on luxury resort the first six Model X SUVs to owners at a high profile launch event September 29, and the pace of deliveries accelerated Reuters the natural and urban environment. the first half of 2016,” HRADF said. over the holidays. Tesla said “Jermyn Street Real Estate Fund The agency is expected to cash in 208 Model X vehicles have been has signed the new agreement to sub- about €100m from the deal. The rest delivered so far. ATHENS: Greece’s privatisation agency mit the amended special zoning and of the proceeds will go to National Chief Executive Officer said yesterday it signed a €400m spatial plan for the development of Bank, Greece’s largest lender, which Elon Musk, who got the first ($434.3m) deal with Jermyn Street Astir Palace,” the Hellenic Republic owns about 85 percent of the resort. Model X, has been candid about Real Estate Fund to sell Astir Palace, Asset Development Fund (HRADF) said. Privatisations have been a key the challenges of engineering a luxury seaside resort outside Athens. The fund represents investors from condition of Greece’s international and manufacturing the SUV, Greece’s top administrative court Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait and bailouts since 2010 but its state asset with its complex and distinct had blocked the sale of the Astir Pal- other Emirates. sales scheme has produced poor rev- features such as the “falcon- ace hotel complex in March, saying the The agency said the agreement enues due to bureaucratic delays and wing” doors, independently town planning scheme that Greece ensured that the fund’s development lack of political will. operable second- row seats and submitted violated Greek law as the plan for the resort was adjusted to the So far, Athens has raised only about large, panoramic windshield. construction of a large number of court’s opinion. “The whole process €3.5bn from state asset sales versus An aerial view of the Astir Palace, a luxury seaside resort outside Athens. residential buildings would harm is expected to be completed within an original target of €50bn. 22 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Vietnam’s real GDP growth to go up to 7pc in 2016: QNB

stronger demand. However, the budget def- In addition to strong export growth, account for 40 percent of the CPI basket Budget deficit expected icit is expected to push public debt through domestic demand has also picked up, with inflation of 0.9 percent. the legal limit of 65 percent of GDP in 2017 benefiting from rising real wages and a Lower inflation is, therefore, largely to push public debt as the government avoids sharp reduc- recovery in credit growth and real estate. due to about 15 percent decline in interna- through the legal limit tions in spending. An import surge may Since 2011, inflation has fallen from high tional food prices in 2015. Oil prices have lead to a small current account deficit in levels to almost zero, raising real incomes had a deflationary impact on the next two of 65 pc of GDP in 2017 2015, but high export growth should lead and driving domestic consumption. This largest components of CPI. Both transport to surpluses of 1.7 percent of GDP in 2016 has benefited sectors like retail trade. For and communications (9 percent weight of and 6.4 percent in 2017. instance vehicle sales are up 57 percent the basket) and housing and utilities (10 The banking sector should continue so far in 2015 and the major conglomer- percent) are in deflation. The other CPI The Peninsula to recover with credit growth outpacing ate, VinGroup, plans to open 2,000 retail components such as clothes, household deposits. Vietnam is a standout performer stores over the next two years. equipment, education and health recorded amongst ‘Emerging Markets’ (EMs) peer Meanwhile, strong exports are rais- inflation of 2.5 percent in November, com- DOHA: Vietnam’s real GDP growth is to group in recent years in terms of export vol- ing incomes and domestic investment. A pared with 4.4 percent in 2014. Lower accelerate from 6.4 percent in 2015 to 7 ume growth. Export volumes rose around pickup in real estate activity (prices were inflation in the price of necessities such percent in 2016 and 7.5 percent in 2017 as 16 percent in 2015, despite weak perform- up 5-7 percent in Q3, year-on-year) is hav- as food and housing is having a positive domestic conditions improve further and ance in other EMs, for a number of reasons. ing positive wealth effects, although this impact on disposable incomes, supporting free trade deals come into force, QNB’s First, Vietnam is attracting strong does come with risks of a real estate cor- domestic consumption. The budget def- economic insight on the economy noted. investment in low-end manufacturing rection. Finally, the fiscal stance has been icit is high and continuing to rise, which The other macroeconomic fundamen- for export, due to competitive wages and expansionary, supporting growth. is causing high public debt. In 2012-14, tals such as inflation is also expected rise to free trade deals. The latter give investors a Inflation has been dragged down to 0.3 the budget deficit averaged 6.8 percent 1.5 percent in 2016 and 3.3 percent in 2017, competitive advantage in terms of access percent year on year in November 2015, of GDP, according to the IMF, well above in line with global commodity prices and to large markets. compared to 4.1 percent in 2014. Foodstuffs the historical average of around 2 percent.

Oil prices could hit low Greek central banker urges point in Q1: BP’s Dudley govt on bailout reforms

to or below zero in many countries, helping consumers but wrong-foot- Reuters ing central banks. Dudley said a more natural bal- ance between supply and demand ATHENS: Greece’s central could come back in the third and bank chief has urged the fourth quarter of this year, after which leftist-led government to stock levels could start to wear off. implement bailout reforms “Prices are going to stay lower for agreed with the country’s longer, we have said it and I think we lenders, warning that back- are in this for a couple of years. For tracking would entail risks the sure, there is a boom-and-bust cycle economy could not withstand. here,” Dudley said. Officials at the award ceremony. Prime Minister Alexis Dudley also said he did not agree Tsipras’ ruling coalition, which with Bank of England Governor Mark has a majority of just three Carney’s use of the term “stranded seats in parliament, faces assets” to describe oil and gas reserves Turkish Airlines GM wins MENAA tough pension reforms that held by companies but which may will test his resolve to carry prove unviable as the world moves out measures demanded by to a low-carbon economy. best business leader award international creditors. Reuters Carney used the phrase in a speech Reforming the country’s in September in which he called on ailing pension system is a pre- companies to be more open about requisite for the first review LONDON: The slump in global oil their “climate change footprint” to The Peninsula and the Federation of Awarding Bod- Airlines team which is the main driving of Greece’s €86bn ($93.4bn) prices could hit bottom in early 2016 avoid abrupt changes in asset prices ies (FAB). force for the company’s success. We bailout agreed in July last although prices are likely to remain that could destabilise markets. Nearly 160 attendees from 50 look forward to building even greater year. “The successful com- low for the next couple of years, BP “I think the term overstates it DOHA: Emre Ismailoglu, General Man- companies received awards at this momentum in the region.” pletion of the programme’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley quite frankly and I have spoken to ager, Dubai and Northern Emirates, red-carpet, black-tie event, as a testa- MENAA Awards, affiliated with first review is certain to have (pictured) said. the governor about it and I have ques- Turkish Airlines, was selected as one ment to years of successful leadership FAB UK, rewards and celebrates busi- a very positive impact on con- “A low point could be in the first tioned that term,” Dudley said in the of the top business leaders at the Mid- within their respective organisations. ness excellence across all sectors in fidence. It is the key for the quarter,” Dudley said in BBC radio interview. dle East, North Africa & Asia (MENAA) Ismailoglu said, on his receiving Asia for two categories: ‘Best Busi- return of deposits to the bank- interview broadcast on Saturday. BP shareholders were already Awards during a glittering ceremony his award: “I would like to thank the ness Leader’ and ‘Customer Delight.’ ing system,” Bank of Greece Brent crude prices fell by 34 aware of the viability of the compa- at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE, MENAA Awards Organisation for rec- Winners have demonstrated how their Governor Yannis Stournaras percent last year after shedding 48 ny’s assets which were only counted earlier this month. ognising the success of Turkish Airlines experience and expertise are brought (pictured) wrote in an article percent in 2014. The plunge in global as reserves if they were economic, The event was jointly organized by in the Middle East in recent years. I to life through their hard work and in Sunday’s edition of Kathi- oil prices has pushed inflation close he said. MENAA Awards, Hamayesh Farazan dedicate this award to the Turkish dedication. merini newspaper. “A potential failure in com- pleting the review would be destabilising, bringing to memory the experience of the Major oil companies to slash investment again in 2016 first half of 2015. A repeat of that experience entails large risks, difficult for the econ- omy to withstand this time.” Reuters the world’s biggest investment and pen- approved a $12bn development in 2015. Tortuous talks with the Global petroleum supply and demand balance sion funds, for fear investors might While tens of thousands of jobs country’s euro zone part- Rising production and stagnant demand has led to a rise in global oversupply take flight. Exxon Mobil and Chev- have already been cut in 2015, more ners and the International LONDON: With crude prices at 11-year in petroleum markets over the past year. ron benefit from the lowest debt ratios redundancies are expected this year as Monetary Fund last year as lows, the world’s biggest oil and gas pro- among the oil majors while Statoil and companies narrow their focus, Warn Athens sought unsuccessfully ducers are facing their longest period PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION Repsol have the highest debt burden, added. to undo austerity measures led of investment cuts in decades, but are Million barrels per day according to Jefferies analyst Jason On top of reducing spending by to a three-week shutdown of expected to borrow more to preserve Gammel. With only a handful of major scrapping and delaying projects, oil banks and the imposition of the dividends demanded by investors. 100 projects approved in 2015, including majors will see costs come down as capital controls. At around $37 a barrel, crude prices Shell’s Appomattox development in contractors agree to further price Stournaras wrote that are well below the $60 firms such as Production the Gulf of Mexico and Statoil’s giant reductions. Greece’s fiscal adjustment Total, Statoil and BP need to balance 95 $29bn Johan Sverdrup field in the North For example, the annual cost of since 2010 when its debt cri- their books, a level that has already Sea, 2016 is also likely to see few large hiring a drilling ship fell to an aver- sis exploded is three-quarters been sharply reduced over the past investment decisions. age of $332,000 in 2015, compared of the way towards the ulti- 18 months. 90 Consumption Projects that could be green-lit with $405,000 in 2014, according to mate goal of a primary budget International oil companies are include BP’s Mad Dog Phase 2 in the Rigzone, which collects industry data. surplus of 3.5 percent of eco- once again being forced to cut spend- Gulf of Mexico, which the company now The drop in investment bodes badly nomic output by 2018. ing, sell assets, shed jobs and delay 85 expects to cost less than $10bn, around for services and contractor companies, A successful first review projects as the oil slump shows no sign half the original estimate, and Chev- which are seeing their work dry up. would open the way for talks to of recovery. ron’s expansion of the Tengiz project But with fewer projects approved, lighten Greece’s debt burden, Projection US producers Chevron and Cono- 80 in Kazakhstan, according to Gammel. fewer fields developed and less main- the gradual lifting of capital coPhillips have published plans to slash 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Industry-wide, costs will be cut by tenance work undertaken, companies controls and the acceptance their 2016 budgets by a quarter. Royal reducing the size of projects, renego- are putting their growth at risk. by the ECB of Greek govern- Dutch Shell has also announced a fur- IMPLIED OVERSUPPLY Q2 2014 Q2 2015 tiating supply contracts and using less “You’ve got to hold your nerve. If ment paper as collateral for ther $5bn in spending cuts if its planned Million barrels per day complex technology. you cut too deeply, it is very, very dif- bank financing. takeover of BG Group goes ahead. 1.05 2.6 million barrels per day After rapidly expanding in the first ficult to take advantage of the price million barrels Global oil and gas investments 3 per day half of the decade when oil prices were rebound when it comes,” a senior offi- are expected to fall to their lowest in above $100 a barrel, companies are now cial at a European oil major said. six years in 2016 to $522bn, following 2 expected to focus on the most profita- Tumbling oil prices have cut billions a 22 percent fall to $595bn in 2015, ble activities, said Brendan Warn, oil of dollars from oil companies’ reve- according to the Oslo-based consul- 1 and gas equity analyst at BMO Capital nue streams, although strong profits tancy Rystad Energy. Markets. “Companies want to reduce from refining have softened the blow “This will be the first time since their range of activity and pick those for most. the 1986 oil price downturn that we 0 with the highest returns on capital,” wAnd while their in-house oil and see two consecutive years of a decline Warn said. gas production growth comes under in investments,” Bjoernar Tonhaugen, -1 Shell, which plans to complete its pressure, companies might opt to vice president of oil and gas markets 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 $54bn acquisition of BG in February, acquire rivals with less resilient bal- at Rystad Energy, said. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration intends to focus on the attractive liq- ance sheets, as with Shell’s proposed The activities that survive will be uefied natural gas (LNG) market and acquisition of BG. those that offer the best returns. on deep water oil production, espe- “In the second half of 2016, if we But with the sector’s debt to equity borrowing to cover the shortfall in rev- 1945, a tradition its present manage- cially in Brazil, both areas in which see price stabilisation, I expect compa- ratio at a relatively low level of around enue in order to protect the level of ment is not keen to break. The rest of BG is a leader. With similar priorities nies will be looking to replace reserves 20 percent or below, industry sources dividend payouts. the sector is also averse to reducing in mind, BP is increasingly focused on inorganically, by making acquisitions,” say companies will take on even more Shell has not cut its dividend since payouts to shareholders, which include the Gulf of Mexico and Egypt, where it Warn said. BUSINESS MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 23

KBW Investments, Progen Mexico seeks extension of solar tax Group set up partnership credit

ALBUQUERQUE: More than Middle East is based in Qatar where the $31m — that’s how much New Partnership complements the companies’ firm is focusing its efforts to become a Mexico homeowners and bridge between the two countries for businesses spent on solar pan- visions of providing full-fledged engineering the stadiums and mega events experi- els and solar heating systems services to the regions’ fast growing industrial ence developed during the 2014 FIFA in 2015 as part of an incen- Brazil World Cup. tive programme offered by and infrastructure sectors. “This partnership equips us to bet- the state. ter serve clients and suppliers across All the data has yet to be several large, growing regions,” said entered, but that’s the pre- The Peninsula Group has a global footprint with a Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed, Chair- liminary number crunched workforce of more than 2,500 profes- man, KBW. by the state energy conser- sionals. Since its founding in 1987, the “These growing markets have mas- vation division that oversees DOHA: Aiming to play major role in Group has specialised in engineering sive infrastructure and industrial needs, a key tax credit that has bol- Qatar’s infrastructure development consultancy and studies, multi-discipli- and our combined expertise will be stered the solar industry over programme, Progen Group, one of nary design, programme management, pivotal in taking on these projects in the last decade. the largest engineering consultancy project management, and construc- a sustainable and cost-effective man- Since the tax credit is set firms in South America, and KBW tion supervision services. ner,” he said. to expire at the end of 2016, Investments (KBW) have announced Progen works across the petro- KBW invests in a diverse array of a bipartisan contingent of a partnership to deliver engineering chemical, pharmaceutical, food & businesses in the Middle East, South New Mexico lawmakers consultancy services across the Mid- beverage and automotive industries America and Europe —from established will be pushing legislation dle East, India and Australia. and serves a wide range of sectors businesses in the construction industry this next session to extend “The partnership complements including, infrastructure and power, to promising technology start-ups— the program me for another KBW Chairman Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed and Progen Group Chief the companies’ visions of providing mining & metals, and oil and gas. that align with the changing needs eight years. full-fledged engineering services to Progen’s debut in the Middle East of the region. Executive Officer Eduardo Barella at the event. Sarah Maestas Barnes, an the regions’ fast growing industrial region occurred back in 2009 during KBW’s growth strategy emphasises Albuquerque Republican, says and infrastructure sectors,” said Edu- the design of a $1.3bn pelletising plant patience, prudence and discipline in the tax credit amounts to a ardo Barella, Chief Executive Officer, and distribution center located at the its investment decisions and targets and the potential to enact positive glo- of manufacturing, construction, relatively modest investment Progen Group. Port of Sohar, in Oman. companies with solid history, inno- bal impact. KBW’s current portfolio engineering, energy, and technol- when considering the return. Headquartered in Brazil, Progen Currently, Progen’s operation in the vative ideas, a clear vision for future, includes investments in the sectors ogy sectors. “There is one thing that New Mexicans across the state agree on and it is the need for sustainable, long- term employment,” she said Oman sets plan More banks pay no tax in Britain, in a statement. “New Mexi- co’s solar industry touts 98 companies and 1,600 jobs, to halve oil’s role which are supported in no Labour wants tougher approach small part by New Mexico’s smart, targeted, tax policy,” she said. Albuquerque Demo- in economy crat Mimi Stewart is backing Reuters restrict the base on which it is calculated. the bill in the Senate. She says At the same time he increased the tax rate New Mexico needs to make Reuters banks must pay on corporate income, to 8 it easier to install solar heat LONDON: Two more investment banks have percentage points above the standard rate. and electric systems to ben- reported paying zero tax in Britain in 2014, Tax experts say corporation tax is eas- efit the environment as well MUSCAT: Oman’s government has released a five-year prompting the opposition Labour party to ier to avoid than the bank levy. as create more jobs within the plan to halve the economy’s dependence on the oil indus- urge the government to reverse a tax change McDonnell said the figures showed renewable energy industry. try as low crude prices pressure government finances. it made for banks last year. Osborne was already pursuing a “soft touch” “These jobs are home- The 2016-2020 plan, set out in a statement by the Citigroup and Credit Suisse disclosed in approach. “This report should be setting off grown and cannot be Supreme Council for Planning late, said over 500 pro- the past fortnight that their main UK subsid- alarm bells at the Treasury and he should outsourced,” Stewart said. grammes and policies would seek to diversify the Omani iaries paid no corporate income tax in 2014, be reversing his decision on the bank levy The credit currently ben- economy into sectors such as manufacturing, mining, the most recent year for which figures are immediately,” he said. efits homeowners, businesses transport and tourism. available. This means seven of the 10 biggest Tax avoidance has become a hot politi- and agricultural entities by The plan aims to cut the oil industry’s contribution foreign investment and commercial banks cal topic in Britain after revelations in recent paying as much as 10 percent to gross domestic product to 22 percent from 44 per- operating in Europe’s main investment bank- years of profit shifting by big groups includ- — up to $9,000 — of a solar cent; the contribution of natural gas would drop to 2.4 ing centre have said their main British arms ing Apple Inc. and Amazon.com. Last year, photovoltaic or solar ther- percent from 3.6 percent. paid no tax in that year. manage their bills, and banking lobby groups banks were required to disclose how much mal system. Average annual investments would total around 28 In total the 10 banking groups generated say corporate income tax is just one of many tax they have paid on profits generated coun- While the proposal calls percent of gross domestic product; cumulative investment over $40bn in fees in Britain in 2014, reported taxes the investment banks pay — Britain try-by-country. On December 31, Citigroup for extending the tax credit over the five years is expected to be OR41bn ($106bn), $6.5bn in profit and employed almost 50,000 benefits richly from income taxes on bank- said that its two main UK subsidiaries had a through 2024, the amount against OR38bn envisaged in the previous five-year plan. people. But they contributed just $205m in ers’ bonuses. combined profit of $308m, but losses from would be incrementally The new plan is to make heavy use of public-pri- corporate income tax. “The government believes it is crucial the past reduced the tax it actually had to pay reduced starting in 2019. vate partnerships, with 52 percent of total investment “These are damning findings that make a that the banks make a fair contribution to to zero. Credit Suisse did not have a tax bill A similar measure to to come from the private sector against 42 percent in real mockery of the government’s approach restoring stability to the public finances and because it reported a loss in Britain for 2014. extend the credit through the last plan. The plan assumes an average oil price of to taxation of the financial sector,” said John has taken important steps to ensure they The bank reports most of its European prof- 2020 failed during the regu- $45 a barrel for 2016, $55 for 2017 and 2018, and $60 McDonnell (pictured) MP, the opposition do this,” a spokesman for the finance min- its in Switzerland, where effective tax rates lar legislative session in 2015. for 2019 and 2020, while Oman’s average oil produc- Labour party’s shadow Chancellor. istry said. The tax authority said it ensures can be much lower than in Britain. Some analysts and budget tion is assumed to remain flat at 990,000 barrels per The other five banks, as reported by Reu- that all businesses pay tax due under British Of the 10 biggest foreign investment banks experts have voiced concerns day. Brent crude oil is currently just above $37. ters last month, are JP Morgan Chase & Co, law, but declined to comment on the banks. measured by fee income, only three paid cor- about various tax credits, The figures assume that Oman will continue run- Nomura Holdings Inc, Deutsche Bank AG, In July, following pressure from banks porate income tax in 2014. Goldman Sachs exemptions and other incen- ning a state budget deficit throughout the plan. Last Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Morgan which threatened to move operations from Group Inc paid $27m in tax on $2bn of profit tives because they cut into week, the government announced plans to cut its def- Stanley. All declined to comment. There is London, Finance Minister George Osborne generated by its London arm, while Switzer- state revenue. icit to OR3.3bn this year from an actual OR4.5bn last no evidence that they broke any tax rules. said he would halve a levy banks must pay land’s UBS Group AG paid $4m on $140m in year, partly through big spending cuts. Most companies engage in tax planning to as a percentage of their assets, and he would UK profits. Both declined to comment. Gadgets get smarter, friendlier at Consumer Electronics Show 2016

AFP Systems Marketplace has doubled in showing at CES along with at least 115 size from a year earlier to cover 25,000 automotive tech companies, according square feet (2,300 square meters). to the Consumer Technology Associa- SAN FRANCISCO: From drones, cars Blau expects the drones on display tion, which organises the show. and robots to jewellery, appliances and at the show to be more sophisticated, CES will also boast a big section TVs, the new technology on display at with easy controls and even applica- devoted to virtual reality, as product the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show tions that let them be operated using makers jump into the trend ahead of promises to be smarter and friend- smartphones. “If you want to make it the expected releases in 2016 of head- lier than ever. popular with consumers you have to sets from Oculus, Sony, and Valve. The annual tech extravaganza make it relatively easy to use and fool- It remained to be seen whether new with more than 3,600 exhibitors set proof,” he said. “And that is what a lot of contenders would step up to challenge to formally start on Wednesday in Las drone manufacturers have been doing.” “the big three” in VR, but CES goers Vegas is likely to see innovation across Electronics makers are also using would likely see uses of the technology a range of sectors, from health care to building smart technology into all man- extended beyond gaming, according autos, connected homes, virtual real- ner of devices, allowing them to adapt to Blau. CES will, of course, have its ity and gaming. to how people use them, responding to share of colorful creations including a “There are always a couple of win- voice or gesture, for example. Haier moving refrigerator designed to ners at CES, and sometimes there are “A lot more of your devices are resemble the beloved R2-D2 of block- the sleepers that turn out to be the cool going to run with less direction from buster “Star Wars” film fame. thing,” Gartner analyst Brian Blau said. you but a greater sense of how to help “As for what sells, we won’t know But Blau said the innovations are you out,” Blau said. that until later this year,” Baker said of “often evolutionary, not revolutionary.” The trend of once-dumb devices the sea of offerings set to go on display. Televisions will play starring roles getting smarter will continue to include The premier consumer electron- at the show as usual, with giants such light bulbs, remote controls, thermo- ics show set a record last year with as Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio among stats and other devices in the home as Attendees at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. more than 176,000 people attending. contenders in a market rapidly shift- well as “wearables” such as jewelry or At this year’s CES, officially open ing to ultra-high definition. clothing. “We are going to see a lot of from January 6-9, organizers aim to cap “We are in the sweetest of the sweet wearables, and more smart clothes were also expected to make moves to according to NPD analyst Baker. delivering cars without steering wheels, attendance at that level with security spot in the TV market,” NPD analyst than last year,” Blau said. be at the center of smart homes, where Mark Boyadjis of IHS Automotive or steering wheels that can be moved ramped up in the wake of last month’s Stephen Baker said while discussing Apple does not officially attend CES, the market is vexed by the lack of a sin- referred to cars as a “core pillar” of the or put away,” Boyadjis said. attacks in California. CES. “Sales of 4K TVs are exploding but smart household products tuned gle standard or system for devices to show. Innovation in cars is changing “It means physical buttons may “While we know of no credible right now,” he said, referring to the to the technology giant’s HomeKit and speak with each other. the way people interact with vehicles, all but be gone, being replaced by threat against CES, we remain vigi- popular new high-definition format. controlled by iPhones were expected Cars rolled out at CES may also as technology handles more and more display, gesture recognition, speech lant,” said Gary Shapiro, president of Drones are also expected to make to be plentiful. showcase the potential for digital tech- aspects of driving. recognition.” CTA, formerly the Consumer Electron- a splash at CES, where an Unmanned Samsung and Google-owned Nest nologies enhancing consumer goods, “In the long run, it means maybe A record 10 automakers will be ics Association. 24 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

Indonesian Iran says its oil exports won’t harm market GDP growth of 1 million barrels a day in two phases,” on the London-based ICE Futures misses target Iran will raise exports Zanganeh said, according to the offi- Europe exchange. cial Islamic Republic News Agency. United Nations nuclear monitors in by 500,000 barrels In the first phase, Iran will raise December ended their 12- year probe Bloomberg a day within a week exports by 500,000 barrels a day within of Iran’s research into atomic-weapon a week after the removal of interna- technologies, moving the country a J after the removal tional sanctions, he said. The country major step closer to relief from sanc- AKARTA: Indonesia missed its tar- of international will add another 500,000 barrels a day tions. Iranian oil companies and banks get for economic growth in 2015 sanctions. in a second phase within six months may be able to return to international because of a global slowdown, after the curbs end, Zanganeh said. markets by mid-January, based on the according to the Finance Minis- Brent crude slid 35 percent last pace at which the nation is disabling try, which reported initial estimates year as the Organization of Petroleum nuclear infrastructure. for a larger- than-expected budget Exporting Countries (Opec) raised out- As part of its efforts to increase deficit and an undershoot on infla- Bloomberg put in the face of already rising global production, the country will probably tion for the year. stockpiles. Saudi Arabia, the world’s award Chinese companies develop- The economy expanded 4.73 largest crude exporter, has led Opec ment rights for the second phase of percent from a year earlier, miss- TEHRAN: Iran is trying to regain its in fighting for market share against the North Azadegan oil field in south- ing the 5.7 percent target set in the lost share of global crude sales and higher-cost producers such as shale western Iran, Zanganeh said. Iran’s Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh talking to media persons. state budget, the ministry said in has no intention of harming the oil drillers in the US. Under an accord, the Chinese will statement on Sunday. Inflation was market with its planned increase in The group set aside its output target have to submit a proposal to the Ira- 3.1 percent last year, lower than the production once sanctions are lifted of 30 million barrels a day at a meet- nian oil ministry for examination and by Bloomberg show. 3 million barrels a day, the Iranian Oil 5 percent goal, the ministry said. from its economy, Oil Minister Bijan ing in Vienna last month. approval, he said, without identifying The amount of additional Ira- Ministry’s Shana news agency reported President Joko Widodo is seek- Namdar Zanganeh said. Brent for February settlement any companies. nian crude reaching foreign buyers on Saturday, citing Mohsen Gham- ing to spur growth in Southeast “The oil ministry intends to boost advanced 82 cents on Thursday, before Iran pumped 2.7 million barrels a will depend on conditions in an oil sari, the head of international affairs Asia’s largest economy by cutting Iran’s crude oil exports by an aggregate the New Year holiday, to $37.28 a barrel day of oil in December, data compiled market oversupplied by 2.5 million to at state-run National Iranian Oil Co. red tape and increasing infrastruc- ture spending at a time when tax and commodity-export revenues are falling short of projections. The government has introduced seven Tax raise stimulus packages since Septem- ber to increase spending and boost Kexim to target developed market investment to support the expan- sion. The budget deficit may have inevitable: totaled 2.8 percent of gross domes- Bloomberg month. “With the Federal Reserve’s percent of total offshore bond sales by Yoon says the price of Korean tic product in 2015, above the 1.9 interest rate increases and possible Korean issuers in 2015, has been the paper may be considered “reason- percent target, the ministry said. Govt of volatility rising from Europe, this year’s number one issuer from Korea since able,” rather than “expensive” with The government spent 1,810 tril- SEOUL: Export-Import Bank of Korea, bond market would be a buyer’s mar- 2006, Bloomberg-compiled data show. the nation’s creditworthiness raised. lion rupiah ($130.9bn) from the state the nation’s biggest issuer of inter- ket, rather than a seller’s overall, which Of the $12bn of its planned amount With more high-quality investors budget last year, while revenue was Hong Kong national bonds, plans to target more means timing will become more crit- in 2016, 40 to 50 percent is expected anticipated, he will consider a green 1,491.5 trillion rupiah, it said. developed-market investors after credit ical to sell bonds,” Yoon said. to be denominated in currencies other bond sale after gauging lending demand Tax revenue was 1,235.8 tril- upgrades by Moody’s Investors Service. “Having said that, with Moody’s than US dollars, subject to market con- for qualified projects such as renew- lion rupiah last year, or 83 percent State-owned Kexim, which pro- upgrade of Korea, we’re expecting ditions, according to Yoon. able energy or environment-friendly of the amount the government was Bloomberg vides financing to exporters, plans to to attract more new conservative Non-US dollar issuance made up businesses. Kexim sold $500m of five- aiming for, as a weakening econ- raise about $12bn from offshore note investors who invest in higher-grade about 30 percent of its offshore sale year green notes in 2013. omy cut income from the mining sales this year, compared with $13bn in securities such as sovereign debt.” last year, with yuan bond sales more “The rating upgrade would bring and processing sectors, the ministry HONG KONG: Hong Kong will likely 2015, Yoon Hee Sung, treasurer of the Moody’s raised Kexim’s rating to than tripling to 7.2 billion yuan. new investors who only invest in debt said. The rupiah averaged 13,392 need to raise taxes and introduce Seoul-based bank, said in an interview. Aa2 from Aa3 last month, following The premium investors demand rated double A or higher, including against the dollar in 2015, while the new levies as an aging population Yoon sees steady demand for its upgrade of the nation to Aa2, one to hold South Korean notes in dollars central banks, international organi- country’s crude fetched about $50 is increasing public expenditure, Korean state-owned enterprise bonds step above China and two above Japan. was 133 basis points as of Decem- sations and pension funds,” Yoon said. per barrel, below the $60 target, the according to the city’s top finan- due to the perceived status of the nation It’s the first time the country has ber 30, compared with 214 for Asian “There may be room to tighten bor- ministry said. Crude-oil sales seen cial services official. as a “safe haven in Asia” after Moody’s received the third-highest grade by investment-grade and 309 for China, rowing costs with the investor base were 779,000 barrels a day, below “Facing a fiscal gap brought by raised the rating for Asia’s fourth-larg- the company. according to JP Morgan Chase & Co widening,” the treasurer of the Seoul- the objective of 825,000 barrels a an aging population, raising taxes is est economy to Aa2 from Aa3 last Kexim, which accounted for 36.9 indexes. based bank said. day, it said. inevitable,” K C Chan, secretary for financial services and the treasury, said in his blog yesterday. His remarks came after the gov- ernment started a six-month public consultation last month to iden- Ukraine defaults on $3bn tify ways to enhance retirement protection in the city. A structural deficit may appear over the coming 10 years if the growth of govern- Eurobond, says Russia ment expenses continues to outpace growth of gross domestic product and income, Chan said. Hong Kong is facing an aging Reuters and bought by Russia in its entirety. triggered by his seeking to halt population and slower economic “A corresponding lawsuit will be Ukraine’s swing toward European growth, while the government’s filed in an English court in compliance integration in favor of closer eco- financial situation remains sound in MOSCOW: Russia will file a lawsuit with the established procedures,” the nomic ties with Russia. the short to medium term, he said. against Ukraine after Kiev failed to ministry said on its website. Ukraine, which has separately The budget for social bene- repay a $3bn Eurobond and $75m of Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny reached an agreement with private fits and medical expenses would interest by December 31, the Rus- Yatseniuk had repeatedly said creditors to restructure its sover- increase two to three times cur- sian finance ministry said recently. that Ukraine would not repay the eign and sovereign-guaranteed debt, rent levels in 30 years, assuming The decision was expected as Eurobond at maturity on December insists the Eurobond is commercial that the 65-and-older population Russia has repeatedly said it would 20 and that Kiev was ready to fight debt and that it cannot offer Russia will double and no new subsidies regard non-payment as a default and the issue in court. A grace period a better deal than other creditors. and benefits are to be added dur- file a lawsuit. for repayment expired on Thursday. Russia says it is official, coun- ing the same period, secretary for The Eurobond was issued by The bond was issued just two try-to-country, lending and outside Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (right) talks to Ukrainian Prime financial services and the treas- the government of former Presi- months before Yanukovich fled in the scope of Kiev’s agreement with ury said. Minister Arseny Yatseniuk during a government meeting in Kiev. dent Viktor Yanukovich in late 2013 the face of bloody street protests private creditors. Europe’s natural gas market outlook gloomy for 2016

Bloomberg Solutions, a gas and LNG consultant in to move forward in exploring its shale London, said by e-mail. “An unseason- gas resources, potentially adding to ably mild winter can only exacerbate European supply, as the depletion of LONDON: As the new year begins, this situation if we head into spring North Sea fields caused its gas out- Europe’s natural gas markets stand with ample storage stocks.” put to drop 62 percent in 2014 from a at the center of a web of geographic, There are many questions facing the decade earlier. Next year production financial and political factors that could European market, the big five include: companies may drill some of the first reshape their future. How much gas will the EU produce?; exploratory wells to assess the coun- In 2015, natural gas prices declined Will Europe see more LNG arrivals?; try’s deposits. as the result of an oversupply made Will US gas come to Europe?; How much European LNG deliveries are rising worse by the falling cost of coal, ris- Russian gas will Europe get?; And Can as new plants in Australia boost sup- ing use of renewables, better energy storage still dictate prices in Europe? ply to Asia amid declining demand, efficiency and the warmest year on Europe’s largest gas field in the causing some cargoes from the Mid- record. The result: benchmark con- Dutch province of Groningen faces dle East to divert to northwest Europe, tracts had their first consecutive annual production restrictions after extrac- the only region outside North America loss, ending the year at their lowest tion was linked to earthquakes in the with a sufficient amount of gas trad- levels since 2009. region. ing to absorb the excess. Now, amid a drop in Asian demand, The government said Groningen can Import terminals in the UK, Belgium Europe is becoming a more likely tar- produce only 27 billion cubic meters and the Netherlands are set to get 167 get destination for natural gas as the (950 billion cubic feet) of gas in the 12 cargoes this year, up from 132 in 2014 US prepares to ship its first tankers of months through September. Only if and the most since 2011, according to liquefied fuel from the shale boom, it’s cold can the cap go up to the prior port and ship-tracking data compiled Australia expands its exports, forc- limit of 33 billion. by Bloomberg. ing Middle Eastern suppliers to seek The cuts have already pushed The restart of reactors halted since new customers, and Russia fights to the Netherlands into becoming a net the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, maintain market share. importer of gas despite being the Euro- lower industrial growth and increas- “With Europe increasingly becom- pean Union’s largest onshore producer. ing renewable generation are reducing billion cubic meters, according to with pipeline supplies from Russia Johnson, a Guildford, England-based ing the dumping ground for the world’s Dutch gas buyers Germany, France consumption of gas in Japan, the world’s Societe Generale SA. Europe, with its and Norway. “Given the volumes of faculty member of The Oxford Princ- surplus LNG, 2016 should see a contin- and Belgium are also in the process biggest LNG buyer, leaving more car- accessible trading hubs and under- gas shipped to Europe, the marginal eton Programme, an energy training uation of the oversupply situation in of adjusting their networks to replace goes available for Europe. used import infrastructure, may lure cost of additional Russian gas is low provider. “However, it is clear that in European gas markets,” Alan White- Groningen supply by 2030. Next year, Europe’s net LNG imports US LNG, which has no restrictions on and they should be able to compete certain countries there is a desire to field, managing director of AW Energy Meanwhile, the UK has said it wants will probably gain 22 percent to 45 destination and would have to compete with US LNG supplies,” said Malcolm diversify supplies for supply security.” BUSINESS MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 25

VW scandal to Biggest investors cautious on bond market hit US diesel car market, says gain this year, and developed-market Industry and Financial Markets Asso- US government sovereign debt slid 2.5 percent, based ciation. “US Treasury yields are below Continental CEO on Bloomberg World Bond Indexes, where we thought they would be a year securities eked out as the Federal Reserve raised inter- ago” as a decline in oil prices capped a 0.7pc gain in this est rates on December 16 for the first inflation, Francesco Garzarelli, Gold- FRANKFURT: Volkswagen’s time in almost a decade. man Sachs’s co-head of macro and emissions test-cheating scan- year while developed The odds of at least one more markets research in London, wrote dal could kill nascent markets market sovereign increase in 2016 are about 94 percent, in a report Wednesday. Higher policy for diesel cars in North Amer- futures contracts indicate, threatening rates in the US, a pickup in inflation ica, Japan and China, the chief debt slid 2.5pc. to push bond yields higher worldwide. and economic growth will propel yields executive of automotive sup- “We’re expecting returns in the higher in 2016, Garzarelli said. plier Continental has told a bond market like low-single digits to An investor would lose about German newspaper. mid-single digits,” said Joyce Chang, 3.2 percent if Goldman Sachs’s yield “The diesel passenger car Bloomberg global head of research in New York forecast proves to be accurate, data could sooner or later disap- at JPMorgan. “That’s across the bond compiled by Bloomberg show. Gold- pear from these markets,” universe. That’s not much away from man Sachs and JPMorgan are both Elmar Degenhart said in an what we’re projecting for US equities primary dealers, the 22 firms that trade interview with markets daily SINGAPORE: Bond returns will prob- markets, which we think could also be directly with the Fed and underwrite Boersen-Zeitung published ably be ho-hum next year- just as they sub 5 percent,” she said Wednesday. the US debt. on Thursday. have been in 2015 -according to the Treasuries were little changed Yields may “move up slowly,” said He added that diesel had biggest investors. Thursday. The price of the 2.25 per- Tony Crescenzi, a market strategist a market share of only 1-3 A cyclist passes the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington. JPMorgan Chase & Co, Fidel- cent note due in November 2025 was at Pimco, which has $1.47 trillion in percent in these countries, ity Investments, Pacific Investment 99 22/32 as of 7:07am in New York, assets and manages the world’s biggest compared with 53 percent Management Co and Goldman Sachs based on Bloomberg Bond Trader data. actively run bond fund. Ten-year yields benchmark rate by a quarter point to than the Fed’s median forecast,” Bill in Europe. Last month, Con- Group Inc are all cautioning not to be Treasuries opened in London after will probably be in a range of about 2.25 a range of 0.25 percent to 0.5 percent. Irving, manager of the Fidelity Govern- tinental’s finance chief said too optimistic. Goldman Sachs predicts being closed in Japan for a holiday. Trad- percent to 2.75 percent, with the band The median estimate among policy ment Income Fund, wrote in an outlook the scandal was having lit- benchmark US 10-year yields will climb ing will take place as usual Thursday rising from 2 percent to 2.50 percent, makers is for a level of 1.375 percent report December 18. “This presents a tle effect on diesel markets in to 3 percent by the end of 2016 from in the UK, end at 2pm in New York and Crescenzi, who is based in Newport at the end of 2016. risk that rates could rise faster than is the United States or Europe. 2.29 percent Thursday. US govern- stay shut worldwide Friday for New Beach, California, said on Wednesday. “The market is pricing in a very, very expected.” Boston-based Fidelity has Volkswagen, Europe’s ment securities eked out a 0.7 percent Year’s Day, according to the Securities The Fed increased the target for its slow pace of tightening — even slower $2 trillion in assets. biggest carmaker, had been promoting diesel as a clean alternative to gasoline in the United States, a market where it was struggling for a break- Greece defiant on pension cuts before talks through, before the cheating Shanghai stocks came to light in September. Degenhart said Conti- end 2015 up nental had not supplied any AFP and planned to sell a major stake in software to manipulate emis- 9.4pc, beats electricity distributor Admie, the latest sions tests to any of its clients, reforms sought by creditors. Tsipras reiterating what a company Wall Street appeared optimistic for 2016 saying spokesman told media in ATHENS: Greece’s prime minister yes- it “will be the year of Greece’s come- October. Reuters terday said his government will not give back after six year in crisis.” “We developed and sup- in to “unreasonable” demands as the “We will return to growth, we plied the engine controllers in debt-ridden country braces for crit- will put an end to the capital con- line with VW’s specifications. SHANGHAI: Shanghai stocks ical negotiations with international trols, we will reduce the debt and we The installation and tuning of ended 2015 up nearly 10 per- creditors on the thorny issue of pen- will return to the markets”, he said. the software, the so-called cent, beating Wall Street and sion reform. Greeks however do not seem to share calibration, was done by VW,” most other major markets, and The warning came just days after his optimism. According to a poll by he said. shaking off a savage summer Athens got one billion euros under the Kappa Research for Vima newspaper He added that Continen- rout. terms of its third bailout programme. on Sunday, 55.1 percent of respond- tal was not aware of any legal The Shanghai Compos- The creditors -the European Com- ents said they believed things would investigations against it in con- ite Index ended Thursday’s mission, the European Central Bank, get worse in 2016 while 61.1 percent nection with the scandal. Staff session 0.9 percent lower at the International Monetary Fund and said a Grexit scenario would resurface. at Continental’s arch-rival 3,539.18 points, while Chi- the ESM -finalised a third Greek debt Bank of Greece governor Yannis Bosch, the world’s biggest na’s blue-chip CSI300 index rescue programme in August worth Stournaras meanwhile warned of the automotive supplier, are being declined 0.9 percent to €86bn ($94bn) after Greece looked huge risks involved in case Greece fails investigated by public prose- 3,731.00 in thin volume on to be on the brink of crashing out of to reach an agreement with its creditors. cutors in the German city of the last day of year. the eurozone. that the pension system which is “on Andreas Nefeloudis, told Mega channel “A potential failure in the con- Stuttgart to find out whether For the year, the Shanghai “The creditors have to know that we the brink of collapse” needs to be over- TV yesterday. Tsipras’ leftist govern- clusion of the assessment of the new they were involved in VW’s gauge advanced 9.4 percent, are going to respect the agreement to hauled. The labour ministry is working ment was forced in July to back down bailout programme will bring back test-rigging. capping a year of wild fluctu- the letter, but that doesn’t mean we are on a new social security system under from its anti-austerity electoral pledges memories of the negative experience Continental is striving to ations that sent shock waves going to succumb to unreasonable and which state-guaranteed pensions will and accept a three-year rescue pack- of the first half of 2015,” he said in an build up its software, elec- across global markets. undeserved demands,” Alexis Tsipras be reportedly cut by half - to a minimum age from its eurozone partners. article published in Kathimerini news- tronics and sensors business, In comparison, the S&P (pictured) told Real News newspaper. of €384 - and the rest will depend on The government has since July paper yesterday. which is already bigger than 500 index is up just 0.2 per- “We have no commitment to find a person’s income and years of social pushed through parliament a number “For a number of reasons the Euro- its core tyres business, as car- cent, while the Dow Jones the money exclusively from pension security payments. of unpopular bailout reforms, losing pean Union is now more vulnerable makers demand services such Industrial Average is in neg- cuts. On the contrary, the agreement “If we don’t face the problem of the in the process part of its majority in and less capable of facing a new Greek as mapping and traffic infor- ative territory. The Shanghai provides the option of equivalent social security system today, in a year the chamber due to defections. crisis,” he added. Tsipras said the gov- mation for Internet-connected market has also outperformed measures, which we have already proc- we won’t be able to pay pensions,” the In December, the government said ernment aimed to conclude with the cars. most other major markets in essed,” he said. He admitted though labour ministry’s seniormost official, it had established a privatisation fund negotiations before the end of February. Europe and Asia. But the year in China was definitely not one for the faint- hearted. Fuelled by excessive leverage, the Shanghai mar- Shire in advanced talks to acquire drugmaker Baxalta ket surged nearly 60 percent early in the year before crash- ing in mid-June, wiping off about one-third of the mar- Bloomberg the matter isn’t public. The price being global specialty biopharmaceutical from Baxter International Inc. Baxalta drugs to launch over five years for dis- ket’s value in just three weeks. discussed is $46.50 to $48 a share, two company. In July, Baxalta rebuffed could benefit from a lower tax rate if eases ranging from dry eye disease to An unprecedented and of the people said. Final details of the an unsolicited $30bn all- stock bid taken over by Shire, which has a Dub- hemophilia, Shire has said. often heavy handed govern- transaction are still being negotiated from Shire that valued the company lin legal address despite having many Shire has been focusing on acquir- ment rescue programme has NEW YORK: Shire Plc is in advanced and the timing and structure of any at $45.23 a share. operations elsewhere. The combina- ing companies with treatments for rare helped prices rebound about talks to acquire Baxalta Inc for about offer may change, they said. The Deerfield, Illinois-based com- tion would yield an effective tax rate conditions, including the November 25 percent from their August $32bn in cash and stock, excluding Representatives for Baxalta did pany has been seeking a higher offer of 16 percent to 17 percent, Shire has purchase of Dyax Inc for $5.9bn and the lows, but sentiment remains debt, according to people familiar with not immediately respond to requests that includes cash, people familiar with said. Baxalta had projected a tax rate $5bn acquisition of NPS Pharmaceu- fragile heading into 2016. the matter. for comment outside of regular busi- the matter said last month. of 23 percent in 2016. ticals Inc in February. The drugmaker The two drugmakers may announce ness hours. A spokeswoman for Shire Shire structured the original bid as If a deal succeeds, the enlarged has been bulking up following Abb- a deal as soon as this week, the peo- declined to comment. Shire Plc is a Jer- an all-stock transaction to help preserve company would generate $20bn in Vie Inc’s abandoned $52bn buyout of ple said, asking not to be identified as sey-registered, Irish-headquartered tax benefits of Baxalta’s July spinoff sales by 2020, with as many as 30 new the company last year. Tesco Kipa ends talks with Jamaican stocks give highest returns in 2015 Begendik on store sales 2015 asset performance Bloomberg equities index, which has tumbled 56 was more favorable to bondholders In dollars 2015 YTD* 2014 percent year-to- date. than was initially expected. Unsur- -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 In case of commodities, it was an prisingly, given political and economic Reuters six months,” Tesco Kipa Chief Exec- Dollar index annus horribilis for the commodities turmoil in the country, the bonds in Japan Nikkei 225 utive Bill O’Neill said in a statement. Shanghai A shares NEW YORK: As 2015 draws to a close, sector, where screens bled red this Brazil took the three bottom spots. “We didn’t feel the deal was right for S&P 500 it’s time to tally up the best- and worst- year. In energy, heating oil was the As for corporate bonds, high-yield ISTANBUL: Tesco’s subsidiary in Tur- Kipa,” the statement said. JPM EMBI emerging dollar debt performing investments of the year. worst performer, trailed closely by debt sold by companies with more frag- key has decided to hang on to some Begendik runs 46 supermarkets MSCI developed equities Here they are, in glorious and West Texas Intermediate and Brent ile balance sheets had a tough 2015. of its stores instead of selling them to and 13 hypermarkets throughout Tur- Japanese yen vs U.S. dollar sometimes excruciating detail. In Crude oil. In particular, it was not a good rival Turkish retailer Begendik after key. It aimed to almost treble sales to Euro zone STOXX stocks case of currencies, those went long In the metals category, platinum year to hold bonds from Arch Coal MSCI all-country stocks their performance improved strongly, 1.5 billion lira ($500 million) in 2015, ML Global corporate bonds the Somali Shilling saw nice returns in and palladium were both down roughly Inc, which took three of five bottom it said on Saturday. CEO Haci Begendik said in September. ML Global high yield bonds 2015, anyone who thought the Azerba- 30 percent. To the joy of gold bugs eve- spots ahead of a potential bankruptcy Begendik’s chief executive said in Domestic players such as Begen- Euro vs U.S. dollar ijani Manat would rise was very wrong. rywhere, the shiny metal suffered the filing. Some Ukrainian and Russian September that the company planned dik have benefited as international Gold That currency fell to a 20 year low least pain, falling “just” 10 percent. corporates nabbed the top spots in to buy 10 stores from Tesco Kipa as chains have pulled back from Tur- JPM GBI EM local currency debt after the central bank relinquished Fittingly, some green could be the junk bond category. MSCI emerging equities part of expansion plans that could key’s highly competitive retail market. MSCI frontier stocks control of its exchange rate. found in agriculture; while coffee Investment-grade corporate ultimately lead to a stock market list- Begendik bought 12 stores from Ger- CRB commodities index In case of of World Equity Indi- slumped 25 percent, cotton and sugar bonds sold by companies with rel- ing. “There is always a possibility that man food retailer Metro AG in 2014. Copper ces, Jamaican stocks were a pretty are in positive territory for 2015. atively strong balance sheets fared negotiations end without reaching a Tesco Kipa’s parent Tesco Plc is cut- Brent crude oil good place to invest this year; the In bonds, Ukrainian stocks might better, notwithstanding some energy- deal. The stores which were the sub- ting back in Turkey. The British retailer US 10Y Treasury island nation’s index rose more than not have fared well this year, but the related weakness. ject of the deal are good stores, with has 173 stores there but made a net Italy 10Y gov. bonds 80 percent. country’s bonds recovered from their Bonds issued by Freeport-McMo- German 10Y Bund great colleagues and strong improve- loss of 574m lira ($191m) in the 2014- As for losers, political woes and biggest slide ever following the agree- Ran Inc, which specialises in metals ment in performance over the past 2015 financial year. * 2015 data up to 30 December lower oil prices have hurt the Ukrainian ment of a debt restructuring deal that and oil, posted negative returns. 26 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 16,031.23 1.11 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,807.34 1.26 % QE All Share Index 2,749.98 0.97 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,783.83 0.79 % QE All Share Industrials 3,121.68 2.05 % QE All Share Transportation 2,402.61 1.17 % QE All Share Real Estate 2,319.01 0.58 % QE All Share Insurance 4,089.8 1.39 % QE All Share Telecoms 970.99 1.57 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 5,964.42 0.61 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 03-01-2016 Today 31-12-2015 Previous day Index 10,313.74 10,429.36 Change 115.62 6.31 % 1.11 0.06 YTD% 1.11 0.00 Volume 2,011,338 5,349,635 Value (QAR) 67,433,570.20 213,343,280.90 Trades 1,321 2,705 Up 06 | Down 30 | Unchanged 02

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year low ALL ORDINARIES 5344.556 -21.891 -0.41 5963.5 4936.3 CAC 40 INDEX/d 4662.15 -14.99 -0.32 5283.71 4076.16 DJ INDU AVERAGE 17603.87 -117.11 -0.66 18351.4 15370.3 HANG SENG INDE/d 21914.4 32.25 0.15 28588.52 20368.12 ISEQ OVERALL/d 6832.47 -24.14 -0.35 6921.44 5072.7 KARACHI 100 IN/d 32816.31 -8.72 -0.03 36471.59 28648.23 NIKKEI 225 INDEX 19033.71 51.48 0.27 20952.71 16592.57 S&P 500 INDEX/d 2063.36 -15 -0.72 2134.72 1867.01

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.3674 QR 5.4426 Euro QR 3.9469 QR 4.0021 CA$ QR 2.6222 QR 2.6740 Swiss Fr QR 3.6470 QR 3.7011 Yen QR 0.0300 QR 0.0306 Qatar index drops 115.62 points, Aus$ QR 2.6393 QR 2.6930 Ind Re QR 0.0545 QR 0.0556 Pak Re QR 0.0345 QR 0.0352 Peso QR 0.0770 QR 0.0785 Dubai hotel blaze weighs on Emaar SL Re QR 0.0251 QR 0.0256 Taka QR 0.0461 QR 0.0464 Nep Re QR 0.0336 QR 0.0343 SA Rand QR 0.2317 QR 0.2363 Qatar News Agency/Bloomberg

GOLD AND SILVER DOHA/DUBAI: Qatar Exchange GOLD QR124.7408 per gram (QSE) index dropped 115.62 (1.11 per- SILVER QR1.6325 per gram cent) points when the bourse closed trading at 10,313.74 points yesterday. The daily turnover decreased to QR67.433m with a volume of over 2m shares from 1,321 deals compared with QR213,343m with a volume of 5.35m shares from 2,705 deals on last closing. S Korean won Indices of one sector ended in the green and six sector ended in red yes- terday. Insurance sector ended in green, forecast to gained 1.39 percent to 4,089.8 points. While Banks & Financial Services sec- tor index decreased 0.79 percent. weaken against QE Total Return Index dropped when it closed at 1.11 to 16,031.23 points yesterday. QE Al Rayan Islamic Index dollar this year closed 1.26 percent to 3,807.34 points. QE All Share Index down 0.97 percent to 2,749.98 points. From the 43 companies listed on QSE, 38 saw trading today. From these, six gained, 30 closed lower and two Korean currency started at remained unchanged. 1,103.50 won to dollar on first Elsewhere in the region, shares trading day of 2015 and closed showed mixed trends. In Dubai, Emaar Properties PJSC led the decline in Dubai the year at 1,172.50 won, down stocks three days after a fire ripped 6.65 percent from a year earlier. through one of its hotels on New Year’s A Kuwaiti trader follows the stock market activity at the Kuwait Stock Exchange in Kuwait City. Eve. Abu Dhabi shares also fell. Emaar, which is about 30 per- cent owned by the Dubai government, still have questions,” said Dubai-based Qatar News Agency dropped as much as 4.4 percent, before Samer Al Jaouni, the head of institu- paring its slide to 1.6 percent at the close, tional business at Menacorp, one of Dubai’s real estate and business services the biggest contributor to the DFM Gen- the biggest brokerages in the United accounted for 14 percent of the emirate’s eral Index’s 0.5 percent loss. The fire Arab Emirates. “The company needs SEOUL: The South Korean won is likely to remain weak is covered by insurance and Emaar to clarify the amount and percentage gross domestic product in the first quarter of against the US dollar this year on growing uncertainty sees “no material impact” because of of cash flow that this hotel was con- 2015, according to the government data. in emerging economies following a US rate hike and a the blaze, the company said on Sun- tributing to Emaar’s hotel portfolio.” slowdown in the Chinese economy, market watchers day. The developer appointed Dutco The Address Downtown Dubai said yesterday. Group to restore the hotel. hotel, which Emaar developed, owned The South Korean currency started at 1,103.50 won to “Emaar’s statement helped halt and operated, caught fire Thursday as suffer a “substantial” blow to its reve- the fire at the Tamweel Tower in JLT.” the dollar on the first trading day of 2015 and closed the some of the panic selling we saw at the the city prepared for its annual year-end nue in the last four months of Dubai’s Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share year at 1,172.50 won, down 6.65 percent from a year ear- beginning of the session, but investors fireworks display. The blaze capped a high season, which runs from Octo- Index rose 0.6 percent, led by Al Rajhi lier, according to South Korea’s (Yonhap) News Agency. challenging year for the emirate’s real ber through April, Mahmoud Ibrahim, Bank’s 2.1 percent gain. The Saudi Stock In the first half of last year, the won trended higher estate industry, which is struggling with a senior equity analyst at Mubasher Exchange - Tadawul, the Arab world’s against the greenback as South Korea’s current account falling property prices amid a slump International, wrote in a note to clients largest bourse, on Thursday disclosed balance remained in the black and foreign investors were in oil, just as the dirham’s peg to the on Saturday. The fire could cost Emaar plans to sell shares in an initial public net buyers of local stocks. In the second half, however, dollar makes purchases more expen- Hospitality about Dh370m ($101m) in offering in 2018. the dollar turned bullish amid growing expectations of sive for overseas buyers. lost revenue this year, he said. Etihad Etisalat Co. climbed 0.4 per- an interest rate increase in the world’s largest economy. Dubai’s real estate and business The blaze comes almost a year cent. The Saudi stocks regulator referred “In contrast with last year, the won is forecast to Emaar, which is about 30 services accounted for 14 percent of after a fire at the Dubai Marina Torch, unnamed executives from the telecom- weaken against the dollar as the US rate hike has increased percent owned by the Dubai the emirate’s gross domestic product one of the world’s tallest residential munications company known as Mobily uncertainty in emerging economies,” a senior researcher in the first quarter of 2015, according buildings. In 2012, the Tamweel tower to prosecutors for allegedly providing at LG Economic Research Institute Choi Moon-bak said. government, dropped as much to the latest government data. The DFM in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district incorrect or deceptive statements about Also putting downward pressure on the South Korea as 4.4 percent, before paring Real Estate Index retreated as much neighboring the marina was wrecked financial assets, according to a state- currency is a projection that China will not be able to as 2.8 percent, the most in two weeks, by fire. ment to the bourse. Abu Dhabi’s ADX turn around its slowing economy quickly, he added. He its slide to 1.6 percent at the before trading 0.6 percent lower. The “The longer term issue would be to General Index retreated 0.8 percent. expected the won-dollar exchange rate to average 1,185 close, the biggest contributor gauge sank 25 percent last year, the most look at safety of skyscrapers in general,” First Gulf Bank PJSC led Abu Dhabi won this year. Other watchers cautioned that the won- to the DFM General Index’s 0.5 since 2008. Emaar Malls Group PJSC, said Abu Dhabi-based Sachin Mohindra, gauge’s retreat with a 1.2 percent drop. dollar rate could become more volatile, though there which is about 85 percent owned by a money manager at Invest AD Asset Oman’s MSM30 Index added 0.1 per- may be a low possibility of the local currency tumbling percent loss. Emaar Properties, fell 0.4 percent yes- Management. “This is an industry wide cent. Jordan’s ASE General Index slid against the greenback. terday. Emaar’s hospitality unity could issue and has been discussed since 0.9 percent. BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 27

Be resolved to get How to end the stock financially fit in the New Year buyback deluge

By Rodney Brooks debt is an enormous drag on The Washington Post your ability to save for retire- ment. Plan to pay off your credit cards gradually, first hat’s a New Year targeting the one with the without resolutions? highest interest rate. Each WAnd if you haven’t time you pay off a balance, guessed yet, the ones I’m direct what you were paying writing about have nothing to for that card to the next card do with going to the gym or on your list. eating better (though those Marcy Keckler, vice pres- are still good ones for retirees ident of financial advice and pre-retirees). strategy, Ameriprise Financial: This is the perfect time - People already retired to make sure you have your should make sure that they financial house in order, and have a tax-smart with- that’s especially true for reti- drawal or spending strategy. rees. So I asked financial It makes a lot of sense to get planners from across the a second opinion on how country to help come up with you are taking money out of a list of financial resolutions accounts. With some types of for retirees. accounts you incur the pos- Fidelity’s New Year Finan- sibility of taxes. Others, such cial Resolutions Study found as Roth or normal brokerage that older Americans are accounts, may not incur tax more likely to set non-finan- consequences. cial resolutions than financial - Take a fresh look at your ones. Younger Americans are insurance situation. Make more likely to do the oppo- sure the coverage you have site, says Ken Hevert, senior still fits your situation. Some- vice president of retirement times people have life at Fidelity Investments. But insurance they put in place among older Americans who when the children were Brokers are pictured at the stock exchange in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. did make financial resolutions, young. Many now have differ- saving more and spending ent needs. Your homeowner’s less are top goals. “We also insurance may not have kept know that people over age place with improvements or By Harold Meyerson globalisation and technological change, but 69 are concerned about the market changes. The Washington Post those phenomena can hardly account for so market and the economy, and Wes Moss, chief invest- shattering an upward redistribution of income very concerned about health- ment strategist of Capital and wealth. To solve that riddle, we need to care expenses,” he says. Investment Advisors, Atlanta, look to the fundamental redefinition of the The key issues for reti- author and radio host: ollow the money,” “Deep Throat” corporate mission that has transformed US rees and pre-retirees relate - Spend at least five hours famously tells Bob Woodward, hot business over the past 35 years. to saving and better planning a year on financial planning. on the trail of The Post’s most cel- Time was when corporations invested their The 458 corporations in the New Year. This list of Just an hour or two per quar- ebrated story, in the film “All the retained earnings in expansion, research, even listed on the S&P 500 expert suggestions will help ter will ensure that you are President’s Men.” In more recent higher wages. Now, even the most profitable index in each year from you focus on getting over that on track and that there are Fdecades, following the money has yielded companies are left with little to no retained planning hump. no glaring issues in how your a tale quite as calamitous as Watergate: the earnings once they pay off their sharehold- 2005 to 2014 devoted 36 Kimberly Foss, author, budget and investments are evisceration of the American middle class ers and top executives, whose incomes derive founder, Empyrion Wealth positioned. at the hands of the American rich. more from stock than salary. As University of percent of their profits Management, California: - Get busy with more “core A Pew Research Center study released in Massachusetts economics professor William to dividends during - One of my favorite tips to pursuits.” One of the most December documents this shift. In 1970, mid- Lazonick has documented, the 500 highest- that time, and another help people save for retire- important rules in financial dle-income households claimed 62 percent paid US corporate executives received 76 ment is to download an app planning - and for happy reti- of all personal income, while upper-income percent of their income in stock-based com- 53 percent to share like Acorns that rounds up rees - involves understanding households received 29 percent. In 2014, the pensation between 2006 and 2014. buybacks, a means of your everyday purchases what your money is for. What share going to middle-income households had Taking one’s pay in stock has been the and automatically invests did you save so diligently for declined to 43 percent, while that going to the smart move in recent decades, because the enriching shareholders the spare change. You’ll over the past 50 years? Surely top had soared to 49 per- primary purpose of corporations has shifted that had been negligible be surprised how quickly not to just sit on the front cent. (While many on the from growing the company to rewarding your savings add up! Say porch for the next 20 years. right insist that the poor shareholders. While there are obvious excep- before 1982. you spend $2.50 on coffee So develop at least one new are somehow draining tions to this rule (none more so than Amazon, each day of the week. You “hobby on steroids” in 2016. I the middle class’s pock- whose chief executive, Jeffrey P. Bezos, also can round your purchase up didn’t begin playing golf until etbooks, that malignant owns The Post), it has clearly become the White asking the agency to investigate to $5 so that $2.50 will be I was almost 40 and look for- myth is completely belied norm. The 458 corporations listed on the the consequences of its rule and the buy- deposited into your savings ward to every time I’m able to by Pew’s figures.) S&P 500 index in each year from 2005 to back deluge on corporate investment and each day. By next year, you get in at least nine holes. It’s In the early 1970s, the The shift at the 2014 devoted 36 percent of their profits to the broader economy. Clearly, one conse- will have deposited nearly never too late to start. very top of the income dividends during that time, and another 53 per- quence of the rule has been to facilitate the $1,000. Let compound inter- - Don’t lose faith in stocks. wealthiest 0.1 percent ladder is the most dra- cent to share buybacks, a means of enriching rise of shakedown artists who buy a chunk est work its magic, and in 40 2015 was a flat-to-mostly- of US households matic. In the early 1970s, shareholders that had been negligible before of company stock and then threaten the years, at a 6 percent growth down year for nearly all stock as Watergate unfolded, 1982. In that year, Ronald Reagan’s appointees executives with a shareholder revolt that rate, you could have more categories (US and interna- commanded 3 percent the wealthiest 0.1 per- on the Securities and Exchange Commis- could cost them their jobs unless they buy than $150,000 in retirement tional). Just because you are of the nation’s cent of US households sion adopted a rule (10b-18) that effectively back shares. savings. retired doesn’t mean you personal income. In commanded 3 percent holds corporations harmless from allega- Another consequence of 10b-18, to which - Another great way to get have a short investing time of the nation’s personal tions of stock-price manipulation through White obliquely alluded in her response financially fit for retirement in horizon. A 65-year-old retiree recent years, their income. In recent years, share buybacks. to Baldwin’s first letter, is that the kind of the New Year is to eliminate could have two or three dec- share has risen to 12 their share has risen to One elected official who’s been following investigation the senator requested is ren- heavy payments. Creditcard ades to invest. 12 percent. this particular trail of money with justifiable dered almost impossible by the rule, which percent. The declining for- concern is Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wiscon- forbids the data collection one would need tunes of the middle sin, who has sent several letters to Securities to do to ascertain if stock prices are being class are due in part to and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo manipulated. China’s fault lines: Where turbulence could start in 2016

Bloomberg domestic companies with dollar debts will dollar assets will look even more attractive; defaults or near defaults that are going to face higher repayment pressure, while the if it intervenes in currency markets to prop have to be worked out,” he said. “Stress in central bank will spend reserves smoothing up the yuan, exports will be hurt; if it tight- the corporate sector is where the exposure HINA’S leaders are striving to cut the depreciation path, causing money supply ens up capital controls, people will try to flee of the banking system is and that’s just been leverage while restructuring growth to shrink and constraining banks’ ability to before it’s too late. building and building and building. Profits Caway from an over reliance on roll over credit, says Victor Shih, a professor “Beijing is caught between a rock and a in the industrial sector continue to deterio- investment and toward greater consump- at the University of California at San Diego hard place,” she said. rate and we have more and more companies tion and services. who studies China’s politics and finance. The biggest downside risk for the econ- operating at losses.” Sounds simple. But there’s a risk the tran- “Academic economists in China are omy is if the absorption of an excess supply At some point, a smaller city commer- sition triggers a steeper slide in growth in already debating the relative merits of a of housing turns out to be deeper and more cial bank is likely to go belly up. The only 2016. Things could also go awry if there’s an smooth devaluation” versus a rapid, max- protracted, triggering a knock-on effect on question is whether it’s bailed out quietly Academic economists acceleration of capital outflows, corporate imum one, said Shih. industrial output and investment, said Wang behind the scenes or allowed to formally in China are already defaults that trigger more bank bad loans, or “The biggest headache for the government Tao, chief China economist at UBS Group in fail, said Polk. increased turbulence in the shadow banking next year is accelerated capital outflows,” said Hong Kong. Problems in the shadow banking sector debating the relative industry, according to economists and ana- Pauline Loong, managing director at Asia- A lack of policy support could exacer- “are close to certain” next year as liberalized merits of a smooth lysts interviewed by Bloomberg. Analytica Research in Hong Kong. bate the situation, she said. deposit rates intensify competition for savings While pundits don’t necessarily expect “And dealing with it in a way that will “Either could aggravate the negative and a crackdown on their role intermediat- devaluation. such outcomes, these are the areas they flagged not make things worse by giving the wrong feedback loop in weak real activity, wors- ing capital outflows triggers redemptions of as having potential to trigger a plunge in growth signals, as it did with the stock market res- ening deflationary pressures and increasing their investment products, says Alicia Gar- or systemic risk in the financial system. cue this year.” debt burdens, all against a backdrop of cia Herrero, chief Asia Pacific economist at The strength of the dollar is the biggest A Bloomberg measure of estimated capital higher capital outflows and financial mar- Natixis in Hong Kong. uncertainty for 2016 because it will impact outflows indicates more than half a trillion ket volatility.” Even without any of the above scenar- capital outflows, add to deflationary pressures, dollars has left the country in the past four Economic bumps in 2016 will be all about ios blowing up, growth is forecast to slow to impact corporate earnings and economic months alone. “the banks, the banks, the banks,” says Andrew 6.5 percent in 2016, according to the median growth, said Larry Hu, head of China eco- Outflow pressures complicate policymak- Polk, an economist with the Conference Board estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomb- nomics at Macquarie Securities in Hong Kong. ing, says Loong. She says if the central bank in Beijing. erg. To prevent a quicker fall, policymakers A strengthening greenback means lowers interest rates to support the economy, “We’re going to see a proliferation of must navigate across multiple fault lines.. 28 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS Top of the rostrum: BMWi8 ‘Green Car of the Year’ US rate hike a

The Peninsula major milestone

MW vehicles vehicles won for retirees numerous national and international distinctions in categories as varied as Reuters “They’ve been earning zero on innovation, design, sporty their cash, so seeing short-term Bflair, quality, sustainability and intel- rates move off of zero certainly ligent vehicle connectivity in 2015. CHICAGO: The interest rate is good news,” said Scott Thoma, Four top ratings in the renowned hike announced by the Federal investment strategist at Edward “International Engine of the Year Reserve is a major milestone for D. Jones & Co. Award” underscore the BMW Group’s retirees, who have been caught “No one is saying ‘all clear’ engine expertise. A specialist jury of 65 between a rock and hard place on a secular long-term rise - and automobile journalists from 31 coun- ever since the Great Recession, rates can stay lower longer than tries voted the BMW TwinPower Turbo with zero interest rates and most people think,” adds Tom 3-cylinder in the BMW i8 as the class higher-than-average inflation. Anderson, a wealth manager at winner. A second class victory went The Fed’s quarter-point hike Morgan Stanley and the author of to the integrated drive system of the in the benchmark federal funds “The Value of Debt in Retirement.” BMW i8, and this hybrid drive also won rate is the first in nearly a dec- A key issue for retirees is the overall prize. The M TwinPower ade, and it could mark the start whether inflation is heating up. Turbo in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine of something good for retirees, If the trend continues, seniors in the BMW M3 Sedan and the BMW who rely on bonds, certificates of can look forward to a cost-of-liv- M4 Coupé also received the award deposit and money market funds ing adjustment (COLA) in Social in the 2.5 to 3.0-litre category for the to generate income. Security benefits for 2017 after fifth time. Rates on these instruments getting no raise for this coming What is more, the BMW i8 was “Popular Science” And in Germany by the car magazine “auto motor und have been near zero - and often year). voted “World Green Car of the Year” the new BMW 7 Series also won the sport”. Meanwhile in the “Concept Cars” negative after inflation - through- Even if seniors are able to sock as well as receiving the “Paul Piet- 2015 “Golden Steering Wheel” award category of the “Auto Bild Sportscars” out the post-recession era. money away in CDs or money sch Prize” awarded by the automobile presented by “Auto Bild” and “Bild am readers’ vote, a clear majority went to The International Low interest rates have gone market funds with slightly bet- magazine “auto, motor und sport” for Sonntag” in the luxury performance the BMW 3.0 CSL Homage, which was hand-in-hand with low inflation. ter yield, inflation will take its the most innovative technology con- category – just as the BMW X1 and created by the BMW Design Team in Forum Design “iF However, inflation is higher for toll. “If you are earning 1 per- cept. The BMW i8 was also named the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer did in recognition of the classic BMW coupé design awards” are seniors, due mainly to the dispro- cent and inflation is 1.5 percent, “UK Car of the Year” and was voted their respective categories. icons of the 1970s. portionate impact of ballooning that’s no different than earning 1.5 “most environment-friendly luxury The BMW Group’s innovation Sheer driving pleasure is the among the very healthcare costs. percent if inflation is 2 percent,” car” by “The Washington Auto Show” leadership was also confirmed by top priority for readers of sports car From 1985 to 2014, an exper- notes Greg McBride, chief finan- The BMW i3 likewise gained inter- 550 body construction experts from magazines - and it is the sporty BMW highest distinctions imental inflation measure of cial analyst for Bankrate.com. national recognition. In China, the 24 countries, who gave the BMW 7 models that best embody this. This for achievements senior inflation (known as the On the other hand, signifi- successful electric car was pronounced Series the “EuroCarBody Award 2015” was certainly the opinion expressed CPI-E) ran 5.1 percent higher than cantly higher interest rates over best compact car as part of the “Best for its pioneering body structure with by readers of “Auto Bild Sportscars”. in design. This what is reflected in the broad Con- the next year also could make Cars 2015” awards, as well as being Carbon Core. In the “Serial Production Coupés” cat- year, the BMW sumer Price Index. according to long-term care insurance more voted “Car of the Year” in Australia. In The International Forum Design egory, the BMW M4 GTS was voted research by J.P. Morgan Asset attractive. addition, the BMW i3 won the “Com- “iF design awards” are among the very “Sports Car of the Year 2015”. Group won a total Management. The move will not Long-term care policy pre- pany Car of the Year” award presented highest distinctions for achievements in Its 500 hp 3-litre 6-cylinder pet- of 13 of the highly ease the pain. The higher short- miums have spiked dramatically jointly by the magazine “Firmenauto” design. This year the BMW Group won rol engine with M TwinPower Turbo term rate already has been priced in recent years, due in part to the and DEKRA. a total of 13 of the highly coveted “iF Technology is the first serial-produc- coveted “iF design into the bond market and is not near-zero interest rate environ- The new BMW 7 Series attracted design awards 2015”.The unique char- tion car to be fitted with innovative awards 2015”. The expected to boost interest rates ment. A 1 percentage point rise the most positive response worldwide. acter of BMW design also impressed water injection. on products like money market in long-term interest rates gen- In China alone the new BMW 7 Series readers of the car magazine “Auto Zei- The result of the readers’ vote held elegant and sporty funds or certificates of deposit. erally translates into a decline won more than twenty prizes. These tung”: here the elegant and sporty BMW by the magazine “sport auto” like- BMW4Series Gran And the Fed signaled that it in policy premiums of about 10 include the “Technology Innovation 4 Series Gran Coupé won the “Design wise confirms the sporty aspirations will be cautious about boosting percent, according to Al Schmitz, Award” presented by the renowned Trophy” in the categories “Sedans/ of BMW: in as many as four catego- Coupe won the rates further. If rates were, in fact, a principal and consulting actu- “China Business Journal” and “Lux- Coupés/Vans”. In the compact class, ries BMW models were placed at the “Design Trophy” to rise in the neighborhood of ary at Milliman, a consulting firm ury Car of the Year” awarded by the it was the styling of the BMW 2 Series top of the rostrum. For the third time 100 basis points over the next that works with insurers. influential daily newspaper “The Bei- Convertible that received the highest in succession, the BMW 335i received in the categories year, and if longer-term bond Significantly higher rates jing News”. In the USA the new BMW distinction. And as the most outstand- the “Sport Auto Award” . And for the rates moved in lock step, sen- also could boost payout rates 7 Series received the 2015 “Best of ing design innovation of 2015, the new second time in a row the BMW M3 fin- “Sedans/Coupes/ iors would get some relief. for income annuities. What’s New” award in the automo- BMW 1 Series won the “autonis 2015” ished first in the category of sedans/ Vans”. bile category from the magazine award as part of the readers’ vote held estate cars .

Business school is not necessary or even very useful Capital for people who want to work in technology. MBAs are not necessary at Facebook and I don’t believe they are Sheryl Sandberg, Comment important for working in the tech industry. Chief Operating Officer, Facebook

TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk Goldman bets on Kaushik Basu@kaushikcbasu CFO (Wall Street Journal) RBA cutting rates In 1990 world trade NAME IN THE MARKET: RUSSIA was $9 trillion; in 2014 Bloomberg Glenn Stevens hasn’t shifted the $46 trillion. While it Finance chiefs and chief RBA benchmark since May and rose 7% annually 1990- the swaps market is pricing in 2007, it’s 4% annually executives say they are SYDNEY: Goldman Sachs Asset only a 28 percent chance of a cut since 2008. more worried about 2016 Management says the Reserve over the next three months after World Bank Energy@ than they were heading into Bank of Australia is more likely the jobs market improved and WBG_Energy to cut interest rates in 2016 than as the weaker currency bolsters 201 5 lift them and there’s still money to businesses. The two-year bond The #MiddleEast be made betting on a shift down. yield climbed to 2.01 percent as moves from power The fund manager, which of 12 pm on December 31 from cuts to sustaina- oversees or advises on more than 1.73 percent on October 28. ble energy and lower $1 trillion globally, says shorter- The yield premium offered by emissions dated Australian bonds look more two-year Australian bonds over attractive than similar debt else- equivalent US paper compressed The Economist@ where. While policy makers have to 93 basis points from 151 at the FT Alphaville strongly signaled they don’t want end of 2014 and has shrunk for EconEconomics to cut the record low 2 percent each of the past five years. The 2016’s low prices will cash rate, there’s room for the Australian 10-year note at 2.87 mean keeping an eye market to speculate about fur- percent was just 57 basis points on America, Saudi Ara- ther easing, according to Philip above the benchmark US Treas- bia and China US lenders face the prospect Moffitt, the Sydney-based head ury bond. Moffitt said that the of tougher stress tests of Asia-Pacific fixed income. likelihood of Australian yields at “They don’t have to cut rates the longer-end ever going below next year because of their Dealogic@Dealogic for you to make money out of US rates is “very low.” exposure thinking they might cut rates,” The most likely scenario for Following a #record Moffitt said last month. “We the Australian dollar is that it will year for global M&A in would bet the next RBA move is weaken over the coming year, 2015, volume has now still more likely a cut than a rise, although if global markets sta- surpassed $5tr for the and so particularly the front end bilise it’s possible that the Aussie first time ever #merg- of Australia looks OK on a rel- will be supported by investors ers #acquisitions ative basis globally.” Governor seeking additional yield. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 31 PAGE | 33 Ronaldo wants to Milestone for Lyonon ‘live like a king’ as Australia takee in retirement control at SCG

MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 • 24 Rabia I 1437 the peninsula newspaper @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Well-rested Djokovic ready for 2016

season, said resting well is an impor- World number one tant feature of his game. “For me, recovery is as important Novak Djokovic says as the work and the training that I put he hasn’t played in,” Djokovic explained. “I think the right balance and active tennis since understanding to put in the quality his win over Roger and intensity of working rather than quantity of hours spent on the court is Federer in London something that was always part of our approach and philosophy as a team,” he added. “I have played so many matches. By Rizwan Rehmat (It) has obviously got me very tired The Peninsula - mentally, physically and emotion- ally. I had a couple of weeks off and I got time to spend with my family as I DOHA: World number one Novak tried to keep my thoughts off tennis. Djokovic, back after a six-week lay- “Tennis season is the longest sea- off from active tennis, can barely wait son we have in sport. There is not much to launch the new season at this week’s time where you can actually allow your- Qatar ExxonMobil Open. self this luxury of thinking and doing The 28-year-old Serbian hasn’t something else. picked up a racket since his win over “That’s what I had this time. I tried to Roger Federer at the season-ending use it in the best possible way because championships in late November. I know that once I start training and “I look forward to competing preparing myself, (then) I (will) get my because I haven’t done that for a month thoughts and my mind back in ten- and a half,” Djokovic, the top seed in nis,” he added. Doha, said yesterday. “I am very excited Coming down to Doha for the build- to come back to the Tour and start the up to this month’s Australian Open was year here in Doha.” an easy decision for the Serbian ten- Djokovic, who managed 82 wins nis giant. with just six losses in the entire sea- “The conditions for the players here World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia is seen during a pre-event press conference at St Regis Hotel in Doha yesterday. Djokovic is the son, said his desire to recharge worn in Doha are terrific. The tennis centre top seed at this week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open which commences today. Picture: Salim Matramkot out batteries was a deliberate move. is phenomenal,” Djokovic said. “The last match that I played was “You can see that there is a history in London, World Tour Finals,” Djok- to this event and the people running “I felt that the people were contrib- Open final to Stanislas Wawrinka of “He had a great relationship and When asked about his chances in ovic said. the tournament obviously share the uting to the organisation of the event Switzerland. communication with Marian and the Doha, Djokovic said: “I feel very moti- “I haven’t played any lead-up exhi- passion and love for the sport. The and just the overall feel is that ten- Djokovic was quick to applaud rest of the team from day he joined vated to do well in Doha because it’s a bition events, haven’t played any IPTL, attendance is very good, especially nis is respected in Qatar. That’s why I coach Boris Becker’s role in helping the team,” he said. new tournament for me. It’s only the and the reason for that is because I felt in the later stages of the tournament,” came back,” he said. him fine-tune his game. “He’s a very wise man, he’s very second time that I’m playing here in like it was too many matches already he said. Last year Djokovic won 11 titles “Boris has obviously contributed smart. He knows when to commu- my life.” in the entire season and that I needed “It’s the second time that I have including three Grand Slams. The title a lot mostly from the mental perspec- nicate, what to say. He is completely He added: “I went out early in quar- some time to regroup,” the affable Ser- come to Doha and the reason is because wins included victories over Federer tive ever since he joined the team,” understanding of me and my life, and ter-finals last year to (Ivo) Karlovic. bian said. I like to have a lead-up event and official at Wimbledon and the US Open finals Djokovic said. he’s trying to help me as a person and That actually motivates me even more “(I had) do something else to matches before the Australian Open,” which was followed by victory over “There was a lot of scepticism a player as much as he can. to try to go as far as I can and com- recharge for another long season,” he he said. the Swiss legend at the season-end- whether or not he can help me or “I’m very grateful to have him on pete for the trophy. Of course, I want said when asked about his 2016 season. “The second reason is because I ing championships in London whether or not he’s a good choice to board as everybody else on the team to do that!” Djokovic, who became the first really enjoyed the first year. Last year The Serbian, who launched the sea- be part of the team, but we have proven and I think this kind of team has helped Djokovic plays a qualifier in his man in the history of the sport to win I enjoyed that I was hosted and wel- son by winning the Australian Open last that it was the right choice that we both me to achieve such success in 2015,” first-round clash at Qatar ExxonMo- more than $21m in prize money in one comed in a very kind and pleasant way. January, surprisingly lost the French made,” Djokovic said. Djokovic said. bil Open which starts today.

PAST CHAMPIONS QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN 2016 - DOHA, QATAR IN QATAR $ 1,283,855.00 2015 David Ferrer 2014 Rafael Nadal 2-9 JANUARY 2016 2013 Richard Gasquet TODAY’S ORDER OF PLAY 2012 Jo.Wilfried Tsonga CENTRE COURT START 3:30 PM 2011 Roger Federer R. Nadal (ESP) / F. Verdasco (ESP) vs T. Gabashvili (RUS) / A. Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 2010 Nikolay Davydenko NOT BEFORE 5:30 PM 2009 Andy Murray [1] N. Djokovic (SRB) vs Qualifier 2008 Andy Murray D. Muñoz de la Nava (ESP) vs [5] F. Lopez (ESP) 2007 Ivan Ljubicic 2006 Roger Federer [WC] M. Ilhan (TUR) vs A. Kuznetsov (RUS) 2005 Roger Federer COURT 1 START 3:30 PM 2004 Nicolas Escude [7] J. Chardy (FRA) vs [WC] M. Zayid (QAT) 2003 Stefan Koubek Qualifier vs M. Klizan (SVK) 2002 Younes El Aynaoui J. Chardy (FRA) / P. Mathieu (FRA) vs [WC] J. Ali Mutawa (QAT) / M. Jaziri (TUN) 2001 Marcelo Rios COURT 2 START 3:30 PM 2000 Fabrice Santoro M. Cecchinato (ITA) vs D. Dzumhur (BIH) 1999 Rainer Schuettler 1998 Petr Korda D. Marrero (ESP) / A. Seppi (ITA) vs P. Andujar (ESP) / L. Mayer (ARG) 1997 Jim Courier R. Haase (NED) vs Qualifier 1996 Petr Korda TOP SEEDS AT QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN 1995 Stefan Edberg 1. Novak Djokovic (rank 1) 1994 Stefan Edberg 2. Rafael Nadal (5) 1993 Boris Becker 3. Tomas Berdych (6) 4. David Ferrer (7) TOP, RIGHT: World number five and former champion Rafael 5. Feliciano Lopez (17) Nadal of Spain is received by 6. Andreas Seppi (29) a young girl at the Hamad 7. Jeremy Chardy (31) International Airport in Doha 8. Leonardo Mayer (35) yesterday. RIGHT: Defending PRIZE MONEY champion David Ferrer is % pictured on his arrival in Winner - $201,165 Doha yesterday. Nadal is the % Finalist - $105,940 second seed at this week’s % Semi-finalist - $57,380 Qatar ExxonMobil Open where % Quarter-finalist - $32,700 Ferrer is the fourth seed. The % Second round - $19,265 tournament starts today. % First round - $11,415 30 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Antalyaspor Hiddink off the mark as Chelsea win eyes Mourinho’s ex-assistant as

Oscar, Willian and new coach

Costa score in 3-0 AFP welcome victory over Crystal Palace ISTANBUL: Ambitious Turkish Super Lig side Antalyasporyester- day said that the former assistant to AFP sacked Chelsea coach Jose Mour- inho, Jose Manuel Ferreira de Morais, was set to sign for the club as its new manager. LONDON: Guus Hiddink enjoyed his The club from the Mediterranean first victory since taking over as Chel- resort is currently co-managed on sea interim manager as the troubled a temporary basis by its star striker, Premier League champions crushed the former Cameroon international Crystal Palace 3-0 yesterday. Samuel Eto’o, after the departure After draws against Watford and of Yusuf Simsek last month. Manchester United following his arrival Described as the right-hand- as short-term replacement for the man of Mourinho, Morais worked sacked Jose Mourinho, Hiddink was as assistant to his fellow Portuguese at last able to celebrate three points in almost all of his key assignments at Selhurst Park. including at Porto, Inter Milan, Real Oscar opened the scoring in the Madrid and Chelsea. first half before Willian’s cracker and Along with several other of a Diego Costa strike extended Chel- Mourinho’s loyal backroom staff, sea’s unbeaten run since Mourinho’s Morais left Chelsea in December departure to four matches. after the sacking of the manager In such turmoil for much of a season as a result of a dire first half of the ruined by the breakdown of Mourin- season. ho’s relationship with his squad, the “In principle agreement has Blues are slowly getting back in the been reached on every issue with groove under Hiddink and moved six Morais and he will come to Turkey points clear of the relegation zone after from England,” club Vice-President Chelsea’s Willian in action (second right) against Crystal Palace’s players during their English Premier League match at Selhurst Park, in London their first away league success in eight Hasan Ali Ceylan said in a statement. yesterday. attempts. “He has agreed with Antal- After climbing into contention for yaspor in principle despite offers a European place, Palace’s first defeat from several clubs,” added the top in seven matches left Alan Pardew’s seemed in genuine discomfort. FOOTBALL: ENGLISH PREMIER two when he beat the Palace offside When Scott Dann tried to block club official. men without a win or a goal in their Palace defender Damien Dela- LEAGUE trap, surging clear to test Hennessey Oscar’s progress the loose ball ran to “If all the final details are agreed last three games. ney had a pair of headers saved by with a powerful strike that drew a fine Willian and the Brazil winger smashed on then the signing ceremony will With torrential rain lashing Sel- Thibaut Courtois as the hosts tried to stop from the Palace keeper. a superb strike high into the roof of take place on Tuesday (tomorrow),” hurst Park, Palace forward Wilfried take advantage of Chelsea’s tepid start. While Palace were typically tena- the net from 20 yards. he said. Zaha went close early on with a low But crucially Palace striker Fra- Delaney down the right edge of the cious in their tackling, they were clearly Costa wrapped up Chelsea’s biggest Turkish media reports said strike that skimmed off the slick pitch. zier Campbell scuffed wide from Jason Palace area. missing the class of France midfielder league win of the season six minutes Morais, 50, would meet with club Eden Hazard saw a long-range Puncheon’s cross midway through the Looking up, Costa unselfishly Yohan Cabaye and influential winger later when he claimed his seventh goal president Gultekin Gencer on effort deflected wide at the conclu- half and Hiddink’s team finally awoke ignored the chance to shoot himself Yannick Bolasie, absent through sus- of the season from close-range after Monday evening to discuss a one- sion of Chelsea’s first serious attack, from their slumber to snatch the lead and, with goalkeeper Wayne Hennes- pension and injury respectively. Hennessey pushed Willian’s shot into and-a-half year contract. but the Belgium playmaker began limp- in the 29th minute. sey out of position, the Spain striker Kurt Zouma should have doubled his path. Later yesterday, Tottenham Antalyaspor was promoted to ing immediately after the shot. Hiddink had made two changes pulled the ball back to Oscar, who had Chelsea’s lead when he rose highest shared a point at Goodison Park after the Super Lig at the end of last season Hazard, lambasted by Mourinho from Monday’s draw at United as Costa the simple task of slotting home from to meet Willian’s free-kick, but the a 1-1 draw against Everton. but its current mid-season position for not trying to play on when injured returned from suspension and Cesc close-range. defender couldn’t keep his header on of eleventh is far from sufficient to at Leicester last month, briefly carried Fabregas came in for Nemanja Matic. Hiddink had called for players other target. satisfy the team’s lofty ambitions. on but in the 15th minute he decided Both repaid their Dutchman’s than Costa to take the responsibility However, Zaha was unable to sum- EPL RESULTS Morais had also been linked he needed to come off. faith with decisive contributions to of scoring and Oscar’s fifth goal of the mon the power or accuracy to beat Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 3 (Oscar 29, Willian 60, with the vacant manager’s job at While Hazard’s commitment to the opener. season was a well-timed response from Courtois from a promising position Costa 66) Premiership side Swansea City but the cause has been questioned in the Fabregas was the architect with a the Brazilian. and Willian made Palace pay in the his chances reportedly receded in Tottenham 1 (Alli 45) Everton 1 (Lennon 22) past, on this occasion the 24-year-old pass that sent Costa racing away from Cesar Azpilicueta almost made it 60th minute. the last weeks.

Chelsea’s Hazard French Cup: PSG cruise into last 32 limps off at Palace

AFP AFP

PARIS: Defending champions Paris LONDON: Chelsea star Eden Hazard Saint-Germain laboured to a 1-0 suffered an injury blow yesterday as win at fourth-tier Wasquehal yes- he limped off in the first half of his terday to reach the last 32 of the side’s Premier League clash against French Cup, while Lyon thumped Crystal Palace. fifth-division Limoges 7-0. Hazard sustained the groin Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed problem while attempting a shot home a Marco Verratti cross on at Selhurst Park and came off in the the hour as the runaway Ligue 1 15th minute after briefly attempt- leaders maintained their unbeaten ing to play on. domestic run this season. Speaking after Chelsea’s 3-0 PSG coach Laurent Blanc rested win, Blues interim manager Guus several key players including Angel Hiddink said it was too early to say di Maria, Edinson Cavani and Thi- how severe the injury is. ago Silva, but still fielded a strong “He sprained his leg. He slipped team with the likes of Ibrahimovic, and has a little bit of a problem with Verratti, Blaise Matuidi and Thi- a muscle in his groin,” Hiddink said. ago Motta. “We will see tomorrow with the Elsewhere, Lyon made a prom- MRI scan.” Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) ising start under new coach Bruno The 24-year-old’s injury is the Genesio as Maxwell Cornet and is congratulated by his team-mates after scoring a goal during their latest setback in a difficult season Rachid Ghezzal scored twice apiece French Cup match against Wasquehal in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France for both Chelsea and Hazard. with Claudio Beauvue, Sergi Darder yesterday. Voted Footballer of the Year and Corentin Tolisso also on target. after his fine form helped Chelsea Bordeaux came from behind to win the Premier League last sea- beat third-tier Frejus Saint-Raphael twice levelled for Willy Sagnol’s side. On Saturday, third-tier Chambly son, Hazard has been well below Chelsea’s Dutch interim manager Guus Hiddink (left) gestures during 3-2 with Diego Rolan grabbing a Montpellier edged past fifth-division produced the shock of the round as his best this season and has now the English Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst 90th-minute winner for the visi- Epernay 1-0 courtesy of a second- Wilfried Louisy-Daniel’s hat-trick gone 30 games without scoring a Park, London yesterday. tors after Cheick Diabate had half goal from Mustapha Yatabare. helped them beat Ligue 1 Reims 4-1. club goal. ‘Angry’ manager Klopp urges struggling Liverpool to raise game

AFP potentially tough league meetings “We had the ball and possession with his side’s defending after they defending from my side. It’s about performance, everything: defending, with Arsenal and Manchester United. and bad luck in a few situations, but conceded both goals to headers and my responsibility. I am really angry holding the ball up,” said the Croatian. And he has demanded immedi- that’s not what I want to see, to be struggled to deal with the aerial threat about myself today. “I think every ball that (goal- LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen ate improvements after seeing his honest. You have to be there in the of Carroll throughout the afternoon. “When I talk about defending I keeper) Adrian kicked up, he went Klopp said that his side must improve side undone by headed goals from decisive moments. “I know about the “We could have done much bet- don’t want to use words like nasty and to head it or to flick hit. And he was their commitment levels if they are Michail Antonio and former Liver- things in football and today (Satur- ter,” he said. ugly. It’s football, defending. I was a defending, tracking back, and when to make progress this season follow- pool striker Andy Carroll at Upton day) it’s our responsibly. My English “If you fight in these moments, defender and I enjoyed it. he had the chance to press the cen- ing a 2-0 defeat at West Ham United. Park on Saturday. is not good enough to process all the but at 100 percent -- 95 percent is West Ham completed a first league tre-backs, he took it.” Klopp has identified this month’s “It’s no day for being disappointed, information that’s going around me not enough. Who wants to see 95 per- double over Liverpool in over 50 years Bilic is hopeful that on-loan games as crucial to Liverpool’s cam- it’s a day for being angry,” said the in this moment. cent? -- that’s what we have to do. and manager Slaven Bilic singled out Argentine midfielder Manuel Lan- paign, with a League cup semi-final German, who has now overseen four “It was bad, I told the players after “If you know in the other team Carroll for praise afterwards. zini will not face another month off against Stoke City and an FA Cup trip Premier League defeats in his fledg- the game. Summary: ‘Not enough.’” there’s Andy Carroll, then how can “Andy was brilliant, not just after suffering a recurrence of a thigh to Exeter City while there are also ling Liverpool tenure. Klopp was particularly unhappy you allow crosses? There was bad because of the goal, but for his problem. SPORT MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 31

Simeone demands City will never give up, vows Pellegrini improvement from Atletico ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Toure and Aguero AFP score in 2-1 comeback Results MADRID: Atletico Madrid boss win against Watford Arsenal 1 (Koscielny 72) Newcastle 0 Diego Simeone has demanded Leicester 0 Bournemouth 0 more from his side in the second half of the season despite looking AFP Manchester United 2 (Martial 47, Rooney 77) Swansea 1 (Sigurdsson 70) down on Spanish football’s peren- nial powerhouses Barcelona and Norwich 1 (Tettey 76) Southampton 0 Real Madrid. Thomas Partey’s late winner in Sunderland 3 (Van Aanholt 30, Defoe 72, WATFORD, United Kingdom: Manuel 90+2) Aston Villa 1 (Gil 63) a 1-0 victory over Levante on Sat- Pellegrini sent a warning out to the Pre- urday moved Los Rojiblancos two Watford 1 (Kolarov 55-og) Manchester mier League that Manchester City are City 2 (Toure 82, Aguero 84) points clear of European champi- ready to hit top gear in the title race ons Barcelona at the top of the table, West Brom 2 (Sessegnon 60, Evans after ending their away-day misery 90+3) Stoke 1 (Walters 81) albeit having played a game more. at Watford. West Ham 2 (Antonio 10, Real meanwhile trail their city Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero Carroll 55) Liverpool 0 rivals by five points ahead of their earned a 2-1 comeback win on Sat- trip to Valencia. urday as Manchester City won on the Atletico’s success so far this sea- road for the first time since September injuries all season but he took his tally son has been built on a rock solid 12. Despite their travel sickness, Pel- to double figures with his late winner. defence that has conceded just eight legrini’s side remain just three points It could be our year says Hart goals in 18 league games. off leaders Arsenal. He will be a key player with Man- An 11th clean sheet of the cam- And the Manchester City manager chester City vying on four fronts. paign was needed to see of bottom said: “We are returning to our form Pellegrini is taking it game by game of the table Levante, though, as their by recovering important players and - starting with Wednesday’s Capital struggle for goals continued as big once they are 100 percent fit the team One Cup first-leg tie at Everton. summer signings Jackson Martinez Watford’s French midfielder Etienne Capoue (right) vies with Manchester City’s English midfielder Raheem will improve every game. Pellegrini said: “He is a big player and Luciano Vietto again failed to “We are thinking of going game for us. He has just come back so he will Sterling during their English Premier League match at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north of London find the net. by game but when you win a game improve with games. on Saturday. Manchester City won the game 2-1. And Simeone is well aware his like we did here there is a lot of trust “I’m so happy to be in all competi- side need more firepower to have in the team. tions despite all the injuries we’ve had. “This win is a big moment for us.” hit Watford at home and manager “They have an amazing team, they any chance of repeating their “We never gave up. It was impor- We must be thinking game by game.” Watford were on course for Quique Flores said: “It’s impossible to have amazing players. They have the incredible feat of beating Barca and tant to win after six games with the Goalkeeper Joe Hart says City can victory after Aleksandar Kolarov explain how we lost this match. “I’m possibility in two minutes to change Madrid to the title two years ago. way we had been playing before. I’ve wrestle the title back from Chelsea headed Ben Watson’s corner into so sorry, so sorry, the players were the dynamic of the match. “We have one game to go until always said this team has character and said: “We believe it could be our his own net. amazing, so sorry for the fans. We The defensive work of the team the end of the first half of the sea- and will never give up. year and that’s what we want to make But Manchester City had other ideas want to win, for us it’s not enough was amazing. It was amazing against son, but leading the league will not “It was a tough game against a good it happen. as Toure and Aguero struck in quick to be in the middle of the Premier Chelsea, we concede two, it was amaz- distract us from the improvements team that is in a good moment. We can “We can’t do much about other succession to clinch the smash-and- League, we have a lot of reasons to be ing against Tottenham, we concede we need,” said Simeone. move on from here.” teams and their results. We have to grab win. happy, but today we are sad because two, it was amazing here that we con- “I think we can play better, have Aguero has been struggling with look after ourselves. It was the second late defeat to we want a lot more. cede two.” more speed in our game, be more decisive, consistent, make better choices in the final third and score more goals. That is what concerns me.” Simeone certainly won’t be Ronaldo wants to ‘live lacking for options in the com- ing months despite Atletico’s involvement on three fronts as they have also reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey and the like a king’ in retirement Champions League. Argentine internationals Augusto Fernandez and Matias Kranevitter will be free to feature Agencies business magazine Forbes with an you are. “I am like this. If all I have for the first time against Rayo annual income just shy of $80m. achieved in football is by being like Vallecano in the Cup in mid- And the 30-year-old believes he this then you can’t ask me to change. week after completing moves MADRID: World Player of the Year will continue to work on his brand once If people ask me to improve, I accept from Celta Vigo and River Plate Cristiano Ronaldo has claimed he he retires from playing rather than a it, but to change is very difficult.” respectively. will ‘live like a king’ once his play- more traditional move into coaching. Meanwhile, substitute Thomas And Partey’s game-changing ing career comes to an end, but has “If you ask me now if I want to be Partey scored his first La Liga goal displays from the bench against ruled out a move into coaching when a coach, I would say no. Nor a sport- as Atletico Madrid beat bottom club Levante and in setting up Angel he hangs up his boots. ing director or president of a club,” Levante 1-0 to go top of the table on Correa for the opening goal in a Real Madrid’s all-time leading he added. Saturday while Barcelona were held 2-0 win over Rayo earlier in the scorer is in action as Los Blancos look “Since I was 27 I have had my own to a 0-0 draw at Espanyol. week have made the young Gha- to move level with eternal rivals Barce- line of clothes and I want my brand Hosts Atletico lacked a finishing naian a candidate to displace the lona in the La Liga title race at Valencia. to keep growing because football will touch in front of goal until Partey struck more established Koke and Gabi However, in a wide-ranging interview finish in five, six, seven or 10 years.” nine minutes from the end with a shot from Simeone’s preferred start- with Spanish newspaper El Mundo, he The Portuguese captain’s success that squirmed away from keeper Diego ing line-up. admitted football doesn’t always cap- has also attracted critics of his at times Marino. “Once again the changes gave us tivate his interest. egotistical nature. “The team is playing well and the quality we needed in the game, “I have a top life, but I think I am His decision to go ahead with a lav- anyone could have got the goal,” the especially in the movement for the going to enjoy it more when I finish ish 30th birthday hours after Madrid 22-year-old Partey told reporters. goal,” added Simeone. my career, when I have time to do had lost 4-0 to Atletico Madrid in “I am still learning and by work- “It ended up taking the game what I like,” he said. the capital derby in February dom- ing hard I am having more chances where we wanted it from the start. “This Saturday there is a box- inated headlines in Spain for weeks to play.” From Thomas’s introduction we had ing bout in Las Vegas and I would afterwards. Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both more movement, we could play the like to take my friends and family Yet, despite admitting to making hit the woodwork as Barcelona drew ball out from the back easier and to see it, and I can’t because I don’t mistakes, Ronaldo believes it is his with Espanyol. it ended with the goal. have time. confidence that has moulded his tal- Barca set a Spanish record of 180 “I don’t have a commitment to “I am not going to cry about it now ents into a three-time World Player goals in all competitions in 2015 but anyone and I only treat them on because I am making a sacrifice in of the Year. their normally prolific attack drew a what I see in training and espe- inverted commas, but after I want to “Many people say they don’t regret blank against their local rivals who cially the games. Real Madrid’s head coach Rafael Benitez (rear) and Portuguese striker live like a king.” anything. That is a lie,” he added. were strong in the challenge, espe- “They know that the best way Ronaldo is the world’s third high- “I at least regret things a lot, but cially in the first half, and succeeded Cristiano Ronaldo during a training session held at Valdebebas Sports to compete is to have competition est paid athlete according to American that also explains the kind of person in disrupting their play. Complex in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday. amongst one another.” Van Gaal hopes Rooney sparks Manchester United upsurge

AFP amazing and that at the age of 30 years. and Martial as wing-backs, as “risky”. a starting point for more. “You cannot “You have to say that of course now He was in danger of seeing more points predict (what effect a win will have). we are playing much more matches, dropped when Swansea, who had won Only it shall raise the confidence and MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: but still it is an achievement. For me, it their previous three games against lower the pressure because the play- Manchester United manager Louis van is more important he scores now and United, equalised through a Gylfi Sig- ers had a lot of pressure to do it in 90 Gaal paid tribute to Wayne Rooney he scores today (Saturday). urdsson header with 20 minutes to minutes against an opponent that is after his winner against Swansea City “He scores also a fantastic goal, play. But Rooney’s goal was a reward not so easy. lifted him to second place in the club’s with his left foot behind his right foot, for a more adventurous approach by “The opponent is also playing in all-time list of goal-scorers. and you cannot imagine what a goal the United manager. a way that makes it difficult to score, Rooney superbly flicked in Anthony that is. A great goal. “Amazing is that you can perform with 10 players behind the middle line. Martial’s cross with 13 minutes to go “All the players have done their the game plan like we have done in That is why I am happy we scored the at Old Trafford on Saturday to give his utmost best and that is very important the first half and the second half in a two beautiful goals.” side a 2-1 victory that ended their nine- for the manager. I hope it is a fantastic risky style under this pressure. That is Swansea, who remain just one game winless run and left them fifth in starting point for the team and for him.” positive, I think,” Van Gaal said. place above the relegation zone, did the Premier League. The United cap- United, whose 0-0 draw against “Also against Chelsea we played not include England midfielder Jonjo tain’s third league goal of the season Chelsea last Monday meant that they very risky because we want to press. Shelvey in their squad, but caretaker took him past Denis Law to 238 goals had failed to score in five of their pre- The players want to press. It is a risk manager Alan Curtis said that the -- behind only Bobby Charlton’s club vious eight home games, produced an to play that. 23-year-old was still part of his plans. record of 249 -- and Van Gaal hopes improved performance. As well as cre- “Still we are the dominating team, “We had a good talk about it before a first home victory since 7 Novem- ating the winning goal, Martial headed against Chelsea and today against we came away. He trained this morning ber will trigger an improved run for in the game’s opening goal two minutes Swansea. That is why I am proud they with a group of players,” Curtis said. both Rooney and his side. into the second half and Ashley Young, can do it under this pressure. “Jonjo has a terrific ability. We all Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring the third goal Van Gaal, who had overseen Unit- who set him up, also stood out. Van “They have showed it this season know that. We need him and hope- during the English Premier League match against Swansea City at Old ed’s longest sequences of matches Gaal described his starting formation, many times, but now the situation is fully he will play a part to the end of Trafford, Manchester, Britain, on Saturday. without victory since 1990, said: “It is with a three-man defence and Young different. Now I have a good hope this is the season for us.” 32 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Records The following are records set by England on the second day of the Stokes’ double powers England second Test against South Africa at Newlands yesterday. England declared on 629 for six reached 141 for two at the close, still previous highest Test score, 120 against wickets. Star all-rounder 488 runs behind. The left-handed Australia at Perth two seasons ago. Stokes thrashed 30 fours and 11 sixes South African captain Hashim Amla Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow hammers South in a 197-ball innings. He reached his was soon forced to place fielders on the set a world record sixth wicket Africa bowlers to double century off 163 balls, the second boundary on both sides of the wicket partnership with 399 runs, beating the previous best of 365 set by fastest in Tests behind Nathan Astle’s but Stokes continued to power the ball record fastest double New Zealand’s Kane Williamson 153-ball effort for New Zealand against past them. By the end of the first hour, and BJ Watling against Sri Lanka century for England England at Christchurch in 2001/02. which yielded 103 runs off 13 overs, last year. He reached 250 with a six off there were five men on the boundary. Kagiso Rabada to become the fastest The two hours before lunch yielded Stokes’ 258 was the most runs by to the mark in Tests, beating Virender 196 runs despite South Africa bowling a batsmen at number six, beating AFP Sehwag’s effort for India against Sri only 25 overs. Stokes’ share was 130 the previous best of 250 set by Lanka in Mumbai in 2009 by 11 balls. off 74 balls, a new record for individ- Australia’s Doug Walters against With a declaration imminent, ual runs scored before lunch on any New Zealand in 1977. CAPE TOWN: England all-rounder Stokes pounded the next delivery into day of a Test. He beat the 123 by Les- Stokes made the fastest 250 in Ben Stokes hit a thrilling double cen- the stands for another six before, in lie Ames for England against South Test history, reaching the landmark tury as he and Jonny Bairstow battered trying to hit a third, he skied the ball Africa at The Oval in 1935. off 196 balls. the South African bowlers into submis- to AB de Villiers at mid-on. De Villiers Although he was overshadowed by sion on the second day of the second dropped it but ran out Stokes with a Stokes, Bairstow played a fine innings Stokes hit 11 sixes, the most in Test at Newlands yesterday. direct hit to the bowler’s end. in registering a maiden Test century a Test innings by an England Stokes slammed 258 and Bairstow The South African bowlers had no off 161 balls. He then followed Stokes’ cricketer. It was one short of made 150 not out before England answer to a relentless assault, which example by going on an all-out attack Wasim Akram’s world record of 12 declared on 629 for six. The pair shared started with 45 runs scored off the first to go to 150 off only 30 balls. His innings set against Zimbabwe in 1996. a world Test record sixth wicket part- four overs of the day, bowled by Morne included 18 fours and two sixes. England made the highest ever nership of 399. Stokes’ score was the Morkel and Chris Morris. South Africa’s malaise was summed first innings score at Newlands. highest by a number six batsman in The left-handed Stokes needed up when Morkel dropped Bairstow on Tests. only 12 balls go from his overnight 138. The batsman drove Morris to long- Stokes fell four runs short of the Stokes followed up by having 74 to his third Test century, which he off and the ball went through Morkel’s highest Test total at Newlands. England’s Ben Stokes (left) and Jonny Bairstow discuss tactics between Stephen Fleming of New Zealand South African opening batsman Dean made off 105 deliveries with 16 fours hands. De Villiers, another senior player overs during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town, South Elgar caught at point as South Africa and a six. He quickly went past his in a largely inexperienced team, fol- scored 262 against South Africa Africa, yesterday. lowed suit when he dropped Stokes, in 2006. SCOREBOARD although De Villiers made amends by picking up the ball and running out wicket partnership of 78 with Amla 64 not out, his first fifty in 12 Test England (I innings): Stokes. South Africa made a bad start before Stokes, bowling around the innings since he made 68 against A Cook c Morris b Rabada 27 when Stiaan van Zyl pushed James wicket to the left-hander sent down the West Indies at the same venue Botham A Hales c De Villiers b Morkel 60 Anderson into the covers and set off a lifting delivery into the body. a yea r ago. He and AB de Villiers put N Compton c Bavuma b Rabada 45 for a run. He was sent back by Elgar Elgar got a leading edge to it and the on an unbeaten 56 for the third wicket. blown away J Root c De Kock b Morris 50 and Nick Compton’s throw to wicket- ball popped up square on the off side, De Villiers was dropped on 5 by Joe keeper Bairstow beat him comfortably. with Compton diving to take the catch. Root at second slip off James Ander- J Taylor c De Kock b Rabada 0 Elgar made 44 and shared a second Amla batted solidly to make son He was on 25 not out at the close. by Stokes B Stokes (run out-De Villiers) 258 J Bairstow (not out) 150 record M Ali (not out) 0 Extras (B-12, LB-6, NB-8, W-13) 39 AFP Total (for 6 wkts decl) 629 Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-129, 3-167, 4-167, 5-223, 6-622. LONDON: England great Ian

Bowling: Morkel 29-5-114-1 (1nb, 1w); Morris Botham hailed a “magnificent” dis- 28-3-150-1; Rabada 29.5-2-175-3 (7nb, 4w); play by Ben Stokes after the Durham Piedt 25-5-112-0; Van Zyl 10-0-43-0; Elgar all-rounder smashed his record for 4-0-17-0. the fastest England double century South Africa (I innings): against South Africa. Stokes, 24, reached the mile- South Africa, first innings stone from 163 balls on the second D Elgar c Compton b Stokes 44 day of the second Test in Cape Town S van Zyl (run out-Compton) 4 on Sunday, obliterating Botham’s H Amla (batting) 64 mark of 220, set against India in A de Villiers (batting) 25 1982. Stokes was eventually run out for 258 -- the highest ever Test Extras (LB-2, W-2) 4 score by a number six batsman -- Total (for 2 wkts) 141 as England declared on 629-6. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-85. Analysing the match for Sky Bowling: Anderson 9-2-24-0; Broad 9-2- Sports, Botham said: “It was mag- England’s Ben Stokes celebrates 32-0; Ali 9-1-30-0; Finn 9-1-30-0; Root 1-0- nificent, one of the best examples of the wicket of South Africa’s Dean 3-0; Stokes 6-1-20-1 (2w). Test cricket I’ve seen in a long time. Elgar. South Africa’s Hashim Amla plays a shot during the second Test match against England yesterday. “Ben Stokes is box office. We knew he’d got it, and this is the tip of the iceberg. He’ll get it wrong once in a while, but he is a guy that wins matches, and they don’t come Masakadza-led Zimbabwe hammer Afghanistan in third ODI along very often. “You’re just king of the castle.” Stokes’s innings was also the Reuters Zimbabwe won the toss and elected as well,” Masakadza told cricinfo.com. batsman to make double figures was too difficult but our batsmen played second-fastest double ton in Test to bat at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, but “We managed to bat as long as we wicketkeeper Mohammad Shahzad, poor shots and their bowlers bowled history, surpassed only by Nathan they lost both openers for ducks within wanted to and managed to get a few with 31, as Zimbabwe made short work very well.” Astle’s record of 153 balls for New SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates: eight balls. In fact they crashed to 49-7 hits away towards the end. It’s good of their innings, all out for 58 in 16.3 Zealand against England in 2002. Hamilton Masakadza hit 83 runs before Masakadza and Graeme Cremer that we’ve managed to keep the series overs, Tendai Chisoro claiming 3-15 Brief scores: Former England opener to help Zimbabwe recover to a 117- came together, the latter pitching in alive, and I hope we can keep this off four overs. Zimbabwe: 175 all out in 48.3 overs (Hamilton Geoffrey Boycott said: “All those run victory over Afghanistan on with a 75-ball 58 to take the Africans momentum.” “Our bowlers started very well. It Masakadza 83, Graeme Cremer 58; Mirwais Ashraf thousands of England supporters Saturday. to 175 all out off 48.3 overs, Mirwais Afghanistan also got off to a dis- was a good partnership between Masa- who’ve come out here for a bit of a 3-20) bt Afghanistan: 58 all out in 16.3 overs The victory left the five-match Ashraf grabbing 3-20. astrous start in their hunt for runs, kadza and Cremer, but a total of 175 holiday, a bit of sunshine, see some one-day international series at 2-1 “Credit to Cremer for the support he losing opener Noor Ali Nadran for was (chaseable),” said Afghan skipper (Mohammad Shahzad 31; Tendai Chisoro 3-14) by cricket -- you’ve seen something to Afghanistan with two yet to play. gave me, and the bowlers did very well a duck on the fourth ball. The only Asghar Stanikzai. “The wicket is not 117 runs. special.” Life’s not a beach for Carter as Racing triumph

AFP Szarzewski having scored Racing’s wind,” said Clermont coach Franck opening try. Azema. Six penalties from Simon Hickey “We knew it was important to keep PARIS: Dan Carter admitted to shelv- (4) and Lionel Beauxis (2) were all a hold of the ball, play the percentages ing thoughts of a hot New Zealand combative Bordeaux side could muster. and try to make them commit fouls. beach as he battled driving rain and “I’m not used to playing through “We haven’t done anything excep- wind to lead Racing 92 to the top of Christmas and New Year, I’m usually tional in winning at Agen, others have the Top 14 table in a hard-fought 23-18 on the beach in New Zealand! Bonne done it before us, but it was impor- victory over Bordeaux-Begles. annee!” Carter told Canal Plus. tant for us to do it to stay on course. Carter was instrumental in the “Last week against Clermont was We would have liked the bonus point win in his first Top 14 start at Stade a big game for us (a 26-10 victory), but we unfortunately conceded a try.” Yves-du-Manoir in the Parisian sur- but it meant nothing if we didn’t get In other games Saturday, Montpel- burb of Colombes. the win this week. We’re very happy lier, featuring 11 foreigners in the While the inclement weather might with the win.” starting XV and a further five on the have been more winter in Dunedin Clermont moved into second spot eight-strong bench, were edged 19-18 than springtime in Paris, a smart show after running out 33-16 victors over by Brive. and give from the Kiwi playmaker set Agen, a much-needed confidence Fijian No 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, a up the decisive try in the 53rd minute boost after two consecutive home veteran of three World Cups and a of a real slog of a match. losses. veritable journeyman of European Carter burst inside Felix Le Bourhis’ Fast-rising flanker Camille Geron- clubs, was in outstanding form for right shoulder, a one-handed offload deau scored a brace of tries to go along Brive, the home side leapfrogging finding Brice Dulin to break clear, the with a penalty try and 18 points from Montpellier into sixth place in a con- international full-back’s pass to Alex- the boot of France fly-half Camille gested mid-table. andre Dumoulin gifting the centre a Lopez while his South African counter- Grenoble put Oyonnax to the clear run-in. part with Agen, Burton Francis, scored sword, running out bonus-point 42-17 A conversion and three quick pen- all of his side’s points. winners, while La Rochelle broke Cas- alties from the World Rugby Player of “That was very complicated for tres’ four-match winning streak with Racing’s fly-half Dan Carter answers journalists’ questions at the end of the French Top 14 rugby union the Year sealed the win, hooker Dimitri us in the first half playing against the a battling 25-21 victory. match Racing Metro 92 vs Bordeaux-Begles at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes on Saturday. SPORT MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 33

Sussex bowler Hobden dies at the age of 22

AFP

LONDON: Sussex fast bowler Mat- thew Hobden has died at the age of 22, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced yesterday. Hobden made his first-class debut for Sussex in 2014 and represented the county across all formats of the game over the past three seasons. A cause of death has not been announced. “Matt was a young cricketer with huge potential, and he is going to be missed so badly by all the guys. He made you smile every time you saw him, because he was so excited to be there and wanted to be the best he could,” Kevin Shine, the ECB’s lead fast bowling coach, said in an offi- cial statement. Hobden was tipped to become an England international and was one of Sussex fast bowler Matthew six players recently selected to take part in the ECB’s England Perform- Hobden. The 22-year-old passed ance Programme (PEPP). away yesterday due to unknown Australian bowler Nathan Lyon (centre) celebrates his 100th test wicket on Australian soil after captain Steve Smith caught outWest Indies’ England’s players wore black arm- reasons. batsman Kraigg Brathwaite during their third cricket Test at the SCG in Sydney yesterday. bands during the second day of the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town yesterday. youth and academy ranks, having In a statement, Sussex said: “Sus- been born locally in Eastbourne. sex Cricket is deeply shocked and He will be greatly missed. Sus- saddened to hear of the passing of sex would like to offer their deepest Aussies on top as Lyon claims Matthew Hobden. condolences to Matthew’s family and “He was an exciting young crick- friends at this difficult time.” eter with a big future ahead of him in Sussex captain Ed Joyce wrote on the game. He was a fantastic individual Twitter: “In shock. Can’t get my head 100th victim on home soil who had progressed through Sussex’s around the news. RIP Matt Hobden.”

CRICKET: Shai Hope, recalled for injured offering a shot. Sri Lanka’s Ranatunga The only batsman AUSTRALIA VS WEST INDIES opener Rajendra Chandrika, began Chandrika injured his groin in the to show formidable positively with some crisp drives but morning warm-up, after leg-spinner fell in the fifth over. Devendra Bishoo hurt his shoulder loses Board battle resistance Brathwaite sixes and four fours in his unbeaten Josh Hazlewood got him to prod on the morning of the second Mel- falls short of maiden 35 after winning the toss. outside the off-stump and he was bourne Test. “I’m pretty proud of that. It’s a pretty snapped up by Peter Nevill for nine. The West Indies, who are playing AFP Test ton big achievement for myself. I knew I Brathwaite put on 91 runs for the in their first Test at the Sydney Cricket was close, but I didn’t know the exact second wicket with Darren Bravo Ground in 15 years, have not won a number,” Lyon said of his century of before Bravo was out in the third over Test in Australia since 1997. home Test wickets. after lunch for 33. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s 1996 World AFP “It’s a big challenge for me, it’s James Pattinson dug one in and Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Rana- spinning pretty big and it’s got decent Bravo top-edged to Usman Khawaja SCOREBOARD tunga and his younger brother bounce. It’s a challenge for me to try at backward square leg. Nishantha suffered humiliating and hit the stumps. I’m enjoying that Marlon Samuels was run out in a West Indies (I innings): defeats yesterday in elections for the SYDNEY: Nathan Lyon claimed his challenge right now.” dreadful mid-pitch mix-up with Kraigg K Brathwaite c Smith b Lyon 85 country’s governing body for cricket, 100th Test wicket in Australia with Australia have already retained the Brathwaite before the first rain inter- S Hope c Nevill b Hazlewood 9 Sri Lanka Cricket . the dismissal of top-scoring opener Frank Worrell Trophy after huge wins ruption in the afternoon session. D Bravo c Khawaja b Pattinson 33 Arjuna, who led Sri Lanka to Kraigg Brathwaite late on the opening in the first two Tests and are chasing Samuels, who has just scored a its only World Cup victory in 1996, M Samuels (run out-Hazlewood) 4 day of the rain-hit third Test against a 3-0 series clean sweep. total of 35 runs in five innings in the sought the position of vice president the West Indies in Sydney yesterday. Brathwaite, who along with Darren series, hit towards point and darted J Blackwood b Lyon 10 but lost by 22 votes to businessman Brathwaite had defied Australia’s Bravo has been the best-performing off for a run only to stop in the mid- D Ramdin (batting) 23 Jayantha Dharmadasa, according to bowlers and two rain delays before he batsman in the series for the strug- dle of the pitch. J Holder c Burns n O’Keefe 1 official results. gave away his wicket late in the day gling visitors, before he was deceived Brathwaite had dropped his bat His brother Nishantha Ranatunga

C Brathwaite (batting) 35 Sri Lanka Cricket’s new chairman to Lyon for 85. by Lyon’s extra bounce and attempted before retreating to his end and Samu- stood for president of crisis-ridden Sri Extras (B-5, LB-1, NB-1) 7 Brathwaite, one of the few shining to steer the ball past slip. els was stranded by Hazlewood’s throw Lanka Cricket but lost by 32 votes to Thilanga Sumathipala lights in a dismal Windies tour with But instead he dollied a catch off to the striker’s end. Total (for 6 wkts) 207 businessman and politician Thilanga 94 in the first Hobart Test, was in sight his glove to Steve Smith at slip. “I think those things happen in Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-104, 3-115, 4-131, Sumathipala, the deputy speaker of of his fifth Test century before he fell Brathwaite’s dismissal was quickly cricket. I’m not sure what to say about 5-159, 6-159. Sri Lankan Parliament. pending fresh elections. to Lyon. followed by the wicket of skipper Jason that,” Brathwaite said. “It was just a Bowling: Hazlewood 12-2-35-1; Pattinson There was no immediate com- However, his move was criticised It gave the Australia off-spinner Holder, who was instinctively caught misunderstanding.” 13-2-41-1 (1nb); Lyon 32-11-68-2; Marsh 4-1- ment from the Ranatunga brothers, by the sport’s world governing body, his 100th Test in Australia and 184th by Joe Burns at short leg for one off To compound Samuels’ woes, rain 15-0; O’Keefe 14-4-42-1. both of whom had previously held the International Cricket Council, scalp overall. left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe. immediately forced the players from Australia: D A Warner, J A Burns, U T Kha- top positions at Sri Lanka Cricket. which had insisted that Sri Lanka At the close, after 75 overs were Brathwaite watched four batting the field and kept them off until tea Sri Lanka’s then-sports minis- Cricket hold elections. waja, S P D Smith, A C Voges, M R Marsh, P M squeezed in around two lengthy rain partners come and go as Australia used was taken. ter Navin Dissanayake had sacked Cricket clubs affiliated to the Nevill, S N J O’Keefe, J L Pattinson, J R Hazle- interruptions, the West Indies were two recognised spinners in Lyon and Upon resumption Jermaine Black- the previous board on April 01 amid island’s governing body were eligi- 207 for six with Denesh Ramdin on O’Keefe for the first time in a home wood misjudged Lyon’s turn and was wood, N M Lyon. allegations of rampant corruption ble to vote yesterday and to elect new 23 and Carlos Brathwaite belting two Test for a decade. bowled off-stump for 10 after not and appointed an interim committee office-holders. Luke Wright hits 109 for Big Bash T20 attracts over 80,000 spectators Melbourne Stars at MCG Reuters Agencies Stars run chase, a dropped catch by Tom Beaton rolled to the boundary for four when Wright was on 64. The Englishman then rubbed salt into the MELBOURNE: The growing appeal MELBOURNE: An unbeaten ton by wounds with a pair of towering sixes of Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Luke Wright guided the Stars to a off the next two deliveries from Xavier Bash League was underlined when seven-wicket win in front of a record Doherty. Former Star Cameron White more than 80,000 fans turned up at Big Bash League crowd at the Mel- marked his first match against his old the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) bourne derby against the Renegades side with a powerful 54 from 39 balls for a match on Saturday night. on Saturday. - the highlight of Renegades’ innings. The crowd attracted to Austral- The 80,883-strong crowd at the Skipper Aaron Finch passed 4,000 ia’s biggest arena for Melbourne derby MCG easily eclipsed the previous career runs in Twenty20 cricket, but between the Renegades and the Stars record of 52,637, set at Adelaide Oval, he was dismissed after making 36 surpassed the previous record of 52,637 and created an electric atmosphere, off 29 balls. Gayle spooned an easy before a ball was bowled and 80,883 with the superb unbeaten innings catch to Pietersen at mid-on off the came through the gates in total. of 109 off 63 balls from the English bowling of John Hastings. Amazingly, Stars coach Stephen Fleming, import guiding Stars home with five Pietersen was speaking to Channel whose team won the match by seven balls to spare. 10 commentators on the live telecast wickets, thought the attendance would As much as Wright dazzled, many as Hastings came in to bowl to Gayle. send “shockwaves” around the crick- of those fans came for the tantalising Hastings was the pick of the Stars eting world. match-up between big-hitters Chris bowlers with figures of 4 for 29 from “There’s a lot of talk about the dif- Gayle and Kevin Pietersen, but it failed his four overs but many fans missed ferent formats of the game but when to live up to the hype, with Gayle mak- a large chunk of his bowling effort as you’re getting crowds of 80,000, it’s ing just four runs and Pietersen out for heightened security measures leav- sending a pretty strong message. It’s A digital screen at the Melbourne Cricket Ground showing the number of crowd attendance, 80,883, which six. Having won the toss and sending ing thousands stranded outside the something I’m sure a lot of people will is a record for Australia’s domestic Twenty20 Big Bash League. Renegades in, Stars restricted their ground as play started. be taking notice of and looking to plot cross-town rivals to 7 for 161, then CHIEF SCORES: the future. It’s just extraordinary where overcame the early losses of Marcus Melbourne Renegades: 7 for 161 this competition is going. You’ve got and has grown steadily in popularity poor fare available in the more tradi- series and Saturday’s crowd easily sur- Stoinis and Pietersen to notch their (Cameron White 54, Aaron Finch 36, quality cricket but the crowd support... over its first five seasons. tional Test programme this year would passed the 53,389 for the first day of second win from four matches in the John Hastings 4 for 29) it’s astonishing,” ,” he told reporters. Cheap tickets and the New Year’s also have helped. the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which fifth BBL season. Melbourne Stars: 3 for 163 (Luke The eight-team Big Bash League holiday weekend certainly contributed Australia hammered West Indies in traditionally attracts the biggest crowd In a pivotal moment late in the Wright 109 not out) was started by Cricket Australia in 2011 to Saturday’s bumper crowd but the the first two matches of their ongoing of the year. 34 MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Senorita delights fans with super win

Optarny picked up QR 52,080. Saudi rider Khaled In competition 10, Jordanian rider Ibrahim Hani Bisharat tasted victory Al Eid guides with Brown Sugar to bag the honours Senorita to win on in the 145cm class. Brown Sugar clocked a time of the final day of Al 40.09 seconds as Bisharat picked up Rayyan International the top prize of QR 30,525. Czech rider Opatrny enjoyed Show Jumping another sound outing to finish in sec- Championship ond spot with VDL Fakir who clocked a time of 42.63 seconds. Qatar’s popular rider Bassem astride Paddy’s Darco finished in third The Peninsula spot in a time of 42.66 seconds. Saudi rider Nasser Albagami (4th, WKD Lexington) and Qatar’s Rashid DOHA: Saudi rider Khaled Al Eid yes- Al Towaim Al Marri (5th, Kannada) terday found a perfect ally in Senorita completed the top five. to win the feature event after an intense In competition 9, Ali Al Khorafi battle with Qatar’s Bassem Hassan continued with his good form yester- Mohammed on the final day of the day when he produced a neat routine 2016 Al Rayyan International Show with Cheril to grab the honours in the Jumping Championship. 130/135cm class. Al Eid, who won the top event on Saudi rider Khaled Almobty, astride Saturday, yesterday produced a well- Aloha, finished in second spot in a time timed routine with Senorita to bag of 56.36 seconds. Naser Al Shawwaf, the top prize of QR 186,000. Senorita who was riding his popular entry Fulla, clocked a time of 43.45 seconds in the finished in third sport in a time of 61.40 Saudi rider Khaled Al Eid is pictured with Qatar’s Bassem Hassan Mohammed and Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander on the final day of the 160cm class. seconds. 2016 Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship in Doha yesterday. Qatar’s Bassem battled until the Salman Almaqadi (4th, Seoul) and end with The Toymaker to finish in Meshary Alharbi (5th, Zidane) com- second spot. The Toymaker clocked pleted the top five riders in round secured the third spot in a time of 51.13 a time of 44.37 seconds. Bassem won against the clock. seconds. Mohammed Said Haidan, AL RAYYAN INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING QR 148,800 for his efforts. In competition 8, Qatari riders astride Corrado’s Coriana, grabbed CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS Australia’s Edwina Tops-Alex- smoked the competition, bagging the the fourth spot while Salem Rashid ander finished her Doha trip with a top spots in the 120cm class. Al Marri (Marfurlong Magic) finished Read under as horse, rider, time and prize money: third-place trophy with Lintea Tequila Saeed Nasser Al Qadi guided Jes- in fifth spot. (Comp. 8) One round against the clock , Art. 238.2.1 - 120 CM who clocked a time of 44.99 seconds. sico 4 to the top position in a time of A total of 89 riders and 164 horses Jessico 4, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi, 49.09 seconds, QR 2,812 Edwina won QR 111,600. 49.09 seconds. Caresse M G, ridden featured in this 4-star event, the sec- Saudi rider Ramzy Al Duhami by Mohammad Al Ghazali, finished ond of its kind organised by QEF in a Caresse M G, Mohammad Al Ghazali, 50.43 seconds, QR 2,250 (4th, Al Capone) and Czech rider Ales in second place in a time of 50.43 week. There were 11 classes in total of What A Lady Van De Smis, Jaber Rashid Al Amri, 51.13 seconds, QR 1,687 Optarny (5th, Acovaro) completed the seconds. which 3 were contested on the first day top five. What A Lady Van De Smis, who on Friday while 4 each are lined up on Corrado’s Coriana, Mohammed Said Haidan, 55.85 seconds, QR 1,125 Al Duhami won QR 74,400 while had Jaber Rashid Al Amri in the saddle, Saturday and yesterday respectively. Marfurlong Magic, Salem Rashid Al Marri, 55.98 seconds, QR 787 (Comp. 9) One round against the clock , Art. 238.2.1 - 130/135 CM Cheril, Ali Al Khorafi, 55.10 seconds, QR 5,062 Aloha, Khaled Almobty, 56.36 seconds, QR 4,050 Fulla, Naser Al Shawwaf, 61.40 seconds, QR 3,037 Khaled Al Eid of Saudi Arabia (above) and Qatar’s Bassem Seoul, Salman Almaqadi, 62.00 seconds, QR 2,025 Hassan Mohammed. Zidane, Meshary Alharbi, 65.54 seconds, QR 1,417 (Comp. 10) One Round + Winning Round, Art. 276.2.1, 2.3 - 145 CM Brown Sugar, Ibrahim Hani Bisharat, 40.09 seconds, QR 30,525 Vdl Fakir, Ales Opatrny, 42.63 seconds, QR 24,420 Paddys Darco, Bassem Hassan Mohammed, 42.66 seconds, QR 18,315 Wkd Lexington, Nasser Albagami, 43.88 seconds, QR 12,210 Kannada, Rashid Towaim Al Marri, 45.82 seconds, QR 8,547 (Comp. 11) Two Rounds, Art. 273.3.3.2 + 4.3 - 145 -160 CM Senorita, Khaled Al Eid, 43.45 seconds, QR 186,000 The Toymaker, Bassem Hassan Mohammed, 44.37 seconds, QR 148,800 Lintea Tequila, Edwina Tops-Alexander, 44.99 seconds, QR 111,600 Al Capone, Ramzy Al Duhami, 46.40 second, QR 74,400 Saudi rider Khaled Al Eid guides Senorita over an obstacle on the final day of the 2016 Al Rayyan International Acovaro, Ales Opatrny, 46.54 seconds, QR 52,080 Show Jumping Championship in Doha yesterday. Dakar opening stage cancelled in Argentina

AFP left 10 people hurt. A 10-year-old boy “In total, we had 10 patients, includ- and his father were seriously injured ing four children and one pregnant and underwent surgery overnight, with woman, who is ok,” said Daniel Modesto, ROSARIO, ARGENTINA: Poor weather Lavigne adding both were in a “sta- head of the local hospital. has forced the cancellation of yes- ble condition”. “Medical assessments are ongo- terday’s Dakar Rally opening stage However, Lavigne said the condi- ing,” organisers added. because of safety concerns, race direc- tion of a third man “deteriorated in the The accident left Guo’s car battered, tor Etienne Lavigne said, a day after night” with doctors offering a “guarded its bonnet strewn on the ground, as ten people were injured when a car prognosis”. emergency workers carted the injured crashed into spectators. “The joint resources of the organi- off on stretchers. An inquiry has been Thunderstorms and heavy rain zation and local forces have taken over opened by local authorities with the prompted organisers to scrap the and evacuated four injured, including Chinese team to be questioned by police scheduled 600-kilometre plus route two seriously affected,” organisers said shortly. Between 50,000 and 60,000 from Rosario to Villa Carlos Paz, with in a statement early yesterday. people were expected along the route the conditions grounding safety heli- “Police have indicated that six more of the prologue. copters and leaving parts of the course lightly injured have been transferred In 2015, Polish motorbike rider flooded. to hospital.” Michal Hernik died at the end of a stage, “The Dakar doesn’t stop when it The incident, which involved the but the last accident involving spec- rains but when it’s not possible to guar- Mini of Chinese driver Guo Meiling, tators at the Dakar Rally was in 2011, antee the normal security presence” saw the prologue -- which takes place when one person was killed. for the rally, Lavigne explained. before the first stage -- “neutralised” Nine-time world rally champion “The weather conditions are very and immediately suspended in horrific Sebastien Loeb had safely negoti- bad. The relay plane (which helps with scenes, race organisers said. ated the prologue in his debut on the radio communications) was unable to Guo’s car veered off the course at Dakar Rally. fly. Helicopters can’t take off. The sit- the 6.6-kilometer mark of the 11-kil- Dutchman Bernhard ten Brinke, uation isn’t going to improve in terms ometer prologue on a stretch of straight driving a Toyota, had claimed victory, of visibility,” he added. country road near Arrecifes, a small taking 6min 08sec to cover the 11 km The first stage was supposed to town 200 kilometers (120 miles) from special, beating Carlos Sainz (Peugeot) include a 258km timed special for cars the Argentine capital Buenos Aires. and Xavier Pons (Ford Ranger). and a 227km section for motorcycles, Race chiefs immediately deployed Frenchman Loeb is seeking to fol- but the entire field will instead travel to four medical helicopters, three medical low in the footsteps of Ari Vatanen, who Cordoba under link section conditions. vehicles belonging to the organisers won the Dakar in his first attempt in The 38th edition of the Dakar Rally, and eight local ambulances to the scene 1987, back when it was raced in Africa. which will cover more than 9,300km of the accident. “It was important to clear the pro- across Argentina and Bolivia, com- The injured were brought to hos- logue and avoid any mistakes on the menced with Saturday’s prologue which pital at Arrecifes, with the two more first day,” said Loeb, driving a Peu- Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (right) of Qatar and his navigator Matthieu Baumel of France wave from their Mini at was “neutralised” and then immedi- seriously injured later transferred to geot 2008 DKR, having raced almost ately suspended after a crash involving a hospital at Pilar, 50km from Bue- exclusively for another French man- the podium during the departure ceremony of the 38th Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Saturday. the Mini of Chinese driver Guo Meiling nos Aires. ufacturer, Citroen. Al Attiyah is the defending champion. SPORT MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 35 Warriors, Spurs remain unbeaten at home

BASKETBALL: NBA ROUND-UP Golden State extend winning streak after first -- failing to score a point for the 111-108 victory over first time in his 1,598-game regular- the Denver Nuggets season and play-off career. The Sacramento Kings’ 142-119 vic- tory over the struggling Phoenix Suns gave coach George Karl his 1,155th NBA victory, tying him with Phil Jackson for AFP fifth on the NBA’s all-time list. “That’s good, it’s awesome for him,” Kings guard Darren Collison said. “He’s LOS ANGELES:: Klay Thompson drove one of the best coaches this league for a go-ahead basket with 15.6 sec- has to offer. It’s good for George. He onds left in overtime on Saturday as deserves it.” the Golden State Warriors kept their Centre DeMarcus Cousins led the NBA home winning streak alive with a Kings with 32 points, nine rebounds bruising 111-108 victory over the Den- and three steals as Sacramento snapped ver Nuggets. a three-game losing streak with their The Warriors improved to 16-0 at highest-scoring match of the current home this season, and posted their season. 34th straight win at Oracle Arena in LeBron James and the Cleveland Oakland, a streak stretching back to Cavaliers dealt Orlando another big last season. defeat, manhandling the Magic 104-79. They aren’t the only team dom- Cleveland have now handed the inating on their home floor, and the Magic their three worst defeats of this San Antonio Spurs became just the season: 117-103 in November and 111- third Western Conference team ever to 76 three weeks ago. open a season 20-0 at home with a 121- James scored 29 points, connect- 103 victory over the Houston Rockets. ing on 11 of 18 shots from the field and But the Warriors and Spurs had four of seven from three-point range. to battle to keep their streaks alive. With three assists he passed Nate In Oakland, a Warriors team miss- “Tiny” Archibald for 21st on the NBA’s ing five injured players were buoyed all-time assists list with 6,478. by the return from injury of Stephen Meanwhile, Star guard Stephen Curry and exploded for a 37-13 first- Curry’s return to action for the Golden quarter lead. State Warriors was cut short on Sat- But the Nuggets outscored them urday when he re-injured his bruised in each of the next three quarters, the left shin. Warriors unable to keep them at bay Curry played 14 minutes in the after Curry departed at halftime hav- Warriors’ home game against Den- ing aggravated his bruised left shin. ver before getting hit on his still sore Power forward Draymond Green leg and departing the contest. helped fill the void with a triple double Klay Thompson (right) of the Golden State Warriors shoots as Dwight Howard of the Houston Rockets attempts to block in the second half of The reigning NBA Most Valuable their NBA game in Houston, Texas in this December 31, 2015 file photo. Player finished with five points on NBA RESULTS two-of-six shooting from the field, Brooklyn 100 Boston 97 including making one of five three- Sacramento 142 Phoenix 119 of 29 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists. a brace -- raising his arm and giving a of the win. “When stuff started going with a 26-5 scoring run in the third point attempts. He had four assists Oklahoma City 109 Charlotte 90 Thompson, who finished with 16 “thumbs up” as he was wheeled away. wrong, nobody fought and nobody com- quarter. Forward Kawhi Leonard and two steals. Curry sat out games points, rolled in his go-ahead basket Barton, who forced overtime with a plained to each other. We just stuck added 23 points and played suffocat- on Wednesday and Thursday in Dal- Indiana 94 Detroit 82 in overtime after Denver forward Ken- driving bank shot, had two chances to together.” Spurs forward LaMarcus ing defence on Houston guard James las and Houston with what the team Cleveland 104 Orlando 79 neth Faried buried a contested shot to tie the game in the last seven seconds Aldridge scored 24 points and pulled Harden, holding one of the NBA’s leading called a lower leg bruise. Milwaukee 95 Minnesota 85 knot the score at 108-108 with 33.3 sec- of overtime. But he missed a running down nine rebounds and guard Danny scorers to one point in the second half. In his absence the Warriors suffered New Orleans 105 Dallas 98 onds left in the extra session. five-footer and after Thompson had Green broke out of a shooting slump With the win the Spurs improved just their second loss of the season to San Antonio 121 Houston 103 Faried was then injured in a colli- stretched Golden State’s lead to 111- with six three-pointers for San Antonio, to 29-6 and avenged their most recent the Mavericks before bouncing back sion with teammate Will Barton. 108 with two free throws Barton was who have now won 29 straight games defeat -- a Christmas loss in Houston. to beat the Rockets. Warriors interim Utah 92 Memphis 87 He missed the final seconds and off-target with a last-gasp three-point at home dating back to last season. Veteran forward Tim Duncan coach Luke Walton indicated Saturday Golden State 111 Denver 108 was taken from courtside on a stretcher attempt at the buzzer. The Spurs broke open a close game returned to action after sitting out three that he and his coaching staff would LA CLIPPERS 130 Philadelphia 99 after the contest ended with his neck in “We stuck together,” Green said that saw eight first-half lead changes games and posted a dubious career keep a close eye on Curry. Los Angeles Kings edge Philadelphia Dolphins ditch Hickey after second season Agencies Agencies NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE UPDATES

NEW YORK: Left winger Dwight King LOS ANGELES: The Dolphins have and defenceman Drew Doughty scored parted ways with general manager Dennis Hickey (pictured) after two sea- goals and goaltender Jonathan Quick sons, the team announced on Saturday, his lavish spending unable to help made 29 saves as the Los Angeles Kings Miami end a play-off drought that stretches back to 2008. beat the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 on Miami are 5-10 heading into season finale and Hickey finishes with a Saturday. 13-18 record despite heavy investment in a team that were expected to chal- With its first home triumph over lenge for a postseason berth before the campaign began. the Flyers in seven years, Los Ange- “I want to thank Dennis for his work over the last two years. We talked les (25-11-2) won its fifth consecutive about a number of different possibilities, but at the end we reached this game and Philadelphia (15-15-7) lost agreement,” Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannen- all three contests on its California trip. baum said via a statement. Panthers 3, Rangers 0 The Dolphins are also likely be searching for a new head coach this off- The Florida Panthers set a fran- season after firing Joe Philbin in October and replacing him with interim chise record with their eighth straight coach Dan Campbell. victory, defeating the New York Rang- Meanwhile, Philadelphia Eagles announced that they interviewed former ers 3-0 at BB&T Center. running back Duce Staley for their head coaching job. The surprising Panthers (22-12- Staley, who is the team’s running 4) lead the Atlantic Division with 48 backs coach, was interviewed Friday. points. The job opened up after the team Panthers goaltender Roberto fired Chip Kelly earlier this week. Luongo made 39 saves to earn the Offensive coordinator Pat Shur- shutout. He got the best of Rangers mur is the Eagles’ interim coach for goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made Sunday’s finale against the New York 15 saves. Giants. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie said Penguins 5, Islanders 2 after firing Kelly that Shurmur is a Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre New York Rangers centre Derick Brassard (front) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers defenceman candidate for the permanent job. Fleury won on his return from injury. Willie Mitchell (right) defends in the first period of their NHL game in Florida on Saturday. Staley, 40, is believed to be a Fleury, who missed eight games favorite to become the head coach. because of a concussion, made 38 saves He played seven seasons with the for his 14th victory of the season. He 26 shots before he was pulled. Sidney ICE HOCKEY: NHL ROUND-UP Kadri and Michael Grabner also scored Eagles. By interviewing Staley, the was facing his backup last year with Crosby scored twice, and Phil Kessel, for Toronto. team also fulfilled the NFL’s Rooney the Penguins, Islanders goalie Tho- Matt Cullen and Patric Hornqvist had Lightning 3, Wild 2 (SO) Rule, which requires including a mas Greiss, who gave up four goals on one goal each for Pittsburgh, which Devils 3, Stars 2 (OT) Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy minority among head coaching is on a 4-1-1 run under Mike Sullivan John Moore scored a power-play made 30 saves and stopped all three candidates. NHL RESULTS since starting 0-3 after he took over goal at 1:47 of overtime as New Jer- shots in the shootout to lift Tampa Bay. In 10 NFL seasons, Staley ran as coach. sey beat Dallas. Ryan Callahan scored in the shootout for 4,807 yards. He retired as an Edmonton 4 Arizona 3 Predators 2, Hurricanes 1 (OT) Dallas entered the game with the for the Lightning. Zach Parise, Mikko Eagle in 2007 and joined the team’s Los Angeles 2 Philadelphia 1 Mattias Ekholm scored with 1:51 most points (59) and the most goals Koivu and Charlie Coyle failed to score coaching staff in 2010. He has been Toronto 4 St Louis 1 remaining in overtime to give Nash- (136) in the NHL. in the bonus format for Minnesota, the running backs coach since 2013. Tampa Bay 3 Minnesota 2 ville a hard fought victory against the New Jersey received second period which got 28 saves from Devan Dubnyk. Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine has received no assurances Florida 3 NY Rangers 0 Carolina. goals from Bobby Farnham and Kyle Blue Jackets 5, Capitals 4 (SO) from owner Jimmy Haslam about his future and could be coaching his final The Predators won in an overtime Palmieri. Patrick Sharp and Colton Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. New Jersey 3 Dallas 2 session for the first time in 10 tries this Scevious scored third-period goals. Johansen scored shootout goals and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Pettine asked Haslam whether Pittsburgh 5 NY Islanders 2 season. They’re 3-7 in games extend- Maple Leafs 4, Blues 1 rookie goaltender Anton Forbserg sur- he would be back and the owner refused to answer. Nashville 2 Carolina 1 ing beyond regulation, the other two Peter Holland scored a power-play vived in a tough spot to lead Columbus. Haslam said in training camp he would not “blow it up” after this season, Columbus 5 Washington 4 wins coming in shootouts. goal early in the third period to end a The Blue Jackets got two goals and but a 3-12 campaign has led to speculation about Pettine’s future. Calgary 4 Colorado 0 Victor Rask scored for the Hurri- tie as Toronto won its second straight an assist from Jack Johnson in reg- According to Cleveland.com sources, Pettine talked to Haslam about the canes, who are 4-6 in post-regulation and sent St Louis to its second loss in ulation, and Brandon Saad also had coaching staff and was told that a decision would not be made until after the Winnipeg 4 San Jose 1 results. a row. James van Riemsdyk, Nazem two goals. game and after a possible move in the personnel department on Monday. MONDAY 4 JANUARY 2016 36

Umm Salal force Belmadi grants six-day break for a one-all draw Lekhwiya

Doha: Lekhwiya head against Al Sadd coach Djamel Belmadi has decided to grant his squad six days rest fol- lowing their 2-1 victory over Qatar Sports Club SOCCER: QATAR STARS LEAGUE in round 15 of the Qatar Al Sadd lose AL SADD VS UMM SALAL Stars League. opportunity to climb This rest coincides with the AFC Under-23 up in the standings looped over the whole Al Sadd defence. Championship which will Brazilian defender Wellington was be held in Doha from the on hand to scoop in from close range January 12 to 30. giving Umm Salal a deserved equal- The current QSL The Peninsula izer on the balance of play, the first champions will resume half ended 1-1. training on January 9 to In the second half the Wolves prepare for their upcom- came out with renewed vigour and ing matches. DOHA: Blustery conditions at the it nine minutes for them to register Lekhwiya are cur- Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium played their first chance in anger. Unfortu- rently in second place in into the hands of Umm Salal as they nately the Hasan Khalid Haydos’ free the QSL standings, ahead shared the points with Al Sadd in a kick sailed high and wide off Baba of todays final round of bruising 1-1 draw last evening. Malick’s goal. matches before the three Al Sadd floundered in the early The Wolves had their rivals on the week break. stages of the tie. Former Sadd coach back foot for much of the second half, Hussain Amoutta was in attendance but could not find the killer touch in Pearson hopes at the match, and the Moroccan tacti- the final third. Chances missed from cian would not have been impressed substitutes Meshaal Al-Shammari and Leicester City can with his former charges had started Saleh Alyazidi summed up a disap- the tie. pointing night for Jesualdo Ferreira. make Premier Umm Salal began to mount a sus- Umm Salal held on well through- League tained period of pressure from set out the second half, holding off attacks pieces, but despite the aerial prow- from both wings from Nadir Belhadj Leicester: Former Leices- ess of Yannick Sagbo and Welinton, and the ever present Haydos. ter manager Nigel Pearson the orange fortress where unable to Brazilian defender Wellington says he thinks the club can carve out a chance of note. exemplified the hard work of the finish in the top four of the Al Sadd’s first moment of quality Umm Salal during this period. Premier League. was delivered from Qatari interna- Bulent Uygun will be the happier The Foxes sacked tional Khalfan Ibrahim. A quick of the two coaches at the end of the Pearson and appointed one-two with compatriot Hasan Kha- tie as the Orange Fortress held on to Claudio Ranieri in the sum- lid Haydos on the 37th minute gave register their eighth draw of the QSL mer, then embarked on a the midfielder time and space in the season. Al Sadd will use the three run that saw them top the box, Khalfan promptly smashed his week break to focus on the second table at Christmas. shot past Baba Malick in the Umm part of the season, and hope that they They are currently Salal goal. can get back into the QSL title race. seven points clear of Umm Salal quickly struck back in Al Sadd are ranked fourth in the fifth place, with the top stoppage time, with the blustery condi- Qatar Stars League after yesterday’s Al Sadd’s Kasola Mohammed (left) and Umm Salal’s Jermie Ali Adiere vie for the ball during their Qatar Stars four earning a spot in the tions having a hand in their equalizer. tie, followed by Umm Salal in the fifth League match played at the Hamad Bin Khalifa Stadium yesterday. The game ended in a one-all draw. Photo Champions League. A well delivered Rami Fayez free kick slot. by: Kammutty VP “The first half of the season shows they are capable,” Pearson, 52, told BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek. Yaya pays tribute to Gohouri “I don’t see any rea- son why they can’t stay in the top four. I think we’ve Agencies the age of five, where he was raised seen enough results this in the suburbs of Paris. year to suggest the sides Former Ivory Coast captain Didier who have been promoted Drogba, who played alongside the are doing well and the big MANCHESTER: Manchester City mid- defender for the Elephants, described guns are not having it their fielder Yaya Toure has led tributes to him as a ‘soldier’. own way.” compatriot and former Ivory Coast “So sad about this news, lost one In his first full sea- defender Steve Gohouri who died at of my soldiers, Cote d’Ivoire lost one son as a Premier League the age of 34. of his most loyal sons. My thoughts manager, Pearson more The ex-Wigan player went miss- goes to the family. R I P Bro (sic),” than once attracted con- ing on December 12 after a Christmas Drogba wrote. troversy with his abrasive party with his German club TSV Gohouri began his football career style, calling a journal- Steinbach. in France but played for clubs in Israel, ist “an ostrich” at a news German police confirmed his Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Greece conference and becom- body had been found in the River and Germany. He played for Ger- ing involved in a touchline Rhine in the western city of Krefeld man side Borussia Mönchengladbach altercation with Crystal on Thursday. between 2007 and 2009, helping the Palace midfielder James “My thoughts and prayers are club gain promotion to the Bundes- McArthur. with the family of Steve Gohouri. liga in 2008. Gohouri moved from Very sad news he is no longer with Germany to then-Premier League us,” Toure said. side Wigan in January 2010 where Man United Another current Ivory Coast inter- he made 42 appearances for the club national, Hertha Berlin’s Salomon between 2010 and 2012. eyeing mystery Kalou, has paid tribute on social Gohouri joined Maccabi Tel Aviv Al Ahli SC’s player Ndombe Mubele (right) in action with Al Wakrah SC player Ahmed Ali Khil during the media. “Rest in peace my brother,” in the summer of 2012 and also had striker QSL match at Al Ahli stadium yesterday. Photo by: Kammutty VP he wrote. a spell at Skoda Xanthi in the Greek Gohouri, a member of the Ivory top flight before looking to finish his London: New year, same Coast 2008 African Cup of Nations playing career in the fourth-tier of pressures for Manches- and 2010 World Cup squads, moved Germany. He joined TSV Steinbach ter United, who face Isa saves the day for El Jaish from his native country to France at from Erfurt in 2015. Swansea next Saturday at Old Trafford know- ing they need to start picking up more points The Peninsula equalizer in the closing minutes of the trigger the ball was deflected towards and scoring more goals first half. In the 39th minute, Sayaf Isa who made no mistake with his El Jaish name Al Dossari quickly. Mohsin curled in a great free kick and finish. The Express said Abdulgadir Ilyas was able to direct This hard-earned win will further United “accept they DOHA: An 83rd minute strike from into the goal with a back heel. Jaish boost the confidence of the Jaish team head of football will be unable to prise super sub Yasir Abubakar Isa helped stopper Khalifa Ndiaye got a hand who are now in second place in the Harry Kane, Romelu El Jaish snatch a 2-1 victory over Al to it but it rebounded off him into the QSL table. Sailiya will feel robbed of a Lukaku, Sadio Mane, Sailiya yesterday evening. This result goal. The second half saw both teams point but they can take heart from the The Peninsula Jamie Vardy and Riyad meant that Jaish have now registered searching for the lead. strong performance that they showed Mahrez away from their three consecutive wins while their Despite Jaish being the stronger here, which will help them go into clubs in midseason” but opponents Sailiya have now suffered team on paper, Sailiya grew in con- the break with their head held high. have been linked with two back to back losses after going on fidence in the second half, taking the In another match yesterday, hosts DOHA: El Jaish have officially Felipe Anderson (Lazio), a four-match winning spree. battle to their opponents. Status quo Al Ahli came from behind to beat Al appointed Rashed Mahbob Al Dos- Yoshinori Muto of Mainz Jaish got off to an ideal start when remained in the match and that could Wakrah 2-1 in their round 15 game. sari (pictured) as head of football and Fulham’s Moussa striker Abderrazzaq Hamedallah gave have prompted Jaish coach Sabri Lam- Ruben Filipe Amorim (54) opened for the club. Dembele. them a lead in the 12th minute. The ouchi to bring on Isa in place of Wagner the scoring for the visitors after feisty Al Dossari expressed his hap- Meanwhile, Liverpool Moroccan latched on a long ball from Ribeiro. The replacement bore fruit in goalless battle in the first half. piness with such huge confidence are keen on a new goal- the deep and though his first attempt the 83rd minute, just when it looked However, Al Ahli hit back through entrusted in him by the Club Mem- keeper and may tempt was thwarted by Sailiya keeper Ger- like a draw was on the cards. Mojtaba Jabari Kordgheshlaghi (79) bers of the Board. Barcelona’s Marc-Andre gory Gomis, Hamedallah was able to Isa started the move when he and Ndombe Mubele (81) to bag three “I am honored to work for El Jaish ter Stegen, according dispatch the ball into the back of the passed to Romarinho and then contin- points from the hard-fought battle. Club; This club has a fantastic man- to aid the successful development of to reports from RMC. net in the second attempt. ued his run inside the box. Meanwhile Ninth-placed Al Ahli now have agement structure, and along with a the side. I have big ambitions with El The German won the The Soldiers looked like going Jaish’s twinkle-toed Brazilian weaved a tally of 17 points from 15 matches dedicated squad of players, who are Jaish, and through the hard work of Champions League last into the break with a one-goal advan- his way through the Sailiya defence whereas Al Wakrah - a notch behind capable to excel at the highest levels,” everyone we will achieve our aim of season . tage but Sailiya were able to find an but just when he was able to pull the - also have a similar tally. Al Dossari said. “I want to work hard winning titles for this side,” he added.