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Doha Bank Rabada takes 7 recordsr impressive as South Africa net profit stretch advantage

MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 • 15 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6686 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Mowasalat Prime Minister meets US Congress delegation launches app to book taxis

Profit Trading and Ibnajayan). New smartphone “We have established “Karwa Inte- grated Solutions” under Mowasalat, application allows which gives technological solutions customers to book to integrate the transport indus- try services and facilitate business a taxi online and transformation. There were several challenges which we managed to track the movement overcome in our journey to devel- of an approaching oping the final product the Karwa Taxi App and the related system,” Khalid taxi Al Hail, CEO of Mowasalat, said yes- terday addressing a press conference Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with a delegation from the US Congress. They at Diplomatic Club. discussed bilateral relations and a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest. He said currently 4,000 taxis on By Sanaullah Ataullah the roads, including those run by the The Peninsula private operators, which will go up to 7,000 by 2022 with more franchise operators joining. DOHA: Public transport company With the launch of the new serv- Information on 4,800 medicines online Mowasalat has launched a new ice, the number of taxi bookings have smartphone application that allows gone up to 45,000 per month and customers to book a taxi online and the maximum waiting time has been track the movement of an approach- reduced to 15 minutes, The Peninsula and via a mobile application. It can be accessed by to ensure medicines are administered and used ing taxi in real time. A valid mobile number and some visiting www.qnf.qa safely and accurately in a range of health settings, The Karwa Taxi App is available basic information are required for “Enabling clinical staff to access the latest essen- he added. Dr Aisha Al Ansari, Director of the Phar- for iOS and Android mobile phone registration to the service. The app tial drug information is a significant step in supporting macy and Drug Control Department and responsible users. The service, which is part of will show the cabs available around. DOHA: The Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has evidence based best practice for patient care,” said for the Formulary delivery said that the platform Karwa’s newly set up unified call cen- Once the cab is booked the customer launched the Qatar National Formulary (QNF), an Dr Salih Ali Al Marri, SCH Assistant Secretary Gen- offers transparency on the availability of medica- tre enables customers to book all can track the movement of the taxi online platform that allows physicians, clinical staff eral for Medical Affairs. tions to help reduce errors, confusion and support types of taxis, operated by Karwa heading to the given pick up point. and the public to access the latest prescribing infor- QNF is intended to save time and costs involved in faster decision making. and the four private taxi operators mation on more than 4,800 medicines available in prescribing, dispensing and administrating approved (Al Million Trading, Alijarah Holding, →Continued on page 5 the country. The information is now available online drugs in accordance with national regulations and →Continued on page 7 Qatari products to hit global market

By Sachin Kumar will help them to set up branches in creating evaluation reports to pin point The Peninsula five countries. Assistance to these development areas,” he added. companies will be provided for three To participate in the project the years. business has to be 51 percent Qatari, DOHA: Qatari products made by “We at Qatar Development Bank has to be in operation for minimum local small and medium companies strive to create meaningful oppor- one year and should be adding value will soon be hitting global markets. tunities to support local SMEs,” said to the economy such as education, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) will Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO manufacturing and services food and select 10 local Small and Medium of QDB in a press conference held at beverages sectors. Enterprises (SMEs) and help them in banks headquarters. “Any business is a franchisable opening branches in international “There are several stages appli- business, however, some might need markets. cants need to go through to benefit from fine-tuning or more development to The bank yesterday launched ‘The The Franchise Project, from evaluating be ready to expand,” Al Khalifa said. Franchise Project’ under which it will a company’s readiness, to discuss- identify and select local SMEs and ing next steps and requirements, and →Continued on page 2 UK eyes strong defence and security ties with Qatar

By Fazeena Saleem There are two elements to defence The Peninsula relationship — what we are doing practically on the ground and how you handle that. How you prepare for that is about having right train- DOHA: Defence and security are ing, also having right equipment,” among a range of areas the UK is said Sharma. seeking to develop with Qatar, “Defence and security coop- says Ajay Sharma, the new British erations are wider than counter ambassador. The UK is also look- dialogue. It’s also about how we ing forward to building on existing can support them to develop their partnerships with Qatar in areas capabilities and the capacities, in such as diplomacy, trade, educa- terms of training the military. A lot tion and health. Sharma took over of Qataris have been trained in the as ambassador in November. UK military academies,” he added. “I would like Qatar and the UK Sharma also said that he is hopeful to have a relationship where UK is the that Qatar would purchase British- first choice for Qatar across the border made Typhoon fighter jets, which and that’s something which I think is is under discussion at present. The achievable,” said Sharma at a press UK is also working with Qatar on conference at the embassy premises regional issues especially in polit- yesterday. “Qatar is our partner in ical areas. defence. It’s a very strong relation Ambassador Ajay Sharma and we want to take it forward. →Continued on page 2 02 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 HOME

Ministry releases first issue of Sheikh Joaan to be honoured as quarterly magazine Environment ‘CSR Person of the Year 2015’ The Peninsula

The Peninsula DOHA: Minister of Environment H E Ahmed Amer Mohamed Al Humaidi said Qatar has provided a unique model for preserving and protecting DOHA: Qatar University (QU) will host the launch cer- the environment, thanks to direc- emony of the fourth edition of the National CSR Report tives of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin (Leaders’ Visions) in March, under the patronage of Prime Hamad Al Thani. Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin The Minister said Qatar devel- Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. oped environmental systems, laws During the ceremony, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al and action plans that included Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), will projects and programmes for the be honoured as the ‘CSR Person of the Year 2015’ in rec- protection and conservation of nat- ognition of his significant role in supporting CSR and for ural resources, fighting all types being a role model inspiring the youth of Qatar. of pollution, the protection of the The Premier will present the report, produced under environment and the safety of the the supervision of QU, by writing its introduction. community. In an editorial in the The report will be distributed to all Qatari embassies first issue of the quarterly maga- all over the world through the Foreign Ministry, which is zine, Environment, published by the one of the partners of the report. ministry, Al Humaidi said the min- Several Ministers, ambassadors, representatives of istry is sparing no effort to present international organisations and academic personalities in an ideal environment vision in line Qatar have provided intellectual contributions to the report. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar with Qatar National Vision 2030. QU, in accordance with a memorandum of under- Olympic Committee. He said the ministry’s main mis- standing signed with the CSR Network, is supervising sion is to protect and develop Qatari the production of the annual report on a national level. environment and promote capacity- The report is prepared under the guidance of QU’s has always played a leading role in developing the CSR building, awareness and partnership College of Business and Economics, with contributions culture in the country. The report is one of QU’s major with community to ensure environ- from the college’s students. platforms to enhance awareness about this culture on mental sustainability. He stressed It is an academic report that documents CSR achieve- the highest level. continued efforts and work to main- ments of national organisations and monitors progress “The launch ceremony hosted by QU is one of our tain the ministry’s achievements for in social development and Qatar National Vision 2030. activities that is creating a practical communication envi- the sake of environmental protection The report committee selects the ‘CSR Person of the Year’ ronment between participating companies and students and preservation to achieve sustain- from among inspiring CSR leaders. to identify common CSR targets and the areas students able development pursued by Qatar. Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham, President, QU, said, “QU can contribute to serve the community in general.” The cover of the magazine. Ahmed Hussein Al Mutawa, Edi- tor- in-Chief of the magazine, said in the past two decades the world safety of the community in accord- climate negotiations. He said Qatar’s has witnessed a major change in ance with what was approved by participation and the Emir’s pres- Qatar takes part in the concept of environmental pro- many Arab, Gulf, regional and inter- ence at the opening session of COP21 Qatar ‘UK’s third largest tection considering that the most national conferences, including the reflected the significant role played Arab-India forum important issues accorded atten- Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in by Qatar along with the international tion by developed and developing 1992 and the Johannesburg Sum- community in the protection of the countries. mit in 2002. planet. He said Qatar is an active export market in Mena’ He said most developed and Al Mutawa described the 21st ses- member of international organisa- QNA developing countries, including sion of the recent Conference of the tions and one of the countries which Qatar, have committed themselves to Parties (COP) to the United Nations has gained respect and appreciation Continued from page 1 systems and mechanisms related to Framework Convention on Climate for its constructive efforts in solv- Royce and Shell. MANAMA: Qatar yesterday partici- environmental protection, the pres- Change (COP21) in Paris as the big- ing problems through peaceful and Sherborne School opened its doors pated in the first ministerial meeting ervation of natural resources and the gest climate summit in the history of political means. As for trade, the ambassador said in September 2009 as part of Qatar’s of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum Qatar is the UK’s third largest export Outstanding Schools Initiative. Uni- in Manama. Qatar was represented market in the Middle East and North versity College London has a campus by Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid Africa region (Mena) after the UAE in Education City. bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. The meet- and Saudi Arabia. “Education and culture are very ing discussed cooperation between The value of Qatari goods much part of bilateral relationship the Arab and Indian sides in vari- SMEs eligible for Franchisability Quiz imported to the UK in 2014 stood at and we want to further expand it. ous fields and coordination in the £3.5bn. “There are many Qataris study- political, economic, trade, cultural After the first nine months of 2015, ing in the UK and we are fortunate and scientific sectors. Continued from page 1 companies in other sectors such as education, healthcare it was up by 30 percent, compared to have British institutes represented and manufacturing,” he added. Entrepreneurs willing to to the corresponding period in 2014. in Qatar. We want to promote that “In the case of QDB’s ‘The Franchise Project’, SMEs participate, will have to register for the project after which Shell is Britain’s largest for- exchange,” said Sharma. Ties reviewed with active Qatari owners are eligible to take the Fran- they will have to undergo a quiz or a test. “The project will eign investor in Qatar, followed by At present, Qataris wishing to visit chisability Quiz to determine if they qualify for the next promote international growth for local brands by show- Vodafone. the UK for less than six months have DOHA: Assistant Foreign Minis- stage of assessment. We will be committed to taking 10 casing successful franchise models, including strategic, UK businesses have a significant been able to take advantage of the ter for International Cooperation local SMEs to expand globally in five countries in the next legal consultations, operational and marketing tools pre- presence in the financial, business UK’s Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) Affairs H E Sheikh Mohammed bin three years,” Al Khalifa added. pared by experienced consultants to give the local Qatari and legal sectors. programme. Abdul Rahman bin Jassim Al Thani The bank has not yet identified the five countries. brands to expand globally,” said Muhannad Abdullah Al The Qatar Science and Tech- More than 34,500 Qataris regis- yesterday met Nepal’s Minister of “The countries will be selected after selecting the compa- Muraikhi, Adviser, Isteshara Department, QDB. nology Park (QSTP) has a number tered for EVW in 2015. Over 11,000 State for Foreign Affairs Shanker nies,” said Hamad Khamis Al Kubaisi, Executive Director, “QDB seeks to provide tools to help develop the private of important collaborations with UK visas were issued to those not using Das Bairagi and discussed bilat- Advisory Services. “There is a misconception that fran- sector and SMEs in line with national economic diversi- companies and institutions such as the EVW system last year. Almost half eral relations, means of enhancing chise model is restricted to food and beverages sector, fication to activate private sector contributors to build a Imperial College London, Sheffield of these applications were from gen- cooperation and matters concern- which is incorrect. Franchise model can be applied to sustainable and competitive local economy,” he added. University, Virgin Health Bank, Rolls eral visitors. ing Nepalese workers in Qatar.

The healthcare team. HMC holds workshops on diabetics’ care at home

The Peninsula the proper way to use a glucometer to moni- and weakness, while signs of hyperglycaemia tor blood glucose, administer medications and can include nausea, frequent urination, increased insulin injections, provide foot care and how to thirst, and dry and itchy skin. Diabetes can cause prepare a healthy diet for diabetics,” said Nada long-term complications such as poor vision, DOHA: Patients’ families and caregivers attended Hussein, Diabetes Educator at the department. nerve damage, reduced blood flow and skin a workshop at Hamad Medical Corporation The workshop provided information on the problems,” Hussein added. (HMC) on caring for diabetics at home. types of diabetes and risk factors, including If untreated, diabetes can lead to acute com- It was organized by HMC’s Homecare hereditary and lifestyle factors. plications such as kidney and heart diseases Service Department and led by a team of phy- “Diabetes signs and symptoms can include and stroke and cause depression. To prevent the sicians, nurses, pharmacists, health educators severe thirst, frequent urination, impaired sensa- development of diabetes-related complications, and dietitians. The first day was dedicated to tion, delayed healing of wounds, weight changes, patients should follow prescribed treatment female participants and the second day to male blurred vision and fatigue. plan, including taking medications, observing participants. “Short-term diabetic complications can a proper diet and ensuring they get adequate “Homecare patients we are caring for are include hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and physical exercise and maintain a healthy weight. aged 30-80, and as 60 percent of them are dia- hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar). Signs of They should also undergo regular check-up of betic, we held the workshop to educate and train hypoglycaemia can include extreme hunger, eyes, skin and feet to ensure early detection their families, other caregivers and nurses on dizziness, headache, cold sweat, fast heartbeat and treatment of any problems. HOME MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 03 Katara to host Prophet’s Poet Festival in April

poems submitted prior to the dead- $25,000, respectively. line. Most participants hailed from Katara will publish an anthology Presentation of the Iraq and the wider Levant region with of the winning poems. ‘Katara Award for the 250 poems, while 236 entries came With the theme ‘Poetry’s Beauty from Egypt and Sudan. Blossoms When Describing the Best of Prophet’s Poets’ to The remaining North African Arab Mankind’, the five-day festival will also the winners among states submitted 184 poems, 145 came have opening and closing ceremonies, from the GCC and Yemen, and 13 from seminars, lectures, and exhibitions. acitivies lined up for non-Arab states. Of the submissions, Events lined up for the festival five-day celebrations 60 were contributed by women. include the opening ceremony on April Judging will be carried out by two 10, seminars among 30 poets, and prize independent panels of juries com- distribution on April 14; ‘Complement- prising professors, academics and ing the Messenger Exhibition’ by poets The Peninsula specialists in the Arabic language and across all ages, Islamic Exhibition, poetry, Katara General Manager Dr Arab Calligraphy, Lessons about the Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti told a love of Prophet Muhammed (Peace Be press conference yesterday. Upon Him) for five days after Maghrib DOHA: Cultural Village Foundation- The first panel will come up with prayers and the Human Prophet lec- Katara is organising the Prophet’s Poet a shortlist of the best 30 poems. The tures for three days after Asr prayers. Festival from April 10 to 14 which will final jury will choose the five poets A section of the festival, titled witness the presentation of the ‘Katara for awards during the festival. ‘Towards the Love of Prophet Award for the Prophet’s Poets’ to the The award carries a total prize of Muhammed (PBUH)’ will include winners. Since its launch last June, the $675,000. The top winner will receive competitions and activities to be award saw huge response from across $300,000; and the second to fifth participated by institutes and cen- Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti and General Supervisor of Katara Award for the the Arab world and beyond with 828 $200,000, $100,000, $50,000 and tres from Qatar and abroad. Prophet’s Poet, Khaled Abdul Rahim Al Sayed, at the press conference yesterday. QRCS begins $41,000 urgent relief project for people of Moadamiyah in Syria

The Peninsula Over two stages, they distrib- on the urgent relief intervention for uted 410 food packages to 2,470 Madaya, distributing $30,000 worth beneficiaries. of food aid to the distressed people Moadamiyah is a town in southern in the town. DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Society Syria, administratively a part of the Despite the difficulties, more fam- (QRCS) Office in Turkey has launched Darayya District in the Rif Dimashq ilies are receiving 1.5kg food packages, $41,000 urgent relief project to provide Governorate, located 10km southwest at a cost of $200 each, which reflects food for the people of Moadamiyah, of Damascus. how challenging it is to secure food a town on the outskirts of Damascus The town’s 45,000 population is items inside the blockade. that has been under siege for seven suffering severe food and medicine A few months ago, QRCS conducted consecutive months. shortages, as the markets are now relief interventions in Doumaand Al QRCS personnel entered Moad- empty and most shops are shut down. Zabadani to support hospitals with amiyah, urgently bringing basic food Many babies are at risk of malnu- $70,000 medical supplies, ambulance items such as bulgur, rice, lentils, sugar, trition due to lack of infant formula. vehicles, power generator, fuel and The relief consignment provided by the QRCS office in Turkey. ghee, tea and vegetable oil. QRCS personnel are also working blood bags. 04 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 HOME Third Winter Festival opens at Katara Mercedes-Benz The public and CLA Class 2014 private sectors taking part with a series of model recalled events to highlight Doha: The Ministry of Qatari culture, Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with identity and lifesytle Nasser Bin Khalid Auto- during the season mobile (NBKA), dealer of Mercedes vehicles, has announced the recall of Mercedes-Benz CLA Class The Peninsula model of 2014 because of a potential electrical mal- function in the air bag system. DOHA: The Winter Festival 2016 was The ministry said it inaugurated by Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim will coordinate with the Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Cultural dealer to follow up on Village Foundation-Katara, yesterday. Visitors at the festival at Katara Esplanade on the opening day yesterday. maintenance and repairs Activities continue until Thursday works and communicate at Katara Esplanade. with customers to ensure Speaking on the occasion, Dr Dr Al Sulaiti added. He stressed that the The Childhood Cultural Centre is and provide healthy tips. Planning, games at the beach front that repairs are carried Al Sulaiti said: “We are pleased to festival is in line with Katara’s objec- planning activities for children, includ- The other campaign will be held organised by Katara, a photo exhibi- out. announce today the launch of the tive to attract all family members to ing competitions and games, with gifts. by Al Rabiee Medical Centre to raise tion, kids and painting workshops for The ministry urged third edition of Winter Festival for take part in cultural events. Qatar Heritage and Identity Cen- awareness about skin care during the adults, a display of handcrafts by Qatar customers to report any 2016 at Katara. He said all visitors, especially chil- tre is featuring a unique educational winter season. University’s Alumni Association and violations to its Con- “This year’s edition draws a signif- dren, will find activities that interest theatrical show to highlight the winter Al Gannas Society is organising an introductory expo by Qatar News sumer Protection and icant participation of institutions and them, as Katara has been keen to collab- season besides entertaining activities information sessions for junior fal- Agency are among other events. Anti-Commercial Fraud entities. Katara strives to set up the fes- orate with various sectors to organise to familiarise people, especially chil- coners and sessions on falconry and Katara has always been keen to Department through hot- tival during schools’ winter break. It fascinating and remarkable events for dren, with the Qatari cultural, identity hunting using salouki dogs. launch organise such educational and line: 16001; email: info@ aims to present activities that would the audience.” and flora. To raise awareness about The festival will also feature exhi- entertaining festivities in winter with mec.gov.qa; Twitter: @ contribute to educating, entertaining Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Tamimi, healthcare during the winter season, bitions and workshops under Al Galayel the participation of the private and MEC_Qatar; Instagram: and raising awareness of children. Head, Winter Festival Organising Com- two health campaigns will be held. Competition. government sectors. MEC_Qatar; and the “The festival includes activities and mittee, called on visitors to seize the One will be held by Bin Muftah’s Med- A birds and animals exhibition The third edition of the festival aims ministry’s mobile app events that carry cultural and educa- opportunity of spending construc- ical Centre to raise visitors’ awareness by Kanari World pet store, perform- to attract the public, especially chil- for Android and IOS: tional messages for children to benefit tive and useful time by participating about common diseases and foods to ances by cultural bands, activities by dren, to provide a glimpse on Qatari MEC_Qatar them in their daily lives and at school,” in events. eat during the during the winter months the Ministry of Municipality and Urban lifestyle during winter. QC hosts workshop for Yemen forum

The Peninsula hosted a workshop in preparation for of the Higher Committee for Relief the Conference of Humanitarian Crisis Abdul-Raqib Saif Fath. in Yemen: Challenges and Prospects of The initiative committee included the Humanitarian Response. the Higher Committee for Relief, Organ- DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) and 12 It was attended by Yemen’s Minister isation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab other humanitarian organisations have of Local Administration and Chairman League, United Nations Office for

The workshop in progress.

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Fath spoke about the great human- visions of the active partners in assist- (OCHA), King Salman Humanitarian itarian efforts QC has exerted to ing the Yemenis. It aspires to set the Aid and Relief Centre (Saudi Arabia), alleviate the suffering of the affected floor for exchange of information, and International Committee of the Red Yemenis due to the recent escalation reinforcement of applied procedures Cross (Switzerland), Qatar Charity of the crisis in their country. related to identifying the Yemenis’ Society, International Humanitarian He discussed the humanitarian needs according to their type and City (UAE), International Medical Corps circumstances in Yemen and clari- geographical distribution. It is also (US), International Islamic Charitable fied the procedures that are followed to help develop work plans and joint Organisation (Kuwait), Humanitar- in dealing with the situation. initiatives. ian Relief Foundation (IHH Turkey), “QC is considered to be one of the Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamdi, Start Network (Britain) and Interna- most active humanitarian organi- CEO, International Development, QC, tional Council of Voluntary Agencies sations in Yemen. With continuous said QC has proven its commitment (ICVA, Switzerland). increase in the numbers of the injured to offering humanitarian and relief The initiators met for consulta- in Yemen, QC’s support to the health aids to the Yemenis. tion, coordination and cooperation to sector is spectacular. The sector “QC has not spared any effort to cope with the deteriorating situation requires bigger operating theatres alleviate the suffering of the Yemenis of the Yemenis and their increasing and more ambulances,” said Fath. and provide all necessary means and suffering. The conference seeks to unite the supplies for a better life.” Ooredoo: Queue Management Solution reduces customers’ waiting time

The Peninsula want and time to visit from their mobile Queuing service has been very posi- or smart device and then turn up at the tive, so we see this as the next big step selected time, saving time and ensur- in all Ooredoo shops.” ing a fast and effective appointment. As well as the in-store revamp, DOHA: Ooredoo has announced First introduced as a pilot in Ooredoo plans an overhaul of its web- plans to continue its transformation Ooredoo’s Airport Road and Land- site, streamlining product pages and of customer experience in its shops mark shops, the digital innovation services to enhance the experience by introducing new smart solutions has proven so popular – and has been and ensure all customers fully under- to give customers more control over so successful in reducing customer stand the services available for them. their accounts and greater access to waiting time – that it led the company Ooredoo is the first company in a full range of products and services. to roll out the new solution in shops the region to integrate a self-service One of Ooredoo’s most success- across the country. The app has been queuing option into its mobile app, and ful recent innovations has been the developed as part of the company’s customers can choose the branch they launch of the Ooredoo Smart Queue vision to have a fully digital, paper- want to visit and the time they want Management Solution, which brings less and Smart Queue Management to meet an Ooredoo adviser, saving in a new experience in managing cus- Solution in Ooredoo shops. Ooredoo time and ensuing a fast and effective tomer traffic in Ooredoo shops. will educate customers to utilise the appointment. The solution enables customers to queue feature via the app in Oore- To make life easier for custom- be served quickly by taking a Queue doo shops to ensure quicker and more ers, when they book appointments Token via the Ooredoo App before effective future visits. via the app, they will receive a photo arriving at the Ooredoo shop. It also Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Direc- confirmation on their mobile device. allows users to see the number of wait- tor, Community and Public Relations, Customers can scan it when they arrive ing people in any shop. Ooredoo, said: “Ooredoo is moving at their selected Ooredoo shop and Ooredoo will have a special queu- towards being one of the leading com- will receive an SMS when an Oore- ing process for Al Nokhba customers panies in delivering the best customer doo adviser is ready to meet them. to offer extra rewards for the compa- experience. “A big part of that is intro- The mobile app is available for ny’s high-end customer base. ducing solutions that empower people free download on iTunes Store (iOS) With the Ooredoo App, customers and enable them to control their expe- and Google Play (Android). Custom- can find the nearest shop from their rience in-store. ers can also visit www.ooredoo.qa current location, choose the shop they “Feedback on the Ooredoo Digital for details. HOME MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 05

Qatar Airways direct Doha-Armenia service from May 15

The Peninsula worldwide footprint and expanding travel opportunities for business and leisure passengers.” Passengers flying from Yerevan DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) has and onwards to any of QA’s more Khalid Al Hail (seventh from left), CEO, Mowasalat, with other senior officials of the company during the launch of ‘Karwa Taxip’ Ap at a function announced that it will offer four- than 150 destinations will enjoy a at the Diplomatic Club in Doha yesterday. Pic: Salim / The Peninsula times weekly non-stop flights quick and convenient transfer at between Doha and Yerevan, the HIA, the newest airport hub in the capital of Armenia, from May 15. world. Offering over 100 retail and At the launch of QA’s new dining options and unique serv- Karwa to send message when taxi is close to pick-up point scheduled service to Los Ange- ices such as a swimming pool, les this month, Qatar Airways hotel and spa for those in tran- Group Chief Executive Akbar Al sit, the airport is sure to further Continued from page 1 that have many gates then it will be book any available taxi, using the managing the four franchise opera- Baker said passengers on the new enhance passengers’ overall travel helpful to mention the specific gate. common number. Taxies in Qatar are tors, said that the company has plans direct service to and from Yerevan experience. A message will also be sent by the The app can record previous trips, making some 10,000 trips per day, said to proportionately enhance the serv- will benefit from easier access to QA will fly the A320 aircraft system to the customer when the cab so the customers need not have to write Abhijit Mukharji, Head, Taxi Opera- ices with the rising demand for taxis. the rest of the world via QA’s glo- direct to and from Yerevan on the comes close to the pick-up point. all details for a repeat trip to the same tion Unit, Mowasalat. “ With the addition of this technol- bal network. four-weekly schedule, featuring Customers have been advised to location. He can just click and the sys- He said Mowasalat is now providing ogy and application, we are confident QA’s expanding global reach, a two-class cabin configuration give exact location of the pick-up point tem will suggest previous trips details. incentives to its cab drivers who meet that while our customers will benefit including its newest US destina- comprising 12 seats in Business and it will be better to mention a land- The app is getting good response the target of earning QR2,000 in a day. vastly with the ease of booking and tions of Los Angeles, Boston and Class and 132 in Economy Class. mark in the area so that the cab driver from the customers. So far, 11,333 active The scheme helped increase income availing our services, our franchise Atlanta this year and significant QA is one of the fastest grow- can easily identify the spot, In-Charge users and 28,000 bookings have been of the company as well as the per- partners will also be able to appre- growth of its modern fleet has ena- ing airlines operating one of the of Karwa Solution Waseem Ahmad recorded, said Ahmad. formance of the drivers. In December ciate how this new technology and bled the airline to offer the new youngest fleets in the world. explained in a press conference at the He said that the unified call centre last year, 500 drivers met the target The Karwa Taxi App is going to impact service to Armenia. Now in its 19th year of oper- Diplomatic Club yesterday. with toll free number 8008294 (800- and got an average incentive QR652. on their efficiency in operations and Situated along the Hrazdan ations, QA has a modern fleet of For instance, if a customer is in an TAXI) has helped reduce the waiting Ali Emadi, Manager, Taxi Man- effectively benefit in their growth and River, Yerevan is the administra- 175 aircraft flying to over 150 key entrance of a big shopping complex time for taxis, since a customer can agement Office, Mowasalat, who is profitability,” he said. tive, cultural and industrial centre business and leisure destinations of Armenia and offers visiting busi- across six continents. ness and leisure passengers a rich QA has won awards, includ- and diverse history. With a city ing being voted by passengers as backdrop of the snow-capped Cau- the Airline of the Year for the third HBKU to host qualitative research workshop next month casus mountain range, Yerevan time and Best Airline in the Middle is one of the world’s oldest con- East for the ninth time at the 2015 tinuously-inhabited cities and its Skytrax Awards in June. The Peninsula building in Education City. Dr Leslie A Pal, Chancellor’s Profes- hands-on introduction to Nvivo software diverse architecture and atmos- Schedule: Non-stop Doha to/ Committed to helping build a culture sor, Public Policy and Administration, for analysing interview data and litera- phere is easily explored on foot. from Yerevan (all times local) of research in Qatar and equip those and Director, Center on Governance ture reviews. I am excited about sharing Al Baker said: “QA has seen Mondays, Wednesdays, Fri- interested in research with skills and and Public Management, Carleton Uni- knowledge that will help individuals unprecedented growth in recent days and Sundays: QR 285 departs DOHA: Hamad Bin Khalifa University tools, HBKU is holding the workshop versity, will train participants. He said: organise research more powerfully, years, launching new destinations Doha at 20:25 and arrives in Yer- (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation for the wider academic community. “The workshop is for anyone who uses using the most up-to-date software suite around the globe while establish- evan at 00:40+1 (QF) for Education, Science and Commu- Participants will have the opportu- interview or documentary data in their available.” The training costs QR2,500 ing our new home and hub Hamad Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays nity Development, invites professionals nity to take part in group exercises to research. It will cover techniques, but and those interested are encouraged International Airport (HIA). and Saturdays: QR 286 departs and students to enhance qualitative hone interviewing skills and learn how also the big picture of research design to register early as space is limited. “With the new service to Yerevan at 03:25 and arrives in research skills through an interactive to gather, encode and analyse qualita- and the logic of explanation.” For details and to register, contact Dr Yerevan, QA is enhancing its Doha at 05:30. workshop on February 7 and 8 at the tive data using the leading qualitative He stressed the practical element Mohamed EvrenTokat [email protected]. Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) software, Nvivo. of the training and said: “Included is a qa or call +974 4454 2894. 06 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 HOME

QA’s successful presence at Bahrain Airshow ‘Our Future depends on Our

G650ER, the latest addition to Qatar Health’ campaign Hundreds of guests Executive fleet. A red carpet event took place on day gains support were welcomed one of the show to mark the airline’s on board three QA first year of A350 operations. In attendance were Qatar’s Minis- The Peninsula aircraft and dozens ter of Transport H E Jassim Seif Ahmed of meetings and Al Sulaiti; Qatar Civil Aviation Author- ity Chairman Abdullah Nasser Turki Al interviews conducted Subaey; Qatari Ambassador to Bah- DOHA: The ‘Our Future at the airline’s rain Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin depends on Our Health’ cam- Saud Al Thani; General United Arab paign by the Supreme Council premium chalet of Emirates Civil Aviation Authority of Health (SCH)has received Director-General Saif Mohammed Al great support from govern- Suwaidi; Airbus President and CEO ment and private entities in Fabrice Brégier; and Qatar Aeronau- the health sector. tical College Director-General Sheikh The Ministry of Environ- The Peninsula Jabor bin Hamad Al Thani. They were ment, Ministry of Endowments accompanied on board by QA Group and Islamic Affairs, Ministry Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker. of municipalities and Urban “QA is delighted to have once again Planning, Ministry of Economy DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) wrapped participated in Bahrain International and Commerce, Hamad Medi- up a successful presence at the airline Airshow, with our significant brand cal Corporation, Q-Post, Aspire industry’s first airshow of the year in presence and the opportunity for us to Academy, General Customs and Bahrain on Saturday. showcase the best of our fleet,” said Al Port Authority, North Atlantic Hundreds of guests were welcomed Baker. It is also a pleasure to network University in Qatar, University on board three QA display aircraft, doz- and bolster relationships with industry FROM LEFT: QA Group Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker; Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Chairman Abdullah of Qatar, Vodafone, Al Meera ens of high-level meetings with industry partners from international airlines and Nasser Turki Al Subaey; Qatari Ambassador to Bahrain Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani; Consumer Goods, Qatar Petro- and political leaders took place and aircraft manufacturers in an exclusive and Qatar’s Minister of Transport H E Jassim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti inside Qatar Executive’s new Gulfstream leum and schools supported many international media interviews airshow environment, against a back- G650ER at the event. the campaign. conducted at the airline’s premium cha- drop of latest trends and innovations Government institutions let. Perhaps the highlight of the show in aerospace technology.” have created platforms across was the celebration of the first year of Discussing 2016 industry outlook continued introduction of new air- The A350 is the latest design in air- during the show, including members their offices to provide employ- operations of the A350 for which QA with media, Al Baker spelled out QA’s craft, at the rate of one every 10 days craft technology and sports the signature of travel trade, media and global avi- ees with healthy information, was the global launch customer. expansion plans to include new serv- this year. QA took delivery of the first ‘Zorro’ mask wind screen that distin- ation enthusiasts. advice and guidance based on In addition to the A350, QA dis- ices to Sydney and Adelaide in Australia, A350 in December 2014, and started guishes it from other aircraft. QA hosted many tours of its air- the campaign. played two other aircraft — the A380 and Boston and Atlanta in the US. service in January 2015 between Doha Hundreds of visitors and guests craft, welcoming over 300 people on The campaign calls on super jumbo and a striking Gulfstream Powering the new routes will be and Frankfurt, Germany. enjoyed traditional QA hospitality board the aircraft that represent the people to adopt healthy and high standards and modern design of balanced dietary habits, quit the rest of the fleet. smoking and lead an active QA operates a young and modern lifestyle. Private institutions fleet of 175 Airbus and Boeing aircraft have distributed educational to over 150 destinations across Europe, brochures. the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and All entities that have sup- Americas. It started 2016 on a high note ported the SCH have called on with the launch of flights to Los Ange- their employees to take part in les. Other destinations to be launched the campaign’s programmes this year include the second-largest city and activities being held at in the UK, Birmingham on March 30; malls and shopping centres. Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE on Febru- Also the SCH has organ- ary 2’ and Yerevan on May 15. ised awareness activities and Nearly 100 airshow visitors toured offers tests to find BMI (Body QA’s latest aircraft — a new addition Mass Index), blood pressure to Qatar Executive fleet — the Gulf- and insulin level. stream G650ER. The Gulfstream The campaign is a unique G650ER flies further and faster than initiative launched by the SCH any other executive jet in the world, to build a healthy future for the and can accommodate up to 13 passen- Qatari community in line with gers comfortably. The aircraft can fly its continuous efforts to instil non-stop from the Middle East to North a health culture in society, the America or from destinations in Asia to national health strategy and the Africa and is perfectly suited for those human development pillar of whose travel needs include flying half- Qatar National Vision 2030. A QA aircraft on display at the event. way around the globe.

Aspetar awarded ‘Platinum’ rating by Accreditation Canada International

The Peninsula medical care and services in accord- in April 2014 and took 18 months and ance with best practice international involved four visits by an ACI team standards. which assessed the hospital’s serv- The accreditation process included ices against 1,800 criteria. DOHA: Aspetar, the world’s leading comprehensive evaluation procedures, The accreditation was awarded orthopaedic and sports medicine acknowledging excellence at the med- last December and was achieved on hospital and member of Aspire Zone ical, administrative, financial and IT the first survey. Foundation (AZF), has been awarded services and infrastructure levels. Mohammad Khalifa Al Suwaidi, ‘Platinum Level’ accolade by Accred- The announcement was made at Acting CEO, AZF, expressed his pride itation Canada International (ACI). a media roundtable with senior man- at Aspetar’s achievement after only The award recognises Aspetar’s agement from AZF and Aspetar. eight years of operation and said: high safety criteria and world-class The accreditation journey began “Achieving the accreditation caters

Officials with the accreditation certificate.

directly to AZF’s vision to become the ref- “Such an achievement is in line with our on the high-quality health and erence in sports excellence in the world, efforts to contribute to Qatar National Vision fitness sectors.” and supports its values by assuring Asp- 2030, which prioritises human develop- Dr. Mohamed Ghaith Al etar’s services. ment as one of its main pillars and focuses Kuwari, Acting Director-Gen- eral, Aspetar, said: “Obtaining this accreditation reflects the advanced and developed level of Aspetar, whether in terms of medical staff and expertise or medical services and care, which make the hospital the preferred destination for the world’s elite athletes and clubs. We are constantly working on developing the hospital’s serv- ices to maintain our leading position in sports medicine and research.” The ACI accreditation system includes three levels of status — Gold, Platinum and Diamond. To date, 97 interna- tional healthcare organisations have been accredited by ACI — 16 with ‘Platinum’ and the majority with ‘Gold;. Aspetar is the first hospi- tal of its kind in the region and is accredited as a ‘FIFA Med- ical Centre of Excellence’ by F-MARC, in addition to being an ‘IOC Research Centre for Prevention of Injury and Pro- tection of Athlete Health’. HOME MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 07

Deputy PM meets outgoing Indonesian envoy General public could also access QNF

Continued from page 1 public to research and become more Assistant Professor and Associate “With an app format such as this, actively involved in their health and Dean, Academic Affairs at Qatar the medical community will not need wellness,” she said. University said that, for the college Internet access because once the appli- Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing of pharmacy and other medical pro- cation is downloaded, they will have Director of Hamad Medical Corpora- grams at Qatar University, the QNF access to the QNF wherever they may tion said this important tool will help will be considered as an important be delivering care,” said Dr Al Ansari. doctors, nurses, and pharmacists to part of the educational process and The general public also has access have easier access to the same infor- clinical practice later after graduation. to QNF but this is not intended to mation when they research and select QNF features a medication guide replace face-to-face prescribing or safe and effective medicines for indi- that reports on adverse effects of med- consultations, said Al Ansari. vidual patients. icines. QNF has a facility of online “ Patients and interested public Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, Managing reporting of adverse drug reaction who wish to gain a greater knowledge Director of Primary Healthcare Cor- (pharmacovigilance process) as mem- of medicines can do so via the website poration (PHCC) said that the PHCC ber of World Health Organisation-UMC. and app but we always recommend family medicine model and primary It also allows the site to get infor- they consult a medical professional to care patients will greatly benefit by mation for thousands of drugs during obtain proper clinical guidance and receiving high quality and accurate search operations that can be made advice on medicines. information on medicines in an effi- available to patients, to serve as a point “The platform is however seen cient time. of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment as an important tool to empower the Dr Mohammad Issam Diab, of poisoning or exposure to chemicals. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud yesterday met outgoing Indonesian Ambassador Didi Saif Al Hadi. They reviewed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields. Al Mahmoud wished the ambassador success in his future tasks and Qatar-Indonesia relations further progress. Briefing on Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Sankalp

GU-Q public QR1.46m netted in fines from lecture today erring food outlets last year

The Peninsula The Peninsula Inspectors from the municipality paid 3,286 filed visits to conduct raids on the food outlets in the year (2015). DOHA: One of the world’s lead- At least 11 errant outlets were ing scholars on Africa, Professor DOHA: Al Wakrah Municipality col- temporarily closed as punishment Christopher Clapham, will be the lected more than QR1.46m in fines after they were found violating the speaker at Georgetown University from food outlets that were found vio- above-said rules. in Qatar (GU-Q) public lecture titled lating health and safety rules last year. Food samples were collected from ‘Africa’s International Relations and From the errant outlets inspec- 48 outlets and sent to the central lab- the Politics of State Survival: What tors from the municipality seized six oratory for checking their quality. the Horn tells us about the 21st Cen- tons of food items and destroyed them The municipality looked into at tury World’ today at 6pm. found as they were found unfit for least 126 complaints against errant In a lecture to be moderated human consumption. outlets in the year and took appro- by GU-Q’s Dr Harry Verhoeven, The health and safety monitor- priate action. the scholar will present a critical ing unit of the municipality carried Inspectors took written undertak- account of the dynamic history and out checks on 19,765 food outlets in ing from at least 155 outlets making FROM LEFT: Mukesh Sharma, Executive Officer, Captain Ravikumar, Defence Attaché at the Indian challenges facing the Horn of Africa, the year. pledge that they would not repeat the embassy, Sanjiv Arora, Ambassador of India, DIG Mukul Garg, Commanding Officer, and K Chinna which comprises Ethiopia, Eritrea Some 525 of these outlets were violation after mending their ways. Swamy, Press Officer at the embassy, during a media briefing held on board Indian Coast Guard Ship and the Somali territories. He will fined on-the-spot for violating health Some 96 outlets were visited by ICGS Sankalp yesterday. The ship is on a visit to the Doha Port until January 28 as part of India’s 67th share his analysis on the region’s and safety rules as enshrined in Law the inspectors for checks as they had Republic Day celebration. Pic: Kammutty / The Peninsula future, which remains uncertain. No 3 of 1975 and Law no 8 of 1990. applied for commercial licensing. 08 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 MIDDLE EAST Syria regime forces advance in northwest

the adjacent Idlib province, he said. Rabia had been held by the opposi- Senior Russian tion since 2012 and was controlled by military officials a range of rebel groups including some made up of Syrian Turkmen, as well oversee battle for as Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front. town in Latakia State news agency SANA said government forces were “combing the area to dismantle any explosive devices or mines planted by the ter- AFP rorists”. It said many rebels had been killed in the fighting but provided no other details. According to the Syrian Observ- BEIRUT: Pro-government forces over- atory for Human Rights, Rabia fell ran the last major rebel-held town in yesterday after a regime advance that Syria’s coastal Latakia province yes- left the town surrounded. terday, as the United Nations prepares “In the past 48 hours, regime to host talks this week on ending the forces surrounded the town from country’s nearly five-year war. three sides — the south, west, and Syrian pro-government forces inspect a building in the town of Rabia in Syria’s coastal Latakia province yesterday. State television said army forces, north — by capturing 20 villages,” working with pro-regime militia, had Observatory head Rami Abdel Rah- seized control of the town of Rabia man told AFP. at that territory in a bid to secure the Latakia province since September 30. upcoming talks should include Islam- alliance of opposition groups includ- after heavy fighting with rebels. He said senior Russian military Assad clan’s heartland. The regime’s latest advance came ist rebels, though not “terrorists and ing the National Coalition, has already It was the second strategic vic- officials oversaw the battle and that Rabia “is at the crossroads of supply as world powers intensify efforts to Islamic extremists”. announced three delegates it will send tory for pro-regime forces in Latakia Russian air strikes “played an essen- routes in this region” leading north- reach a political solution to Syria’s war. “Where do you expect to find to Geneva. in less than two weeks, after govern- tial role” in the fight. west towards the Turkish border and Representatives of the govern- moderate groups after more than But it came under fire for naming ment troops seized the town of Salma With Rabia’s capture, government further east to other rebel strongholds, ment and opposition are set to meet five years of civil war, extreme vio- Mohamed Alloush from the power- from rebels on January 12. troops are closing in on rebel supply said Syria analyst Fabrice Balanche. in Geneva this week as part of a UN- lence and spreading brutalisation?” ful rebel group Jaish Al Islam (Army “In the coming weeks, we will be routes through the Turkish border to “By controlling this road, the Syrian endorsed 18-month peace plan. Steinmeier was quoted as telling the of Islam) as chief negotiator. able to announce that all of Latakia the north, he added. army can block rebel movements But sharp disagreements over newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Syria’s government regularly refers — city and province — is free from Armed opposition factions have towards the south, towards Latakia, the makeup of the opposition del- Sonntagszeitung. to Jaish Al Islam and other armed oppo- armed groups,” a Syrian army com- used northern parts of Latakia prov- and the rebels will have a hard time egation — namely, the inclusion of “I’m afraid we are past the point nents as “terrorists groups” with whom mander in Latakia told AFP. ince to carry out rocket and bomb getting close and firing missiles at the armed groups among negotiators — where we can really pick and choose it will not negotiate. The army would use Rabia as a attacks on the provincial capital along (coastal) airport,” he added. have slowed momentum. all counterparts and negotiators,” On the Turkish-Syrian border, launching point for ground operations the coast. Backed by Russian air power, Russia’s air force has operated out Yesterday, German Foreign Min- Steinmeier said. The High Negoti- Turkish authorities have detained 23 against rebel-held towns to the east in pro-regime forces are chipping away of the Hmeimim military airport in ister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said ations Committee, a Riyadh-based suspected IS militants. Algeria summons Moroccan ambassador Turkey’s HDP to join panel for drafting new constitution Reuters sandwiched between Algeria and Libya, is unclear if they had ties to militant groups. building a security wall along its boundary Moroccan officials were not immedi- with Libya in an attempt to halt the flow of ately available to comment on the detentions. Reuters largely ceremonial role, to wield much greater jihadi recruits crossing over. Algeria has become a pivotal partner in political powers. ALGIERS: Algerian authorities have detained “The question about the massive and unu- the Western fight against Islamist militancy in But the opposition parties want to focus over 200 Moroccans at Algiers airport and sual flow of Moroccans from Casablanca north and west Africa after its own 1990s war on improving minority rights and democratic summoned the Moroccan envoy to explain an heading for Libya through Algeria in the last with armed Islamists that killed more than ANKARA: Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Dem- freedoms and fear Erdogan is becoming too “unusual” increase in the number of Moroc- weeks was the reason for discussions with 200,000 people. Morocco has also helped ocratic Party (HDP) said yesterday it would take authoritarian, a charge he rejects. cans apparently trying to cross into Libya, the ambassador,” Algeria’s Foreign Ministry French and European intelligence agencies part in a parliamentary commission charged Turkey’s Parliamentary Speaker Ismail Kah- airport and government officials said yes- said in a statement. after the Islamist attacks in Paris last year. with drafting a new constitution and would chal- raman of the AK Party has invited the opposition terday. The current “particularly delicate” secu- More than 3,000 Tunisians and hundreds lenge the ruling AK Party’s plans for a strong parties in parliament to join the commission The foreign ministry and sources at the rity situation required more vigilance and of Moroccans have left to fight for Islamic executive presidency. but the HDP had not previously said whether airport did not confirm why the Moroccans had cooperation, the statement said without giv- State and other groups in Syria and Iraq. But The AK Party has broad cross-party support it would attend. Deeply suspicious of Erdogan been held, but diplomatic relations between ing details. experts say Libya has become an increas- for overhauling Turkey’s constitution, which and the government, some HDP lawmakers Algeria and Morocco are often strained over The ministry did not mention the deten- ing magnet for North Africa jihadists, partly dates back to an era of military coups, but there had called for a boycott. their regional influence and cooperation. tions. But a security source at Algiers airport because of the country’s porous border con- are wide divergences over what a new charter “We will be on the constitutional reconcilia- Libya in particular has become a regional said 270 Moroccans had been arrested on Sat- trols and internal lawlessness. should look like. tion commission. But we have serious differences concern since Islamic State (IS) militants urday night. The source said the Moroccans IS in Libya has steadily increased its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the with the AK Party in many fields such as freedom, gained ground there and called for foreign were considered suspect because they did not presence, taking over Sirte, attacking oil AK Party he founded more than a decade ago equality and justice,” HDP co-chair Selahattin recruits, especially from North Africa. Tunisia, have legal residence in Libya, though it was installations and carrying out suicide attacks. want the head of state, who currently has a Demirtas told a party congress to loud cheers. ‘Iran arrested 100 people for Saudi embassy attacks’

TEHRAN: Iran has arrested around 100 people over the attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy that led to Riyadh cutting diplomatic ties with Tehran, a judiciary spokes- man said yesterday. “Since the attack, about 100 people have been arrested, of whom some have been released,” Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. The ransacking of the embassy earlier this month “has been condemned by all authorities and we have taken immediate and serious action,” he added. One individual was also arrested “abroad” and returned to Iran, he said. “He had given orders to certain individuals who entered the embassy,” Ejeie added, without providing further details. Demonstrators stormed and burned Riyadh’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate in second city Mashhad on January 2 to protest against the execution of a promi- nent cleric from Saudi Arabia’s Shia minority. Omani man tests positive for MERS in Thailand

BANGKOK: Thai health officials are trying to trace dozens of people who may have come into contact with an elderly Omani man who tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the Health Minis- try said yesterday. The 71-year-old arrived in Thailand on Friday with a fever which doctors in Oman could not treat, the min- istry statement said. “He tested positive for the MERS virus,” and was quarantined in a Bangkok hospital, the statement said, adding “He is tired but conscious”. But authorities are looking for more than 250 people who may have come into contact with the man. ASIA / PHILIPPINES MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 09

Deep freeze in China

A ship stuck in the ice after coastal waters froze in Dalian, in northeast China’s Liaoning province. Much of China has been shivering as a severe cold snap broke decades-old records and snow fell in some parts for the first time in years, cancelling flights and forcing many indoors. RIGHT: Icicles by the seaside in Penglai, in eastern China’s Shandong province yesterday. Communist Party Hong Kong cold snap worst in 60 years

AFP in urban areas of the southern Chi- cold and windy over Hong Kong. Peo- small ice pellets” rather than snow. nese city, where most buildings lack ple are advised to put on warm clothes About 20 participants of a cross election begins central heating, and below freezing and to avoid prolonged exposure to country race were sent to hospital after on the hills. wintry winds,” read a note published experiencing symptoms associated HONG KONG: A cold snap gripped It is the coldest weather in 59 years, on a city government website. with hypothermia, according to local Hong Kong yesterday, with residents senior scientific officer Wong Wai- As the mercury dropped, curious media. Conditions are not expected to shivering as temperatures plunged to kin told AFP. residents flocked to higher ground warm up until the middle of the week, in Vietnam the lowest point in nearly 60 years and “It is the coldest day since 1957. in search of frost, according to local said weather forecasters. frost dusted the mountaintops of a city The daily minimum dropped to 3.3 broadcaster Cable TV. According to the Hong Kong accustomed to a subtropical climate. degrees Celsius, the previous record “It’s very cold, my feet feel numb,” Observatory, the coldest weather Weather officials issued a frost was 2.4 degrees in February of 1957,” a young visitor to Tai Mo Shan, the occurred in January 1893, when tem- economic reforms. Vu Ngoc Hoang, a warning saying an “intense cold surge” he told AFP. While the cold snap is by highest mountain in Hong Kong, told peratures plunged to 0 degrees Celsius. senior Central Propaganda Depart- was in place, coupled with chilling no means on the scale of the weather the broadcaster. People’s Daily in China said on its PM among central ment official, confirmed that Dung monsoon winds. now affecting the US and swathes of Screenshots of flakes also swamped weibo social networking account that committee and several other politburo members Morning temperatures dropped mainland China, such temperatures are social media but weather forecasters the city of Guangzhou recorded its were among those nominated. “But to 3.3 degrees Celsius (38 Fahrenheit) a novelty for many residents. “It is very said the precipitation was “rain with first snowfall since 1929. preliminary that’s only a list,” he told reporters. nominations “Every person introduced gets on to the list,” he said, stressing the nomi- nations were preliminary. Dung’s inclusion is likely to add Weighty victory Abe-backed Reuters to excitement and social media speculation about the possibility of candidate a leadership showdown at what is normally considered a stale, proce- HANOI: Vietnam’s progressive prime dural affair. claims victory minister was among preliminary nom- To stand a chance, Dung would inations for the Communist Party’s have to decline his preliminary nom- in mayoral vote central committee yesterday, an offi- ination to the central committee. The cial said, maintaining the possibility 1,510 congress delegates could then of him contesting the party leader- vote to reject his withdrawal, thus AFP ship to be decided this week. keeping him in contention for fur- The political future of Nguyen Tan ther stages of the internal election. Dung remains uncertain, however, Vu Trong Kim, Vice-President and after he was not among leadership General Secretary of the Vietnam TOKYO: A candidate backed by Jap- candidates agreed by top decision- Fatherland Front, earlier yesterday anese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makers at a recent meeting, a surprise confirmed leaked reports that prior claimed victory in a mayoral elec- twist that saw the five-yearly con- to the congress incumbent General tion in Okinawa yesterday, beating gress of the secretive party open on Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 71, was an opponent of a planned new US Thursday under a cloud of controversy. nominated to extend his tenure and military base there. His committee nomination at an Dung had withdrawn from the con- The election was the latest early stage of the internal election test when the politburo was deciding episode in a long dispute about process means he technically could its candidates. the future of the base, which has still launch a bid to become party chief. In rare comments about internal deepened mistrust between the cen- Dung, 66, has not spoken publicly politburo procedures, Kim, a member tral government and the southern about his future and his absence from of the outgoing central committee, island chain. yesterday’s preliminary nominations praised Dung and said there was Incumbent Ginowan mayor would have ruled him out. 100 percent politburo support for Atsushi Sakima, 51, was certain Dung was until recently tipped Trong. to be re-elected with the support by diplomats and analysts to become “I very much welcome comrade of Abe’s ruling coalition to continue the next party boss, which could have Nguyen Tan Dung and some other governing the island’s main city, strengthened the hand of his pro- comrades in the politburo who volun- Ozeki, or champion, Kotoshogiku holds up a red snapper in a traditional gesture to celebrate his victory where the US Futenma air base is gressive faction. tarily withdrew from being nominees in the New Year Grand Sumo tournament in Tokyo yesterday. located, according to exit polls by He is widely seen as a modern- to gather credit for comrade Nguyen major broadcasters. iser and credited with driving recent Phu Trong,” Kim told some local media. The official result is expected early today. Sakima edged out Keiichiro Shimura, 63, who was supported by Okinawa governor Takeshi Onaga. Back in the Philippines, Miss Universe to spread HIV awareness Onaga has vowed to prevent the central government from construct- ing a new US Marine air base in a remote part of the island to replace AFP viewers worldwide last December, pageant host where the Miss Universe Organization is based, people, of whom 80 percent are Catholic, is heav- the existing Futenma base in heav- Steve Harvey mistakenly announced Miss Colom- to erase the stigma surrounding the disease. ily influenced by the church which frowns on ily populated Ginowan, where it is bia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as Miss Universe before “It’s about time someone like me should step contraceptive use. Testing for HIV is also con- widely seen as a potential danger correcting himself minutes later. up and hopefully others would follow suit as sidered taboo. In the very few minutes she stood to residents. MANILA: The new Miss Universe, back in the The diamond and sapphire crown was well,” Wurtzbach, 26, said. at the back of the Las Vegas stage at the end of Many island residents want a Philippines after an epic televised blunder sur- removed from the head of a sobbing and humil- “I think in the Philippines, there’s a bit of a the pageant, Wurtzbach said she accepted being replacement for Futenma built out- rounding her crowning, said yesterday she would iated Gutierrez and transferred to Pia Alonzo stigma because we’re a conservative country.” first runner-up as a huge crowd of fans in the side Okinawa — either elsewhere use the attention the incident attracted to cam- Wurtzbach of the Philippines. The Philippines reported a 22 percent increase audience waved Filipino flags. “I told myself, I in Japan or overseas — saying they paign for HIV awareness, especially in her home Wurtzbach, speaking to reporters about her in HIV infections year-on-year in September last fell short, what a waste. But it’s okay. I did eve- can no longer live with the noise, country. plans, said she would undergo a “public testing” year. Four in ten of the new cases were reported rything I could and the most important thing is accidents and occasional crimes In front of an estimated one billion television for HIV when she returns to the United States in the capital Manila. The nation of 100 million everybody is proud of me,” she said. by US service members. 10 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL

Taming Taliban A spate of suicides highlights the

ill it be possible for Afghan government to engage pressures on students in India in meaningful talks with the Taliban in the near future? It will be unrealistic to lose all hope, but the latest developments show that the Taliban are Educators at the private social status and a sure shot for my watch because it reminds getting tougher to be tamed. The set of conditions this test academies say they can’t a job in a top tech company in me that wasted time is not com- Educators at insurgentW group has put forward to join peace talks is the latest proof of explain the rise in suicides, but India or Silicon Valley. Google ing back,” said Ojas Thakur, 16, their increasing power and stubborn reluctance to become part of any the private test they concede that the intense chief executive Sundar Pichai who wants to study space engi- pscyhological pressure is real. is one of IIT’s most famous neering at IIT. “I avoid friends negotiations aimed at ending the 15-year war. Among other things, they academies say they “Students are under a con- graduates. who go to malls and movies, or demanded the release of an unspecified number of political prisoners, can’t explain the stant state of anxiety here. They Every year, about 1.5 mil- are on WhatsApp.” the removal from a UN blacklist freezing their assets and imposing are unable to study, concen- lion students take the entrance His roommate has a note on a travel ban on its leaders, and wanted a political office formally rise in suicides, trate, remember, sleep or eat. exam. Fewer than 10,000 are the wall that says, “Formula to recognised. These are “among the preliminary steps needed for peace,” but they concede They complain of headaches accepted. crack the code” next to a note the Taliban said in a statement. ““Without them, progress towards peace that the intense and breathlessness. Many The test prep industry has that says, “Remember to drink is not feasible.” just weep in front of me,” said also motivated modest families water.” Thakur’s day schedule pscyhological Madan Lal Agrawal, a psychi- from smaller towns and villages on the wall ends with: “Good It’s possible that the Taliban have made these demands with a pressure is real. atrist in Kota who ran a help to aspire to prestigious colleges, night, if sleepy. If not, then realisation that they won’t be met. Releasing political prisoners is no line for students for three years. which until about a decade ago study.” easy thing for any government in Kabul, and that too as a precondition “They feel guilty because their were largely the reserve of the The biggest stresser is the for talks to start. But the insurgents are feeling bold enough to make parents have spent so much elite from big cities. In the past batch-shuffling system. If the such a demand due to the gains money and have high expec- two years, sons of a railway sta- bimonthly test scores are low, they have made on the ground. tations. Parents often impose tion baggage handler, a truck students suddenly find them- their own unfulfilled ambitions driver and a cycle rickshaw selves moved to a group with The Taliban forces have ratcheted By Rama Lakshmi on their children.” driver studied in Kota and made low-scorers and mediocre The Taliban have up their campaign in the last year The Washington Post “Daddy, I hate maths,” one it to top engineering and medi- teachers. The best teachers go to to topple the Kabul government, student wrote in a suicide note cal colleges. the top groups. put forward a set which has been struggling to fight last year. “I am a good-for- “All around Kota, the mes- Two years ago, Ashutosh of conditions to back since most foreign troops left nothing son,” another wrote sage is to excel, or be left Kumar came to Kota from the country at the end of 2014. The hivdutt Singh left his with a frowny-face. behind,” the Times of India Lucknow, a city in the north, join the peace tiny village of wheat Taliban demands came a day after Police in Kota blame the newspaper wrote Sunday. with what he calls a “winner’s and barley farmers last news media for hyping the inci- Kota’s skyline is dotted with stride.” talks, which representatives from the extremist summer with a dream dents and prompting copycats. billboards featuringthe faces “But soon, my confidence shows their lack group and former Afghan officials of becoming the first Officials ordered coaching of students who aced their dipped,” Kumar, 20, said, his of interest in any met in Doha at a conference to resolve Sdoctor in his family. schools to appoint counselors, entrance tests, instead of the hands trembling. “Everybody peace process. the war organised by the Pugwash Singh, 20, traveled more organize special “fun” days in usual supermodels and Bolly- in the classroom is super smart Conferences on Science and World than 300 miles from the vil- classrooms and quickly refund wood stars.. The best teachers and so competitive. I got pushed Affairs, a Nobel peace prize-winning lage of Kolari to Kota, a buzzing fees to students whodrop out. are mini-celebrities. Students down to a much lower batch.” city in the northern Indian state “We have also told coaching have created individual vision crisis group. Now, Kumar skips classes of Rajasthan where students schools to conduct screening boards that hang on the walls frequently or sits in the last row, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani from all over the country come tests to determine if students in their dorm rooms where they away from the teacher’s gaze. has been trying sincerely to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, to cram for entrance exams to are really capable of scoring in write down life goals to keep He is taking anti-depression for which he has enlisted the support of world powers. Officials from India’s highly competitive engi- Kota,” said Sawai Singh Godara, them focused, but there is no pills. He feels trapped. Going Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US met last week to prepare the neering and medical colleges. the superintendent of police. television, Internet or Face- home does not appear to be an ground for a peace process and urged the Taliban to rejoin the process. More than 160,000 stu- The police have also told the book. The wall of the biggest option. dents from across India flocked There was a hope this coalition would make some progress in their schools not to send results of Hindu temple in town is scrib- “How do I tell my parents to Kota’s schools last year, feed- bimonthly tests to parents via bled with pleas from students that I can’t do this anymore?” efforts, but the latest developments show that they don’t have a genuine ing the town’s reputation as the text message. who have come to ask for col- he said. partner in Taliban to make the talks a reality. nation’s capital for test prep- “This keeps the students on lege acceptance. Two weeks after losing his It’s time for Kabul and its allies to come up with an alternative aration. But grueling study the edge all the time. The par- “If you come to Kota, you son, Shivdutt Singh’s father is strategy to tame the Taliban. Talks are unlikely to produce the desired schedules, frequent testing and ents keep calling them to scold,” should be ready for the pres- still grieving and does not know results. The first formal peace talks with the group since the start of the round-the-clock stress are tak- Godara said. sure. After all, if you plan to whom to blame. war collapsed last year after it was announced that Mullah Mohammad ing a deadly toll. Rising middle-class aspi- participate in the Olympics, “Is it wrong to be ambi- More than 70 students have rations, parents’ unrealistic you know it won’t be easy,” Omar, the Taliban founder who sanctioned the talks, had been dead for tious? My son wanted to make committed suicide in the past ambitions for their children, said Ritesh Dahiya, who runs a the village proud by becoming a two years. The death threw the insurgents into disarray and infighting, five years in Kota, including poor teaching standards in center called Potential 2 Kinetic, doctor,” Singh said. “Every par- but they have only strengthened their position on the battleground. 29 just last year - a rate much schools and a fiercely compet- which teaches students to listen ent wants their child to become higher than the national aver- itive college admissions race better in class, to retain infor- something big one day.” age of 10.6 suicides per 100,000 have spawned a $400 million mation and to manage time. people in 2014, reported by test prep industry here. “I teach them how to manage the National Crime Records Kota, an unassuming city stress, because you cannot get Quote of the day Bureau. Students in Kota have with a population a little over rid of it in this town.” hanged themselves, set them- a million, had only a hand- The top bureaucrat of Kota selves ablaze and jumped from ful of private math and science sent an open letter to students I fully support the idea of a buildings. tutors twenty years ago. Butso this week saying, “Life is beau- Two weeks ago, Singh many private schools have tiful.” He urged them to “watch Many dream of European border guard. But it became one of them. He had opened that studying in Kota the rivers flow” and “see the seems to me to be comical if studied nonstop for six hours in has become almost an essential squirrels,” because “clearing an winning admission his dorm room. He even called a rite of passage for many seeking exam or two is not everything.” to the exclusive it has 1,500 members. If every cousin with a biology question. admission to India’s top col- Last week, local authori- Indian Institutes single EU country sent 500 But then he locked the room leges. Aspirants come and study ties ordered the schools to hold and hanged himself from the from three months to two years. a surprise “fun day” to help stu- of Technology, 16 people to this, then you ceiling fan. He left a note: “I am Many dream of winning dents let off steam. Teachers public colleges have 14,000 soldiers. responsible for my suicide. I admission to the exclusive and students sang, danced, did cannot fulfill papa’s dream.” Indian Institutes of Technology, breathing exercises and laugh- whose graduates “He was very excited. We 16 public colleges whose grad- ter therapy, said Nitish Sharma, used to tease him by addressing uates are lapped up by global a senior executive at Allen are lapped up by Czech President him as ‘Doctor,’ “ said his father, companies that offer fat sala- Career Institute. global companies Milos Zeman Mangal Singh, 52. “But after ries. Graduating from one of the But some students skipped that offer fat a few months, he began pan- IITs, considered the Ivy League the fun. icking. He was studying all the of engineering education in “They are a waste of time. salaries. time, slept very little.” India, is a ticket to an elevated My most prized possession is

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By Hugh Naylor against rebel forces in Syria late last year. The Washington Post Moscow’s air raids have exacerbated already dire humanitarian conditions in the country, with pro-government forces undreds of thousands of people on the ground in turn tightening sieges across Syria in areas besieged on opposition strongholds, analysts and by government forces and activists say. opposition fighters are at risk Russia, a key ally of Assad, says its Hof starvation and worsening malnutrition, intervention is aimed at the Islamic State UN officials, aid workers and activists warn. militant group, but Syrian opposition groups The warring parties are cutting off say the air raids have mostly targeted rebel food and medicine to more than a dozen groups. areas, causing civilians to die and com- The sieges appear to be threatening plicating renewed peace efforts to end the UN-backed peace talks that are supposed country’s civil war. Disturbing images on to be held in Geneva next week. Last week, social media purporting to show emaci- several rebel groups announced they would ated men, women and children in the town not participate in the negotiations unless of Madaya, which has been blockaded by the government allows humanitarian aid government forces, has in recent weeks into areas that its forces are blockading. added urgency to the issue. Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst “As the conflict goes on and on, the at the London-based International Institute situation on the ground is collapsing, espe- for Strategic Studies, said Assad’s forces cially in areas that are under siege,” said are pressing sieges on rebel-held areas as Pawel Krzysiek, a spokesman for the Inter- part of an attempt to seize as much key national Committee of the Red Cross who territory as possible ahead of the Geneva is based in the Syrian capital, Damascus. talks. Sieges are part of the government’s Even before Madaya, sieges were com- long-running strategy to “break and expel mon in the Syrian war, which has led to populations that are not loyal,” he said. more than 250,000 deaths, displaced In general, UN officials and aid workers millions and generated a humanitarian have increasingly expressed alarm about catastrophe. But the tactic appears to be residents who are cut off from food and increasingly applied as President Bashar medicine by belligerents on both sides of Al Assad’s forces, backed by Russian air- the conflict, an age-old war tactic that is strikes, wage a new offensive against rebel a violation of international law. groups. According to the United Nations, about The grim consequences are manifesting 400,000 people are besieged in 15 loca- in the vitamin-deficient mothers in block- tions in Syria. The world body defines an aded areas who increasingly struggle to area as under siege if it is “surrounded by breastfeed, UN officials and aid workers armed actors with the sustained effect that warn. A growing number of sick, elderly humanitarian assistance cannot regularly and young, they say, appear to be suc- enter and civilians, the sick and wounded, cumbing to otherwise preventable illnesses. cannot regularly exit the area.” Residents carry banners and opposition flags as they march during a protest in Aleppo, asking for the release of In some places, such as Madaya, peo- Opposition activists in Syria accuse the ple have starved to death, aid agencies say. United Nations of playing down the number prisoners held in government jails and lifting of the siege, in the Al Fardous neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria yesterday. “We’re starving to death, women of people living under siege, excluding in and children. We have no food,” said its figures some areas that are cut off by Dani Qappani, an activist in Moadami- government forces. Senior UN officials yeh, an opposition-held town that is also have denied the accusation. Activists say five children, a woman besieged by opposition forces, such as the besieged by government forces just a few Hassan Hassan, a Syria analyst based and an elderly man have died of starva- areas of Deir Al Zour that are surrounded miles southwest of Damascus. In recent in Washington, said government sieges tion-related causes since the siege was by the Islamic State, which controls vast weeks, as many as seven people in the tend to be harsher and affect a far larger tightened in December. Like in Madaya, territory in Syria and Iraq. But activ- community of 44,000 have died because number of people than rebel-imposed the activists said, Moadamiyeh residents ists from the city also accuse the Assad food and medicine have been cut off, said ones. Furthermore, he said, Assad’s forces face soaring food prices - two pounds of government of exploiting the misery of Qappani, a nom de guerre. have aircraft, which rebels lack, to bomb rice now costs about $20 or more. residents who face brutal attacks by the The tempo of the war has increased areas it is besieging and airlift aid to loyal “My family is living on making soup militant group, highlighting perhaps the since Russia intervened with airstrikes populations that are surrounded by oppo- with some grass and pepper to survive,” unexpected difficulties of those who live sition fighters. Madaya, a town of more said Majed, 22, an activist in Moadami- under blockade. than 20,000 people, has been blockaded yeh, who gave only his first name because Government air drops of food aid are by government forces and allied fighters of concerns for his safety. insufficient and confiscated by officials, The sieges appear to be threatening from Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia since Elizabeth Hoff, a World Health Organ- who then sell the food to desperate res- UN-backed peace talks that are the summer, causing more than two dozen isation (WHO) representative in Syria, idents for exorbitant prices, said Jalal Al People in supposed to be held in Geneva people to die from starvation, aid work- said doctors in Moadamiyeh are warn- Hamad, director of the Justice for Life in government ers say. A UN-backed agreement recently ing that women are increasingly struggling Deir Al Zour, a monitoring group that has next week. Last week, several rebel allowed humanitarian aid into the town. to breastfeed because of a lack of nutri- activists in the city. To flee the area, gov- neighbourhoods groups announced they would not In Moadamiyeh, which is not classified ents. “This is a sign that you might find ernment officials also charge hefty fees that are in reality by the United Nations as besieged, resi- severe malnutrition cases, like in Madaya,” most residents are unable to pay, he said. participate in the negotiations unless dents and activists say government forces Hoff said. “People in government neighbour- under siege by two the government allows humanitarian have completely halted the flow of food, WHO has been unable to verify claims hoods are in reality under siege by two groups: ISIS and the medicine and people for the past month. A of starvation deaths because the govern- groups: ISIS and the Assad regime,” said aid into areas that its forces are shaky truce with local rebels broke down ment has denied the organisation’s requests Hamad, a native of the city who spoke by Assad regime. It’s a blockading. as government forces increased attacks since June to enter Moadamiyeh, she said. Skype from Turkey. disaster. to capture nearby opposition-held areas. Conditions are also difficult in areas “It’s a disaster.” Scandal threatens Japan’s Abe government

The Washington Post that he will fulfill his [obligation of] The law bans Diet members and their If suspicion toward the secretary said, “ Amari is essential because accountability,” Abe said. secretaries from receiving rewards deepens, opposition parties will inev- he played a leading role in the TPP But if opposition parties continue for acts of arbitration involving cor- itably demand Amari’s resignation negotiations.” If he attends question- conomic revitalisation minis- to grill Amari about the issue, it may porations that receive 50 percent or from his Diet seat. and-answer sessions in the Diet, ter Akira Amari has been driven adversely affect the upcoming House more of their capital or funds from the The suspicion toward Amari is also however, it is considered unavoidable Einto a corner over allegations of Councillors election this summer. central or local governments. likely to overshadow the management for substantial time in Diet deliber- about illegal donations that he and his Some in the ruling parties said If the cash that Amari or his secre- of Diet affairs going forward, with ations to be spent accusing Amari secretary are said to have received. Amari should resign quickly. “It can’t be tary is alleged to have received is not the government and ruling parties over the alleged money scandal and In charge of the Abenomics eco- definitively said that he didn’t receive recorded in the political fund reports planning to discuss the Trans-Pacific listening to his explanations. nomic policies, Amari is a key member donations, so it’ll be difficult for him of Amari’s political fund management Partnership free trade agreement from On May 26 and 27, a summit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabi- [to stay in the post],” said a senior Lib- organisation or other entities, this may April or later in the Diet. meeting of the Group of Seven major net. It could shake the foundations of eral Democratic Party member of the constitute false reporting in violation After a draft of the fiscal 2016 countries will be held in the Ise-Shima the Abe administration if he is forced upper house. of the Political Funds Control Law. budget is passed, the government region. As the current Diet session to resign. An article in a weekly magazine Even if Amari denies his own and ruling parties plan to pass key is scheduled to close on June 1, only “I’m confident that I have not done that first reported the allegations said involvement, he will have to take polit- bills, such as one to approve a TPP 1½ months of the Diet session can be anything that violated the law. But I an official in charge of general affairs ical responsibility unless he can offer draft and one to expand the scale of spent on deliberations about the TPP. have to properly trace my memories at a construction company that had sufficient explanation about the sus- subsidies for measures to assist agri- If Diet debates are stopped fre- and offer an appropriate explana- fallen into difficulties with the Urban picions toward his secretary. culture, as soon as possible starting quently, the passage of bills related Questioning the tion,” Amari said at a press conference Renaissance Agency (UR) asked for In the past, many politicians have in April. to measures to assist agriculture may Friday. arbitration by Amari’s government- been forced to resign from their posts Many electoral districts where be delayed because of insufficient responsibility of Amari expressed confidence that paid secretary to negotiate with UR. and Diet seats due to suspicions over there is only one seat and that will time for deliberations in the Diet. If Amari, who is a he could clear the suspicions against The official allegedly transferred ¥5 money-and-politics scandals caused be contested in the upper house elec- this happens, the ruling parties will him, offering to provide his expla- million as a reward. by their secretaries. They include tion this summer rely on agriculture. likely have to reexamine their cur- key member of nation within a week. However, his UR is wholly financed by the cen- former LDP Secretary General Koichi Winning or losing in these electoral rent strategies for the upper house the Abe Cabinet, words lacked force regarding the alle- tral and local governments. Kato and former Prime Minister Yukio districts will significantly affect over- election. gations about his secretary. He only The magazine article also said that Hatoyama. all results in the election. Questioning the responsibility of may adversely said, “I didn’t know” and “I didn’t com- the company handed cash to Amari The LDP and Komeito included A senior LDP member said, “It’s Amari, who is a key member of the affect approval mit on that.” himself, and that the total value of cash a clause in their joint election prom- essential for us to wipe out farmers’ Abe Cabinet, may adversely affect Amari repeatedly said he would rewards and entertainment reached ises in the House of Representatives fears.” approval ratings of the Abe admin- ratings of the Abe look into the issue with the partici- ¥12 million. election in 2009 that vowed to revise Amari is also minister in charge istration, which have been steady. administration, pation of third parties. If arbitration was actually carried laws so that if secretaries or other of TPP affairs. A signing ceremony Some LDP members voiced par- which have been Most members of the Abe admin- out, Amari and the secretary could be close aides of Diet members violate for the TPP is scheduled to be held ticular concerns about this point. A istration and the ruling parties intend charged with violating the law that the Political Funds Control Law, the on Feb. 4. mid-ranking LDP member said, “If steady. to leave responding to the issue to prohibits people in public offices from Diet members will lose their quali- In Diet deliberations related things remain unchanged, we may Amari for the time being. “I’m sure receiving benefits through arbitration. fication as lawmakers. to the TPP, a senior LDP member have to campaign against a headwind.”

All thoughts and views expressed in these columns are those of the writers, not of the newspaper. All correspondence regarding Views and Opinion pages should be mailed to the Editor-in-Chief. 12 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / AFRICA Kerry starts Asia tour with first stop in Laos

illicit and proliferation activities,” the official said. “They have very few ave- US Secretary of State nues for conducting business with to press China to put the international community that more curbs on North don’t in some fashion involve tran- siting China. Korea “Despite the determination and efforts of the Chinese government, clearly there is more that they can do.” In Beijing, Kerry plans “in depth” Reuters discussions on the South China Sea, a source of increasing tension between China and Asean countries and the United States due to China’s building VIENTIANE: US Secretary of State of artificial islands suitable for use John Kerry began a visit to Asia yester- as military bases, the official said. day in which he plans to press China to First though in Vientiane, the cap- put more curbs on North Korea after ital of Laos, Kerry will seek to bolster its nuclear test and to urge Southeast Asean unity and the bloc’s resolve to Asia to show unity in response to Bei- stand up to China in the lead-up to a jing’s claims in the South China Sea. summit President Barack Obama has Kerry started what will be a three- called with the bloc’s leaders for Feb- day stay in the region in Laos, the 2016 ruary 15-16 in Sunnylands, California. chair of the 10-member Association Laos has close political and eco- of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). nomic ties with its giant neighbour He will head to Cambodia tonight China. The Obama administration People stand next to a piece of suspected plane wreckage which has been found off the coast of southern Thailand in Nakhon Si Thammarat and then on to Beijing for talks on worries that it might behave as Cam- province yesterday. Wednesday with the leadership there. bodia did when it held the Asean chair In Beijing, Kerry is expected to in 2012 and was accused of obstruct- stress the need for a united front in ing consensus in the bloc over the response to this month’s North Korean South China Sea. Debris found off Thailand not likely from MH370 nuclear test through additional UN Besides its China ties, as a land- sanctions, a senior official of the US locked country Laos has less interest State Department said. He will also in the maritime disputes that several argue for a tough unilateral response Asean members have with Beijing. Reuters Thai media that the debris could belong tooling apparent in this debris strongly Canberra-based authority which is from China, North Korea’s main ally The US official said he had heard to MH370, which disappeared with 239 suggest that it is aerospace related,” overseeing the international search and neighbour. from virtually every Asean country people on board during a flight from said Waldron. “It will need to be care- for MH370, said it was “awaiting “It is very important to present a that the Cambodian chairmanship Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014. fully examined, however, to determine results of the official examination of united front ... but that united front has had left “a black mark” on the bloc BANGKOK: A piece of suspected plane A piece of the plane washed up on the its exact origin.” the material.” to be a firm one, not a flaccid one,” that was not to be repeated. wreckage found off the east coast of French island of Reunion in July 2015 Other possible sources of aero- The Malaysian Transport Ministry the official told journalists travel- So far, Laos was off to a good start southern Thailand on Saturday was but no further trace has been found. space debris included the launching is in contact with Thai authorities to ling with Kerry. overseeing Asean statements on world unlikely to belong to Malaysia Airlines Experts said that while powerful of space rockets by India eastwards verify the debris, a ministry spokesman It was particularly important events, the official said, adding: “It’s Flight MH370 which vanished nearly currents sweeping the Indian Ocean over the Bay of Bengal, he said. said. Investigators believe someone to “cut off avenues of proliferation my expectation that Laos will be a two years ago, said aviation experts could deposit debris thousands of kilo- There has been no official con- may have deliberately switched off and retard North Korea’s ability to responsible chair for 2016.” and Thai officials. metres away, wreckage was extremely firmation from Thailand that the MH370’s transponder before divert- gain the wherewithal to advance its Kerry will seek to set an encour- A large piece of curved metal unlikely to have drifted across the wreckage belongs even to a plane. ing it thousands of miles off course. nuclear and its missile programmes,” aging tone in Laos by discussing washed ashore in Nakhon Si Thamma- equator into the northern hemisphere. “Personally, I don’t think it’s Most of the passengers were Chinese. the official said, and that meant China increased US aid, including more rat province, Tanyapat Patthikongpan, The location of the debris in Thai- MH370,” Thai government spokes- Uncertainty surrounding its fate doing more. funding for work to dispose of unex- head of Pak Phanang district, said. land “would appear to be inconsistent man Sansern Kaewkamnerd said. has tormented the families of those on North Korea said on January 6 it ploded US ordnance left over from the Villagers reported it to authorities for with the drift models that appeared District head Patthikongpan said board. Some have said even the dis- had successfully tested a hydrogen Vietnam War. During that conflict, identification, he said. when MH370’s flaperon was discov- the debris “could have been under the covery of debris would still not solve bomb, although Washington voiced Laos became one of the most heavily “Villagers found the wreckage, ered in Reunion last July,” said Greg sea for no more than a year, judging the mystery. The fragment found in scepticism as to whether the device bombed countries in history as the measuring about 2 metres wide and Waldron, Asia Managing Editor at from barnacles on it.” Thailand “just doesn’t look like aircraft was actually that powerful. United States sought to destroy com- 3 metres long,” he said. Flightglobal, an industry publication. A spokesman for the Joint fuselage,” aviation expert Geoffrey “North Korea is still engaged in munist supply lines running through it. The find fuelled speculation in the “The markings, engineering, and Agency Coordination Centre, the Thomas told Reuters from near Perth. Four killed in Burkina Faso seeks seven South Africa ex-presidential guards platinum

Reuters In a statement published along- mine fire side the photographs of the wanted men, the army said: “They are in little groups of two or three and on motor- AFP OUAGADOUGOU: Burkina Faso’s cycles. Prevent them from fleeing.” armed forces yesterday published The elite presidential guard was in local media the names and disbanded after members loyal to JOHANNESBURG: Four miners images of seven members of its dis- former president Blaise Compaore have died in an underground fire solved presidential guard wanted mounted a six-day coup against in a platinum mine near South Afri- in connection to an attack two days Burkina Faso’s transitional govern- ca’s main city Johannesburg, the ago on an armoury near Ouaga- ment in September in which members Impala group said in a statement. dougou. of the cabinet were taken hostage, The fire broke out on Friday at a The authorities have already before handing power back to the mine near Rustenburg, about 120km arrested 11 members of the disbanded government under heavy interna- from Johannesburg, the owners said elite guards in connection with Fri- tional pressure. in a statement. day’s raid, during which army officials Friday’s raid is the first time the “The four employees were over- said the attackers seized Kalashnik- disbanded guard has carried out an come by fumes while they were ovs and rocket launchers. action of this kind since their coup trying to find their way to safety,” Burkina Faso is still reeling from attempt failed. Impala said. an attack by gunmen on a hotel and The West African country has been Minister for Mines Mosebenzi restaurant on January 15 that was fragile since popular protests in 2014 Zwani yesterday said he was “very claimed by Islamist militants and dur- ousted longtime leader Compaore, Supporters march for victims who lost their lives in a terrorist attack on January 15 this year in the capital, saddened by this tragic incident,” ing which 30 people were killed, most who had sought to amend the con- adding: “The health and safety of in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. of them foreigners. stitution to prolong his 27-year rule. workers is of paramount impor- tance and should continue to be a priority in all operations.” South Africa possesses rich min- eral reserves and has several gold, Deradicalisation a challenge in Indonesia prisons platinum, diamond and coal pits but has been dogged by several mining accidents in the recent past. The National Union of Mine- AFP found a new calling far from the vio- deadly Jakarta attack, hard questions by IS in Southeast Asia. in his sermons to fellow convicts. workers, the main union body lent jihad that derailed his life. are being asked about the government’s “Afif managed to mask his radical- If Afif was evolving into a violent representing the sector, yesterday “It will erase the old you, the one efforts to identify and tackle radical- ism inside prison,” Noor Huda Ismail, radical while incarcerated, it went said it was “deeply concerned about who stayed in prison, no trace of it,” ism in prison, after police revealed one who has worked closely with reformed undetected by prison authorities. these fatalities happening at Impala JAKARTA: Life isn’t easy for convicted Hariono said from Solo, a city in cen- of the gunmen was a previously jailed extremists and is an expert on Indo- He was cooperative and didn’t Platinum.” militants like Machmudi Hariono when tral Java that is a hotbed for radical militant lured to the Islamic State (IS) nesian militancy, said. break rules, explained justice minis- Fourteen gold miners died at the they walk out of prison in Indonesia. extremism. group while behind bars. “Most prisoners considered him try spokesman Akbar Hadi Prabowo. start of 2014 in an explosion and in Barred from most jobs, shunned by “You will find a new life that is Afif, who goes by one name, was quiet and not a troublemaker.” He was also put in the least-risk cat- 2009 nine workers at a platinum society, Hariono’s debts piled up until colourful.” jailed for seven years for training at a In prison, Afif was in contact egory assigned to convicted militants. mine were crushed by falling rocks. an outreach programme working with Programmes aimed at deradicalis- militant camp but was released early with Aman Abdurrahman, a radical “But one’s ideology can change. But there are many more acci- reformed jihadists got him a kitchen ing hardliners have taken many forms in mid 2015 for good behaviour. preacher incarcerated on multiple ter- If a doctor declares you healthy, it dents involving illegal miners. South job in a small cafe. in Indonesia, from gardening classes Six months later he was dead, along ror offences, Ismail said. doesn’t mean you won’t fall ill again,” Africa has approximately 6,000 Today the 40-year-old manages run behind bars to family reunions with three other militants and four Abdurrahman pledged allegiance Prabowo said. Indonesia has no formal mines that companies have aban- several businesses, including a car organised by not-for-profit groups. civilians, after perpetrating the first to IS while behind bars, and translated programme for monitoring militants doned in the face of falling profits. rental service, and is “at peace” having But in the aftermath of this month’s gun and suicide bomb attack claimed messages from the brutal militant group once they’re released from prison. PAKISTAN MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 13 Armed teachers in classrooms derive uneasy comfort

AFP long targeted education in Pakistan, from the shooting of schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai in Swat in 2012 to the Peshawar massacre and Wednes- day’s assault. PESHAWAR: Headmaster Naveed Gul walked On Friday, the Taliban faction behind the past the armed guard at the gate into his office. Bacha Khan attack vowed to continue targeting As primary school pupils studied their morn- schools and students, calling them “nurseries” ing lessons outside, he reached beneath his for those who challenge Allah’s law. warm woolly sweater, and pulled out a gun. “I want to protect myself and my students,” “This is an M20 pistol,” he said. “It’s made Gul said. in China and it works perfectly.” Provincial spokesman Shaukat Yousafzai A debate over arming teachers has surged in said that with 68,000 schools and just 55,000 Pakistan once more, days after assistant chem- policemen in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the gov- istry professor Syed Hamid Husain opened fire ernment cannot provide security, so it gave on the Taliban gunmen who stormed the uni- in to the teachers’ demand they be allowed to versity campus where he worked. carry weapons. Students told how the 33-year-old father- “There is no harm in using them in case of of-two died shielding them with a handgun an attack,” Yousafzai said. during the attack that claimed 21 lives at the But Peshawar-based analyst and retired Bacha Khan University in northwest Khyber brigadier Saad Khan said arming teachers is Pakhtunkhwa province. “stupid”. Teachers there had been given permission “These are young men,” he said. “If a fight to carry firearms after the Pakistani Taliban breaks out, you know, the rush of blood, and massacred more than 150 people, the majority if somebody has a gun.” of them children, at a school in the provincial Instead of killing attackers on the spot, Khan capital Peshawar in 2014. called for rooting out the long-term causes of At the Government Primary School Akhuna- militancy, echoing critics of a national crack- bad in the city, Gul slid his own gun — a Chinese down on extremism who say it has failed to knockoff of a Soviet WWII-era pistol — quickly go far enough. into the desk drawer, saying weapons in school “Let them become men of books,” he said. give him confidence. Syed Hamid Husain, by all accounts, had “You have guns with you. You can fight it been just such a man — a brilliant academic out,” he said. lecturing at a university named after a peace The headmaster, his waxed moustaches icon known as the “Frontier Gandhi”. straight out of the Wild West, already has the Husain’s family said that changed after the scenario played out in his mind. Peshawar school massacre in 2014. “If one terrorist were to come and I’m sit- Elder brother Sajjad expressed a baffled ting here... I will automatically take out my pride in the actions of his kind-hearted sib- pistol,” he said gesturing. ling, who he said as a child would faint at the A Pakistani private security guard watches out as students arrive at a government primary school in Peshawar. A debate over “So if I take cover from here, and fire with sight of blood. arming teachers has surged in Pakistan once more. a sharp mind.” “We don’t know where he got that much courage from,” Sajjad told AFP tearfully at the ‘Where did he get the courage?’ family home in Swabi, near Charsadda, clutch- Sajjad said. “He said he felt a trembling inside... on both sides, as did Republican presidential “They (teachers) can fight and kill maybe Psychologists discussing mass shootings in ing his three-year-old nephew in one arm and that something should be done.” candidate Ben Carson’s call for guns in schools two, three, four people,” said Ehsanullah, whose the US recently told AFP that post-traumatic a picture of the child’s father in the other. In the US, the debate over arming teachers last October. son attends the Akhunabad school. stress can translate into such hyper-vigilance: The Taliban’s cold slaughter of dozens of is nuanced. President Barack Obama’s recent In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for parents and “When they come, our teacher will attack a state of alert close to paranoia. children in the Peshawar massacre had changed tears over the shooting of 20 children in Con- students, the question appears unsettlingly them,” said ten-year-old pupil Shafey Hussain. But Gul is matter-of-fact. Militants have his “soft” brother into something more “cruel”, necticut in 2012 prompted powerful arguments one-sided. “We are not scared of anybody.”

300 girls Pakistani PM Taliban set conditions for talks schools to Reuters imposing a travel ban on its leaders, the militants were driven from power open in and to have a political office formally by a 2001 US-led military operation. vows to hit recognised. These are “among the pre- Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and province liminary steps needed for peace,” the the United States met last week to lay KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban Taliban said in a statement. “Without the ground for a negotiated end to the demanded the release of political them, progress towards peace is not war and called for the Taliban to rejoin prisoners as one of the conditions feasible.” Thomas Ruttig, co-director the peace process. Internews militancy hard that they said yesterday would need of the Afghanistan Analysts Network The first formal peace talks with to be met before they consider rejoin- in Kabul, said the Taliban have been the Taliban since the start of the ing peace talks aimed at ending the fairly consistent in their demands and war collapsed last year after it was PESHAWAR: The Elementary 15-year war. he is sceptical the latest push would announced its founder, Mullah Moham- Education Foundation (EEF) added. The NAP saw the creation of Taliban forces have stepped up yield any results. mad Omar, who sanctioned the talks, in Pakistan’s northwest Khy- military courts and the resumption their campaign in the last year to top- “The demand for a release of what had been dead for two years, throw- ber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province Nawaz Sharif admits of executions after a six-year morato- ple the Kabul government, which has they call political prisoners had been ing the group into disarray. has completed arrangements for planned crackdown rium, and the initiatives were credited struggled since most foreign troops on the table in earlier talks, too,” he Despite efforts to restart talks, opening 300 more community with making 2015 the least deadly in left at the end of 2014. said. The latest demands are not a sign since the start of the year the Tali- girls schools during the upcom- against militants terms of militant attacks since the The Islamist insurgents are that the “Taliban are willing to join ban have ramped up their campaign ing academic year starting from slow formation of the Tehreek-e-Taliban demanding the release of an unnamed talks anytime soon”. of violence across Afghanistan, with April, according to sources. Pakistani (TTP) in 2007. list of prisoners, to be removed from a The Taliban insurgency has killed suicide attacks and territorial gains With the establishment of 300 The Pakistan military also inten- UN blacklist freezing their assets and tens of thousands of Afghans since in Helmand province. more community girls’ schools, their sified an ongoing campaign against number would reach 1,550 in Khy- AFP extremism following the 2014 assault. ber Pakhtunkhwa, the sources said, Sharif said that Pakistan and adding that 1,250 such schools were Afghanistan had an agreement that already established by EEF. both countries would not allow mil- In unison The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yesterday itants to use their territory to launch needs thousands of primary schools, pledged further action to combat attacks on their neighbour. particularly for girls, to enrol the militants, but Prime Minister Nawaz However, Pakistan officials said out-of-school children as currently Sharif admitted progress had often the university attack was orches- around 1.5 million children were been slow, speaking just days after a trated from Afghanistan and that out of school. deadly attack by heavily armed gun- they have arrested five Pakistani The need for thousands of pri- men on a university campus killed facilitators. mary schools and the construction 21 people. “Pakistan and Afghanistan are of new schools at a snail’s pace has The assault bore a chilling resem- strictly following this agreement, but prompted the provincial government blance to the December 2014 Peshawar there are certain elements in Afghan- to immediately establish community school assault in which more than 150 istan who on their own are attacking schools as a stopgap arrangement people, mostly children, were killed, Pakistan,” Sharif said. to enrol maximum number of out- prompting the government to launch “In 2014 our school was attacked of-school children, officials in the a National Action Plan (NAP) crack- from Afghanistan. Such attacks should Elementary and Secondary Edu- ing down on extremism. be stopped,” Sharif said. cation Department said. Sharif said yesterday Pakistan Twenty-one people were killed They said that the provincial would continue the fight against last Wednesday in an attack at a uni- government had allocated Rs1bn in militants. versity campus in Pakistan’s tribal the 2014-15 budget to be spent over “We will fulfil this responsibility,” northwest which was claimed by three years on 1,000 community- he told reporters in London. a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, based girls schools, while Rs450m “In certain areas of NAP the barely a year after the massacre at a would be spent on operating the progress is slow, but in many other school in Peshawar that killed more 300 new schools. areas work has been started,” Sharif than 150 people. The sources said that the only purpose of these schools was to pro- vide education facility to children near their homes. Like the previous year, in which Pakistan to cut pilgrimage fares 1,000 community girls schools were established, 300 more such schools Internews would be established in keeping with needs in the areas where the govern- ment has so far failed to construct KARACHI: Pakistan will reduce the fare of Haj and Umrah so that peo- any primary school, the sources ple can benefit from the decrease in petroleum prices in the international said. They said that a community market. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has already cut fares. school would be established in areas Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony, Sardar where there was no government Muhammad Yousuf, said this while speaking at a seminar ‘Change in school within a radius of one kil- life after performing Haj’ organised by the Karwaan-i-Hira organisa- ometre. The sources said that the Afghan soldiers attend their graduation ceremony in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. At least 1,100 tion here on Friday night. number of out-of-school children The minister said the government would provide maximum facilities soldiers joined the Afghan national army after training for two months. would be high in the areas where to pilgrims under the Haj policy being made for 2016. no government primary schools existed. 14 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 INDIA France signals signing of Rafale deal

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi French President asked for 36 Rafale planes during a trip to France last April, scaling down an original Francois Hollande began order for 126 jets that had been in the works for years. his second official visit to Hollande said the two sides are still dis- India in Chandigarh. He cussing key issues such as the price for the warplanes. French Energy Minister Sego- will be the chief guest lene Royal, accompanying Hollande, said in the Republic Day an accord signed by Arevain 2009 to build six 1,650- megawatt reactors would make celebrations tomorrow a small move ahead. France and India have agreed on an option for the latter to buy an additional 18 warplanes at a future date, a senior Indian defence offi- Bloomberg & Agencies cial said last week, asking not to be identified because the information wasn’t public yet. The nations have also resolved what equipment, systems and weapons would go into the jet, NEW DELHI: France signalled a state-to-state the official had said. accord with India could be signed today over a The reactors are planned for Jaitapur, a deal for 36 Dassault Aviation SA Rafale fighter coastal town in India’s western province of jets, and that a six-year-old plan to build Maharashtra. Areva was seeking further clar- nuclear reactors in the South Asian nation ity from India on its nuclear liability law before would see some progress. moving ahead with what would be India’s big- President Francois Hollande said he was gest nuclear plant. “rather optimistic” an agreement over the The agreement India and the US signed warplanes would be signed tomorrow as he recently over insurance-related issues for began a three-day visit to India yesterday nuclear plants will help in overcoming cer- in Chandigarh, a northern city designed by tain hurdles, Royal said. French architect Le Corbusier. India last year pledged to create a 15bn “We aim for an accord between our gov- rupee ($222m) insurance pool to shield nuclear ernments,” Hollande told reporters. “We’re plant operators, as well as equipment suppli- at a new step here, and it goes in the right ers, against damages during an accident. Some direction.” have argued the pool may not be sufficient.

French President Francois Hollande and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit the Rock Garden in Chandigarh, yesterday. Hollande, who will be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade in Delhi, commenced his three-day visit yesterday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Manohar Lal Khattar and Chandigarh MP Kir- deadly attacks in Paris in November that French President Francois Hollande at Chan- ron Kher, besides senior officers. evoked memories of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, digarh’s popular Rock Garden yesterday. “A warm welcome to French President which left 166 people dead. Modi and Hollande greeted each other Hollande. We are honoured and delighted to “India and France are confronted with with a warm handshake and a hug on a win- have him as chief guest for Republic Day cel- similar threats: we are attacked by murder- try afternoon. ebrations,” Modi tweeted. ers who pretend to act on religious basis. Both leaders took a round of a section “Hollande and I will meet in Chandigarh Their real objective is widespread hate,” Hol- of the Rock Garden which has been created and Delhi,” Modi said. “We will build on the landed told PTI. entirely from waste material by its founder, ground covered during our previous interac- “They want to undermine our demo- Nek Chand. tions,” he added. cratic values and our way of life. India and They then proceeded towards the Cap- Hollande was given a colourful welcome at France are united in their determination to ital Complex and will visit the Government the airport by traditional ‘Gidda’ and ‘Bhangra’ act together against terrorism.” Museum and Art Gallery later in the day. dancers of Punjab. Hollande said last week that a coalition The French president arrived here on Sun- The French president headed from the air- waging a bombing campaign against the day on a three-day visit to India. He will be port to Hotel Taj, where he will stay during his Islamic State (IS) group in Syria and Iraq would the chief guest at the 67th Republic Day cele- five-hour stopover in the city. “accelerate” air strikes. brations in New Delhi on Tuesday. Chandigarh was put under maximum India launched a nationwide security Hollande was received earlier at the security cover ahead of the arrival of the crackdown in the lead up to Republic Day Hollande and Narendra Modi visiting the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh airport by Haryana Governor French president. celebrations, arresting a string of suspected Chandigarh. Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana Chief Minister Security will be high on the agenda after Islamic militants during raids in four states. LED bulb price falls 10% to Rs64 Amit Shah elected BJP president IANS in another round of LED procurement percent reduction from February 2014 LED bulbs,” it added. Earlier this week, for Madhya Pradesh,” a union power price of Rs.310,” it added. The state- the government announced that EESL ministry statement here said. “The run Energy Efficiency Services Ltd. had completed distributing five crore procurement price has come down (EESL) has through a combination LED bulbs under DELP. According to NEW DELHI: Amit Shah (pictured), NEW DELHI: The procurement price to Rs.64.41 (exclusive of taxes) from of aggregation and transparent pro- EESL, it will be able to distribute seven a close confidant of Prime Minister of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs has existing Rs.73, while the efficiency of curement, achieved a rapid decline crore LED bulbs by the end of Febru- Narendra Modi, was elected the BJP fallen further to Rs.64.41 from Rs.73 9W bulbs has increased by 20 per- in LED prices making it affordable to ary, and between nine-ten crore by president for a full three-year term, per unit, the government said yes- cent,” it said. the common man, it said. March 2016. retaining the post he has held since terday. “In the recent round of procure- “This has resulted in significant “Power bills have reduced by the party took power in the coun- “Government of India, through ment of 9W LED bulbs for Madhya reduction in transaction cost and time Rs.2,500 crore through the distrib- try in 2014. its flagship initiative Domestic Effi- Pradesh, the price has come down to and enhanced process efficiency. This, uted bulbs, savings will go up to Shah, 51, who took charge of the cient Lighting Programme (DELP), Rs.64.41 which is exclusive of taxes. in turn, has led to a much larger par- Rs.45,000 crore annually,” Power party in August 2014 from now Home has achieved a further 10 percent This is a 10 percent reduction from ticipation of bidders thereby increasing Minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet. Minister Rajnath Singh, was elected reduction in prices of 9W LED bulbs June 2015 price of Rs.73 and about 80 competition and reducing the cost of unanimously at the BJP headquar- ters attended by senior party leaders. As Bharatiya Janata Party leader Avinash Rai Khanna made the Another former BJP president, announcement that Shah has got M Venkaiah Naidu, said: “He is the Security beefed up the top post again, the packed hall most capable person. He has organ- erupted with joy, with young men isational ability, is a good strategist repeatedly blowing conch shells and and is committed to our ideology.” others raining flower petals on him. Besides Modi, the two other Hundreds of party activists notable absentees from the event cheered Shah and raised slogans were former party presidents L K hailing him and the BJP. Many gar- Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, landed or presented bouquets to who are known to be unhappy with Shah, who is seen as the most pow- Shah’s style of functioning. erful man in the party after Modi. Shah, who did not address the Modi was not present as he had gathering or speak to the media, to go to Chandigarh to meet French leaves today to address a public President Francois Hollande. meeting in Howrah in West Bengal, But he congratulated Shah where the BJP will face a stiff chal- and said he was confident the BJP lenge in its bid for power this year. “will scale newer heights under his The Congress was sarcastic. leadership”. After pointing out the absence of “Amit bhai combines grassroots- Advani and Joshi from the event, level work and rich organisational Congress leader Kapil Sibal said: experience which will benefit the “Congratulations on his election, party immensely,” said Modi, who and congratulations on his future is said to count Shah as one of his defeats.” most trusted aides. A science graduate, Shah — Shah took hold of the BJP’s reins the son of a businessman — rose from Rajnath Singh after the latter to fame when he, as the party in- became the home minister in the charge in Uttar Pradesh, led the BJP Modi cabinet. There was no elec- to a grand victory in the state in the tion then. 2014 Lok Sabha battle where it won Rajnath Singh said: “He (Shah) 71 of the 80 seats. An ally won two has been an extremely successful more seats. party president. I am confident the It was the general election where A policeman checks the bag of a Kashmiri man near a temporary barricade in Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, yesterday. Security BJP will continue its forward march he and Modi combined to lead the has been beefed up in Kashmir ahead of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow. under Shah’s stewardship and reach party to victory, ending 10 long years newer heights of success and glory.” of Congress rule. INDIA MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 15 India and Arab nations condemn terrorism

spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. “They supported the efforts of the The declaration was adopted UN Counter-Terrorism Committee The first ever after the first ever ministerial-level (CTC) and adoption of the Compre- ministerial- meeting of the India-Arab Part- hensive Convention on International nership Conference in Bahrain’s Terrorism (CCIT), at the earliest,” it level meeting of capital Manama yesterday, which was states. The Arab side also aspired “to the India-Arab attended by External Affairs Minis- an effective Indian role, in cooper- ter Sushma Swaraj. ation with Arab states, to enhance Partnership The Arab League comprises 22 peace and security at the regional countries in Middle East and northern and international level”. Conference Africa — Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, The declaration assumes signifi- in Manama Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, cance as India is concerned over the Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, deepening sectarian divide in the condemned Oman, the State of Palestine, Qatar, region and the growing footprint of King of Bahrain H M Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa with India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, terror groups like the Islamic State. terrorism in all Manama yesterday. Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and After Saudi Arabia executed a its forms and Yemen. Shia cleric on charges of terrorism rejected associating The relationship between India earlier this month, its missions in Iran commitment to work together to tackle irreversible manner and agreed to the two sides attach to enhance bilat- and the Arab countries has been came under attack and subsequently political and economic challenges strengthen collaboration to achieve eral cooperation in the field of energy, terrorism with any taken to the next level called India- diplomatic ties between Riyadh and through closer consultation, coop- this important objective according to they expressed hope to reach a mem- religion Arab Partnership Conference, four Tehran were cut off. eration and coordination in various relevant UN resolutions. orandum of understanding in the field meetings of which have already been According to the Manama Dec- fields.” Both the sides also called for On the bilateral front, both sides of energy in order to enhance coop- held with New Delhi hosting the last laration, the two sides recalled the urgent reforms of the UN Security recognised the need to hold more peo- eration in this field, especially in the one in 2014 and the next conference historic and civilisational ties that Council through expansion in both ple-to-people interactions between the field of renewable Energy,” it states. IANS scheduled to be held in Oman in May exist between the Arab world and permanent and non-permanent mem- two sides, particularly exchanging “Both the sides desire to strengthen this year. India and underlined the contribu- bership to reflect contemporary reality. youth delegations to share experiences cooperation in the fields of science “The two sides condemned tion of the commercial and cultural “They agreed that the current and ideas about each other’s culture and technology, information and terrorism in all its forms and man- ties in binding the two sides together. structure of the UN Security Council and traditions. communication technology (ICT), MANAMA/NEW DELHI: India and ifestations and rejecting associating “They hailed the strong foun- was not representative of a majority “It was also agreed to promote environment, agriculture and food the Arab League member states yes- terrorism with any religion, culture dation, great potential and of the people of the world but con- exchange of women’s delegations with security, tourism, health and estab- terday condemned terrorism in all or ethnic group, emphasised the need wide-ranging prospects for the tinued to perpetuate a system that a view to promote women empower- lishing the necessary mechanisms to its forms and manifestations, includ- for concerted regional and interna- Arab-Indian co-operation and the was anachronistic,” the declaration ment,” the declaration states. enforce cooperation in these fields to ing cross-border terrorism, and also tional efforts to combat terrorism and role this forum can play to advance states. India and the Arab regional group- achieve common interest of India and called for urgent reforms in the UN to address its causes and to develop Arab-India relations towards capa- India and the Arab countries reaf- ing also hoped to strengthen future Arab countries,” the declaration reads. Security Council. a strategy to eliminate the sources cious horizons,” it states. firmed their commitment to verifiable cooperation in economic, trade and On regional issues, the two sides “The Manama Declaration con- of terrorism and extremism includ- “They confirmed their commit- and non-discriminatory nuclear disar- investment, within the framework of expressed deep concern over the sit- demns terrorism in all its forms and ing its funding, as well as combating ment to maintain international peace mament and the complete elimination the existing mechanisms and further uation in Syria and called on Israel to rejects associating terrorism with any organised cross-border crime,” the and security and to achieve sustaina- of nuclear weapons and other weap- developing these mechanisms. end its occupation of the Palestinian religion,” external affairs ministry Manama Declaration reads. ble development and expressed their ons of mas destruction (WMDs) in an “In view of the great importance “Arab” territories it seized in 1967.

Cabinet clears President’s rule Hyderabad varsity vice-chancellor goes on leave in Arunachal

IANS an umbrella of student blaming them for Rohith’s suicide and social NEW DELHI: The union cab- groups, has vowed to con- boycott of Dalit students. inet yesterday recommended tinue the protest till justice The protestors also alleged that Telangana imposition of President’s rule in is done to Rohith’s family. Police was shielding the culprits. “Arrests have Arunachal Pradesh, informed HYDERABAD: University of Hyderabad Vice A day after police to be made under SC/ST Atrocities Act immedi- sources here said. Chancellor P Appa Rao, in the eye of the storm shifted seven students ately as it is a cognizable/non-bailable offence,” Governor Jyoti Prasad over the suicide of a Dalit research scholar, has who were on an indefinite the JAC said. Rajkhowa by his December 9, 2015, gone on leave but the students continued their hunger strike to hospital, A case for abetment to suicide and for vio- message had advanced the date protest on the campus. another batch of seven stu- lation of Scheduled Castes Scheduled Tribes of the convening of the assembly Vipin Srivastava, the seniormost professor, dents went on fast. (Prevention of atrocities) Act was booked against session. The move was criticised will perform the duties of the vice chancellor, The JAC has also Dattretya, the vice chancellor and two lead- by the Congress and party leader the university announced yesterday. called for ‘Chalo HCU’ ers of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad Kapil Sibal had said the gover- Rao was under fire for his handling of the (Hyderabad Central (ABVP) on January 18. Rohith Vemula P Appa Rao nor could not have acted on a issue relating to the suspension of five Dalit University) on Monday Meanwhile, the leader of opposition in the resolution by the opposition BJP students, one of whom, Rohith Vemula, com- to intensify the protest. Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, visited the legislators and two independents. mitted suicide on January 17. Demanding the students. The executive council on Thursday had It has called upon students from across the university yesterday and expressed solidarity On January 18, the Supreme Court vice chancellor’s resignation, students contin- decided to revoke the suspension. country to reach the campus for protest. The with the students. Telangana Pradesh Congress said that it would examine whether ued their protest in the university. Meanwhile, the The students, however, continued their pro- JAC is demanding arrest of central ministers Committee chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, Congress Rajkhowa’s decision of advancing university registrar also issued orders yesterday test demanding the vice chancellor’s ouster. The Smirit Irani and Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP legis- leader in Telangana assembly Janardhan Reddy the assembly session to December with regard to revocation of suspension of four Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Social Justice, lator Ramchandra Rao and the vice chancellor, and other party leaders also met the students. 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not. Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators Religious ritual backed by BJP lawmakers on December 16 in an assembly ses- sion held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker. The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia. The dep- uty speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 MLAs. The Congress yesterday said the central government’s decision to impose President’s Rule in Aru- nachal Pradesh reflects a “travesty of Constitutional mandate, subju- gation of federalism and trampling of democracy”. “Modiji’s double speak of respect for federalism and states being equal part of ‘Team India’ stands exposed,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. “It also shows a scant disre- gard of the Supreme Court by Modi government, particularly when the entire issue of BJP-engineered A Hindu devotee walks on burning coals to mark the Thaipusam festival in Chennai coercive defections is being heard yesterday. by a Constitution Bench,” he added. 32 people lose vision after visiting eye camp

IANS that they have lost their vision, the patients were administered an They were reinjected and asked to prompting the local administra- injection in their retinas. Satna is wait for some time. But it has been tion here to order a probe into some 440km from state capital almost three weeks and their sight SATNA: As many as 32 peo- the incident. The eye check-up Bhopal. hasn’t returned. They were briefly ple who attended an eye camp camp was held on December 29 Within hours, some of the admitted to hospital but were dis- in Madhya Pradesh’s Satna dis- at a trust-run Sadguru Eye Hos- patients started complaining charged and told that the problem trict last month have complained pital in the district during which that they were not able to see. had occurred after the operation. 16 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 EUROPE

Swiss army Ex-spy claims UK knew of Guantanamo torture applauds that British officials saw detainees being tortured in December 2002, troops Davos The former officer is the Sunday Times said quoting sen- seeking permission ior security sources. Details of torture were disclosed performance to present evidence during meetings held at the London to a forthcoming headquarters of Britain’s MI5 in 2002 and the evidence is believed to include AFP parliamentary inquiry claims that British officials witnessed that British officials inmates being chained, hooded, water- saw detainees being boarded and subjected to mental abuse GENEVA: A few cases of troops taking by CIA officials, the report said. drugs did not undermine the “exem- tortured in December No one was immediately avail- plary performance” of Swiss soldiers 2002 able to comment at Britain’s interior in securing this year’s World Economic ministry which handles media que- Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland’s ries relating to MI5. defence department said yesterday. A report by the US Senate published More than 4,000 soldiers were in 2014 said the CIA used threats, water- sent to the exclusive ski resort, Reuters boarding and other harsh methods to where heads of state and govern- interrogate terrorism suspects in the ment mixed with business moguls years after the September 11, 2001, in a forum that wrapped up on attacks on the United States. Saturday. LONDON: A former senior British intel- A former British inmate at Guantan- “The involvement of the army ligence officer wants to give evidence amo said last month that British security in the context of security measures that the country’s security services officers witnessed him being tortured surrounding the WEF 2016 went off knew about the torture of inmates at by American soldiers in Afghanistan. without a hitch,” a statement said. the US prison camp in Guantanamo Separately, a former British inmate Thames House, the headquarters of the British Security Service (MI5) in London, Britain. Twelve soldiers assigned to Bay, a newspaper reported. at Guantanamo said in 2014 he under- guard the high-profile gathering The former officer is seeking went psychological torture included of the world’s rich and powerful permission to present evidence to a execution threats and light deprivation. Cuba, was opened in 2002 to house drawn international criticism from governments. U.S. President Barack tested positive for cannabis and forthcoming parliamentary inquiry The prison in Guantanamo, in foreign terrorism suspects but has human rights activists and many foreign Obama is seeking to close it. five had used cocaine, accord- ing to Swiss media reports, which quoted an army spokesman, ear- lier last week. Czech president `“Our soldiers gave an exem- Russia closes Norway border for migrants plary performance...The few regrettable cases of drug con- says planned EU sumption should not tarnish the AFP an arduous journey through the Arc- meet the criteria of an earlier agree- “until further notice” and that Rus- overall positive impression,” border force tic to Europe. ment that obliges Moscow to readmit sian border authorities “want more Jean-Marc Halter, divisional com- But the right-wing government in them if they do not fulfil Norwegian coordination” in future. mander of the Davos deployment Oslo has decided that migrants who immigration laws and have valid Rus- Rights groups had expressed out- told reporters. too small MOSCOW: Russia yesterday confirmed had been living legally in Russia, or sian visas or residence permits. rage at the migrants being forced to Military police using sniffer dogs it had shut for “security reasons” an Arc- had entered Russia legally, should be “The steps taken by Russia were return by bike in winter, when tem- discovered that one of the soldiers tic border post with Norway to migrants immediately returned there, on the dictated by security reasons and based peratures in the far north regularly fall had more than three grammes of Reuters being controversially returned from basis that Russia is a safe country. on bilateral agreements with Norway,” to minus 20 degrees Celsius. cocaine in his possession. the Nordic country. Russian foreign ministry spokes- Zakharova said. They also say that Russia has a poor That soldier was sent home and Norway on Saturday said it was woman Maria Zakharova told Norwegian police returned 13 record on dealing with requests for will face criminal charges, Swiss temporarily halting its return of reporters that Moscow had informed migrants by bus to Russia on Tues- asylum, with the process sometimes media have said, quoting an army PRAGUE: The European Union’s migrants —mainly from Syria, Afghan- Norway on Friday that it was halting day and two similar operations were taking years and applicants running spokesman. planned border patrol will be too istan, Iran and Iraq —who had entered the return of migrants through the scheduled for Thursday and Friday the risk of being arrested and expelled The other troops who tested pos- small and member states should from Russia following a request from Borisoglebsk-Storskog crossing in but were then cancelled for logisti- to their country of origin. Norway is itive for cocaine were also sent home contribute soldiers to build up a the authorities there. Some 5,500 line with a 2011 bilateral agreement. cal reasons. not within the European Union, but and will face sanctions, while those force to protect the bloc’s exter- migrants crossed from Russia into Exceptions will, however, be made The foreign ministry in Norway is a member of the Schengen pass- who had only smoked cannabis were nal frontier, Czech President Milos Norway last year, on the last leg of for any migrants who can be shown to said there would be no more returns port-free zone. allowed to remain in Davos. Zeman said yesterday. The EU has plans to create a European Border and Coast Guard with 1,500 personnel as part of measures to tackle its migration Drained for repair works Spain minister warns markets crisis, with leaders expected to agree details at a summit in June. More than a million people scared of ‘unstable’ govt arrived in Europe last year, mostly fleeing war and poverty in the Mid- dle East and north Africa, and the AFP governing alliance more likely. numbers show little sign of falling. Such a coalition “would be seen as “I fully support the idea of a an unstable government, as Podemos European border guard,” Zeman and the PSOE are competing for the said in an interview with Prime tel- MADRID: Spain’s economy minister same electoral space,” De Guindos evision channel. “But it seems to me said in an interview yesterday that said in the interview. to be comical if it has 1,500 mem- global markets were more scared of When asked whether the markets bers. If every single EU country an “unstable” government that would were more afraid of anti-austerity sent 500 people to this, then you include far-left Podemos than of Cata- Podemos or of the resurgent seces- have 14,000 soldiers.” lonia’s high-profile secessionist threat. sionist threat in Spain’s northeastern Zeman said there were 20 times In the wide-ranging interview region of Catalonia, he responded more smugglers than planned bor- published in the El Mundo daily, Luis that an “unstable government” was der personnel. He also said setting de Guindos warned that a government more worrying. “There is concern up the new force will take six months composed of the long-established that reforms will be reversed, that and that half a million refugees could Socialist party (PSOE) and upstart the public deficit won’t be addressed, reach the EU by the time it was in Podemos would generate a lot of that competitivity will be lost,” he place. Germany has been by far the “uncertainty.” was quoted as saying. top destination for asylum seekers. Spain has been in political limbo After he came to power in 2011 at The influx of migrants to cen- since December elections saw the out- a time of deep crisis in Spain, Rajoy tral European countries has been going, conservative Popular Party (PP) implemented drastic spending cuts low. Countries in the region have win but without an absolute majority, and tax rises to try to steer the coun- often taken a tough stance on the leaving Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy try away from economic collapse. issue and stressed beefing up EU struggling to form a government due to Spain has now started to recover, border protection while opposing lack of support from other groupings. but the Socialists and Podemos argue a quota system for asylum seekers On Friday, he abandoned attempts this has been at the expense of social agreed by EU member states last to form an administration, while welfare. Anti-poverty agency Oxfam People visit the drained canal bed of the Kentish Town Lock on the Regents Canal in London. Built year. European Council President Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias -- warned last week that out of the OECD Donald Tusk warned that the EU by James Morgan between 1818 and 1820, it is one of the busiest locks in the country. When it is full which came third in the elections group of most advanced or emerg- had “no more than two months” to it contains 50,000 gallons of water but has been drained for repair works. proposed establishing a government ing economies, Spain was the nation tackle the migration crisis. with the Socialists, making a left-wing where inequalities had risen. 40,000 rally against government in ex-Soviet Moldova

AFP the criminal authorities!” opposition leader Andrei Nastase told protestors. Demonstrators A rival pro-government rally that braved sub-zero had been scheduled to take place CHISINAU: Some 40,000 opposi- was cancelled at the last moment tion demonstrators yesterday took temperatures after organisers said they wanted to the streets of Moldova’s capital to express their to avoid any clashes. Chisinau calling for early elections anger at rampant Moldova has been locked in as a political crisis continues to rock political crisis over a $1-billion the tiny ex-Soviet state. corruption among (€925m) corruption scandal erupted The protest movement —which the ruling elite early last year, triggering mass dem- includes forces from the left and onstrations and the arrest of former right that are considered both pro- premier Vlad Filat in October. European and pro-Russian —has Wedged between Ukraine and stepped up demonstrations since Romania, Moldova is often seen in a new government for the impov- ruling elite and the influence of oli- terms of a tug-of-war between erished nation was approved on garch Vlad Plahotniuc, who is seen Moscow and the West, especially Wednesday. as being the real power behind the after it inked an historic EU asso- Demonstrators braved sub-zero new administration. ciation agreement in 2014 despite temperatures to express their anger “The people are with us. They do bitter opposition from former mas- at rampant corruption among the not want to support oligarchs and ter Russia. People gather during a protest in front of the government headquarters in Chisinau, Moldova, yesterday. EUROPE MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 17 Portugal votes in key presidential election

“I voted for professor Marcelo. I have been seeing him on television for The president has years and I know his political beliefs,” make-or-break said Mario Machado, a 72-year-old power over the pensioner, speaking in a posh Lisbon quarter. nation’s fragile ruling The 67-year-old law professor has alliance and the been involved in Portuguese politics and media since his youth, co-found- power to dissolve ing a weekly newspaper in his 20s and parliament in the helping to establish the centre-right Social Democratic Party. event of a crisis Starting in the early 2000s he made his debut as a political analyst on TV, delivering clever commentary to a viewership that quickly grew. AFP “People love Marcelo because he is entertaining,” said Rebelo de Sousa biographer Vitor Matos. His popularity is widely expected LISBON: Portugal people voted yes- to help him break the 50-percent mark terday to choose their president, in for an outright win. If none of the 10 an election being closely watched in candidates breaches this threshold, a Brussels as the country recovers from run-off will be held on February 14. a €78bn ($85-billion) bailout. The centre-right bloc of former Although the post is largely ceremo- conservative prime minister Pedro nial, the president has make-or-break Passos Coelho won the most seats in power over the nation’s fragile ruling the October ballot, but lost the abso- alliance and the power to dissolve par- lute majority it had enjoyed since 2011. liament in the event of a crisis. The government of Socialist Prime Since inconclusive elections in Minister Antonio Costa has promised October, Portugal’s minority Social- to implement a moderate programme ist government has been relying on a that upholds European Union budget delicate coalition with the extreme- commitments. A man looks at a notice for his polling station during presidential election at Odivelas neighborhood in Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday. left to run the country of 10.4 million But it is forced to count on the people. The overwhelming favourite support in parliament of a bloc of for the next head of state is a TV pun- communists and greens that has not right wing parties but who claims total and who had been reluctant to hand he will do “everything I can” to ensure in the first round,” political analyst Jose dit, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. renounced its critical stance towards independence. He insists he will not be power to a leftist coalition he viewed the current government’s stability. Antonio Passos Palmeira said. Inde- Known as “professor Marcelo” to European budgetary rules and Portu- partisan but seek to rule “above the fray”. as “incoherent”. “He is a consensus candidate and a pendent leftist Antonio Sampaio da his fans, he comes into the race with a gal’s membership of Nato. He would succeed Anibal Cavaco Rebelo de Sousa, who is projected in moderate who takes votes both on the Novoa, also a university professor, is popularity that has been built thanks Rebelo de Sousa is a long-time Silva, a conservative who has served the latest opinion polls to grab between left and on the right. But the voters will his nearest rival with polls putting his to decades in the public eye. conservative who has the backing of two consecutive five-year terms 52 and 55 percent of the vote, has said have to mobilise for him to be elected support at between 17 and 22 percent. Merkel’s party weighs German ‘border centres’ Russia’s tone familiar

Reuters wrote in a paper setting out her posi- and worries about crime and security quotas of refugees, pushed for reception after spy poisoning tion. In the paper, Kloeckner proposed after assaults on women at New Year centres to be built on Europe’s exter- that: “On the German-Austrian border, in Cologne are weighing on support nal borders, and led an EU campaign border centres will be set up.” for the CDU and its Bavarian sister to convince Turkey to keep refugees BERLIN: A senior figure in Chancel- The proposal, endorsed by the party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). from entering the bloc. report: Analysis lor Angela Merkel’s conservative party Christian Democrats’ (CDU) secretary An Emnid poll for the newspaper CDU Secretary General Peter Tau- has proposed setting up “border cen- general, highlights the frustration in Bild am Sonntag showed support for ber presented Kloeckner’s proposals as tres” along the frontier with Austria Merkel’s party with the slow progress the CDU/CSU bloc down 2 percentage underscoring the government’s course AP with Washington and many Euro- to speed up the repatriation of those in achieving a European Union-wide points at 36 percent from the previ- thus far. “The proposed border centres pean countries are at best strongly asylum seekers deemed unqualified solution to the refugee crisis, which is ous week. The right-wing Alternative are a development of existing struc- troubled. to stay. straining the infrastructure of many for Germany (AfD) gained 1 point to 10 tures,” he said in a statement. “The ball But Russia also has wedges it can Julia Kloeckner, leader of Mer- German municipalities. percent. Merkel’s coalition partners, is now with the Social Democrats: they MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin employ with the Western world, par- kel’s Christian Democrats in the Germany attracted 1.1 million asy- the Social Democrats (SPD), gained a can’t always say what doesn’t work, has made no public comment on the ticularly regarding Syria. Assad is western state of Rhineland-Palati- lum seekers last year, leading to calls point to 25 percent. and must fulfil their responsibility as sensational report by a British judge Moscow’s longtime ally, and Russia nate, was careful to style her proposal from across the political spectrum for Merkel, despite appearing increas- a governing party.” that concluded the Kremlin leader can wield more influence with him as a “Plan A2” rather than a “Plan B”, a change in its handling of the number ingly isolated over her open-door Last year, Merkel’s conservatives met probably approved a 2006 plan to kill than the countries that overtly seek adding that the chancellor’s push for of refugees coming to Europe to escape policy on refugees, has resisted pres- fierce resistance from the Social Demo- a Russian dissident in London. Instead, his ouster. Despite occasional signs a European solution to a large influx war and poverty in Syria, Afghanistan sure from some conservatives to cap the crats over plans for transit zones at border his subordinates went before report- that Russia is less than fully com- of asylum seekers into the continent and elsewhere. influx, or to close Germany’s borders. crossings to process refugees’ asylum ers and portrayed it as a groundless fortable with Assad, it firmly resists was still right. Growing concern about Germa- Instead, she has tried to convince requests, and had to deny such centres accusation concocted by a relent- making regime change a mandatory “We want to complement it,” she ny’s ability to cope with the influx other European countries to take in would resemble concentration camps. lessly hostile West. condition for ending the civil war. Moscow apparently believes that Russia also is a key factor on the Syr- Western leaders’ eagerness to stem the ian battlefield, launching thousands of tide of Syrian refugees will make them airstrikes since late September. Although Britain may take in hesitant to push Russia too strongly claims differ on how hard those air- Toy fair in the murder case, fearful of hin- strikes are, the sheer demonstration of displaced children dering peace talks on Syria that are military might means the West can- scheduled to begin next week. not afford to alienate Russia. fleeing Syria Russia’s reaction to report on Moscow, in turn, would not want the poisoning death of Alexander to push disagreements with the West Litvinenko —a former security oper- too far; it needs a resolution in Syria, LONDON: Britain might take in ative who became a fierce Kremlin both with regard to retaining its only refugee children who have been critic —is a familiar one in the Putin military base in the Middle East, as displaced by the war in Syria and era: a denial of any wrongdoing amid well as suppressing the Islamic mil- have travelled to other countries aggrieved contentions that foreign itants that Moscow fears have their in Europe, a government minister puppeteers are aiming to push Putin eyes on Russia. In that light, it appears said yesterday. from power and weaken Russia. that the British’s judge’s allegations International Development In recent years, Russia has denied in the Litvinenko case may have lit- Secretary Justine Greening said claims that it sent troops into eastern tle — if any — blowback. the government was considering Ukraine to fight with rebels, that it “If U.S. and British political circles whether it could do more for the supplied a missile that shot down a remain interested in joint efforts with estimated 3,000 children who have Malaysian airliner over Ukraine, and Russia in the struggle against inter- fled the conflict without their par- that its warplanes were bombing Syrian national terrorism, the Litvinenko ents or guardians and are in Europe. civilians and supporting the troops of case will soon be forgotten,” Andrei Asked whether the government Syrian President Bashar Assad. Kilmov, deputy head of the foreign was close to agreeing to calls from The tactic works well at home, affairs committee of Russia’s upper relief groups for Britain to admit feeding Russians’ strong appetite house of parliament, said. the children, Greening said “That’s for perceiving their nation as ever- Even as Prime Minister David what we are doing.” besieged. This kind of appeal has Cameron said Britain would toughen Prime Minister David Cameron helped keep Putin’s personal approval its stance with Russia in the wake of has previously said Britain would ratings high even as the economy dete- the Litvinenko findings, he acknowl- accept 20,000 refugees over the next riorated sharply in the past two years. edged that London needs Moscow. five years from camps in the Mid- In the West, it only reinforces Do we have to go on having some dle East. Critics say that response Russia’s image as truculent and sort of relationship with them because has been meagre compared with obstructive. A series of sanctions were we need a solution to the Syria crisis? A plush giraffe and snake are displayed on a trade stand at the Toy Fair 2016 in west London, England the 1.1 million asylum seekers arri- imposed on Russia over its actions Yes we do — but we do it with clear ing in Germany. yesterday. in Ukraine, and Moscow’s relations eyes and a very cold heart,” he said. Scottish leader Sturgeon warns against June EU referendum

AFP of the Britains terms of membership London mayoral elections, which London elections are in May. Cameron wants to renegotiate the In campaign is going to prevail, at the European Council meeting on are taking place in May. “To have a referendum campaign Britain’s terms of membership, then this is going to have to become a pos- February 18 and 19. Speaking about a possible June starting in parallel would be disre- recommend that the UK remains in the itive in principle campaign about why An in-or-out referendum on Brit- vote, Sturgeon told BBC television: “I spectful to those important elections. 28-country bloc on that basis. it is better for the UK to stay within LONDON: Scottish First Minister Nicola ain’s membership of the bloc must be think it would be a mistake for David “The second reason is I think it Sturgeon said: “One of the big the European Union.” Sturgeon warned yesterday it would be held by the end of 2017, with commen- Cameron. would be better for David Cameron... problems I see for the In campaign Foreign Secretary Philip Ham- a mistake to hold Britain’s European tators believing it could come this year. “Two reasons why I would not be if he does get a deal at the Febru- at the moment is that as far as David mond has ruled out a referendum in Union membership referendum in June. Sturgeon said holding it in June in favour of a June referendum. ary European Council: to leave more Cameron is concerned it is very much July or August. British Prime Minister David Cam- would be “disrespectful” to the Scot- “The Scottish election is in May, time between that deal and the point focused on these narrow issues of Cameron wants a referendum cam- eron hopes to finalise a renegotiation tish, Welsh, Northern Irish and indeed the Welsh, Northern Irish, of decision.” renegotiation, when in actual fact, if paign lasting at least three months. 18 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS Blizzard kills 19 as travel ban lifted in New York

of sun and clouds with temperatures The storm was the just above freezing. Washington streets were deserted second-biggest in early yesterday, with major downtown New York history, arteries already cleared and lined with mounds of snow. Workers were clear- with 26.8 inches of ing sidewalks and alleys, and Mayor snow in Central Park Muriel Bowser issued a call for 4,000 people to help dig the city out, above just shy of the record the 2,000 volunteers already signed up. 26.9 inches set in The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the 2006 second-busiest US subway system, had suspended operations through yester- day. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo lifted a travel ban on New York-area Reuters roads and on Long Island at 7am yes- terday. A state of emergency imposed by Cuomo was still in place. Bridges and tunnels into the city NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: A travel also reopened, and subways run- ban for the New York area was lifted ning above ground were set to restart yesterday but Washington was still at service yesterday morning. The Long a standstill after a blizzard paralysed Island Rail Road was still halted, and the northeastern United States, kill- the Metro-North railroad would be ing at least 19 people. fully operational by mid-afternoon, The storm was the second-biggest officials said. in New York history, with 26.8 inches The National Weather Service said of snow in Central Park by midnight 17.8 inches fell in Washington, tying as on Saturday, just shy of the record the fourth-largest snowfall in the city’s 26.9 inches set in 2006, the National history. Baltimore-Washington Inter- Weather Service said. national Airport notched a record 29.2 Thirteen people were killed in inches, and the deepest total was 42 weather-related car crashes in Arkan- inches fell at Glengarry, West Virginia. sas, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, A spokeswoman for the New York Tennessee and Virginia on Saturday. Stock Exchange said the bourse planned One person died in Maryland and three to open as usual today. in New York while shoveling snow. Two About 3,750 flights were cancelled Snow-covered patio furniture seen in front of a restaurant on Connecticut Avenue in Washington DC, yesterday. died of hypothermia in Virginia, offi- yesterday , and 700 cancelled for today cials said. , according FlightAware.com, the avi- By early yesterday morning the ation data and tracking website. About 150,000 customers in North the storm drove flooding high tides. National Weather Service. waters rose. In the town of Wildwood, storm had moved off the coast, with Flights had begun landing at John Carolina and 90,000 in New Jersey lost They were expected to reach as “There’s considerable danger with emergency workers in inflatable boats remnants trailing over parts of Long F Kennedy International Airport and electricity during the storm. much as 3 feet above normal across the tide coming up,” he said. rescued more than 100 people from Island and Cape Cod. Much of the would soon start taking off from the facil- On the New Jersey shore, a region the New Jersey coast, said Mitch- Some residents had to be evacu- homes, said Fire Chief Christopher northeast was expected to see a mix ity, Cuomo said in a news conference. hard-hit in 2012 by Superstorm Sandy, ell Gaines, a meteorologist with the ated along the New Jersey shore on as D’Amico. Ex-Wisconsin cop accused of killing 2 women to stand trial Inmates blow open Brazil AP were filed there. That case is on hold his West Allis apartment and stashed disappear with little suspicion, killed negligence. The punishment for con- pending the conclusion of the Wis- her body in his refrigerator. them in ways that would be difficult viction on a first-degree intentional consin proceedings, which will take Simonson, of Farmington, Minne- to investigate and then felt compelled homicide charge is life in prison. prison wall in place in Kenosha County, about 40 sota, died in similar circumstances in to keep their bodies. Zelich worked for a suburban MILWAUKEE: A former Wiscon- miles south of Milwaukee, and which November 2013. According to court Deputy District Attorney Mike Milwaukee police department from sin police officer accused of killing begins today with jury selection. At documents, Zelich said he met her Graveley said the prosecution will February 1989 until his resignation mass breakout an Oregon woman and another from the trial over Gamez’s death, the judge online and killed her at a Rochester, assert that Zelich’s police experi- in August 2001, following an inter- Minnesota and ditching their bodies has allowed prosecutors to tell jurors Minnesota, hotel. He drove home to ence helped him plan and execute the nal investigation that found he stalked in suitcases along a highway is set to about Simonson’s death. Wisconsin with her body and later put crimes and then only make a “stra- women while on duty and used his AFP stand trial this week in the first wom- According to court records and tes- both bodies in suitcases in his car’s tegic, selective confession” in which position to get access to their personal an’s death. timony, Zelich met Gamez online and trunk. When they began to smell, he he only divulged what he needed to information. His resignation allowed Steven Zelich, 54, is charged with invited her to Wisconsin. He picked dumped them on the roadside, where in order to confirm what he believed him to avoid discipline and pass state RIO DE JANEIRO: Inmates in one first-degree intentional homicide and her up at the Milwaukee airport and highway workers mowing grass found investigators already knew. He said background checks for a private secu- of Brazil’s roughest prisons used hiding a corpse in the August 2012 death they drove to a Kenosha hotel, where them in June 2014. Zelich targeted the women in similar rity officer’s license. explosives to destroy a wall and of 19-year-old Jenny Gamez, of Cottage they spent several days. On the last Prosecutors plan to argue that manners and tried to cover up their In Minnesota, Zelich is charged escape en masse into surrounding Grove, Oregon. He is also charged with day, he choked Gamez until she died, Zelich intended to kill the women. deaths similarly, which shows it was with first-degree murder, intentional streets, prompting a frantic man- murder in the killing of 37-year-old according to the criminal complaint. They will allege that he searched for intentional. murder in the second degree and unin- hunt. Media footage of the brazen Laura Simonson the following year, but Zelich told investigators that he put victims whose disappearances would He expects the judge to allow tentional murder in the second degree breakout in the northeastern city she died in Minnesota, so the charges Gamez in her suitcase and took it to not be unusual, helped them prepare to jurors to decide on lesser charges of while committing a felony offence. of Recife showed the blast ripping a hole in the main wall around the Frei Damiao de Bozanno facility. After a cloud of dust and debris clears, a stream of men dressed in A military event ordinary clothing can be seen dash- 13 Costa Ricans die as ing into the narrow streets before police arrive on the scene. Pernambuco state justice ship sinks off Nicaragua authorities were quoted by Globo news site saying that 40 inmates escaped and that 36 had now been AFP The Corn Islands, made up of Big returned to custody, two killed, one Corn Island and Little Corn Island, hospitalised and one remained at are located around 70kms off Nica- large. It took hours for officials to ragua’s mainland. Although remote, give figures, with Brazilian media MANAGUA: Thirteen Costa Ricans they are becoming increasingly pop- initially reporting that as many as died when a small ship carrying 32 ular with tourists. 100 prisoners could have got out. tourists from Latin America, the United Most of the Costa Ricans who One of those killed was shot States and Britain sank off Nicaragua’s drowned were women according to after breaking into a local home, Little Corn Island in the Caribbean, a list from Costa Rica’s foreign min- police said. officials said. istry identifying all of 13. This was the second mass brea- Nicaraguan government spokes- It said two of the Costa Ricans kout in the same area in a week. woman and First Lady Rosario Murillo killed were US residents. A minis- Fifty-three inmates fled Wednesday said that “of the 32 passengers, 13 lost try spokeswoman said the survivors from the Professor Barreto Campelo their lives, all of them are Costa Rican.” comprised 13 Costa Ricans, two Amer- prison, near Recife, and by yesterday She said the other passengers icans, two Britons, one from Brazil only 13 of them had been recap- survived and were taken to nearby and one from Nicaragua, as well as tured, G1 news site reported. Big Corn Island. “They were tourists the captain and his crewmate. Escape attempts are frequent vacationing in Little Corn Island and Media reports said the captain, at Pernambuco prisons, the most Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (centre) along with others attend an event at the 4F military they headed off even though, accord- who was also owner of the vessel, overcrowded in Brazil. Facilities fort in Caracas, yesterday. ing to our navy, they were told they was arrested after being rescued, as designed for 10,500 inmates max- shouldn’t.” authorities began an investigation. imum hold around 32,000 people. California governor rejects parole of Manson follower

AP Shea. He was not involved in the more “As I’ve discussed twice before, Tate said the consistent rejection also previously opted to keep Davis returned, Beckman said previously notorious killings of actress Sharon Davis’s own actions demonstrate that of parole for Manson followers from imprisoned at California Men’s Col- that the Board of Parole Hearings was Tate and six others. he had fully bought into the depraved governors through the years has not ony in San Luis Obispo. simply following the law when it rec- Brown said that the 73-year-old Manson Family beliefs,” Brown wrote given her any comfort, and California’s Davis is serving a life sentence ommended the release of a man who LOS ANGELES: Governor Jerry Brown Davis remains a danger to public safety, in his decision. “He not only watched recent moves to release older prison- after he was convicted of two counts is no longer dangerous. has rejected parole for a third time for saying in his decision that the “hor- as Manson cut Mr. Hinman’s face open ers have left her especially worried. of first-degree murder and conspir- Los Angeles County prosecutors a follower of cult leader Charles Man- ror of the murders committed by the with a sword, but held him at gunpoint “I see it as a very viable possibil- acy to commit murder and robbery. He argued against his release, citing the son 46 years after a series of bloody Manson Family in 1969 and the fear while Manson was doing so.” ity that all of them could be let out,” became a born-again Christian behind gruesome kept Southern Californians murders rocked Southern California. they instilled in the public will never Tate’s sister Debra Tate, who spoke Tate said. “None of them are secure.” bars, earned a doctoral degree in phi- fearful for months. They also noted Bruce Davis was convicted of the be forgotten.” against Davis’s parole at his hearing to Brown blocked Davis’ parole twice losophy of religion. that Manson’s intent was to spark a 1969 slayings of musician Gary Hin- The governor said Davis spent years represent Manson’s victims, had not yet before, most recently in 2014, and A message left with Davis’ attorney, race war, based on his interpretation man and stuntman Donald “Shorty” downplaying his role in the family. heard about the governor’s rejection. former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Michael Beckman, was not immediately of the Beatles song “Helter Skelter.” AMERICAS MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 1917 All eyes on Trump & Cruz battle in Iowa

voters, shows Trump with 37 per- cent support to 26 percent for Cruz. The two men are Florida Senator Marco Rubio follows vying for support with 14 percent. The margin of error from the same is six percentage points. At the start of January, several people: the voters polls had Cruz in first place. The farthest to the right 69-year-old real estate tycoon Trump and the 45-year-old Texas senator of the political refused to attack each other until spectrum —the target just recently. But Trump now calls his chief rival for the primaries “a nasty guy” and a hypocrite for slam- ming New York values while taking money from donors in the Big Apple. The two men are vying for sup- AFP port from the same people: the voters farthest to the right of the politi- cal spectrum —the target for the primaries. A vendor sells US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump dolls outside a campaign event in Muscatine, Iowa, yesterday. WATERLOO: One might be forgiven Cruz “could run for the prime min- for forgetting that there are 12 Repub- ister of Canada, and I wouldn’t even licans still in the White House race complain because he was born in Can- the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot tycoon of being an opportunist with no in 2008 and 2012. have fallen by the wayside in the polls. —for now, it’s a two-man show. ada” Trump said at Sioux Center in somebody and I wouldn’t lose any vot- real attachment to conservative values. “It would be hard for a Republican This week, the National Review, The battle between billionaire northwest Iowa, repeating that Cruz’s ers, okay?” In part, Cruz owes his success to in Iowa to win without at least some a venerable conservative magazine, frontrunner Donald Trump and mav- birthplace could disqualify him from And when Beck joined Cruz later his intransigence in the Senate, where support from them,” Dennis Goldford, launched a special issue “Against erick Senator Ted Cruz is the main the race, though many experts say at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa, both took he has steadfastly refused to make any a professor of political science at Drake Trump,” calling on fellow Republi- event for conservatives, who are torn the opposite. shots at Trump, who said at a recent compromises with Democrats. University in Des Moines, said. cans to reject his candidacy. with nine days to go before the Iowa The Texas senator, meanwhile, presidential debate that he was “angry” This ideological fervor should in “Ted Cruz is trying to prove that “Trump is a philosophically caucus. was joined on the Iowa trail by con- about the direction of the country. theory help him win over evangeli- you can win with them alone.” unmoored political opportunist who The two candidates are dominat- servative television and radio host “Many of us are angry. You never cal Christian voters —who make up The rest of the Republican party would trash the broad conservative ide- ing the polls ahead of the February 1 Glenn Beck, who offered his official make a good decision when you’re angry, about 60 percent of the Republicans has watched amazed, powerless and ological consensus within the GOP in caucus in the small heartland state, endorsement. “We need a new George it will not end well if we play into the who cast ballots in 2012. divided as the anti-establishment can- favor of a free-floating populism with the first to vote in the US presiden- Washington,” Beck said. anger,” Beck said. Evangelicals are very conservative didates have powered along, with party strong-man overtones,” it said in a bit- tial nominations process, and both “I wouldn’t do his show so he got Cruz has portrayed Trump as an on social issues, opposing abortion and leaders seemingly unable to contain ing lead editorial. “There are reasons made appearances here on Saturday. very hostile,” Trump noted, prais- unscrupulous businessman who favours defending the role of religion in soci- them. Traditional Republican candi- for his eminence... but he is not deserv- The latest opinion poll, conducted ing his loyal supporters. “I have the seizing private property so his casi- ety. They helped boost Mike Huckabee dates like Jeb Bush, whose father and ing of conservative support.” by CNN among likely Republican most loyal people. I could stand in nos can thrive. The senator accuses the and Rick Santorum to victory in Iowa brother have both served as president, Furniture from JFK’s home fetches $400,000 at auction 6.8-magnitude

AFP the famed “Winter White House” with he said. “A pair of green faux leather family in 1995. best-selling items including twin beds chairs from the bedroom where John The walled, beachfront Kennedy quake hits Alaska and a massage table. F Kennedy stayed sold for $6,250.” estate in Palm Beach and its contents “Popular items include a pair of The auction was conducted simul- had been sold to the Castles after MIAMI: Furnishings from late US Venetian style walnut twin beds where taneously online and at the Hindman the death of family matriarch Rose AFP president John F Kennedy’s winter the future president slept alongside Palm Beach showroom. Kennedy in 1995. retreat in Palm Beach, Florida sold his brother Joe,” Hindman said, add- The collection of Kennedy par- JFK as a child vacationed at the Saturday for some $400,000, an auc- ing that the beds sold for $20,000. aphernalia was consigned by John mansion, and spent a great deal of tion house said. “The walnut framed massage table and Marianne Castle, a couple who time there after being elected presi- WASHINGTON: A 6.8 magnitude Leslie Hindman Auctioneers sold where the president took massages to purchased the home and much dent in 1960, holding staff meetings earthquake struck southern Alaska furniture and decorative arts from relieve his back pain sold for $10,625,” of its contents from the Kennedy and numerous press conferences. early yesterday, US seismologists said. The US Geological Survey, updat- ing its earlier location for the quake, said it struck at 1030 GMT and was centered about 83km east of Old AyyayayayayayayyyyMoon makes it more beautiful Iliamna. The USGS, which initially had assessed the magnitude of the quake as 7.1, estimated that it had a depth of 127km. There is only a low likelihood of casualties and damage, the USGS said, adding that “weak” shaking from the quake could be felt in nearby cities. One of the cities where it could be felt was Anchorage, the closest large city, some 259km from the epicentre. Twitter was awash with posts — A handout shakemap shows including from Anchorage —saying the location of earthquake in the shaking was pronounced and southern Alaska, USA. prolonged. “Everyone in Anchorage is awake and on Twitter right? Biggest longest including to two power substations. #earthquake of my entire life. Family A local television station, KTUU, is all hanging in our bed now,” wrote reported that about 4,900 Matanuska @jgrenn. customers were without power. Another Twitter user, @Shelbae97, “Crews have been called in from wrote: “Thank Alaska for that earth- home to assess the situation and quake,” and posted a photo a broken restore power,” the power company mirror and other household objects said. flung to her feet. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsu- Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani witnessed last evening the arrival of Fath Al Kheir 2 at Katara Cultural village beach. A local power company, Mata- nami Warning Center said there was The event was also attended by H H Sheikh Jassem bin Hamad Al Thani, Representative of the Emir.Pic: Qassim/The Peninsula → See also The moon rises over the Toronto city skyline as seen from Milton, Ontario, Canada. nuska Electric Association, said in a no risk of a tidal wave “because the page 26 statement that “the 7.1m earthquake earthquake is located too deep inside at 1:30 am caused several outages,” the earth.” US watching Poland closely California’s teaching shortage could worsen: Report

as EU probe begins The Washington Post if they have been scapegoated for Self-Contained Class and Special Patrick Shields and Leib Sutcher, was problems in public education. Education (including State Special just published by the Learning Policy The US Education Department schools). Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan Reuters US Trade Representative Michael Fro- maintains an annual state-by state A new study says that the supply organisation that does independent man told reporters during his visit to WASHINGTON: A new report says that list showing the subject areas in of new teachers in California is at a research and advance solutions to Google Campus in Warsaw. California’s teaching shortage —the which teachers are in short supply, 12-year low, with enrolment in educator improve education. The report says “We certainly do follow it. As a supply of new teachers is at a 12-year and this is what it says about preparation programmes having that the shortage is “most acute in WARSAW: The United States is scru- democracy, we want to make sure low even as demand is starting to rise California. dropped by more than 70 percent mathematics, science, and special tinising developments in Poland, the that Poland’s democracy continues - is likely to get worse unless targeted In the 1990-91 and 1991-92 over the last decade and lower than education” and that “California must US trade czar said yesterday when to address the issues.” The European steps are taken to stem it. school years, California had K-12 the estimated hires by school districts take purposeful steps now if the state asked if Washington was concerned Commission, has launched an inquiry California is just one of the many shortages in bilingual education, around the state. is to avoid more acute, widespread about the European Union’s rule of law into whether Warsaw’s new national- states dealing with a teacher shortage life science and physical science. The study, titled “Addressing shortages of teachers.” Here’s the inquiry into Poland and Standard and ist-minded government has breached that has been growing in recent years In 2015-16, there are statewide California’s Emerging Teacher executive summary, complete Poor’s cut to Warsaw’s credit rating. the bloc’s democracy standards in because of a combination of several shortages in English, Drama, Shortage: An Analysis of Sources with factors feeding the shortage “As a fellow democracy we do fol- taking more control of the judiciary factors, including that school reform Humanities, History, Social Science, and Solutions” and written by Linda and recommendations on how to low developments here very closely,” and public media. has left many teachers feeling as Math, Computer Education, Science, Darling-Hammond, Roberta Furger, reverse it.

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FAJR 05.00 am ZUHR 11.46 am MAGHRIB 05.15 pm HIGH TIDE 06:00 - 17:30 Strong wind and high seas by afternoon. Hazy SHOROOK 06.20 am ASR 02.51 pm ISHA 06.45 pm LOW TIDE 13:00 - 23:15 to misty at first with some clouds.

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TWEET OF THE DAY

Chinese dancers perform at Katara Cultural Village to mark the opening of Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula Chinese performers enthral audience

By Raynald C Rivera in November 2014 which paved the way for the Qatar the common desire in establishing an Arab-Chi- The Peninsula and China Year of Culture which the Minister said nese dialogue and exploring the Chinese civilization “injected new momentum into the development of which has much in common with the Arab civiliza- our bilateral relations.” tion. The Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture seeks to “China and Qatar have signed a Memorandum raise the ceiling of cultural exchange and cultural DOHA: The Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture launched of Understanding for jointly implementing the Belt communication in various areas not just econom- with a spectacular show featuring folkdances, songs and Road initiative, which will further strengthen ics, because we believe we need to develop and and acrobatics by Chinese performers at a packed our strategic partnership and underpin our con- exchange knowledge.” Katara Drama Theatre last night. certed efforts to build the 21st century maritime “The Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture allows The performers which flew in from Hangzhou, Silk Road,” he added. us to work together, define cultural creativity in its China introduced the audience into the Chinese The Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E various forms, and to seta permanent mechanism to INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY culture with a variety of performances reflecting Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari underscored activate translation of books and publications from real Chinese elements which date back hundreds the importance of cultural diplomacy in promot- both languages due to the importance of strength- of years. The show, which also displayed some Arab ing understanding between peoples. ening knowledge of each other’s peoples. Also, it elements, gave the audience a taste of what to expect “ Therefore, the launch of a Year of Culture, par- allows us to take an interest in maintaining the his- in the year round celebration. ticularly with China, is a dialogue between cultures torical and cultural heritage of both countries, and to “Thanks to the great preparatory work by the and civilizations, and it is not reasonable that what exchange experiences and expertise between them.” Indian two sides, the China-Qatar 2016 Year of Culture the Arab youth know of China is limited to the Great As part of the Qatar China 2016 Year of Culture, Coast Guard opens today and will offer more than 30 exciting Wall and Chinese products in Arab markets. It is a range of activities and events have been planned Ship (ICGS) cultural events including arts shows, exhibitions, necessary to restore the glory of communication for all to enjoy in both countries. Sankalp at film and TV programme screening, photography between the two civilisations and spread mutual As part of this programme of cultural events, Doha port. showcases, book fairs, sporting events and sym- knowledge and understanding between the magnifi- two major exhibitions will open in Qatar in March posiums, spanning the whole year,” said Chinese cent cultures of Qatar and China with their multiple namely “What About the Art? Contemporary Art Photo by Minister of Culture Luo Shugang. identities,” said Al Kuwari. from China”at the Al Riwaq Gallery and “Silks from Kammutty VP He stressed the importance of the visit to China “The cultural dialogue between the State of the Silk Road – Chinese Silk Art” at the QM Gal- by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Qatar and the People’s Republic of China reflects lery in Katara. Sundance features story of Korean ‘Star Wars’-themed Washington snowball couple abducted by dictator fight draws hundreds

AFP AFP

PARK CITY, UNITED STATES: The stranger-than-fic- tion story about a famous South Korean film director WASHINGTON: A Jedi knight hurls snowballs. Chewbacca trudges and a glamorous actress abducted by North Korea’s through the frozen powder, icy clumps of sludge accumulating on his movie-obsessed Kim Jong-il has premiered at the furry ankles. Sundance Film Festival. No, this is not the planet Hoth. It’s Washington’s Dupont Circle neighbor- “The Lovers and the Despot,” a documentary by hood, where hundreds gathered Sunday for a “Star Wars”-themed snowball British filmmakers Ross Adam and Robert Cannan, fight that some had hoped would look like a wintry scene from “The Empire traces the bizarre tale of director Shin Sang-ok and Strikes Back.” actress Choi Eun-hee, the golden couple of South The mostly young adults who descended on the traffic circle in the mid- Korean cinema in the 1960s. dle of the nation’s capital were clearly ready for some childlike play, after “We approached this project with an open mind more than 22 inches (56 centimeters) of snowfall left residents stuck at home but, like most people, when you first hear the story, since late Friday. it does seem too fantastic to be true,” Cannan said. “After being locked in for a couple days, it’s fun,” said 33-year-old Laura “Essentially our opinion shifted that way and this Lorenzo who, like most people, was dressed in non-”Star Wars” attire. way as we made the film.” But some fully embraced the theme. The famous couple were married and the toast Throwing snowballs nearby from under a brown hooded Jedi mas- of the town with their two adopted children until ter’s cloak was 42-year-old Paul Ollig, who said the “Star Wars” aspect their divorce over Chin’s affair with another woman. had sealed his participation -- but he would have shown up for the They eventually fell from grace in their country and fun anyway. ended up bankrupt. “I lived in Alaska for seven years so I’m well-versed in how to make very As they struggled to revive their careers, both effective snowballs,” said Ollig, a federal government employee. were kidnapped on orders of movie-mad Kim Jong- “Snow Wars: The Snowball Strikes Back,” as the event was dubbed by The cast of ‘Captain Fantastic’ as they arrive for the premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival il, who was bent on using them to make films that organisers, kicked off at 10am (1500 GMT) to the franchise’s iconic theme could compete on the international stage. in Park City, Utah, USA, yesterday. music after being postponed from Saturday due to the ferocity of the win- At the time, Kim had not yet succeeded his father ter storm. as North Korea’s leader. Choi was the first to be narrative in the documentary along with the couple’s tape-recordings of the conversations with Kim Jong-il. Some 3,400 people indicated on Facebook they would attend, but with abducted in 1977, while on a trip to Hong Kong where son and daughter and archival footage of the era. “And once we were aware of this, it became more bus and metro service cancelled for the weekend, co-organizer Ami Greener she was lured to discuss a movie deal. Speculation that such disappearances were difficult to construct a film around the mystery.” told AFP there were “a lot of disappointed people” who were unable to make Shin was snatched soon after when he trav- “voluntary defections” was common in the 1960s Still, they said, it is clear from pictures of the the fight. elled to Hong Kong in search of his ex-wife, with and 70s, and the Shin-Choi case was no exception. couple during their captivity -- in which they are In 2010, during another massive snowstorm in Washington, a snowball whom he had remained close. He was held in a North However, the initial doubts died down when Seoul portrayed smiling and attending lavish receptions fight organized by the group at the same location drew some 3,000 partic- Korean prison for four years before being reunited officially announced the pair had been abducted. hosted by Kim -- that they had developed a sort of ipants, Greener said. with Choi. Realising their predicament, the couple Cannan and Adam said they became more Stockholm Syndrome, identifying with their captor. Millions of people in the eastern United States started digging out Sun- cooperated with Kim, producing a series of mov- and more convinced of the couple’s story as they That was especially true of Shin, who was living day from under near-record-breaking snowfall as the storm passed and ies and winning his trust. researched the project and examined conversa- out his filmmaker’s dream of making mega-budget the sun returned. They were allowed to travel to Europe to attend tions with Kim that they had secretly recorded and movies without having to worry about money. Trudging away from the snowball fight covered shoulder-to-toe in fur film festivals and managed a daring escape in 1989 smuggled out during their escape. “This is a story about a filmmaker who gets eve- and his Chewbacca mask in hand, Scott Martin said his “mask and outfit are while in Vienna to sign a movie deal, and sought “There was no evidence to say that Shin and rything, but at a price,” Cannan. “He’s making films a little too big to run around in.” asylum in the United States. Chin died in 2006 but Choi did go willingly to North Korea,” Adam said. in a very oppressive climate, with his producer as “It’s been a fun day and I’m glad I came but I think it’s time to go home Choi, who now lives in Seoul, provided much of the “The only real evidence we could find was these a tyrant.” and change,” the 30-year old said. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 • 15 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Doha Bank profits up at QR1.37bn

Highlighting the bank’s 2015 Assets grow by 10.3% innovations and achievements, Dr R. Seetharaman, CEO, said “despite the to QR83.3bn in 2015 difficult market conditions, Doha Bank managed to secure a $575m syndicated unsecured loan at an attractive pric- ing and was oversubscribed by $75m. The Peninsula Furthermore, Doha Bank completed its issuance of an additional Tier 1 capi- tal instrument amounting to QR2bn. In line with our international expan- DOHA: Doha Bank recorded an impres- sion strategy, Doha Bank inaugurated sive QR1.37bn net profit for the year its 12th representative office in South Abdulaziz Al Khalifa (right), QBIC Chairman and QDB CEO, and Hassan 2015, reflecting a growth of more than Africa, completed the amalgamation 1.1 percent as compared to QR1.35bn formalities of the India operations of Al Ibrahim, Chief Tourism Development Officer at QTA at the event. for the year 2014. HSBC Bank Oman SAOG and inaugu- Announcing the financial results, Senior officials at the press conference yesterday. rated its India operations in April 2015.” Doha Bank Chairman Sheikh Fahad “Doha Bank continues to be a leader bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani in banking innovation in the country said the bank’s total assets increased Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani, Man- Bank’s core revenue streams have and a partner of choice among glo- Qatar launches first by QR7.8bn, a growth of 10.3 percent aging Director of Doha Bank, said: “The shown strong growth over the prior bal and regional payment players. To to QR 83.3bn as on December 31, 2015. Bank continues to perform well with year period reflecting on the Bank’s this effect, Doha Bank was the first Net loans and advances increased total equity, as at December 2015, at intrinsic strength towards recurring bank in Qatar to launch Apple iWatch to QR55.6bn in 2015 from QR48.6bn, QR13.3bn, increase of 17.4 percent dur- earning capacity and also on the Bank’s Banking solution,‘Tablet Banking’ and specialised incubator registering a growth of 14.5 percent. ing the last year. Through the efficient productive operational performance.” issue UnionPay cards in the country. Deposits showed a year on year increase asset allocation model the return on Doha Bank’s solid result in this Doha Bank also took necessary steps of 14.8 percent from QR45.9bn in 2014 average Shareholders’ equity is 16.1 challenging market scenario, portray its to support and implement Wage Pro- to QR52.8bn demonstrating the strong percent as at December 2015 one of commitment to maximise shareholder tection System successfully. Through for tourism startups liquidity position of the Bank. “This is the best in the industry. The Bank has value. This was possible largely due to the annual ‘Summer Campaign’, credit another outstanding result and is clear achieved a very high return on aver- the bank’s strategy to adapt to chang- card customers received up to 10 perc- demonstration that Doha Bank contin- age assets of 1.73 percent in 2015, a ing market and economic dynamics net cash back on certain credit card The Peninsula The event took place at the Head ues to perform consistently”, he said. clear demonstration of the effective through innovation, diversification spend and up to 5 percent on all inter- Office of QBIC, one of the largest mixed- Sheikh Abdul Rehman bin utilisation of shareholder’s funds. The and capitalising on market synergies. national spend,” he said. use business incubators in the Mena region, and was attended by Abdulaziz DOHA: Qatar Business Incubation Al Khalifa, QBIC Chairman and QDB Centre (QBIC) in collaboration with CEO, and Hassan Al Ibrahim, Chief Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) yester- Tourism Development Officer at QTA. day officially launched ‘QBIC Tourism’, Al Khalifa said: “Startups and Qatar’s real estate prices slip from peak country’s first specialised incuba- small businesses are the foundation of tor for tourism startups, following a thriving, diversified economy. A cen- a soft-launch period that witnessed tral tenet for QBIC is to be continually By Satish Kanady the country’s real estate price hit an all- in the prime residential market due to been present in Qatar. The country’s the incubation of nine startups in the strengthening our startup culture in The Peninsula time high of 310.4 points in November, growing vacancy, there is a significant landscape has changed immensely field of tourism. Qatar, not only by providing the sup- after surging to 305.7 points in Octo- opportunity within the tertiary mar- since our market entry and there QBIC Tourism, guided by QTA, is port and space that every business ber and 299.8 points in September. The ket sector, real estate services business remains a huge opportunity within a specialised incubator that enables needs, but by partnering for specific November figures show Qatar’s real firm DTZ said. the Real Estate market, as the popu- entrepreneurs to develop products and excellence and cutting-edge opportu- DOHA: Qatar’s real estate prices sof- estate value rose 17.84 percent during “These are interesting times for lation continues to surge. The market services that enhance the Qatar tour- nity within prominent industries – the tened a bit during the final quarter of the month from a year ago. Qatar,” said DTZ Qatar’s new Residen- must be allowed to reconcile these ism experience, by providing them new launch of QBIC Tourism by QBIC 2015 compared to the previous quarter, Market watchers noted the value tial Agency Head, Bashir Jama. “On one changes, which will encourage the with unique business development in partnership with QTA is a superb after hitting a record peak in Novem- of real estate transactions were an all- hand, developers have tended to be private sector to provide sustaina- tools and access to insight and guid- example of this principle in action. ber 2015. time high in Qatar in 2015. drawn towards the upper and prime ble solutions”, Edd Brookes, General ance from QTA decision-makers. We believe that backing start-ups The Qatar Central Bank’s (QCB) The real estate sector continues to housing sector, whereas the real oppor- Manager of DTZ Qatar said yesterday. During incubation, potential tour- and scale-ups now will help produce updated real estate price index released remain as vibrant as ever and unaf- tunity presents itself in the demand/ Rents for three-bedrooms in Doha’s ism entrepreneurs can develop and a mature and sustainable tourism yesterday shows the country’s real fected by the falling oil prices and is supply gap in the lower end of the hous- prime residential market have stabi- expand their business ideas within sector in the near and medium term.” estate value declined 2.6 percent to likely witness growth in future, they ing market. The difficulty is the price lised at QR 19,500 by the third quarter any of the four main sectors of tourism The involvement of home-grown 292.0 points during the Q4, 15 from said. of land; developers focus on the higher of 2015, which is the same price as the activity that have been identified as talent in developing Qatar’s tourism 299.8 points recorded during the previ- A steady growth in population in end markets as the high-end market is previous year. Two-bedroom apart- priorities for Qatar namely: business sector is crucial to ensuring that visi- ous quarter. However, the index surged Doha has increased the demand of low perceived to provide higher returns.” ments in this market segment have also events, urban and family entertain- tor experiences are embedded in, and 14.28 percent in Q4 year-on-year. to mid-income bracket accommoda- “We are accustomed to market fluc- remained steady at QR 15,500 between ment, sports and recreation, and reflective of, the country’s national According to the central bank data, tion, and with rental prices stabilising tuations in the ten years that we have 2014 and 2015, according to DTZ culture and heritage products. culture and heritage. GE Oil & Gas signs deal with Qafco for gas turbine maintenance

The Peninsula repair and field services will be pro- with the new solution that is imple- The new agreement builds on ear- vided through Qatar-based experts. mented at Qafco for the first time in the lier long-term service contract signed GE Oil & Gas has an installed base region, we also gain from the localized between GE Oil & Gas DTS and Qafco to of six FR6 gas turbines, 31 centrifu- expertise and support that GE brings.” optimise the performance of its plant DOHA: GE Oil & Gas yesterday gal compressors, 16 steam turbines Rami Qasem, President & CEO of in Mesaieed last year, further under- announced that its Downstream Tech- and 16 pumps across Qafco plants. GE Oil & Gas for the Middle East, North lining GE’s localisation commitment. nology Solutions (DTS) business has The agreement will help in scaling- Africa and Turkey, said: “Installing the Qatar is one of the important mar- been awarded a 15-year technical up the operational efficiency of the first Extendor Combustion Supply kit in kets of GE in the Middle East region, development partnership agreement gas turbines, adding to improved the region at Qafco demonstrates our where the company has been play- by Qatar Fertiliser Company (Qafco). plant operations and higher levels of commitment to deliver the best-in-class ing a key role in energy infrastructure In this strategic agreement, DTS productivity. technology solution and underlines development including power, water will bring GE Oil & Gas competencies Khalifa A Al Sowaidi, CEO of Qafco, the long-term partnership between and oil & gas for nearly four decades. to mark the first regional installation said: “We seek advanced solutions and GE and Qafco which extends for 40 The Qatar Service Center of GE Oil & of its advanced 32 K Extendor Combus- on-ground support to strengthen effi- years. The comprehensive upgrade, Gas in Ras Laffan is a center of excel- tion System that will enable Qafco to ciency and optimise resource use across repairing and maintenance, led by lence that serves as a technology hub strengthen the operational efficiency our plants. To achieve consistently high our Qatar-based team, will support for the region. of its gas turbines. levels of productivity, it is important Qafco by significantly reducing the GE serves the energy, water tech- Khalifa Al-Sowaidi, CEO, Qafco (centre); Lorenzo Simonelli, President & GE Oil & Gas will supply the parts that we extend maintenance intervals combustion component wear & tear of nologies and healthcare businesses, CEO, GE Oil & Gas (right) and Ahmed Rahimi, Maintenance Operations for the project with the first installa- through proven technology. GE Oil & the turbines and increasing the mean- which contribute to the overall eco- Manager, Qafco at the signing ceremony. tion set for 2017, while modification, Gas has been a long-term partner, and time between maintenance.” nomic and social growth of the country. 22 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS Global trends may impact Qatar’s tax framework: EY

in its Base Erosion and Profit Shifting profits should still follow the place International (BEPS) reports last year are expected to where key functions, assets and risks change the taxation landscape. are located. What is changing is the developments likely Marcel Kerkvliet, International Tax attention that tax administrations to influence the future Partner at EY Qatar, said: “The Qatar globally will place on the question of Ministry of Finance is expected to adopt whether the key functions, assets and direction for tax at least some of the OECD recommen- risks are really located in the places that dations directly. This will affect future taxpayers say they are. This should not information reporting in Qatar, if not change the burden of tax. However, it the way that taxable income is deter- could increase compliance costs and mined. However, even if none of the tax risks significantly. The Peninsula BEPS recommendations are adopted, “The OECD has no influence over other countries are likely to expect their individual governments, so we will investors to be more accountable for see a lot of different responses. What the amount of profits they are report- investors should be looking for is oppor- DOHA: Global tax trends may impact ing in Qatar.” tunities. With the likely changes on the Qatar’s tax framework. While low cor- Paul Karamanoukian, Tax Partner horizon, now would be a good time porate tax rates will probably remain, at EY Qatar, said: “For multinationals, to review corporate structures for tax value-added tax (VAT) seems likely to tax is no longer a game of just complying efficiency, to see whether tax treaties be introduced within the next few years. with regulations set by each local tax are being utilized effectively and the And international developments also administration; investors need a global supply chain will work well if VAT is seem likely to influence the future direc- focus. If a subsidiary reports a high level introduced. A 5 percent rate may not tion for tax in the Gulf state, says EY. EY Qatar tax team. of net profit in Qatar, for example, the sound like a lot, but if it ends up as an EY, the London-based multina- local tax authorities would likely not additional cost on purchases because tional audit firm and advisory services has been a fairly low-key considera- Compared to other parts of the world, the way that tax is evolving internation- raise any concerns. But once country- a VAT structure is inefficient, it’s going provider, yesterday hosted a seminar tion for investors in the Middle East. the Middle East has been a tax para- ally. In the 1990s, the Organisation for by-country reporting occurs in other to hurt much more than a 10 percent on changes to the tax and regulatory Corporate tax rates are low, if tax is dise. However it now seems clear that Economic Cooperation and Development jurisdictions, a tax official in another tax on net income,” said Finbarr. environment in Qatar, highlighting that imposed at all. Expatriate labour is sub- there will be some developments that (OECD) initiated a project on harmful tax country might look at that profit level “The developments will also pose taxation is likely to become a more ject to neither tax nor social security make tax a more topical agenda in the competition. Ultimately, the OECD has and ask whether that means that the challenges to tax administration. Tax prominent business concern across and investors have paid limited regard Middle East.” recognised that there is nothing inher- group member in his country is under- authorities may need further resources the Middle East. to establishing efficient tax structures. If Some of the larger tax challenges ently wrong if a country decides to adopt paying tax as a result.” and training to deal with ever more Finbarr Sexton, Mena Indirect Tax taxes have resulted, the rates have been investors may face in the Middle East a low-tax framework. However, the 15 The underlying principles of inter- complex taxation rules and a grow- Leader, at EY, said: “Traditionally, tax low and have not had a large impact. derive not from local developments but recommendations that the OECD made national tax are not changing. Taxable ing taxpayer population,” said Finbarr. QE index rebounds on global cues

Reuters ket rally at the end of the last week as from a 28-month low on Thursday. investors took solace in the bounce- The majority of shares jumped more back in crude oil prices. Oil-linked than 2 percent in the largest volume companies, Qatar Gas Transport and of trades this year. DOHA: Major stock markets in the Gulf International Services jumped 5.3 Abu Dhabi’s benchmark jumped Middle East rebounded yesterday with and 9.9 percent, respectively. 4.3 percent to 3,839 points from a Qatar Exchange (QE) index jumping Saudi Arabia’s index rebounded 28-month low on Thursday, trim- 397.60 points, or 4.63 percent, when 2.7 percent to 5,612 points, but is 222 ming its losses to 10.9 percent this year. the bourse closed trading at 8,981.61 points off its session high. In Egypt, the main index traded points. Majority of shares surged more Dubai’s index rebounded 5.2 per- up 3.2 percent, bouncing back from than 3 percent, joining the global mar- cent to 2,757 points, pulling away a 28-month low close on Thursday.

Officials at the signing ceremony. Doha Bank in deal with Bancomext

The Peninsula also provide for joint working in the and other petroleum products. Also area of Financial institutions business in 2014 Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia like letter of guarantees, risk partic- and UAE represented 80 percent of all ipation within each party’s internal Mexican exports to the Middle east. DOHA: Doha Bank signed a mem- framework, regulations/bye laws. The memorandum was signed orandum of cooperation with The bilateral trade between Qatar during the Qatar Mexico Business BancoNacional De Comercio Exterior and Mexico has increased substantially Forum organised by Qatar Chamber SNC –Mexico (Bancomext) - Mexico in the recent years. The major exports of Commerce and Pro Mexico dur- on Thursday at Doha. from Mexico to Qatar include cars and ing the visit of Enrique Pena Nieto, The memorandum aims to provide vehicle parts, consumer electronics President of Mexico. From Doha Bank a general framework for future coop- such as televisions, mobile phones side the memorandum was signed by eration between the two banks. The and LCD displays, in addition to oil Dr R Seetharaman- CEO Doha Bank terms of the memorandum provide and oil-derived products, silver, per- and was counter signed by Alejandro both parties to cooperate on best effort ishables and pharmaceuticals. On the Diaz De Leon Carrillo, Director Gen- basis to develop business and support other hand, Qatar exports to Mexico eral/CEO of Bancomext in the midst the trade finance transaction between include gaseous hydrocarbons, raw of senior functionaries and Govern- the two countries. The memorandum aluminum, fertilisers and chemicals ment officials from Qatar and Mexico. Gulf Air and JorAMCo extend MRO deal

The Peninsula

DOHA: Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bah- rain’s national carrier, has announced a 3-year extension of its Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) agreement with JorAMCo under which JorAMCo will provide Bahrain’s national car- rier with Heavy Maintenance checks for its current fleet of 28 aircraft - A330s, A320-ERs, A320s and A321s. The agreement, originally signed in January 2013, has been extended for three more years, ending 31st Decem- ber 2018. All maintenance will be performed in JorAMCo’s regional MRO facility at Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan. Announcing the agreement exten- sion at a signing ceremony today, Gulf Air A/Chief Technical Officer, Jamal Hashim, said: “JorAMCo have deliv- Officials at the event. ered high quality technical support to Gulf Air over the past three years. Their vast experience, quality service confident that this extension will excellence in aircraft maintenance.” and regional proximity ensure that greatly help us in our continued pursuit Husam Zayed, Chief Commer- Gulf Air’s aircraft are maintained to to enhance our technical quality, effi- cial Officer of JorAMCo, said, “We the highest standard, with decreased ciency and safety standard while the are delighted that Gulf Air, a regional turnaround time and reduced ferry airline, in tandem, continues its drive aviation pioneer, is extending its rela- charges. Consequently, we are to independently deliver technical tionship with JorAMCo.” BUSINESS MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 23 Gulf economies Commercial Bank signs MoU with Bancomext will impact oil The Peninsula DOHA: Commercial Bank, Qatar’s first private bank, has signed a Mem- orandum of Understanding(MoU) with and gas industry Bancomext, a Mexican national devel- opment bank, recently. The signing ceremony, held on Thursday, against the backdrop of to keep spending as it was and nei- high level visits between Qatar and ther is Oman. If oil prices average Mexico and the strengthening of dip- Rising deficits $40 a barrel this year, we should lomatic and economic ties between the and constrained expect less spending from GCC gov- two nations. ernments, which will translate into Levels of trade between Qatar and budgets will have lower economic activity.” Mexico have almost doubled over the big macroeconomic The majority of Gulf coun- past four years and continue to grow, tries have taken the unprecedented with established agreements in the impact on the energy move to reduce fuel subsidies in a areas of aviation, technical support, industry in 2016 bid to offset growing budget deficits. youth cooperation, banking, and trade Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, associations. respectively, were among the first The MoU provides a framework for countries in the Gulf to introduce future cooperation between the two The Peninsula cuts in 2015. Another wave of sub- banks and collaboration for projects in sidy reforms is expected in the Gulf Qatar involving Mexican enterprises, or this year, which is likely to include for projects in Mexico involving Qatari DOHA: Rising revenue deficits and Oman’s first subsidy cuts. enterprises. constrained government budgets in Over a third of respondents With Bancomext being a leading the Gulf will have the biggest mac- (38 percent) expect China’s recent trade finance bank in Mexico, greater roeconomic impact on the region’s economic uncertainty will have cooperation under the MoU will help energy industry in 2016, according the greatest impact on the Middle ease trade flows between the two to 43 percent of respondents to a Gulf East’s energy industry, as the coun- countries for the benefit of both nations Commercial Bank and Mexican national development bank officials at the signing ceremony. Intelligence Industry Survey of 250 try’s growth slowed to a 25-year low and the customers of each bank. energy industry professionals oper- in 2015. China’s 6.8 percent growth ating in the region. in the fourth quarter of 2015 alone Economies in the Gulf, including is more than respectable by global Saudi Arabia and the UAE, face chal- standards, but it marks a significant lenging times in 2016 as the oil price slip from the country’s usual 10 per- Oryx Rotana posts 94% occupancy in Q4 hovers around the $30 per barrel, cent growth. Questions still abound hitting a 12-year low. Fiscal pressure over what financial measures Beijing has been steadily building since oil plans to introduce in 2016 to curb prices started a sharp downward any further losses. The Peninsula expatriates as well as visitors to the strategies that will help strengthen trend in June 2014, with Saudi Arabia The US’ decision last month to State of Qatar, especially from the the position of the hotel both locally posting its biggest ever budget deficit increase interest rates for the first GCC and Europe. In fact, we attracted and regionally. He stressed that the last December, at SR326bn ($86bn) time in a decade and Europe’s poor DOHA: Oryx Rotana, the five star all segments of the community who hotel is known to be the “destination — equivalent to about 16 percent of economic growth are expected to luxury business hotel in Doha, has visited our hotel and offered them an of choice” to all members of the local the Saudi’s GDP. Kuwait posted its have little impact on the Middle East’s achieved occupancy rates of 94 per- opportunity to enjoy various outlets community, who have visited Oryx first budget deficit in 15 years in mid- energy industry this year, with only cent in the fourth quarter of 2015, in and diverse services.” Rotana and are acquainted with the 2015, with both the UAE and Oman 3 percent and 1 percent of respond- comparison to 91 percent occupancy “Oryx Rotana recorded high level of the services provided. also facing larger deficits. ents highlighting them during the GI rates during the same period of the occupancy rate during the last quar- Timbrell concluded that Oryx “In 2015, we saw that most of Industry Survey. The primary impact last financial year. The hotel wit- ter of last year reaching 94 percent, Rotana will put in place the maximum the Gulf countries took a budget hit of the US move will be reflected by nessed an upward occupancy growth as a result of the good reputation marketing efforts through promotions from lower oil prices, but they kept emerging countries’ currencies, in guest rooms, suites as well as F&B we enjoy. This was reflected by the on social network sites, especially spending relatively high and their including Turkey, Brazil and Malaysia. outlets. guests’ opinions, especially on social with updates and renovation car- economies kept growing,” Marios Half (51 percent) of respondents said Mark Timbrell (pictured), Gen- network sites which supported the ried out by the hotel. For instance, Maratheftis, Global Chief Econo- oil prices are unlikely to rise above an eral Manager at Oryx Rotana while resulted in higher occupancy levels. position that we are in,” he added. the “Sky Lounge” cafe located in the mist at Standard Chartered Bank, average of $40 per barrel this year, commenting on these records, said: We enjoyed a relatively high occu- The General Manager of Oryx lobby of the hotel, has recently been said. “2016 will be different as it while nearly a third of respondents “At Oryx Rotana, we have seen dra- pancy rate that can be attributed to Rotana also pointed out that there are renovated, and offers a range appe- looks like Saudi Arabia is not willing (28 percent) cited $30 a barrel. matic levels of demand, which has the hotel guests comprising locals, a few ongoing plans as well as future tizers, as well as tea and coffee.

Aramco may open IPO to international investors Iran to buy 114 Airbus Bloomberg offered is the economic value of Saudi keeping its production high, and it but we looked at it as an incentive for Aramco and not its oil reserves,” Al- wants to see a market in which sup- them to enhance their efficiency,” he Falih said in the interview in Davos, ply matches demand, he said. “We said. Saudi Arabia is looking into pri- planes this Switzerland. “The oil reserves belong are not targeting shale oil producers vatisation in all industries, and the DUBAI: Saudi Arabian Oil Com- to the state. Therefore, we will offer at all,” Al-Falih said in the interview. government is moving forward with week: Minister pany open a potential share offering the ability of the company to produce “We want low-cost oil producers like plans to sell shares in the Saudi Grain to international investors and con- from those reserves.” Saudi Arabia to produce to a balanced Organisation, he said. TEHRAN: Iran will sign a firmed that the kingdom’s crude Saudi Aramco has announced it market.” Saudi Arabian Airlines and Saudi contract this week to buy 114 reserves won’t be put up for sale. is studying options for a share sale. Saudi Arabia raised prices for Railways Organisation are next on Airbus planes from France, Saudi Aramco, as the world’s While one route is a full initial pub- feedstock to petrochemical makers the list of state companies up for during a visit to Paris by largest oil business is known, is still lic offering, another is to list some of this year as part of reforms to reduce sale, “when they become ready for Iranian President Hassan considering “all options” in any future its subsidiaries, the company said in inventories remain high, Al-Falih said. state spending and to narrow the this step,” he said. The health min- Rouhani, Tehran’s trans- public offering, including the sale of a statement earlier this month. Oil demand grew last year almost fiscal deficit. Al-Falih said that even istry is considering putting all public port minister said yesterday. shares internationally, Chairman Aramco pumps all of Saudi twice as fast as in 2014 and will keep with the increase, local industries still hospitals under the management of Abbas Akhoundi, Khalid Al-Falih (pictured) said in Arabia’s crude oil, with produc- rising at a rate of at least 1.2 million pay lower feedstock prices than their independent companies and turning quoted by Iranian media, an interview on Al Arabiya TV. The tion at 10.25 million barrels a day in barrels a day this year, he said. international peers. “When we raised some hospitals into non-profit foun- said the deal “will be signed company isn’t considering selling its December. Saudi Arabia sees crude The kingdom isn’t targeting the feedstock prices, we knew that the dations, said Al-Falih, who is also between Iran Air and Airbus” oil reserves, he said. “What will be oil prices recovering this year even if higher-cost shale oil producers by margin for producers will be squeezed minister of health. when Rouhani is in Paris on Wednesday as part of his first official European visit. Rouhani’s trip follows the implementation of a nuclear ConocoPhillips’ GWSC deal with world powers that curbs Tehran’s atomic activ- ities in exchange for the sponsors water meet lifting of punishing economic sanctions. Iran desperately needs to modernise its ageing pas- The Peninsula Dr Samer Adham said that water senger fleet, which has only security has been identified by the 150 operational planes out of Qatar government as a key challenge more than 250, according to for the country, “Given that Qatar’s Akhoundi. DOHA: ConocoPhillips’ Global Water population is expected to increase in “We have been negoti- Sustainability Center (GWSC) has the future, demand for water is also ating for 10 months” for the supported the 2nd International Confer- likely to rise significantly. The quality purchase of planes but “there ence on Desalination and Environment: of life of future generations rests on was no way to pay for them A Water Conference (ICODE) as Plati- how we manage key resources. Part of because of banking sanc- num Sponsor. our work at GWSC is exchanging with tions,” Iranian state media Dr Samer Adham, Manager, Water other internationally renowned experts quoted Akhoundi as saying. Solutions, ConocoPhillips said: “We on desalination and related technolo- “We need 400 long- and are pleased to be the exclusive Plati- gies so we are better able to address mid-range and 100 short- num Sponsor for ICODE as it provides a the water security challenges Qatar is range planes,” he added. forum for academics and members of the facing.” The first batch of new desalination industry to meet with scien- As well as learning about the work planes will arrive in the tists from around the world and discuss of other water professionals, GWSC will country by March 19, he said. advances in the fields of desalination and also be presenting two technical papers Iran, with a popula- water treatment. GWSC is committed to during ICODE on Membrane Distilla- tion 79 million, has a good develop innovative water solutions on tion and Forward Osmosis. The first road network but still needs the global scale as well as promote water is entitled “Pilot-scale evaluation of major transport upgrades, conservation in Qatar, and support of membrane distillation for desalinat- which Tehran hopes will aid important industry events such as this ing concentrated brines from thermal tourism. is a vital part of our on-going efforts. We desalination plants” while the other Rouhani is to visit Italy will continue to look for opportunities addresses “Volume reduction of pro- and Franceto boost ties. that help contribute to achieving Qatar duced and process water by low-energy National Vision 2030.” osmotic concentration”. Participants at the event. 24 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS China should defend yuan: Kuroda Tower catches short sellers’ eye as China sets off rout

China’s stockpile Bloomberg lowered its revenue forecast earlier plunged $513bn last this month. That has fed specula- tion Apple Inc may be cutting back year to $3.33 trillion, production of its best-selling gadget the first annual NEW YORK: With global stocks to the world’s biggest smartphone posting their worst start to a year market. decline since 1992 ever, it’s not difficult for short sell- For some, such concerns about and the holdings will ers to find companies to pick on. Tower are misplaced. Drexel Hamil- Tower Semiconductor Ltd whose ton LLC points out that the company drop to $3 trillion or chips are found in everything from has been gaining on rival Global less by the end of this X-ray machines to iPhones, is the Foundry Co. Another consideration: year latest target. Spruce Point Capi- Smartphones account for less than tal Management, which helped lop a quarter of Tower’s business, albeit off $1bn of Caesarstone Sdot-Yam the fastest-growing one. Ltd.’s market capitalization last “It’s been more of an impact on Bloomberg year, accuses the Israeli company the multiple and stock price than of accounting irregularities and a anything to do with fundamentals,” flawed business plan. Wall Street Cody Acree, an analyst at Drexel who analysts dismiss the claims and rec- recommends buying Tower shares, DAVOS: Bank of Japan Governor ommend buying the stock. said by phone. Haruhiko Kuroda said China should Tower shares are down 15 per- “One customer might be a lit- impose capital controls to defend cent this year, compared with a 9.8 tle better or a little softer, but in the the yuan rather than keep burning percent decline in the Philadelphia aggregate their demand has really through currency reserves. Stock Exchange’s Semiconductor been unaffected.” As he and other international index. Short interest in the stock has The company sent an e-mailed policy makers expressed confidence climbed to 3 percent of shares out- statement on January 14, in response that the world’s second largest standing, the highest since March, to Spruce Point’s report. Spruce Point economy will avoid a hard landing, according to Markit, a London-based “has never been in contact with us, Kuroda made his proposal on the research firm. Tower shares rose 4.3 with no experience or expertise in final day of the World Economic percent last week to $11.99 in New our industry, and our business as an Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, York trading. The timing of Spruce- analog pure play foundry,” the com- Switzerland. point’s attack is spot on. Investors pany said in the statement. China is struggling to hold up A US one-dollar banknote and Chinese 100-yuan banknotes are seen in this picture illustration, in Beijing, are apprehensive about suppliers “We continue to focus on our the yuan as a slowing economy China, on Thursday. of components of smartphones sold business performance, which forces it to loosen monetary policy in China, whose sputtering growth remains positive and growing, driven and prompts capital to flee. It now less by the end of this year, according on illegal money transfers. the equivalent of Germany to global and policy missteps are roiling mar- by our strong customer demand, faces questions from investors over to the median of 12 forecasts in a China’s economic slowdown -- output by the end of this decade. kets from New York to Shanghai. with a financial model of sustain- just how long it can keep deploying news survey this month. They were and the subsequent financial turmoil “We actually believe that China Qorvo Inc., a customer of Tower’s, able and growing GAAP net profit.” reserves to calm the yuan’s volatility. projected to tumble further, to $2.66 it helped to spark --- were among the will have a soft landing,” said Credit “This is my personal view, and trillion by the end of next year. most-discussed topics in Davos this Suisse Group AG Chief Executive it may not be shared by the Chinese “The massive use of reserves week. Officer Tidjane Thiam. More broadly, authorities, but in this kind of would not be a particularly good For all the market jitters, most Thiam said global banks are in a somewhat contradictory situation idea,” said International Monetary delegates bet that the economy will much stronger position now and capital controls could be useful Fund Managing Director Christine soon stabilize as officials pivot from praised the work of regulators in to manage the exchange rate as Lagarde, who suggested China better debt-fueled investment and exports forcing them to strengthen their regards domestic monetary policy clarify how it manages the yuan. toward consumption and services. balance sheets. in a consistent and appropriate way,” China has already tightened some “We’re not seeing a hard landing,” He also said it’s high time that the Kuroda said on Saturday. capital controls, requiring lenders said Lagarde. “We’re seeing an US Federal Reserve raised rates even China is burning through its in offshore yuan-trading centers to evolution, a big transition which is though it means that global monetary reserves as it tries to prop up the lock away more funds in their latest going to be bumpy, which will offer policy is now going out of sync. currency. China’s stockpile plunged efforts to combat capital outflows. It some turbulence.” “A normalization is necessary $513bn last year to $3.33 trillion, the also suspended some foreign lenders UK Chancellor of the Exchequer because I don’t like periods where first annual decline since 1992 and from conducting some cross-border George Osborne said that even at the the price of risk is distorted for a long the holdings will drop to $3 trillion or yuan operations and cracked down current growth rate, China would add period of time,” said Thiam. Ukraine’s debt deal with Russia still possible, says finance chief

Bloomberg lawyers negotiated last month, group of international cred- Jaresko negotiated with credi- was needed to unlock a $17.5bn Jaresko said Saturday in an itors and come through with tors last year, setting the sides on IMF bailout for Ukraine as it interview in Davos. The next restructuring.” course for a court a battle. Rus- recovers from an 18-month round may be among lower-level The $3bn bond -- which sia’s Finance Ministry on January recession and the conflict with KIEV: Ukraine may still reach representatives if scheduling Russia bought in 2013 as part 1 said it had taken measures to pro-Russian separatists that rav- an agreement with Russia on conflicts prevent the ministers of an abortive bail-out for start legal proceedings. The gov- aged its industrial heartland. $3bn of debt it defaulted on last from attending, she said. Ukraine’s former leader just ernment in Kiev has said that With the fighting having sub- month as talks mediated by Ger- “I think it’s still very possible months before he was top- Russia won’t get better terms sided, the government is trying to many continue, Finance Minister to reach a consensual agreement pled -- has become a thorny than other creditors who par- access the next $1.7bn payment Natalie Jaresko (pictured) said. out of court with Russia,” Jaresko issue in the two former Soviet ticipated in the restructuring after political squabbling delayed Officials from the two sides’ said. “We have dialog, the dia- neighbors’ frayed relationship. deal, and pledged to defend itself the passage of a 2016 budget that finance ministries may meet log exists on different levels.” The Kremlin held the debt out against any lawsuit over the debt. met the Washington-based lend- “in the near future” after their She urged Russian to “join the of an $18bn restructuring deal The restructuring agreement er’s requirements. Belgium has doubts on EU’s Bad Bank talks in progress, says Padoan transaction tax: Minister Bloomberg company for bad debt has been Bloomberg that the current plan, while not blocked for months by the European perfect, needs to advance so other Commission, which considers any nations will feel pressure to join. state involvement in the disposals as “To do nothing, to resign, to say OK, MILAN: Italian Finance Minister Pier possible state aid. BRUSSELS: Belgium considers the this problem isn’t solvable, I’m sure Carlo Padoan (pictured) said the gov- Padoan declined to comment European Union’s current 10-nation we will suffer the next major crisis,” ernment is conducting a “very good in the interview about the timing of plan for a financial-transactions tax he said in public debate at a Dec. 8 conversation” with the European an agreement. Negotiations with the to be unacceptable, Finance Minister finance ministers’ meeting. Commission to set up a so-called bad European Commission “are down to Johan Van Overtveldt said. A transactions tax must not tar- bank, as additional national measures details,” and focusing on the pricing The government will remain in get pension funds and needs to focus to ease the sale of non-performing of guarantees, he told reporters negotiations with France, Germany, on speculative trades, Van Over- loans will be introduced this com- Saturday. Italy and other plan participants, the tveldt said. ing week. Padoan later told a news finance ministry said. At the same He said the current proposal “We are working on a guarantee conference he will be meeting with time, Van Overtveldt in a statement poses risk to Belgium’s financial scheme which is part of a strategy” EU competition commissioner Saturday said the most recent plan industry and doesn’t safeguard to accelerate the disposal of bad Margrethe Vestager tomorrow. is out of step with the proposal the economic actions such as transac- loans, Padoan said in an interview There are also new measures Belgian government accepted when tions that large companies and small on Saturday Television’s Francine that “will be introduced by the it initially endorsed the tax proposal. businesses use to shield against Lacqua at the World Economic Forum government this coming week, “This proposal could complicate movements in commodity prices, in Davos, Switzerland. Talks with the which will further facilitate NPL hedging and can have adverse effects exchange rates and interest rates. commission “will not be stalled, and treatment,” Padoan said, without industrial plan,” the minister said in this is market business, it’s not my on businesses,” Van Overtveldt said. If only 10 nations move ahead in any case we already have in place disclosing details. While larger banks the interview. business to interfere with.” The “The current draft would raise the with a transactions tax, it also would measures that will help.” have already started to dispose of bad Monte Paschi Chief Executive recent selloff sparked speculation cost of financing the public debt and run counter to EU efforts to foster a Italian banking shares on Friday loans, “some smaller banks have been Officer Fabrizio Viola said of a takeover of Monte Paschi. threaten the liquidity of government capital markets union, the Belgian extended a two-day rebound as waiting,” said Padoan. “I am confident Wednesday the bank is making an Banco Santander SA is considering debt.” ministry said. The European Com- officials signaled they’re moving that we will see an acceleration of extraordinary effort to clean up its a possible acquisition, Italian news Efforts to build a joint European mission, which backs the trading tax, closer to an agreement on setting up those.” balance sheet. After tapping investors agency Ansa wrote late Friday. A transactions tax have foundered in is working on proposals to increase a bad bank for soured loans. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena for funds to replenish capital, Viola spokeswoman for Santander denied the past four years amid disagree- financial integration among all 28 In Italy, banks’ bad loans reached SpA, which has lost 39 percent of its has been searching for a buyer under the bank is studying a deal with ments over which trades to tax and member nations. a high of 201bn euros ($217 bn) in market value this year, on Friday pressure from the European Central Monte Paschi, which declined to how to allocate the revenue. In Nations still participating in the November, as record-low interest rallied for a second day. Investors had Bank to shore up its finances. comment on the report. December, Estonia left the negotiat- tax talks are Austria, Belgium, Ger- rates and a struggling economy fled the lender earlier in the week, “I believe there are a lot of Unione di Banche Italiane SpA is ing group while 10 nations agreed on many, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, squeeze profit margins. A mechanism on concerns about its credit quality. opportunities out there and we are in contact with Paschi on a possible principles for going forward and set Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia. to remove bad assets will help lenders “Monte dei Paschi has very good seeing encouraging signs not just in partnership, Il Sole 24 Ore reported a mid-2016 deadline to reach a deal. Belgium’s conclusion on the tax clean up their balance sheets and fundamentals, it has increased Monte Paschi but in other banks to Saturday. Spokesmen for the two German Finance Minister Wolf- plan was reported earlier Saturday spur lending. The Italian project significantly its capital over the raise capital, to strengthen, to look banks declined to comment on the gang Schaeuble said in December by L’Echo newspaper. to create an asset management recent quarters and it has a viable at possible M&A,” Padoan said. “But newspaper report. BUSINESS MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 25

Global financial Saudi Airline plans debut bond sale markets lose collective mind and also to help finance our growth plans, to finance the acquisition Borrowers in the of fleet,” Al Jasser said. Borrow- Bloomberg oil exporting nation ers in the oil-exporting nation are turning to debt markets in greater are turning to debt numbers amid a slump in crude markets in greater prices that is worsening the nation’s NEW YORK: This week saw the budget deficit. value of Hong Kong’s bench- numbers amid a Saudia’s sale comes as the air- mark stock market briefly dip slump in crude prices line, which bought 50 Airbus Group below how much its member SE planes at the Paris Airshow last companies’ assets are worth. summer, seeks to boost its fleet to Foreign exchange traders are 200 by 2020. The carrier is follow- punishing currencies even in coun- Bloomberg ing Dubai-based Emirates airline tries with improving economies, and FlyDubai in issuing sukuk. and Russia’s rouble has fallen so The airline will take delivery far that it’s a third more underval- next week of three Boeing Co. 787-9 ued than the last time the country’s DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s main airline and one 777-300ER, which will be oil was as cheap as now. said it’s planning to sell as much used for flights to Paris, Guangzhou, And that’s not all, as shown by as SR5bn ($1.3bn) of Islamic bonds Casablanca and Dubai, in addition the below five charts. in the second quarter to refinance to domestic routes, Al Jasser said. While Hong Kong’s Hang Seng loans and buy planes, becoming Saudia will add domestic and Index recovered enough to be worth the latest issuer in the kingdom to regional flights this year and in 2017, about the same as its members’ tap debt markets for cash amid an after announcing the start of serv- assets, the price-to-book ratios oil slump. ices to Algeria, Ankara in Turkey, of about two dozen other country The carrier known as Saudia is Munich, Germany and the Mal- benchmarks are now below that in negotiations with local banks to dives, he said. threshold, compared with 15 five oversee its first-ever bond offering, Saudi Arabia plans to raise as years ago. Saleh Al Jasser, the director gen- much as 20bn riyals at a debt auc- Russia’s currency has taken one eral of Saudi Arabian Airlines, said tion next week to finance its budget of the world’s biggest beatings so in an interview at the Sakhir air- deficit, two people familiar with the far this year. By one crude-but-fun base during the Bahrain air show plan said this week, asking not to be measure, the rouble is almost always on Friday. identified because the information considered undervalued, but now The plans are part of a wider is private. The International Mon- it’s worse than usual. Islamic bond program the company etary Fund predicts the country’s Big Mac Purchasing Power will turn to “as and when needed” fiscal shortfall will reach 14 percent Parity is based on a survey by The for funding, he said. of gross domestic product this year. Economist that determines what a “We will be initiating a sukuk Brent crude has fallen 36 percent in country’s exchange rate would have program for the purpose of refi- the past 12 months to $31.63 a bar- An aeroplane of the Saudi Gulf, a newly launched airline, is seen on display on the first day of the Bahrain to be for the premier burger from nancing some of our existing loans rel by 3:26pm in London. Airshow-2016 in Sakhir on January 21 2016. McDonald’s there to cost the same as in the US. The measure gives an impression of how overvalued or undervalued a currency is. US stocks haven’t been immune Canadian provinces forced to pay Pampa Energia shows to this month’s worldwide drubbing. Even with this week’s recovery in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, up as foreigners unload bonds the fall since the year started ranks interest in Petrobras as one of the worst three weeks in recent decades. The result: Some members are worth less than busi- Bloomberg nesses with no revenue, for example Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc one of the largest such companies in the Nasdaq Composite Index. DAVOS: Argentina’s Pampa Energia Now take a look at the global SA is interested in buying the local government bond market. The flight assets of Brazil’s state-controlled oil to the perceived safety of sovereign producer Petroleo Brasileiro SA to debt has driven up prices for these deepen domestic investment as new interview in Davos. “We think the securities, pushing yields down to President Mauricio Macri ushers in Petrobras assets are very attractive the point where more than ever are sweeping economic changes. and would allow us to grow several negative. That means investors buy- Chief Executive Officer Marcelo of our businesses lines in Argentina,” ing those securities today would Mindlin said he met with Macri this he said. lose money if they held them until week at the World Economic Forum in “But our interest is also based on maturity. Davos, Switzerland. the new policy of the Macri admin- Of course, nobody actually buys Macri’s efforts to unwind the istration to reinsert Argentina into less-than-zero bonds with plans to investment-unfriendly policies of his the world. hold on to them that long. But still. predecessor Cristina Fernandez de The possibility that the govern- Finally, there are the foreign- Kirchner will help bring down over- ment and private companies could tap exchange markets. Look at how seas borrowing costs for Argentine external funding now at a time that many developing-nation curren- companies, which currently average global rates are so low would enable cies are down year-to-date even as Canadian businessman Barry Walsh is on his way to a business conference on a street in Havana on more than 9 percent, helping their more investment, more growth, and their economies are seen improv- January 23, 2016. ability to grow, Mindlin said in an more quality jobs for Argentinians.” ing in 2016.

Bloomberg plummeting commodity prices and the Canadian provincial-bond market volatile financial markets. Chinese is going to make it harder for issuers to reserves, representing about a third find buyers for the C$70 billion ($50 BP Egypt says LNG shipment was of the world total, have declined 13 billion) to C$75 billion they’re going to TORONTO: Foreign investors are percent to $3.3 trillion as the coun- need to borrow this year, Lovely said. cashing out of the Canadian provin- try seeks to defend its currency amid Domestic investors aren’t rushing into cial-bond market just when borrowers an economic slowdown. the market either because new regula- diverted to manage peak demand need them the most. Foreign investors poured money tions make it harder to trade, he said. Yields of Canadian provincial into Canadian and provincial debt The average sovereign-wealth fund bonds have widened against their fed- after the 2008 financial crisis, when or central bank has about 2 percent of eral benchmarks, with oil-producing the country’s strong budget position, its reserves in Canadian dollars, and Reuters regions such as Newfoundland, Sas- AAA credit rating, and secure banks about 10 percent of Canada’s C$540 katchewan and Alberta hit the hardest. made its currency look like a good bet, billion Canadian dollar-denominated Spreads for those provinces have wid- said Raymond Humphrey, a portfolio provincial-bond market is held by for- ened at least 35 basis points since the manager at AllianceBernstein Holding eigners, Lovely said. There are still CAIRO: BP Egypt said yesterday that beginning of August, when the first LP in New York, who helps manage some investors who like provincial one of its LNG shipments to Egypt wave of selling began, compared with $400 billion in fixed income. bonds, including Pacific Investment was held back this month as part about a 25-basis point increase for Since then, the economy has Management Co.’s Ed Devlin. He sees of a deal over the timing of deliv- Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia suffered from the global plunge in a buying opportunity, particularly in eries, and the petroleum ministry debt, according to Bank of America commodities, with the Canadian Alberta. dismissed reports that it was linked Merrill Lynch data. dollar declining to its weakest level “Alberta has cheapened up a lot to payment problems. Relative borrowing costs for the versus its U.S. counterpart in almost because of some of the difficulties in LNG tanker British Sapphire was provinces have increased as global 13 years this month. At the same time, the oil patch, so we’ve actually bought diverted to Brazil rather than dis- central banks are cashing out their yields on Government of Canada bonds some Alberta bonds recently,” said charging in Egypt earlier this month, Canadian reserves in an effort to prop are at almost all-time lows on haven Devlin, who manages the Canadian and traders had said the diversion up their own currencies, according to demand. investments of Pimco’s $1.5 trillion was related to payment delays at National Bank Financial. Meanwhile, “All those things kind of helped in assets. state gas board EGAS. EGAS also oil-dependent Canadian provinces are them weather the storm, but now it “While Alberta has problems, it denied the reports. looking for more capital as the pro- seems the maple leaves may be turning has a pristine balance sheet and it’s Egypt is facing a dollar short- tracted crude price rout has wiped a little bit,” Humphrey said by phone. got a lot of tax capacity.” Still, Alberta age that has hit its ability to import, committed to deliver LNG cargoes Khaled Abdel Badie told Reuters on out revenues. “With yields as low as they are, some- is forecasting a C$6.1 billion deficit in creating delays in opening letters to EGAS “in accordance with the Sunday that lower world oil prices “That earlier foreign selling pushed thing’s got to go.” 2015, while Newfoundland expects to of credit and causing goods to pile contractual arrangements in place”. should push the country’s LNG import provincial-credit spreads to the widest Humphrey’s fund is underweight be almost C$2 billion over budget. Both up at ports. Egypt became a major market for bill for fiscal year 2015-16 down to levels that we’ve observed in the post- Canadian provincial debt, with a pref- provinces recently had their outlook “BP has been awarded an LNG LNG shippers after the launch of between $2.75 billion and $3 bil- crisis period,” said Warren Lovely, a erence toward the more easily traded lowered to negative from stable by supply contract to Egypt to supply two floating import terminals last lion from an originally expected managing director and head of pub- and stronger credit from Ontario, Que- credit-rating company DBRS Ltd. With cargoes from mid 2015. Six cargoes year and as the country looks to plug $3.5 billion. lic-sector research and strategy at bec and British Columbia. He said he a weak global backdrop and compe- have been successfully delivered and an acute energy shortage that has The ministry of petroleum on National Bank Financial in Toronto. has no immediate plans to buy more tition from other markets, Canadian BP has either received payment in full halted industrial production during Sunday denied that there has been “We digested and observed what really, provincial debt. provincial debtors are still hunting or received agreed collateral from summer months and caused roll- issues making payments to foreign by recent standards, was some pretty “We’ve gone elsewhere in the for the right price point for investors, EGAS for all 6 cargoes,” BP Egypt said. ing blackouts. energy companies. exceptional cheapening of provincial global fixed-income markets to find Lovely said. “The seventh cargo was post- According to financial and trade “There is no truth to what has credit versus the underlying Govern- value,” Humphrey said. “If those trades “We’re just going to need to find poned to the third quarter of 2016 sources, last month Egypt asked for been said about delays in the payment ment of Canada bonds.” work out, we’ll probably come home, a level -- a low enough price, a wide based on a mutual decision between 90 days to pay for LNG deliveries, of dues to international companies Global foreign-exchange reserves and parking in the provinces would enough spread, a cheap enough cur- EGAS and BP to manage supply for up from the traditional 15, creat- for the value of agreed upon LNG have declined more than 5 percent probably be a pretty good idea.” rency -- where those investors care peak summer demand,” the state- ing arrears currently estimated at shipments,” a ministry of petroleum over the past year to $11 trillion amid International investor retreat from to participate,” he said. ment added. BP said it remained $400-$500 million. EGAS chairman statement said. 26 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS

QE INDICES SUMMARY QATAR STOCK EXCHANGE QE Index 8,981.61 4.63 % QE Total Return Index 13,960.62 4.63 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,209.51 5.61 % QE All Share Index 2,388.61 4.43 % QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 2,421.27 3.55 % QE All Share Industrials 2,680.56 4.83 % QE All Share Transportation 2,194.17 4.11 % QE All Share Real Estate 1,915.18 6.08 % QE All Share Insurance 3,763.81 5.17 % QE All Share Telecoms 955.14 2.85 % QE All Share Consumer Goods & Services 4,958.43 5.49 %

QE MARKET SUMMARY COMPARISON 24-01-2016 Today 21-01-2016 Previous day Index 8,981.61 8,584.01 Change 397.60 105.36 % 4.63 1.21 YTD% 13.88 1 7. 69 Volume 10,286,679 5,374,837 Value (QAR) 277,406,225.40 184,138,841.74 Trades 4,986 3,457 Up 38 | Down 02 | Unchanged 01

WORLD STOCK INDICES Index Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low All Ordinaries 4896.909 -58.187 -1.17 5379.6 4857.9 Cac 40 Index/D 4120.47 -151.79 -3.55 4586.11 4161.37 Dj Indu Average 16016.02 27.94 0.17 18351.4 15370.3 Hang Seng Inde/D 18886.3 -749.51 -3.82 21794.84 19195.56 Iseq Overall/D 6198.95 -167.38 -2.63 6791.68 6249.54 Karachi 100 In/D 30766.01 -326.6 -1.05 33304.4 29785 Nikkei 225 Index 16416.19 -632.18 -3.71 18951.12 16665.05 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1857.83

EXCHANGE RATE Currency Buying Selling US$ QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 UK QR 5.1646 QR 5.2402 Euro QR 3.8952 QR 3.9740 CA$ QR 2.5553 QR 2.6135 Swiss Fr QR 3.5479 QR 3.6377 Yen QR 0.0303 QR 0.0311 Economy is missing from Aus$ QR 2.5205 QR 2.5845 Ind Re QR 0.0530 QR 0.0542 Pak Re QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Peso QR 0.0750 QR 0.0774 SL Re QR 0.0250 QR 0.0256 White House race debates Taka QR 0.0459 QR 0.0467 Nep Re QR 0.0332 QR 0.0338 SA Rand QR 0.2164 QR 0.2207 By Jeremy Tordjman AFP

GOLD AND SILVER

GOLD QR129.1642 per gramme WASHINGTON: As the US presidential SILVER QR1.6494 per gramme race picks up pace, the speeches and debates are full of character attacks, arguments on immigration and wor- ries about national security. But there is one glaring omission in the battle for the White House: serious Investors look to talk about the economy. On both the Republican and Dem- ocratic sides, the state of the world’s Fed, earnings for largest economy is mentioned, of course. But the exchanges in debates have mostly been about sound bites weekly direction good for rebroadcast and social media, rather than serious discussion of issues. Why such reticence to engage on a Reuters subject crucial in the past two presiden- tial races? Aside from the dryness of the topic, the answer comes from the rela- tive health of the US economy. NEW YORK: Investors hoping equities can sustain “The economy is doing reasonably their recent bounce this week will carefully watch well, although not spectacularly well,” the US Federal Reserve’s mid-week policy meet- said Joseph Gagnon of the Peterson ing for signs the central bank may slow the path of Institute for International Economics. interest rate hikes. “So it’s good enough for Republicans The S&P 500 has already fallen as much as 9 per- not to have an angle of attack, but it’s not Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a Get Out the Caucus labour event at the Danceland cent this year, with stocks battered by concerns over so good as Democrats can brag about it.” Ballroom yesterday in Davenport, Iowa. China’s slowing economy, plunging oil prices and Fed The US unemployment rate has Vice Chairman fallen to half of its peak in 2009 and Stanley Fischer’s now sits at 5 percent, close to full — especially how it has not benefitted unemployment. They point to the comments that he employment. The economy is growing everyone. still-high level of Americans who are expected about at a modest pace, and the government For the Republicans, said Lawrence unemployed and have dropped out of Economic crisis that Speculation is that four rate hikes deficit has shrunk. Mishel of the Economic Policy Institute, the workforce, which, as a percentage dominated previous the message will this year. Those are reasons, Democratic “There’s no easy target, even if there’s of the population, remains at a four- presidential elections, But inves- President Barack Obama says, that definitely a general sense that peo- decade high. continue to be dovish tors expect the voters should support a Democrat to ple... haven’t really benefitted from the But also grabbing this issue to make especially in 2008 from the Federal Fed may soften succeed him. recovery.” political gain is Democratic candidate when Obama won its tone on inter- Certainly, the economic crisis that The one issue that has voters on Bernie Sanders, who argues that the Reserve and the four est rates when it dominated previous presidential elec- both sides unhappy is the weak growth real unemployment rate for Americans his first term, has rate increases they concludes a two- tions, especially in 2008 when Obama in wages during the recovery, roughly is over 10 percent, if one includes peo- disappeared. And day meeting on won his first term, has disappeared. And half the pace that it was before the ple forced to work part time. have been talking Wednesday, that complicates efforts by Republicans financial crisis. Other issues pull together White that complicates about is not realistic especially after to brand Obama’s record a disaster as Ted Cruz, running second to Don- House hopefuls from the two parties, efforts by Republicans European Central they woo voters. ald Trump in the race for the Republican making it hard for them to stand out. Bank President They try nevertheless to exploit nomination to the White House, has Democratic frontrunner Hillary to brand Obama’s Mario Draghi on Thursday raised the prospect of pol- weaknesses in the Obama recovery tried to draw support on the issue. Clinton and Trump both oppose the record a disaster as icy easing in March. “The speculation is the message “If you make your money in and huge new trade deal, the Trans-Pacific they woo voters will continue to be dovish from the Federal Reserve around Washington, things are doing Partnership, achieved late last year by and the four rate increases they have been talking great. The millionaires and billionaires Obama. about is not realistic, so that is being viewed as a are doing great under Obama,” he said. And both are against US compa- positive” for stocks said Ken Polcari, Director of the And another Republican hopeful, nies being able to move their official NYSE floor division at O’Neil Securities in New York. Marco Rubio, highlighted it as well: “The addresses offshore to lower their taxes. Investors will also deal with a flood of corporate economy is not providing jobs that pay Even so, the candidates so far have earnings reports, with results from big names in a enough.” stuck to criticism and complaints with- “Neither party has any great sug- range of sectors that will point to whether the outlook Neither party has any great Even so, the Republicans as a group, out offering much in the way of detailed gestions on how to deal with the issues for fourth-quarter earnings was overly pessimistic. suggestions on how to deal who advocate for tax cuts and economic proposals. “Taxes too high, wages too of employment and income growth that Among the Dow components expected to report are freedom, are not at ease with making high, we’re not going to be able to com- seem to be the dominant economic con- Boeing, McDonald’s, 3M Co and United Technologies. with the issues of employment wages a political issue. Most oppose pete against the world,” says Trump, for cerns of voters,” said Bosworth. Investors will watch these large multinationals for and income growth that seem mandated increases to the minimum example. But he said their views could indications of how the strong US dollar is affecting wage, for example, an issue the Demo- Barry Bosworth, of the Brookings become clearer once the parties choose exports and profit margins. Also due to report is tech to be the dominant economic crats embrace. Institution think tank, said it may take their final candidate for the November bellwether Apple Inc, the biggest US company and concerns of voters Republicans have also tried to chip several more weeks or months for real election, and that voters will pay more the one most widely held by individual investors. away at Obama’s record of slashing proposals on the economy to emerge. attention then. BUSINESS VIEWS MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 27

Canadian provinces High-tech unicorns may forced to pay up as foreigners sell bonds be mauled by bear market

Allison McNeely said Raymond Humphrey, a Bloomberg portfolio manager at Alli- anceBernstein Holding LP in New York, who helps manage $400bn in fixed income. oreign investors are Since then, the economy cashing out of the Cana- has suffered from the global Fdian provincial-bond plunge in commodities, with market just when borrowers the Canadian dollar declin- need them the most. ing to its weakest level versus Yields of Canadian pro- its US counterpart in almost vincial bonds have widened 13 years this month. At the against their federal bench- same time, yields on Govern- marks, with oil-producing ment of Canada bonds are at regions such as Newfound- almost all-time lows on haven land, Saskatchewan and demand. Alberta hit the hardest. “All those things kind of Spreads for those provinces helped them weather the have widened at least 35 storm, but now it seems the basis points since the begin- maple leaves may be turning ning of August, when the first a little bit,” Humphrey said wave of selling began, com- by phone. “With yields as low pared with about a 25-basis as they are, something’s got point increase for Ontario, to go.” Quebec and British Columbia Humphrey’s fund is debt, according to Bank of underweight Canadian America Merrill Lynch data. provincial debt, with a prefer- Relative borrowing ence toward the more easily costs for the provinces have traded and stronger credit increased as global cen- from Ontario, Quebec and tral banks are cashing out British Columbia. He said he their Canadian reserves in has no immediate plans to an effort to prop up their buy more provincial debt. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. own currencies, according “We’ve gone elsewhere in to National Bank Financial. the global fixed-income mar- By Rob Lever harder time getting fresh capital, said David Meanwhile, oil-dependent kets to find value,” Humphrey AFP Erickson, a senior fellow at the University of Canadian provinces are look- said. “If those trades work Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and former ing for more capital as the out, we’ll probably come Wall Street banker who led technology share protracted crude price rout home, and parking in the offerings. has wiped out revenues. provinces would probably be fter a year in which free-flow- The weak stock market could impact “That earlier foreign sell- a pretty good idea.” ing capital fuelled unprecedented private firms, potentially forcing a delay of ing pushed provincial-credit International investor growth in so-called tech “uni- initial public offerings (IPOs). If they need Prospect of a bear spreads to the widest lev- retreat from the Canadian corns,” the sector is bracing for a to raise cash, it will likely be “down rounds” els that we’ve observed in provincial-bond market is slowdown which could thin the with a lower valuation than prior fund- market where prices are the post- crisis period,” said going to make it harder for Aherd. ing efforts. “Valuations will typically come falling, combined with Warren Lovely, a managing issuers to find buyers for the Unicorns — a term coined for the usu- down,” he said. other factors, could send director and head of public- C$70bn ($50bn) to C$75bn ally rare billion-dollar, privately funded Since the “softness might be prolonged, sector research and strategy they’re going to need to bor- startups — have been proliferating in the venture capital firms will be focused on unicorns — a term coined at National Bank Financial row this year, Lovely said. United States, China and elsewhere as ven- protecting the value in their existing invest- for the usually rare in Toronto. “We digested Domestic investors aren’t ture capital investors bet on the next Google ments rather than spending too much time and observed what really, by rushing into the market either or Facebook. investing in new names.” billion-dollar, privately recent standards, was some because new regulations But the prospect of a “bear market” Erickson said there are some similari- funded startups — pretty exceptional cheapen- make it harder to trade, he where prices are falling, combined with ties to the tech bubble of 1999-2000, even if ing of provincial credit versus said. other factors, could send unicorns running the new firms have more developed business running for cover the underlying Government The average sovereign- for cover, observers who follow the sector models. “While the companies are more sea- of Canada bonds.” wealth fund or central bank say. soned, the issue similar to 2000 is that many Global foreign-exchange has about 2 percent of its Some warnings have already appeared. are burning tons of cash,” he said. reserves have declined more reserves in Canadian dol- Venture-backed startups globally saw “If they need to have enough cash to than 5 percent over the past lars, and about 10 percent of a 30 percent drop in funding in the fourth break even and if they can’t access capital year to $11 trillion amid plum- Canada’s C$540bn Canadian quarter to $27.2bn, according to a survey by either through the public markets or pri- Charlie O’Donnell at Brooklyn Bridge meting commodity prices and dollar-denominated provin- KPMG and research firm CB Insights. vate markets, then they face more difficult Ventures said many of the unicorns are volatile financial markets. Chi- cial-bond market is held by A separate survey by 451 Research found decisions.” likely to face a “down round” if they need nese reserves, representing foreigners, Lovely said. more than half of tech investment bank- Erickson added that “we are not quite new capital, because investors are more about a third of the world There are still some inves- ers predict venture funding will tighten in at that dire stage now,” but that if capital cautious. total, have declined 13 per- tors who like provincial bonds, 2016 compared to last year, the most bearish dries up it may mean that promising star- “It’s not that they’re concerned that cent to $3.3 trillion as the including Pacific Investment outlook since the 2008- tups would either need to sell themselves the world will implode and that startups country seeks to defend its Management Co’s Ed Devlin. 2009 recession. or “hit the wall.” The unicorn population won’t still be a good bet over the long term,” currency amid an economic He sees a buying opportunity, Some unicorns have — estimated by Forbes this month at 173 com- O’Donnell said in a blog post. “They’re just.... slowdown. particularly in Alberta. seen their value slashed panies worth a collective $585bn — is still busy taking care of their wounded.” Foreign investors poured “Alberta has cheapened up by investors aiming to alive, but some are hurting. A report by KPMG and research firm CB money into Canadian and a lot because of some of the put a fair market evalu- CB Insights Chief Executive Anand San- Insights found that 2015 was a blockbuster provincial debt after the difficulties in the oil patch, so ation on their holdings. wal said he expects to see “some wounded year for startup venture funding despite a 2008 financial crisis, when we’ve actually bought some Venture-backed Mutual fund company unicorns” but that there is still capital avail- cooling in the fourth quarter. For the year, the country’s strong budget Alberta bonds recently,” said Fidelity last year marked able from private equity and corporate the report found $128bn in venture fund- position, AAA credit rating, Devlin, who manages the startups globally saw down the value of its venture funds. “Some of those companies ing for startups, up 44 percent from 2014. and secure banks made its Canadian investments of Pim- a 30 percent drop in Snapchat holdings by that got ahead of themselves on valuation The number of funding rounds was more currency look like a good bet, co’s $1.5 trillion in assets. 25 percent. are going to have difficult conversations. than 7,800. But it noted that some compa- funding in the fourth In this scenario, You can’t just keep selling your dream and nies which went public “fell short of recent quarter to $27.2bn cash-hungry unicorns your business model can’t be raising ven- private valuations, no doubt rattling VC are likely to face a ture capital.” (venture capital) investor confidence.” Oil wealth a blessing, energy dependence a curse for Russia

By Germain Moyon soar and Russians’ purchasing power shrink Valley. But these initiatives have not come any- could result in higher unemployment. AFP dramatically. where close to challenging the deep-rooted But oil prices once again shot up, and Rus- Booming oil prices in the 2000s when Putin public energy giants. “It’s easy to talk a good sia’s oil production has not slowed down since. came to power helped fill state coffers and ush- game on the need to diversify away from energy Russia pumped a record 534 million tonnes ered in an era of prosperity. sectors, but the reality of pushing through the of crude oil in 2015, even as it reeled from a fall bundant oil and gas deposits have been Oil wealth, which led to higher living stand- necessary reforms is more difficult,” said Neil in oil prices. The state has reinforced its pres- a blessing for Russia, but they now feel ards after the country’s tumultuous transition Shearing, chief emerging markets economist ence in the sector, turning state oil company like a curse as low prices propel the to capitalism in the 1990s, also boosted Putin’s at Capital Economics. “This is particularly true giant Rosneft into a global goliath and devel- country into a deep economic crisis popularity. But for the past decade, the Inter- when oil and gas prices are high.” oping ambitious plans for the Arctic. But this Athat shows no signs of abating. national Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Russia High oil prices in fact enabled the authori- time, authorities expect no quick rebound in The rouble fell to a record dollar low this use its oil revenues to support revamping the ties to adopt a wait-and-see policy and prop up oil prices, finance minister Anton Siluanov said. past week as global crude prices slumped to economic sectors that have been overlooked the ruble, which in turn made Russian compa- Siluanov said the government was prepar- 12-year lows, highlighting at once Russia’s since the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Oil nies less competitive on the international stage. ing an anti-crisis plan to adapt budgetary policy vulnerability to changing oil prices and the is both a blessing and a curse,” IMF mission “Ironically, it could be the collapse in glo- to “new realities.” For economist Lilit Gevor- fact President Vladimir Putin’s government chief to Russia Antonio Spilimbergo warned bal energy prices and the ruble that gives the gyan of IHS Global Insight, weaning the Russian has squandered opportunities to diversify the in 2012, urging Russia to improve its business biggest spur to diversification,” Shearing added. economy off its oil dependency would “require Booming oil prices economy. climate and fight corruption to attract foreign The financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, serious long-term political efforts” to solve lin- Although the rouble bounced back on Fri- investment. accompanied by an oil price slump, had gering issues such as corruption, red tape and in the 2000s when day after a slight recovery of the oil market, the The Kremlin has also acknowledged the sounded alarm bells among Russian authorities. the judicial system’s lack of independence. Putin came to head of Russia’s central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, need for change. In his 2006 address to the Then-president Dmitry Medvedev said there With Western sanctions imposed against publicly called for “structural efforts to diver- nation, Putin called on his government to would be “fatal” consequences to waiting for Russia over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow’s pros- power helped fill sify the economy.” “We should not expect to restructure the economy to focus on new tech- the oil market to rebound before revamping pects of improving the country’s business state coffers and see oil prices return to high levels,” she said. nologies. In a much-touted modernisation drive, the economy. environment remain grim. “Today’s Russia is far Calls to develop long-neglected sec- the country founded Rosnano, a public hold- The crisis also prompted a sceptical Putin from launching any reforms,” Gevorgyan said. ushered in an era of tors of the economy come as the government ing company specialised in nanotechnology, to finalise Russia’s accession to the World Trade “The country is governed by a very powerful prosperity faces increasing pressure to react to a crip- and Skolkovo, an innovation centre that has Organisation (WTO) in 2012, despite fears that executive branch that views all decentralisation pling economic crisis that has seen inflation branded itself as Russia’s answer to Silicon opening Russia’s market to global competition of economic power as a threat to its existence.” 28 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS BACK TO BUSINESS

Junk bond market braces sight for a $117bn logjam Kuroda in Davos

Bloomberg gives no hint of BoJ stimulus plans hen credit markets were booming, investors snatched up longer-term Bloomberg bonds from energy Wand mining companies, among others. They may have made a big mistake. TOKYO/LONDON: Bank of Japan Some $117bn of the securities Governor Haruhiko Kuroda (pic- maturing in 10 years or more could tured) has preserved his capacity be cut to junk by the end of 2017, strat- to surprise the market when his egists at UBS Group AG estimate, more policy board meets this week than twice the amount currently out- after using his trip to Davos to standing in that market. play down the impact of recent Holding a bond that loses its invest- turbulence on Japan’s economy. ment-grade rating is not usually fun. “At this stage, we don’t think disagrees. Kuroda was speak- Owning long-term bonds that get cut the current market situation ing frankly when said the central to junk could be especially painful has been affecting corporate bank needs more time to exam- for investors -- many of the current Even last week, as investors glo- Taplin Canida and Habacht LLC, part of behavior unduly,” he said in an ine the potential impact of the holders will have to sell them, and few bally shied away from risky assets BMO Global Asset Management which interview with Bloomberg in the market rout, according to Morita. junk bond portfolio managers want and sent stocks, junk bonds, and other oversees $237bn of assets. Swiss mountain resort. “But, as The Tokyo-based economist said to take the risk of lending to specula- securities lower, Anheuser-Busch There could be more compa- I said, the market is the market, that unless the yen strengthens tive-grade borrowers for more than InBev NV managed to sell $11bn of nies cut to junk, known as “fallen and markets could affect the beyond 115 against the dollar, a decade. 30-year bonds. angels,” in this cycle than in years past, real economy -- so we care- further stimulus is unlikely this In other words, prices on these Longer-dated bonds performed because so many investment-grade fully watch.” week. It weakened 0.9 percent bonds could fall even more than they worse than shorter-dated notes last issuers are rated in the triple-B cat- Kuroda, 71, was speaking to 118.78 on Friday. already have. year as the Fed moved closer to hiking egory, or one to three steps above ahead of what could be an agoniz- “The next meeting is defi- “It’s going to be a massive issue to rates. The longest-dated investment- junk. In the US, 23.5 percent of issu- ing decision about whether to add nitely a close call but if Kuroda contend with,” said Bank of America grade securities, maturing in 10 or ers had ratings in the triple-B tier as to the central bank’s record asset- is trying to produce a surprise, Corp. strategist Michael Contopoulos. more years, posted losses of 4.87 per- of the end of the third quarter, while purchase programme. Waning that will cost him tremendously Investors have been happy to buy cent in 2015, compared with a gain 16.6 percent had ratings in the single- inflation expectations, sliding in a long term because inves- long-term debt from all kinds of com- of 1.06 percent for debt maturing in A tier and 4.7 percent had ratings in oil prices and a reversal in the tors will pay little attention to panies for years. The Federal Reserve one to 10 years, according to Bank of the double-A tier, according to S&P. yen’s declines have put pressure what he says.” kept interest rates at essentially zero America Merrill Lynch Indexes. Many investors are only authorized on the BoJ to do more. Even so, In a note over the weekend from December 2008 through Decem- Longer-term notes that are seen to own investment-grade bonds, so some analysts question how much after Kuroda’s interview on Fri- ber 2015, spurring investors to take as possible candidates for junk ratings when a company becomes a fallen impact a move would have now day, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. extra risk to earn any sort of mean- are getting hit especially hard. Those angel, portfolio managers often dump Longer-term notes and others suggest Kuroda has said there is a chance of increased ingful return on bonds. Freeport McMoRan bonds maturing the securities en masse. only one more shot in his mon- stimulus on January 29 but that The extra yield that investors could in 2043, which were issued at 99.54 Investors are often reluctant to that are seen as etary arsenal and say he should the most likely scenario is in April. earn from buying longer-term bonds cents on the dollar, are now trading buy speculative-grade debt matur- possible candidates save it. With China dominating the could be material. In 2013, mining at around 41 cents. Moody’s Inves- ing in more than a decade because for junk ratings “Kuroda is trying hard to focus of global financial mar- company Freeport-McMoRan Cop- tors Service said earlier this month the companies that issue the secu- extinguish speculation for eas- kets, Kuroda offered what he said per & Gold Inc. sold $6.5bn of bonds to that it may cut the company to spec- rities are so risky to begin with, and are getting hit ing so that he can make the most was a “relatively optimistic” view help fund an acquisition of an energy ulative grade. lending to them for such a long period especially hard. of it,” said Yasuhide Yajima, the about Japan’s larger neighbor. company. Investors that bought the More investment-grade compa- only compounds the risk. There are chief Japan economist at NLI China doesn’t face the risk company’s 30-year bonds earned an nies have been getting cut to junk. about $48 billion of junk bonds that Those Freeport Research Institute, who forecasts of a hard landing and there is extra 3.1 percentage points of inter- Last year Standard & Poor’s stripped mature in 10 years or more, accord- McMoRan bonds action at the end of the meeting no sort of global crisis like the est compared with those who bought 54 companies of their investment- ing to UBS strategists Stephen Caprio on Jan. 29. “Make no mistake: He post-Lehman Brothers meltdown, five-year notes. grade ratings, compared with 25 the and Matthew Mish. maturing in 2043, gave optimistic views even a few according to Kuroda. Companies loved the bonds too-- year before. Barclays analysts wrote To be sure, some investors will which were issued days before bolstering stimulus Speaking later during a panel the securities allowed them to lock in in a note on Friday that if oil prices do in fact buy these bonds at the right in 2014. What matters is the out- discussion, he also said China low interest rates for years. The aver- not rise sharply, some $155 bn of debt price. A new type of fund, known as at 99.54 cents on look, not the current situation, should impose capital controls age maturity of bonds sold in 2015 could be cut to junk over the next 18 a “go-anywhere fund,” has its inves- the dollar, are now and the prospects for inflation to defend the yuan rather than was 16.9 years, or double the aver- to 24 months. tors’ blessing to buy a wide range of trading at around 41 in Japan worsened dramatically.” keep burning through currency age of 2005, according to data from “Downgrade cycles tend to come in assets, including longer-term junk Kyohei Moritaof Barclays Plc reserves. the Securities Industry and Financial waves,” said Scott Kimball, a Miami- bonds, and a number of hedge funds cents. Markets Association. based senior portfolio manager at look at these credits too.

Capital China will probably have to devalue its currency. They may have to do something Gary Cohn, President and Comment in the next six months. COO, Goldman Sachs

Kuwait plans TOP TWEETS BLOGS AND VIEWS Market Talk $100bn Wall Street Journal @WSJ Ben Bernanke’s Blog sovereign fund

Potential Saudi Ara- NAME IN THE MARKET: ACCESS TO FINANCE Bloomberg mco IPO won’t include reserves The Fed served as a KUWAIT: Kuwait plans a new backstop provider of dollars state-owned fund to manage World Bank @WorldBank during the financial crisis by as much as $100bn in local assets with the goal of sell- On average, women instituting currency swaps ing them to private investors have a stake in a third with fourteen central banks, in five to seven years, Al- Anba of firms worldwide newspaper reported. including four in emerging The new sovereign wealth markets. fund will include local assets managed by Kuwait Invest- Moody’s Ratings News @ ment Authority, which has MoodysRatings been burdened by its domestic mandate and will focus more For Moody’s-rated DealB%k on its international portfolio, Indian corporates, Al Anba reported, citing uni- EBITDA growth will dentified officials. Stakes in stay weak FY16; local companies, as well as improve by FY17 power and water projects, The sale of a bit of Saudi will be included in the new Aramco, a government- fund, it said. A slump in oil is prompting owned oil producer, could be Financial Times @ energy producers across the the first in a series of spinoffs Middle East to consider sav- FinancialTimes ings and project delays as they and privatizations by Riyadh. grapple with crude’s descent to Cooler heads prevail near a 12 year low. Saudi Ara- even in market panic bia’s net foreign assets dropped to $640bn in October, the low- est level in three years. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAGE | 30 PAGE | 34 Contrasting wins Fowler extends fforo the top players winning run with atat Australian Open Abu Dhabi title

MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 • 15 Rabia II 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Experienced duo key to Qatar’s success

“Me and Karim train with the senior FOOTBALL: AFC U23 Qatar’s Ahmed Captain Abdelkarim CHAMPIONSHIP team and we’ve been with this group for only a month while the rest of the Yasser tries to win and Yasser have boys have been together for more than the ball against played key roles in a couple of years. It needed some extra China’s Zhang first-team regular insists Al Annabi, effort to get the team chemistry going Yuning during Qatar’s progress to experience has come handy for the and we’re happy all that is paying off. their Group A semi-finals of the team’s cause. “Together with Ali Asad, we’re the clash on the The talented 21-year-old has been most experienced players in the team opening day of continental youth one of the standouts of an impressive and we’re expected to push ourselves the AFC U-23 tournament Qatar side that boasts a 100% record to the limits. That’s what we’re doing. Championship in the tournament thus far, with the “But football is a team game and match in this Lekhwiya centre-back forming an everybody has to fight with a never- January 12 file assured defensive united alongside fel- give-up attitude. We’re doing that and picture. The Peninsula low senior internationalist Abdelkarim must continue to do it in the coming Hassan, Musaab Khidir, and Tameem matches.” Mohammed. Coming up next for Qatar is a tan- DOHA: Qatar’s plan to have a blend of “It’s true (experience is benefi- talising clash with Korea Republic, a handful of experienced senior inter- cial) considering that Karim and I with Yasser and his team-mates look- nationals and a host of players who are playing in our normal position, ing to continue with the impressive won the 2014 AFC U-19 Champion- although Musaab is not. In addition, form that has seen them defeat China, ship at the AFC U23 Championship is we’ve Tameem, who has played in all Iran, and Syria in the Group Stage working to perfection, Ahmed Yasser four matches and done well despite his before defeating DPR Korea in what said yesterday. inexperience at this level,” stated Yasser. they hope will be the first instalment Yasser and captain Abdelkarim And the experience of Yasser and of a Korean double. Hassan form an integral of the Qatar Abdelkarim - who were both regulars “It was a tough match especially U23 team and the two experienced in the Qatar senior side that recently because we had to play the extra time,” campaigners hope to carry forward booked their place at the next edition Yasser said of Friday’s 2-1 victory at their consistent form into the semi- of the Asia’s flagship national team the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. final match against Korea Republic competition after guaranteeing top “We did well. DPR Korea are a good an early goal and controlled the game determine one of Asia’s three repre- the veteran of four AFC Champions tomorrow, when the two teams clash spot in Group C of the joint-qualifiers team but looking back, barring the from then onwards.” sentatives at the 2016 Olympic Games. League campaigns with Lekhwiya. in the semi-finals. for the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC free-kick, they couldn’t create major And it is that fighting spirit that “Now we’ve another important “Qatar hasn’t been to the Games The duo have played a key role for Asian Cup - has been a key factor in the problems for us. When they scored in Yasser wants Qatar to rekindle when match and it’s like a final before the since 1992 and we want to achieve it the hosts in the four matches ahead under 23s’ progress to the semi-final stoppage time, they looked like kill- they face the North Koreans’ south- final for us, considering that a win without waiting for the third-place of the last-four clash and Yasser, a of the continental youth tournament. ing our spirit, but we fought back with ern neighbours in a match that will will put us in Olympics,” continued play-off.”

Iraq coach to Yeon demands more from South Koreans study Japan’s ‘authentic’ style The Peninsula offside midway through the sec- Ali Assadalla and Akram Afif. And ond half. if they are able to keep the Qataris And having seen his side do just at bay, and play to the level they The Peninsula DOHA: Korea Republic captain enough to book their place in the semis, are capable of, he is confident they Yeon Jei-min has called for his side centre-back Yeon admits they have can progress to the final and, in the to improve when they take on Qatar in to find some improvement fast if they process, also seal their place at the DOHA: Iraq coach Shahad the semi-finals of the AFC U23 Cham- are to continue their progress when upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Abdulghani will study Japan’s pionship tomorrow. they meet hosts Qatar. Rio de Janeiro. ‘authentic’ style ahead of tomor- The South Koreans advanced to the “I’m not satisfied with our per- “First, we have to concentrate on row’s AFC U23 Championship last four of the tournament on Satur- formance,” he told the-afc.com here our defence because Qatar have some semi-final after the defending day after claiming a 1-0 quarter-final yesterday. sharp offensive players,” explained champions edged out the United victory over Jordan at the Suhail bin “We played well in the first half Yeon. Arab Emirates 3-1 after extra-time Hamad Stadium. but, in the second half, our levels went “We need to improve at the back in Saturday’s quarter-final at Grand Moon Chang-jin grabbed the only down. and make sure that we don’t concede Hamad Stadium. goal of the game in the 23rd minute “I think the difference in the level any goals. Mohanad Abdulraheem and when he pounced on a loose ball inside of our performance was huge, so we “After which, we need to play our Amjad Attwan Kadhim scored in the area and calmly curled a shot into need to address that when we meet game and, if we can do that, we can extra-time after an own goal from the back of the net. Qatar in the semi-finals. defeat Qatar.” Alaa Ali Mhawi had handed the UAE However, it was far from a con- The Suwon Samsung Bluewings The hosts had booked their last- the lead with 15 minutes remain- vincing victory as the Jordanians man identified the defence as an four berth on Friday after recording ing before Ali Hisny equalised for constantly threatened to equal- area that needed to step up, espe- a 2-1 extra-time triumph over DPR Iraq just two minutes later. Korea Republic players celebrate a goal during the AFC U23 Championship ise, with Baha’ Faisal even having cially with Qatar boasting plenty Korea, with Afif and Assadalla both And after Japan recorded a 3-0 a close-range header ruled out for of attacking threat in the likes of getting on the scoresheet. match in Doha. extra-time win over Iran on Friday, the pair will meet at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium tomorrow with the winner guaranteed a place at the Olympic Games in Brazil later AFC providing world class health care for U23 stars this year. “We realised the most impor- tant target was to qualify for the semi-finals and this is now done. The Peninsula Dr Gert Goudswaard, has comprised Now the next stage is to try and specialists from Aspetar, Qatar Ortho- reach the final match. Our oppo- paedic and Sports Medicine Hospital; nents will be Japan and we know DOHA: The Asian Football Con- two Medical Services Managers (MSM), this team and it has its own authen- federation (AFC) has provided, 12 Venue Medical Officers (VMO) – ticity,” said Abdulghani. through the Local Organising deployed on rotational shifts at six “We will study their style and make Committee (LOC), world class venues - and round-the-clock hos- an appropriate plan to face Japan. health provision for all the play- pital on-call services. Changes are possible in the next game, ers taking part in the AFC U23 There were also 150 staff: this is normal in competitions, but all Championship in Qatar. paramedics, Emergency Medi- the players are well acclimatised to The provision of appropriate cal Technicians (EMT), emergency the atmosphere of the tournament. emergency and non-emergency medi- and GP doctors, nurses and super- “We are progressing step-by- cal services at the AFC U23 tournament visors from the Qatar Red Crescent. step. We are focusing on the next is the operational responsibility of the The Hamad Medical Corporation game which is most important. The LOC, under the supervision and guid- deployed 20 paramedics and super- main target is to qualify for Rio de ance of the AFC. visors, as well as a 24-hour VIP Janeiro, this is the main objective, The emergency medical services clinical pathway at Hamad Medical but it we realise this we will think A player getting at the competition venues as well as Centre for all delegates participat- about the final and it will not be medical attention specialised hospital care have been ing in the tournament. bad to win the tournament.” during the AFC U23 set up to international standards and A total of 22 ambulances have Iraq, are unbeaten in this year’s Championship in Doha. AFC guidelines. been assigned for stadium duty dur- competition having finished second The LOC Medical Team, under the ing match days, team training and in Group C behind fellow semi-final- leadership of Chief Medical Officer during referees’ training. ists Korea Republic. 30 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Contrasting wins for the top players

World number one Novak Djokovic struggles to beat Gilles Simon but there were no such issues for Grand Slam star Roger Federer

AFP

MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic dished up 100 unforced errors in a five-set struggle with Gilles Simon yesterday as Roger Federer roared into the Austral- ian Open quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency. After the top seed’s “match to for- get”, Federer looked in a hurry to brush off David Goffin when they came on court just before 11:00 pm -- and he Roger Federer of Switzerland signs autographs on broadcast camera after defeating David Goffin of Belgium during their fourth-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, duly thrashed the Belgian 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 Australia, yesterday. RIGHT: A supporter of Serena Williams of the US holds a sign during her fourth-round match against Russia’s Margarita Gasparyan at the Australian Open. in 88 minutes. There was a big contrast between defending champion Djokovic, who is the match, but in terms of the perform- took it into a fifth after he broke late going for a record-equalling sixth Aus- ance itself, I haven’t done well at all... in the fourth set, amid another flurry tralian Open title, and the 34-year-old It’s a match to forget for me.” of errors from the Serb. Djokovic got Federer, who hasn’t won in Melbourne He was at a loss to explain his tactic two service breaks in the fifth set only since 2010. While Simon patiently of continually trying drop shots, which to be broken back once, but he finally pushed and prodded Djokovic dur- either found the net or were returned clinched victory on his third match ing his 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win, with interest by the fast-moving Simon. point with a backhand winner. Goffin couldn’t lay a glove on Federer “Sometimes you have a brain freeze, Earlier Nishikori produced his best as the clockwork Swiss purred through. if I can call it that way,” the 10-time tennis of the tournament to breeze past But both are safely into the quar- Grand Slam champion said. former finalist Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in ter-finals, with Djokovic facing Kei Tomorrow’s clash will be Djoko- just over two hours on Hisense Arena. Nishikori in his 27th consecutive Grand vic and Nishikori’s first Grand Slam “Today was one of the best matches Slam last-eight clash and Federer up meeting since the 2014 US Open semis, I’ve had this week. Played good ten- against Tomas Berdych. when the Japanese player won in four nis, through in three sets,” beamed Berdych also had to come through sets to become the first Asian man to Nishikori, who showed no sign of his a marathon five-setter as he outlasted reach a major singles final. troublesome right wrist injury. Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-4, Djokovic hadn’t lost to Simon in nine Berdych was also taken the distance 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the last eight for matches stretching back to 2008, but by a dogged Bautista Agut before he the sixth year in a row the Frenchman’s probing and counter- finally put him away after three hours, By comparison, Nishikori’s win was punching rattled the game’s top player. 18 minutes to reach the last eight. a stroll as he crushed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga The Serb took nearly an hour to But Federer was in no mood to hang in straight sets, and he may fancy his win the first set and his frustrations around in the evening’s final match, Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrate after chances against Djokovic after the Serb’s were palpable as Simon took the sec- watched by Australian great Rod Laver defeating Giles Simon of France in their flustered performance against Simon. ond on a tiebreak, ending an unbeaten in the arena that bears his name. “Actually, it gives me great joy to sequence of 26 sets stretching back to “It was a good challenge and I’m fourth-round match at the Australian know that I can’t get worse than that, the World Tour Finals. happy I came out and played as well as Open in Melbourne. Djokovic won 6-3, than what I played today,” Djokovic He got the crucial break to take I did... it was a good surprise out here. 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. said. “I was obviously pleased to win the third set but the persistent Simon ltonight for me,” Federer said.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN RESULTS Men’s singles Fourth Round Serena serves up quarter-final Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Gilles Simon (FRA x14) 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Kei Nishikori (JPN x7) bt Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x9) 6-4, 6-2, 6-4. Tomas Berdych (CZE) bt Roberto Bautista (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. clash against arch-rival Sharapova Roger Federer (SUI x3) bt David Goffin (BEL x15) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. Women’s singles Fourth Round Maria Sharapova (RUS) bt Belinda Bencic (SUI x12) 7-5, 7-5. AFP The winners will play their quar- Serena Williams (USA x1) bt Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 6-2, 6-1. ter-finals tomorrow. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x4) bt Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 7-5. Williams has been in ominous Carla Suarez (ESP) bt Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x10) 0-6, 6-3, 6-2. MELBOURNE: Serena Williams served form this year at Melbourne Park and up a glamour Australian Open quar- easily swatted aside Gasparyan. The ter-final against arch-rival Maria 34-year-old had schooled another Rus- Sharapova yesterday as she looks sian, Daria Kasatkina, in the previous to extend her iron grip over the Rus- round, crushing her in just 44 min- Lonely Serena spending sian star. utes, and handed the same lesson to The world number one and the 58th-ranked player in the world. defending champion smacked down It was a sluggish start by Williams, time on her own! Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-1 in just 55 who was broken in the first game by minutes on Rod Laver Arena to ensure the 21-year-old on her tournament the mouth-watering showdown. debut, to gasps of shock from the crowd. AFP Sharapova holds the dismal record But it was a minor blip as the of never beating her nemesis in 17 con- top seed found her range, with the tests dating back 12 years. The last great Margaret Court in the stadium MELBOURNE: Being the world’s time she managed a win was at the watching. top tennis star can be a lonely WTA Tour Championships in 2004. It wasn’t vintage Serena but even business -- just ask Serena Wil- She now has another chance to operating at 50 percent she was too liams (pictured). finally get the monkey off her back good for Gasparyan and a rout was The in-demand 21-time after coming through a 7-5, 7-5 thriller always on the cards. Grand Slam winner and top seed against fast-rising Swiss teen Belinda Williams won three majors -- the at the Australian Open said she Bencic. Australian and French Opens and Wim- had been spending plenty of time The Russian world number five, bledon -- in 2015 which took her to on her own in Melbourne at the who lost to Williams in the Melbourne within one of Graf’s long-time record opening Grand Slam of the year. Park final last year, said she was always of 22. Court holds the all-time Grand “I haven’t been doing any- looking to improve and used the losses Slam record of 24. thing. I have been spending a lot against the mighty American to exam- Sharapova had a much harder of time learning about myself ine what she could do better. task against Bencic, the WTA’s high- this trip. It’s been kind of sad,” “Absolutely. It’s not like I think est ranked teenager, who has gone she said after sweeping into about what I can do worse,” she said. from rising star to the real deal over the quarter-finals. “I have been “You’re always trying to -- always the past year, having already claimed alone a lot. It’s been kind of like boring.” trying to improve. I got myself into the 10 top-10 wins in her career. Asked what she had learned about herself on the trip Down Under, she quarter-final of a Grand Slam. Coached by Melanie Molitor, replied: “I think I hate being by myself. As much as I always want to be alone, “There is no reason I shouldn’t be mother of Martina Hingis, she won I don’t think I like it so much. It’s just been -- it’s been long. I feel like I have looking to improve and to getting my tournaments in Eastbourne and Toronto been here for three months.” game in a better position than any other in a breakout 2015 and was a major Despite the often solitary times on the world tennis tour, the Florida- previous round. It’s only going to be hurdle for the Russian. based 34-year-old said there was nowhere else she would rather be right tougher, especially against Serena.” Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska returns a shot against Germany’s Anna- But Sharapova -- the last teen to now. “I love it here in Australia,” she said, while raving about Melbourne. “I A nonchalant Williams, who rarely Lena Friedsam on day seven of the 2015 Australian Open in Melbourne win a Grand Slam title, aged 19 at the love how it’s just -- it’s this little world that no one can discover or appreci- looks beyond her next opponent in the 2006 US Open -- has also been in good yesterday. ate unless you come,” she said. “They have the best cafes; they have the best draw, claimed she didn’t know Shara- touch in Melbourne, where she won in restaurants. I just learned a couple years ago that Melbourne is famous for pova was now in the way of her bid to 2008, and ultimately her big-match its coffee, which I would have never even known. win a 22nd Grand Slam and equally interviewer after taming Gasparyan. Radwanska beat unseeded German experience proved decisive. “I just love discovering those little places. I love the really organic shops Steffi Graf’s Open-era record. That will be a good match, I have noth- Anna-Lena Friedsam in another fourth- “These are the players that will that are just around town that are just really cool. I just love this little -- this “I’ll be ready, she had a really good ing to lose. We are both doing the best ound match 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 7-5, while ultimately take our spot,” she said of world. It’s so many wonderful things that I’m always discovering every time match -- I had no idea I was playing her we can. It’ll be fun.” local hope Daria Gavrilova is up against the talented Bencic. I come here.” (Sharapova) next,” she told the courtside Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Spain’s 10th seed Carla Suarez. “But not just yet.” SPORT MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 31 ‘He’s no Novak’ – Tomic slates Federer after top-10 jibe

Outspoken Bernard Tomic hits back after Roger Federer World candidly told the Aussie to ‘knuckle number down if he wanted to two Halep reach top-10’ set for nose

AFP surgery

AFP MELBOURNE: Outspoken Bernard Tomic has taunted Roger Federer over his struggles against Novak Djokovic MELBOURNE: World number two after the Swiss great candidly told the Simona Halep (pictured) revealed young Aussie he had to knuckle down yesterday she needs nose surgery if he wanted to reach the top 10. Australia’s Bernard Tomic returns a shot against Australia’s John Millman on day six of the 2015 Australian Open in Melbourne on Saturday. RIGHT: and will be out of action until at Tomic, who has made more noise A spectator waves a flag for Switzerland’s Roger Federer after his victory in his match against Belgium’s David Goffin at the Australian Open. least March, missing Romania’s Fed off the court than on it in his career Cup tie next week. so far, said the 17-time Grand Slam Halep was sensationally bun- winner was “nowhere near” the world TENNIS: told reporters. “Many seasons now in It’s about being consistent. plays on Monday,” said Tomic, who is dled out of the Australian Open in the number one -- and insisted his own AUSTRALIAN OPEN a row we have seen or heard that top “These guys that have been there into the Australian Open fourth round first round last week and revealed game was top-eight material. 10 is the goal, and he’s missed out on the last five, six years on the tour, you for the third time. He added that he’ll she had been struggling with nose, “I think he’s also far away from it by a long shot.” Tomic, Australia’s have (Tomas) Berdych, (David) Ferrer, be largely doing his tennis develop- ear and stomach infections. Djokovic as well, if he wants to say top-ranked player and currently at a (Kei) Nishikori who have been there ment away from the intense scrutiny “The last six weeks have been that,” Tomic told reporters, after beat- wants to be a top-10 player. career high of 17, said that Federer’s for a while, they’re consistent. he receives in Australia. extremely difficult for me, as I’ve ing fellow Aussie John Millman to set up Djokovic beat Federer, 34, in two criticism would serve as motivation “That’s what I want to become, and “Since I was 18, my life changed been dealing with infections in my an Australian Open last-16 clash with Grand Slam finals in 2015, a season to push up the rankings. possibly be even better after I get there.” in Australia. Personally I don’t like stomach, nose and ear,” she said on Andy Murray. “If he believes I’m very which was dominated by the Serbian “I’m working for that. When I’m Tomic also said he didn’t expect it,” he said. “I try to keep most time her official Facebook page. far away from the top 10, I also believe world number one who only just missed playing well, I’m a top-eight player Murray, the world number two, to be for myself in Monaco. I’m hardly in “This has been one of my most my prediction that he’s nowhere near out on a calendar-year Grand Slam. in the world. My ranking has to get distracted by Saturday’s medical drama Australia. I live in Monaco. For me frustrating periods, as I’ve not been Novak’s tennis right now.” “The year is not just one month there,” he said. when his father-in-law Nigel Sears, it’s good. It’s not always good going able to train or stay healthy even Tomic was reacting to Federer’s long or one week long. It’s 52 weeks. “I’m going to work every day this Ana Ivanovic’s coach, collapsed and everywhere in Australia. There are though I’ve constantly been on anti- comments at this month’s Brisbane It’s every day. That (is what) he’s been year getting to the top 10. It’s not just was taken to hospital. “For his sake, it’s people looking, ‘Oh, I don’t like that biotics to help clear the infections. International when he said the 23-year- struggling to show, to be quite hon- getting to the top 10. I’m going to get bad luck. I wish him the best. I’m sure person’. That’s why I spend most of “I gave it my best shot in Aus- old needed to work hard all year if he est,” Federer, the world number three, there. It’s about staying there for a while. it will have no effect for him when he my time in Monaco.” tralia but, with the infections still in my body, unfortunately I made things worse, as I pushed myself to compete and fight in a Grand Slam. “Under doctors advice, I will undergo surgery to fix the ongoing Major relief for problem with my nose -- and I’ve been advised that this is my best option and success is highly likely.” Her loss at Melbourne Park to Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai was Murray as Sears a huge setback for Halep, who is enjoying her highest ever rank- ing after a stellar 2015 in which she won titles at Shenzhen, Dubai and Indian Wells. gets all-clear She said she hoped to be back to defend her Indian Wells title in March but will miss Romania’s Fed Cup tie against the Czech Republic. AFP fall on stairs at the same stadium. “It comes with great sadness Yesterday, Groth’s mother fell and that I’m announcing that I will need also needed treatment, Fairfax Media to miss our upcoming Fed Cup tie MELBOURNE: Andy Murray’s father- said, delaying play in Lleyton Hewitt’s next week, as I will be undergoing in-law Nigel Sears was cleared to leave last professional appearance as the surgery this week,” she said. hospital and fly home after a dramatic Australian doubles pair lost to Vasek “I’m hopeful that I will have mid-match collapse at the Australian Pospisil and Jack Sock. recovered in time to have a chance Open, as a bizarre string of medical And earlier in the tournament, to defend my title in Indian Wells. emergencies continued yesterday. Bernard Tomic was left shaken when “But I will take it slowly and In what will be a huge relief to a spectator suffered a seizure during make sure that I am back to full Murray, Sears, Ana Ivanovic’s coach, his first-round match and was treated health before resuming training was given the all-clear following his by an anti-allergy shot. and competition.” collapse at Rod Laver Arena late on A hospital official earlier said that Halep said she had also with- Saturday while watching the former Sears was out of danger but gave no drawn from her title defence in A multiple exposure picture shows Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action against Giles Simon of France during women’s number one play. word on the nature of his complaint, Dubai next month, as well as the It was one of a series of medical citing patient confidentiality. their fourth-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne, yesterday. Qatar Open. dramas at the season’s first Grand Witnesses said Sears appeared Slam, which continued yesterday to receive mouth-to-mouth resus- when the mother of Australia’s Sam citation before he was stretchered Groth was hurt in a fall down some out of the centre-court stadium and stadium stairs. taken to hospital. “My medical advice is that I will be The incident held up play for Suarez bounces into quarters after allowed to leave the hospital shortly an hour and appeared to unnerve and I have been cleared to fly back Ivanovic before she resumed against to the UK in the next day or so,” Brit- America’s Keys, eventually going down ain’s Sears, 58, said in a statement in three tight sets 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. yesterday. “Thank you for all your nice tweets horror start against Gavrilova “I just wanted to express my sin- and words of encouragement. The cerest thanks to the incredible people crowd was amazing tonight! So grate- who came to my aid, as well as the ful for all my fans around the word!” brilliant staff both at the Australian Ivanovic tweeted later. AFP Open, Wimbledon and US Open, but failed to push groundstrokes better, with the set going to serve Open and the Epworth Hospital,” he Australia’s Tomic, who is due to on further. till 2-2. Suarez got her break in the fifth game as added. play Murray in the last 16, offered his “I felt the pain but that’s part of the game,” she Gavrilova began sending forehands long. But the “I feel truly grateful to everyone sympathies to the Briton and said he MELBOURNE: Spain’s Carla Suarez battled through said, after needing a medical time out in the sec- Australian immediately captured a break back in the involved for the manner in which this was sure the incident wouldn’t affect knee pain to come back from a set down and make ond set for treatment on her knee. next game before a stirring hold to trail Suarez 4-3. has been handled.” him in their match today. the Australian Open quarter-finals yesterday, end- “You have to play with the pain until the end. The Spaniard called for a trainer at the change- Murray, whose wife Kim Sears is “I’m very sorry. I heard briefly ing the dream run of giant-killing local hope Daria I’m happy because I fought until the right point,” over and had a medical time out, with her lower heavily pregnant, was playing on the what happened quickly,” Tomic said Gavrilova. she said yesterday. right knee taped and her right thigh massaged. It neighbouring Margaret Court Arena yesterday. The 10th seed bounced back from a disastrous The defeat was a cruel blow for Australian fans worked wonders with Suarez, showing more vari- unaware of the emergency, and he “For his sake, it’s bad luck. I wish start to come through the testing encounter 0-6, who were hoping Gavrilova could become the first ety on her shot choice, motoring through the next rushed to see his father-in-law in hos- him the best. I’m sure it will have 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena and will play Poland’s Australian woman to reach the quarter-finals at two games to take the set. But it was Suarez who pital after coming off court. no effect for him when he plays on Agnieszka Radwanska in the last eight. Melbourne Park since 2009. buckled first in the deciding set as the pressure built, Reports said Murray, who has Monday.” The Polish fourth seed herself came back from Despite the loss, Moscow-born Gavrilova, 21, going a break down before the fired-up Australian pledged to quit the tournament if Murray married Kim Sears, his the brink to reach her fifth Australian Open quar- had her best Grand Slam ever, stunning sixth seed saved five break points to hold serve. his wife goes into labour, spent the long-term partner, last April and they ter-final, beating unseeded German Anna-Lena Petra Kvitova in the second round then ending the More breaks in the fourth and six games came night with Sears at hospital. are expecting their first child in the Friedsam 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 7-5. hopes of 28th seed Kristina Mladenovic before meet- Suarez’s way as her experience came into play, with The second seed was back on the coming weeks. “It was difficult on the court with the crowd and ing Suarez. a disappointed Gavrilova surrendering the match practice courts yesterday. The four-time runner-up has against a local player,” said Suarez, 27, who made She came out of the gates firing and surged to in two hours and three minutes. Sears’ collapse mirrored an inci- promised to fly home if she goes into the quarters at Melbourne Park on her tournament a 6-0 first set, saving three break points in game Suarez came into the tournament off a first- dent which shook up Ivanovic during labour during the Australian Open, debut in 2009 but had never again reached those five, in remarkable opening. round exit at the Sydney International but she has her third-round match, when an eld- even if it means missing the final of heights, until now. The embarrassing ‘bagel’ set woke up the Span- had an easy route to the last eight, avoiding any erly spectator was badly hurt in a the tournament. She has also made the last eight at the French iard who started finding her range, controlling her seeds so far. 32 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 SPORT Costa scores the winner as Chelsea overcome Arsenal

Swansea City give winning start to new coach Guidolin with 2-1 victory over Everton

Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain jubilates after scoring a goal during the AFP Italian Serie A match against at Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, yesterday.

LONDON: Arsenal missed out on the chance to regain top spot in the Pre- Serie A: Higuain hits 21st mier League after losing 1-0 at home to London rivals Chelsea yesterday. Meanwhile, Swansea gave new coach Francesco Guidolin victory goal as Inter stumble in his first game in charge with a 2-1 win away to Everton as the Welsh club moved four points clear of the rele- AFP Napoli double their lead by the 18th gation zone. minute, the defender hauling down At the Emirates, Arsenal were Raul Albiol and the referee pointing reduced to 10 men in the 19th minute to the spot. when Per Mertesacker was sent off for MILAN: Gonzalo Higuain struck his Despite Higuain’s chance to match a challenge on Chelsea striker Diego 21st goal in as many games to help the 22-goal tally that won the league’s Costa, with referee Mark Clattenburg Napoli tighten their grip on Serie A Capocannoniere (top scorer) award ruling the Gunners defender was the with a 4-2 win at Sampdoria as title for Luca Toni and Mauro Icardi last last man. Four minutes later, Costa challengers Inter Milan were stunned season, Lorenzo Insigne stepped up gave Chelsea the lead when he got on by a late Carpi leveller. to beat Viviano at his near post. Chelsea Diego Costa scores a goal against Arsenal during their Premier League game at the Emirates the end of a Branislav Ivanovic cross As Napoli battled to their 14th win Napoli were in command but the at the near post. Stadium in London, yesterday. of the campaign, Inter paid the price visitors were pegged back after Carlos Arsenal’s defeat left them in third for a series of first-half misses when Carbonero did well to snatch posses- spot, three points behind shock leaders off to a winning start with the Swans. was turned into his own net by the FOOTBALL: PREMIER Kevin Lasagna levelled at the death sion and powered down the right flank. Leicester City, while Chelsea moved Swansea went ahead though Gylfi Swans’ Jack Cork. LEAGUE ROUND-UP for the minnows to secure a 1-1 draw Elsewhere, Lazio and Palermo gave up into 13th place. Sigurdsson’s 17th-minute penalty but But Swansea regained the lead in at a stunned San Siro. their stuttering campaigns a boost by A hard-fought victory at Goodi- Everton were level nine minutes later the 34th minute. Left-back Neil Taylor Napoli now sit five points ahead recording impressive 4-1 wins over son Park saw Italian boss Guidlolin when Gareth Barry’s near-post flick burst clear and released Andre Ayew, of Juventus, who host Roma in yester- Chievo and Udinese respectively. whose shot deflected in off the slid- the injured pair of Muhamed Besic day’s late game, and have a six-point Bologna’s purple patch under ing John Stones. and Kevin Mirallas now set to miss lead on Fiorentina after their 2-0 win coach Roberto Donadoni contin- This was a notable win for Swan- Wednesday’s League Cup semi-final over Torino earlier in the day. ued with a shock 2-0 win away to sea as it meant they had recorded second leg against Manchester City. Inter have dropped to fourth at Sassuolo, who remain seventh but back-to-back league successes for “We were very slow in our per- six points adrift, enforcing the pun- are now only one point ahead of a the first time this season following formance -- pedestrian -- but two dits’ belief that it is now a two-horse resurgent Lazio. last week’s 1-0 defeat of Watford. It aspects affected our momentum race for the title. was also their first league victory which was the two injuries,” said After what has been a trying week over Everton. Martinez. for Napoli, the Azzurri showed their SERIE A RESULTS “Six points in two matches is “The first half and second half mettle. Fiorentina 2 (Ilicic 24, Rodriguez 83) very important for us because the performances were very contrast- Coach Maurizio Sarri was caught Torino 0 table was not good,” said Guidolin. ing,” the former Swansea boss added. in the eye of a homophobic storm after Verona 1 (Pazzini 39) Genoa 1 (Cop- “I hope to have the possibility to go “We created enough chances to calling fellow coach Roberto Mancini pola 19-og) up in the table. win the game. The fearful aspect of a “poof” during a post-match tirade Inter Milan 1 (Palacio 39) Carpi 1 (Lasa- “In this moment I am very happy. our performance was a real shame.” following defeat to Inter Milan in the gna 90+2) This is the first match in the Premier Everton now have the worst quarter-final of the Italian Cup. Lazio 4 (Candreva 66-pen, 81, Cataldi League for me.” home defensive record in the Pre- A trip to Sampdoria looked a 72, Keita 90+6) Chievo 1 (Cesar) Guidolin added: “I dreamed of mier League. challenging prospect for Sarri’s title Palermo 4 (Quaison 35, Hiljemark 56, working in the Premier League but “We haven’t found the right way challengers, but after ballooning an Lazaar 77, Trajkovski 87) Udinese 1 I didn’t dream of winning the first of playing at home. That is the truth,” early chance over Higuain was soon (Thereau 79) match. added Martinez. “The stats reflect a into his usual, predatory stride. Sampdoria 2 (Correa 45, Eder 73) Napoli “I must understand what happens really poor defensive record at home. In the ninth minute, the Argentin- 4 (Higuain 9, Insigne 18-pen, Hamsik in this day because I am surprised. “We want to impress our fans, ian pounced on a poor Edgar Barreto Swansea head coach Francesco Guidolin (left) and coach Gabriele 60, Mertens 79) It is new for me.” Everton manager play attacking football and become back-pass to power towards the area Ambrosett during the EPL match against Everton at Goodison Park Roberto Martinez had to make two a winning team but we are finding and fire past onrushing Emiliano Viv- Sassuolo 0 Bologna 2 (Giaccherini 68, yesterday. substitutions in the first half, with it tough to free ourselves.” iano. Another Barreto blunder helped Floccari 90+4) Seven-star Rabada puts South Africa on top in Centurion

AFP SCOREBOARD CRICKET: ENGLAND IN South Africa (I innings): 475 SOUTH AFRICA South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (left) celebrates England (I innings): with his captain AB de A Cook c De Kock b Morkel 76 CENTURION: South African fast bowl- ing prodigy Kagiso Rabada took another who was caught at first slip by Hashim Villiers, the dismissal of A Hales c Piedt b Rabada 15 step towards stardom when he took Amla off the second delivery with the England’s Jonny Bairstow N Compton lbw Rabada 19 seven wickets in England’s first innings second new ball and claimed his sev- (not in picture) during J Root c De Kock b Rabada 76 on the third day of the fourth and final enth when Stuart Broad was caught their fourth Test in Centurion, South Africa, J Taylor c De Kock b Rabada 14 Test at SuperSport Park on Sunday. on the midwicket boundary. Rabada, 20, took seven for 112 as Alastair Cook and Root both made yesterday. B Stokes c Amla b Rabada 33 England were bowled out for 342 in 76 for England while Moeen Ali was J Bairstow c De Kock b Rabada 0 reply to South Africa’s total of 475. last man out for 61. M Ali c Piedt b Morkel 61 South Africa were 42 for one at the Rabada appears to have all the C Woakes c Elgar b Duminy 26 close, an overall lead of 175. attributes to become South Africa’s Rabada wrecked what was look- first genuine black African cricket star S Broad c Cook b Rabada 5 ing like a solid England response to since fellow fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. J Anderson (not out) 5 South Africa’s first innings when he Unlike Ntini, who was plucked

Extras (B-2, LB-7, W-3) 12 took three wickets in 12 balls imme- from a rural village, Rabada is from Total (all out) 342 diately before lunch. a middle class family. Batting conditions were tricky His father is a doctor and he went Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-78, 3-177, 4-208, under a heavily overcast sky on a pitch to a leading private school in upmar- 5-211, 6-211, 7-252, 8-295, 9-320. with occasional variable bounce but ket Sandton. Bowling: Abbott 19-9-36-0; Rabada 29-6- England lost only one wicket in almost Rabada was a star of South Africa’s 112-7 (2w); Piedt 24-4-78-0; Morkel 23.2-4- two hours before Rabada’s burst. triumph in the Under-19 World Cup in 73-2 (1w); Elgar 4-0-13-0; Duminy 5-0-21-1. The tourists had advanced to 208 2014 and was blooded at Twenty20 South Africa (II innings): for three when Rabada had Joe Root international level as a 19-year-old caught behind by Quinton de Kock for in the 2014/15 season, without nota- S Cook (batting) 23 76, pushing at a ball which left him. ble success. D Elgar c Bairstow b Anderson 1 James Taylor swung at a bouncer But he made a sensational one-day H Amla (batting) 16 and edged the ball to De Kock and international debut against Bangla- Extras (B-2) 2 Jonny Bairstow gloved a ball which desh in Mirpur last July, taking six for lifted and seamed back at him. 16, including a hat-trick -- the best Total (for 1 wkt) 42 Having taken two of the three Eng- figures for South Africa in the format. Fall of wicket: 1-5. lish wickets that fell on Saturday, it gave He played three Tests in India in against England in Johannesburg on franchise against the Dolphins. Stephen Cook and Amla battled through Bowling: J Anderson 5-1-14-1; S Broad 4-1-8- Rabada, in his sixth Test, his second unhelpful conditions earlier in the the first occasion he played in seam- James Anderson struck early in to the close in fading light before the 0; B Stokes 3-1-6-0; C Woakes 2-0-7-0; M Ali five-wicket haul in successive matches. season, largely because of injuries friendly conditions. South Africa’s second innings when he umpires decided it was too dark to 2-1-1-0; J Root 1-0-4-0. He followed up by ending an to Vernon Philander and Dale Steyn He has best figures in first-class had Dean Elgar caught behind for one. continue, even with England using two aggressive innings of 33 by Ben Stokes, but took five for 78 in the second Test cricket of nine for 33 for the Lions First innings century-makers slow bowlers. SPORT MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 33

Bayern injuries bother Guardiola Atletico Madrid held as Juventus loom by 10-man Sevilla AFP BERLIN: Bayern Munich’s Pep Guar- diola (pictured) admits the latest Eibar missed a chance to climb blow to Jerome Boateng is a con- Atletico and Barca FOOTBALL: LA LIGA above Celta Vigo into fifth when they cern, amidst reports he will be out surrendered an early lead and were for three months, as Juventus loom are level on points beaten 5-2 at Basque rivals Athletic in the Champions League. ahead of their Bilbao. Eibar have one of the cheap- Boateng limped out of Friday’s Europa League holders’ defence held est squads in Spain’s top division yet 2-1 victory at Hamburg and a scan meeting at the Camp firm, goalkeeper Sergio Rico pulling the tiny club have outshone wealthier in Munich on Saturday revealed a Nou next weekend, off a fine save to block a powerful Gabi rivals, including Bilbao who they beat torn groin muscle, which German Eibar’s winning run strike eight minutes from time. 2-0 in August, and ended the first half daily Bild claim will keep him out Atletico and Barca each have 48 of the season in the European qual- for the next three months and pos- checked by Bilbao points with just over half the season ification places. sibly the rest of the season. played but the champions, who have Yesterday’s defeat snapped a four- Bayern have put out a statement a game in hand and host Atletico next match winning streak and left them simply saying Boateng faces a “long weekend, are ahead on goal difference. in sixth, a point behind Celta, who fell pause” with their last 16, first-leg Reuters Barca edged a 2-1 victory at Malaga 3-0 at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday. clash at Juventus now exactly a on Saturday despite a poor first-half Borja Baston put Eibar ahead in the month away. performance, Lionel Messi scoring the fourth minute at the San Mames and The news will also be a concern winner shortly after halftime. Aritz Aduriz levelled with a spectac- to Germany coach Joachim Loew as MADRID: Atletico Madrid surrendered Barca were much improved in the ular volley eight minutes later. the world champions’ squad meets top spot in La Liga to Barcelona when second period and took a 2-1 lead in Sabin Merino made it 2-1 to Bil- today when preparations start for they were held to a 0-0 draw at home the 51st minute when Messi cracked bao with a 27th-minute header at a March’s friendlies against England by 10-man Sevilla in a fiercely con- Adriano’s cross past keeper Carlos corner and Aymeric Laporte made and Italy ahead of the European tested La Liga clash yesterday. Kameni. sure the home side went in at half- championships in France. There was little to choose between The Argentina captain was falling time with a two-goal cushion with Bayern are eight points clear the two teams at the Calderon for the away from the ball as it dropped and another header, this time from a free in the Bundesliga, but are low first hour, with the best chance falling he caught it perfectly on the volley to kick, in the 40th minute. on defenders with centre-backs to Atletico forward Antoine Griez- send it arrowing into the corner for Baston pulled a goal back from Boateng and Medhi Benatia, plus mann when he headed against a post his 11th goal of an injury-disrupted the penalty spot five minutes into the right-back Rafinha out, while Javi in the 53rd minute. campaign. second period and Aduriz scored his Martinez and Juan Bernat have only Sevilla were rocked back when Javier Mascherano surrendered second and Bilbao’s fourth in the 53rd just returned from injury. midfielder Vitolo earned a second cau- possession in a dangerous area and minute with another superb first-time “Without Benatia, Boateng and tion and was sent off with around half the ball fell to midfielder Juanpi whose strike, his 13th goal of the campaign. with Javi Martinez not quite fit yet, an hour remaining and coach Unai shot was deflected in off the former Eibar defender Mauro Dos Santos we have a problem,” said Guardiola, Emery was dismissed from the bench Liverpool player as he slid across to put the ball into his own net 10 min- who has just one fully fit centre- Sevilla’s French midfielder Steven N’Zonzi (left) vies with Atletico Madrid’s for protesting the decision. block. utes from time. Bilbao are eighth on back in Holger Badstuber. With a man extra, Atletico poured Real Madrid are five points behind 31 points, one behind Sevilla and two Argentinian forward Luciano Vietto during the Spanish League match at “But if we lose Jerome Boat- forward in search of a winner but the in third before their match at Real Betis. adrift of Eibar. the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid yesterday. eng for a long time, we’ll still field 11 players.” Bayern host strugglers Hoffen- heim in the league next Sunday, then have three away games at Bayer Leverkusen, second-division United results not good enough, says top director Gill Bochum in the cup and Bavarian neighbours Augsburg before host- ing Darmstadt at home. AFP a statement on his website. Mourinho, Napoli, fifth placed Roma are still Netherlands captain Arjen Rob- free since being sacked by Chelsea in struggling for consistency following ben says the Reds can ill afford to December, wrote a detailed analysis a miserable winless run at the end of think about the Juventus match with LONDON: Manchester United’s results of how United could be overhauled 2015. five games yet to play. are not good enough after the invest- and how he would adapt his style of Allegri said his side would not take “If you allow yourself to gradu- ment made in the team, but top director management to suit the Old Trafford Roma lightly despite their opponents ally think about the Juventus game, David Gill called yesterday for fans style, according to the Independent managing just two wins, six draws and then you’re not paying enough atten- to stop jeering under pressure coach on Sunday. two defeats in their last 10 games. tion,” said Robben. Louis van Gaal. The 52-year-old Mourinho has “Roma are still Scudetto con- “We have to give our all in every Facing a new onslaught after a 1-0 been linked with the job before, but tenders because they have quality game.” home defeat by Southampton, Gill, a United chose David Moyes to succeed players, there will certainly be a reac- Especially as the Bayern squad former chief executive who remains Alex Ferguson in 2013 and Van Gaal tion after changing coach and this has made no secret of their desire on the United board, said: “Clearly we to come in a year later. game is still Juve v Roma, so it will to see off Guardiola with the tre- all hoped the results would have been Gill declined to comment on the be complicated,” Allegri told report- ble of Champions League, German better and everyone is disappointed Mourinho report but did say he does not ers on Saturday. Cup and Bundesliga titles before with that. believe Van Gaal is finding the United “They have a squad capable of he leaves at the end of the season “Undoubtedly it has been a season job more difficult than he imagined. putting together a positive run of to be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti. of underachievement given the invest- Van Gaal is having to come to results,” he continued. ment that was made in the summer.” Southampton’s English defender Matt Targett (right) chases Manchester terms with a more competitive Pre- “I don’t believe any of the top five Gill told the BBC that the boos aimed United’s English midfielder Jesse Lingard during the English Premier mier League, said Gill. can be ruled out of the title race.” at Van Gaal and his team as they left League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on “He’s managed at the top level, at Allegri also said he had no plans the field on Saturday were the worst Saturday. the top clubs in Germany, Holland and to leave Juventus despite British he has seen. Spain, I don’t think he’s found it that media reports suggesting he could “No one likes to see that. We’re fans difficult but the sheer competitiveness take over at Stamform Bridge next as well as directors and we don’t want to score at Old Trafford this year. Van a letter to United leaders. of English football is there for every- season. booing, we want cheering. But I think Gaal accepted the supporters criticism Both have been strongly denied one to see.” “Just as there’s transfer specula- we’ve got to stay calm.” after what he called a “poor match.” however. Meanwhile, Juventus coach tion around players, we get the same Manchester United have spent £250 “I know that everyone, from the Mourinho’s agent rubbished an Massimiliano Allegri has dismissed as coaches. It’s normal, and I’m proud m ($355m) on players since Van Gaal owners and Louis Van Gaal and his Independent report published yes- speculation linking him with Chelsea to be the coach of a big club like Juven- arrived in 2014 but after the latest defeat team, is working extremely hard to terday that the Portuguese coach and said he was focused on the Serie tus,” Allegri said they are fifth and five points adrift of turn that around. It’s not easy but we wrote a six page letter to Manchester A title race ahead of today’s match “My thoughts are on Serie A, the a top four Champions League place. have to stick together,” Gill said. United setting out why he should be against Roma. Coppa Italia and the Champions League. Van Gaal has been particularly crit- The Old Trafford torment has their next coach. While Juve are looking to extend I am under contract with Juventus until icised for United’s style of play. Saturday fuelled reports of meetings with Pep “It is absolutely ridiculous and their 10-game winning streak in the 2017 and, as I’ve said many times, I am was the seventh time they have failed Guardiola and Jose Mourinho writing totally absurd,” Jorge Mendes said in league and keep pace with leaders happy here. So that’s that.” Gerrans wins record fourth Tour Down Under title

AFP out of trouble Sunday to ensure a win broke clear on the fifth lap and stayed Tour Down Under results in the general classification. away until De Gendt dropped back Adelaide, Australia: Results after Gerrans has been a dominant force on the lap 17. the 90-kilometre final stage of the ADELAIDE, Australia: Australian at the Tour Down Under, winning pre- Lieuwe Westra (Astana) crossed UCI Tour Down Under in Adelaide Simon Gerrans claimed a record fourth viously in 2006, 2012 and 2014. the gap and joined Tjallingii on the Tour Down Under when he finished He staked his claim for this year’s break, but the pair were caught at the yesterday: safely in the peloton after the 90-kil- race when he won the third stage to start of the final lap, setting the race 1 Caleb Ewen (AUS/Orica Green- ometre final stage yesterday. Campbelltown, then backed up with up for the sprinters. edge) 1hr 55min 2sec Gerrans finished the UCI season- victory in a sprint finish in the fourth Team Sky, Tinkoff and Team 2 Mark Renshaw (AUS/Team opening race nine seconds ahead of stage at the seaside town of Victor Dimension Data all tried to lead their Dimension Data) same time fellow countryman Richie Porte of Harbor. sprinters to the front but Ewan bided 3 Giacomo Nizzolo (ITA/Trek-Sega- BMC Racing. “We had a dream run this race,” his time and once he decided to make fredo) st Colombia’s Sergio Henao from Gerrans said. his move none of the others could go Team Sky was third overall, 11 sec- “Caleb bookmarking the race with with him. 4 Adam Blythe (GBR/Tinkoff) s.t onds behind Gerrans. the first and last stage wins, obviously “Obviously it wasn’t just a good 5 Aleksei Tcatevitch (RUS/Katu- Gerrans’ Orica Greenedge team- me overall and the sprint jersey -- I week for me, the team showed this sha) s t mate Caleb Ewan won the final stage don’t think we could ask for anything week that they were by far the strong- General classification in a sprint finish, adding to his vic- more than that. est,” Ewan said. 1 Simon Gerrans (AUS/Orica tory in the opening stage on Tuesday. “What a fantastic week it’s been for “It was always going to be hard Greenedge) 19hr 11min 33sec The powerful Ewan surged for the us.” Yesterday’s final stage, 20 laps of to go into the race with two ambi- line 80 metres out, winning by a bike a circuit through Adelaide, took place tions, to win stages and also the GC 2 Richie Porte (AUS/BMC Racing) length from Australia’s Mark Renshaw in perfect conditions in front of close (general classification) with Simon. +9sec (Team Dimension Data) and Italian to 100,000 fans lining the streets of “But we did it perfectly with four 3 Sergio Henao (COL/ Team Sky) +11 Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek-Segafredo). the South Australian capital. stage wins and overall.” 4 Jay McCarthy (AUS/Tinkoff) +20 However, the day’s racing belonged Dutchman Maarten Tjallingii Gerrans also claimed the sprint Australian rider Simon Gerrans of team Orica-GreenEdge celebrates to Gerrans, whose nine-second over- (Lotto NL-Jumbo) and Belgium rider title while Henao took out the King 5 Michael Woods (CAN/Cannon- winning the Tour Down Under in Adelaide, Australia, yesterday. night lead meant he only had to stay Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal) of the Mountain crown. dale) s t 34 MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 SPORT

Canadiens and Penguins Fowler extends winning register thrilling victories

Agencies run with Abu Dhabi title NHL ROUND-UP NEW YORK: Montreal’s Lars Eller the bunker eagle. Northern Ireland’s SCORES scored the decisive goal in the shoot- Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and GOLF: ABU DHABI McIlroy had been out of sorts after out as the Canadiens defeated the an assist as the first-place Florida US golfer wins fourth CHAMPIONSHIP fluffing a six-foot birdie putt on his 272 Rickie Fowler (USA) 70-68-65-69 Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2. Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay title in eight months third round’s last hole and tossing his 273 Thomas Pieters (BEL) 69-73-64-67 Eller was the fifth Montreal Lightning 5-2 at the BB&T Center. putter away in disgust at the mistake 274 Henrik Stenson (SWE) 65-72-70- shooter after each team had scored Florida (28-15-5) completed a as Pieters finishes a He recorded birdies on the that denied him a place in the con- 67, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66-70-70-68 a goal in the first four rounds. thrilling weekend in which they went shot behind after last first two holes, his shot from the cluding round’s final group. 277 Marcel Siem (GER) 72-68-70-67, David Desharnais and Tomas 2-0, outscoring the 2015 Stanley Cup round of 67 first fairway having been greeted The world number three (68) Jordan Spieth (USA) 68-73-68, Ale- Fleischmann scored for the Cana- finalists -- the Chicago Blackhawks by the Muslim call to prayer that made little headway thereafter until zandro Canizares (ESP) 71-71-66-69, diens in regulation time. and the Lightning -- by a combined floated across the National course three late birdies and a 30-foot eagle Branden Grace (RSA) 66-74-66-71, Penguins 5, Canucks 4 9-2. from surrounding mosques. on 18 gave him a 14-under aggre- Byeong-hun An (KOR) 69-68-69- Evgeni Malkin scored his 10th Bruins 3, Blue Jackets 2, That extended his lead to four gate of 274. Sweden’s Stenson (67) 71, Joost Luiten (NED) 69-68-68-72 career hat-trick as the Pittsburgh (shootout) Reuters before the double-bogey caused a also flourished late, picking up three 278 Shiv Kapur (IND) 74-69-65-70, Tho- Penguins twice rallied from two- Boston blew a two-goal lead in three-stoke swing against him. shots from the 15th to finish along- mas Bjorn (DEN) 68-69-71-70, Peter goal deficits to edge the Vancouver the second period but managed to Fowler, as always dressed in his side McIlroy. US Master Spieth (68) Hanson (SWE) 69-69-69-71 Canucks 5-4. The Penguins scored pull out a 3-2 shootout win over the final round orange shirt, made imme- also shrugged off a middling front 279 Ian Poulter (ENG) 70-69-68- four consecutive goals in the third Columbus Blue Jackets. ABU DHABI: Rickie Fowler fought diate amends, however, raising his nine to be one of six players to tie 72, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) period to overcome Jannik Hansen’s Ryan Spooner and Torey Krug off a late charge from Rory McIlroy finger to the sky in celebration after for fifth on 277. 70-67-70-72 hat-trick for Vancouver. scored and goaltender Jonas Gus- and Thomas Pieters to win the Abu Sharks 4, Wild 3 tavsson stopped both shots in the Dhabi Championship by one stroke Joe Pavelski scored the tiebreak- shootout as the Bruins won for the yesterday and land his fourth title Rickie Fowler of the US holds the ing goal at 18:36 of the third period as fourth time in their last five. in eight months. trophy after winning the Abu Dhabi Golf the San Jose Sharks beat the Minne- Avalanche 3, Stars 1 The American’s latest victory Championship in Abu Dhabi yesterday. sota Wild 4-3 at SAP Center. Colorado Avalanche captain will propel him to fourth in the world Pavelski’s 23rd goal of the season, Gabriel Landeskog scored the game- rankings after topping a stellar field his NHL-leading eighth game-win- winning goal and goaltender Semyon including four-time major winner ner, came on a wrist shot from above Varlamov stopped 42 of 43 shots in a McIlroy and Henrik Stenson, who fin- the left circle after Joe Thornton won 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars at Ameri- ished equal third, and world number an offensive-zone draw. can Airlines Center. Landeskog scored one Jordan Spieth, who was on fifth Devils 3, Jets 1 a shorthanded goal, Colorado’s second position. Former Winnipeg winger Lee of the game, with 9:48 remaining in Fowler shot a final round 69 Stempniak came back to haunt his the second period. Carl Soderberg had for a 16-under 272 to pip the Bel- former team by scoring a pair of goals scored a shorthanded goal late in the gian runner-up Pieters -- and he in a 3-1 victory for the New Jersey first period for the Avalanche (26-21- can thank two magical chips for his Devils. Stempniak played a crucial 3), who won their fourth straight game. latest triumph. role in the Jets’ playoff drive last year, The first was a 30-yard sand- but was not offered a contract by the wedge for an eagle on the eighth team in the off-season. NHL RESULTS which made amends for a double- Ducks 4, Red Wings 3 Pittsburgh 5 Vancouver 4 bogey a hole earlier while a low chip Corey Perry and Ryan Kelser each San Jose 4 Minnesota 3 in for a birdie from just off the 17th scored twice as the Anaheim Ducks Boston 3 Columbus 2 green put him decisively clear. held on for a 4-3 win over the Detroit Montreal 3 Toronto 2 Pieters went round in 67 but Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Anaheim 4 Detroit 3 his 25-foot eagle attempt at the Rickard Rakell and Jakob Sil- last stopped three inches short to fverberg each had two assists and Florida 5 Tampa Bay 2 deny the world number 88 a play-off. goalie John Gibson made 24 saves New Jersey 3 Winnipeg 1 “To come over here, my first full- for Anaheim. Colorado 3 Dallas 1 field event of the 2016 season, this Panthers 5, Lightning 2 Arizona 3 Los Angeles 2 is a great way to start,” said Fowler, In a game between the top Nashville 4 Edmonton 1 adding the potent line-up had made two teams in the Atlantic Division, his win extra special. Fowler picked up two late shots to end the fog-inter- rupted third round yesterday with a 65 which put him two strokes clear going into the afternoon’s final round.

PGA: Dufner stays on top

AFP before a bogey at the par-3 15th. Then came his fantastic finish, a seven- under 29 on his inward nine. LOS ANGELES: Jason Dufner, seek- Dufner has two other PGA victo- ing his first US PGA Tour title since ries as well as his major title, having the 2013 PGA Championship, fired won at New Orleans and the Byron an eight-under par 64 to seize a two- Nelson Championship in 2012. stroke lead after Saturday’s third Hadwin, who finished fourth after round of the CareerBuilder Challenge. playing in the final group at the 2011 The 38-year-old American began PGA Canadian Open. off the 10th tee at La Quinta, one of Lovemark seeks his first PGA Jason Dufner three par-72 courses used over the crown as well. watches his fairway first three rounds in the southern Cal- Sweden’s David Lingmerth was shot on the 10th ifornia desert, and birdied seven of his fourth on 198 after a 62 on the Nicklaus hole during the last nine holes to stand on 23-under layout, one stroke ahead of Ameri- second round of 193 after 54 holes. cans Kevin Na, Andrew Loupe, Ryan the CareerBuilder American Jamie Lovemark, play- Palmer, John Huh and five-time major Challenge on the ing on the TPC Stadium Course at PGA winner Phil Mickelson. West, fired a third consecutive 65 on Mickelson has three rounds in TPC Stadium course his 28th birthday to grab second on the 60s for the first time since his at PGA West in La 195, one stroke in front of Canada’s runner-up effort at the 2014 PGA Quinta on Saturday. Adam Hadwin, who shot 64 on the Championship after working on Philadelphia Flyers right wing Wayne Simmonds (right) skates with Nicklaus Tournament Course. swing changes. After opening with a bogey, Duf- “It has been a good three days,” the puck against Pittsburgh Penguins defenceman Trevor Daley ner birdied three of the next four holes Mickelson said. during the second period of their NHL game in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Cleveland Cavaliers lose first game after Blatt firing

Agencies before Saturday’s game he did not recovered. Lue thought a large part of on Friday night in explaining the move. extended the Bulls’ lead to 77-60 early NBA: BULLS DOWN CAVS believe players were enjoying them- the reason was because the players Lue said he did not want to do any- in the fourth quarter, their largest of selves this season. are out of shape -- a fairly surprising thing different than how Blatt managed the night. When the Cavs made a small Then they shot 37 percent from announcement for the halfway point the team -- just better. He also wanted run to cut the deficit to 10, Gasol coun- NEW YORK: Within the last 24 hours, the field, did not get any scoring from of the season. The Cavs ranked 29th in to expand the rotation and get more tered with consecutive jumpers to keep Cleveland Cavaliers fired their head coaching staff and our organisation,” their bench until late in the third quar- the league in pace entering the night guys involved. the Bulls comfortably ahead. coach, management blamed it on the LeBron James said. “And it’s a tough ter and were just nien of 22 from the and Lue wants to play faster. The result, He kept his word. Lue went 10 deep tone of the locker room and regres- game to come in and play. But I think free-throw line as they were booed he said, were all three stars asking out in the first quarter, but it seemed to stall sion on the floor, the star player denied if we play as hard as we did tonight, off the floor after the loss. of the game early. any rhythm the offence could gen- NBA RESULTS culpability in the affair and the new then we’re going to give ourselves a James scored 16 points in the fourth Guard Jimmy Butler had 20 points erate. The Cavs shot 17 percent from Charlotte 97 NY Knicks 84 coach said the players are out of shape. chance to win every night.” quarter and fell one assist shy of his and nine rebounds, forward Taj Gibson three-point range (four of 24) and never New Orleans 116 Milwaukee 99 Just imagine how dire the situation General manager David Griffin first triple-double this season. He had had 15 points and eight rebounds and found a groove. Minnesota 106 Memphis 101 would be if the Cavs were not leading made the surprising decision to fire 26 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists forward Nikola Mirotic scored 17 off Once guys started asking out of the the Eastern Conference. David Blatt on Friday despite owning but were 11 of 27 from the field. the bench for the Bulls. It was just Chi- game because they were tired, Lue con- Chicago 96 Cleveland 83 Centre Pau Gasol had 23 points the top record in the East. Griffin did Kevin Love scored 14 points and cago’s third win in its last nine games. ceded it threw off his rotation and he Phoenix 98 Atlanta 95 and 10 rebounds and the Chicago Bulls not like the tone of the locker room Kyrie Irving had 11. But the Cavs went The loss capped a turbulent 24 never recovered. James, incidentally, Denver 104 Detroit 101 beat the Cavaliers 96-83 on Saturday and did not see improvement despite scoreless for the final 6:57 of the first hours in Cleveland. James insisted agreed with Lue’s assessment that the Portland 121 LA Lakers 103 in the debut of new coach Tyronn Lue. the team piling up victories. quarter and missed their final 16 shots he had no role in Blatt’s firing while players are not in shape. Sacramento 108 Indiana 97 “It was a tough day for our players, Lue added to that by acknowledging of the first. The offence never really agreeing with everything Griffin said Two free throws from Butler SPORT MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 35

Thunder give Hussey perfect Lehmann to miss T20 series with send-off, winning BBL title blood clot

Piertersen smashes Sydney Thunder cricketer Usman Khawaja plays 74 off 39 balls but and unorthodox shot during their T20 Big Bash League cricket final against the Melbourne Stars Khawaja’s 70 too at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday. AFP require a lay-off before he can good for Melbourne return to coaching.” Lehmann was admitted to a Sydney hospital on Stars in the BBL final SYDNEY: Australia’s cricket Saturday night after reporting a coach Darren Lehmann (pic- swollen calf to medical staff ahead tured) is being treated for deep of Australia’s one-day interna- vein thrombosis and will miss his tional against India on Saturday. Agencies team’s twenty20 series against Deep vein thrombosis is a India next week, officials said. condition in which a clot forms Lehmann will be replaced by in a deep vein, often in a leg. batting coach Michael Di Venuto “Obviously not ideal circum- MELBOURNE: The Sydney Thunder for the three matches in Adelaide stances, it was a bit of a scare gave captain Michael Hussey the per- tomorrow, Melbourne on Friday yesterday with Boof (Lehmann) fect send-off from Australian cricket and Sydney on Sunday, Cricket going for a scan and then straight when they beat the Melbourne Stars Australia said. into hospital with DVT,” Di Venuto by three wickets to win the Big Bash “DVT is not an uncommon told reporters in Adelaide. League yesterday. condition and it is important to “So the good news is he’s on After Hussey won the toss and sent diagnose it early so that it can be the road to recovery. I spoke to him the Stars in to bat at the Melbourne safely managed,” Cricket Aus- this morning, he’s in good spir- Cricket Ground, the home side reached tralia’s chief medical officer John its and his health is improving.” 176 for nine thanks largely to a scin- Orchard said in a statement late Lehmann took to Twitter on tillating 74 from English star Kevin Saturday. Sunday afternoon to thank hospi- Pietersen. “Darren is stable but he has tal staff, adding that he would have But Thunder’s Usman Khawaja (70) been advised not to fly in the “a few days recover(y) in Sydney played an innings of similar quality to short term and will therefore and see how all tests comeback”. get Sydney’s run chase off to a perfect start. He and fellow opener Jacques Kallis (28) put on 86 before the South African holed out in the deep to Pie- tersen off Adam Zampa. Shane Watson came and went quickly before Khawaja holed out to backward point to leave the Thun- der 54 runs short with six-and-a-half overs remaining. But Hussey, playing his final match in Australia, hit a quickfire 18 to get the Thunder back on track, and use- Australian all-rounder ful contributions from Aiden Blizzard Glenn Maxwell (16) and Ben Rohrer (13 not out) got them home. Hussey, whose younger brother David captained the Stars, said the win was the result of much groundwork. “It’s been a great journey -- we’ve been building something for the past SCOREBOARD Maxwell out of tomorrow’s few years so to reach the summit is CRICKET: BIG BASH LEAGUE FINAL something pretty special,” he said. MELBOURNE STARS SYDNEY THUNDER T20 opener against India “I think we’ve got a nicely bal- M Stoinis c Russell b Watson 5 U Khawaja c Worrall b Hussey 70 anced team. L Wright b Watson 23 J Kallis c Pietersen b Zampa 28 “We’ve got a lot of all-rounders and Evan Gulbis (16) and Zampa (15) fought AFP of days,” Di Venuto told reporters in when you’ve got three of the world’s hard to restrict the Thunder but the K Pietersen c&b Green 74 S Watson c Hussey b Stoinis 6 Adelaide. Maxwell was also ruled best allrounders (Kallis, Watson and total never looked big enough once P Handscomb c Hussey b Green 9 M Hussey b Zampa 18 out of the fifth one-day international Andre Russell), it makes the captain’s Khawaja teed off. D Hussey b Kallis 21 A Russell c Handscomb b Stoinis 10 against India in Sydney on Saturday. job a lot easier.” Earlier, Sydney Thunder won the R Quiney c&b Russell 2 B Rohrer (not out) 13 SYDNEY: All-rounder Glenn Max- The series is seen as a prepara- Earlier, Pietersen played a lone inaugural Women’s Big Bash League E Gulbis c Green b McKay 16 A Blizzard (run out) 16 well will miss Australia’s T20 opener tion for the T20 World Cup in India

hand for the Stars, smashing the ball after edging city rivals Sydney Six- against India in Adelaide with a ham- in March, with Di Venuto - who has A Zampa (run out) 15 all over the MCG as he raced to 74 from ers by three wickets in a tense final C Green c Hussey b Stoinis 8 string injury, acting coach Michael Di replaced Darren Lehmann while the just 39 balls, including four bounda- in Melbourne. B Hilfenhaus (not out) 0 C Hartley (not out) 0 Venuto said yesterday. coach is being treated for deep vein ries and five massive sixes. Sixers had posted a modest total of D Worrall (run out) 0 Extras (LB-3, W-8, NB-1) 12 Maxwell flew straight to Mel- thrombosis - hoping to give every However, he got little support from 115-7 from their 20 overs at the MCG. Extras (B-4, W-7) 11 Total (for 7 wkts in 19.3 overs) 181 bourne where the second game in the player in the 17-man squad “one or his teammates, with fellow English- Rachael Haynes (37) gave Thun- Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) 176 Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-94, 3-124, 4-142, three-match series will take place on two games at least”. man Luke Wright the next highest der a good start but was one of three Friday, skipping the opener in Adelaide “Obviously, there’s a big carrot Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-50, 3-85, 4-131, 5-139, 5-146, 6-163, 7-172. scorer with 23. players run out as they slumped from tomorrow. at the end of this with the World Cup When Pietersen was in full flight 100-2 to 113-7 in the space of two 6-144, 7-176, 8-176, 9-176. Bowling: Worrall 3.3-0-42-0 (2w); Hilfen- “He has still got a little, slight ham- team being picked, and you know you the Stars looked like setting a huge tar- overs. Bowling: Russell 4-0-30-1 (5w); Watson 3-0- haus 2-0-21-0; Beer 3-0-25-0; Gulbis 2-0-19- string niggle so he flew straight to can only pick 15 people, so we want get for the Thunder to chase, but they But with three balls remaining, they 17-2; McKay 4-0-40-1 (1w); Kallis 3-0-24-1; 0 (1w); Zampa 4-0-32-2 (2w 1nb); Stoinis Melbourne and will spend a few days to give people opportunities to see lost wickets steadily and momentum clinched the win when Ellyse Perry Ahmed 2-0-24-0; 4-0-37-2 (1w). 4-0-30-3 (3w); Hussey 1-0-9-1. in Melbourne at home and join the what they can do,” Di Venuto, usu- slowed, despite a late flourish from bowled a wide and Thunder ran a bye. squad when we get there in a couple ally the team’s batting coach, added. Pakistan captain resolves Dhoni, Smith warn against Spidercam interference issues with paceman Amir Reuters it interesting,” he joked. His Austral- ian counterpart Steven Smith also Agencies saw the funny side of the incident at the Sydney Cricket Ground. SYDNEY: India’s Mahendra Singh “He was probably our best Dhoni knows the introduction of fielder tonight, Spidercam. He saved WELLINGTON: Pakistan captain broadcast technology has enhanced four,” said Smith, who was not best Azhar Ali (pictured) claims to have the viewing experience for fans but pleased with his team’s fielding dis- resolved his issues with convicted the skipper has called for restraint play after Shaun Marsh and Nathan spot-fixer Mohammad Amir and aims after the overhead ‘Spidercam’ Lyon dropped simple chances. Smith to “get the best out of him” if the left- interfered with play in Saturday’s was also a Spidercam victim last year armer comes under his leadership one-dayer against Australia. when he was distracted by the cam- today in the opening one-day inter- Virat Kohli upper-cut John Hast- era’s movement and spilled a catch national against New Zealand at the ings for a boundary in the 19th over at the same ground. Basin Reserve. of India’s innings but it was declared “I just think we need to make Ali tendered his resignation as a dead-ball after hitting the camera. sure it’s away when the ball is com- captain when it became clear Amir “He bowled well in the T20s. My India managed to chase down a ing,” the home captain said after his would be readmitted to the side for job is to try to get the best out of him. 331-run victory target to end their team’s 4-1 victory in the ODI series. this limited overs series. This is a cricket board domain, not losing streak but Dhoni warned that “We don’t need to see things like The 30-year-old took over as my domain. We have moved on, we such interference could affect the that where it’s a dead ball. Some- Mahendra Singh Dhoni one-day skipper in April after Mis- are united and looking forward to outcome of tight contests. thing like that can really change the bah-ul-Haq retired from limited the challenge. Whatever my stance “I am quite a traditional guy,” course of the game. overs cricket after the World Cup. was, my job is to lead and keep har- he said after the tourists avoided a need for a balance. At the end of the “So I just think we need to make Last month Pakistan Cricket Board mony in the dressing room.” whitewash by winning the fifth and day, it’s a spectators’ sport, people sure we get him out of the way when chairman Shaharyar Khan said he had Ali also has a raft of other left-arm final ODI. “Anything that disturbs the watching on television, but at the the bowler is coming in to bowl.” changed Ali’s mind, saying the team options at his disposal with Moham- game of cricket I don’t like it. same time four runs can really matter. The teams will next play a three- “cannot afford a crisis at this time”. mad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Rahat Ali “It all started right from the “Especially when it’s a 310-320 match Twenty20 series. Ali and former Twenty20 captain in the squad. Twenty20 where people would be game, those four runs can be cru- Australia will be without all- Mohammad Hafeez refused to train “Sometimes that can be to your like, ‘Why don’t you wear a mic?’, cial,” he said. On a lighter note, he rounder Glenn Maxwell, who is with Amir in the national team’s fit- advantage. Not everyone has them ‘Why don’t you wear a camera?’” said there should be some form of nursing a hamstring injury, for the ness camp in Lahore but returned and each has good pace. Obviously we Dhoni said the camera, which penalty for Spidercam if it gets in first game at Adelaide tomorrow. after being threatened with disci- will try to put a combination together travels along cables and gives a bird’s the way. “Everyone gets penalised, Melbourne hosts the second game plinary action. Speaking to media which suits these conditions and the eye view of the action, had to be used why not have the same system for on Friday before the teams return yesterday, Ali said he expected no wind factor. We’ve been practicing more carefully. the Spidercam? Say, ‘Okay if you to Sydney for the final match next Spidercam in action problems. bowling into it, everyone is ready.” “I always feel there is always a get hit, $2,000 per hit.’ Let’s make Sunday. MONDAY 25 JANUARY 2016 36

Asian stars aim for title glory at Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

the 46-year old veteran Thongchai, will be his country to win a European Tour title in Thailand’s Jaidee and making his 14th appearance at the this week’s mainland China. US$2.5 million tournament and 13th in suc- In 2012, the Shanghai-based star also made Aphibarnrat will be cession, having first competed in 2002 and history by becoming the first Chinese to win among top contenders played every year from 2004. on the Japan Golf Tour, where he won again while Chinese number He is arguably in the form of his life as he the following season. Now, the 30-year-old looks to improve on his joint-ninth finishes is breaking new ground for himself in Doha. one Wu Ashun and Jin in 2007 and 2013. Having won his seventh Headline makers at the 19th Commercial Cheng are also expected European Tour title at the Porsche European Bank Qatar Masters include previous win- Open in Germany Last September, the World ners Sergio Garcia (2014) and Branden Grace to make an impact Number 28 in the following month played in (2015), 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen his first Presidents Cup. World and reigning US Amateur champion Bryson Since 1999 when he turned pro at the age Number 39, DeChambeau. of 29, Thongchai won his first European Tour Thailand’s Chris Wood, the 2013 champion, is among The Peninsula title in 2004 at the Malaysian Open, an Asian Kiradech five of Europe’s victorious EurAsia Cup team Tour co-sanctioned event that the former par- Aphibarnrat. confirmed to compete. Hassan Al Nuaimi, atrooper won again the following year. President of the Qatar Golf Association, said: After winning two more co-sanctioned “Thongchai Jaidee is one of the most loyal sup- DOHA: The Commercial Bank Qatar Masters titles in Asia in 2009, he has since captured GOLF: COMMERCIAL BANK porters of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, which starts on Wednesday at the picturesque European Tour trophies in Wales (2012), Swe- QATAR MASTERS now playing for the 14th time. He really put Doha Golf Club will see some of Asia’s most den (2014) and Germany (2015), and is also a Thailand on the golfing map and Kiradech prominent stars including Thailand’s Thongchai 13-time champion and three-time Order of Aphibarnrat is following in his footsteps as Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat spearhead- Merit winner on the Asian Tour. this time. I’m playing pretty well, but it’s a strong one of Asia’s most exciting talents. ing a strong Asian challenge. Thongchai will be one of the top-ranked field with many good players each year. Kira- “We’re also proud to welcome Wu Ashun Also among the promising stars who are players in Doha as he looks to build on another dech is also playing well, so maybe there’s a and Jin Cheng of China for the first time, and I expected to shine on Doha’s green will be the strong European Tour season last year, when chance of a Thai champion this year,” he added. know they will enjoy strong support from the Chinese Number one Wu Ashun as he competes he also finished runner-up in the True Thai- Currently World Number 39, Kiradech shot players and fans as they make their debut at in the tournament for the first time, having land Classic and the BMW PGA Championship, up the rankings by winning both the Shen- Doha Golf Club.” won his maiden European Tour title last year. the European Tour’s flagship event. zhen International in China and the Saltire Garcia and Grace are among several big Jin Cheng, China’s top amateur will also “I always like to play at the Commercial Energy Paul Lawrie Match Play in Scotland, names to have lifted the Mother of Pearl Tro- This will be make his Doha debut less than three months Bank Qatar Masters because I enjoy the course, and securing six other top-five finishes. Kira- phy since Commercial Bank began its title Thailand’s before he competes in the Masters Tourna- the weather is good and everything is well dech won his first European Tour title in 2013 sponsorship in 2006. Other big names include Thongchai ment at Augusta National and will be among organised,” said Thongchai, who recently played at the Malaysian Open, a result that helped him former World Number one Adam Scott, two- Jaidee’s 14th the stars to look out for. The teenager earned in the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia for the second win the Asian Tour Order of Merit. time US Open winner Retief Goosen, 1999 occasion his spot at the year’s first Major by winning time, having captained Asia in 2014 when his Wu became the first Chinese to play in the Open Champion Paul Lawrie, former Euro- playing in the the seventh Asia-Pacific Amateur Champi- team rallied to draw 10-10 with Europe. EurAsia Cup just few days ago, having already pean Tour Number ones Henrik Stenson and Commercial onship in Hong Kong last October. “I’ve played in Qatar many times and had made history last April by capturing the Volvo Robert Karlsson and Thomas Bjørn, a 15-time Bank Qatar In contrast to the Chinese newcomers, some good finishes, but I’d like to finish higher China Open to become the first player from European Tour champion. Masters.

Zlateva says she was Al Gharafa, Al Shamal win offered cash to lose The Peninsula at Al Gharafa Indoor Hall yester- points) also made useful contri- day which Al Gharafa went on to butions for Al Gharafa. In another but said ‘no’ win by 108-69 points. meeting in the afternoon, Al Shamal Abdulrahman Saad shot 24 beat Al Wakrah 85-76 with the help Reuters DOHA: Al Ahli Sports Club’s Ter- points and made three assists of three notable contributions com- rence Joyner shot 32 points but while Hassino Ndoye (13 points ing from Mildon Ambres (30 points that was not enough to avoid his and 4 assists), Kevin Dwayne Gal- and 1 assist), Abdulqadir Kosar (20 SOFIA: Bulgaria’s retired double Olympic wres- team facing a humiliating defeat loway (14 points and 9 assists), points and 3 assists) and Mohamed tling silver medallist Stanka Zlateva said yesterday on the hands of Al Gharafa in their Emmanuel Osaro Adako (14 points Kamal Hachad (25 points and 10 that she was once offered cash to lose a world Qatar Men’s League game played and 5 assists) and Omar Salem (17 assists). championship final but had refused to do so. “I was offered money at a world champi- onship but for me, it’s much more important to win,” Zlateva, who retired this month, told Bulgarian national television. “No matter how much money they would offer.” She did not say who ‘they’ were or give details. Zlateva, competing in the 72kg-cat- egory, was five-times a world champion and also won six European titles and Olympic sil- ver medals in Beijing in 2008 and London four years later. She also competed at the Athens 2004 Games. Zlateva was one of the most successful Bul- garian female athletes in the last decade and was named the Balkan country’s sportsperson of the year three times between 2007 and 2011. “There was nothing out of it,” she added, who decided to retire after failing to recover Al Ahli’s Darius Lashaun Rice (right) jumps to shoot while Al from a back injury. “I didn’t even consider Gharafa’s Abdulrahman Saad makes a vain attempt to spoil the accepting it. They didn’t offer me a concrete same during their Qatar Men’s League game played at Al Gharafa sum. They came to me and asked me if I would Action during the Al Shamal vs Al Wakrah game which Al Shamal went on to win by 85-76 points. Indoor Hall yesterday. lose (the final).”

The 4th Future Riders Show Jumping Championship – 2016

Vrome, ridden by Haya Mohammed Al Marri storms to win the Class 2 at the 4th Future Riders Show Jumping Championship – 2016 in Doha yesterday. Lebardo, ridden by Saif Alla Tamer was placed second ahead of third placed Abdulrahman Hamad Saeed who rode Bel Rose. CENTRE: Mari Bill, ridden by Ashley Di Agosino, clearing a hurdle on her way to win the Class 1. Ali Al Sharashini who rode Wendefi came in second, followed by Tamim Nasser Al Qadi who rode Rose D’en Hue. RIGHT: The two winners pose with their cups.