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G20 embraces FIFA President crackdown Infantino to on tax havens visit Qatar

SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 • 9 Rajab 1437 • Volume 21 • Number 6768 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Philippine polls: OIC reiterates More than 4,000 cast vote in Qatar support for in the first week By Raynald C Rivera Palestine State The Peninsula DOHA: More than 4,000 Filipi- independent and sovereign Palestinian nos in Qatar have cast votes in the state on the territory occupied since first week of month-long overseas The 13th Summit June 1967, with Al Quds as its capital. absentee voting (OAV) for Philip- ends with an action It also reiterated the right of Pal- pine national elections. estinian refugees to return home in With 24 more days to go for plan and Istanbul accordance with international laws OAV to end, the number of voters Declaration on Syria, and UN General Assembly Resolution has surpassed the turnout in the 194 (III) adopted on December 11, 1948. 2013 elections. Yemen, Iraq and The summit stressed the need for “After one week, over 4,000 Azerbaijan. an early international peace confer- voters have cast votes. They rep- ence to set mechanisms to provide resent more than 9 percent of global protection for the Palestinian the registered voters. We have people and end the Israeli occupation exceeded the turnout in 2013 elec- QNA & Agencies of the Palestinian territories since 1967, tions,” Philippine Ambassador including East Jerusalem, in implemen- Wilfredo C Santos told The Penin- tation of UN resolutions and the Arab sula yesterday. “We are thankful peace initiative. It sought the adoption and pleased with the turnout ISTANBUL: The 13th Organisation of a UN Security Council resolution to because it underscores the strong of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit end Israeli occupation within a time- interest of overseas Filipinos in ended yesterday with the adoption of table and reaffirmed support for efforts these very important elections.” a joint resolution on Palestine, OIC’s of the State of Palestine to accede to The last OAV saw very low 2016-2025 action plan and an Istan- global treaties and organisations. It turnout in many countries. In bul Declaration. called for a plan to develop Al Quds Qatar, 2,800 out of 23,260 reg- The summit hoped to strengthen and urged OIC member states to pro- istered voters took part in the unity and solidarity between Muslim vide financial resources. 2013 elections. There are over countries in the fight against terrorism. The summit renewed support to 44,000 registered voters in Qatar Leaders also discussed the situation Lebanon to complete the liberation of for this year’s elections which are in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Azerbaijan, its territories from Israeli occupation expected to witness the highest among others. The summit, chaired through legitimate means and stressed turnout since OAV began in 2004. by Turkish President Recep Tayyip the need for Israel to withdraw from Yesterday saw the highest Erdogan, stressed the centrality of Shebaa Farms, Kfarchouba Hills and number of voters during the week, the cause of Palestine and Al Quds for the Lebanese part of Al Ghajar. It with over 1,100 arriving at the the Muslims. sought full implementation of Res- embassy, prompting it to extend It reaffirmed its principled support olution 1701 (2016) and condemned the process by two more hours Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met Turkish Prime Minister Dr Ahmet Davutoglu on the sidelines for the right of the Palestinian people continuing Israeli violations of Leb- to accommodate them, including to regain their inalienable national anon’s sovereignty. of the 13th OIC Summit in Istanbul yesterday. They discussed relations between the two countries, means some from far-off places. rights, including the right to self-deter- of enhancing them, regional and international issues and topics on the summit’s agenda. The Emir’s mination and the establishment of an → Continued on page 2 delegation was present. → Continued on page 2 HIA working on Households prefer fresh local farm produce to imports smart traveller By Mohammad Shoeb prices at some hypermarkets and “In addition to local tomatoes, food security in the country has also and seeding,” he added. programme The Peninsula retail outlets. eggplants, pumpkins, white onions helped in terms of the growth in the Under the hydroponics method of For example, fresh cherry toma- and other vegetables, people come number of farmers, farm size and farming, plants are grown by using toes directly sourced from local here to buy rare products, such as productivity. mineral nutrient solutions, in water By Sidi Mohamed farms were available at QR12 a kg at domesticated poultry, ducks, rabbits “About six month ago, we started but without soil. These plants are The Peninsula DOHA: Fresh local vegetables and Al Wakrah yard compared to QR30- and ornamental plants,” said a vege- a farm in an area of over two hec- grown with their roots in the mineral fruits, which are the first priority of QR40 a kg at retail stores. Local table vendor at Al Wakrah yard. tares in Umm Salal Ali. We produce solution only, or in an inert medium, customers because of superior qual- capsicums (red and yellow ones) The increasing supply of fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, such as perlite or gravel. DOHA: The number of travellers ity and affordable prices, are giving were available at as low as QR7 a kg at vegetables at affordable prices cherry tomatoes and lettuce through “F G Agro is a US-based company. entering and departing the coun- a tough competition to imported pro- farmers’ markets, while the imported almost throughout the year, has hydroponics methods of farming It is the first of its kind operating in try through Hamad International duce. ones were sold at about QR20 a kg become possible due to technological in greenhouses,” said Ali Erdoğan, Qatar, and producing several popular Airport increased by 14 percent last Some local items such as fresh at hypermarkets and supermarkets. advancements in the agro industry, Manger of the farm run by F G Agro vegetables. Our produce is fresh and year due to ongoing construction tomatoes, cucumbers, capsicums, Like other farmers’ markets, Al which has enabled local farmers company. “We have set up about affordable,” said a salesman work- boom, reflecting positively on the cherry tomatoes and leafy vegeta- Wakrah yard is becoming popular to grow a wide range of produce in nine greenhouses (each spreading ing at the farm. performance of the Airport Pass- bles like spinach, coriander and mint among households and restaurant greenhouses even in extreme climatic over nearly 2,200 square metres). “Currently, we are able to har- ports Department, a senior officer leaves, are being sold at the farmers’ owners who have started frequent- conditions. Three are for tomatoes, two each for vest about 1,500kg of tomatoes and at the airport has said. markets in Al Wakrah, Al Mazrouah ing to the market in large numbers to The government’s support to local cucumbers and capsicums, one for between 600kg and 700kg of cucum- Col. Mohammed Rashid Al and Al Khor at nearly half the retail buy fresh vegetables at cheaper rates. farmers as part of its efforts to achieve cherry tomatoes and one for lettuce bers at the farm every two days.” Mazroui, Director of the depart- ment, said: “Earlier, there used to be a peak time of passenger arrival and departure and sometimes it dropped, but now the peak time Egyptians protest islands deal is all the time.” Travellers can complete pro- cedures fast which has also helped reduce long queues, which were Reuters using the signature chant of the 2011 revolt sometimes because some people against then president Hosni Mubarak, who obtained visa on arrival, some later stepped down. were yet have their eyes scanned, They also chanted: “Sisi - Mubarak”; “We others had exceeded the duration CAIRO: Thousands of Egyptians angered by don’t want you, leave”; and “We own the land of stay abroad while some had President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi’s decision to and you are agents who sold our land.” In other their passports amended — all of hand over two islands to Saudi Arabia yester- parts of Cairo, police fired tear gas at protest- which took a lot of time. day called for the government to fall, chanting ers, sources said. Saudi and Egyptian officials The department is working to a slogan from the 2011 Arab Spring uprising. say the islands belong to the kingdom and were cope with the increasing number Security forces detained some 50 protest- under Egyptian control because Riyadh had of travellers by further developing ers and police surrounded the Press Syndicate asked Cairo in 1950 to protect them. entry and departure procedures. building in Cairo, the site of the biggest dem- In a tweet, former top auditor Hesham Work is also going on to use smart onstration. Al Sisi’s government prompted an Geneina, sacked by Al Sisi last month, described traveller programme, and provide outcry in newspapers and on social media last the protests as the “purest, bravest and most more training for airport staff, week when it announced a maritime demar- noble demonstration of Egyptians” in decades. he said, adding 1,077 employees cation accord that put the uninhabited Red Sea In Alexandria, around 500 people protested attended training courses last year. islands of Tiran and Sanafir in Saudi waters. near a railway station. Calls for protests have “The people want the downfall of the gathered thousands of supporters on Facebook, Egyptians chant slogans during a protest in front of the Press Syndicate building in Cairo. → Continued on page 2 regime!” protesters cried outside the syndicate, including from the outlawed Brotherhood. 02 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 HOME

Emir meets officials in Istanbul OIC praises support to Syrian refugees

Continued from page 1 internal affairs and a contravention and stability in the country and the of UN and OIC charters and interna- region. The summit demanded full Israeli tional coventions. It reaffirmed its principled sup- withdrawal from the occupied Syr- It also deplored Iran’s interfer- port for the people of Jammu and ian Golan to the June 4, 1967 borders ence in the internal affairs of states Kashmir for the realisation of their in accordance with Security Coun- in the region and OIC member states, legitimate right to self-determination cil Resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and and aspirations in accordance with (1973), the principle of land for peace, Somalia, and Tehran’s continued sup- relevant UN resolutions. It stressed the terms of reference of the Madrid port to terrorism. that Jammu and Kashmir is the core Peace Conference and the Arab Peace The summit stressed the need to dispute between Pakistan and India Initiative adopted by the Arab Sum- preserve Syria’s unity, independence, and its resolution is indispensable for mit in Beirut on March 28, 2002. sovereignty and territorial integrity bringing peace to South Asia. It reiterated its principled position and reaffirmed support for a politi- The conference reaffirmed its on condemnation of the aggression cal settlement to the conflict based solidarity with the government and by Armenia against Azerbaijan and on the Geneva Communique. people of Bosnia and Herzegovina stressed that acquisition of territory It supported the political process and OIC’s support to and cooper- by use of force is inadmissible under under the UN auspices to implement ation with Kosovo and its people. the UN Charter and international law. a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned It expressed concern over attacks It called for strict implementation political transition that would allow on mosques and other properties of UN Security Council Resolutions building a new Syrian state based on belonging to Muslims and said the 822 (1993), 853 (1993), 874 (1993) and a pluralist, non-sectarian, democratic recent migrants’ flow from the Mid- 884 (1993) and immediate, complete and civilian system where the prin- dle East to Europe had exacerbated and unconditional withdrawal of the ciples of equality before the law, rule xenophobic and Islamophobic ten- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani holds talks with OIC Secretary-General Iyad bin Amin Madani Armenian armed forces from the of law and respect for human rights dencies in European countries. The in Istanbul. Nagorno-Karabakh region and other prevail. summit stressed the importance of occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The conference praised Egypt, not using Islamophobic and xenopho- It stressed the need for coopera- Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey bic tendencies in society as a tool for QNA countries, means of enhancing them bin Mubarak Al Shafi, other Turkish tion between Islamic states and Iran for hosting Syrian refugees and other popular policies and welcomed the and topics on the summit’s agenda. officials and Qatari embassy staff. based on the principle of good neigh- friendly states for supporting them. establishment of a Contact Group for The Emir met Lebanese Prime The Emir sent a cable to Turkish bourliness, non-interference in their It welcomed the adoption of UN Muslims in Europe. Minister Tammam Salam and his del- President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, domestic affairs, respect for their Security Council Resolution 2259 on For food sufficiency and secu- ISTANBUL: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim egation. Salam renewed his thanks to expressing thanks and appreciation independence and territorial sover- Libya outlining the transitional task rity in the Muslim world, the summit bin Hamad Al Thani met OIC Secre- the Emir for Qatar’s role and efforts of for the warm reception and gener- eignty, resolving differences through of Libyan authorities; and the Libyan supported the need for possible joint tary-General Iyad bin Amin Madani concerned entities in helping release ous hospitality accorded to him and peaceful means in accordance with Political Agreement signed in Skhi- venture agro projects under commer- and his delegation on the sidelines Lebanese military personnel kid- his delegation. OIC and UN charters and the inter- rat, Morocco, to form a Government cial and government arrangements of the 13th OIC Summit in Istanbul napped in Jarrod Arsal. The Emir praised Erdogan’s national law, and refraining from the of National Accord comprising the within OIC mechanism for the pro- yesterday. They also discussed ties between efforts which had a significant impact use or threat of force. Presidency Council and Cabinet sup- duction of cereal grains and the Talks dealt with cooperation the two brotherly countries and the on the outcome of the summit to The summit condemned aggres- ported by other institutions of state development of food reserves and between Qatar and OIC, means of latest regional developments, espe- promote solidarity and cooperation sions against Saudi missions in and the formation of the council and banks for the vulnerable segments of promoting it and topics on the sum- cially in Lebanon. among Islamic countries for the wel- Tehran and Mashhad in Iran and government. the population in the Muslim world. mit’s agenda. The Emir’s delegation Later, the Emir returned home. fare and interests of their peoples. rejected Iran’s inflammatory state- It reaffirmed its support for the Distribution arrangements could also was present. He and his delegation were seen off The Emir wished Erdogan con- ments on the execution of judicial Afghan National Unity Government serve as humanitarian assistance to The Emir also met Burkina at Ataturk Airport by Turkish Deputy tinued good health, happiness and decisions against the perpetrators established following presidential famine-stricken communities, dis- Faso President Roch Marc Christian Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus, success and the brotherly Turk- of terrorist crimes in Saudi Arabia, polls in 2014 and Afghan-led and placed people and refugees and OIC Kabore and his delegation. They dis- Istanbul Governor Vasic Shahin, ish people further progress and considering the statements a bla- Afghan-owned peace and reconcil- member states suffering serious and cussed relations between the two Qatari Ambassador to Turkey Salim prosperity. tant interference in the kingdom’s iation efforts towards lasting peace chronic food deficit. 3,984,231 visas issued in 2015 Qatar ‘potential’ market for jewellers at Dubai expo

Continued from page 1 By Fazeena Saleem with local partners. “I have been to participate in the Doha jewellery said Ashish Garg, Head of Sales and “When any forgery is discov- The Peninsula Doha and it’s a very traditional mar- exhibition as entry to Qatar,” said Marketing, who has participated in ered in the passport or other official ket. But the country is opening to Kamar, also a member of the Turk- Doha jewellery exhibition. documents of a traveller, he is black- different types of developments. Many ish jewellery exporters’ association. The four-day VOD is designed listed and sent back to the country new malls and shops are opening up Several other exhibitors at VOD specifically to cater to the jewellery, he has come from,” Col. Al Mazroui DUBAI: Jewellery industry experts and give an opportunity to jewellers have been part of the Doha jewellery gold, precious stones and diamond (pictured) told Police with you, a at a high-end exhibition in Dubai see also to open business. exhibition and have a presence in the industries and mainly targets the B2B magazine issued by the Public Rela- Qatar as a potential market and look “With this, Qatar is a very poten- market with local partners. sector. tions Department at the Ministry of forward to future ventures. tial market for the jewellery industry,” “We have been at the Doha jew- Its concluding day will be open to Interior. Some have an existence in Qatar’s said Piero Speggiorin, Export Man- ellery exhibition, which is a very visitors to mark Jewellery Celebra- He said in such cases, if a travel- jewellery market and see it giving ager, Maria Detoni from Italy. vibrant platform. We are doing busi- tion Day. The event is organised by DV ler is leaving Qatar, he is referred to them wide opportunities. Mustafa Kamar, owner of Roberto ness with some partners in Doha, the Global Link, a joint venture between the concerned authorities for inves- The second edition of Vicen- Bravo in Turkey, is making plans and opportunities there are increasing,” Fiera di Vicenza and DWTC. tigation because the forgery might in addition to technological devices zaoro Dubai (VOD) at Dubai World working to enter the Qatari market, said Illaria Furlotti from Ferrari- A key highlight of the opening have happened here. The process of that can discover the place of forgery Trade Centre (DWTC) is showcas- initially through the Doha jewellery Firenze in Italy. show was a presentation by Trend- checking travel documents is done in the passport,” he added. ing everything from gemstones to exhibition. KGK Diamonds and Jewellery sees vision Jewellery + Forecasting, Fiera through sophisticated devices such Major Nasser Abdulkarim Al diamonds and other unique pieces “Qatar is a growing market. It’s a the Qatari market with regard to two di Vicenza’s independent think tank as travel documents reader and Humaidi, Head of Airport Passports brought by about 400 exhibitors from star in the Middle East. However, the categories of demand. for trend forecasting, at Vicenzaoro fraud revealer that can discover Section, said some 140 eye scanners 25 countries. market plays is bit difficult. There are “We are working with partners Dubai Welcome Lounge. many types of forgery. have been set up at HIA according to The Peninsula spoke to a cross some Turkish jewellers active in the in Qatar. In Doha, there is a high- Visitors were invited to consult “We have modern devices to the highest international specifica- section of exhibitors about their Qatari market but not as brands as end market and the Indian jewellery the think tank’s editorial publica- check travel documents and dis- tions and 3,984,231 visas of all types potential to enter the Qatari market such,” he said. sector is mushrooming. We find the tions — The Trendbooks; Consumer cover forgery, for example, VSC 40, were issued last year. and experiences of those working “However, we are working to jewellery market there very vibrant,” Profiles; and Product Directions. Doha fifth among 82 posts in voter turnout

Continued from page 1 82 Philippine posts overseas in terms the necessary platform for overseas of voter turnout. “Filipinos have Filipinos to be connected and know “Our challenge is to manage strong interest in the elections and the platforms of the candidates at the the flow of people because of the come out in great numbers to per- same time to be more cognizant of number. We expect the number to form their civic duty. This is a positive the importance of this poll exercise,” increase further, especially dur- development as overseas Filipinos he explained. During the elections, ing weekends. We expect around show great interest in choosing the the embassy will be open every day 36 percent turnout at the end of the next leaders to take the reins of the to receive voters from 8am to 5pm elections,” said Santos. Compared to country,” added Santos. from Sunday to Thursday and 9am to other countries where OAV is being Social media has played a major 5pm on Friday and Saturday. On the Some of the participants at the event. held, Filipino voters in Qatar are role in making overseas Filipinos last day of OAV on May 9, votes can be more engaged and their number is more involved in the elections. “I cast from 7am to noon. To cast vote, encouraging. On the third day of the think social media is a catalyst for a registered voter must present his Animal lovers take part in dog walk elections, Doha ranked fifth among this positive development, providing passport or Qatar ID for verification.

By Raynald C Rivera activity which also served as oppor- Chance Rescue-Qatar in its noble The Peninsula tunity for HERO-Qatar members and cause. We are also thrilled to be Sunset amid clouds supporters to bond over worthwhile able to volunteer our services to the cause. The group also donated bags facility,” said Ayson. 2nd Chance Res- of dog food to the facility. cue-Qatar was established in 2009 as DOHA: Around 85 animal lovers The activity was led by HERO- a rescue mission of Abdulla Al Naemi from various nationalities took part Qatar President Kentry Beltran and later turned into a full-scale ani- in one of the biggest dog walking Ayson, HERO-Qatar Founding mal shelter, now home to over 150 activities yesterday at the 2nd Chance Chairman Henry Dimaano and dogs and 50 cats. Rescue-Qatar, one of the three ani- Akhro-Qatar Representative Daryl “We are thankful to efforts of mal shelters in the country. Jan Violenta. It received an over- HERO-Qatar and other Filipino The activity was organised by whelming support from other groups in bringing attention to what HERO-Qatar (Helping, Empower- community groups, including Filipino we do at the shelter. We look forward ing, Recognising OFWs in Qatar), Fitness and Health in Qatar (FFHQ); to continuous support of commu- a non-profit Filipino organisation, Pag-Iribang Bikolnon-Qatar (PIBQ); nities to facilities like ours,” said in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Cavitenos sa Qatar; WeGo Qatar; Amy Redfern, Manager, 2nd Chance Rho, to raise awareness about animal D’Fri3ndz; and ILoveQatar. EVE Rescue-Qatar. shelters in Qatar and services they House of Catering and Events spon- 2nd Chance Rescue-Qatar holds provide to the community. sored refreshments. dog walking/Open Day on Satur- Regular walking is essential to “We are glad to be able to put days from 3pm to 5pm. Those keen dogs’ health and over 150 dogs at the together this wonderful event which to visit the farm or donate dog food shelter were given a chance to walk is a way of advocating the rights of may email at 2ndchancerescuedoha. Clouds hover over Doha sky as the sun sets yesterday. Pic: Kammutty / The Peninsula around the animal farm during the animals. We are glad to support 2nd [email protected] MIDDLE EAST SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 03

Tunisian police Aleppo battles fire teargas in clashes with cast shadow jobless youth over peace talks Reuters & AFP

TUNIS: Tunisian police fired tear popular support, he said. gas in clashes with hundreds of The indirect talks resumed two unemployed youth in a southern Assad’s role in a days after opposition representatives town yesterday, after protesters future transitional arrived and following legislative burned a police station and cars elections in regime-held areas on during riots over jobs, officials and government, which Wednesday. UN envoy Staffan de witnesses said. UN envoy De Mistura Mistura met the government dele- Tunisia has been held up as gation, with a second session set for a regional model for democratic has said would be Monday, and the HNC was holding transition since an uprising against the focus of the its second meeting with him. autocratic leader Zine El-Abidine Assad’s role in a future transi- Ben Ali in 2011, but many of its cit- talks, remains the tional government, which De Mistura izens remain frustrated over the key sticking point. has said would be the focus of the lack of economic reform in the five talks, remains the key sticking point. years since. Damascus says that even dis- Protests began late Thursday cussing the issue of his departure is night in the town of Kerkannah, Families being evacuated from the recently recaptured city of Heet in western Iraq, yesterday. Iraqi security AFP off limits, while the opposition insists which lies on a small island off the Assad must play no role in a future forces gained full control over the key city of Heet, capital province of Anbar, after days of fierce clashes coast, and escalated into rioting and transition. with Islamic state group, a military source said. clashes on Friday, witnesses said. The fighting around Syria’s sec- “Police were chasing youths through BEIRUT: Fierce fighting raged yes- ond city Aleppo has cast a shadow the streets, arresting people and the terday around Syria’s Aleppo as over international efforts to end the protesters were chanting for jobs,” a a surge in violence forced tens of five-year war, which has left more UN warns Iraq political crisis local resident, Kamal Sahal, said by thousands more to flee their homes, than 270,000 people dead and telephone. “Police responded with a overshadowing the latest round of forced millions to flee their homes. lot of tear gas.” peace talks in Geneva. Troops and militiamen loyal to The interior ministry said in The clashes on several fronts the regime have fought Islamic State a threat to fight against IS a statement around 250 protest- have put a strain on a fragile cease- group fighters southeast of Aleppo ers attacked and burned a police fire in place since February 27, and city this week, the Syrian Observa- station in Kerkannah’s port of left more than 200 fighters on all tory for Human Rights said. AFP from the political divisions and On Thursday, MPs voted to sack Sidi Youssef, tossing homemade sides of the civil war dead in recent They also battled jihadists from chaos as well as the weakening parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi firebombs. Three vehicles were days. the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra of the state and its institutions is and his deputies, but the speaker burned and another pushed into The delegation representing Front and allied rebels in the flash- Daesh. We should not allow this to says the session at which the vote the dock. Since the 2011 uprising, President Bashar Al Assad’s regime point area of Handarat north of BAGHDAD: The United Nations happen,” Gyorgy Busztin, the acting was held lacked a quorum and was protests have sporadically bro- arrived yesterday in Geneva for UN- Aleppo city, it said. warned yesterday that political tur- head of the UN Iraq mission, said in therefore invalid. ken out in Tunisia over economic brokered indirect talks between Meanwhile IS fought rebels near moil that has repeatedly delayed a statement, using an Arabic acro- An “emergency” session on conditions and reforms. Riots over representatives of the government the Turkish border, the Britain-based efforts to change the Iraqi cabinet is nym for IS. Wednesday ended with lawmak- jobs in several southern and cen- and opposition. monitor added. a threat to the country’s war against “The political leaders of Iraq ers shouting, shoving and throwing tral towns at the beginning of this Syria’s main opposition High “What is happening in Aleppo the Islamic State (IS) group. should place the high national inter- punches in the parliament chamber, year were the worst since the Negotiations Committee (HNC) said is a major violation of the cease- Iraq is battling to retake more est over any other consideration and leading Juburi to call a recess. revolution. in Geneva yesterday it was willing to fire,” rebel commander Major Eyad ground from IS, which seized large work relentlessly to ensure the polit- Abadi presented a first list of cab- join a transitional government with Shamsi said in Geneva, blaming the areas north and west of Baghdad ical process produces solutions that inet nominees at the end of March, diplomats and technocrats from regime. in 2014, and Washington has also would lead Iraq out of its crisis and but the political blocs put forward 2 soldiers dead Assad’s government. “A big battle is being fought in expressed concern that political dis- strengthen the state and its institu- their own candidates, and most of the “We cannot accept the partici- Aleppo, and it will lead to a major putes could distract from efforts to tions. Only through unity can Iraq premier’s original list was replaced in IS car bomb pation of the parties who committed disaster should the regime succeed” combat the jihadists. win,” Busztin said. on a second presented to MPs on crimes against the Syrian people in in severing the route linking rebel- Instead of voting on a new cab- Abadi has called for the cabinet Tuesday. in Benghazi the transitional governing body,” held parts of Aleppo to the northern inet lineup, lawmakers tried to sack of party-affiliated ministers to be Some MPs demanded the oppor- HNC spokesman Salem Al Meslet countryside, he said. the parliament speaker and his dep- replaced by a government of tech- tunity to vote on Abadi’s original list said on the sidelines of the talks. On one Aleppo front alone — pit- uties on Thursday, while the two nocrats, but has faced significant — from which at least two candi- But the opposition could coop- ting rebels against IS — fighting has previous sessions ended in a sit-in resistance from the powerful par- dates had already withdrawn — but BENGHAZI: Two soldiers were erate with regime “diplomats and forced about 30,000 civilians to flee, and a fistfight among MPs. ties that rely on control of ministries the session was adjourned Tuesday killed and three wounded in a car technocrats” provided they had according to Human Rights Watch. “The only party that benefits for patronage and funds. without a vote. bombing yesterday near the Libyan city of Benghazi, security sources said, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. EU concerned The car exploded close to Al Yemeni forces rout Qaeda in southern city Hawari cemetery, killing two by Israel’s soldiers of Libya’s internation- ally recognised government and new phase of AP The internationally-recognized of anonymity because they were not for a year against the Houthis and wounding three, army spokesman government, backed by the Saudi authorized to talk to the media. their allies, who control the capital, Munzer Al Khartuch said. separation wall coalition, meanwhile, accuses the The assault came as coalition hel- Sana’a, and forced the internation- The cemetery is around 10km Houthis of continuing their shelling icopters and US drones launched a ally recognized government to flee from the centre of Benghazi, Lib- SANA’A: Yemeni government troops inside residential areas in disputed series of airstrikes targeting Al Qaeda the country. Meanwhile government ya’s second city. IS said one of its AFP newly-trained by a Saudi-led coa- cities like Taiz. hideouts and strongholds across Yem- forces are also battling both Al Qaeda militants blew up his explosives- lition routed Al Qaeda militants Yesterday, officials said that the en’s southern region. The group has and Islamic State affiliates. laden vehicle in the middle of a yesterday from a city in the coun- city of Al Houta, the capital of Lahj exploited the conflict between Shiite Al Qaeda in Yemen is seen by group of soldiers, killing as many try’s south and arrested dozens of province, is now firmly under gov- Houthi rebels and government forces Washington as the group’s most dan- as 50 and destroying 15 vehicles. JERUSALEM: The European Union militants, military officials said. The ernment control. The officials said Al to expand its foothold in Yemen. gerous offshoot after planning several Government forces have said yesterday it was “deeply con- battles took place as Yemen’s Shia Qaeda militants fled the city on Fri- This week, the coalition’s Apache foiled attacks on US soil. The group clashed with militants in the area cerned” by Israel’s construction Houthi rebels organized a large rally day to nearby towns and farms. Later helicopters launched airstrikes in the also claimed responsibility for the since Thursday, when a military of a new part of its controversial denouncing breaches to Yemen’s frag- in the day, security officials said that town of Koud in Abyan province, kill- deadly attack on the office of satiri- official said seven soldiers were separation barrier in the occupied ile UN-brokered truce. at least 48 suspected Al Qaeda mili- ing at least 10 militants and wounding cal French newspaper Charlie Hebdo killed near a cement factory. West Bank. Tens of thousands of protesters tants were arrested as security forces others. US drones also struck a in January 2015. The group has lost Fighting has flared period- Cranes last week began erect- chanted against the United Nations cordoned off the city from all direc- sprawling training camp in the south- several top leaders in drone strikes in ically in Benghazi for the past ing the fence in the Cremisan for what they claimed was the inter- tions and conducted searches. They ern province of Hadramawt, killing the past year, but has also seized con- two years as security forces try to valley near the Palestinian town national community turning a blind added that a total of five soldiers were more than 50 militants last week. trol of the city of Mukalla, the capital wrest neighbourhoods from armed of Beit Jala south of Jerusalem after eye to continued coalition airstrikes killed in the four-hour operation. The Saudi-led coalition has of Hadramawt province. groups including IS and Ansar Al a legal battle. after the April 10 start of the truce. All officials spoke on condition waged an extensive air campaign Sharia, which is close to Al Qaeda. The EU said in a statement it was “deeply concerned at the relaunch of works for the construc- tion of the separation barrier in the Cremisan valley.” Street clashes in Cairo US and EU not honouring “Once built, the barrier will severely restrict access of almost 60 Palestinian families to their nuclear deal: Iran official agricultural land and profoundly affect their livelihoods.” Residents of Beit Jala fear AP as part of the deal. “In general, we the construction may lead to the are not able to use our frozen funds expansion of the nearby Israeli set- abroad,” Seif said at the Council on tlements of Gilo and Har Gilo. Foreign Relations through a transla- They have sought to campaign WASHINGTON: A top Iranian offi- tor. Seif was in Washington to attend against it, but after a nine-year cial on Friday accused the US and the the spring meetings of the Interna- legal battle Israel’s high court ruled European Union of failing to honor tional Monetary Fund and the World in July 2015 that the wall was legit- last year’s nuclear deal by keeping Bank. “They (Iran’s partners) have imate and allowed construction to Iran locked out of the international not honoured their obligations.” resume. financial system. He urged Washington to do more Israel began building the bar- The White House insisted Wash- to encourage international banks rier of walls and fences inside the ington is committed to fulfilling its to do business with Iran and ease occupied West Bank in 2002 at part of the accord and said Tehran Iran’s access to US financial insti- the height of the second Palestin- wants concessions that weren’t part tutions. Otherwise, he said, the deal ian intifada (uprising), saying it was of the deal. The historic accord took “breaks up on its own terms.” He did crucial for security. The Palestin- effect in January and envisions Iran not elaborate. ians see it as a land grab aimed at curtailing its nuclear program in White House press secretary Josh stealing part of their future state. exchange for billions of dollars in Earnest insisted Friday that West- In a non-binding decision, sanctions relief. ern nations are doing their part. the International Court of Justice The head of Iran’s central bank, “The United States, along with the ruled in 2004 that construction of Egyptian protesters clash with a supporter of President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi (in green) during a Valiollah Seif ,said in a speech Fri- rest of the international community, the barrier was illegal and, like the demonstration against government’s decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, in front day that Iran’s counterparts have not is committed to living up to our end UN General Assembly, demanded of the Press Syndicate in Cairo, yesterday. lived up to their commitments and of the bargain,” he told reporters. it be dismantled. that “almost nothing” has been done 04 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 ASIA / PHILIPPINES

China accuses US Carter visits warship in South China Sea & Philippines of harbouring ‘Cold Carter’s trip to the USS John C Stennis came after Carter announced Stennis was the latest effort by the on Thursday that the United States War mentality’ We will continue United States to show its commit- had launched joint naval patrols with to stand up for our ment to maintaining security in the the Philippines in the sea, as he spoke hotly contested waters, where China of growing concern about China’s AP safety and freedoms, has rattled nerves by building arti- “land reclamation” and “militarisa- for those of our ficial islands on islets and reefs tion” of the region. claimed by some of its Southeast He also said the United States BEIJING: China will “resolutely friends and allies, Asian neighbours. would deploy hundreds of troops, as defend” its interests in the face of and for the values, “It is a message to the region that well as warplanes, to the Philippines. stepped-up US-Philippine military the US intends to continue to play a China claims nearly all of the cooperation, the Defense Ministry principles, and rules- role in keeping peace and stability strategically vital sea, even waters said, accusing the two allies of mil- based order that has in this region,” Carter told reporters close to its Southeast Asian neigh- itarising the region and harbouring benefited so many for aboard the warship, a nuclear-pow- bours, and has in recent years created a “Cold War mentality.” ered carrier that can carry about 75 the islands in an effort to assert what The ministry’s comments came so long: Carter planes and helicopters. it insists are its sovereign rights. shortly after the announcement Before flying from Manila to The Philippines, Vietnam, Malay- Thursday that the US would send visit the ship, Carter emphasised the sia, Brunei and Taiwan also have troops and planes to the Philip- United States would support the Phil- overlapping claims to parts of the sea, pines for more frequent rotations AFP ippines and other allies as they faced which is home to some of the world’s and will increase joint sea and air “coercion and intimidation”.“We will most important shipping lanes and is patrols with Philippine forces in continue to stand up for our safety believed to sit atop vast oil reserves. Secretary of the Department of National Defence of the Philippines the South China Sea. In a move and freedoms, for those of our friends China has constructed the islands Voltair Gazmin (left) and US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter arrive likely to further anger Beijing, US PHILIPPINES: US Defence Secre- and allies, and for the values, princi- on reefs in the Spratlys archipelago, at Puerto Princesa in Palawan, yesterday. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says tary Ashton Carter visited a warship ples, and rules-based order that has which are close to the Philippines and he will be visiting an aircraft car- close to flashpoint waters of the benefited so many for so long,” Carter Malaysia, as well as airstrips capable the main Philippine landmass. The the carrier from a military base on the rier in the South China Sea during South China Sea yesterday, as Beijing said at a closing ceremony for annual of accommodating military aircraft. shoal is 650km from China’s near- southwestern Philippine island of Pal- his current visit to the region that reacted defiantly to an American mil- US-Philippine war games. China in 2012 also took control of est major landmass. Carter visited the awan, which is the closest landmass does not include a stop in China. itary build-up in the area. The roughly two-hour visit to the a rich fishing shoal just 220km from Stennis after making a short flight to to the Spratlys. “The joint patrols between the United States and the Philip- pines in the South China Sea are militarizing the region and are non-beneficial to regional peace Power for sure and stability,” said a statement Militants set new deadline to posted to the ministry’s website late Thursday. “The Chinese military will pay close attention to the situation, and resolutely defend China’s territorial execute 3 foreign captives sovereignty and maritime inter- ests,” it said. China claims virtually the Reuters which is known for bombs, behead- nearly two-minute clip posted on entire South China Sea as its ter- ings and kidnappings. In the video, Youtube, the foreigners appealed ritory and is building manmade the captives, with machetes held for the militants’ demands to be met. islands there topped with air- to their necks, asked their families “I am told to tell you that my ran- strips and other infrastructure. PHILIPPINES: Islamist militants in and governments to pay a ransom som is 300 million,” said one man, The Philippines, Vietnam and the Philippines yesterday announced of 300m pesos ($6.51m) each, down who identified himself as Robert Hall. others also claim territory con- a new deadline of April 25 for the from the figure of a billion pesos each “My specific appeal is to the trolled or claimed by China and execution of three foreign captives that the militants demanded last year. Canadian government, who, I know, increased military and coast and a Filipino, but scaled back their “This is already an ultimatum,” have the capacity to get us out of here. guard deployments by all sides ransom demand in a video posted on the masked militant leader said. “We I’m wondering what they’re waiting are seen as increasing the poten- social media. will certainly behead one of these for.” The other Canadian and the Nor- tial for conflict. The statement also The captives - two Canadian four,” he added, setting the execu- wegian also made appeals, but the referenced China’s long-standing men, a Norwegian man and a Fili- tion for 3pm on April 25. There was Filipino woman was not allowed to opposition to US military alliances pino woman - were kidnapped from no explanation why the ransom was speak. The video was the fourth such in the region which it regards as Supporters of Filipino presidential aspirant, Davao City Mayor a beach resort on a southern island reduced or a new deadline set. appeal released by the militants. In a form of unwelcome interloping Rodrigo Duterte, display handbands with clenched fists during last September. They are believed to A spokesman for the Philippine their third clip last month, they set that challenges its desired status as a political rally in Marikina city, east of Manila, yesterday. be held in the jungle on Jolo island, a military declined to comment, say- an April 8 deadline but no ransom the pre-eminent military power in stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group, ing he had not seen the video. In the was specified. the Asia-Pacific. Saudi minister says donation to Malaysia’s Najib was genuine: State media

Reuters was a donation originating from (1MDB). Najib, however, has main- investigated the matter and found no Al-Jubeir was speaking to Malay- parliamentary inquiry slammed the Saudi Arabia, Malaysian state media tained that the funds were a donation wrongdoing,” Al-Jubeir was quoted sian reporters after a meeting with board of 1MDB for being irresponsi- reported, yesterday. and did not originate from 1MDB. telling reporters by state news agency Najib on the sidelines of the summit. ble and urged a probe into its former Najib has been facing allegations “We are aware of the donation Bernama at a summit of the Organ- 1MDB, whose advisory board is chief, but stopped short of implicating KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Foreign of graft after reports claimed that and it is a genuine donation with isation of Islamic Cooperation in chaired by Najib, is under investi- the prime minister. In January, Malay- Minister Adel Al-Jubeir said that a the funds found in his personal bank nothing expected in return. We are Istanbul. “So, as far as we are con- gation in at least five countries for sia’s attorney-general cleared Najib of $681m deposit in Malaysian Prime account originated from troubled state also fully aware that the Attorney- cerned, the matter is closed,” he alleged graft and mismanagement. any wrongdoing or corruption in rela- Minister Najib Razak’s bank account fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad General of Malaysia has thoroughly added. Last week, a Malaysian tion to the funds. Chinese state TV airs confessions Malaysia will not by two Taiwan fraud suspects send 20 Taiwan suspects to China Reuters has said the group detained in Kenya had operated out of Nairobi and were sus- AP pected of cheating people out of millions of yuan across nine provinces and cit- BEIJING: Chinese state television has ies in China. As most of the victims were aired confessions by two Taiwanese fraud in China, it said, they would be prose- KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia deported 20 Taiwanese suspects among dozens deported from cuted there. criminal suspects to Taiwan yesterday despite Beijing’s Kenya to China, as Taiwan said it would The ministry has said China informed request that they be sent to China, amid an ongoing bat- send officials to China to talk about a case Taiwan of the situation and would invite tle over jurisdiction involving the self-ruled island. A that has infuriated Taipei. its law enforcement officials to visit to dis- Malaysia official said another 32 Taiwanese suspects Taiwan has said China effectively kid- cuss how best to tackle such fraud. It did sought by China also will be sent to Taiwan. napped its nationals. Kenya, however, not respond to a Reuters request for com- A Taiwanese Foreign Ministry statement said the 20 does not have official relations with the ment on the confessions. suspects, who were detained on suspicion of commit- democratic, self-ruled island, and con- Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council ting wire fraud, had boarded a plane bound for Taiwan siders it part of “one China”, in line with said it had received another letter from yesterday. Malaysian officials had delayed the flight, the position of Communist Party lead- China inviting members to visit, and so saying they were awaiting legal approval, but the Tai- ers in Beijing. will send a delegation on Monday to talk wanese foreign ministry said the plane was allowed to Kenya said the 77 suspects, 45 of about the issue. take off late yesterday afternoon. whom were from Taiwan, were in the “We have not seen those suspects Taiwan’s statement yesterday evening said its offi- country illegally and were being sent back ourselves. We have not seen any evi- cials were actively engaged in talks to pressure Malaysia to where they had come from. dence ourselves. We are not in a position to allow another remaining 32 suspects to be deported Chinese state television aired video to comment at this point,” the council’s to Taiwan for investigation. of two men in orange jump suits with secretary general, Jeff Yang, told Reuters A Malaysian government official said the country blurred-out faces, confessing to imper- when asked about the confessions. has decided “to send the suspects back to their respec- sonating police in telecoms fraud in The videos are the latest in a recent tive countries to be dealt with accordingly.” The official China. string of on-camera guilt admissions in spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t “I now know that carrying out these China, which this time is likely to aggra- authorized to speak to the media. scams is wrong, and I will accept the vate cross-Strait tensions. The latest battle over Taiwanese deportations came punishment of the law,” said one suspect Though such displays of contri- after Kenya sent 45 Taiwanese suspects to China instead surnamed Jian. “I hope that the govern- tion have long been part of China’s legal of Taiwan. Beijing wants to investigate them for defraud- ment will give me a chance.” landscape, state media have increasingly ing victims in China by posing as police officers and Asked by a woman off-camera what used them, including in cases involving insurance agents over the phone in order to obtain he wanted to say to his “mainland com- foreigners accused of crimes. That has banking details. patriots”, Jian, who had a Taiwanese prompted international criticism that the China claims jurisdiction in such cases where the accent, said: “Sorry to the people of the admissions could be made under duress victims are Chinese, and says the perpetrators aren’t mainland”. and that the practice violates China’s own given due punishment when they are returned to China’s Ministry of Public Security laws on due process. Taiwan. ASIA / AFRICA SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 05 North Korea’s missile launch fails: US

AFP a Musudan. On board a US aircraft Jong-Un is expected to take credit for confirmed as a Musudan test, it would US. Existing UN resolutions forbid carrier in the South China Sea as part pushing the country’s nuclear weap- mark a very unwelcome public failure North Korea from the use of any bal- The missile of a regional tour, US Defence Sec- ons programme to new heights. and fuel doubts about just how far the listic missile-related technology. disappeared from retary Ashton Carter hit out at North Pyongyang has hailed a series North has gone in developing a relia- But the North has defied the sanc- SEOUL: North Korea tried and failed Korea for raising tensions. of achievements in recent months, ble nuclear delivery system. tions by test-firing nearly 20 short- or yesterday to test-fire what appeared surveillance radar a “The North Korean missile launch, including miniaturising a nuclear “We are monitoring and continu- mid-range missiles off its east coast to be a medium-range missile on few seconds after its which we assessed was unsuccessful, warhead to fit on a missile, devel- ing to assess the situation,” another US since early March, in a show of force the birthday of founding leader was nevertheless another provoca- oping a warhead that can withstand official said, calling on North Korea against the South-US joint army drill Kim Il-Sung, the United States said, launch and is believed tion by North Korea in a region that atmospheric re-entry, and building a to “refrain from actions that further that kicked off in the same month. denouncing the move as another to have exploded doesn’t need that kind of behaviour,” solid-fuel missile engine. Last week, raise tensions in the region.” Pyongyang, with the series of needless provocation. Carter told reporters. it said it had successfully tested an Anxiety has been high on the provocations, is trying to prove that The missile disappeared from sur- midair: Report The April 15 birthday of Kim Il- engine designed for an inter-conti- divided Korean peninsula since the UN sanctions are ineffective in veillance radar a few seconds after Sung -- the grandfather of current nental ballistic missile (ICBM) that Pyongyang conducted its fourth curbing its weapons development, its launch and is believed to have ruler Kim Jong-Un -- is a major pub- would “guarantee” an eventual nuclear test in January and a rocket said Seoul’s unification ministry, exploded midair, according to a Seoul which is believed to be capable of lic holiday in North Korea, where nuclear strike on the US mainland. launch a month later that was widely which handles cross-border affairs. intelligence official quoted by Yonhap striking US bases on the Pacific island key political anniversaries are often Outside experts have treated a seen as a disguised ballistic mis- “They are trying to divide opin- news agency. of Guam. marked with displays of military number of the claims with scepti- sile test. The UN Security Council ions of the international community There had been widespread intel- The US and South Korean mili- muscle. cism, while acknowledging that the responded with its toughest sanctions by pushing more people to think that ligence reports in recent days that the taries both detected and tracked the The country is also gearing up for North’s nuclear and ballistic missile to date, angering the North, which we... need dialogue with the North,” North was preparing for the first-ever early morning test. A US defence offi- a rare and much-hyped ruling party programmes have both made signif- has since made repeated threats of ministry spokesman Jeong Joon-Hee flight test of its Musudan missile, cial said the missile was “presumably” congress next month, at which Kim icant strides. If yesterday’s failure is attacks targeting the South and the said.

Yet another quake hits southern Day of Sun Japan; some reported trapped

AP earthquake brought down buildings foreshock. Yoshikado, whose and injured about 800 people, building was undamaged despite in addition to the nine deaths. The the intense shaking, checked the epicenter of yesterday’s earthquake damage at his aunt and uncle’s MASHIKI: A powerful earthquake was about 12km northwest of Thurs- home nearby. Kitchenware was with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 day’s, and at a depth of about 10km. scattered on the floor, and a clock struck southern Japan early today, Yesterday’s quake was more shallow. had stopped around 9:26pm the barely 24 hours after a smaller quake It hit residents who were still in time of the earthquake. Power hit the same region and killed nine shock from the previous night’s hor- and water have yet to be restored, people. rors and had suffered through more and many in the neighborhood Japanese broadcaster NHK said a than 100 aftershocks in the interim. have yet to return because of the number of calls were coming in from On Friday, Yuichiro Yoshikado aftershocks. residents reporting people being described the horror of the earthquake About 44,000 people stayed trapped inside houses and buildings. striking as he was taking a bath in his in shelters after Thursday’s quake. The quake shook the Kumamoto Mashiki apartment. The dead included five women region at 1:25am today, and several “I grabbed onto the sides of the and four men, the Fire and Disas- aftershocks soon followed. Japan’s bathtub, but the water in the tub, it ter Management Agency said. One Meteorological Agency issued an advi- was about 70 percent filled with water, man was in his 20s, and the rest sory for a tsunami up to 1 metre high was going like this,” he said, waving his of the victims ranged from their Young military personnel leave after paying their respects to former leaders Kim Il-sung (left) and Kim along the coast west of the epicenter arms, “and all the water splashed out.” 50s to one woman in her 90s. in Kumamoto; the advisory was lifted “It’s as if all control was lost. Eight of the nine victims were from Jong-il statues at Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, North Korea, yesterday. The ceremony was held as part of less than an hour later. I thought I was going to die and I Mashiki. the celebrations to mark ‘Day of the Sun’, birth date of the country’s founder Kim Il-sung. Sirens of patrol vehicles were couldn’t bear it any longer.” There were varying reports heard on the background as NHK A bright spot broadcast repeatedly on the number of injured. The reported from the hardest-hit town of on television Friday was the overnight government’s chief spokesman, Mashiki. The asphalt ground outside rescue of an apparently uninjured Yoshihide Suga, said at least 860 the town hall had a new crack, appar- baby, wrapped in a blanket and carried people had been injured, 53 seri- ently made by the latest earthquake. out of the rubble of a collapsed home. ously. Kumamoto prefecture tallied Over 10,000 The Nuclear Regulation Author- Police said Friday that concern 784 injured. Myanmar urged to ity said no abnormalities were found about aftershocks was keeping many Suga said 1,600 soldiers had at the Sendai nuclear plant, where the people from starting the huge task of joined the relief and rescue efforts. Mozambican only two of Japan’s 43 operable reac- cleaning up. Since Saturday’s quake TV reports showed troops deliver- end Rohingya abuses tors are online. was bigger. ing blankets and adult diapers to Thursday’s weaker, magnitude 6.5 Thursday’s was technically a those in shelters. refugees to With water service cut off in some areas, residents were haul- Reuters minorities. “One such step is Bur- ing water from local offices to their ma’s government radically changing be relocated homes to flush toilets. its abusive policies and practices in Suga said there were no Rakhine state, which have harmed abnormalities at nearby nuclear WASHINGTON: The US government members of the ethnic communities Reuters facilities. The epicenter was 120km agency charged with monitoring who live there, especially Rohingya northeast of Kyushu Electric Power international religious freedoms Muslims,” it said in statement. Co.’s Sendai nuclear plant, the only called on Myanmar’s new govern- The commission called on the one operating in the country. ment yesterday to do away with government to do away with laws JOHANNESBURG: The UN Most of Japan’s nuclear reac- abusive policies against the coun- discriminating against ethnic and Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said yes- tors remain offline following the try’s minority Rohingya Muslims. religious minorities, including terday that it will begin relocating meltdowns at the Tokyo Electric The US Commission on Interna- Christians and Rohingya and other 10,000 Mozambican refugees to Power Co.’s Fukushima plant in tional Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Muslims - notably the 1982 Citizen- better facilities within Malawi, the 2011 after a magnitude 9.0 earth- praised the government of de facto ship Law. It said the government neighbouring state they have fled quake triggered a huge tsunami. head of state Aung San Suu Kyi for should ratify the International Cov- to in a bid to escape renewed fight- According to the Japan Meteor- releasing political prisoners after its enant on Civil and Political Rights, ing in their homeland. ological Agency, Mashiki sits near November election victory. improve access to humanitarian aid UNHCR said the Mozam- two faults on Kyushu. The area But it said Myanmar, which is for displaced religious and ethnic bicans began fleeing into Malawi in is also near Mount Aso, a huge, also known as Burma, needed to minorities, and invite the UN Special December and the exodus peaked active volcano. JMA officials said act to protect freedom of religion Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion in early March at over 250 peo- the quake was unusually strong and end discrimination against or Belief to visit. ple per day. “In southern Malawi, for Kyushu. a major UNHCR-run relocation Rescuers dramatically pulled operation involving some 10,000 a baby girl from a collapsed house Mozambican asylum-seekers and yesterday early in the morning Ivory haul aimed at improving the conditions more than six hours after a swarm in which they are living began People gathered at a safe location after the second quake in Japan, of powerful earthquakes rocked earlier this morning,” the Geneva- early today. southwestern Japan. based UNHCR said in a statement. “On arrival, they will stay at a transit centre for up to two days until they are provided with a plot of land, food, shelter materials and household items,” it said. Ghana warns of militant attack In January, some refugees said they fled renewed fighting between Frelimo government Reuters Council Secretariat (NSCS) has evi- informal routes between the two forces and Renamo guerrillas in dence from neighbouring Ivory Coast countries. Ghana is one of Africa’s an escalation of a simmering con- from the interrogation of a man sus- most stable and peaceful democra- flict between old foes who fought a pected of orchestrating an attack on cies and has not suffered an attack by civil war that ended in 1992. ACCRA: Ghana and Togo are the next March 13 in which 18 people were Islamist militants. Togo is the coun- The refugees said Frelimo targets for Islamist militants follow- killed. “Intelligence gathered by the try’s eastern neighbour. forces were burning homes and ing high-profile attacks this year ... NSCS indicates a possible terrorist President John Mahama spoke killing civilians, charges denied in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, attack on the country is real. ... The about the memo in an interview on by the government. according to a memo from Ghana’s choice of Ghana according to the state radio’s Sunrise FM on Thursday. The official Mozambique news Immigration Service. report is to take away the percep- He asked for public vigilance and said agency said a government mis- The memo calls for better bor- tion that only Francophone countries Ghana was also at risk from home sion in March found no evidence der protection in the latest sign of are the target,” said the memo, dated grown militants, while noting that of abuses by the military. Mozam- A Wildlife Service officer examines an ivory tusk at the KWS a heightened government response April 9 and published by Ghanaian countries in the region share intel- bique and Malawi are two of the to the threat to West Africa by mil- media. ligence on militant threats. headquarters in Nairobi, yesterday. Containers loaded with ivory world’s poorest countries and both itants based in northern Mali who It ordered immigration agents Government spokesmen in the tusks from various parts of the country and other places arrived have also been hit by a drought have stepped up a campaign of vio- on the northern border with Burkina presidency and at the immigration ahead of the ivory burning event on April 30, where 105 tonnes that has triggered crop failures and lence in the last year. Faso to be extra vigilant and said ministry did not return calls request- of ivory is set to be burned. food shortages. It was a cause of It says the National Security patrols should be stepped up along ing comment. serious concern. 06 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 PAKISTAN Air strikes hurting IS group in Afghanistan: US

AFP to a province in eastern Afghani- Long-established Taliban mili- reestablish their presence in Helmand Also present in Afghanistan are conducted this month in Afghanistan. stan where IS fighters have focused tants, however, remain a major force (in the south), and we see them on the 100-300 Al-Qaeda fighters, who are Kabul said the strikes killed 17 attention on the regional capital and this week announced a Spring offense, particularly trying to clear rivals of the IS group. “insurgents” but local officials and Jalalabad. The US military estimates offensive. some areas on the eastern part of Hel- Cleveland earlier told AFP the US witnesses insist they were civilians. WASHINGTON/KABUL: The Islamic between 1,000 and 3,000 IS fighters “We’ve seen them begin to mand,” Cleveland said. military is investigating air strikes it On April 6, “US forces conducted State’s nascent presence in Afghan- are in Afghanistan. Cleveland said two counterterrorism strikes in Pak- istan has dwindled after the US the number was likely on the “lower tika” province, Cleveland said in a military stepped up strikes on the mil- end” of that. statement. itants, a US general said, but warned They comprise disaffected Paki- Anti-IS air strike kills 40 in Nangarhar “Currently, there is no evidence of they possess the ability to “catch fire” stani and Afghan Taliban, as well as civilian casualties. However, we are again. Uzbek Islamists and locals, Cleve- Reuters in 2014. “Based on our intelligence, territory covers swathes of Syria and conducting a thorough investigation In the first three months of the land said. the Afghan air force carried out the Iraq, have stepped up attacks against into the strikes,” he added, without year, the US military conducted “just The Obama administration in strike and killed more than 40 Daesh the much larger Afghan Taliban saying why they were carried out or under” 100 counterterrorism strikes January approved new rules loos- fighters,” Khogyani said. He said the movement in pockets of the coun- the number of victims. Haji Hussain in Afghanistan, 70-80 of which tar- ening when the US military could hit JALALABAD: Afghan aircraft killed militants had gathered to launch try’s east. In the past few months, the Khan, a tribal elder from Gomal dis- geted the IS group, Brigadier General IS fighters. Previously, the Pentagon more than 40 fighters loyal to Islamic attacks in Nangarhar, bordering law- US fighter planes have also struck trict, said three drone strikes killed Charles Cleveland said. could only do so under limited cir- State (IS) in a raid in the eastern less areas of Pakistan. against Islamic State fighters in Nan- 17 people. “The capacity of Daesh, we cumstances, such as for protecting province of Nangarhar, officials said The Afghan army public rela- garhar, forcing dozens to relocate to District governor Shaista Khan believe, has been lessened,” the local Afghan troops. yesterday. tions directorate said 42 IS militants the rugged mountain terrain of the corroborated the account, saying Kabul-based general told reporters, Despite recent successes against Although casualty claims by all had been killed in a joint operation neighbouring province of Kunar. those killed included youths and using an Arabic abbreviation for the the IS group in Afghanistan Cleveland sides are difficult to verify, Thurs- in Nangarhar and a training centre A US military spokesman said elders of the Kakarzai tribe returning IS group, which overran large areas warned the jihadists could quickly day’s operation appears to have been destroyed. It said the Afghan air force the United States has carried out 70 from a meeting over a land dispute. of Syria and Iraq in a brutal offensive rejuvenate. an unusually large strike by Afghan- had carried out 83 fighting opera- to 80 air strikes against Islamic State “The 17 victims were all civilians,” and has attempted to make inroads in “Just based on their past perform- istan’s fledgling air force, which has tions around the country, causing in Afghanistan in the three months he said. war-torn Afghanistan too. ance they have got the ability to catch been building up its capacity since heavy casualties to both the Tali- since the US forces were given But an Afghan official, speaking “Their overall footprint in Nan- fire very quickly. So we do want to the withdrawal of the Nato-led coa- ban and IS. Forces inside Afghanistan broader authority to target militants on condition of anonymity, said the garhar we do believe has been continue to have constant pressure on lition from most combat operations allied to Islamic State, whose core in January. dead were “armed insurgents linked lessened as well,” he said, referring them,” he said in a video call. to Al Qaeda.”

President returns from Istanbul Pakistan says Pakistani forces talks with India to go ahead

struggle to capture Internews

criminal gang ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office rejected yesterday the notion that the peace process between Paki- stan and India was suspended, comments. “Political and military saying it remained engaged with leaders agree that there will be no nego- Delhi. The operation involving tiations with these criminals, nor will we “We need to look ahead and more than 1,600 entertain any of their demands.” not think in terms of foreclos- He added, “They will either have to ing any options. Both sides are security forces is now surrender or be eliminated within the in contact with each other,” FO in its tenth day, an coming 24 to 48 hours.” spokesman Nafees Zakaria said unprecedented use of While Pakistan’s attention has for at the weekly media briefing. years been focused on the Taliban and The spokesman was referring force by the powerful Al Qaeda threat on the Afghan border to media reports quoting Paki- military in Punjab, in the remote northwest, militants and stan’s High Commissioner in India criminals have quietly expanded their Abdul Basit as having said that the which is the political influence and won recruits in the coun- peace process was “suspended”. Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain boards a plane as he leaves Istanbul after attending the power base of Prime try’s heartland of Punjab. “Dialogue is the best option. At least six police officials have been 13th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit, yesterday Diplomacy is for interaction and Minister Nawaz Sharif. killed in the battle for the island, launched engagement between countries,” in a sweeping crackdown after a Tali- Zakaria maintained. ban suicide bombing killed 72 people in Last December, the two coun- Lahore, the provincial capital, last month. tries had agreed to restart the Reuters It was unclear just how many members of Taliban attack repelled in Kunduz peace dialogue, which was named the “Chotu Group”, blamed for hundreds Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue. of cases of kidnapping for ransom, mur- It was agreed during Prime der and robbery, were trapped there, but KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN: the city of Kunduz, but they faced a security forces had “fled” the dis- Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistani police said their families were believed Afghan security forces drove Tal- jaw-breaking answer from Afghan tricts. The insurgents are known to stopover in Lahore on Christmas forces battled yesterday to dislodge to be accompanying them. iban fighters back from Kunduz forces.” regularly exaggerate their battle- Day that the foreign secretaries a criminal gang holding 24 hostages Police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghaz- city yesterday, officials said, as the The Taliban left security forces field claims. would meet to decide the sched- from its island hideout in the prosperous anfar said seven of the gang’s leaders insurgents began the 2016 fighting reeling with their brief takeover of The annual spring offen- ule and other details of the first province of Punjab, with a top regional had been killed by police and eight season by targeting the northeast- Kunduz late last year, their biggest sive normally marks the start of round of talks. official saying it had at most 48 hours in injured, while six police officials had ern provincial capital they briefly victory since they were toppled the “fighting season”, though this which to surrender. died and seven were hurt in clashes. captured last year. from power in 2001. winter the lull was shorter and the The operation involving more than Policemen were among the 24 hostages, Fighting took place within On Tuesday the insurgents Taliban continued to battle gov- Govt told to explain 1,600 security forces is now in its tenth she added. The battle is taking place near city limits as well as in six pro- announced the start of the “spring ernment forces albeit with less cancellation of day, an unprecedented use of force by Rajanpur, one of the poorest districts in vincial districts, Kunduz governor offensive” even as the govern- intensity. the powerful military in Punjab, which Punjab, where the Panjnad River flows Asadullah Omarkhil said in a video ment in Kabul tries to bring them The Taliban’s resurgence has army officers’ plots is the political power base of Prime Min- into the Indus, Pakistan’s lifeline. statement. back to the negotiating table to end raised serious questions about ister Nawaz Sharif. Television broadcast Authorities said the gang was led by “Fortunately they have faced the drawn-out conflict. Shir Aziz Afghan forces’ capacity to hold images of police and army commandos Ghulam Rasool, also known as Chotu, defeat by the Afghan security Kamawal, a police commander in their own, with an estimated 5,000 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme firing assault weapons at the 10km- long a longtime criminal active in the bor- forces,” he said, adding that 30 charge of Kunduz province, con- troops killed last year, the worst Court asked the federal govern- island in the centre of the Indus River, as der areas of the provinces of Punjab insurgents were killed and 20 firmed that fighting had taken ever toll. Peace talks which began ment to explain the cancellation an armoured personnel carrier drove by. and Sindh. Previous military crack- wounded within the city’s limits. place in six districts Friday, saying last summer were abruptly halted of plots belonging to two sen- “The gang will not be allowed to downs have focused on the lawless tribal “At the moment, the security the insurgents had “failed” but that after it was revealed that Taliban ior army officers who had been get away,” Punjab Law Minister Rana regions where the Taliban and other mil- situation is absolutely normal,” he fighting was ongoing. leader Mullah Omar had been dead court-martialled in Sept 1996 for Sanaullah told reporters in televised itants are based. said. “They dreamed of capturing A Taliban spokesman said for two years. their alleged role in a conspiracy to proclaim ‘Khilafat’ after assassi- nating then prime minister Benazir Bhutto and army chief Gen Abdul Waheed Kakar. Anti-US protest Pakistan denies involvement A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali in 2009 attack on CIA base had taken up a joint appeal of Col Azad Minhas and Col Inayatullah, who had been sentenced to four years each in prison by a military Reuters Pakistan’s involvement with HQN court on September 3, 1996. are preposterous,” a Pakistani For- Col Inayatullah had chal- eign Ministry spokesperson said in a lenged the sentence in the Supreme statement, using an acronym for the Court in 2000 and Col Minhas in WASHINGTON: Pakistan on Friday Haqqani network, which the United the Lahore High Court which dis- dismissed as preposterous reports States has designated as a terrorist missed his appeal in May last year. that its intelligence agency helped organization. In their appeal before the fund a 2009 suicide bombing on a “In fact, we were shocked and Supreme Court, they contended that CIA outpost in Afghanistan that was deeply saddened when precious the sentence was without jurisdic- one of the deadliest attacks in the US American lives were lost at the tion and with mala fide intention as spy agency’s history. Chapman facility in 2009 in an a consequence of which they had A heavily redacted US govern- unfortunate attack that was later been removed from the military ment document, released under claimed by TTP in a publicly avail- service and their properties and the Freedom of Information Act, able video, featuring the suicide other privileges confiscated. said that an unidentified officer of bomber with the leader of the TTP,” The two officers were arrested Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelli- the statement said. on Sept 26, 1995, along with Maj gence directorate paid $200,000 The TTP, or Tehreek-e-Taliban Gen Zaheerul Islam Abbasi, Brig to the Haqqani network to facilitate Pakistan, is the main Pakistani Tal- Mustansir Billa and 38 other mil- the bombing. iban faction. itary officers on the charge of The attack, at a site known as “Pakistan is determined to eradi- plotting to storm a corps com- Forward Operating Base Chapman cate the scourge of terrorism and has manders meeting scheduled to Afghans rally to protest what they call US interference in country’s internal affairs after a recent visit in Khost, Afghanistan, killed seven taken action against all terrorist ele- be held on Sept 30 that year at of US Secretary of State John Kerry, in Paktia, Afghanistan, yesterday. and wounded six. ments, without discrimination,” the the General Headquarters in “Allegations in the media on statement said. Rawalpindi. INDIA SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 07 One more dead in Kashmir firing; toll 5

protestors were demonstrating out- fresh unrest in Kashmir. Protests were side an army camp in Natnusa village also held in other parts of the valley The protestors were of border district Kupwara when sol- even as the streets were patrolled demonstrating diers opened fire to stop them from by gun-toting police and paramili- marching in, taking the death toll to tary personnel to ensure prohibitory outside an army five in clashes that have continued orders were not violated and peace camp in Natnusa for the fourth consecutive day, offi- is maintained in more volatile parts cials said.. of Srinagar, north and south of the village of border He confirmed the death, say- valley. district Kupwara ing five other protesters with bullet As a precautionary measure and wounds were sent to a hospital in the to prevent trouble-mongers from when soldiers opened main city of Srinagar. spreading rumours, cellphone inter- fire to stop them from “The 19-year-old was brought to net connectivity remained snapped marching in. the hospital with bullet injuries but for the second day. he could not be saved,” a doctor at A senior district administration a local hospital said, declining to be officer in Srinagar said the restrictions Zamruda Habib (centre), Chairperson of Kashmir Tehreek-e-Khawateen, and others shout slogans during a named. Police identified the deceased were put in place in parts of old Srina- protest against the killing of four civilians by security forces in Handwara, in Srinagar, yesterday. as Mohammed Aarif, a resident of the gar city. Curfew was also imposed in IANS north Kashmir district which has been the main business hub of Lal Chowk. at the epicentre of fresh unrest in the Restrictions were also imposed colleges, offices and other businesses by Mehbooba Mufti, the first woman and the local government have ini- valley. in Handwara and Kupwara towns in areas where restrictions had not chief minister of the state. tiated three separate inquirers into The demonstrators were protest- of Kupwara district and Pulwama been imposed remained closed. Pub- The trouble erupted after allega- Tuesday’s shootings, promising pun- SRINAGAR: A civilian was killed and ing against deaths of four civilians in town in south Kashmir. Separatist lic transport was also off the roads in tions that an army soldier molested a ishment if any soldier were found five more were injured yesterday as firing and tear gas shelling by secu- leaders, including Syed Ali Shah the valley. college girl in Handwara on Tuesday. guilty. angry residents clashed with secu- rity forces since Tuesday. Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and The latest unrest in the valley, The army has denied it. But an emergency military law rity forces amid simmering anger over Strict restrictions were imposed Yasin Malik, continued to be house which has been battling a separa- Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti grants soldiers deployed in Kashmir four similar deaths since Tuesday in across the valley amid protests and arrested. tist campaign since late 1980s, has has warned officials over harming immunity from prosecution in civilian a tense but curfewed Kashmir Valley. shut-down call by separatist groups There was a near-total response thrown a challenge at the new BJP- civilians while maintaining order fol- courts unless specifically permitted A police officer said that the against the civilian killings, triggering to the shutdown call as shops, schools, PDP coalition government headed lowing the deaths. The army, police by New Delhi.

Petrol price Government suspends Vijay Mallya’s passport slashed by 74 paise per litre IANS authority in the Ministry of Exter- directed the liquor baron to disclose all from a consortium of banks led by nal Affairs has today suspended the his assets — movable and immovable, the State Bank of India (SBI) for air- validity of Vijay Mallya’s diplomatic and tangible and intangible — and other line. By 2007, he also had spent a huge IANS passport with immediate effect,” the shareholding and beneficial interests in amount to take over low-cost carrier NEW DELHI: Tightening its noose on Ministry of External Affairs spokes- India and abroad by April 21. An apex Air Deccan. beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya person said in a statement. court bench comprising Justice Kurien But by 2010, the business tycoon (pictured), facing probe on charges Mallya has been asked to respond Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nar- had run into rough weather and ten- NEW DELHI: After effecting two of misappropriating a Rs.9,000 crore within one week as to why his pass- iman asked Mallya to disclose all the tatively had a debt of over Rs.7,000 successive increases in prices of bank loan, the government yesterday port should not be impounded or assets held by his wife and children and crore — which only increased with transport fuels, state-run oil retail- suspended his diplomatic passport for revoked under Section 10(3)(c) of the indicate the date when he can appear the passage of time. In March 2016, ers have cut the retail selling price four weeks. Passports Act, 1967. before it in person. the banks moved the Debt Recovery of petrol by 74 paise per litre, and The government gave Mallya a “If he fails to respond within the Industry watchers say trouble for Tribunal over the loans. On March 2, diesel by Rs1.30 per litre. week’s time to respond to the notice stipulated time, it will be assumed the sitting, independent Rajya Sabha Mallya left India for Britain. From the intervening midnight failing which his travel document that he has no response to offer and member from Karnataka, known However, on March 11, Mallya between April 15 and 16, petrol could be impounded. Mallya, who is the MEA will go ahead with the rev- for his lavish lifestyle, had begun broke his silence from his overseas will cost Rs.61.13 per litre in the in Britain, could face problems for his ocation,” the statement said. shortly after he launched Kingfisher location. “I am an international busi- national capital, while diesel will overseas stay in view of the suspen- On April 13, the Enforcement agency. He is being probed by the ED Airlines in 2005 as the aviation indus- nessman. I travel to and from India retail at Rs.48.01 per litre. Previ- sion of the passport, sources said. Directorate sought revocation of under the Prevention of Money Laun- try slowly started dwindling. Mallya frequently. I did not flee from India ously, petrol was costing Rs.61.87 “On the advise of the Enforce- MallyaÂ’s diplomatic passport after dering Act (PMLA). first took loans from IDBI bank in and neither am I an absconder. Rub- per litre and diesel was retailing ment Directorate, the passport issuing he failed to appear before the probe The Supreme Court on April 7 2006 and again in 2009 got loans bish,” he tweeted then. at Rs49.31 per litre. “The current level of interna- tional product prices of petrol and diesel and rupee-dollar exchange rate warrant decrease in price of Bengal polls: Phase petrol and diesel, the impact of which is being passed on to the consumers with this price revision,” two campaigning ends Indian Oil said in a statement. “The movement of prices in the international oil market and rupee-dollar exchange rate shall IANS Malda district where relatives of continue to be monitored closely late Congress stalwart A.B.A. Ghani and developing trends of the mar- Khan Choudhury are pitted against ket will be reflected in future price each other. Choudhury’s younger changes.” KOLKATA: Campaigning came to an brother Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury, On April 4, the oil retailer had end yesterday for the second phase contesting the polls as Trinamool hiked the prices of petrol by Rs2.19 of the West Bengal assembly elec- nominee, is contesting against his a litre and diesel by 98 paise. tions, involving 56 seats in seven nephew Isha Khan Choudhury, rep- Around a fortnight prior to that, the districts including six in north Bengal resenting the Congress. prices of the two transport fuels where polling will be held on April 17. Abu Nasar Khan Choudhury had were hiked by Rs3.07 a litre and The constituencies going to the won the 2011 polls as a Congress Rs1.90 a litre, respectively. polls are five in Alipurduar, seven in candidate but subsequently joined The Indian basket of crude, Jalpaiguri, nine in north Dinajpur, the Trinamool. ther major candidates which is used by refineries here, six each in Darjeeling and South includes North Development Minis- represents a derived basket, com- Dinajpur and 12 in Malda. The only ter Gautam Deb (Dabgram-Pulbari), prising of sour grade from Oman Cars, mainly with licence plates ending in odd numbers, are seen during the first day of the implementation south Bnegal district to go the polls Food Processing Minister Krish- and Dubai, and Sweet grade of of the second phase of the odd-even scheme for vehicles in New Delhi, yesterday. in this phase is Birbhum with 11 nendu Narayan Choudhury (English Brent in the ratio of roughly 72:28. constituencies. Bazar), and BJP’s actress candidate As on April 12, the latest Nearly 1.22 crore (1,21,74,947) Locket Chatterjee (Mayureswar). period for which data is available, voters across 13,645 polling stations Meanwhile, the Election Com- the Indian basket worked out to Delhi restricts cars to clear pollution would decide the fate of 383 candi- mission is examining speeches $40.60 per barrel, according to the dates — 33 of them female. made by West Bengal Chief Minis- Petroleum Planning and Analysis In this phase, Dabgram-Phulbari ter Mamata Banerjee as reactions to Cell of the petroleum and natural in Jalpaiguri is the largest assembly the show-cause notice issued by the gas ministry. AP will be fined $30. Over 700 people Yesterday, while the skies were electorate wise while Darjeeling is poll panel, an official said. “We have were fined in the first few hours after clear, fewer vehicles on the road the largest area wise. Balurghat seat sent CDs of speeches made by Ban- the restriction went into effect at 8 meant traffic moved smoothly across in Birbhum is the smallest constitu- erjee in reaction to the show-cause,” 11 of a family killed am, police said. The restrictions will the city. Emergency and police vehi- ency electorate wise. additional chief Electoral officer in road accident NEW DELHI: The New Delhi gov- be in place from 8am to 8pm from cles, ambulances, taxis, women drivers Political big shots like Prime Dibyendu Sarkar told the media here. ernment yesterday began a second Monday to Saturday. and motorcycles are exempt. The Delhi Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Banerjee on Thursday went all round of two-week car restrictions Residents said the impact of the government had last year ordered all president Sonia Gandhi, CPI-M state guns blazing against the Commission UJJAIN: Eleven of a family, among to reduce air pollution that has made traffic limitations would be evident taxis to convert their engines to com- secretary Surjyakanta Mishra, Chief which show-caused her for violation them five women and two chil- the Indian capital the world’s most only on Monday when people return pressed natural gas by March 31 this Minister Mamata Banerjee were of the model code of conduct. dren, were killed when a jeep polluted city. to work. Similar restrictions in Janu- year. That date has been extended by among those who hit the campaign Barely minutes after Chief Elec- and a dumper collided head on in The city’s top elected official ary had led to a significant reduction a couple more weeks, officials said. trail. Banerjee’s Trinamool, the Left tion Commissioner Nasim Zaidi Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district, Arvind Kejriwal said private cars will in pollution levels after more than Sunil Dahiya of the environ- Front-Congress combine and Modi’s informed the media on Thursday a police official said. be allowed on the streets on alternate one-third of the city’s 3 million pri- ment group Greenpeace India said Bharatiya Janata Party are contest- about issuance of a show-cause Those killed were travelling in days from Friday until April 30 based vate cars went off the roads. that more than the benefits from ing all the seats while the Gorkha notice to Banerjee over her the jeep. Angered over the deaths, on even or odd license plate numbers. Many vehicles, especially trucks, the decline in air pollution levels, Janmukti Morcha is also in fray in announcement of making Asansol which virtually wiped out a fam- Yesterday was a holiday in India run on highly polluting diesel. The the government’s decision to limit Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. a district and other utterances, the ily, a mob set the dumper on fire. and traffic was a trickle compared air quality worsens during the win- the number of cars on the roads had Among the major candidates in Trinamool supremo thundered “peo- The accident occurred on to the usual gridlock that swamps ter months, when the combination increased public awareness about the the fray in this phase include former ple will show-cause the commission” Ujjain-Aagar Malwa road near the roads in the capital every day. of ash from crop waste burned in problem. Dahiya said that govern- Indian football superstar and Trina- on May 19 when results of the assem- Palwa village. All the 11 were killed Schools, colleges and government nearby farming areas, construction ments of neighbouring states should mool nominee Baichung Bhutia, who bly polls will be declared. on the spot while one person was offices were shut. Traffic police and dust and the still wintry air all con- come together and adopt a regional is pitted against former state min- Appearing unmoved, Banerjee left seriously injured. All of them inspectors will be helped by more tribute to make it difficult to breathe. clean-air action plan or a national ister and CPI-M heavyweight Asok said she stood by whatever she had belonged to Mahidpur, the Ujjain than 5,000 civil defence volunteers to Air pollution contributes to more than clean-air action plan for Delhi’s Bhattacharya in Siliguri. said and lashed out against the poll police superintendent said, con- enforce the two-week rule. Violators 600,000 deaths each year in India. efforts to succeed. Eyes will also be on Sujapur in panel. firming the toll. 08 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 EUROPE / UK Brexit: Battle lines drawn in Britain France vows nervously watched in Washington and crackdown on Brussels, where a British exit would The referendum add to a long list of EU crises. violent protesters is also being “We think we’re going to win it,” Peter Reeve, a spokesman for UK nervously watched Independence Party (UKIP), said as he PARIS: France’s inte- in Washington and campaigned in Peterborough in eastern rior minister yesterday England where influx of East European ordered a crackdown on Brussels, where a workers has angered many locals. violent fringe demonstra- British exit would add London Mayor Boris Johnson will tors after they smashed lead a “Brexit blitz” with rallies today shopfronts and cars on to a long list of EU where he will try to persuade Britons the edge of a bigger crises. that they could thrive if cut free from youth protest rally held European Union red tape. overnight against labour Johnson has compared leaving the law reforms. EU to escaping from prison, saying Police used teargas AFP the referendum was “like jailer has and pepper gas to dis- accidentally left the door of the jail perse mobile groups of open and people can see the sunlit mostly hooded youths lands beyond”. who targeted cars, an LONDON: Activists hit the streets In the “Remain” corner is Cam- auto showroom and a yesterday for the first official day of eron, who says Britain has a “special state job-search agency campaigning over Britain’s “Brexit” status” within the EU thanks to a in central Paris. Violence referendum, firing the starting pis- renegotiation he sealed in February, was also reported in tol on a tense 10-week battle over the and that the country will be richer other French cities. country’s future in Europe. and stronger if it stays in. “There will be no let- UKIP leader Nigel Farage (centre) with UKIP Deputy Chairman Diane James (left) and UKIP Mayoral candidate Opinion polls suggest the Brit- Former finance minister Alistair up in the pursuit of these ish public is evenly split ahead of Darling lashed out at Brexit backers Peter Whittle, delivers a letter to Downing Street in London, in protest against a government pro-EU visionless people inspired the June 23 vote, which could bring accusing them of “playing with fire” information leaflet, Britain, yesterday. solely by violence, no let- down Prime Minister David Cameron and offering “Project Fantasy”. up in arresting them and and plunge one of the world’s leading “This is a very, very close vote. told a Britain Stronger In Europe anti-Brexit volunteers were handing would be a disaster if we left the EU,” bringing them to justice,” economies into uncertainty. No one can predict with any cer- event in London. In Covent Garden out leaflets to workers on their lunch said Gael Simmonds, wearing an “I’M Interior Minister Bernard The referendum is also being tainty what is likely to happen,” he in the heart of rain-soaked London, breaks yesterday. “Financially, it IN” t-shirt. Cazeneuve said. Hundreds of stu- dents and youths have organised a rolling pro- test against government Ireland can have govt soon: Minister 5 arrested for ‘terror’ plans to loosen protective labour laws, organising nightly sit-ins since March Reuters and short-lived: gain the support of at down a new demand, saying any 31 in Paris and other cit- least 6 more deputies outside his Fine deal would have to last long enough offences in Britain ies to vent frustration Gael party and Fianna Fail’s consent to implement at least three annual with the government. to abstain in key votes. budgets. Coveney said such an DUBLIN: Ireland could have a gov- “We need to get on with it, we arrangement “would certainly be AFP Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s ernment in place by next week, a need to work out what Fianna Fail helpful.” He also appealed again to office also declined to give further Trial begins in senior minister from acting prime need in order to do that,” Fine Gael other smaller parties to join the pro- details on the investigation. minister Enda Kenny’s party said yes- minister Simon Coveney said. “If both posed new government, including the “The federal prosecution office Cologne mayor’s terday after it made some progress sides approach it with a view to try to two-person Green Party, which left LONDON: Five people have been wishes to emphasise the good towards breaking a prolonged polit- find a way of compromising, then we negotiations last month, and outgo- arrested for alleged terror offences collaboration with the British stabbing case ical deadlock. can have a government by the middle ing junior coalition partner Labour, in Britain—including one man authorities,” it said. Kenny failed for the third time to of next week. That’s the plan.” which suffered huge losses at the stopped at an airport—in an investi- Top Brussels and Paris attacks BERLIN: Germany yes- be re-elected in a vote in parliament The parties will resume talks on February 26 election. gation involving French and Belgian suspect Mohamed Abrini, who was terday put on trial a but removed one stumbling block government parameters soon. The “Fine Gael is inviting any party authorities, the police said yesterday. arrested in Belgium earlier this man accused of stab- when his party’s nearest rival, Fianna pool of 14 independent lawmakers that wants to talk to us from a pol- Four of the arrests—three men month, was spotted in Birmingham bing Cologne’s mayor in Fail, abandoned hopes of forming a from whom Kenny is seeking to win icy perspective or in facilitating a aged 26, 40 and 59 and a 29-year- last July, according to reports. the neck in a suspected minority administration of its own. the required additional support have minority government. The broader old woman—were in Birmingham in Abrini has confessed to being violent protest against Kenny still has two more hurdles demanded a detailed plan is agreed the base for government, the better central England on Thursday, while the “man in the hat” caught on video her welcoming stance to clear to form a minority government before they make up their minds. and more stable it will be as far as I’m a 26-year-old man was arrested at with suicide bombers at Brussels air- towards refugees. that analysts fear could be unstable The independents also laid concerned,” Coveney said. London Gatwick Airport yesterday, port on March 22 shortly before they Frank S, 44, has been the police said. detonated their devices. in police custody since “This action forms part of an Abrini is charged with “terror- he was arrested at the extensive investigation by the West ist murders”. scene of the assault on Ex-radio presenter Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, He is also linked to the Paris the eve of Henriette Rek- Belgian minister quits together with the wider counter massacre after being caught on er’s election in October. Phil Sayer dies terrorism network, MI5 and inter- video at a motorway gas station with The unemployed house national partners including Belgian top suspect Salah Abdeslam, who is painter stands accused over security failings and French authorities to address now awaiting extradition from Bel- of attempted murder and LONDON: A former radio pre- any associated threat to the United gium to France. causing grievous bodily senter, known to millions of Kingdon following the attacks in The Wall Street Journal newspa- harm. AFP London commuters and tourists Europe,” senior police officer Mar- per cited unnamed Western officials Frank in the court from around the world as the voice cus Beale said in a statement issued last year saying several people with detailed his participation of the “Mind the gap” announce- to the media yesterday. connections to the Paris attacks’ in the right-wing scene ments on the British capital’s “The arrests were pre-planned suspected planner Abdelhamid in Bonn in the 1990s and BRUSSELS: Belgium’s transport underground system, died, his and intelligence-led... There was Abaaoud live in the Birmingham described himself as a minister resigned on yesterday after family said yesterday. no risk to the public at any time and area. “rebel with conservative being accused of ignoring EU reports Phil Sayer, 62, recorded the there is no information to suggest an Suicide bombings at Brussels’ values,” but denied being of security failings at the country’s automated warnings which are attack in the UK was being planned,” airport and on a metro train killed a Nazi. airports ahead of last month’s sui- played across much of the London Beale said, adding that police were 32 people last month, while jihadists Prosecutors say the cide bombings. “tube” network to alert passengers searching a number of properties in killed 130 people in a bombing and attack was motivated by The resignation of Jacqueline to take care when stepping from Birmingham. shooting spree in Paris in November. his opposition to what he Galant (pictured) is the first politi- platforms onto the trains. The Daily Telegraph newspa- Both attacks were claimed by the deemed the “wrong pol- cal fallout from the attacks on March “Phil Sayer—voice of rea- per quoted government ministry Islamic State jihadist group. icy” of government to 22 that killed 32 people in Brussels, son, radio, and railways,” his wife sources as saying that the arrests Prosecutors in Belgium have take in large numbers of including 16 at the national airport. Elinor Hamilton wrote on his were “significant”. already began a swoop against those refugees. Belgium, a notoriously complex an alarming lack of staff and fund- Facebook page. “We are sorry to When contacted, a police suspected in the March 22 bomb- country divided along linguistic and ing at the airport authority. announce that this service ter- spokeswoman declined to comment ings and made several arrests in political lines, has been accused of But a top official said he had minates here.” Sayer worked as a further including on any possible raids conducted in various parts of Serbia arrests a lax security apparatus that was clearly notified Galant and her office presenter for BBC radio in Man- link to attacks in Belgium last month the country. A number of European also exposed by a foiled attack on and even provided separate exper- chester in the 1980s and also read and in France in November in which countries were on alert following 49 people in the high-speed train connection to tise drawn up in January 2015 after regional television bulletins. a total of 162 people were killed. bombings in Brussels. Paris last August. The little-experi- the jihadist attacks on the Charlie anti-graft sweep enced Galant was under fire after the Hebdo satirical magazine in Paris. damning EU reports were leaked to That report warned that a terror- BELGRADE: Serbian media. This followed resignation of ist attack on Belgium’s airports “was police detained 49 peo- a top transport official on Thursday no longer hypothetical”. Colosseum cleaned up ple, including officials who accused Galant of incompe- “The fact that about a dozen from ministries and state- tence and “Gestapo-like” behaviour. Brussels airport employees with owned firms, on suspicion “Transport Minister Jacqueline access to sensitive areas have been of corruption and abuse Galant has offered her resignation identified as either having left or of office yesterday as part to the king, which was accepted,” leaving for Syria, must serve as a of an anti-graft drive that Prime Minister Charles Michel said warning,” the report added. has gained momentum after a cabinet meeting, according Michel confirmed to lawmak- before this month’s elec- to a statement from the royal palace. ers that the reports were indeed tion. Officials of Finance Two Islamic State attackers blew received by Galant’s staff, heaping Ministry, tax adminis- themselves up in the departure hall pressure on her to step down. tration, the EPS power at Brussels airport in a first wave of “I could not accept that this utility, the Putevi Srbije coordinated attacks that also hit a precise detail was not shared with road maintenance com- metro station near European Union parliament,” Michel told reporters. pany, the Post Office and headquarters buildings. In announcing her decision, 12 police officers were The EU reports only covered Galant strongly denounced what she among those arrested areas of the airport beyond security described as a “media crusade” by across the country, Inte- checks, but they pointed to “serious her political enemies who were tak- rior Minister Nebojsa deficiences” in security including ing advantage of the Brussels attacks Stefanovic said. an inadequate tracing of explosive to replace her. “This is yet another devices. The latest report from April “The well-orchestrated theatrics demonstration that police 2015 said Belgium was still “non- of the last 48 hours leave me unable will not stop ... Together compliant, with serious deficiencies” to continue,” Galant added. with prosecutors, we will in five areas based on spot checks at The European Commission, show Serbia can be a Antwerp airport. the EU regulator that drew up the completely serious, hon- Galant denied she was ever reports, declined to comment on the Scaffolding surrounding the ancient Colosseum arena is dismantled in Rome, Italy, yesterday. The est and fair country,” the made aware of the reports that date specific Galant case, but said it stood landmark Roman era Colosseum arena underwent a major clean-up ahead of the main tourist season. statement said. back to 2008 and that also warn of by its case work. EUROPE SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 09

Merkel authorises Italy insists ‘no criminal probe against TV comic

invasion’ on AFP

BERLIN: Chancellor Angela Mer- kel yesterday authorised a Turkish migrant issue demand for criminal proceedings against a German TV comedian over a crude satirical poem about the Greek Islands and the Balkans. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Italian officials are also wary of in a bitter row over free speech. Fears are running the possibility of neighbouring EU “The government will give its high in Italy that the countries closing their borders, as authorisation in the case at hand,” France did temporarily last year and Merkel told reporters, adding that country could be Austria is threatening to do now. it was up to the courts to decide on confronted with a The interior ministry this week his guilt or innocence. asked local authorities to find 15,000 However, Merkel also surge in migrants. extra beds to house asylum-seekers announced that Germany would in anticipation of a possible increase by 2018 scrap the rarely-enforced in the numbers of people requiring section 103 of the criminal code- accommodation. under which the comic, Jan AFP “There is a problem that con- Boehmermann, has been accused. cerns our country but there is not A section 103 probe can only an invasion underway,” Renzi said. go forward with the approval of People are seen under tents inside the Moria holding centre for refugees and migrants, on the Greek island “We have taken certain ini- the federal government. ROME: Italian Prime Minister Mat- tiatives but we are not facing an of Lesbos, yesterday. Ankara this month filed a for- teo Renzi yesterday played down a invasion. It is a big problem but we mal request for a criminal inquiry spike in boat crossings from Libya have clear ideas about how to deal to be launched in Germany against which has resulted in 6,000 mainly with it.” Renzi said the EU was work- Protesters storm refugee play in Vienna the popular Boehmermann for African migrants landing in Italy this ing on deals with African countries passing indecent remarks against week, insisting: “we are not facing to stem the flow of migrants leav- Erdogan while gleefully admitting an invasion.” ing for Europe and to prevent those AFP whose actors are asylum-seekers from who were eventually pushed out of the he was flouting Germany’s legal Renzi told reporters after the fig- who do from being allowed to pass Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Around auditorium and fled the scene. limits on free expression. ures were released by International through transit countries. 30 demonstrators, ran on stage wav- Eight people have filed charges Merkel—who labelled the Organisation for Migration in Geneva “I do not want to play it down but ing flags and unfurled a large banner for bodily harm against the protest- poem recited by Boehmermann that numbers arriving from Libya want to send a reassuring message. VIENNA: Austrian police said yes- reading: “Hypocrites! Our resistance ers, police said. “deliberately insulting”—had so far this year were broadly in line The numbers of boats are barely a terday they were hunting for far-right to your decadence.” After the upheaval, the play con- pledged Turkey’s request would with the 2015 pattern. few higher compared to last year.” activists who stormed a Vienna stage They also threw flyers saying tinued to the end under the watchful be “very carefully” examined. Fears are running high in Italy The IOM said that of the 6,021 during a play performed by refugees “multiculturalism kills” and fake blood eye of several police officers. She said her government, after that the country could be confronted migrants who have reached Europe and sprayed fake blood on the audience. at the 700 spectators inside the thea- Austrian Culture Minister Josef heated debate, had concluded with a surge in migrants trying to by sea since Tuesday, only 174 had The protest by the Identitaere tre in Vienna, police said. Ostermayer said the “shocking” inci- that only judiciary should decide reach its southern shores as a result landed in Greece with the balance movement took place after the start of A short brawl ensued between dent was the latest in a string of attacks whether Boehmermann had com- of EU moves to close routes through coming ashore in Italy. Die Schutzbefohlenen (The Suppliants), audience members and the extremists by the Identitaere group. mitted a criminal offence. Macedonia snap Ukraine seeks 15 years jail for two Russian soldiers polls on June 5 AFP But Ukraine cites testimony the panel to keep the men in custody until caught or spotted in the war zone as prison for her alleged involvement despite protests two men gave during their interroga- their sentence goes into effect. vacationing soldiers or volunteers. in the killing of two Moscow report- tion and in subsequent conversations Yerofeyev’s lawyer Oksana Aleksandrov’s defence attorney ers in the war zone. with reporters where both acknowl- Sokolova told reporters that she would Yuriy Grabovsky was murdered in But such an exchange is com- KIEV: Ukraine’s military prosecutors edged of being active members of ask the court to “pardon and release” March by two Ukrainian suspects plicated by Savchenko’s continued AFP yesterday demanded 15-year jail terms Russia’s GRU military intelligence at the suspects. whose motives still remain unclear. denial of any wrongdoing. Russian for two suspected Russian surveillance the time. They recanted those state- The court’s verdict is expected And unknown assailants last law says that foreign convicts may soldiers who were captured in the war- ments during the trial. within the coming weeks. week threw Molotov cocktails and set only be sent home to serve their time SKOPJE: Macedonia confirmed torn separatist east last May. Ukrainian military prosecutor The case has inflamed passions in alight the Kiev office of a Ukrainian there once they confess. yesterday it will hold snap polls Moscow argues that sergeant Ale- Maksym Krym said yesterday that both countries—their relations effec- judge overseeing the case. The two-year war that has now on June 5, despite days of angry ksander Aleksandrov and captain both men should be jailed for 15 years, tively frozen since Russia’s March Ukrainian President Petro Poro- claimed nearly 9,200 lives was anti-government protests and Yevgeny Yerofeyev had delisted from stripped of their property and denied 2014 annexation of Crimea and shenko has proposed swapping the sparked two months after waves of opposition calls for a delay as the the armed forces by the time they had right to take part in military duty for alleged backing of the rebel revolt. soldiers for Nadiya Savchenko—a pro-EU protests prompted parliament country grapples with a bitter crossed the Ukrainian border into the three years. Moscow denies direct involve- Kiev-born helicopter pilot who was to impeach Ukraine’s Russian-backed political crisis. rebel province of Lugansk. Krym also asked the three-judge ment in the conflict and calls Russians sentenced in Russia to 22 years in president Viktor Yanukovych. The date was officially set after demonstrators took to the streets in protest at President Gjorge Ivanov’s decision to halt probes into more than 50 public figures, Flower land Kremlin apologies for Putin’s including top politicians, embroiled in a wire-tapping scandal. “Based on my constitutional remarks on Panama leak and legal authority... I today signed the decision to call early elec- tions... on June 5, 2016,” parliament AFP speaker Trajko Veljanoski said. The early elections, originally agreed for April 24 and then post- poned in February to June 5, are MOSCOW: The Kremlin yesterday part of an EU-brokered agreement apologised to German newspaper to solve the seething political feud. Sueddeutsche Zeitung after Pres- Zoran Zaev, leader of the main ident Vladimir Putin (pictured) opposition SDSM, has already said wrongly claimed it was owned by his party will boycott the election, US bank Goldman Sachs as he sought claiming that conditions for a free to discredit leaks from the Panama and fair vote have not been met. Papers. Thousands of people, mainly Putin on Thursday had said that SDSM supporters, took to the US “masterminds” were behind the streets in a peaceful protest, leak to the paper, which has shared demanding Ivanov either revoke millions of documents from Pana- his decision or resign, as well call- manian law firm Mossack Fonseca ing for election to be postponed. with international media to shed Macedonia’s political cri- light on how the rich and powerful Suedwestdeutsche Medienholding. sis kicked off last year when the Flowers are arranged at a FloraHolland warehouse in Aalsmeer, the Netherlands, yesterday. Warehouses hide money offshore, including the “It’s more our mistake, my mis- SDSM accused then prime minis- are not normally tourist stops, but Royal FloraHolland depot outside Amsterdam is an exception. The Russian president’s inner circle. take, the mistake of those who ter Nikola Gruevski of wiretapping same tourists who flock to the flower barges in central Amsterdam get up at dawn and pay €7 to visit “Who is behind these provo- prepared the information about this some 20,000 people, including the warehouse, where some 20,000 different varieties of stems and plants are sold. cations?” Putin had asked at his (for Putin),” Peskov told journalists politicians and journalists. annual call-in session on national in Moscow yesterday. television. “It really contained uncon- “Sueddeutsche Zeitung is part firmed information, we did not of a media holding owned by US double-check it and handed it to financial corporation Goldman the president... I mean, in terms of Czech Republic might be named as ‘Czechia’ Sachs, which means that the fin- the ownership of Sueddeutsche Zei- gerprints of the masterminds are tung ,” he said. all over it.” “We have offered our apologies, Reuters the country’s official short name. The Czech Republic’s adored ice once it gains official status. Develop- State media in Russia has we are offering our apologies to the The Czech Republic emerged, hockey team has donned “Czech” ment Minister Karla Slechtova, think broadly claimed that the US govern- publication.” along with Slovakia, from the peace- on their jerseys, as have bottles of it is too close to “Chechnya”, making ment is behind the Panama Papers Reports based on the Panama ful breakup of the old Czechoslovakia the country’s premium export beer, it prone to confusion. leak, and Putin has said the goal of Papers revealed shady offshore deal- PRAGUE: The Czech Republic’s lead- in 1993. But so far there has been no Pilsner Urquell. But “Czech” is an Slechtova said that Czech Repub- the reports is to destabilise Russia ings of Russian officials and linked ers have chosen “Czechia” as the standardised one-word English name adjective and cannot be used as a lic had invested more than $40m in ahead of parliamentary elections in Putin’s close friend, cellist Sergei one-word alternative name of their for the Czech Republic, unlike, say, one-word name for the country. tourism promotion campaign using September. Roldugin, to shell firms that shuffled country to make it easier for compa- France, the shortened version of the Supporters of “Czechia” say the its full name, and should stick to it. However, Kremlin spokesman at least $2bn and made money out of nies, politicians and sportsmen to use French Republic. term in English can be traced back In some other languages, includ- Dmitry Peskov, yesterday was forced thin air from questionable deals with on products, name tags and jerseys. That has led to a lot of head- to the 19th century and was codified ing French and German, the Czech to make a rare admission that Putin Russian state companies. The choice, agreed by president, scratching. The largest part of by the Czech surveying and map- Republic is already designated by a was wrong about the newspaper’s Putin on Thursday acknowl- prime minister, heads of parliament the country is known as Bohemia ping authority soon after 1993 split single name, but in Czech itself the ownership. edged that the leaks contained and foreign and defence ministers, (“Cechy” in Czech), but there are also of Czechoslovakia as a possible one- name ‘Cesko’ has only made slow The Sueddeutsche Zeitung is a accurate information about offshore must win cabinet approval before the other parts, Moravia and Silesia, so word alternative. progress since 1993 and ‘Cechy’ —or subsidiary of Sueddeutscher Ver- companies but backed his friend Foreign Ministry can lodge the name one name is needed that does not But it never gained traction until Bohemia — is still commonly used to lag, which is majority-owned by Roldugin, saying he spends all his with United Nations and it becomes exclude those historic lands. now and it may not have an easy start mean the whole country. leading German media group money on musical instruments. 10 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 VIEWS

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

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

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL Iraq turmoil A boy leaves a tribute for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster at Anfield in Liverpool, Britain, yesterday. he political tussle in Iraq that has repeatedly delayed efforts to change the country’s cabinet now threatens to descend into a full-blown crisis that can destabilize Tthe country. The turmoil comes at a critical time when the government forces are trying to retake land from the Islamic State and the economy is in tatters due to rampant corruption and a huge plunge in oil prices. The United Nations, the US and the international community are concerned that political disputes can disrupt efforts to combat jihadists and The US rides Europe’s coattails bring stability to the country. Iraqi ministries have for years been shared out between powerful political parties that run the ministries as their East, South Asia, the Mediterra- dominates most international monopolies and spending bil- personal fiefdoms, doling out patronage and funds. Prime nean, Africa and the Arctic would be organizations. It has invested heav- lions to diversify Europe’s energy Minister Haider al-Abadi wants a cabinet reshuffle as part of his nearly impossible. In recent years, ily in the European Union, which imports. This includes rerouting the for example, 95 percent of people spreads peace and market eco- energy supply of Ukraine, which anti-corruption drive but two voting sessions in parliament over and materiel delivered to US forces nomics across the continent, and now imports more energy from the planned reshuffle was cancelled due to difference among the in Iraq and Afghanistan crossed permits Europeans to negotiate Europe than from Russia. lawmakers. Tussles broke out on Wednesday, a day after the first through Europe. as a bloc. Bolstered by Europe’s under- attempted vote. In the second attempt, instead of voting on a new Trump singles out resistance Europe’s resulting clout is most lying strength, leaders such as cabinet lineup, lawmakers tried to sack the parliament speaker to Russia as a prime example of obvious in the very area in which German Chancellor Angela Mer- and his deputies on Thursday. The conflict has crippled the US leadership. “Nobody else,” he Trump believes the United States kel have taken the diplomatic parliament and threatens to weaken the government institutions said, “is fighting for the Ukraine.” is being exploited the most. The lead in negotiations over eastern Yet the slice of the United States’ primary external force helping Ukraine. Within the Minsk Proc- which are responsible for running the country. By Andrew Moravcsik $600bn defence budget directed Ukraine resist Russia today is not ess, in which the United States is not The Iraqi forces have made huge progress in the fight against The Washington Post to supporting Ukraine or deterring the US military but European geo- formally involved, they have per- militants. The IS has been retreating since December when Russia in Europe is tiny. One-time economic and diplomatic power. suaded Putin to limit his territorial the Iraqi army recaptured Ramadi, allocations of $800 million this year No Western policy is more gains in eastern Ukraine, concede the largest city in the western region. and $3.4bn next year are earmarked critical to keeping Russia at bay a cease-fire and withdraw heavy Extending the gains, earlier this week, for Nato “reassurance measures” than Europe’s $9bn in annual eco- weapons under international over- resident Obama and Donald in Eastern Europe. nomic aid and debt relief to Ukraine, sight - with further plans for local the army took control of the nearby Trump rarely agree on for- Less than a billion more goes for without which the country would elections and eventual removal of The political region of Hit, pushing the militants eign policy. Yet they share military aid to Ukraine, where key long since have collapsed. This Russian forces still under discus- further north along the Euphrates one core belief: Our clos- Western governments have ruled is about 10 times more than the sion. Although Ukraine is far from disputes valley. Pest allies in Europe are exploiting out a direct military response. By United States provides. Europe has secure, even such modest gains in Iraq can As Gyorgy Busztin, the acting US military might. contrast, Poland alone spends a similar though smaller assist- mark a remarkable diplomatic disrupt efforts head of the UN Iraq mission, said, Trump says Nato should be nearly $10bn annually on its mil- ance program for other countries achievement, given the strategic the only party that benefits from the renegotiated: It is “obsolete” and itary, and Nato Europe as a whole in Russia’s neighbourhood. edge that Russia enjoys when pro- to combat “unfair . . . to the United States . . . more than $250bn. Brussels also recently signed a jecting power into its most culturally jihadists political divisions and chaos as well because we pay a disproportion- Is $250bn too little? Like free-trade agreement with Ukraine, proximate and strategically vital as the weakening of the state and its ate share.” Obama, the US foreign policy estab- giving it an international lifeline in Western neighbour. and bring institutions is Daesh. “We should not Obama has criticized Trump’s lishment rejects Trump’s bluster yet the face of Vladimir Putin’s tight- The geo-economic and insti- stability to allow this to happen,” he said. stance. Yet for years the president almost unanimously embraces his ening trade boycotts. Without this, tutional instruments of power that the country. The crisis in Iraq is also seen as the has been conducting his own underlying premise. A common the country would have no pros- permit Europe to flex its muscles fight for control between two religious Nato renegotiation -- including complaint inside the Beltway is that pects to free itself from the Russian with regard to Russia are simply demanding European leadership European spending falls short (by stranglehold and to achieve sus- unavailable to the United States, power centres – one based in Najaf, in the Libyan operation and tell- roughly $75bn) of the 2 percent of tainable growth, since Europe is with its low levels of foreign aid, Iraq, and the other in Qom, Iran. ing Prime Minister David Cameron GDP that Nato leaders have pledged by far its largest trading partner. antipathy to international legal Ayatollah Ali Sistani the most revered that if Britain wants to maintain to spend. Europe pays a high cost in lost commitments and secondary figure among Iraq’s majority Shia sect the Anglo-American “special rela- Yet all such criticism of low trade to sustain Western sanctions economic status in the former in Iraq, wants the government overhaul to improve governance tionship,” it must increase defence European defence spending rests on against Russia: Some estimate the Soviet zone, as well as its military and fight corruption. As Abadi struggles to impose his will, the spending to the recommended Nato a misleadingly narrow conception total loss at $50bn annually. This dependence on forward bases. And leader he replaced in late 2014, Nouri Al Maliki, has been steadily minimum of 2 percent of gross of national security. When Ameri- is again more than 10 times more resisting Russia is only one of many domestic product. His explana- cans think about global influence, than the United States, because regional and global issues in which reaccumulating power. Maliki is especially close to Iran and the tion? “Free riders aggravate me.” they tend to calculate only military European trade and investment Europe has taken the lead. Shia militias, who have been organised under the banner of the But Trump and Obama are both power. Yet in world politics, non- are that much higher. Portraying Europe as a conti- Popular Mobilisation Front (PMF), report to him. wrong. Although more foreign pol- military instruments are often more Russia’s policy options are nent of slackers makes for rousing The Iraqi leaders should place national interests above icy spending is always welcome, effective. And Europe is the world’s limited also by its dependence on election-year rhetoric. But pulling political and sectarian considerations and work tirelessly to Europe already assumes more preeminent civilian superpower. European energy markets. Today back from a transatlantic partner- produce solutions that will take the country out of the current than its fair share of the regional Europe is the world’s largest EU authorities are further under- ship that benefits the United States security burden. It invests not only trading bloc, provides two-thirds mining the Kremlin’s leverage by at least as much as it does Europe crisis. Reforms are vital for the survival of Iraq and both Maliki in its military but also in crucial of the world’s economic aid and clamping down on Russian energy would be self-defeating. and Abadi must unite on this issue. geo-economic and institutional instruments that the United States does not possess - but needs. In this respect, the United States freerides on European power. Consider the facts. The US mil- Quote of the day itary commitment to European defence is surprisingly small. After the Cold War, almost 90 percent of We expect presence, American soldiers departed. Today only about 5 percent of total US presence, presence. active-duty personnel and a few Presence of military hundred among thousands of US troops from different nuclear weapons are deployed there. Nato countries could be a The primary purpose of this symbol of determination to military presence is in any case not defend the eastern flank. to defend Europe. It is to promote vital interests elsewhere. Without Witold Waszczykowski naval ports, air force bases, hospi- Poland Foreign Minister tals and command centres in Italy, Spain, Germany and Turkey, US military operations in the Middle Latvian marines practise urban warfare in Nato exercises under instructions from US soldiers.

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serviceable streetcars that the Swiss city was replacing, made the bureaucracy friendlier to city residents and got Poro- shenko to build a spectacular musical fountain in the middle of the Southern Bug, the river that flows through the city. But the Hroisman family also owns a large mall in Vinnytsia, built while Volodymyr already ran the city, and financed with debt the Hroismans never repaid. The new prime minister is a typical Ukrain- ian politician, wily and capable but at the same time always mindful of his personal By Leonid Bershidsky interests. Bloomberg The new cabinet includes some of his old co-workers from Vinnytsia: One as a deputy prime minister in charge of the secessionist regions of eastern Ukraine, he new Ukrainian cabinet, con- another as social security minister. It also firmed by the parliament on includes plenty of seasoned Ukrainian Thursday, is more interesting for politicians and bureaucrats who did fine the people it doesn’t include than under all the previous regimes, as well as a Tfor those it does. Ukraine’s experiment couple of veterans from the 2014 “Revolu- with bringing foreign reformers and private tion of Dignity” and a few allies of former sector professionals into the government Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk -- his is now officially over, and it has failed. reward for allowing Poroshenko to form a President Petro Poroshenko tapped his beholden cabinet and avoid an early par- long-time protege and ally, former par- liamentary election. liament speaker Volodymyr Hroisman Gone, however, are the foreigners and to form the government. The result, for investment bankers brought into Yat- the most part, is a cabinet of Poroshenko senyuk’s government on the initiative of loyalists; the unpopular businessman- Poroshenko’s chief of staff Boris Lozhkin, president is consolidating power, much a former publishing magnate (disclosure: the way his hapless predecessor Viktor I worked for Lozhkin in Kiev in 2011 and Yanukovych once did. Though, at sev- 2012, before he went into politics). The eral points in the negotiating process, chief of staff used headhunters to locate Hroisman reportedly refused the prime suitable professionals, and Poroshenko minister’s job unless his conditions were granted them Ukrainian citizenship so met, these reports should be taken with a they could take up top positions. grain of salt: Poroshenko wants Hroisman “It was indeed my idea to infect the to look independent, not least in the eyes government with a different life form,” of Washington politicians who have been Lozhkin told me in an interview a year wary of Poroshenko monopolising power. ago. “They have to have a different genetic Newly-appointed Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman greets deputies at the parliament in Kiev, Ukraine. Hroisman was a popular mayor in makeup to change the system.” Gone are Vinnytsia, the base city of Poroshenko’s Lithuanian-born asset manager Aivaras confectionery empire, Roshen. He fixed Abromavicius as economy minister and the roads, persuaded the Zurich city US-born venture capitalist Natalie Jaresko. who is Lozhkin’s deputy on Poroshenko’s appointees soon after they moved into enough to pick up the romantics’ reform authorities to give Vinnytsia 100 perfectly The health minister, a Georgian, was also staff, was offered the job of deputy prime government offices, they were appalled at banner, I believe the optimism is cut from the team. minister for reforms but refused, saying the quality of management and pervasive misplaced. Ivan Miklos, the former finance min- he’d join a technocratic cabinet but not graft in Ukraine’s public sector, and they Those who run post-Soviet systems ister of Slovakia, might have been the only a political one. Lozhkin himself decided saw specific things they could improve. such as Ukraine’s are no less smart or foreigner in the Hroisman cabinet. Poro- not to move to a cabinet role, though he Individually and collectively, they talented than the private-sector manag- Though, at several points in the shenko’s team negotiated with him and had been offered one. failed to change Ukraine’s rotten post- ers who seek to change things; they just a law was even initiated to allow him to The only true star with a private sec- Soviet system. They learned that Ukraine serve themselves first, not the public good. negotiating process, Hroisman keep his Slovak citizenship. Yet all Mik- tor background in the new cabinet is is a country where the political and That’s such a powerful motivation that reportedly refused the prime los agreed to is an advisory role. US-educated former McKinsey consult- bureaucratic establishment know how to any reforms will backslide until selfless minister’s job unless his conditions Some Ukrainian private sector ant Oleksandr Danilyuk, the new finance make a stranger look and feel stupid; they romantics constitute a majority in gov- stars who went into public service after minister, who was another Lozhkin dep- were no longer willing, or no longer able, ernment -- a difficult picture to imagine were met, these reports should the revolution are also notably miss- uty before this appointment. to keep swimming against the current. -- or more advanced countries intervene be taken with a grain of salt: ing from Hroisman’s cabinet. Absent is The period from late 2014 to early 2015 “There is not a single expat in the to a greater degree than they are doing in Poroshenko wants Hroisman to former infrastructure minister, finan- was a romantic time for people with West- new government,” wrote legislator Mus- Ukraine today. cier Andrei Pivovarsky, who had been ern degrees and backgrounds in Ukraine. tafa Nayyem, who joined the parliament After the Hroisman cabinet was con- look independent, not least in the trying to reform Ukraine’s antiquated, Well-compensated professionals were on the same romantic wave that swept firmed, Poroshenko spoke on the phone eyes of Washington politicians who corrupt transport industry and who willing to interrupt their private sector the foreigners into the Ukrainian cabinet. with US Vice President Joe Biden, who resigned in December following unsuc- careers and work practically without “They were pushed out for not wanting to assured him of continued US support. have been wary of Poroshenko cessful efforts to secure living wages for pay, while playing for the highest stakes play by the old rules.” That support is now as misplaced as Rus- monopolising power. his team. Dmitri Shymkiv, the former possible -- Ukraine’s future and their Though he is optimistic that a dozen sian President Vladimir Putin’s backing of head of Microsoft’s Ukrainian operation reputations. When I talked to the new local public servants are now qualified Yanukovych just before his ouster. India leads world in environmental conflicts

By Manupriya local communities. more than 70 mine fires are under- at JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) successes aren’t enough to stem the IANS Similar conflicts have been way, polluting the air, water and and also obviously because India is tide recorded in Jammu and Kashmir, land and devastating the health of the country with the largest popula- In recognition of rising environ- Jharkhand, Manipur, Mizoram, Orissa the locals. tion in the world.” mental disputes, the government here are more environmen- and Sikkim, among other states. Several conflicts centre around He attributed conflicts to a growth established a National Green Tribu- tal conflicts in India than any There are other kinds of water- garbage dumping sites, such as in “social metabolism”, prompted nal in 2010 to serve as a fast-track Tother country, and more clashes management conflicts. In Khandwa, Deonar in Mumbai, Sultanpur and by economic expansion. “Materials court for such disputes, but the tide of India has 222 are over water (27 percent) than any Madhya Pradesh, locals objected to Bandhwari villages near the national and energy are extracted from new environmental conflicts is not ebbing. other cause, according to the recently a municipal corporation partner- capital region, Kodungaiyur near places and transported far away. “NGT has played a good role (in listed conflicts - released Global Environmental Justice ship with a private company to build Chennai, Eloor in Kerala and villages Mining expands and reaches new delivering environmental justice),” in proportion to Atlas (EJAtlas). a pipeline and augment water sup- around Bangalore. frontiers. Hydroelectricity expands said Swapan Kumar Patra, one of population, there India has 222 listed conflicts - in ply, because prices were to be decided Across India, more than three mil- and reaches villages in the Himalaya,” the Indian contributors to the EJAt- proportion to population, there are by the company. Another example lion truckloads of garbage is dumped said Martinez-Alier. las. In an unrelated paper, Patra and are many more - many more - followed by Colombia involves use of groundwater by Coca- without being treated, as IndiaSpend The high environmental costs in VV Krishna, professor at JNU and the followed by Colombia and Nigeria with 116 and 71 conflicts, Cola, involved in five conflicts with has reported, a manifestation of states that supply raw material other Indian contributor to EJAtlas respectively, according to the EJAt- local communities protesting bottling growing urbanisation. Environmental conflicts are wrote: “Since its inception, NGT has and Nigeria with las, an interactive map of 1,703 global plants (one each in Jaipur, Dehradun Conflicts have also erupted at global, but India differs from other given many fast-track judgments in 116 and 71 conflicts, ecological conflicts, categorised by and Plachimada (Kerala), and two in construction sites of new airports, developing countries in South Amer- various cases and has passed several cause, such as water management, Mehdiganj, near Varanasi. seaports and other big infrastruc- ica or Africa on one crucial point: orders to the respective authorities respectively, waste management, fossil fuels and Dams are persistent sites of con- ture projects. The common theme External trade. like ban on illegal sand-mining, according to the climate justice, and biodiversity flicts, especially when they are being running through most conflicts is loss “Despite being a large country, against noise pollution in Delhi, pres- conservation. built and commissioned, said Sailen of right to land or livelihoods of local India does not import or export too ervation of biodiversity of Western EJAtlas, an interactive With India currently facing the Routray, an independent researcher communities. much,” said Martinez-Alier. “Most of Ghat Mountains, wildlife protec- map of 1,703 global worst crisis in a decade and on course based in Bhubaneshwar. He has More conflicts in India than the the extraction of materials in India tion in Kaziranga National Park in ecological conflicts, to becoming “water-scare” within worked extensively on water issues Atlas lists is for internal consumption. But Assam, suspended many environ- nine years, as IndiaSpend reported and conflicts. Although the EJAtlas lists 220 there are conflicts between states. mental clearance and so on.” categorised by last month, the scale of the conflicts Other environmental conflicts environmental conflicts in India, Sometimes, about water rights. And, However, despite NGT’s inter- cause, such as listed in the Atlas further indicate a arise from an expanding economy there are many more. sometimes because some states (like vention and rising participation from worsening situation. Most Indian conflicts listed in the “You should realise that 220 is in Odisha, Jharkhand) become provid- affected locals, environmental injus- water management, Most water conflicts in Himachal EJAtlas appear to be a consequence proportion to population,” said Joan ers of raw materials for the rest of the tice in India is on the rise. waste management, Pradesh, most over hydroelectric of the country’s expanding economy. Martinez-Alier, Professor of Eco- country at very high internal social The question, however, is not projects For example, the raging under- nomics and Economic History at the and environmental costs.” how to avoid the conflicts, said Mar- fossil fuels and The conflicts over water are ground fires in the Jharia coal mines Autonomous University of Barcelona A comparison of the states shows tinez-Alier, but how to profit from the climate justice, most evident in Himachal Pradesh, in Jharkhand - an exclusive store- and director of the EJAtlas project. that some of them have indeed borne awareness of so many conflicts-“in and most are related to hydroelec- house of prime coking coal - were “India has more cases than any other a larger share of environmental order to move to an economy which and biodiversity tric projects, often planned without first seen a century ago, started country because good work has been conflict. is more sustainable and also more conservation. considering the needs and consent of spreading in the 1970s and, currently, done on the EJAtlas by our partners The national green tribunal’s socially just”.

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 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 AMERICAS Sanders blasts ‘immoral’ wealth inequality

bishops, academics and two South socialist rhetoric.As he walked American presidents that rather than through Vatican City’s Perugino gate, The Democratic a world economy that looks out for Sanders was greeted about two dozen senator from the common good, “we have been left supporters, some of whom carried with an economy operated for the top signs bearing Sanders’ name. Vermont addressed 1 percent, who get richer and richer as He told reporters that he was a conference at the the working class, the young and the honoured to address the conference poor fall further and further behind.” and admired Francis’ message on the Vatican. During a discussion later in the economy and the environment. afternoon, Sanders was peppered “I know that it’s taking me away with questions from academics and from the campaign trail for a day ecclesiastics at the conference, giv- but when I received this informa- AP ing the presidential hopeful a chance tion it was so moving to me that it to expand on his core campaign was something that I could just sim- messages about the need to reform ply not refuse to attend,” he said. banking regulations, campaign Pope Francis apologised that he VATICAN CITY: Bernie Sand- finance rules and higher education. couldn’t personally greet participants ers issued a global call to action at “We don’t choose to politicise the at the Vatican conference. No meet- the Vatican yesterday to address pope,” Sanders told attendees, “but ing with Sanders was expected. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (centre) leaves the Vatican after a conference commemorating “immoral and unsustainable” wealth his spirit and courage and the fact, Sanders was accompanied on the the 25th anniversary of ‘Centesimus Annus’, at the Vatican City, yesterday. inequality and poverty, using the high if I may say so here, that his words trip by his wife, Jane Sanders, and profile gathering to echo one of the have gone way, way, way beyond the 10 family members, including four central platforms of his presidential Catholic Church.” grandchildren. campaign. Earlier, Sanders warned that Back home, Clinton holds a Trump talks up ‘New York values’ The Democratic senator from youth around the world are no longer significant delegate lead against Vermont cited Pope Francis and St. satisfied with the status quo, which Sanders, but the senator has vowed John Paul II repeatedly during his includes “corrupt and broken politics to stay in the campaign until the par- Reuters waved signs against Trump, he told the from getting enough delegates. They speech to the Vatican conference com- and an economy of stark inequality ty’s July convention. His message New York state Republican Party’s gala want to extend the fight to a contested memorating the 25th anniversary of and injustice.” calling for a political revolution to that he needs the momentum that a convention in Cleveland when Repub- a landmark teaching document from “They are not satisfied with the address wealth inequality and the victory in the state’s primary would licans gather to formally choose their John Paul on social and economic jus- destruction of our environment by a influence of Wall Street on US poli- NEW YORK: Republican front-runner bring next Tuesday. nominee in July. tice after the Cold War. fossil fuel industry whose greed has tics has galvanised many Democrats Donald Trump talked up “New York “New York is so important,” Trump In his speech to the group, Kasich Sanders arrived in Rome hours put short term profits ahead of cli- and independents. values” and urged his home state vot- said, trying to regain the momentum tried to raise questions about Trump after wrapping up a debate in New mate change and the future of our Despite being enmeshed in an ers to give him a big win next week, but he lost after Cruz defeated him in Wis- without mentioning his name. He said York, saying the opportunity to planet,” he said. “They are calling out increasingly bitter campaign against his rivals warned nominating Trump consin and captured all of Colorado’s Republican candidates across the address the Vatican conference for a return to fairness; for an econ- Clinton, Sanders aides said the trip could lead to disastrous losses to the delegates. Trump identified himself country would be at risk with a can- was too meaningful to pass up. omy that defends the common good was not aimed at appealing to Catho- Democrats in the November 8 election. with “New York values” of hard work didate with a negative message at the The roughly 24-hour visit precedes by ensuring that every person, rich lic voters who comprise a large share Trump is in danger of being and compassion after Cruz charged top of the ballot. Tuesday’s crucial New York pri- or poor, has access to quality health of Democratic electorate in New York forced to try to capture the Republi- Trump’s version of these values are Trump has drawn many pro- mary, which Sanders must do well care, nutrition and education.” and an upcoming contest in Pennsyl- can presidential nomination through basically Democratic positions. tests for policy positions that include in to maintain any viable challenge He sat next to the other main vania. The Vatican has been loath to a contested convention because oppo- Whether Trump can win the 1,237 building a wall along US border with against Democratic front-runner Hil- guest of honour at the Vatican: Boliv- get involved in electoral campaigns sition from rivals Ted Cruz and John delegates he needs for the nomination Mexico, deporting 11 million illegal lary Clinton. ian President Evo Morales, whose is and tries to avoid any perception of Kasich is chipping away at his lead. is an open question as both Cruz and immigrants and banning Muslims tem- He told the audience of priests, renowned for his anti-imperialist, partisanship involving the pope. As protesters chanted outside and Ohio Governor Kasich, try to block him porarily from entering the US.

Venezuela creates new holiday and Mexico federal agents implicated timezone in students’ disappearance CARACAS: Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro declared a pub- AFP found against any agents. they asked what was going on. lic-sector holiday for Monday Prosecutors have already charged An Iguala officer said the students and vowed to change the nation’s municipal police officers in connec- would be sent to Huitzuco, where “the timezone in the latest dramatic tion with the mass abduction in the boss”—possibly a drug cartel mem- measures to cope with a crippling MEXICO CITY: Two Mexican federal southern city of Iguala on Septem- ber—would “decide what to do with electricity shortage blamed on low police officers possibly participated ber 26-27, 2014. But the governmental them,” the commission said. water levels at hydroelectric dams. in the disappearance of 43 students, rights commission said it found an The federal officers responded, Maduro last week gave the the National Human Rights Commis- eyewitness who saw two federal “Ah, ok, that’s good,” and allowed the public sector every Friday off sion said, implicating national agents agents near Iguala’s courthouse, local police to take the students away. until June 6, shutting down the in the 2014 case for the first time. where municipal officers had stopped Huitzuco would be a new location workforce in an emergency power- The announcement adds a new a bus with 15 to 20 students on board. in the twisting saga, as authorities saving measure to battle a looming twist to a probe that has come under The commission also said have maintained that suspects told crisis at the nation’s 18 hydroelec- fire from international human another local police department, investigators that the students were Brazil’s General Attorney Jose Eduardo Cardozo speaks at a session tric dams, which he said had been rights groups and independent from the town of Huitzuco, had a killed in the nearby town of Cocula. to review the request for President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment hard hit by drought. investigators. previously unknown role in the dis- The commission said there was at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasilia, Brazil, yesterday. “I am declaring Monday April Jose Larrieta Carrasco, a com- appearance. The bus was one of five enough evidence to “presume the 18 a non-working day and there mission official investigating the that around 100 students had seized participation of members of the will be no educational activity case, said the authorities should now that night to use for a future protest. Huitzuco municipal police and two Brazil Congress begins either,” Maduro told thousands of look into a “new route in the disap- Iguala police officers opened fire on federal police officers” in the disap- supporters. pearance” of the students. the buses before the students dis- pearance, adding that it has the name He said his decision would The attorney general’s office said appeared. The commission said the of one of the two federal agents, create an “electricity-saving it would “deepen” this “line of inves- police fired on the tyres of the bus which it gave to prosecutors. impeachment debate long weekend.” Maduro said he tigation” following the commission’s that stopped near the courthouse, The commission also said a sol- would change Venezuela’s tim- announcement. prompting the students to toss rocks dier on a motorcycle took pictures of ezone, which is now GMT minus A federal police statement said at the police. the incident and then left. Families of AP impeachment petition, said Rouss- four-and-a-half hours, as of May the allegations were not new and that The officers bundled the students the victims have called for an investi- eff’s maneuvering directly led to the 1 so as to save more electricity. all officers present in the region that into several patrol vehicles, includ- gation into whether the military had ills plaguing the country today, such The leader said he would provide night gave statements, but that “for ing three from Huitzuco. a role in the case, but the army denies as high inflation and periodic deval- details within days. the moment” no wrongdoing was When the federal officers arrived, any wrongdoing. BRASILIA, BRAZIL: The lower uations of the Brazilian real against chamber of Brazil’s Congress yes- the US dollar. “Are you going to tell terday began a debate on whether me that isn’t a crime?” Junior told the to impeach President Dilma Rouss- body, adding that the impeachment eff, a question that underscores deep push was not “a coup.” Cubans stranded in Panama demand passage to US polarization in Latin America’s larg- Solicitor General Jose Eduardo est country. Cardozo argued that lawmakers The vote is slated for tomorrow should only consider the actual AFP Africa and Asia—stormed the border, on whether to send the measure to accusations against Rousseff. overwhelming officials and entering the Senate, where an impeachment He warned that impeachment into Costa Rica. Within hours though, trial would take place, prompting the would constitute an act of “violence all but 120 of them were convinced to president’s suspension from office. without precedent” against democ- PASO CANOAS, PANAMA: Thou- go back into Panama to await a new The atmosphere in lower Cham- racy and the Brazilian people. sands of Cubans stranded in solution for them. ber of Deputies was electric at the Flanked by people holding signs Panama, many increasingly des- Panama and Costa Rica are both start of the session, as Rouss- showing constitution being ripped perate demanded that borders closed exasperated with the US policy which eff’s critics festooned themselves apart, Cardozo insisted the whole to them in Central America be reo- they say acts as a magnet. with yellow and green ribbons impeachment process was an act of pened to allow them to reach the Costa Rica accused Washington and brandished placards reading personal vengeance against Rousseff United States. of maintaining a “perverse” stance “Impeachment Now!” by house Speaker Eduardo Cunha. A growing mass of around 3,000 in welcoming only Cubans. President Lawmakers backing Cunha, Cardozo alleged, was Cubans on the Panama-Costa Rica Luis Guillermo Solis wrote a letter to impeachment allege Rousseff’s striking out at Rousseff for refusing border risk triggering another US President Barack Obama com- administration violated fiscal rules, to help him avoid an ethics probe regional migration crisis, weeks after plaining about the situation. using sleight of hand accounting in into allegations he received millions 8,000 compatriots were cleared out Panama’s security minister, a bid to shore up public support. in bribes from the corruption scheme of Costa Rica on special flights to El Rodolfo Aguilera, said: “This isn’t a However, many of those pushing in the Petrobras oil company. Salvador or Mexico. problem we’ve caused ourselves... for impeachment face grave accu- “Violence has been committed Nicaragua and Costa Rica have We’re only a transit country.” sations of corruption themselves, against the democratic state,” Car- since late last year closed their fron- In Paso Canoas, a town on the Cuban migrants protest in front of riot police at a border post with which government supporters are dozo shouted, gesticulating wildly. tiers to any more Cubans. But citizens Panama-Costa Rica border, the Panama in Paso Canoas. quick to brand as hypocrisy. The political infighting has of the Communist island keep com- Cubans are sleeping in improvised Rousseff’s defenders insist she dragged on for months, hamstring- ing, lured by America’s Cold War-era shelters in shops and old buildings did nothing illegal, and say similar ing attempts to help jumpstart the policy of guaranteeing them easy with no electricity or water. Some yelled as around 20 Costa Rican One of the Cubans, a 60-year- accounting techniques were used by economy and hanging up other entry and a fast-track to residency. of them walked to the border to press police prevented them from passing old doctor named Ileana Bordonado, previous presidents. measures observers say are crucial About 1,200 migrants—most of their demand to be allowed through. through. Security has been tightened said that “we cannot continue in these Miguel Reale Junior, author of the to getting the country back on track. them Cubans, but also some from “We want to keep going,” they along the border. inhuman conditions.” www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

PAGE | 14 QE 10,238.17 - 7.70 PTS PAGE | 15 G20 finance leaders DOW 17,876.81 - 49.62 PTS Greek Premier under pressure FTSE100 6,343.75 - 21.35 PTS blames IMF for to boost growth BRENT $42.54 - $1.28 bailout delay

SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 • 9 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Hopes high for output freeze deal at Doha talks

AFP Zanganeh will not attend the Doha that the number of countries due to $27 a barrel in February, oil prices still short of its pre-embargo level of The Doha meeting is talks himself, his ministry said attend had risen. Last month, Qatar have since rebounded to above $40. around 4m. Opec said its members yesterday. said 12 nations including itself would Yesterday, Brent crude futures pumped 32.25m b/d in March — with a follow-up to talks “Iran already announced it can- be present at the talks. were down 3 percent at $42.54 and Saudi Arabia accounting for nearly a KUWAIT CITY: Major oil producers in February between not join the plan to stabilise oil The Doha meeting is a follow-up US crude futures were down 3.1 per- third — up from an average of 31.85m meet tomorrow to try to negotiate a prices” while its output is still below to talks in February between Opec cent, trading at $40.22. b/d in 2015. production freeze to boost prices, but Opec members Saudi pre-sanction levels, it added. Saudi members Saudi Arabia, Qatar and On Thursday, the International “The freeze talks between Opec doubts remain about the likelihood of Arabia, Qatar and Arabia, however, has insisted it will Venezuela plus Russia in which they Energy Agency warned against over- and non-Opec will decide how a deal with Iran refusing to sign up. not join an output freeze unless Iran, first mooted the output freeze. The expectation for the Doha talks, saying quickly markets could get bal- Tehran said its oil minister would Venezuela plus Russia its regional rival, does so. Organisation of Petroleum Export- the meeting would have only a “lim- anced and by how much oil prices skip the talks in Doha between around in which they first “We don’t see Saudi Arabia ing Countries warned ahead of ited” impact on supplies. would rise,” Abhishek Deshpande, an a dozen oil exporters, including heav- freezing production and ... accom- the tomorrow’s talks of worsening Jean-Francois Seznec, an oil analyst at French investment bank yweights Saudi Arabia and Russia. mooted the output modating significant production oversupply. expert at Georgetown University, Natixis, said. Iran’s governor at the Opec oil cartel freeze. rises by other producers,” Fahad Opec also trimmed its forecast for believes Iran will not be the key prob- A freeze agreement, if it includes will attend instead, it said, triggering Al Turki, head of research at Saudi global oil demand growth this year lem at the meeting as it is only capable Iran, could see “markets completely a swift drop in oil prices on world Jadwa Investment, said. and said it might have to lower its pro- of boosting output by 300,000 bar- balanced” as early as in the third markets. further short-term boost,” said Fawad If a substantive agreement is jection further. rels per day (b/d) this year. quarter this year, he added. Prices have rebounded sharply Razaqzada, analyst at brokerage firm struck in Doha, however, that would A sharp rise in unconventional oil “I think the worry for the pro- One of the main Opec goals by not in recent weeks partly on expecta- City Index. help to build trust between key production, mainly US shale crude, ducers is not whether Iran freezes cutting production was to drive high- tions of a deal that could, in theory Tehran, which is emerging from producers and pave the way for pro- and Opec’s reluctance to cut output or not, but whether Russia would do cost supply, mainly US shale oil, out at least, help to reduce a supply glut nuclear-related Western sanctions, duction cuts in the future, Turki said. triggered a collapse in oil prices from so,” Seznec said. of the market. US shale production is and repair producers’ battered public will be seeking a waiver until its Qatar said on Thursday that there levels above $100 a barrel in 2014, Opec said on Wednesday that now sliding but the conventional pro- finances. Any agreement to freeze oil production reaches its pre-embargo was an “atmosphere of optimism” costing exporters billions of dollars. Iranian oil production in March was ducers’ dilemma is that shale oil can production would “likely give prices a levels. Iranian Oil Minister Bijan that a deal would be struck, adding After hitting 13-year lows of around 3.3m b/d, up from 2.9m in January, but respond quickly when prices increase.

G20 embraces crackdown on tax Mahindra e2o launched in Britain havens and shell companies

AFP undermined the fight against poverty. “When taxes are evaded, when state assets are taken and put into these havens, all of these things can WASHINGTON: The world’s lead- have a tremendous negative effect on ing economies yesterday embraced our mission to end poverty and boost a new crackdown on tax havens and prosperity,” he said. the use of shell companies to hide The Mossack Fonseca leak money, as the Panama Papers scan- placed Panama in the spotlight as dal claimed another victim. one of the leading havens that have A draft communique from not joined an agreement on shar- the G20 finance ministers meet- ing information on bank accounts ing in Washington endorsed a plan and other assets. that would rip away the shield of Under pressure, Panama said on secrecy for companies and individ- Thursday that it was ready to begin uals stocking assets offshore behind working together with the “Common anonymous companies, a dramatic Reporting Standard” (CRS) system on move that could put a deep dent in sharing information about assets and tax evasion, money laundering and accounts. “Panama’s path to finan- Anand Mahindra, Chairman and Managing Director of Mahindra Group, posing beside a Mahindra e2o illicit finance. cial transparency is irreversible,” Making the beneficial owners of Vice President Isabel de Saint Malo electric car during its launch in London, Britain, yesterday. companies, trusts and foundations to share corporate registry data. de Alvarado said in a statement. transparent “is vital to protect the And they proposed setting up German Finance Minister Wolf- integrity of the international financial databases of the beneficiaries of gang Schaeuble applauded the system,” the draft G20 communi- shell companies for the use of tax and statement. “This shows that our que said. The move came as Spain’s other authorities around the world. approach is promising, and we’ll industry minister Jose Manuel Soria In a joint statement during a continue to promote it with vigor,” resigned over allegations he had links meeting of the World Bank and he said. He said the new proposals Citigroup hit by energy rout to offshore companies. International Monetary Fund in will first take root in Europe. “Rapidly Files from the leaked document Washington, finance ministers of all Europeans will join in, and then trove of Panama law firm Mossack the five said: “The recent extensive we’ll soon exert pressure (to join) also AFP “We haven’t seen any credit dete- $1.10 per share, seven cents better Fonseca showed Soria was an admin- leaks from Panama show the criti- on a global scale,” he said. rioration in any of our books outside than analyst expectations. Citigroup istrator of an offshore firm in 1992. cal importance of the fight against Meanwhile the G20 was under of that which is energy-related,” Ger- benefited from about a $360m reduc- He was just the latest in a number tax evasion, aggressive tax planning pressure to step up measures for spach told reporters on a conference tion in expenses and boasted of of powerful officials, including the and money laundering.” growth amid warnings from the NEW YORK: Citigroup joined call. “We’re not seeing any migration increased lending to core clients. leaders of Russia, Iceland, Britain “Today we deal another ham- International Monetary Fund that the growing list of banks to boost of the energy-related issues into the The bank’s set-asides for dodgy and Argentina, linked by the Pan- mer blow against those who hide the global economy is at the risk reserves for bad energy loans yes- consumer book at all.” petroleum-related loans came on the ama Papers to offshore tax havens. their illegal tax evasion in the dark of stalling. Both the IMF and World terday, but said it saw no signs the The remarks came as Citigroup heels of similar announcements ear- Soria stepped down admitting corners of the financial system,” Brit- Bank say the demand for financial energy bust was spreading to the reported a 26.6 percent decline in lier this week by JPMorgan Chase and “mistakes” in explaining his alleged ish Finance Minister George Osborne support from struggling governments broader economy. first-quarter earnings to $3.5bn, other big banks as oil producers and offshore interests and “the obvious said in a statement. has risen to levels normally seen dur- The US banking giant lifted its as revenues tumbled 11.4 percent contractors reel from the fall in oil harm that this situation is doing to the Their proposal was to be weighed ing crises. reserves for loan losses by $233m to $17.6bn. Results were marred prices above $100 a barrel in mid- Spanish government,” which is one by the ministers of the entire G20, “In the global economy, there are due to energy-related loans as com- by a 27 percent drop in invest- 2014 to roughly $35 a barrel in much of the five European powers behind with expectations they will embrace not many bright spots,” World Bank pany officials signaled they expect ment banking revenue and lower of the first quarter. the new proposal to end anonym- it, even while some, including the President Kim said. “The weaken- further hits to results throughout 2016 revenues from several key trading Citigroup reclassified $730m ity for the beneficial owners of shell United States, allow the creation of ing global economy threatens our from pain in the oil patch. divisions, including equity markets in loans in its institutional clients companies. anonymous shell companies, trusts progress toward ending extreme pov- “I wouldn’t say that this quarter and fixed-income markets. group as “non-accrual,” or more On Thursday, in the strongest and foundations as part of normal erty by 2030.” “We are on alert, not is going to be by far the largest quar- The bank’s “market-sensitive likely to default, even though about reaction yet to the leaked Panama business. alarm,” IMF chief Christine Lagarde ter as yet,” said chief financial officer products clearly suffered from weak two-thirds of this group are still Papers, Britain, France, Germany, World Bank President Jim Yong said. “The current policy responses John Gerspach. But Gerspach said investor sentiment during the quar- performing, Gerspach said. About Italy and Spain proposed a blacklist Kim (pictured) said the illicit finan- that we are seeing need to go faster there is no evidence the oil bust is ter,” said Chief Executive Michael $500m of the $730m in the group is of havens like Panama if they failed cial activities enabled by tax havens and need to go deeper.” spreading to other sectors. Corbat. Still, results translated into energy-related. 14 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS

China economy shows signs Datsun ‘redi-Go’ launched in India of debt-fuelled recovery

While analysts say the data is yuan, suggesting renewed appetite evidence of a bottoming out in the for investment among wary Chi- Official data economy’s slowdown, some warn nese corporates. China’s retail sales yesterday showed that the first quarter of 2015 got off to growth quickened to 10.5 percent a similarly glowing start before a stock in March from 10.2 percent, slightly China’s gross market crash later that year. “What this above forecasts, while fixed-asset domestic product shows is a stabilisation of the old econ- investment growth rose to 10.7 per- grew at an annual omy,” said Raymond Yeung of ANZ, cent year-on-year in the first quarter pointing to recovery in industrial pro- from 10.2 percent, beating market rate of 6.7 percent duction and fixed asset investment. expectations of 10.3 percent. in the first quarter “I would still be a bit cautious Industrial output growth leapt up about headline growth... last year’s to 6.8 percent from 5.4 percent, sur- of the year, easing 6.9 percent figure was underpinned prising analysts who expected a rise slightly from 6.8 by a massive contribution from finan- of 5.9 percent on an annual basis. cial services, and the strong loan and The NBS also noted that official percent in the fourth credit growth recently and the recent unemployment remained low in quarter as expected. resumption of IPO activity suggests March, around 5.2 percent, despite this could still be a big contribution.” moves to cut capacity in bloated The National Bureau of Statistics industries like coal and steel. said in a press conference in Beijing Critics, however, point out that Chairman for Africa, Middle East and India region of Nissan Motor Corporation, Christian Mardrus, Reuters on Friday that while main economic many laid-off workers from old- indicators showed positive changes, economy sectors have been shifted stands near the newly launched Datsun ‘redi-Go’ car at a function in New Delhi on Thursday. “downward pressure cannot be into lower-paying government jobs, underestimated.” cleaning up offices - good for politi- BEIJING: China posted its slowest It did not distribute quarterly GDP cal stability but bad for wage growth economic growth since 2009 but figures as it has in the past, saying and consumer spending. a surge of new debt appears to be it needed more time to calculate At the same time official retail fueling a recovery in factory activity, the figure. Global financial markets spending figures capture a lot of gov- investment and household spending took the data in stride, but domestic ernment purchases; elsewhere in the Gabon wants to rejoin Opec in the world’s second largest econ- stocks fell slightly, as analysts said economy there are signs that ordi- omy. the strong data implied the likelihood nary consumption remains weak. That’s good news in the near- of a slower pace of monetary easing. March export figures released Reuters “They sent the request to Opec b/d, is currently the smallest Opec term, economists say, but many The CSI300 index of the largest earlier this week also staged an officially,” said one of the sources, producer. The next step, the sources worry it marks a return to the old listed firms in Shanghai and Shen- unexpected recovery, although some an Opec delegate. An oil official in said, would be for Opec oil ministers playbook used during the financial zhen closed 0.1 percent lower. Forex economists caution that seasonal Gabon declined to comment. to discuss Gabon’s request. They hold crisis, when Beijing hand-cranked its markets were largely flat with the effects from last year’s late Lunar DUBAI/LONDON: The African Gabon joined Opec in 1975 their next meeting in June. economy out of a slowdown through offshore rate and the onshore rate New Year holiday could be a factor. nation of Gabon wants to rejoin and left in 1995 over the exporter Opec rules state that a coun- massive stimulus, rather than struc- trading around 6.5 per dollar. “Today’s released data ought Opec after more than two decades, group’s refusal to grant its request try needs to have “a substantial net tural reform. Beijing hopes a recovery — even a not to distract from the fact that two OPEC sources said, becoming the for reduced annual contributions in export of crude” in order to become Official data yesterday showed credit-fueled one — can be sustained the structural issues facing China’s second former member in a year to line with the country’s small produc- a full member. Still, the ministers China’s gross domestic product grew to avoid the need for more aggressive economy remain unresolved,” wrote seek a return to the oil exporters’ tion, news reports said at the time. waived this requirement with the at an annual rate of 6.7 percent in stimulus that could reinflate asset Economist Intelligence Unit econo- group just as it is taking the first steps Gabon produces 200,000 bar- decision to welcome back Indone- the first quarter of the year, eas- bubbles and make it more difficult mist Tom Rafferty in a research note. in years to prop up prices. rels of oil per day (b/d) according to sia, now a net oil importer. Whether ing slightly from 6.8 percent in the to retrain Chinese firms to move up “It has taken considerable mon- If it returned, Gabon would be the the International Energy Agency, Gabon’s return would be as straight- fourth quarter as expected. However, the value chain. etary and fiscal policy loosening to smallest producer in the Organisation and output is in decline. Last year, forward is not clear. Indonesia was other indicators released showed new Chinese banks extended 1.37 tril- stabilise economic growth at this level of the Petroleum Exporting Countries the government launched an off- deemed by Opec to have “suspended” loans, retail sales, industrial output lion yuan ($211.23bn) in net new yuan and this effort has distracted from the and bring its ranks to 14 countries fol- shore licensing round in a bid to boost its membership, while it calls Gabon’s and fixed asset investment were all loans in March, nearly double the reform agenda that is fundamental to lowing last year’s return of Indonesia, exploration. departure a “termination” - implying better than forecast. previous month’s lending of 726.6bn long-term economic sustainability.” which had quit in 2008. Ecuador, which pumps 530,000 a more formal severing of ties.

Infosys posts G20 finance leaders under pressure to boost growth 16% rise Reuters time is ripe for a re-evaluation of the Japanese Finance Minister Taro China’s economic slowdown has in Q4 profit fiscal policy space, with a greater Aso told reporters late on Thursday slashed demand for commodities focus placed on public investment.” that he stressed those concerns in a and components worldwide, caus- Although India is one of the bright- meeting with US Treasury Secretary ing spillovers to emerging markets BENGALURU: Indian software WASHINGTON: Financial leaders est stars of the world economy, with the Jack Lew, a sign that currency issues and advanced economies alike. A giant Infosys yesterday reported from the Group of 20 major econo- IMF predicting 7.5 percent growth this would be high on the list of the G20’s shock devaluation of the yuan last a 16 percent jump in fourth-quar- mies scrambled yesterday for a way year, Jaitley warned that the global priorities. “I told (Lew) that excessive August and further declines earlier ter net profit, beating expectations to keep global growth from stall- recovery was fragile and could easily volatility and disorderly currency this year sparked financial market after it won new clients for its IT ing amid concerns about a drop-off be derailed by weak demand, tighter moves would have a negative impact turmoil and worries about further services business. in international trade and the wan- financial markets, softening trade and on the economy. I also expressed deep devaluations. Net profit in the three months ing effectiveness of loose monetary volatile capital flows. concern over recent one-sided moves People’s Bank of China Dep- to March 31 came in at Rs36bn policy. “We, therefore, need to articu- in the currency market,” Aso said. uty Governor Yi Gang on Thursday ($540m), compared with Rs31bn The G20 gathering, the highlight late an effective and tangible policy Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko offered some reassuring words that in the same period last year. It of the International Monetary Fund response to revive the trade engine of Kuroda also described the yen’s Chinese economic growth would be beat analysts’ estimates of quar- and World Bank spring meetings in the global economy. Countries must ascent so far this year as “excessive,” in line with IMF estimates of 7.5 per- terly profit of Rs35.2bn in a survey Washington, came amid growing Minister Arun Jaitley (pictured) said avoid trade protectionist measures, the first time he had referred to the cent growth. compiled by Bloomberg. pressure on richer nations to boost governments could not continue rely- and refrain from competitive deval- currency move in such a way. Apart from worries about China’s A strong performance had infrastructure spending, deregulate ing on central banks to take the lead uations,” he said. A US Treasury spokeswoman said economy, policymakers this week been expected after the firm in industries and spur employment. in spurring growth and should con- But Jaitley’s currency views that Lew, in a meeting on Thursday also have expressed heightened fears January said it had managed to Earlier this week the IMF cut its sider boosting spending. appeared at odds with those of with Chinese Finance Minister Lou that a potential exit by Britain from ride out deadly floods in Chennai 2016 growth forecast for the world “We feel that the efficacy of mon- Japanese officials, who expressed Jiwei, emphasized the need for China the European Union in a June refer- at the end of last year that many economy, the fourth such move in less etary policy instruments has reached concerns about increases in the to transition to a market-determined endum could derail Europe’s shaky feared would hurt earnings. than a year. In a statement to the G20 its limits and that its pass-through has value of the yen, which recently hit exchange rate and “to refrain from economic recovery and cause a fur- Revenues for the full year rose on Thursday night, Indian Finance not been seamless,” Jaitley said. “The a 17-month high against the dollar. competitive currency devaluations.” ther slowdown in global growth. 17 percent to Rs624bn, Infosys said, as it added 325 new clients. In January, chief operat- ing officer U B Pravin Rao said a “healthy pipeline” of potential VW says sales down Airbus gets first CFM engines deals worth $3bn would help the Bangalore-based firm achieve its growth projections. 1.3% in first quarter Yasref refinery

AFP In the group’s home market gets $4.7bn loan of Germany, VW delivered a total 138,700 of its own-brand cars to cus- DUBAI: An oil refining joint ven- tomers in the January-March period, ture between national oil firm FRANKFURT: Embattled Ger- 3.8 percent fewer than a year earlier. Saudi Aramco and China’s Sinopec man carmaker Volkswagen said VW, which owns 12 brands in has obtained a $4.7bn syndicated yesterday that worldwide sales of all, from Audi and Porsche to Lam- loan to refinance shareholder its own-brand cars were down 1.3 borghini, Skoda and SEAT, was funds used for its construction, percent in the first three months of plunged into its deepest-ever cri- the venture said yesterday. this year, with gains seen only in sis last September when it emerged Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refin- the Asia-Pacific region and in cen- it had installed emissions-cheat- ing Co (Yasref), owned 62.5 percent tral and eastern Europe. ing software into 11 million diesel by Aramco and the rest by Sinopec, Volkswagen, currently engines worldwide. It is currently said the unsecured loan was entrenched in a massive engine- battling to count the still incalcula- obtained from 26 local, regional rigging scandal, said in a statement ble costs from the scandal. and international financial insti- that it sold 1.459 million VW-brand And sales were down in almost tutions, and was oversubscribed. vehicles in the period from January all regions in the first quarter of 2016. The new loan includes a US to March, down from 1.479 million a Western European sales fell by 0.5 dollar-denominated, seven-year year earlier. “Mixed regional market percent, North American sales were term facility totalling $3.1bn from developments are reflected in our down by 6.5 percent and South Amer- 17 regional and international insti- delivery figures,” said Juergen Stack- ican sales plunged by as much as 31.3 tutions, priced at a margin of 105 mann, head of sales at the VW brand. percent in the three-month period, basis points over the London inter- “While Volkswagen Passenger VW said. Only in eastern and cen- bank offered rate, Yasref said. It Engines at the Aircelle plant in Colomiers near Toulouse, Southwestern France, yesterday. Airbus Cars recorded the best delivery per- tral Europe and in the Asia-Pacific also includes a seven-year term formance ever in China in the first region was the group able to notch Group SE formally accepted the first series-production Leap-1A engines built by CFM International facility of SR6bn ($1.6bn) from quarter, the trend in South America up gains of 2.1 percent and 4.8 per- for its A320neo narrow-body jet — a model that entered service this year using rival powerplants nine local financial institutions, at in particular continues to decline,” cent respectively, with sales in China from Pratt & Whitney. a margin of 100 bps over the Saudi Stackmann said. climbing by 6.5 percent. interbank offered rate. BUSINESS SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 15

US sets new US says China to scrap some export subsidies offshore oil safety rules Reuters apples, beef, mushrooms, tea, toma- Since it joined the WTO in 2001, proof in actions, not just in verbiage.” Since it joined the toes, beans, ginseng, poultry, seaweed China has frequently drawn com- The US steel industry is under and garlic, the USTR said. plaints that its exports are being huge pressure this year from cheap Reuters WTO in 2001, China Candidates in the US presidential “dumped,” or sold at unfairly cheap imports, a strong dollar, and falling oil WASHINGTON: China has agreed has frequently drawn election, especially Republican front- prices on foreign markets. prices, which have decimated demand to scrap some export subsidies on a runner Donald Trump, accuse China Chinese Embassy spokesman for steel tubes used by the oil and gas WASHINGTON: The Obama range of products from metals to agri- complaints that its of treating the United States unfairly Zhu Haiquan said Beijing is com- industry. Experts in China down- administration on Thursday culture and textiles, the United States exports are being in trade. But White House spokes- mitted to WTO regulations. played the significance of the deal. unveiled new oil well control rules said, in a step by Beijing to reduce man Josh Earnest said the accord “is “China has been firmly commit- Tu Xinquan, a WTO expert at the to prevent the kind of blowout that trade frictions with Washington. “dumped,” or sold at an example of how committed this ted to the WTO rules, continuously University of International Business happened six years ago on a BP Plc China ended a programme which unfairly cheap prices administration is to ensuring that expanded its opening-up, deepened and Economics in Beijing, said it was rig in the Gulf of Mexico. provided export subsidies of some we’re fighting in the international the reform of its foreign trade sys- not a big concession for Beijing, and The Interior Department’s $1bn over three years to Chinese com- on foreign markets. community for American businesses tem, improved its foreign trade legal officials in Washington may have Bureau of Safety and Environmental panies in seven economic sectors, the and American workers.” system, reduced trade barriers and “exaggerated their success”. Enforcement announced the final- US Trade Representative’s office said. In part, the dropping of the subsi- The United States had complained administrative intervention,” Zhu said “It was a very small amount of ised regulations, which include more Some industry executives were dies is an effort by China to move away to the World Trade Organisation about in an email. money. The use of such projects was stringent design requirements and sceptical about the deal’s impact given from labour-intensive production and the programme, alleging unfair prac- US Steel Corp President and CEO marginal,” Tu said. operational procedures for offshore remaining disputes over other sup- emphasise more sophisticated indus- tices by China. The Chinese industries Mario Longhi said he was cautious In a sign of the obscurity of the oil and gas operations. port that China gives to its exporting tries such as semiconductors. that have received the subsidies under about the latest Chinese move. program, officials from the China The new standards come industries. Steel has been a particu- “The Chinese want to become a the programme include textiles, light “People can say whatever they Nonferrous Metals Industry Associ- nearly six years after a deadly lar flashpoint. high-tech country. They want to move industry, specialty chemicals, medi- want, and I think China has been say- ation and the China Iron and Steel explosion and fire on the Deepwa- One source knowledgeable about up the value chain,” said James Lewis, cal products, hardware, agriculture ing a lot of things for the past couple Association told Reuters separately ter Horizon oil rig off the cost of the agreement said it was not com- a senior fellow at the Center for Stra- and advanced materials and met- of decades,” Longhi told reporters in that they were not previously aware Louisiana, which led to the worst prehensive enough to do much to help tegic and International Studies. als, including specialty steel and Washington. “You need to ask yourself of the programme and that aluminum oil spill of all time. The Macondo the US steel industry, given its focus Chinese agriculture products aluminum products, the trade rep- what, from a practical perspective, is and steel smelters and mills were not well blowout and the fire on April was only on specialty steel products. that will lose the subsidies include resentative’s office said. really happening. We need to see the widely involved. 20,2010 killed 11 workers. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told reporters the rule took six years to complete because the agency wanted to understand the root Greek PM blames IMF Drone technology cause of the disaster. “There are a number of things that went wrong,” she said. “It was important that we understood those things and the for bailout delay evolution of technology.” The Interior Department said it took into account industry and AFP conversation between senior IMF other stakeholder feedback since officials. it first proposed the rule last April. IMF chief Christine Lagarde To improve the “culture of later dismissed this notion as “non- safety” on oil rigs and prevent ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister sense”. Lagarde on Thursday said the future spills or blowouts, the new Alexis Tsipras (pictured) yesterday IMF had no intention of withdraw- rule tightens requirements for said the IMF should stop tinker- ing from the programme, but hinted blowout preventers, well design, ing with the country’s latest bailout its role could change, without going well control casing, cementing and with European creditors, blam- into details. sub-sea containment. ing the global lender for causing a “We will not walk away. Our It also calls for real-time delay in talks. form of participation may vary, monitoring, third party reviews The IMF has worked with the EU depending on the commitments of of equipment, regular inspec- on two previous Greek bailouts but Greece and the undertaking of the tions and safe drilling margin said it would not participate in the European partners. But we will not requirements. latest plan without credible reforms walk away,” Lagarde said. The agency estimates the and an EU agreement The IMF chief new rule would cost the industry to ease Greece’s debt said she agreed with $890m over a 10-year period, but burden. Athens that the talks would yield $1.5bn in benefits. “Greece fails to needed to move faster, Republican Louisiana Sena- understand why the but once again called An exhibitor operates a 3DR solo drone during a computer show in Taipei, Taiwan, yesterday. Numerous tor David Vitter slammed what he IMF insists in chang- into question forecasts companies and businesses from around the world are taking advantage of the drone technology, called an “overarching” rule that ing the design of the on Greece’s economy not just for filming aerial footage but also trying to use the small aircrafts for light courier services. would “kick our oil and gas indus- reforms in a way that not vetted by her own try while it’s down”. leaves their yield and staff. To reach the simplicity intact, but bailout programme makes the reform objectives of economic significantly less pro- stability and sustaina- gressive,” Tsipras said bility, she said, “there in an article published in the Finan- has to be real and realistic numbers US industrial output falls 0.6% in March cial Times. and sustainable measures”. “Delaying the conclusion of the The review of Greece’s progress first review of the ESM (European on the terms of the bailout agreed Reuters slipping only 0.1 percent last month be temporary. The industrial sector slipping 0.1 percent in February. Stability Mechanism) programme by in July has dragged on for months, after a previously reported 0.5 per- has been undermined by a slowing Manufacturing was dragged down stubbornly insisting to ignore the let- largely because of differences among cent drop in February. global economy and robust dollar, by motor vehicle and parts produc- ter and the spirit of the agreement its lenders over the country’s eco- Industrial production fell at an which have eroded demand for US tion, which plunged 1.6 percent after does not serve the principles on nomic progress and resistance in WASHINGTON: US industrial pro- annual rate of 2.2 percent in the manufactured goods. It is also being rising 0.8 percent the prior month. which Europe has been thriving,” Athens to unpopular measures. duction fell more than expected in first quarter after decreasing at a weighed down by lower oil prices that For the first quarter, manufactur- Tsipras said. Talks in Athens were unexpect- March as manufacturing and mining 3.3 percent pace in the fourth quar- have undercut capital investment in ing output rose at a 0.6 percent rate. Leftist Tsipras has repeatedly edly interrupted on Tuesday. Greece production decreased, the latest indi- ter. The report joined data on retail the energy sector, as well as an inven- In March, there were also decreases lashed out at the Washington-based said they will resume immediately cation that economic growth braked sales, business spending, trade and tory correction. in the output of electronic equipment, global lender, and the current talks after the IMF’s spring meetings in sharply in the first quarter. wholesale inventories in suggesting But there are signs the worst of appliances and components. have been clouded by allegations Washington, which ends tomorrow. Industrial output declined 0.6 that economic growth slowed to crawl the industrial sector downturn is over, Mining production tumbled 2.9 that senior IMF officials sought to Athens signed up to a new bailout percent last month after a down- at the turn of the year. with recent manufacturing surveys percent as oil and gas well drilling engineer a Greek default. worth up to €86bn ($98bn) last year, wardly revised 0.6 percent drop in Growth estimates for the first turning higher. In addition, the dol- plummeted 8.5 percent after diving A WikiLeaks report earlier this its third international rescue package February, the Federal Reserve said quarter are as low as a 0.2 percent lar’s rally has fizzled and oil prices 15.8 percent in February. month said the IMF was looking for since 2010. The IMF, European Com- on Friday. Industrial production has annualised rate. The economy grew appear to be stabilizing. Unseasonably warm weather in a crisis “event” to push Greece and mission, European Central Bank and fallen in six of the last seven months. at a 1.4 percent rate in the fourth Last month, manufacturing March hurt utilities production, which European negotiators into accepting the European Stability Mechanism Economists polled by Reuters quarter. But given a buoyant labor output fell 0.3 percent, the biggest fell 1.2 percent after declining 3.6 per- its fiscal targets, citing an intercepted make up the country’s lenders. had forecast industrial production market, the ebb in growth is likely to decline since February 2015, after cent in February.

Alfa Romeo at motor show Argentina hopes debt sale next week will be the last of 2016

Reuters The new right-of-center gov- showing signs of easing in the sec- ernment in Buenos Aires recently ond half of the year, though he negotiated a deal to settle the sov- added that it would take time for it ereign debt dispute with most of the to come down to a more manage- WASHINGTON: Argentina hopes holdout creditors. able level. it won’t have to tap international cap- The proceeds of next week’s debt Private economists expect con- ital markets again in 2016 after it sells sale will allow Argentina to pay off sumer prices will rise 35 percent this up to $15bn in debt next week, its first 90 percent who have agreed to settle. year, but Prat-Gay said the govern- such sale since the country’s 2002 Separately, Prat-Gay said in an ment hoped to reduce inflation to 17 default, Finance Minister Alfonso appearance at the Atlantic Council percent in 2017. Prat-Gay said late on Thursday. think tank that he was not concerned Argentina is desperate to con- “We’re trying very hard for this the remaining holdouts would impact vince financial markets that its low issue to be the last issue of this year,” the sale. debt burden and economic reforms Pray-Gay said at an event on the side- He also said Argentina’s govern- make it a good place for investors. It lines of the International Monetary ment is targeting an inflation rate no is particularly keen for investment to Fund and World Bank spring meet- higher than 25 percent this year and fund infrastructure projects. ings in Washington. is making the battle against rising “Most of the projects we are not He said the sale, expected to prices its top priority. very happy with. Some are ok, and begin on Monday, resulted from a “We’ve got a target and we’ve we need to put our act together,” sea change in Argentina’s will to been clear about that target. And he said. end a long-festering legal battle with that target is a ceiling of 25 percent “There are so many things we can mostly US creditors who refused to for this year. And it is a band of 20 to be but never quite are. But there are accept the payment terms after it 25 percent,” Prat-Gay said. so many things we can be that there A model poses with an Alfa Romeo car on display at the Indonesia International Motor Show in Jakarta. defaulted on nearly $100bn in debt Prat-Gay said Argentina’s dou- is no reason not to be optimistic about in 2002. ble-digit inflation rate should start it,” Prat-Gay said. 16 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 BUSINESS VIEWS

Beachgoers and bank clerk may save Ikea finalising its biggest Italy’s oil industry overhaul in decades

By Stephen Jewkes Earlier this year Shell gave up Reuters on a €2bn project in the Gulf of Taranto after the 12-mile limitation, previously lifted, was reintro- duced by the government for all T IS people like 58-year-old new projects in an failed effort to bank clerk Silvio Doria who head off the referendum. may save Italy’s oil industry. Dublin-based oil explorer Referring to a referendum Proceltic International recently Itomorrow that will decide whether gave up on an exploration permit oil companies can continue to drill it was chasing while British-based within 20km of Italy’s coastline, Rockhopper Exploration is con- Doria said: “I’m not going to vote sidering suing Italy for damages because I just don’t know the issues after it was told a concession it has well enough.” permits for would not be granted. For the referendum to succeed, “Italy has the tightest regulations more than 50 percent of Italians in Europe that don’t exist elsewhere must cast a ballot. Prime Minis- and they’re frightening off inves- ter Matteo Renzi says a “yes” vote tors,” says Davide Tabarelli, head of against drilling would hurt jobs at energy think-tank Nomisma Energia. a time when the economy is strug- Environmental watchdog gling to grow and has called on Legambiente and other green people to shun the ballot. groups say domestic oil and gas An opinion poll last month production is minimal and that suggests three-quarters of Ital- continued focus on fossil fuels takes ians have scant knowledge of the Italy further away from its renew- referendum, which concerns a lit- able energy and carbon targets. tle-known industry mostly located Gas production from offshore By Tom Bergin to 160,000 at the Ikea Group, which is techni- everyone in retail. “We have been a little off the east coast of Italy far from fields inside the 12-mile area cur- Reuters cally a Leiden-based company called INGKA bit protected in the home furnishing busi- the major population centres. The rently accounts for around 3 percent Holding. INGKA currently manages almost ness, in margin pressure in my view, if I ballot was proposed by a number of Italian consumption while oil everything that most customers see as Ikea compare with supermarkets or do it your- of regional assemblies which object output in the area just 1 percent. — the stores, furniture design, manufactur- self businesses,” said Loof. to drilling platforms because of According to Mediobanca Securi- N two medieval Dutch cities, Ikea’s ing, procurement and logistics. But Inter Ikea Over the past five years, INGKA’s mar- worries about seismic stability and ties, the short-term impact of a “Yes” most senior executives are finalising owns the rights to the Ikea brand, patents gins have been 14 percent, and Inter IKEA’s the environment, as well as the vote would be minimal since only the biggest overhaul at the Swedish- and business processes — collectively con- have been even higher. Supermarket groups impact on their tourist industries. 5,000 barrels per day comes from born furniture empire in over 30 years. sidered to be the Ikea ‘concept’. like Germany’s Metro AG and do-it-your- Italy imports around 90 percent concessions inside the 12-mile limit. The aim is to help the world’s largest It is responsible for developing the con- self groups like Home Retail Group and of its energy needs and has been But it will certainly have long- furniture seller better adapt to chang- cept but its leaders acknowledge this hasn’t Kingfisher Plc have typically enjoyed mar- trying for years to get around grass- term implications as by 2027, 40,000 Iing consumer tastes, manage its increasing changed much in decades and former exec- gins under 5 percent. Amazon’s margin has roots opposition to boost domestic barrels of oil equivalent per day size and avoid the fate of other dominant utives said the unit’s main role was to reduce been under 2 percent. energy production and so reduce could be shut-in, which accounts retailers overtaken by new market entrants. the overall Ikea tax bill by charging INGKA Organisational change has been dis- dependence on foreign suppliers for over 20 percent of Italy’s oil and However, some academics say the changes, for the use of the Ikea brand. cussed before at Ikea. The current plan such as Russia’s Gazprom. gas production, says analyst Ales- which effectively involve breaking up the At their 2014 meeting, the directors of follows a 2011 report Inter Ikea commis- But if the referendum succeeds, sandro Pozzi. The referendum comes Ikea Group, could also disrupt the smooth Inter Ikea unanimously agreed to massively sioned from a French consultancy that fields run by the likes of Eni and Edi- at an awkward time for the prime running that makes Ikea so efficient. expand its role and take control of design, highlighted how the structure made it harder son within 12 miles of the coast will minister. An influence-peddling case The Ikea Group announced the plan to manufacturing, procurement and logistics for Ikea to adapt to changing market con- be shut down when their concessions centred on the country’s main land- transfer ownership of some operating enti- from INGKA. Since it owned the rights to ditions, than comparable businesses. expire. Should it fail, energy com- locked oil producing area, where ties to a small Delft-based the IKEA concept, it could do this. The aim, Under the new regime, INGKA will panies will be able to ask for further Total and Shell operate, triggered company which owns it says, is to protect Ikea for the future. essentially only manage the stores. “We extensions until wells are depleted. the resignation of the industry min- the Ikea brand last June. “It has been a pretty static concept,” said will continue to handle the interface with Opponents of the vote say closing ister two weeks ago. However, the 250-word Torbjorn Loof, Chief Executive of Inter Ikea our customers,” said Peter Agnefjall, INGKA a subsea well with oil and gas still Political opponents are seeking statement attracted little Systems BV, the unit that will, in September Holding’s CEO. Angefjall has been the most in it is a risky and costly business to use the scandal to bring voters out attention. The decision to this year, take on the design and other func- public face of Ikea since his appointment because of high pressure conditions. on Sunday to test the government’s rip up an organisational tions. “(There) is always also the risk that you in 2013. He says he is untroubled at los- “What worries me are the 11,000 mettle as it gears up for a referen- blueprint drawn up by keep that concept, you protect that and make ing control of what academics say are the jobs at risk,” Renzi said earlier this dum on constitutional reform in founder Ingvar Kamprad it better and better and better, and things in functions most central to IKEA’s success. month when inviting Italians not October on which Renzi has staked in the 1980s was taken the world around you happen, and suddenly “I have a big responsibility today and I will to vote. Renzi has asked Italians to the future of his government. at a secret meeting just you stand and say, you know what, this is have a big responsibility (in future),” he said. abstain, claiming the vote is point- Former Prime Minister Bettino The aim is to help outside Copenhagen in maybe not relevant,” the Swedish-Italian Loof says the planned changes at Ikea less since the law has already been Craxi encouraged Italians to “go to Ikea better adapt to late 2014. executive told Reuters as his boss, Inter Ikea are driven by strategy. Still, lawyers say that substantially changed. Asking the beach” instead of vote in a ref- changing consumer The meeting gath- Group CEO, Soren Hansen looked on, nodding. shifting activities and value to Inter Ikea people to vote no might also risk erendum in 1991 that then reached ered the board of Inter But the IKEA concept needs to change more from INGKA could, in theory, have finan- upsetting people inside his party a quorum promoting a change to tastes, manage its Ikea, which is chaired by fundamentally if it is to satisfy the growing cial benefits for the Kamprad family, who where the issue is a sensitive one. the electoral system, a miscalcula- increasing size and Kamprad’s youngest son number of customers who are requesting Ikea on paper at least gave ownership of IKEA There are 69 exploration con- tion that hurt him politically. Mathias and owned by a stores in city centres and the ability to buy online to the Dutch and Liechtenstein foundations cessions in Italian waters, most of For those tempted to answer avoid the fate of other Liechtenstein foundation. and pick up from drop-off points. Loof says decades ago. The restructuring also brings them gas, according to the indus- Renzi’s call, Sunday’s weather dominant retailers The little known company he can’t redesign the business concept with- operational risks. The business relation- try ministry. Of these 44 could be forecast is mostly sunny, favour- currently plays a small out control over key functions like logistics. ship Inter IKEA sees in future with INGKA affected by the referendum. ing perhaps a seaside outing. overtaken by new operational role in the Getting it right is important. New low- is that of franchiser to franchisee. If other market entrants. Ikea universe, employing margin market entrants and online players such relations are a model, this could lead 1,500 people, compared like Amazon.com are making life harder for to new tensions in the IKEA system. Commodity slump pushes Africa back into IMF’s embrace

By Ed Stoddard Ghana’s was a three-year, $918m assistance A 2011 IMF staff report found that $32bn, global political climate has changed. There Reuters deal signed as its fiscal and current account equal to 25 percent of GDP, could be not be will be pressure on Angola on transparency,” deficits ballooned. Africa’s second-largest cop- accounted for between 2007 and 2010, but said Tara O’Connor, executive director of Lon- per producer, Zambia, started talks in March barely chided the government. “Bearing in don-based Africa Risk Consulting. on an aid programme. Lusaka last signed a mind the scale of the revenues that Angola During the recent boom times with oil ALLING commodity prices have pushed financial arrangement with the IMF in 2008. has received in the 14 years since the end of fetching over $100 a barrel, Angola was able several African countries back into the And the region’s most industrialised its civil war, we are probably talking about to keep the IMF at arm’s length and sought embrace of the International Mone- economy, South Africa, which is also a major half a trillion dollars. The IMF should be very oil-backed loans from China. But analysts tary Fund, which has an opportunity producer of platinum, gold and coal, may be cautious about who it lends money to and say China, which has its own fiscal worries, Fto push for reforms and inject transparency forced to turn to the IMF if its credit rating under what terms,” Soares de Oliveira said. has turned off the taps at a time when oil is into opaque economies. gets downgraded to junk. Angola, which opened talks with the IMF closer to $40 a barrel. And Angola has found Top of the list is Angola, Africa’s second big- China this week offered Nigeria a loan of this week, has said it will work with the Fund itself with less crude to sell as more of its oil A lot of the gest crude producer and third largest economy, $6bn to fund infrastructure projects but Afri- on reforms aimed at improving fiscal disci- flows to China for debt repayment. which has not borrowed from the IMF since ca’s top oil producer is still expected to also pline, simplifying taxes and increasing public Zimbabwe is also banging on the IMF’s attention is 2009 and just a few years ago had the Fund seek assistance from the IMF for the first time finance transparency. door, seeking its first loan from the Fund in focused on Angola, all but turning a blind eye to missing billions. in almost two decades. Finance Minister Armando Manuel said almost two decades as it runs out of money It is hardly alone, with depressed prices A lot of the attention is focused on Angola, last week that Angola was not seeking a res- with nowhere to turn, including ally China. which relies on for commodities ranging from oil to copper which relies on oil for over 95 percent of for- cue package from the IMF but the Fund said in President Robert Mugabe, 92 and in power oil for over 95 sapping the budgets of African governments eign revenue and is emblematic of the IMF’s a statement that it could lead to a three-year since 1980, last month agreed to major percent of foreign and sending them to the IMF, the “lender of involvement in the region. Extended Fund Facility, a lifeline for economies reforms including compensation for evicted last resort” which typically imposes tough “The IMF should use the leverage it has with serious balance of payments problems. white farmers and a big reduction in pub- revenue and is conditions for assistance. to extract serious concessions and tangible An EFF is significantly different than the lic sector wages as the government tries to emblematic of the Gas-rich Mozambique and gold and oil reforms from the government. The last time Stand-By arrangement Luanda signed up for woo back international lenders. producer Ghana, hard hit by the sour commod- (between 2009 and 2012) it merely gave this in 2009 as it has a stronger focus on struc- African economies that have already taken IMF’s involvement ity cycle, both inked financial arrangements authoritarian government a free ride with- tural reforms and could force Angola to begin the IMF route are already showing positive in the region. with the IMF in 2015, their first in six years, out any quid pro quo,” said Ricardo Soares de cleaning up its act. results. Ghana for example, with an IMF deal according to the Fund’s website. Oliveira, an Angola expert at Oxford University. “Angola is coming back to the IMF but the behind it, is looking to soon launch a Eurobond. CLASSIFIEDS SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 17

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Yesterday’s answer ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE

Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 9 in each empty cell so every row, every ALL IN THE MIND column and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. A. Raised the alarm (7) N. Female relative (5) A. Fervid (6) O. Forces out (5) B. One under par in golf P. Treaty (4) MEDIUM SUDOKU (6) P. Enjoyment (8) C. Prisoner (6) P. Go before (7) C. Talons (5) R. Saved from danger (7) D. Resist (4) S. Screenplay (6) E. Catch sight of (4) S. Appeared (6) F. Conflict (4) S. Artist’s workroom (6) G. Collection (5) T. Topic (5) H. Tool (6) T. Levels (5) I. Hinder (6) Z. Strong eagerness (4) I. Inactivity (7) Z. Region (4) ALEXANDER SEVERUS, ANTONIUS PIUS, AUGUSTUS, CALIGULA, CARACALLA, CLAUDIUS, COMMODUS, DOMITIAN, GALBA, K. Marsupial (8) HADRIAN, HELIOGABALUS, JULIUS CAESAR, LUCIUS VERUS, M. Arbitrate (7) MACRINUS, MARCUS AURELIUS, NERO, NERVA, OTHO, PERTINAX, TIBERIUS, TITUS FLAVIUS, TRAJAN, VESPASIAN, VITELLIUS. N. Planet (7)

Yesterday’s answer How to play Hyper Sudoku: A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku. BABY BLUES BABY TV LISTINGS NOVO SHOWING AT The Jungle Book (Drama) 2D 10:00am, 2:20, 6:40 & 11:00pm VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER 3D 12:10, 4:30 & 8:50pm TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 Fan (2D/Hindi) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm Criminal (2D/Action) 10:00, 11:00am, 12:00noon, 1:20, 2:20, 2:40, 10:00 13:10 News Austin & Ally 08:15 Treehouse 10:10 Gold Rush 3:40, 4:40 5:00, 6:00, 7:00, 8:20, 9:20, 11:40pm 10:30 12:45 Jessie 09:20 Inside Story Masters Fast N’ Loud Zootropolis(2D/Animation) 10:00am & 12:10pm 11:00 News 13:10 Austin & Ally 09:10 Treehouse 10:10 Gold Rush Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 11:30 The Listening 13:35 Best Friends Masters 11:00 Curse Of The Post Whenever 10:05 Treehouse Frozen Gold 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm 12:00 News 14:00 Gravity Falls Masters 11:50 Alaska: Battle On The Boss (2D/Comedy) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 12:30 Counting the Cost 14:25 Descendants 11:00 Dog TV The Bay 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight 13:00 NEWSHOUR Wicked World 11:55 In Search Of The 12:40 Storage Wars The Dead Room (2D/Horror) 10:00am, 1:40, 5:20 & 9:00pm 14:00 14:30 News Alex And Co Giant Anaconda Canada Before I Wake (2D/Thriller) 11:40am, 3:20, 7:00 & 11:00pm 14:30 Inside Story 14:55 Dog With A Blog 12:50 13:05 Killer Iq: Lion vs Storage Wars Mr. Right (2D/Comedy) 11:00am, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00, 9:40 & 11:40pm 15:00 Drone 15:20 Gravity Falls Hyena Canada Bennesbeh Labokra Chou (Arabic) 7:00pm 16:00 NEWSHOUR 15:45 Gravity Falls 13:45 Killer Iq: Lion vs 13:30 Storage Wars 17:00 News 17:50 Violetta Recipes Hyena Canada Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (3D IMAX/Action) 17:30 UpFront 18:00 Twitches 14:40 Mutant Planet 13:55 Storage Wars 11:00am, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 & 11:55pm 18:00 NEWSHOUR 19:30 Gravity Falls 15:35 Animal Cops Canada 19:00 News 19:55 Evermoor South Africa 14:20 Storage Wars 19:30 People & Power Chronciles 17:00 Shamwari: A Wild Canada MALL 20:00 News 20:20 Evermoor Life 14:45 Auction Hunters 20:30 Inside Story Chronciles 17:25 Killer Iq: Lion vs 16:50 Edge Of Alaska Fan (2D/Hindi) 21:00 21:35 17:40 NEWSHOUR H2O Hyena Ice Lake Rebels 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:15 & 11:15pm 22:00 News 22:00 Binny And The 18:20 Rugged Justice 18:30 You Have Been 22:30 The Listening Ghost 19:15 Gator Boys Warned The Jungle Book (2D/Drama) Post 22:25 Sabrina Secrets 20:10 Australia 19:20 Troy 11:30am, 1:30, 3:30 & 5:30pm 23:00 Al Jazeera World Of A Teenage Doesn’t Just 20:10 The Carbonaro Criminal (2D/Action) 7:30, 9:30 & 11:30pm Theri (2D/Tamil) 11:00am, 2:00 & 10:45pm Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 5:00 & 6:30pm 10:40 08:55 Swamp People Don’t Tell My Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 09:45 Mother Lost In 11:10 8:00pm Transmission I Wouldn’t Go In 10:35 Leepu And Pitbull There 11:25 12:05 Mega Factories Alone 13:00 12:15 The Curse Of Oak Supercar Megabuild ASIAN TOWN Island 14:00 17:40 Leepu And Pitbull Billy The Kid: 18:30 New Evidence Theri (Tamil) 12:30, 1:00, 3:15, 4:00, 6:15, 7:00, 9:15 & Pawn Stars 16:00 18:55 Pawn Stars Danger Decoded 10:00pm & 12:15am 16:30 Danger Decoded Australia 17:00 Fan (Hindi) 3:15, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30 19:20 American Pickers Brain Games 20:10 18:00 Taboo Fifth Gear 19:00 21:00 Alone Supercar 21:50 Ax Men Megabuild 22:40 20:00 Danger Decoded ROYAL PLAZA Lost Worlds 20:25 23:30 Mankind The Danger Decoded 20:50 Brain Games Fan (2D/Hindi) Story Of All Of Us 21:40 Taboo 11:00am 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm The Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 11:00am 1:00, 3:00 & 5:00pm Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 1:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm 05:00 Streetdance: All 06:00 Zarafa Kung Fu Panda 3 (2D/Animation) 11:30am 3:45 & 5:30pm 08:00 Stars Bamse And The City Criminal (2D/Action) 7:00, 9:00 & 11:30pm 07:00 Still Alice Of Thieves 09:00 Big Game 10:00 Baby Geniuses And 10:45 Divergent The Space Baby 13:15 Insurgent 11:30 Jungle Shuffle 15:15 So Undercover 13:00 Echo Planet 17:00 Drumline: A New 14:30 Columbus In The AL KHOR Beat Last Journey 19:00 16:00 Pitch Perfect 2 Yellowbird Fan (Hindi) 11:15am, 2:15, 5:15, 8:15 & 11:15pm 21:00 A Royal Night Out 18:00 Baby Geniuses And 23:00 The November Man The Space Baby Theri (Tamil) 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm 20:00 Heart Of The Oak The Jungle Book (2D/Drama) 12:00noon, 2:15, 4:30, 22:00 Columbus In The 6:45, 9:00 & 11:15pm Last Journey Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2D/Action) 1:00, 9:00 & 11:00pm 20 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 SPORTS

Mishra steals Murray faces Nadal in semi-final show as Delhi thrash Punjab

Scotsman downs IANS injured Raonic while Spaniard crushes NEW DELHI: Leg-spinner Amit Mishra’s 4-11 proved crucial as Delhi Wawrinka as Federer Daredevils thrashed Kings XI Pun- makes exit jab by eight wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) contest at the Ferozeshah Kotla here yesterday. After Delhi won the toss and opted to field, Mishra, coming in AFP to bowl in the seventh over, rocked Punjab’s boat. When he started his spell, they were 37 for one in six overs, and MONTE CARLO: Andy Murray will at the end of his three-over haul, play for a place in his first Monte Carlo the visiting side was 59 for five in Masters final today when he takes on 11 overs. resurgent clay king Rafael Nadal. His victims included Shaun The Scotsman will put his tennis Marsh (13), David Miller (9), Glenn to the test on the dirt against Nadal, Maxwell (0) and Manan Vohra (32). after crushing an under-done Milos Punjab batsmen showed lack of Raonic 6-2, 6-0 yesterday in their intent and discipline and fell one quarter-final. after another. Opening batsman Fifth seed Nadal, who has struggled Vohra was the only one who showed for form in the last 18 months, looked the will for a fight even as his team back to his best as he beat French Open was restricted to 111/9 in 20 overs. champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-4. In pursuit of the low total, Delhi Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland were led by South African opener brought the injury-comeback week during their quarter-final at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters in Roquebrune Quinton de Kock (59 not out), who for Roger Federer to a screeching halt shared a 91-run stand for the second Cap Martin, France, yesterday. RIGHT: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates as the eighth seed rallied past the Swiss wicket with Sanju Samson (33) in his win against Milos Raonic of Canada 3-6, 6-2, 7-5. 10.4 overs, as the hosts overhauled Tsonga will face a semi-final the target with 6.3 overs and eight against colourful 13th-seeded com- wickets to spare. De Kock milked patriot Gael Monfils, who beat Marcel Monte Carlo titles from 2005-2012, “I really need to work on two or which troubled him at the Australian nine fours and a six of the 42 deliv- Granollers 6-2, 6-4. TENNIS: MONTE CARLO holds the edge over the second-seeded three things that I want to improve.” Open two months ago. eries he faced. It was Delhi’s first win Federer, out for more than two MASTERS Murray, having beaten him in the 2009 The match with Murray will be a re- Raonic, playing a third consecutive in two matches, while Punjab suf- months after a knee operation, was and 2011 semi-finals. “Every day is a run of the Madrid final from last May, Monte Carlo quarter-final, was never fered their second loss on the trot. unable to overcome Tsonga after easing different story,” Nadal said. when the Briton shocked the 14-time in the match, failing to find a single In the match between the teams through his first two matches of the “The last three games of the first major champion. ace in his 66-minute defeat. who have lost their first matches, week. set was the only moment Stan didn’t “Andy played a great match today, Murray said that while his win Punjab failed to gather any momen- QUARTER-FINALS The Swiss was not pleased in defeat, play well. Obviously he played with I need to be ready to play the way I am might not have been pretty, it still gave tum right from the start. but said that the knee, which under- too many mistakes. playing the last two matches. If I am him confidence after struggling through During the chase too, Delhi were RESULTS went surgery in early February, had so “But the beginning of the match able to do it, I hope to have my chances,” his first two contests this week. in control, thanks to de Kock. At the far held up well as he returned from a and the second set was a good match. Nadal said. “I’ve played a lot of tennis, though start, he went through some anx- Quarter-finals two-and-a-half-month absence. Both of us played good points. He had “I lost a lot of matches before the it has all not been of the highest qual- ious moments. Andy Murray (GBR x2) bt Milos Raonic “It was a good match. It was nice more mistakes than me.” final last year. Was not a low point. ity,” said the 28-year-old. He not only lost his partner Shre- (CAN x10) 6-2, 6-0 to play an intense match. I’m happy Nadal raced to victory in 77 min- Was a good tournament for me last “I’ve been able to learn from my yas Iyer (3) early but also survived Rafael Nadal (ESP x5) bt Stan Wawrinka how the body reacted. So many good utes against the 2014 winner. year in Madrid. I was able to play at previous matches. Today I served one following a dropped catch at square (SUI x4) 6-1, 6-4 things this week. It’s all positive for me. The disappointed fourth seed ended a very good level for some matches. of my best matches. I’m looking for- leg by Vijay when the left-hander Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x8) bt Roger “I need to spend more hours on with 29 unforced errors while drop- “I’m going to try to my best to play ward to the semi-finals.” was at seven in the fifth over bowled Federer (SUI x3) 3-6, 6-2, 7-5 the court. It’s better than other begin- ping serve four times. the right level.” Murray’s win improved his head- by left-arm spinner Axar Patel. nings of the clay-court season. It’s good “It was not a good day, I rushed at Murray was always in command to-head record against Raonic to 5-3 De Kock tried to forge a part- Gael Monfils (FRA x13) bt Marcel Granollers after an injury.” the beginning and I wasn’t able to put against Raonic, who has been suffer- as he backed up a semi-final win over nership with Samson and they were (ESP) 6-2, 6-4 Nadal, winner of eight straight my game into place,” Wawrinka said. ing with the return of a right leg injury the Canadian in Melbourne. successful in doing so. They scored at a decent pace and took their total to 28 for one in six overs. Growing in confidence, the duo IPL organisers put out their attacking shots and reaped a lot of runs - highlighted line up Bangalore Chinese GP: Raikkonen, Vettel star as by three fours hit off Patel in the eighth over. Samson took confidence from as venue for final his partner and hit leg-spinner Pra- deep Sahu for a maximum, before AFP Ferrari spring surprise on Mercedes thrashing Maxell with two consec- utive fours. By this time, Delhi were 79/1 in 11 overs. NEW DELHI: Indian Premier Knowing, they are very much League organisers have announced AFP in control, de Kock turned the heat plans to switch the final from Finnish Formula on Punjab’s pace spearhead Mitch- Mumbai to Bangalore following One driver Kimi ell Johnson, who went for two fours the Bombay High Court’s order of Raikkonen of and a huge six, which completed the shifting matches from the drought- SHANGHAI: Ferrari struck a psycho- Scuderia Ferrari South African’s fifty in 38 deliveries. hit western state of Maharashtra. logical blow ahead of the Chinese Grand during the Later, Samson was bowled by The cities of Mumbai, Pune and Prix as Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian practice session Patel but it was a matter of just 12 Nagpur were under question after Vettel pipped the dominant Mercedes at the Shanghai runs and de Kock and Negi made the judges said all matches due to be in yesterday’s second free practice in International Circuit it with ease. held after April 30 must be moved Shanghai. in Shanghai, China, out of the state. Raikkonen blazed to a fastest lap yesterday. IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and of one minute, 36.896 seconds, edg- SCOREBOARD representatives of the Rising Pune ing Vettel by 0.109, as Ferrari bared KING XI PUNJAB Supergiants and Mumbai Indians their teeth after some indifferent form M Vijay (run out) 1 met in New Delhi yesterday to pro- in the season’s first two races. pose the venue for the final, which Nico Rosberg, who won in Australia M Vohra b Mishra 32 will need ratification by the league’s and Bahrain, went third quickest in S E Marsh st de Kock b Mishra 13 governing council. 1:37.133 after posting the fastest time D A Miller lbw Mishra 9 “We will propose before the in the morning, while world cham- G J Maxwell c Brathwaite b Mishra 0 Governing Council that Final and pion Lewis Hamilton was fourth in A R Patel c Negi b Yadav 11 Qualifier 1 be shifted to Bangalore the Shanghai haze. while Qualifier 2 and Eliminator Fernando Alonso, who fractured W P Saha (run out) 3 to Kolkata,” Shukla told reporters. ribs after a terrifying crash in the sea- M G Johnson b Morris 4 Supergiants have listed Visa- son-opening race, was formally cleared M M Sharma c Morris b Khan 15 khapatnam as their alternative to compete by medics after clocking P Sahu (not out) 18 venue, though the franchise the 12th-fastest time in the morning. Sandeep Sharma (not out) 1 requested that they play one match The Spaniard inched up to 11th in the pitlane wall and demanded to test drive gremlins on Friday but Vettel cau- Hamilton after his second mishap at in Pune on May 1 due to a short turn- second session. a Ferrari, there were plenty of thrills in tioned against over-optimism. “We the hard-braking left turn. The Briton, Extras (LB-1, W-3) 4 around. They also play at home on Though lacking, perhaps, the the morning with two red flags after had a decent day but it’s only Friday who has won a record four times in Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs) 111

April 29. drama of Friday practice 12 months a series of blown tyres. so I wouldn’t stress or put too much China, including the last two years, Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-37, 3-52, 4-52, Mumbai will decide on their ago, when a Chinese fan vaulted the The jousting between Mercedes importance on the times today,” said added afterwards: “It wasn’t a bad day, 5-59, 6-65, 7-73, 8-90, 9-99. alternative venue tomorrow from and Ferrari in the yesterday afternoon the German. but it wasn’t a spectacular day. Ferrari Bowling: Z Khan 4-1-14-1; P Negi 1-0- their available options of Jaipur, was no less absorbing, Rosberg and “One lap is good for qualifying but are quick, which means we’re going to 10-0; C H Morris 4-0-19-1 (1w); C R Raipur and Kanpur. Hamilton flexing their muscles early in a race ideally you want to have a have a race and that’s exciting.” Brathwaite 4-0-33-0; A Mishra 3-0-11-4 “After speaking to the fran- SECOND FREE on before Ferrari’s two former world lot of good laps in a row.” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff (1w); J Yadav 4-0-23-1 (1w). chises, we have given them four PRACTICE TIMES champions put in their blistering qual- But yesterday’s form at least the added: “Ferrari are pushing us very options: Raipur, Jaipur, Kanpur and ifying simulation times on super-soft omens look good for Ferrari, the most hard. You have seen today that it is DELHI DAREDEVILS Visakhapatnam. Mumbai Indians Top Ten tyres. successful team in China with four vic- raw performance. They made a big Q de Kock (not out) 59 have asked for time till day after Raikkonen, who finished runner- tories -- including the last of Michael step from 2015 to 16 and they are really S S Iyer c Saha b S Sharma 3 1. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:36.896, tomorrow (to give their preference),” up to Rosberg in Bahrain two weeks Schumacher’s record 91 race wins 10 pushing us.” S V Samson b Patel 33 Shukla said. 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:37.005, ago, had not been happy at all before years ago. Felipe Massa set the tone for a P Negi (not out) 8 “Pune has given Visakhapat- 3. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-AMG setting his fast lap, snapping over the Mercedes for once didn’t have bizarre morning by skidding off at nam as its preference. We will put 1:37.133, 4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mer- radio: “Do you really want me to keep things all their own way, with Ros- turn four with a punctured left rear Extras (B-4, LB-2, W-4) 10 the proposal of Pune team before cedes-AMG 1:37.329, 5. Daniel Ricciardo going? Because it’s absolutely shit!” berg’s car suffering ignition problems tyre -- before astonishingly shred- Total (for 2 wkts in 13.3 overs) 113 (AUS) Red Bull 1:38.143, 6. Max Verstap- the governing council.” Four-time world champion Vettel and Hamilton, who has been hit with ding another Pirelli on the same wheel. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-100. pen (NED) Toro Rosso 1:38.268, 7. Nico The court order followed a peti- placed third in last month’s Austral- a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s “Something is broke on the car,” the Hulkenberg (GER) Force India 1:38.527, 8. Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 2-1-6-1; M G tion filed by a non-profit group Carlos Sainz (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:38.542, 9. ian Grand Prix as Raikkonen’s engine race after a gearbox change, twice Brazilian observed with wry under- Johnson 3-0-28-0; M M Sharma 2-0-10-0 challenging the liberal watering Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:38.569, caught fire, but in Bahrain the anguish spinning off at turn 11. statement, before Renault’s Kevin (1w); A R Patel 3-0-25-1; P Sahu 2.3-0-27- of pitches at a time when the state 10. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:38.723 was Vettel’s as his engine blew on the “Something’s up, I keep having Magnussen limped back to the pits 0 (1w); G J Maxwell 1-0-11-0 (1w). is reeling under a severe drought. out lap. Mercedes were the ones battling this locking into turn 11,” complained on ruined rubbers, also to his left rear. SPORT SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 21

Champions League semi-final fixtures

First Leg Real Madrid ‘favourites’ as Champions April 26: Manchester City (ENG) v Real Madrid (ESP) April 27: Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Bayern Munich (GER)

League semi-finals draw revealed Second leg May 3: Bayern Munich (GER) v Atletico Madrid (ESP) Lewandowski said the Bundesliga May 4: Real Madrid (ESP) Guardiola enjoys team would be wary of Atletico. v Manchester City (ENG) Bayern’s Spain international Javi his third appearance Martinez added: “That will be a diffi- The final will take place at Milan’s San Siro in top-four as cult game against a strong opponent.” stadium on May 28. Clemente Villaverde, Atletico’s Real set for 26th director of football, called on his semi-final, their team to “maintain that reliability we have shown all season”. sixth in a row For outgoing Manchester City City slickers boss Manuel Pellegrini, the semi- final will be a return to the club he aim to build managed in 2009-10. AFP City’s only games against Real, unbeaten in their last eight games on Euro against English clubs and in the semi-finals for a record sixth succes- NYON, Switzerland: Pep Guardiola sive time, were in the 2012-13 group momentum avoided his future employers as Man- stage. They drew 1-1 at home and chester City were yesterday drawn to lost 3-2 away. City’s sporting direc- AFP play Real Madrid in the semi-finals of tor Txiki Begiristain said: “It’s a great the Champions League while Atletico tie against the team that has won the Madrid will face the Spaniard’s Bay- competition the most times. LONDON: When Manchester City ern Munich. “But we have got this far and we go to Stamford Bridge today on a Guardiola takes over as City want to keep dreaming.” high as newly-qualified Champions boss next season after three years Begiristain added: “They have League semi-finalists, opponents at Bayern in which he has steered shown that in the second leg at the Chelsea may well be thinking ‘what the Bavarian giants to the last four Bernabeu they can be unstoppable. might have been?’. in Europe on each of his three years “We need to be solid defensively, While Chelsea went out of the in charge. as we have been in the Champions Champions League in the last 16 to “Spanish teams are always strong League recently against Dinamo Paris Saint-Germain to confirm a in the Champions League and I have Kiev and PSG. Clearly they (Real) are trophy-less season for the defend- seen in the last few years how strong (favourites), this is their 26th semi- ing Premier League champions, Atletico are in the Spanish league,” final, their sixth in a row, but we are City knocked out the French club Guardiola said. very capable. PSG are having a great in midweek to reach the last four for “They have a good mentality season and we were able to knock the first time in their history. under their coach (Diego) Simeone them out. And key to City’s success was Carlo Tavecchio (right), President of the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) and Giuliano Pisapia, Mayor of and have good players going forward “We are optimistic, but I repeat Kevin De Bruyne -- a player Chel- in (Fernando) Torres and (Antoine) the key is solidity.” Milan, pose with the UEFA Champions League trophy after the draw ceremony for the semi-final matches sea sold in 2014 after barely giving Griezmann. Simeone is one of the Emilio Butragueno, Real’s direc- of the UEFA Champions League 2015/16 season at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland yesterday. the Belgium international a chance best coaches in the world and his tor of institutional relations, said City in London. team is one of the best in Europe.” would be very motivated given they De Bruyne was signed by Chel- Atletico, winners over defending had never made the last-four before. “We need to play two games at a avoud Bayern and Barca, but Juven- to this we have played away first sea from Genk in January 2012 but champions Barcelona in the quar- “In the semi-finals any oppo- very high level if we want to get to the tus ended up eliminating us. three times and never made it to played just three Premier League ter-finals, and Bayern have met once nent will be a great team and we are final in Milan.” “The two games will be very the final.” games under former manager before in European action, in the 1974 speaking about players of the high- Asked whether it was the best evenly balanced. We can think play- The first leg of the semi-finals will Jose Mourinho before being sold to final. The Bundesliga side ran out 4-0 est quality that can settle a game draw possible for Real, Butragueno ing at the Bernabeu gives us a certain be played on April 26-27, with the sec- Wolfsburg two years later following winners in the replay following an themselves in (David) Silva, (Kevin) said: “I remember being here exactly advantage.” ond leg scheduled for May 3-4. The loan spells back at Genk and with initial 1-1 draw. De Bruyne and (Sergio) Aguero,” a year ago and everyone said after- “But this is our sixth consecutive final will take place at Milan’s San Siro Werder Bremen. Bayern striker Robert Butragueno told BeIN Sports Spain. wards we had been very lucky to semi-final and in the five previous stadium on May 28. After starring in the Bundesliga, where he was player of the year in 2014-15, City paid a club record £54 million ($76 million, 67 mil- lion euros) to sign De Bruyne last Bayern wary of year and, with the possible excep- tion of Sergio Aguero, he has been their outstanding player so far this season. ‘monsters of Despite spending more than two months out with a knee injury, the 24-year-old has scored 15 goals and created 13 others, with passion’ Atletico his stunning finish against PSG on Tuesday giving City a 1-0 sec- ond-leg win to secure their place in Friday’s draw for the Champi- AFP Guardiola praised Sime- ons League last four. one, who took charge in 2011, Had De Bruyne avoided injury, for turning Atletico from City would certainly have put up Spanish league also-rans a better challenge for the Premier BERLIN: Pep Guardiola to the team which humbled League title, rather than finding and Xabi Alonso think Bay- Champions League holders themselves in fourth place and 15 ern Munich will have their Barcelona. points behind leaders Leicester City. work cut out when they face “I never trained with him Manuel Pellegrini’s side there- ‘monsters of passion’ Atletico or played against him (during fore need to stay focused on Madrid away in their Cham- my career), I don’t know him domestic duties before they resume pions League semi-final, first and I’ve spoken to him per- their pursuit of European glory at leg. haps twice,” said Guardiola. the end of April. “We are waiting Liverpool’s Dejan Lovren scores their fourth goal during their UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final Second Leg match Madrid host the first leg “But his players do for the draw but now we have to at their cauldron-like Vice- exactly what he wants and against Borussia Dortmund at Anfield in Liverpool, England on Thursday. Liverpool completed an astonishing comeback play three games for the Premier nte Calderon stadium on they follow him without any to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 and reach the Europa League semi-finals. League,” Pellegrini said. April 27 before the return leg doubts. at Munich’s Allianz Arena on “He’s perhaps one of the May 3. best coaches in the world. “The atmosphere there is “Over ten years Atletico the best in Europe,” Bayern’s didn’t beat Real Madrid, then Guardiola said of the Atletico Simeone arrived and changed Lovren scores a heart-stopper as Liverpool ground in a press conference all that.” in Munich. Bayern’s veteran Spain “I am very curious about international midfielder sinks Dortmund in Europa League thriller this game, it will be big expe- Alonso said the Germans can rience for all the players and expect a tough test in Madrid the fans there will support and only a good performance their team for the full 90 min- will silence the local support. AFP into a continental semi-final for the attackers onside and he was also at fault SOCCER-EUROPA LEAGUE utes,” added Guardiola. “Like Pep, Simeone has first time since 2010 and kept Klopp on for the second goal as Aubameyang ran SEMI-FINAL DRAW He has a perfect record a lot of passion. He’s a good course to end his first season at the club in behind him to collect Reus’s delicately of seven Champions League coach, but we’ll have to blend with a trophy. threaded pass and slam a shot into the Shakhtar Donetsk vs Sevilla semi-final appearances in all of that out and focus on LIVERPOOL: Dejan Lovren scored a His successor at Dortmund, Thomas top-right corner. Villarreal vs Liverpool seven years with both Bar- ourselves,” said Alonso. heart-stopping stoppage-time header Tuchel, could only look on in disbelief Klopp had been bold in his team celona (from 2008-2012) and “If we play well, then the as Liverpool completed an astonishing at the final whistle as the 5-4 aggre- selection, bringing in Roberto Firmino Bayern (2013-16). atmosphere won’t be a decid- comeback to beat Borussia Dortmund gate scoreline condemned his side to for the injured Jordan Henderson, and Roman Weidenfeller. No sooner had the But Guardiola was full of ing factor. 4-3 on Thursday and reach the Europa defeat, four days on from a 2-2 draw with while it left Liverpool light in central hosts closed in than Dortmund accel- praise for Atletico’s Argen- “They don’t concede many League semi-finals. Schalke that left his men seven points midfield, after the early shock had sub- erated again, Mats Hummels taking tinian coach Diego Simeone, goals and there is always an Held 1-1 in last week’s first leg at the adrift of leaders Bayern Munich in the sided they began to make chances. Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne who steered his team to the unbelievable atmosphere for Westfalenstadion, Dortmund scored Bundesliga. Origi, preferred up front to Daniel out of the game with an exquisite pass 2014 Champions League final home matches. twice in nine minutes through Henrikh An early Aubameyang effort that Sturridge, had a shot blocked and flicked and Reus nervelessly beating Mignolet. and knocked Barcelona out in “We want to make sure Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubam- curled wide gave Klopp’s side a warning a half-volley wide, Alberto Moreno mis- Coutinho reduced the arrears again the quarter-finals. we get a good result from the eyang to take a firm grip on the tie. and when the ball next found its way into cued a volley, Adam Lallana produced with a low strike into the bottom-right While Atletico’s forwards first leg.” After Divock Origi had given Liver- the hosts’ box, after a Liverpool attack an embarrassing air-kick and Firmino corner before Sakho atoned for his ear- Fernando Torres and Anto- Sammer says Bayern will pool a foothold, Marco Reus struck again broke down high on the left flank, there steered a header wide, while Coutinho lier misdemeanours by bludgeoning ine Griezmann tend to grab face two ‘monsters of passion’ for the visitors, but goals from Philippe was no reprieve. saw a drilled effort deflect behind. a header into the net from Coutinho’s the headlines, Guadiola said in Atletico and Simeone. Coutinho and Mamadou Sakho levelled Gonzalo Castro’s flighted cross Liverpool needed an early goal corner. Madrid’s Uruguay defender Bayern host Schalke on the tie before Lovren headed home in picked out Aubameyang and although in the second half and they got it in It set up a breathless climax that cul- Diego Godin and Slovenian Saturday in the Bundesliga the 91st minute to give former Dortmund his close-range volley was alertly parried the 48th minute, Emre Can exchang- minated in Croatian centre-back Lovren goalkeeper Jan Oblak are holding a seven point lead coach Jurgen Klopp the biggest win of his by Simon Mignolet, Mkhitaryan tucked ing passes with first James Milner and climbing at the back post to nod in Mil- the reasons they concede over second-placed Borus- Anfield tenure. in the rebound. then Firmino before releasing Origi to ner’s cross from the right and set the seal few goals. sia Dortmund. Liverpool’s stirring rally took them Sakho had played both Dortmund prod his fourth goal in three games past on an unforgettable Anfield night. 22 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 SPORT Doha set to host top Asian cueists

PRIZE MONEY India’s Advani top 1st prize: $ 3,500 cash (plus challenge seed as eight Qatari trophy +replica) +($ 3,500 from ACBS). 2nd prize: $1,750 cash (plus replica tro- players ready to phy) + ($ 1,750 from ACBS) showcase skills in Losing semi-finalists $ 500 cash (plus continental event replica trophy) each + ($ 500 from ACBS) Last Eight $250 cash (plus replica tro- phy) each from ACBS. Highest break (over 100 pts) $ 500 cash (plus replica trophy) + ($ 500 from By Armstrong Vas ACBS) The Peninsula Maximum Break 147-$1,750 cash plus certificate + ($ 1,750 from ACBS) QATARI PLAYERS Ahmed Saif, Ali Alobaidli, Mohsin Al Abdulrahman, Mohsen Bukshaisha, DOHA: Eight Qatari players will be Mhanaa Alobaidli, Bashar Abdulmajeed, seen in action at the Asian Snooker Khalid Alsalem, Abdulatif Alfawal Championship which kicks off at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federa- tion (QBSF) Academy here today. the Pro Circuit. Last year’s runner-up Ahmed Saif, Ali Alobaidli, Mohsin Pankaj Advani of India is top seed of Al Abdulrahman, Mohsen Bukshaisha, the championship. Mhanaa Alobaidli, Bashar Abdul- Advani, the holder of 15 world Former amateur world champion Mohammad Asif of Pakistan is expected to give tough fight to India’s top seed Pankaj Advani (right) at the majeed, Khalid Alsalem, Abdulatif titles across Billiards and Snooker, Asian Snooker Championship starting today in Doha. Alfawal will represent the host nation. is aiming to add the Asian Snooker Around 60 players from 20 coun- Championship title to his collection. snooker has required a mental tran- The other three Pakistani cueists, $3,500 and the runner-up $1,750. tries are participating in the biggest The Indian has won the world title ASIAN SNOOKER sition over the last one month, which Mohammad Bilal, Sohail Shahzad and The losing semi-finalists will col- snooker event in Asia, organis- in both the long and short format of CHAMPIONSHIP I consciously have worked on. Every Mohammad Sajjad, feature in Groups lect $500 each. ers of the event told the media here the game but the Asian Snooker title competition in all formats of the sport C, D and J, respectively. The organisers have also have line yesterday. is a trophy which is missing from his has always presented its own chal- All the league matches up to the up cash awards for the highest break The players have been divided into cabinet. “This is my first snooker tour- lenges and competition and it’s the pre-quarters stage will be best of and maximum break. 12 groups for the preliminary rounds. Last year, Advani lost to Akbar in nament of the year and as the only excitement in conquering those chal- 7 frames while the quarter-finals The cueman with the high- “The winner of this championship a closely contested final match with cueist who plays both billiards and lenges that keeps me going,” he added. and the semi-finals will be best of 9 est break (over 100 pts) will pocket will be eligible to represent his coun- a close 6-7 score-line, snooker over the last five years now, Advani will face a tough challenge frames. $500 and those with maximum try in the Pro Circuit,” informed an Advani said the challenge of it is still often not the smoothest from former amateur world champion The final will be played on April break (above 147) is set to go home official of QBSF. winning the Asian Snooker title for transition,” the veteran Indian cue- Mohammad Asif of Pakistan, the sec- 23 at 11:00 am and will be a best of 11 with $1,750. Today’s action begins at Last year, Hamza Akbar of Paki- the first time would be tough, yet ist commented. ond seed. Asif, won the world amateur frames affair. 10.00am and while the day’s action stan won the event and is now part of extremely exciting. “Getting into the mind-space for champion in 2012. The winner of the event will get ends with the 7.00pm clashes. Qatar’s pugilists leave for Riyadh Asian Rugby tri-nations Division III begins today

The Peninsula

DOHA: The 2016 Asian Rugby tri- nations Division III Championship will kick off today at the Aspire warm-up and purpose built rugby track. The championship is hosted by Qatar Rugby Federation and the other matches will be held on April 19 and 22 . This will be the first Asia Rugby Championship in Doha since it The Qatar’s national boxing team poses for a picture at Hamad International Airport before their departure changed its name from the Asia Five to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia yesterday. The boxers will take part in the 3rd GCC Boxing Championship which Nation (A5N) in 2015. will take place from April 16 to 20. Hassan Al Mohannadi is the head the delegation to Saudi Arabia “The QRF is delighted at the which includes six boxers and coach Carlos. Jamal Mubarek and Mohammad Gamber will represent opportunity to host the Asia Rugby the national team for the first time. The other boxers are Hozam Nabaa, Hakan, Abdulateef and Telasi. Championship and welcoming Iran and Lebanon’s national rugby teams to Doha. I hope they will enjoy our city and the international playing facilities provided by Aspire,” said Qatar Rugby Federation President DMAS South Racing prepare Yousef Al Kuwari. The Asian Rugby Championship will provide the newly-appointed federation with the biggest chal- to run Ford Ranger at Sealine lenge so far. Kuwari said: “This is Qatar’s chance to display to the world how far we have developed with rugby in The Peninsula particular over the last eight months. Chile’s As much as it may be a challenge Qatar national team training at Aspire Zone ahead of the Asian Rugby Hernan in hosting the rugby championship, tri-nations Division III Championship. Besides hosts Qatar, Iran and Garces it’s equally exciting for the federation. Lebanon are the other teams taking part in the championship. DOHA: DMAS South Racing are pre- is taking Asia and World rugby have so many paring to run a Ford Ranger at next part in the rules and stipulations but we will not week’s Sealine Cross-Country Rally, Sealine fail in our performance.” two communities of Iran and Leb- the Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar’s third round of the FIA World Cross- The QRF General-Secretary Ali anon to attend and cheer on their Asia Rugby (AR) have all endorsed Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, which Country Al Malki said: “This will be a perfect home teams”. and sanctioned the Asia Rugby starts out of the Losail International Rally in a opportunity for Qatar to join hands The Qatar Rugby Federation, Championship. Circuit on Monday. DMAS South and expose our talents both on and The team that has run Ford Rang- Racing Ford off the field. I encourage every Qatari ers on the last three Dakar rallies for Ranger. and sports fan to attend the matches Lucio Alvarez and the former WRC at Aspire and barrack for our national Action from the duo of Federico Villagra and Xavier team.” Pons, has entered the all-Chilean Al Malki continued: “I also extend Qatar Rugby crew of Hernan Garces and Juan navigation is very tricky and the ter- gas-rich Middle Eastern state. The an invite to all expats to help create Sevens Cup Pablo Vinagre in Qatar. rain is varied. It will be a good test for first section starts out of Al Zubara, an atmosphere that only rugby can finale between Garces has tackled the Dakar the whole team.” to the very north of the peninsula, achieve. I call on in particular the Camels 1 and Rally on two occasions, but this is Less than two weeks ago, the and runs for 229.53km on Monday. Hurricanes. his first foray into the Middle East. Germany-based team reached Tuesday’s second stage begins QRF is taking He also won last year’s Atacama the finish of the gruelling five- at Al-Kharrara and finishes close to Asia Rugby good steps to Rally in South America, a round day Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. the bivouac in Losail after 345.39km. Championship promote the of the CODESUR South American Spanish driver Fernando Alva- Stage three, on Wednesday, April 20, sport in the Championship. rez and his Argentinean navigator starts from Sealine - to the south of Division III Fixtures country. “This is a superb opportunity for Luciano Gennoni finished 17th in Doha – and is the longest of all the Today Hernan and Juan Pablo to take part the Conarpesa-backed vehicle and stages at 355.69km. Qatar vs Iran, 6.00pm in the Sealine event for the first time the Venezuelan duo of Nunzio Cof- The fourth selective section runs April 19 and give everyone at DMAS South faro and Daniel Meneses steered the for 354.56km between Al-Shabana Racing another superb opportunity Team Azimut Venezuela car to 16th. and Sealine on Thursday and the Iran vs Lebanon, 6.00pm to continue the development of the Teams will tackle five selective final section of 348.21km starts out April 22 Ford Ranger,” said South Racing’s sections in the Qatar deserts over of Rawdat Rashid and runs to a fin- Qatar vs Lebanon, 6.00pm managing director Scott Abraham. demanding off-road terrain that ish close to the bivouac at Sealine the Venue: Aspire Zone “It is a long and difficult rally. The spans the length and breadth of the following day. www.thepeninsulaqatar.comom PAGE | 20 PAGE | 2121 MurrayM faces Nadal Liverpool sinks in Monte Carlo Dortmund in Europa MMasters semi-final League thriller

SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 • 9 Rajab 1437 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar

Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah. RIGHT: A file photo of Al Attiyah and his Overdrive Racing partner, French navigator Matthieu Baumel in action. Al Attiyah chases fourth FIFA President Sealine Rally victory Infantino to visit 2022 hosts Qatar at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Matthieu with the navigation.” course, but Nasser knows the deserts two weeks ago, the Qatari star will Overdrive Racing won the Sea- well in Qatar and has an impressive Overdrive Racing’s drive one of the three Toyota Hiluxes line event in 2012 with Al Attiyah and record here, both at the Sealine Rally FIA World Cup leader which will compete against renowned Spanish navigator Lucas Cruz Senra and in the special stage events in the The Peninsula drivers from 29 nations during the and are chasing their second outright regional rally championship.” and his French five-day event which starts on Mon- success. Last year, Reinaldo Varela Competitors tackle five selective navigator Matthieu day and finishes on April 22. and Marek Dabrowski brought their sections in the Qatar deserts over DOHA: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (pictured) will visit the 2022 Baumel ready to take Al Attiyah and his French naviga- Toyota Hiluxes to the finish in third demanding off-road terrain across World Cup hosts Qatar on April 20. tor Matthieu Baumel were in superb and fifth overall. the length and breadth of the gas-rich The newly elected chief of world football, Infantino will visit both on a star-studded form in the United Arab Emirates and Dabrowski and Jacek Czachor Middle Eastern state. The first stage Russia and Qatar next week, the hosts for the next two World Cups, line-up in Qatar took advantage of the strength and crew a second Overdrive Racing Toy- starts out of Al Zubara, to the very football’s world governing body announced yesterday. reliability of the Overdrive Toyota ota Hilux in Orlen Team colours in north of the peninsula, and runs for “The Fifa President will begin his two-day stay in Russia on April Hilux to beat their nearest rivals by this year’s event. They finished eighth 229.53km on Monday. 19 with a visit to Moscow’s Luzhniki stadium, venue of the opening an impressive 32min 13sec. That suc- overall at the Abu Dhabi Desert Chal- Tuesday’s second special of match and final of the 2018 Fifa World Cup,” Zurich-based Fifa said The Peninsula cess has given Al Attiyah the outright lenge, after running inside the top five 345.39km begins at Al Kharrara and in a statement. lead in the FIA World Cup standings early on. The Poles will be chasing the finishes close to the Losail bivouac. He leaves on April 20 for Doha, where he will meet senior board and he is confident that a fourth vic- podium on this occasion. Stage three, on Wednesday, April 20, members of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and tory on the Sealine event in five years Qatar’s Khalifa Al Attiya and his starts from Sealine and is the longest officials of the Qatari government, it added. DOHA: Qatar’s racing icon Nasser will strengthen his position at the top French navigator Jean Michel Polato of all the stages at 355.69km. Earlier in February, Infantino had backed the 2022 World Cup Saleh Al Attiyah will be the one to of the points’ standings. crew a third Overdrive Toyota Hilux. The fourth runs for 354.56km after being elected President of FIFA, saying they the 2018 and 2022 watch among a strong line-up of 45 “This event is very special to me “Everyone in the team is look- between Al Shabana and Sealine on tournaments has to be the ‘best in history’. cars when Overdrive Racing contin- and it’s important that I achieve a ing forward to the challenge of the Thursday, April 21 and the final sec- Speaking after an informal match with FIFA employees and ues its hectic Middle Eastern tour in good result,” said Al Attiyah. “The Sealine Rally immensely,” said Over- tion of 348.21km starts out of Rawdat guests, Infantino said: “It’s now necessary to organise the best World next week’s Sealine Cross-Country team did a superb job in Abu Dhabi drive Racing’s CEO Jean Marc Fortin. Rashid and runs to a finish close to Cup in history in Russia in 2018 and in 2022 in Qatar.” Rally, round three of the 2016 FIA and I enjoyed driving the car very “Nasser will be competed at home the bivouac at Sealine on Friday, April Russia and Qatar won the right to host the tournaments in a vote World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. much. This is a different rally alto- and we are confident that the team 22. This precedes the ceremonial fin- in Zurich in December 2010. Fresh from claiming a stunning gether, far more technical, and can earn a second major win in three ish and post-event press conference at victory with the Belgium-based team there is far more responsibility on weeks. The competition is strong, of the Losail Circuit on Friday afternoon.

Al Arabi QVA League champions QSL: Qatar SC relegated as Kharaitiyat stay up

The Peninsula penalty to make it 3-1. Kebe QSL RESULTS scored another penalty in the 89th minute. Al Sadd drew with El Jaish 2-1 Qatar Spots Club were DOHA: Al Kharaitiyat Al Khor beat Al Gharafa 1-0 dropped to the Qatar Gas retained their status by the Lekhwiya beat Mesaimeer 2-1 league for the first time in their finest of margins despite a Al Kharaitiyat 2-3 Umm Salal history following a 1-1 draw final-day defeat to Umm Salal Al Wakrah drew with Qatar SC 1-1 with Al Wakrah yesterday. in the final day of the Qatar Wakrah’s Mouhcine Mou- Stars League yesterday. free-kick when Brazilian touali saw the Blue Waves take Al Kharaitiyat lost 3-2 at defender Welinton hammered the lead on the 51st minute Al Khor Stadium but stayed up the ball low into the bottom with a swift turn of pace saw after Qatar Sports Club failed corner. On the stroke of half- the Moroccan attacker breeze to win their match against Al time Salal doubled their lead past three Kings defenders Wakrah. through Mounir El Hamdaoui. before a composed finish past Amar Osim’s men went Sanzhar Tursunov’s cross was stopper Mohammed Mubarak. into the game with a one- flicked forward by Ilyas – over Qatar SC sprang into point lead and superior goal the head of defender Moham- action, and grabbed an equal- difference over the Kings. med Abdurahman – and El izer just two minutes later. A Kharaitiyat’s early season Hamdaoui slotted the ball superb cross from Vecchio was form proved just enough to home for his seventh of the met by the head of Carrando as claim 12th place and another season. Ismail Mardanli put the game marched towards the year in the top division. Salal 3-0 up after a smart turn one all stalemate. Qatar Volleyball Association League champions Al Arabi skipper holding the winners’ trophy after receiving the same They stayed up by virtue of and shot in the penalty area. In other matches of the from QVA President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi (front row, fourth from left) during the presentation ceremony held at Al Arabi their superior goal difference Kharaitiyat looked down day, Al Sadd drew with El Sports Complex yesterday. Picture by: Kammutty VP/The Peninsula over QSC. and out but were granted a life- Jaish 2-2, Al Khor beat Al Salal took the lead in line in the 65th minute. Gharafa 1-0 and Lekhwiya the 14th minute through a Yahia Kebe scored with a beat Mesaimeer 2-1.

PRAYER TIMINGS WEATHER Minimum: 22o C Maximum: 32o C

FAJR 03.52 am ZUHR 11.34 am MAGHRIB 05.59 pm HIGH TIDE 00:30 - 14:00 Strong wind and high SHOROOK 05.11 am ASR 03.03 pm ISHA 07.29 pm LOW TIDE 08:30 - 18:00 seas. Slight dust.

24 SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016 MORNING BREAK

ONLINE CHART BUST Vegetable fat Paris Comics Expo www.thepeninsulaqatar.com not the route MOST READ to a healthy Saudi Arabia: Donation to Malaysian 1 premier Najib was Genuine heart: Study Twitter appoints Kathy Chen as 2 China managing director AFP Ukraine seeks 15 years in jail for suspected 3 Russian troops PARIS: Replacing animal fat in the human diet with vegetable oil seems not to lower heart disease risk, and might even boost it, according to a study published Wednesday TWEET OF THE DAY that challenges a cornerstone of dietary advice. Switching from saturated to unsatu- rated Omega-6 fats did result in lower blood cholesterol in a trial with nearly 10,000 participants, it said, but not the expected reduction in heart disease deaths. In fact, those with a greater reduc- French members of the R2 Builders Club pose with their own replica R2 robot from the Star Wars tion in cholesterol “had a higher rather universe on display at the Paris Comics Expo at the Parc Floral in Paris, France, yesterday. than a lower risk of death,” according to the research published by The medical journal BMJ. For 50-odd years, animal fat in meat, butter, cheese and cream has been the bad boy of the diet world -- blamed for boosting artery-clogging cholesterol More western art for Chinese tycoon Liu linked to heart disease and stroke. In 1961, the American Hearth Association recom- mended vegetable oils replace saturated AFP Dynasty “Chicken Cup” for which he is due to go on show at the museum fats -- a position it still holds even as paid $36m in 2014 at Sotheby’s before next year. “The world is globalised... some research has started to challenge drinking tea from it, causing a social our collection is mainly Chinese tra- that hypothesis. media meltdown. ditional works of art, (but) we are The World Health Organization also HONG KONG: He first stunned the But in a departure from his Chi- going to expand into Western and advises that saturated fats should com- auction world by snapping up hugely nese collecting spree, last year Liu Asian works. I hope in my life time I prise less than 10 percent of total energy expensive Chinese antiquities, but splashed out on Modigliani’s “Nu can collect more from both China and Follow us on intake. For decades now, the world has now taxi driver turned tycoon Liu Couche” or “Reclining Nude” for more the West,” he told AFP in an recent Snapchat viewed full-fat milk and bacon with sus- Yiqian is targeting Western mas- than $170m at Christie’s, the second interview at Christie’s regional head- picion and replaced pork with chicken, terpieces, saying it is his “social highest price ever paid at auction for quarters in Hong Kong. and butter with plant-based margarines responsibility” to show them to Chi- a work of art. Liu said he felt a “social responsi- Open Snapchat and and cooking oils. But in the past few years, na’s younger generation. Liu says he hopes the museum bility” to enable Chinese youngsters scan the Snapcode researchers have started poking holes in Liu has become China’s highest he founded in Shanghai, the Long to experience Western masters. to add The Peninsula the “fat is bad” hypothesis. This is a type of profile art collector, hitting headlines Museum, where much of his col- “Other than Chinese traditional and experiment -- generally considered highly with record-breaking buys and an lection is on display across two contemporary works of art, younger account. reliable -- in which people are randomly irreverent approach. His acquisi- branches, will increasingly become generations in China have devel- divided into groups to receive, or not, the tions have mainly been of Chinese a showcase for Western art as well oped deeper recognition of Western treatment being studied. heritage, most famously the tiny Ming as Chinese classics. The Modigliani works,” he said.

Middle Eastern Art New York playwright fails to block Close living room encounter opening of new Barbershop movie with cassowary

AFP Reuters Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc characters and situation of the movie and Showtime Networks Inc. bear an overwhelming resemblance A representative for Dickerson to those of “Scissors,” which toured was not immediately available for the United States from 1998-2001. SYDNEY: An Australian couple had BENGALURU: The movie Barber- comment on the ruling by US dis- “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” a close encounter with one of the shop: a Manhattan judge ruled on trict court Judge Laura Taylor Swain. which stars Ice Cube, Cedric the most dangerous birds in the world Thursday as he denied an injunction “We are pleased that Judge Entertainer, Eve and Nicki Minaj, is when a giant flightless cassowary sought by a New York playwright to Swain saw through this thinly-veiled the latest film in a series about the wandered into their home, send- A technician views 453 Vienna Bronzes from The Franz Bergman block the fourth of a series of com- attempt to extort the companies that owners of a Chicago barbershop ing them running for cover. Foundry as part of Sotheby’s press preview of A Millennium of edies that he claims ripped off his have invested over 14 years and mil- and an Atlanta beauty salon, their Peter and Sue Leach were in Middle Eastern Art unveiled in London, yesterday. stage play “Scissors.” lions of dollars to bring the beloved employees and neighborhood prob- their house at Wongaling Beach in Ronald Dickerson, a writer, actor “Barbershop” franchise to audiences lems such as gangs and gentrification. far north Queensland state earlier and film director also known as JD worldwide,” Warner Bros and MGM The case is Ronald Dickerson this week when the bird -- which Lawrence, had filed a lawsuit on jointly said in an emailed statement. aka JD Lawrence vs Time Warner can grow up to two metres (6ft Monday seeking the injunction and A pre-trial conference on the Inc. et al, US District Court, South- 6ins) tall -- sauntered in. $20m in damages from Time Warner lawsuit is scheduled for July 15. The ern District Court Of New York, No. “My husband said, ‘look, we’ve Kendrick Lamar accused of Inc , Warner Brothers Pictures, lawsuit claims that the plot, themes, 16-02695. got a visitor!’ and there he was walking into the house through the copying Bill Withers’ song garage,” Sue Leach said yesterday. “My husband quickly ran over behind the dining table and I went Reuters which said they hold the copyright outside and stood on the driveway to “Don’t You Want to Stay.” next to the car. At the same time, Withers sang and co-wrote the I was saying to my husband -- get song, which appears on his album the camera!” NEWYORK: The rapper Kendrick “Making Music.” Lamar’s “I Do This” Leach said the cassowary, Lamar was sued on Thursday for appears on a self-titled extended- nicknamed “Peanut” by a neigh- allegedly copying the music from play album from 2009. bour, walked through the the 1975 Bill Withers song “Don’t You The lawsuit seeks a halt to the neighbourhood regularly as it was Want To Stay” for his song “I Do This” alleged infringement and unspec- near a rainforest, but this was the without permission. ified damages. A lawyer for Lamar first time she knew of it entering According to a complaint filed did not immediately respond to a a home. in Los Angeles federal court, Lamar request for comment. Other defend- “He didn’t bump anything or added his own lyrics to a “direct and ants include a unit of Lamar’s record look for food or the fruit bowl, complete copy” of Withers’ music to label Top Dawg and a publishing unit which was good, and we didn’t create “I Do This,” resulting in cop- of Warner Music Group. They did not spook him at all, because they’re yright infringement. immediately respond to requests for still a wild animal and they’re Lamar, whose “untitled unmas- comment. spooked by dogs and things like tered” topped the Billboard 200 The lawsuit was filed in the same that,” she said, adding that it was album chart in March, has ignored court where a jury in March 2015 “very calm”.“It’s a very unusual demands to stop exploiting Withers’ awarded singer Marvin Gaye’s family experience.” The southern cas- music, and “admitted” to copying it close to $7.4 million after finding that sowary -- an endangered species “with a thumb to the nose, catch me the Robin Thicke and Pharrell Wil- found only in the tropical rain- if you can attitude,” the complaint liams 2013 smash hit “Blurred Lines” forests of northeast Queensland, said.The lawsuit was filed by Golden copied parts of Gaye’s 1977 song “Got Papua New Guinea and some sur- A scene from the movie Barbershop. Withers Music and Musidex Music, to Give It Up.” rounding islands.