Daily newspaper
Transcription
Daily newspaper
BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 2 QIIB net profit rises 10% to QR826mn INDEX QATAR 4 – 12, 36 13 REGION ARAB WORLD INTERNATIONAL 14, 15 16 – 31 COMMENT BUSINESS 32, 33 1 – 6, 13 – 16 CLASSIFIED 7 – 13 SPORTS 1 – 12 Rojas wins Tour of Qatar stage one DOW JONES QE NYMEX 17,824.29 12,623.93 51.69 -60.59 -0.34% +103.27 +0.82% +1.21 +2.40% EGYPT | Violence 14 die as police and football fans clash Fourteen people were killed yesterday in clashes between Egyptian police and Zamalek football club fans at a Cairo stadium, the official Mena news agency reported. The agency quoted the state prosecution as saying 14 bodies of those killed in the clashes had been taken to a morgue. Page 14 MONDAY Vol. XXXV No. 9628 February 9, 2015 Rabia II 20, 1436 AH www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Sidra unveils cardiovascular care centre plans The centre aims to become a global leader in improving care and outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease T The stretch between the VIP Signals and Ras Aboud Flyover on the Corniche road in Doha remained waterlogged for a few hours in the evening yesterday because of a pipe burst along the road on the Umm Ghuwailina side. The flooding slowed down traffic considerably. PICTURE: Nasar T K in InIn brief Brief d Burst pipe floods road he R is bl TA 978 A 1 Q since GULF TIMES pu Latest Figures he Sidra Medical and Research Center yesterday unveiled detailed plans for its state-of-theart Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence. The centre will provide children, including newborn babies and adults born with congenital heart disease, with the highest standards of care. The centre aims to become a global leader in improving care and outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease. “It is a source of pride and commitment from the team at Sidra to set up the Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence to world-class standards. Our collaboration between the Cardiovascular and Neonatology Centres of Excellence will also set Sidra apart as an international leader in the care of premature infants with congenital heart disease,” said Prof Ziyad Hijazi, chair of the Department of Paediatrics and acting chief medical officer of Sidra. There will be five centres of excellence under Sidra, each of which focuses on delivering world-class care in a key aspect of children’s and women’s health. The four other centres are for neonatology (the care of newborn infants), foetal therapy and intervention, reproductive medicine and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and genetics and genomic medicine. “The Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence will offer the people of Qatar care of a quality that very few other hospitals in the world are able to deliver,” Prof Hijazi explained. “The pioneering research initiatives spearheaded by the cardiology team will advance the international medical and scientific community’s understanding of key aspects of cardiovascular medicine to benefit people everywhere for generations to come.” The Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence will be staffed by a large team of experts in the field and led by Prof Hijazi, who is also an interventional cardiologist specialising in treating congenital and structural heart disease in both children and adults. Two co-directors, a chief of cardiac surgery and a chief of cardiology, will work alongside Prof Hijazi. In addition, seven medical directors will be attached to the centre of excellence, providing expertise in vital areas such as noninvasive cardiology, cardiac critical care and cardiac catheterisation. To Page 12 Qatar close to signing agreement on hosting Formula One race AFP Doha Q atar is close to signing a contract to host a Formula One Grand Prix within the next two years, the president of the country’s motor sport federation has told AFP. Nasser bin Khalifa al-Attiyah, who is also the vice- president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), said the race would be held in 2016 or 2017, adding to the growing list of high- profile international sporting events hosted by Qatar. “We are about to sign contracts to organise a Formula One race,” he said. “We have completed all the steps and there are only a few details before the official signature.” Al-Attiyah added that Qatar would offer the choice of two circuits on which to race, either in Lusail which has already hosted Moto GP and World Superbike events, or a specially-designed street course through the capital Doha. Qatar has won the right to host the 2022 World Cup and has also been recently awarded the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Qatar is expected to make a bid at some point to host a Summer Olympics. 4 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 QATAR Erring companies fined Dusty winds, partly cloudy QU cuts students’ bus frequency conditions forecast today S The inspectors of the Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has spotted 13 consumer protection violations at the Central Market in Doha’s Abu Hamour area. The campaign targeted mainly the yard for the sale of onions, potatoes and dry agricultural products. The erring companies were issued violation reports and fines of up to QR5,000 for each violation. Most of the violations were regarding not abiding by posted prices for the items on display. lightly dusty and party cloudy conditions are expected today, Met office has said while forecasting the chance of strong south easterly-southerly winds lashing across the country. There would be less visibility on account of the dusty winds and direct reach may fall to 3km or even less at times, though the average visibility could be between 4 and 7km. The climate in general would be more or less similar to the last few days, and minimum and maximum temperatures may vary between 16 and 29 degrees. However, in Abu Samra and suburbs it would be colder than in other areas and the minimum would hover around 13 degrees. In Doha, the maximum and minimum temperatures could be between 26 and 18 degrees. The southern region, comprising Mesaieed and Wakrah, may be a little more colder at 16 degrees. Winds of magnitudes ranging beyond 20 knots have been forecast, with the possibility of touching 25 knots, the weatherman has warned. Offshore, winds could be between 18 and 28 knots, getting stronger at times, possibly touching 33 knots. The sea is expected to be more rough and volatile and the forecasters have issued warning of waters rising upto 10 feet in the offshore areas. Sometimes, it may exceed even 12-feet mark. HMC registers 45,000 organ donors Dr Riyadh Abdul Sattar Fadhil, director of the Organ Donation Programme at Hamad Medical Corporation has confirmed that the number of organ donors has reached 45,000, reports AlWatan daily. He stated that liver transplantation was conducted in four cases this year and that the total number of such cases reached 8 since the start of the programme. Dr Fadhil stated that the training and outfits necessary for pancreas transplantation surgeries have been completed. He said that the organ donation programme, which is named Doha Model, is distinguished by its services which are conducted without discrimination between nationals and residents. He added that in many countries there are separate lists for the nationals and residents where the nationals receive distinguished care. Q atar University (QU) will reduce its bus transportation service to students as part of its ongoing logistics re-arrangements from this term, said an official of the university yesterday. The official also stated that several measures were undertaken to limit the service to define its terms of use and the various areas it covers in Doha. The reduced service will cover areas in and outside Doha that have been identified and selected by specialists, and was redesigned to provide 4 trips per day, 7am, 10am, 2:15pm and 5:15pm. Buses operating around West Bay and Madinat Khalifa have been reduced from 44 to 14 and in some areas such as Al Aziziya from 3 to 2, in line with student capacity, the official said. Ten buses will operate to and from the student dormitories from 6:30am to 10:30pm, and an emergency bus will be active for 24 hours. QU has provided transport services to female students who have no appropriate means of transportation that facilitates transition to and from the campus. 6 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 QATAR QC to host Japan electronics technology forum today Q atar Chamber (QC) will host today “Japan electronics technology forum for sustainable development” at its headquarters in Doha. A number of Qatari and Japanese businessmen are expected to take part in the forum. Besides, the Japanese Ambassador to Qatar, Shingo Tsuda, officials from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will attend the forum, alongside QC senior officials. Topics such as en- vironmental society, healthy cities, energy saving society and safety city will be discussed during the forum with focus on how technology could be used to improve the quality of life while maintaining a sustainable environment. Nissan supports The Color Run Nissan Middle East and Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, its exclusive dealer in Qatar, supported The Color Run, held on Saturday, dubbed the “Happiest 5k on the Planet.” The official vehicle was the new Nissan X-Trail, the Japanese auto maker’s compact SUV. Nissan was involved in supporting The Color Run in the UAE with the X-Trail also to the fore. Monal Zeidan, director of marketing at Nissan Middle East, said: “The latest X-Trail, which builds on our 4x4 heritage and benefits from the company’s crossover leadership, redefines the compact SUV segment.” Declan McClusky, general manager automotive, at Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana Company, said: “The sponsorship of the fun run bears further testimony to our commitment to our market.” Challenge 22 Roadshow reaches Oman T he Challenge 22 Roadshow began a three-day visit to Oman as the regional competition continued. Initiated by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Silatech and Qatar National Research Fund, Challenge 22 is an innovation award that was born out of a desire to celebrate the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar as a regional event. Ahead of four information sessions about the initiative, Fatma al-Nuaimi, Human and Social Legacy manager at SC, spoke about the successful visit to Saudi Arabia as the roadshow prepared for its latest stop in neighbouring Oman. “We are very happy about the excitement we’ve seen from young innovators in Saudi Arabia, with hundreds of attendees per session, all of whom were very excited to take part. We are sure to see the same interest from Oman,” she said. The Challenge 22 Roadshow continues with four sessions in Muscat, between Tawasul Global Connection Centre, Knowledge Oman and Sharakah. “We are delighted to be here in Muscat and to work with our three partners on the information sessions. This is a great opportunity to reach out to the innovators and the brightest minds in the country to encourage them to apply,” al-Nuaimi added. Challenge 22 ambassadors Mohamed Saeed Harib, founder of Lammatra Production and creator of Freej, Mohamed Saadon al-Kuwari, popular sports TV presenter, and Areej al-Kharafi, Kuwaiti entrepreneur, will continue their tour in the visit to Oman, to talk about their involvement with the initiative. Reflecting on her experience on Challenge 22 so far, al-Kharafi said: “I am blown away by the amount of interest I’ve seen. I think what’s different about the initiative is that it’s an opportunity for people in the GCC to share their ideas. We’d like to encourage more people to attend and find out how they can be part of Challenge 22.” Al-Kuwari added, “This initiative stays true to the promise that was made during Qatar’s bid for the World Cup that this will be a regional tournament, and we are eager to see regional submissions for this innovation award. This will prove a lasting legacy past 2022.” Challenge 22 is seeking residents and applicants from the GCC, with solution-based proposals related to three key themes that address challenges faced by Qatar and the world when hosting major sports events. The next stop of the roadshow will be in Bahrain for a two-day visit from February 11. 10 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 QATAR 48 organisations to mark Law to protect Sport Day at Katara domestic workers K ‘expected soon’ By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter T he Philippine government has expressed optimism that Qatar will soon pass its “Domestic Workers Protection law” that will further protect household service workers (HSWs). “They also mentioned earlier that the Domestic Workers Protection law is nearing approval,” said Attorney Hans Cacdac, administrator of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA). The POEA senior official visited Doha last week to attend the second Qatar-Philippines Joint Labour Committee meeting. He was joined by Ambassador Crescente Relacion and labour attaché Leopoldo De Jesus. Cacdac stressed that they will be closely watching the law’s approval as the Qatar’s Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare promised to provide them with updates. POEA is also encouraging the ministry to be “more involved” in the protection of household service workers. Cacdac made it clear that they are not pushing the Qatari side to “enact a law in terms of further protecting HSWs” since this category of workers is not covered by Qatar’s labour laws. “It is more of providing them Hans Cacdac with documents to have an agreement on how to best treat Filipino HSWs,” he noted. “Once an agreement is signed, this will be the law that will be implemented between the two countries as far as the HSWs are concerned.” Citing that Qatar had been working hard to protect overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) including HSWs, Cacdac said the Philippine government hopes that HSWs will soon be covered by the country’s labour laws just like in other GCC countries. At the meeting, he was told that the Ministry of Labour has some involvement in terms of approving contracts and resolving a number of issues and disputes. A mechanism to receive com- plaints from HSWs seemed to be in effect at the Ministry, according to Cacdac. He was also told that the embassy and the labour attaché can directly endorse and refer Filipino HSWs who need help to the ministry. “Also, looking into dispute settlement how we can best resolve disputes involving OFWs with the clear participation of the embassy and the labour attaché,” he added. About the minimum salary of household service workers, the official said the issue was not raised since the Philippine government maintained its stand that the $400 monthly pay was non-negotiable. Of the 188,000 OFWs in Qatar, Ambassador Relacion noted that about 15% (more than 28,000) are HSWs. The Philippine government also received a positive response from Qatar’s Ministry of Labour to further enhance the protection of OFWs welfare in the country. Cacdac noted that some of the issues tackled during the discussion focused on transparency in the process of recruiting Filipino workers and ethical practices through regulation of recruitment costs and placement fees. The Joint Committee meeting between the two countries, pursuant to the agreement in 2008, picks up from the 1997 original bilateral labour agreement. Ministry of Environment lines up exciting activities The Ministry of Environment has completed all preparations to participate in the National Sport Day tomorrow in Barzan park. HE the Minister of Environment Ahmed Amer Mohamed alHumaidi will attend the Ministry’s sports activities that begin at 8am with the participation of the ministry’s officials and employees, their families and the general public. Mohsen Zayed al-Khayareen, Director of Public Relations and Communication at the Ministry of the Environment said the ministry drew up plans and programmes for various sports and awareness activities during the Sport Day in an effort to raise awareness of the community about the importance of sport, explaining that the relationship between sport and environment is strong and powerful as they are “are two sides of one coin.” He added that the ministry will organise sports activities such as a march, country race, table tennis, football matches and volleyball competition. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Sports and Environment Committee, in co-operation with Friends of the Environment Centre and A Flower Each Spring programme, organised various sports activities at Al Khor to celebrated Qatar’s National Sport Day. atara, the Cultural Village will launch over100 sport activities with the participation of 48 entities on the National Sport Day to be held tomorrow. The activities will start at 7.30am and will continue until late night and will feature a wide range of sport events and competitions for all social segments and age categories. Katara has provided an adequate number of parking lots to accommodate huge number of visitors. It includes the parking space at the southern area of Katara as well as the already existing underground parking lots. There will be an area designated for buses that will transport visitors from the southern parking to Katara esplanade, where most of the activities are concentrated. Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim alSulaiti, general manager, Katara said: “Katara is fully prepared to receive visitors during the sport day. We would like to invite nationals and expatriates to take part in the events and make it a remarkable milestone in our lives, and a pleasant memory that shapes our healthy lives.” He added: “Undoubtedly, culture and sports are prominent factors in our lives, which are the foundations of one’s mind, body and soul. These two Some of the activities at Katara last year factors have crucial and positive roles of spreading awareness and upgrading civilised thinking in the community. Sports and culture have fundamental roles in the advancement of civilisation and the illustration of the unity and harmony among people.” Katara will host more than 98 various sports activities on its waterfront which will be for women, men and children. Last year, Katara hosted 83 activities with the participation of 38 entities. Some of the organisations that are participating at Katara are Qatar Swimming Association, Qatar Basketball Federation, Qatar Bodybuilding Federation, Qatar Boxing Federation, Qatar Tennis and Squash Federation, Handball Association, Golf Association, Qatar Shooting and Archery Association, Qatar Badminton Association, Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation, Qatar Volleyball Association, Qatar Table Tennis Federation, Qatar Cycling Federation, Qatar Wrestling Federation, Qatar Chess Association and Qatar Football Association. Commercial Bank promotes healthy lifestyle T he Commercial Bank allocates around 2.5% of its net profits for the support of cultural, social and sport activities in the country, CEO Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi said yesterday. “There is a specialised committee to distribute this sum for activities that serve the strategic objectives and interests of the bank in this respect,” he explained at a press conference convened to announce the preparations of the bank for the National Sport Day. “Commercial Bank and all its employees and staff are ready to mark the day in an active and collaborative manner. In a symbolic move, the main hall of the bank’s headquarters was allocated for table tennis with the participation of the bank employees ahead of the day. “The bank took part in a number of sport activities earlier, such as the mini football tournament, and the Qatar Central Bank’s activities for last year’s National Sport Day, including the mini marathon on Doha Corniche. We have also taken part in golf competitions, and we encourage our employees to walk regularly and participate in more sport activities as they wish.” Commercial Bank will take part tomorrow in all the featured activities held in co-operation with Qatar Central Bank and the other financial institutions in Qatar. Al-Raisi further stressed the steadfast belief of the bank in the benefits of maintaining a healthy life style and the National Sport Day is a good opportunity in this regard. Abdulla Saleh al-Raisi Central Laboratories of SCH wins top accreditation T he Central Laboratories of the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has won the international accreditation of the standard specifications of testing and calibration laboratories (ISO 17025:2005) from Laboratory Accreditation Bureau (LAB) in the US. This accreditation is a benchmark for the standards of food safety and the evaluation of the accuracy of lab test results. The SCH Central Laboratories had started the accreditation process since 2011. Intensive training programmes were held to equip the laboratory staff with the necessary advanced skills. In addition, World Health Organisation programmes in this respect were implemented in co-operation with international experts in auditing and evaluation. The Central Labs staff celebrating the international accreditation. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 11 QATAR HMC hosting events for staff, their families on Sport Day H amad Medical Corporation (HMC) is hosting a programme of healthy and sports-related activities for its staff and their families to mark National Sport Day. HMC will hold a walkathon around Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City (HBKMC) starting at 9am from the Nurses Club and a football tournament also to be held at Nurses Club from 2pm to 4pm. The HMC Qatar National Sport Day organising committee has also planned other healthy and fun activities, including basketball, golf, and children’s games. Participants will have the opportunity to check their blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), height and weight as well as diabetes screening. Staff from the nutrition department will be present to provide healthy eating tips. Ali al-Khater, executive director, corporate communications, HMC, said that as the principal public healthcare provider in Qatar, HMC plays an integral role on the day both on a wider community and staff level. “HMC is striving to implement the Qatar National Vision 2030 which highlights the need to build a healthy society to meet the country’s growth and development goals,” al-Khater said, adding: “HMC is proud to be participating in Sports Day for the fourth consecutive year. This special day highlights Qatar’s commitment to a healthy future and we are pleased to be joining other major government entities and organisations in supporting this day.” Aisha al-Khulaifi, head of corporate social responsibility at HMC, said: “We are actively encouraging our staff and their families to get involved and to make every effort to lead a healthy life.” Ministry completes preparations The Ministry of Economy and Commerce has completed its preparations for National Sport Day, which will be observed tomorrow. Around 110 ministry employees will take part in the activities to stress the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle for more productivity. The General Authority of Customs has also prepared a fully packed programme for the employees of its various departments to enjoy National Sport Day. Some basic medical check-ups such as blood sugar and blood pressure measurement, will be conducted for the participants. More than 400 employees of the Ministry of Transport and its affiliates are expected to take part in activities at Al-Khor Airport. Oryx GTL publishes lifestyle guide Oryx GTL has published a Healthy Lifestyle Guide, pictured right, in association with Gulf Times. Brought out to mark Qatar’s National Sport Day, observed tomorrow, the guide provides simple, month-by-month steps anyone can adopt, to lead a healthy lifestyle. The guide is being distributed free with Gulf Times today. Qatar Tourism Authority organising walkathon at The Pearl-Qatar Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), in co-operation with the United Development Company, is organising a walkathon at The Pearl-Qatar tomorrow to mark Qatar National Sport Day. QTA has sent an open invitation to the public, hotel establishments, and tourism companies to participate in the event. “The event aims to allow participants to carry out a pleasant sport tour of The PearlQatar, a synonym for the Arab Riviera in the heart of Doha,” said Saif al-Kuwari, director of Public Relations and Communications Department at QTA. The walkathon is part of QTA’s efforts to engage the public and the hotel sector to attend and take part in world-class sport activities. Al-Kuwari said they want to further boost the sports tourism industry in co-operation with private and public sectors and promote Qatar as a world tourism destination capable of attracting tourists from various countries. “Through this event, we seek to highlight the importance of sport in preserving a healthy society, demonstrate a sportive spirit in the face of daily challenges, and show solidarity and co-operation to attain goals” he added. The National Sport Day aims to shed the light on the importance of sports and physical activity in achieving a sound and healthy lifestyle, which in turn, helps in the development of the society. The event is also an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors with family and friends. The National Sport Day was launched in 2012 to spread awareness about the importance of physical activity and help develop and promote a healthy living and regular exercise. QIB books beach for celebration Q atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has booked the Four Seasons Doha beach area for its officials, staff and families to participate in a comprehensive sports programme to be held tomorrow as part of National Sport Day. The programme, from 8am to 1pm, will feature various sporting activities such as football, tennis, dodge ball, boot camp, beach volley, tug of war, strongest employee and other sport competitions which enhance team building. Ooredoo lines up activities at MIA Ooredoo has announced its activity-packed schedule for National Sport Day, designed to engage with people across Qatar and encourage them to take part in a day-long celebration of sport tomorrow. Ooredoo’s activities, which include competitions, children’s shows and exercise classes, will be hosted at the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park, and the company has promised its customers the biggest and best Sports Day event yet. Highlights include the new “Snow Area”, an activity zone where everyone can get a taste of the cold with snowball fights and a snow slide. For children, Ooredoo has arranged two exciting live shows: “Speed Painting with Jean Francois” and Disney’s “Wish Upon A Dream”, which will have performances throughout the day. There will also be a series of classic sporting competitions, such as football tournaments, shooting tournaments, landrowing, arm wrestling, sumo wrestling, a family treasure hunt and more. Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, director of community and public relations, Ooredoo, said: “This year, Ooredoo is all about encouraging everyone to take part and get fit through a range of fun activities. We have pulled out all the stops to provide our biggest-ever National Sport Day event yet, and we hope everyone will take part.” Young adults and people looking for more alternative ways to exercise have also been catered for this year, with activities such as Paintballing and a dedicated Parkour section. Ooredoo will also install a number of ‘Socialising Stations’ in the park where people can take and post pictures to social media, as well as invite friends to come and join the fun. Ooredoo’s support for Qatar’s National Sport Day is part of its ongoing commitment to raise awareness on the importance of fitness and health to the people of Qatar. 12 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 QATAR Desert Caravan Challenge ends T wo caravans, each comprising 15 adventure lovers, participated in the second Desert Caravan Challenge organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) over the weekend. The 12km camel-riding endurance challenge, held on Friday and Saturday, kicked off from the historical Bait Al Imam (House of Imam) near the historical mosque of Zekreet. Participants wound their way through the scenic desert along the western quarter of Qatar, and then straight to the historical fort of Zekreet. The two caravans then stopped for break at specific sites near the famous sculptures of Richard Serra in the Ras Brouq area and the ruins of Zekreet village. Many of the participants were residents of Qatar but some came from other GCC countries. Aged between 18 and 60, half of them were female. “We are always seeking to diversify tourism products by encouraging the launch of new ones every now and then that entice tourists and highlight the rich Qatari heritage as well At least 50% of the participants were women. Certificates were distributed to participants after the challenge. Participants braved the 12km camel-riding endurance challenge. as the importance of preserving Qatar’s archaeological wealth,” said QTA chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi. He noted that the challenge is part of QTA’s efforts to support cultural tourism and introduce archaeological sites to residents and visitors. “Activities like this reflect the deep history and originality of this place that witnessed QNB officials celebrate with members of the handball team. QNB celebrates success of Qatar men’s handball team QNB, acting in its dual capacity as tournament sponsor and strategic partner of the Qatar men’s national handball team, has celebrated the historic sporting achievement of Qatar reaching the final of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship in Doha by hosting a team reception recently. Players and officials were honoured by the bank in recognition of Qatar becoming the first ever non-European side to reach a world handball final following knockout stage victories over Austria, Germany and Poland. In a hard-fought final, Qatar lost 25-22 to Olympic and European champions France at a packed and hugely supportive Lusail Multipurpose Hall. Previously, no Asian team had reached the quarterfinals stage and only two African sides had ever reached the semi-finals. Commenting on Qatar’s performance at the handball world championship, QNB Group CEO Ali Ahmed al-Kuwari said: “QNB is delighted to be recognising the outstanding performance of the Qatar men’s handball team during the recent world championship. Coach Valero Rivera and the players were an inspiration to many and they have captivated the hearts and minds of the population by their stirring on-court performances. “Their achievements were both considerable and historic and combined with an excellent organised tournament, they have left a lasting sporting legacy for Qatar sport to emulate and be proud of in future years.” A cornerstone of QNB’s corporate social responsibility programme is the support given to national and grassroots sporting activities and organisations across Qatar. This is aligned with Qatar National Vision to become a true centre of sporting excellence in the Mena region and an exceptional destination of sports tourism. the struggle of our ancestors and their adherence to traditions,” Mohannadi stressed. At the end of the five-hour long journey, he said participants enjoyed a wonderful Arabic hos- pitality experience in the middle of the Bait Al Imam, at the village of Zekreet. Certificates were also given to them at the event which was also attended by QTA chief tourism development officer Hassan al-Ibrahim, Dr Fatema al-Sulaiti and Faisal al-Noaimi from Qatar Museums. Mohannadi said the challenge intends to show authentic Arab landmarks such as Zekreet Fort and Al Zubara Archeological Site, a Unesco world heritage site, and showcase the beauty of the Qatari desert and nature. QTA has organised the event in cooperation with Qatar Museums while Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels, Regency Travel and Tours, and Qatar International Adventures are the official sponsors. hospitality. It also aims to showcase citizens’ desire to support tourism in their country and develop a modern and sustainable tourism sector with deep cultural roots. The Desert Caravan Challenge is part of QTA’s efforts to diversify tourism products in Qatar, shed light on Qatar as a world tourism destination with deep cultural roots, promote historical WISH partners with Gates Foundation to release report on newborn care T he World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), an initiative of Qatar Foundation, yesterday announced a joint effort with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to release a report highlighting the importance of integrated maternal and newborn healthcare at the second WISH summit taking place on February 17 and 18. The report, developed with Harvard University and Save the Children, is part of a partnership between WISH and Gates to highlight critical global health and development issues. In 2013, more than 280,000 women and girls died due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth while 2.9mn newborns died due to lack of available care. As the health of mothers and their children are inextricably linked - biologically, socially, and through health systems - integrated care systems that use innovative approaches are desperately needed across the full range of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child healthcare. In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Harvard University and Save the Children, WISH will host a special panel session at the summit to present some of the report insights with an aim to tackle the critical unfinished agenda of reproductive, maternal and newborn health. The panel discussion will put forward the case for service integration and provide a platform for thoughtprovoking debate on both the critical issues and the opportunities that can be mobilised to ensure efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality remain a top priority. The briefing will also provide five recommendations for healthcare Vodafone Qatar offers Porsche Design P’9983 from Blackberry V odafone Qatar has introduced the highend Porsche Design P’9983, pictured, from Blackberry in limited quantities at its Villaggio Mall and Landmark Mall stores. The telecom provider is also offering 1 GB of free local data valid for one month for its Prepaid customers and 6 GB of free local data, also valid for one month, for its Postpaid customers. Priced at QR6,999, the P’9983 smartphone combines the unique stylish design of the Porsche Design brand with the smooth productivity experience of BlackBerry 10 technology. “At Vodafone, we’re always looking at products and services that exceed the expectations of our most discerning and VIP customers and the availability of this superb product is a reflection of our commitment to continue to offer them a truly unique mobile experience,” said Marc Norris, chief commercial officer of Vodafone Qatar. Marking the third smartphone collaboration between BlackBerry and Porsche Design, the device integrates premium quality materials such as sapphire glass for the camera lens, forged stainless steel for the Porsche Design floating logo and chassis, and a special glassweave technology for the back door. Porsche Design has also collaborated with BlackBerry for the first QWERTY version with BlackBerry 10 with specially crafted glass-like keys with the durability of rigid synthetic material, and a special 3D effect with silver font characters. stakeholders who are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of mothers and newborns. The WISH panel will coincide with the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will replace the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015 ensuring that this vital issue of maternal and child health remain at the forefront of global and national health agendas. And it previews some of the proceedings expected at the Global Maternal Newborn Health Conference to be held in October 2015 in Mexico City. “While we have seen advancements in maternal and newborn health these past fifteen years, comparatively maternal and newborn survival have not progressed as quickly as other health goals,” said Mariam Claeson, director of the maternal, newborn and child health programme at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Newborn mortality now makes up the majority of all under-five deaths, despite the existence of proven, cost-effective interventions that could save the lives of hundreds of thousands more women and newborns each year. At the Gates Foundation, we believe global health equity is achievable and we want to make childbirth safe for all women and newborns.” Prof Lord Darzi of Denham, executive chair of WISH, said: “This special WISH policy briefing aims to build the case for integrating policies and services in ways that improve the quality and accessibility of care for mothers and newborns. The subject of newborn and maternal health cannot be of greater importance to families, society and the world.” Qatar Charity distributes aid for displaced in Yemen Q atar Charity has distributed humanitarian relief assistance to displaced Yemenis from two provinces at a cost of over QR500,000 ($140,000). The aid included shelter, food, medicine and medical treatment for the benefit of 6,076 people. The projects were carried out in partnership with Yemen Development Network (YDN), which took part in the distribution of tents, mattresses, blankets, winter clothing and kitchen utensils, in addition to food items. Food baskets, each containing 50kg of wheat, 25kg of flour, four litres of cooking oil, 10kg of sugar, 10kg of rice and 500gm of tea, were distributed to 5,000 displaced families in the governorates of Al-Jawf and Marib, in the areas of Hazm, Motoon, Khalq, Masloub, Higher Jouf, Salamat, Sahara, Baten, Khalifa Basha, Al Salah and Madina in the province of Marib. The relief efforts represent Qatar Charity’s humanitarian role and its desire to offer support to the most needy, in light of the fact that the Yemeni people are experiencing extreme suffering as a result of conflict and displacement. The displaced often lack the most basic necessities of life, which results in a humanitarian disaster, particularly during the winter. This aid is in addition to covering the cost of treatment for 1,500 patients and the purchase and distribution of chronic disease treatments, such as blood pressure and diabetes medicines, health checks and drugs for other diseases that are common in this period, such as pneumonia and ailments of the digestive system. Some 6,076 people have benefited from the support. According to recent reports by YDN, 193 families are currently displaced as a result of events in the two provinces and 739 families have returned to their homes. Although the situation is currently stable, there is considerable fear among the population that the situation may explode again in the coming days. Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Jassim al-Thani, Qatar Charity’s general superviser of projects in Yemen, recently laid the foundation stone for several projects on Socotra island in Yemen. These comprise the launch of major health projects, including the receipt of medical and social services at the Doha Centre building. Sidra plans cardiovascular care centre From Page 1 This team will be supported by expert nurses and technicians to ensure the highest possible standards in every aspect of patient care. “The research conducted by Sidra’s neonatal experts into the physiology and heart function of newborns and premature babies in particular will enhance the team’s understanding of how to improve the care of premature infants, including those with associated heart disease,” added Prof Hijazi. As a cutting edge centre to provide care of exceptional quality to patients and become a hub for education and research, Sidra follows the North American model of care. Organisations following this model are notable for their centres of excellence. These centres will be underpinned by integration across multi-dis- ciplinary functions, including professional education, community outreach, leadership development, research and clinical services, with the aim of improving clinical outcomes through a comprehensive approach to specialised areas. The announcement about the centre comes on the occasion of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, marked from February 7 to 14. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 13 REGION Hello to the future Khamenei backs nuclear compromise if deal is fair Iran’s supreme leader says any workable deal would mean both sides easing their demands Reuters Dubai/Munich Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, shakes hands with a robot as he inaugurates The Museum of Future Government Services, at the Government Summit in Dubai yesterday. Yemen talks to resume as militia ‘coup’ denounced AFP Sanaa T he United Nations said yesterday that all parties in Yemen, where a Shia militia dissolved the government and parliament two days ago, are to resume political negotiations. Factions including the widely condemned Houthi militia will resume talks today, envoy Jamal Benomar said after the UN chief called for Western-backed President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to be restored to power. On Friday, the militia dissolved parliament and created a “presidential council” in a move it said was designed to fill a power vacuum after Hadi and Prime Minister Khaled Bahah resigned last month. The militia also sought to portray the move as a way of heading off the threat from Al Qaeda, which has a strong presence in east and south Yemen. Benomar told reporters in Sanaa yesterday that Shia militia leader “Abdelmalek alHouthi and all political parties in Yemen have agreed to resume dialogue... which will begin tomorrow (Monday)”. Tensions remained high in the south and southeast, where authorities said they did “not recognise” the rule of the Houthis and that they “totally reject the constitutional declaration” under which they seized control. Speaking to reporters after talks with King Salman in Saudi Arabia, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon warned “the situation is very, very seriously deteriorating, with the Houthis A Houthi fighter in army uniform stands next to a military vehicle which was seized from the army during recent clashes, outside an entrance to the presidential palace in Sanaa yesterday. taking power and making this government vacuum”. “There must be restoration of legitimacy of President Hadi,” Ban said. The fall of Hadi’s government has sparked fears that impoverished Yemen—strategically located next to Saudi Arabia and on the key shipping route from the Suez Canal to the Gulf— would plunge into chaos. Yemen’s Gulf neighbours on Saturday voiced alarm and condemned what they called a “coup” in Sanaa. A US official at a security conference in Munich said Washington and its Gulf Arab allies “don’t agree” with the Houthis’ plans for a transition. Arab League chief Nabil alArabi yesterday echoed that statement, branding the Houthi move as a “coup against consti- Charles to urge halt to flogging: report Reuters London B ritain’s Prince Charles will intervene in the case of a jailed Saudi blogger sentenced to 1,000 lashes and urge Saudi Arabia’s new king to halt the punishment, the Mail on Sunday newspaper reported. Charles embarked on a six-day tour of the Middle East this weekend beginning in Jordan and is expected to also visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. His office is not commenting on his exact agenda and the content of any meetings until they are under way. But the Mail on Sunday, without citing sources, said the heir to the British throne would intervene in the case of Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was arrested in June 2012 for offences including insulting Islam, cyber crime and disobeying his father. Badawi was sentenced last year to 10 years in jail, a fine, and the flogging. Before he set off, Amnesty International urged Charles to seize the opportunity of his visit for “a frank discussion of human rights”. Separately, in an interview recorded before he departed and broadcast yesterday, Charles spoke of his alarm at the number of young British Muslims being radicalised. “This is one of the greatest worries ... I think the fact it’s the extent which this is happening is the alarming part,” he told BBC Radio 2’s The Sunday Hour. tutional legitimacy to impose that group’s will at gunpoint”. Hadi had been under virtual house arrest since the Houthis seized the presidential palace and key government buildings last month, prompting him to tender his resignation to parliament, along with Bahah. The Houthis have said they will set up a national council of 551 members to replace the legislature in the violence-wracked country. Yemen is a key American ally in the fight against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which claimed responsibility for last month’s deadly attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Abdelmalek al-Houthi said creating the transitional bodies, which include a security committee, would also head off the threat from Al Qaeda. However, the statement by authorities in the south, which was independent until 1990, said forces in these provinces— Aden, Abyan, Lahj, Shabwa, Daleh and Hadramout—rejected the Houthi takeover. In the oil-rich eastern province of Marib, which the Houthis have long been eyeing, deputy governor Abdelwahid Namran said Sunni tribesmen were “discussing means of facing any developments”. Marib residents said heavily armed tribes were preparing to counter any attempts by the Houthis to take over their region. “The Houthis are incapable of governing (Sunni-majority) Yemen alone,” said analyst Ali al-Bakaly. Any attempts to expand beyond Sanaa and nearby cities “under the cover of the constitutional declaration... will provoke a civil war” in the deeply tribal country awash with weapons. The Houthis, also known as Ansarullah, have been met by deadly resistance from Al Qaeda and Sunni tribes since they descended from their northern strongholds and expanded south of Sanaa last year. Ban said his envoy Benomar had been “working very hard in Yemen, facilitating a way out of the current political crisis and a return to the path of the peaceful political transition”. UN Security Council president Liu Jieyi said on Friday its 15 members were ready to “take further steps” if UN-brokered negotiations to resolve Yemen’s political crisis were not resumed “immediately”. I ran’s supreme leader said yesterday he could accept a compromise in nuclear talks and gave his strongest defence yet of President Hassan Rouhani’s decision to negotiate with the West, a policy opposed by powerful hardliners at home. As his foreign minister met counterparties in the talks at a conference in Munich, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he “firmly” backed a fair nuclear deal. “I would go along with any agreement that could be made. Of course, if it is not a bad deal. No agreement is better than an agreement which runs contrary to our nation’s interests,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told Iranian air force personnel, according to official news agencies. In a speech that still underlined his suspicions about Western nations that he characterised as “bullies”, Khamenei backed Rouhani’s negotiations with them and said any workable deal would mean both sides easing their demands. “As the president said, negotiations mean reaching a common point. Therefore, the other party ... should not expect its illogical expectations to be materialised. This means that one side would not end up getting all it wants.” “I am for reaching a good settlement and the Iranian nation too will certainly not oppose any deal to uphold its dignity and integrity,” Khamenei said, an apparent warning to hardliners that they might have to accept a deal with powers including the United States, commonly known in Iran as “the Great Satan”. Negotiators have set a June 30 final deadline for a nuclear deal, and Western officials have said they aim to agree on the substance Khamenei speaks during a meeting with air force commanders in Tehran yesterday. of such an accord by March. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who will address the US Congress on Iran on March 3 – to the annoyance of the Obama administration - said he would strive to thwart would be a “bad and dangerous agreement”. “World powers and Iran are charging ahead to an agreement that would allow Iran to arm itself with nuclear weaponry, something that would imperil the existence of the State of Israel,” Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting. The nuclear talks with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are aimed at clinching a deal that would ease Western concerns that Tehran could pursue a convert nuclear weapons programme, in return for the lifting of sanctions that have ravaged the Iranian economy. Major sticking points are the pace at which sanctions would be removed, the size of Iran’s nuclear fuel-producing capacity—a key consideration in preventing any output of bomb material—and the length of any agreement. “Our (nuclear) negotiators are trying to take the weapon of sanctions away from the enemy. If they can, so much the better. If they fail, everyone should know there are many ways at our disposal to dull this weapon,” Khamenei said. Any deal “must be concluded in one stage and consist of clear and detailed specifications, and not subject to (various) interpretations”, he said. “Given our past experience in dealing with the (West), a final draft must not leave any room for the other side to repeatedly extract concessions.” Separately, Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif denied yesterday a Reuters report quoting unidentified senior Iranian officials saying he had told the United States during the talks that Rouhani’s political clout would be heavily damaged if negotiations failed. “I believe the entire Iranian population understands that this government, that Dr Rouhani, his administration and the government in its entirety supported our efforts in the negotiations,” Zarif told a security conference in Munich where he met counterparties in the negotiations, in what he called a “very serious discussion”. “Everybody has taken every necessary measure to make sure we succeed. All Iranians know this. If we fail, and I hope we won’t, they (Iranians) will not consider us responsible for that failure. They will consider attempts (to ask) too much from Iran as a reason for failure.” No talks extension without ‘outlines’ of an agreement: Kerry US Secretary of State John Kerry ruled out extending a March 31 deadline for Iran nuclear talks unless the basic framework of an agreement is hammered out, speaking in an interview aired yesterday. “The only chance I can see of an extension at this point in time would be that you really have the outlines of the agreement,” Kerry said in the interview on NBC’s Meet the Press taped on Saturday in Munich. Global powers have been struggling for more than a year to pin down a comprehensive deal to rein in Iran’s suspect nuclear programme, after an interim accord was struck in November 2013. Kerry met with his Iranian counterpart Mohamed Javad Zarif on Friday and again yesterday in Munich, where the top US diplomat stressed Washington’s commitment to seeing the deadline met. After their meeting yesterday, Zarif appeared to rule out any new extension to tough negotiations with world powers. Kerry said outlining the basics of the agreement was crucial before a possible extension could be considered, but reiterated his preference for sticking to the target date. “But if we’re not able to make the fundamental decisions that have to be made over the course of the next weeks, literally, I think it would be impossible to extend,” he told NBC. “I don’t think we would want to extend at that point. Either you make the decisions to prove your programme is a peaceful one, or if you’re unable to do that, it may tell a story that none of us want to hear.” 14 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 ARAB WORLD 32 militants planning major attacks held: Tunisia Reuters Tunis T unisia has arrested 32 militant Islamists, some of them returning from fighting in Syria, who planned “spectacular” attacks, officials said. “Counter-terrorism forces foiled plots to carry out spectacular attacks against vital installations, including the interior ministry, security stations and civilian buildings in the capital Tunis,” Mohamed Ali Aroui, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said on Saturday. “During the past three days, we arrested 32 terrorists from this group planning to attack targets in Tunis and other cities,” he said, adding that the group included “several terrorists re- turned from fighting in Syria”. News of the arrests came one day after a secular-Islamist coalition cabinet headed by Prime Minister Habib Essid took office. The new cabinet faces many challenges, including Islamist groups that emerged after a 2011 uprising to threaten its nascent democracy. Since the uprising that toppled the regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the country has become a major source of Islamist fighters travelling to Syria. With an economy heavily reliant on foreign tourism, Tunisia has been cracking down on Islamist militants. “Our priority will be to strengthen measures to combat extremism and strengthen security capabilities to confront terrorism and the protection of the democratic transition,” Essid said this week. The number of Tunisians fighting in Syria has been estimated at about 3,000. A few hundred have returned to Tunisia and many have been tracked down and arrested. Aroui said special forces are pursuing other militants in the southern city of Gafsa led by an Islamist named Mourad Gaesseli. He did not give details about the identity of this group. Ansar al Shariah, which the United States lists as a foreign terrorist organisation, was among the most hardline movements calling for an Islamic state to emerge since Tunisia’s uprising. It has claimed responsibility for attacks in Libya in recent months. zA man was shot dead yesterday in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in the southern town of Dhiba, near the border with Libya, during a pro- test over the economy, witnesses said. Protests started two days ago over taxes imposed on local traders, with residents demanding more opportunities and jobs. Witnesses said police fired bullets and teargas to disperse crowds who had burned a police station in the city. “A youth was shot dead by security forces ... there are many others injured,” said Kamal AbdLtif, a local union official. Egypt retrial of Al Jazeera staffers starts on Thursday AFP Cairo Firefighters extinguish fire from a vehicle outside a sports stadium in Cairo yesterday during clashes between supporters of football fans and security forces. 14 die as football fans, police clash in Cairo Agencies Cairo F ourteen people were killed yesterday in clashes between Egyptian police and Zamalek football club fans at a Cairo stadium, the official Mena news agency reported, raising an earlier death toll. The agency quoted the state prosecution as saying 14 bodies of those killed in the clashes had been taken to a morgue. The health ministry had initially said that three people died in the violence. The clashes erupted outside the stadium in the city’s northeast after fans tried to force their way into the venue to watch a game, the ministry said. The match between the Zamalek and Enbi was open to the public, unlike most other games between Egyptian football clubs since deadly stadium riots in Port Said in 2012. But the interior ministry had restricted to 10,000 the number of spectators allowed into the stadium, and tickets quickly ran out. A man wearing a mask gestures near a burning car. Angry members of the Ultra White Knights, a group of hardcore Zamalek fans, tried to force their way into the stadium, police said. Police fired teargas to disperse them, before the Zamalek supporters let off fireworks, police and witnesses said. Hospital doctors said the deaths were due to suffocation. A witness said some of the fans were killed in a stampede after the police fired teargas. “Huge numbers of Zamalek club fans came to Air Defence Stadium to attend the match ... and tried to storm the stadium gates by force, which prompted the troops to prevent them from continuing the assault,” the interior ministry said in a statement, without giving more details. In February 2012, more than 70 people were killed and hundreds injured in post-match vi- olence following a game in Port Said between Cairo’s Al Ahly and Al Masry. The riots, considered the deadliest in Egypt’s sports history, were largely blamed on supporters of veteran leader Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted in early 2011 after a popular uprising. A n Egyptian court will this week retry Al Jazeera journalists, including a Canadian awaiting deportation, a judicial official said yesterday, after his Australian colleague was deported. Canadian Mohamed Fahmy and Egyptian Baher Mohamed were originally sentenced to up to 10 years in prison for allegedly aiding the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood, along with Australia’s Peter Greste. But an appeals court overturned that verdict in January and ordered a retrial, which the judicial official said is to begin on Thursday. Greste was deported on February 1 under a presidential decree that allows the authorities to expel foreigners charged in Egypt and see them instead face trial in their home countries. As a result, lawyers said the court was likely to drop proceedings against Greste after the opening session. In a bid to secure his own deportation, Fahmy has renounced his Egyptian nationality and is awaiting a return to Canada, where he also has citizenship. However, the third journalist, producer Mohamed, remains in jail as he only has Egyptian nationality. The three employees of Al Jazeera English were arrested in December 2013 and tried on allegations of supporting the Brotherhood. In June last year Greste and Fahmy were jailed for seven years, while Mohamed was sentenced to 10 years in prison before the retrial was ordered. Canada had said on Monday that the release of Fahmy was “imminent”, amid reports that it had a team of diplomats in Cairo pressing for his freedom, but he remains in Egyptian custody. Fahmy’s counsel, the prominent lawyer Amal Clooney, on Saturday sent a letter to Sisi demanding a meeting to press for his release. His family said in a statement yesterday that a retrial would be “our worst nightmare, to have to go through another circus of a retrial”. They said they were disappointed with what they called the Canadian government’s “conservative approach” in lobbying for his release and called on Prime Minister Stephan Harper to intervene. Greste, Fahmy and Mohamed work for Al Jazeera’s English channel, which operated separately from the Egyptian channel Al Jazeera Mubashir Masr. Lawyers said the court was likely to drop proceedings against Greste after the opening session But the prosecution made no distinction between the channels during the trial. Their arrest had sparked a global outcry and calls for their release led by Washington and the United Nations. In November, Sisi enacted a decree that appeared tailored for Greste and Fahmy, but not Mohamed: foreigners on trial, or convicted in Egypt, could be deported to their home countries to stand trial or serve out their sentences. Both Australia and Canada have made clear they will not place Greste and Fahmy on trial. But the decree’s wording was aimed more at avoiding the impression in Egypt that the two had been released under international pressure. Iraqis celebrate end of night curfew in Baghdad AFP Baghdad I raqis roared through central Baghdad in dozens of cars flying flags, honking horns and filling the street with smoke from their screeching tyres to celebrate the end of a years-old nightly curfew. “Long live Iraq!” one young man shouted while hanging out the window of a passing car early yesterday morning. It was the first night in years that Baghdad residents could stay out as late as they wished, after Iraqi premier Haider al-Abadi ordered an end to the long-running curfew that had most recently lasted from midnight to 5am. And while most residents stayed at home, some chose to mark the occasion in a more lively fashion. Young men made up the majority of the revellers, many of them driving American muscle cars with big engines and loud exhausts, but some families also turned out to celebrate by driving when they previously could not. Security forces members who once stopped drivers out past curfew instead stood by and watched the show, though one young man fell afoul of the authorities for performing a burnout outside a hotel in his Dodge Challenger, the tyres shrieking and spilling smoke as they spun around. After being chastised, he sped away, turned around and proceeded to repeat the manoeuvre on the other side of the street. Dozens of drivers parked in a long line on one side of Jadriyah bridge, with some young men dancing to music blaring from speakers in their cars. The gathering was organised over Facebook to celebrate the end of the curfew, said Ali Majid Mohsen, a student driving a silver Dodge Charger with an Iraqi flag flying from one side. On Karrada Dakhil, a main shopping street in central Baghdad, a group of men sat smoking water pipes in front of a cafe after midnight. “Before, we felt like we were in prison,” said Faez Adbulillah Ahmed, the owner of the cafe. “We were restricted.” “We would have to leave by 11:30pm... to reach the house by twelve,” he said. Now, “we will be free to stay.” Down the street, a group of young men stood smoking cigarettes in front of a clothing store. “We were waiting for this decision for years,” shop owner Marwan Hashem said of ending the curfew. Before, “when it was midnight, we would never stay out in the street,” he said. Doing away with the curfew ends a long-standing policy aimed at curbing violence in the capital by limiting movement at night. The hours it was in force varied over the years and it has previously been cancelled but later reinstated. The curfew did little to prevent the deadly bombings that plague Baghdad, which militants carry out during the day or in the early evening to maximise casualties. Bombings killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 70 in the capital on Saturday, just hours before the lifting of the curfew. But now, Iraqis are at least able to move more freely. Walid al-Tayyib walked down Karrada Dakhil after midnight with his young nephew, which he could not have done just a night before. “What do we feel today? We feel all the difference,” he said. “Now, thank God, we are going out with the kids enjoying ourselves.” People celebrate the lifting of curfew in central Baghdad yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 15 ARAB WORLD Arab FMs bemoan lack of anti-militant strategy Reuters Munich A rab leaders bemoaned what they called a lack of strategy and weapons in the fight against militants like Islamic State (IS) at a security conference attended by Western leaders in Munich yesterday. IS fighters have brought large areas in Syria and Iraq under their control, using extreme violence against civilians, journalists and Arab and Kurdish soldiers. US-led air strikes and arms deliveries from Western countries to Kurdish fighters have helped contain IS expansion into Kurdish territory in northern Iraq. But on the ground, IS - known as Daesh in Arabic - uses heavy weapons captured from a weakened Iraqi army, leaving local fighters painfully exposed. “I don’t see that there is a clear strategy how to deal with (IS),” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said. “How to face it, how to contain it, control it, defeat it and eliminate it. I don’t see it... Unless the air strikes is a strategy. That’s not a strategy.” Last month, the head of Nato said air strikes alone would not be enough to defeat IS and greater Western help in building up Iraqi security forces could also play a role. Qatar called for a strategy in tackling militancy in Iraq. “If we want those people (Sunnis) to fight for themselves, to clean Iraq from any terrorists, we have to not only issue a programme but to implement this programme tangibly,” Qatar’s Foreign Minister HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah said in Munich. “We still need to have a strategy in Iraq from our allies. There is no strategy, I’ll be very frank on this.” Saudi Arabia and Jordan have taken part in air strikes against IS. Other countries like Egypt say the international community is not helping enough in their fight against other militant groups such as Ansar Beit alMaqdis in the Sinai Peninsula, bordering Israel. “We need more weapons, the quality, the sophistication of the weapons, the technology so that we can track and be able to infiltrate these organisations,” Egypt’s Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told Reuters on the sidelines of the Munich conference. Echoing Egypt’s calls for a more comprehensive strategy, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged leaders in Munich to act on militants operating from his country, adding that this threat should not be treated in isolation from IS and other groups. New militia in fierce fight with Islamist insurgents AFP Beirut F F16 fighter jets from the United Arab Emirates arrive at an air base in Jordan yesterday. Jordan hits IS positions as air war begins to bite US Secretary of State John Kerry says the aerial campaign on IS in Iraq and Syria is beginning to win back territory AFP Beirut J ordan announced yesterday it conducted dozens of air strikes on the Islamic State group that murdered one of its pilots, as part of an international assault Washington says is bearing fruit. Air Force chief Major General Mansour al-Jobour told reporters the kingdom had launched 56 air raids on IS since Thursday. “On the first day of the campaign to avenge our airman Maaz al-Kassasbeh, 19 targets were destroyed, including training camps and equipment,” he said, reading from a prepared text. Jordan has vowed to crush IS after the militants burned alive Kassasbeh, who was captured in December when his F-16 warplane went down in Syria. Eighteen more targets including ammunition and fuel depots and logistics centres were hit on Friday. On Saturday, 19 IS targets were destroyed, including barracks and residential centres. “So far, the campaign has destroyed 20% of the fighting capabilities of Daesh,” he said using another name for IS which controls swathes of both Syria and Iraq. Jordan is part of the US-led coalition of Arab and Western countries that has been carrying out air strikes against IS since September. State media reported that a squadron of UAE F-16 fighter jets arrived yesterday in Jordan escorted by pilots and technicians. C-17 transporters and refuelling planes were part of the squadron sent to on the orders of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Petra news agency said. US Secretary of State John Kerry said the aerial campaign on IS in Iraq and Syria was beginning to win back territory seized by the militants and deprive the group of key funds. There have been 2,000 air strikes on IS since the coalition’s formation in August, Kerry told the Munich Security Conference. The air war had helped to retake some 700sq km of territory, or “one-fifth of the area they had in their control”, he said. The top US diplomat did not specify whether the regained territory was in Iraq or Syria. But he added the coalition had “deprived the militants of the use of 200 oil and gas facilities... disrupted their command structure... squeezed its finance and dispersed its personnel”. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said that while the bombing campaign had “degraded” IS capability, the group was still in control of “vast territory”. “They still have access to Syria’s cash and funds. They have access to weaponry. They’re not gone as a threat yet,” Judeh told ABC television. Interior Minister Hussein Majali said in remarks published on Saturday that Kassasbeh’s gruesome murder by IS was a “turning point” in the kingdom’s fight against extremism. “The day of the hero, martyr pilot’s assassination is a turning point in Jordan’s history in order to face this horrific crime that was committed by the cowardly terrorist organisation,” he said. Jobour said more than 7,000 IS militants had been killed since Jordan began participating in coalition air strikes. Following Jordan’s intensified sorties, the group claimed US hostage Kayla Jean Mueller had been buried alive under rubble in its self-proclaimed capital of Raqa in Syria. Mueller’s parents said they were hopeful the 26-year-old aid worker was still alive and appealed to IS to contact them in order to ensure her safe return. Yesterday, US Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said Washington was seeking clarification on Mueller’s fate. “We’re learning as much as we can as quickly as we can about Ms Mueller’s situation,” he told CNN. “Our thoughts, our prayers are with her family right now.” ormer rebel militiamen who have switched sides and joined Syria’s regime forces are engaged in a fierce battle against Islamist insurgents near Damascus, sources said yesterday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, proregime Jaysh al-Wafaa launched its “fiercest battle yet” on Saturday night against Jaysh al-Islam fighters near the rebel bastion of Douma, east of the capital. “The fighting is ongoing now,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said yesterday. Jaysh al-Wafaa, whose name in Arabic roughly translates as “The Loyalists’ Army”, was formed some three months ago, more than a year into a suffocating regime siege of the Eastern Ghouta area, which includes Douma. The militia’s task is to confront Jaysh al-Islam, the best-armed opposition group in the Damascus area, according to the Observatory and activists in Douma. President Bashar al-Assad’s regime “is financing and arming Jaysh al-Wafaa”, Abdel Rahman said. “Among its ranks are armed men who, after more than a year under siege, handed themselves in to the regime,” Abdel Rahman said. “Because of the siege, some people prefer to evacuate their children and have a chance at survival, rather than stay put and die either from hunger or because of the bombings.” He said Jaysh al-Wafaa “provides a way for fighters to be free both from the regime siege, and from (Jaysh al-Islam chief) Zahran Alloush”, who is notorious for his abuses. Douma, which emerged early in Syria’s conflict as an important anti-regime bastion, is now under Jaysh al-Islam’s control. Tens of thousands trapped in the siege suffer from food and medical shortages, as well as deadly regime bombardment. A source close to Assad’s regime and a Jaysh al-Islam spokesman both confirmed that a battle was taking place. “Jaysh al-Wafaa was set up three months ago by people from Douma and former rebels,” the pro-government source said. “Yesterday (Saturday) they attacked Jaysh al-Islam and killed 12 of its fighters.” A spokesman for the Islamist group said rebels also killed an unknown number of the enemy. The Observatory was not in a position to confirm tolls, but said loyalists were backed by Lebanese Shia Hezbollah fighters on the ground, as well as by regime artillery. Abdel Rahman also said Syrian Kurdish forces have recaptured more than a third of the villages around Kobane from the Islamic State group since routing the militants from the town a fortnight ago. “The (Kurdish) People’s Protection Units (YPG) have recaptured 128 villages out of some 350 in the past two weeks,” he said. The YPG recaptured Kobane on the border with Turkey from IS militants on January 26, after four months of fierce fighting backed by Syrian rebels and USled coalition air strikes. “The IS withdrew from villages east and south of Kobane mostly without resistance, but fought hard to try to keep control of villages to the west,” said Abdel Rahman. “That’s because it wants to try to protect areas under its control in Aleppo province. But the Kurds are steadily advancing,” he said. The US-led coalition has been carrying out strikes against the IS militants in Syria since September. In recent days, it has continued to pound IS positions around Kobane, while YPG troops backed by Syrian rebels press the fight on the ground. Syria’s war began in March 2011 as a peaceful movement demanding democratic change but later morphed into a brutal civil war, after Assad’s regime unleashed a crackdown on dissent. US delivers arms to Lebanon’s military Agencies Beirut T he United States delivered more than $25mn worth of military aid including heavy artillery to the Lebanese army yesterday to help it fight militant groups which have repeatedly battled with security forces near the Syrian border. The US ambassador to Beirut, David Hale, said in a statement the weapons would be used to “defeat the terrorist and extremist threat from Syria”. “We are fighting the same enemy, so our support for you has been swift and continuous,” Hale said at an event marking the delivery of the weapons in Beirut. The Lebanese army has fought regular battles with armed groups including militants linked to Islamic State and the Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Nusra Front in areas near the Syrian border, most recently late last month when six soldiers were killed. Hale said Lebanon was the fifth biggest recipient of US military aid. It received more than $100mn last year. Lebanese officials have warned of plans by radical Islamist groups fighting in the Syria war to seize territory in Lebanon. While the US-backed Lebanese army has been battling hardline Islamists on the Lebanese side of the frontier, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah has been battling the same groups on the Syrian side of the border— part of its role fighting alongside Damascus in the Syrian war. The Lebanese army, rebuilt after the country’s 1975-90 civil war, is one of the strongest institutions in the country, but it has been hamstrung by outdated weapons. The United States has accelerated the delivery of military aid to Lebanon since last August, when Islamist militants staged a major attack in the border town of Arsal, said Nabil Haitham, a columnist in the Lebanese newspaper AsSafir. “Despite the importance of these weapons, they cannot make up for the big shortfall from which the army is suffering,” he said in a phone interview, adding that helicopters were vital. France and Lebanon signed a $3bn Saudi-funded deal in early November to provide French weapons and military equipment, including helicopters, to the Lebanese army. The first deliveries of the French weapons will begin in April, a spokesman for Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said in Munich yesterday. Fabius confirmed the timeframe at a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Romain Nadal told reporters. A Lebanese soldier stands next to M198 155mm howitzers upon the arrival of a shipment of US weapons at the Beirut port yesterday. 16 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 AFRICA GORY FIND SHEBAAB STRIKE TREATMENT POWERFUL UNIT LIFELINE Bodies of newborn babies discovered in freezers 2 dead in militant attack in Somalia’s Puntland Guinea to expand use of experimental Ebola drugs Protesters want Burkina presidential guard scrapped Somali PM urges US banks to resume money transfers South African police said yesterday they have discovered the frozen corpses of four newborn babies in freezers at a house in the southern city of Mthatha. Acting on a tip-off, police raided a house on Saturday and made the grim discovery of the infants estimated to be aged between just one and two months. “The babies were found in two freezers,” police spokesman Mzukisi Fatyela told AFP. Police are looking for the owner of the house, a woman, who was away in Johannesburg at the time of the search. Investigations have been launched and the bodies have been sent for post mortems. At least two people were killed when Somali militants Shebaab attacked the house of a senior police official in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, police said yesterday. Abshir Mohamed, a policeman in charge of security at the deputy police commander Muhidin Ahmed’s home, said the rebels drove up to a checkpoint near the house in a minibus late on Saturday. “They opened fire and hurled grenades at us once when we stopped the car to check,” Mohamed said. Shebaab claimed responsibility for the attack. “We were behind the attack,” said sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, Shebaab’s spokesman for military operations. Guinea’s government has authorised the wider use of an experimental drug to treat Ebola in treatment centres after successful initial trials, officials said over the weekend. The expansion of the treatment comes as the number of people with Ebola in Guinea has doubled in the past week, reversing a broader trend of decline across the three worst-hit West African states - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The experimental Japanese drug - Avigan, or favipiravir - developed by Toyama Chemical has been tested by French and Guinean teams in southern Guinea since mid-December. Health officials have not provided any data for the results of the trials of the anti-Ebola drug. Hundreds of people protested over the weekend in Burkina Faso calling for the dissolution of the presidential guard, a powerful unit within the military that earlier this week called for the prime minister to resign. Hundreds gathered in central Ouagadougou on Saturday demanding that the unit, which enjoyed special privileges and was better armed and trained than other military units under Compaore, be scrapped. “We demand without any conditions the dissolution of the RSP,” said Guy Herve Kam, a spokesman for the civil society organisations that organised the march. Some held banners reading “Threat to the republic” and “No to intimidation and threats”. Somalia’s prime minister has urged the US government and US banks to support money transfer firms that offer a lifeline for many in the war-torn nation. About 40% of all Somali families rely on remittances from another country, and the estimated annual total of $1.3bn is more than all foreign aid and investment in Somalia combined. Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said yesterday he had spoken to American government officials about this “pressing issue” and repeated his calls to US banks to reconsider their decision. “I will seek to appease their concerns and I will do everything in my power to find a permanent, legitimate and transparent solution,” he said. Nigeria puts off elections over Boko Haram threat AFP Abuja AFP Nairobi T C riticism mounted yesterday over Nigeria’s decision to postpone national elections by six weeks because of Boko Haram violence, with some insisting President Goodluck Jonathan’s political woes were the true cause of the delay. Election body chairman Attahiru Jega announced the postponement for presidential and parliamentary polls from February 14 to March 28 on Saturday night, citing guidance from the national security advisor (NSA). Gubernatorial and state assembly elections will be held on April 11. NSA Sambo Dasuki had written to Jega last week explaining that security could not be guaranteed on February 14 because all available military resources had been committed to an intensified operation against Islamist rebels in the northeast. “The security agencies forced (Jega) into postponing on an issue that is frivolous,” said Jibrin Ibrahim, a political analyst with the Centre on Democracy and Development. “They say they need six weeks to defeat Boko Haram. Boko Haram has been growing for six years... If in six weeks Boko Haram has not been defeated, they could call for another delay and ultimately destroy Nigerian democracy,” he added. The vote is expected to see the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) face its first serious electoral challenge since the end of military rule in 1999. Many observers believed that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), led by ex-military ruler Muhammadu Buhari, had seized the momentum in the campaign against Jonathan. Buhari, who has positioned himself as Nigeria’s top anti-corruption crusader, was thought to have locked up a majority in the mainly Muslim north, his home region, while building support among southerners fed up with graft. The APC called the postponement “highly provocative” and “a major setback for democracy” but appealed for calm. The US said it was “deeply disappointed” by the delay, with US Secretary of State John Kerry warning the Nigerian government against using “security concerns as a pretext for impeding the democratic process.” The PDP said it welcomed the postponement because “it was in the best interest of democracy.” Analysts have said the PDP could use the extra time to rebuild lost support, noting that its superior financial resources put the ruling party in a far better position to run an extended campaign. National security chief Dasuki first mentioned the prospect of a postponement last month when he noted strug- Govt under pressure on security in Kenya People hold signs to protest the postponement of elections in Abuja. gles in distributing voter identity cards. Jega on Thursday said his Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was ready for February 14 - more prepared than INEC was for 2011 polls - and that 66.5% of Nigeria’s 68.8mn registered voters had collected their cards. A meeting of the powerful Council of States which includes Jonathan, past presidents and state governors ended on Thursday with the council telling Jega to move ahead with the February 14 date if he legitimately believed INEC was prepared. On Saturday night, Jega said “other variables” aside from voter card distribution made a delay necessary, specifically mentioning the fact that the military “may not be able to provide the traditional support they render,” during elections. There had long been security concerns about voting in Boko Haram’s northeast stronghold, where hundreds of thousands of people displaced by fighting faced disenfranchisement. But Jega had previously told AFP that the crisis in the northeast would likely not undermine the national poll results. The unavailability of soldiers to secure polling stations nationwide had not been widely discussed and election day security has previously been led by police and a civil defence body. A coalition of more than 20 civil society groups said the military’s inability to deploy for the election amounted to “an abdication of its constitutional duties.” The postponement “appeared contrived to truncate the democratic process in Nigeria,” the coalition said. Neighbouring Chad, Cameroon and Niger have in the past two weeks stepped up their joint efforts with Nigeria against Boko Haram. The multinational offensive has claimed major successes this month, including the recapture of several key towns previously under Islamist control. Experts say further gains are possible over the next six weeks but note that Boko Haram has proved resilient throughout the six-year conflict. “To dislodge Boko Haram from all these areas in a period of six weeks would be an unprecedented feat,” said Ryan Cummings, chief Africa analyst at Red24 risk consultants. Militants open new war front in neighbouring Niger Boko Haram fighters waged a new attack yesterday in a southeastern border town in Niger, where a blast killed at least one person and injured at least 10, witnesses and hospital sources said. The Islamist militants launched the assault around the town of Diffa before dawn, just two days after their first major offensive in Niger in the area bordering Nigeria on Friday, witnesses said. There were no immediate toll from the fighting between Islamist rebels and the Niger troops, whose parliament is due to vote today on joining the regional offensive against Boko Haram. Aid workers said the assailants had come from Nigeria, Boko Haram’s home base, and reported heavy artillery fire. The cause of the deadly blast in the centre of Diffa was not immediately known. An official at Diffa town hall said the blast appeared to be the work of a female suicide attacker who blew herself up at the local market, while other sources referred to a bomb or mortar shell. A local journalist said he had seen the body of a person killed and had counted 18 injured at the local hospital. Boko Haram launched its first major attack in Niger on Friday, triggering a forceful response from regional troops who claimed to have killed more than 100 Islamists. The fighting along the border with Nigeria have marked an expansion of the violence attributed to Boko Haram, which has waged a six-year insurgency centred in northeastern Nigeria, where the Islamists have seized swathes of territory. In the first attack by Boko Haram in Niger on Friday, Chadian forces, who have taken a lead role in battling Boko Haram, fought alongside Niger’s troops. Regional efforts have intensified in recent days to end a conflict that has killed at least 13,000 people and forced more than a million from their homes since 2009. Niger announced last week that it would ask its parliament today to approve sending troops to Nigeria to fight the militants alongside Chadian and Cameroon soldiers. he Kenyan government was back under pressure yesterday over its alleged failure to deal with worsening insecurity following the execution-style killing of a prominent MP in the city centre. George Muchai, a member of Kenya’s governing Jubilee coalition and well-known trade unionist, was returning home around dawn on Saturday after a night out in a restaurant when he was shot dead along with his driver and two bodyguards by masked men with assault rifles. Kenya’s interior minister, Joseph Nkaissery, vowed in a statement that “no effort will be spared to bring to book those responsible” and said he had “issued firm instructions to security agencies to move with maximum speed” to apprehend the killers. But Kenyan newspapers said the killing was merely representative of a wider, disturbing phenomenon in the increasingly violent nation. An editorial in yesterday’s Sunday Nation newspaper said the murder “fits into a worrying trend where people described as ‘unknown gunmen’, sometimes suspected to be hitmen or rogue police officers have escaped arrest.” “These unresolved deaths are a blot on the nation. They breed a culture of violence where people act outside the law to settle their disputes,” it said. “If an MP can be gunned down at the CBD (Central Business District, Nairobi’s city centre) in the presence of his bodyguards, CCTV and police, then how safe is the ordinary Kenyan?” MP Mary Wambui also told the Standard on Sunday newspaper. “The Muchai shooting and other similar violent attacks raise questions about the capacity of our law enforcement agencies in the management of security for all Kenyans,” the paper also wrote in an editorial. It lamented a society where “vigilantes thrive” and “mob justice takes root”. Police sources said yesterday that they were still trying to establish a motive for the attack. Kenyan media reports said Muchai, a father of seven, had been “uneasy” in recent weeks and had “expressed fears for his life and had accordingly made statements to the police”. He was also reported to have survived an apparent assassination attempt in 2011. Race ties at crossroads in Mandela’s South Africa AFP Pretoria A s a country that emerged from years of racial segregation, South Africa is often lauded for its reconciliation efforts, but cracks in the foundation of Nelson Mandela’s ‘Rainbow Nation’ are starting to show. In the 25 years since the late anti-apartheid hero’s release from prison on February 11, 1990, South Africa has had to confront the realities of its divided past. It has not been easy, and race remains a dividing factor despite the efforts of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which sought to help heal the wounds. A recent spike in race-tinged comments from the public and political leaders alike has raised questions about the country’s ability to fully reconcile with its history, and the extent of apartheid-era divisions in the public psyche. “The reconciliation project is in trouble,” said Verne Harris, director of research and archives at the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Perhaps South Africans “tried to reckon with our pasts too quickly”, he said, referring to the TRC, which focused on politically-motivated crimes during traumatic hearings which began in 1996. “Some countries can wait. Even 20 years. We could not wait,” he said, adding that the old schisms in society had resurfaced. The renaming this month of a Cape Town street in honour of the country’s last white apartheid-era leader, FW de Klerk, was met with protests by some in the black community who queried his role in bringing about change in South Africa. De Klerk is credited with releasing Mandela from prison and dismantling apartheid laws, leading him to share a Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993. Black critics, however, point to the role of De Klerk’s government in atrocities even in the dying days of apartheid. In a speech on the renaming, De Klerk referred to the “new, bitter and confrontational tone in the national discourse” as the antithesis of everything that Mandela worked for during his time as president. The Nelson Mandela Foundation, which is tasked with preserving the legacy of the late peace icon, has been hosting public dialogues on issues of reconciliation. “We have not taken the final step of our journey, but the first step on a longer and even more difficult road,” said Harris. “South Africa needs to look beyond the TRC and consider implementing new strategies for reckoning with the past. “The vast majority of South Africans live in a reality that is still profoundly shaped by apartheid. It makes them angry... old divisions and old schisms have become more marked now,” he said. Last month, President Jacob Zuma came under fire over his comments about the arrival of the first Dutch settler, Jan van Riebeek, who came to the Cape in 1652. He told delegates attending an African National Congress dinner that Van Riebeek’s arrival was “the start of trouble in this country”. The right-wing Freedom Front Plus party threatened to lay hatespeech charges against Zuma. His statement also elicited a fierce tirade on social media from Mandela’s former personal assistant, Zelda la Grange, who tweeted: “I’m SICK of Jacob Zuma’s constant go at whites every few months.” Her series of tweets made headlines and angered many blacks, who denounced her as a racist. According to Anele Mtwesi, a researcher at the Helen Suzman Foundation, racial divisions in South Africa “have been simmering for a while, especially in the last year”. “We are not travelling on the same path. After the TRC we all assumed that things would then just fall into place.” She lamented that the burden of forgiveness had been placed on the shoulders of victims of past injustices. “I think the burden has become too much. Reconciliation is supposed to be a collective effort.” The results of a decade-long study on race relations revealed that just 53% of white South Africans believe that apartheid was a crime against humanity. The study by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation said the period between 2010 and 2013 witnessed the steepest decline in citizens’ desire for a united South Africa. The director of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice at the University of Free State, Andre Keet, pinned the lack of common identity among South Africans on not having a “history of solidarity across the divide”. “Our style of national politics does not help in developing these solidarities,” said Keet. The country had “focused too much on the TRC process... and less on what would be the democratic political project that should bring us together”, he said, adding that a sense of superiority among white people was still strong. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 17 AMERICAS Musicians Carole King, John Legend, and Meghan Trainor attend the pre-Grammy Gala and Salute To Industry Icons honouring Martin Bandier at The Beverly Hilton Hotel. Right: Pharrell Williams at the pre-Grammy Gala. Sam Smith vies with Beyonce, Pharrell for Grammy glory Agencies Los Angeles F resh-faced Sam Smith could make history at the Grammys with a chance to sweep top categories, but the music industry’s big night could also coronate Beyonce or Pharrell Williams. The 22-year-old Smith, who a few years ago was bartending in London, has enjoyed a phenomenal rise with Stay With Me—a ballad about a onenight stand marked by rich, soulful tenor voice. Smith, who will also perform at the ceremony at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, said the sensation of appearing before a global audience was “indescribable” and recalled attending the year before. “I was in the back—the very, very back. And I couldn’t go to a party afterward because I had to record something in my label’s building the next day,” he said. Smith is up for Grammys in the four most closely-watched categories—Album of the Year; Record of the Year, which honours the top tune; Song of the Year, which recognises the composer; and Best New Artist. Only one artist has previously won all four categories at once—Christopher Cross, whose 1981 triumph heralded a decade of soft rock as he controversially beat out Pink Floyd’s now-classic The Wall. But Smith is tied with two big names for a total of six nominations—Beyonce and Williams. A Grammy victory for Williams would serve as vindication for the 41-year-old producer who achieved success in his own right with the globally viral song of optimism, Happy. In a forum on Twitter, Williams said that he recorded nine versions of Happy that were rejected before he came up with his hit. “I had to change my approach to writing it—stop thinking and start feeling instead,” Williams wrote. Williams last year enjoyed Grammy nominations for his work both on Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines and with the French electronic duo Daft Punk, who were 2014’s big winners. In June, Williams is joining former vice president Al Gore in Live Earth global concerts aimed at building momentum for a climate change agreement later this year at talks in Paris. Beyonce has already won 17 Grammys but never the most prestigious Album of the Year. The 33-year-old singer offered some of her most personal work on her latest, self-titled album, which she recorded in secret and released with no previous publicity in December 2013. The new numbers by the former teen star with R&B band Destiny’s Child include the ode to marital bliss Drunk in Love sung with her husband Jay-Z. A dark horse for Album of the Year is Morning Phase by Beck, the innovative Los Angeles rocker who for two decades has enjoyed critical acclaim and a cult following, if not the mainstream appeal usually recognized by the Grammys. Also up for Album of the Year is X by Ed Sheeran—like Smith, a British singer and relative newcomer—who previously worked with pop giants such as Tay- Barry Gibb performs at the pre-Grammy Gala lor Swift and boy band One Direction. Another new star in contention is Iggy Azalea, who could be the first solo woman to win for Best Rap Album. Azalea, who is also up for Best New Artist and Record of the Year, has become a cultural flashpoint as the white Australian raps in an accent that is markedly African American. Her most prominent critic has been rapper Azealia Banks, who has accused Azalea of exploiting African American culture and regretted that the music industry does not offer more space to women of color. Azalea is up against a packed field for Best Rap Album, including fivetime winner Eminem. Other nominees for Best New Artist include alternative country singer Brandy Clark and threesister rock band Haim. The Grammys, which take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, are known for elaborate, surprise-filled shows meant to pull in television viewers. This year’s performers will include Madonna, who made an unannounced appearance at the 2014 Grammys. The last Grammys also featured a reunion of sorts of the Beatles, with surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr joined by relatives. McCartney will return—this time to showcase a very different venture, his collaboration with R&B singer Rihanna and hip-hop star Kanye West. zMusic veterans like Carole King and current stars such as Pharrell Williams rubbed shoulders at record producer Clive Davis’ annual star-studded party on Saturday, the night before the Grammy awards, joining in with singalongs and dancing. British newcomer Sam Smith kicked off the evening with soulful renditions of his hits My Funny Valentine and Stay With Me. R&B singer-producer Pharrell was encouraged into an encore of his upbeat Happy. Davis’ party has become the hottest pre-Grammy ticket in town, attracting an eclectic, high-profile crowd including former US vice president Al Gore, Apple CEO Tim Cook, actress Jane Fonda, popstar Taylor Swift, singersongwriter Joni Mitchell and Motown veteran Smokey Robinson. Embattled NBC television anchor Williams takes himself off the air Agencies Washington T op US television anchor Brian Williams said Saturday he was taking himself off the air for “several days” as he faces an internal investigation for embellishing an Iraq war story. Williams, 55, who reportedly earns $10mn a year and is watched by an estimated 9mn Americans each night, admitted earlier this week that a story he has repeated on air about coming under fire was not true. “In the midst of a career spent covering and consuming news, it has become painfully apparent to me that I am presently too much a part of the news, due to my actions,” Williams said in a note posted on NBC’s website. “As managing editor of NBC Nightly News, I have decided to take myself off of my daily broadcast for the next several days, and Lester Holt has kindly agreed to sit in for me to allow us to adequately deal with this issue,” he added. “Upon my return, I will continue my career-long effort to be worthy of the trust of those who place their trust in us,” he said, without specifying when he will be back on the air. On Friday, NBC launched an internal investigation about Williams’s claims that Brian Williams he came under fire in a helicopter in 2003, amid criticism from troops who were present at the time. His on-air apology on Wednesday further fanned the flames, with critics refusing to accept Williams simply made an honest mistake. The embellished tale dates back at least to an interview with US chat show king David Letterman in 2013. Fox News reported Saturday that NBC was not conducting a formal internal investigation into Williams and instead had launched a “journalistic fact-gathering” mission to better understand the situation. Citing a source close to the story, Fox News confirmed Williams had made the decision to leave on his own accord and was not pressured by his network to do so. The same source said a report detailing Williams’s conduct was not expected to be released after the fact-finding mission. The embattled anchor is scheduled to appear on Letterman’s Late Show on Thursday. At the time of the incident in 2003, Williams said it was the Chinook ahead that was “almost blown out of the sky”, but his story has gradually changed. The controversy erupted after he recently repeated a different version of the story on television, claiming his own helicopter came under fire. He made the comments in an elaborate tribute to a retired soldier who helped provide ground security for the grounded aircraft and crew. Crew members of the Chinook helicopter and Williams’s aircraft told Stars and Stripes, a US publication that covers the armed forces, that the anchor had been nowhere near the helicopter that was fired upon or other Chinooks in its formation. He instead arrived later in a separate helicopter, which landed due to an oncoming sandstorm. Now, Williams faces further scrutiny for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 over an account that he saw a body float face down in the French Quarter, the historic district of New Orleans. A hugely respected journalist in the United States, Williams is a former chief White House correspondent and has an- chored NBC Nightly News since 2004. In December, he renewed his contract with NBC for five years. He has collected more than two dozen industry awards during his journalism career. NBC News president Deborah Turness told staffers in an e-mail that the network had launched an investigation and was “working on what the best next steps are”, according to media reports. NBC executives “were flummoxed over why the leading network anchor felt that he needed Hemingwayesque, bulletswhizzing-by flourishes to puff himself up”, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote. But it also seemed “redundant to gnaw on his bones”, she wrote, referring to the outpouring of alarm over erosion of the credibility of TV news. Other reporting from Williams’ highprofile news career is facing scrutiny, too. The New Orleans Advocate questioned Williams’ dramatic recollections while reporting on Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He claimed he had contracted dysentery from drinking floodwater and saw a body float past his hotel room. The newspaper quoted health officials saying they had no reports of dysentery cases, and that the French Quarter, where Williams stayed, is on high ground and remained largely dry during the flooding. The night is also known for its musical performances and impromptu moments on stage. Robinson hit the stage with singers Miguel, JC Chasez and Aloe Blacc for a throwback of The Temptations’ My Girl, with Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey and actor Jamie Foxx jumping in to lend their vocals. R&B singers Mary J.Blige and John Legend also spontaneously hopped onto the microphone to sing along with Carole King as she performed Beautiful and You’ve Got A Friend. Romance was in the air as veteran crooner Johnny Mathis sang hits such as It’s Not For Me To Say and Chances Are, while Legend silenced the room with his ballad All of Me, before dueting with newcomer Meghan Trainor on Like I’m Gonna Lose You. Rapper Iggy Azalea got the crowd dancing as Rita Ora joined her for Black Widow and Jennifer Hudson came on stage for Trouble. Barry Gibb, the lone surviving member of The Bee Gees, rounded out the night singing the band’s classic To Love Somebody. Davis, 82, is credited with honing the careers of numerous artists including late singer Whitney Houston, who was found dead in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton hotel three years ago, just hours before Davis’ party in the same hotel. Former basketball player Magic Johnson paid tribute to the singer as he introduced Davis on stage. He also asked attendees to hold a 30-second silence and send prayers for Houston’s 21-year-old daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown, who is fighting for her life after being found unconscious in a bathtub last week. GOP congressman brushes off criticism over healthcare vote Agencies Portland, Maine A Republican congressman is brushing off criticism from conservatives angry that he didn’t vote to repeal President Barack Obama’s healthcare law. US representative Bruce Poliquin of Maine joined representatives Bob Dold of Illinois and John Katko of New York to become the only three Republicans to vote this week against a proposal to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Poliquin said he opposes the law but believes a replacement plan needs to be developed first. Furthermore, the house has voted several times to repeal the law and it has never become a reality, he said. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result,” the freshman representing the vast, rural 2nd District said Friday. “I’m doing exactly what I told the voters I would do, which is to come down here and fix problems.” Some conservative groups are condemning Poliquin for his action, including the national board of the libertarian-leaning Republican Liberty Caucus, which voted Thursday to rescind its endorsement of him. “We were both stunned and disappointed by representative Poliquin’s vote,” Matt Nye, national chair of the Republican Liberty Caucus, said in a statement. The House voted 239186 to repeal the law. All three Republicans who voted against the move were elected in districts won by Obama. Katko also said he would vote to repeal the healthcare law if there’s a replacement. Dold previously opposed the Affordable Care Act but said it’s time to stop talking about its flaws and to start talking about fixing them. “Casting yet another symbolic vote for full repeal of the law, without any replacement legislation, simply distracts us from the work that must be done to drive costs down, restore access to care and make healthcare work for everyone,” he said in a statement. 18 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 AMERICAS Democrats abandon isolated governor The Oregon governor is up against the wall facing charges of influence peddling Agencies Salem, Oregon F acing the biggest crisis of his decades-long political career, Oregon governor John Kitzhaber finds himself increasingly isolated. Few of Kitzhaber’s fellow Democrats are sticking up for him as he confronts a barrage of criticism, calls for his resignation and, potentially, a recall petition. After simmering for months, influence-peddling allegations boiled over on Kitzhaber last week, when an editorial by the Oregonian newspaper calling for his resignation shined a national spotlight on the controversy. On Friday, another newspaper, the Yamhill Valley News-Register in McMinnville, followed suit, saying Kitzhaber has “ardently resisted coming straight”. “While you have enjoyed many successes, your once-admirable legacy has become soiled by your refusal to recognise and rectify wrong turns,” the newspaper’s editorial team wrote in a letter to Kitzhaber. Unlike the Oregonian, which endorsed Kitzhaber’s re-election bid last year, the McMinnville paper had endorsed Kitzhaber’s Republican rival, Dennis Richardson. A series of newspaper reports since October have revealed that Kitzhaber’s fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, did paid consulting work for organisations with an interest in Oregon public policy. During the same period, she worked as an unpaid adviser in the governor’s office on some of the same issues. Kitzhaber has said repeatedly that he and John Kitzhaber Hayes took care to avoid conflicts, and a state ethics commission will decide whether conflict-of-interest laws were broken. Kitzhaber’s troubles overshadowed the first week of the legislative session as Democrats moved aggressively to advance some of their top priorities, including a measure to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions that Kitzhaber and Hayes strongly support. In response to questions about the growing controversy surrounding Kitzhaber, legislative leaders demurred. “This session is off to a productive start,” house speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, said in a statement. “As the Oregon Government Ethics Commission does its job, we must remain focused on our job as legislators, which is to serve Oregonians by advancing policies that improve people’s lives and strengthen our state.” Senate president Peter Courtney, DSalem, offered his compassion, but he also said he’s focused on his own job. Spokespeople for Courtney and Kotek declined to say whether the leaders believed Kitzhaber could effectively govern after the Oregon- ian editorial said he could not do so. Attorney general Ellen Rosenblum, a Democrat, called the allegations “very serious” and “troubling” and said she’s exploring her legal options. A spokesman for secretary of state Kate Brown, also a Democrat, declined to make her available for an interview. Kitzhaber did get praise from one former rival, former secretary of state Bill Bradbury, a Democrat who lost to Kitzhaber in the 2010 primary for governor. Bradbury said that the controversy has been “really quite overblown”. “He’s going to be able to move forward effectively, and it’s just going to take a while to get over these humps,” Bradbury said. “He’s a hell of a good governor, and he’s going to continue to perform.” Meanwhile, newly released public records revealed more details about Hayes’ work advocating a client’s agenda. Emails released to the Oregonian by the Department of Administrative Services showed she instructed state officials to help implement a policy known as the genuine progress indicator, which she was being paid to promote. The genuine progress indicator is an alternative to the gross domestic product, which uses health and environmental data to help measure economic success. Hayes was paid by Demos, a New York-based nonprofit, to promote the policy. The emails show Hayes orchestrated an effort aimed at implementing the genuine progress indicator into the state budget, according to The Oregonian. When Michael Jordan, the state’s chief operating officer, said he couldn’t attend a meeting on the issue at the governor’s mansion, Hayes replied: “Not good. We went forward with this date because you had committed to attending.” The records also show that Kitzhaber himself intervened to urge Jordan to hire a former Maryland official who worked on the genuine progress indicator in that state, the newspaper reported. He was eventually hired on a yearlong contract worth about $65,000. Demos distanced itself from Hayes. “Although we were assured that the contract was reviewed by Oregon counsel, we now know that we should not have trusted Ms. Hayes to carefully monitor the balance between her public and private roles,” Demos’ spokeswoman, Elextra Gray, said in a statement to the Oregonian. Although his role in arranging the deals isn’t clear, the scandal has posed a threat to the decades-long political career of the four-term Democrat. The Oregonian, called for him to resign this week, saying the controversy has become such a distraction that he can’t effectively lead. Two advisers to the Republican he defeated last year took early steps Friday to begin a recall effort. Under Oregon law, the attorney general’s authority to investigate and bring criminal charges is limited, but her office sometimes assists district attorneys with complex cases. Kitzhaber has repeatedly declined to appoint a special prosecutor, saying it’s unnecessary. He has refused to step aside, no doubt emboldened by his re-election victory three months ago. Even after the first strands of scandal became the centrepiece of his rival’s campaign, Kitzhaber won by a larger margin than he managed four years earlier. “I was elected by the people of this state to do a job, and I’m going to do it,” Kitzhaber said in a January 30 news conference that failed to quell the storm. Montana to drop slur from place names Reuters Salmon, Idaho A bill that would strip the word “half-breed” and another derogatory term for Native Americans from Montana place names, signs and maps won easy approval on Friday from a state House of Representatives committee. The measure, sponsored by a Republican lawmaker, expands a bill passed by the state legislature in 1999 that stripped place names of the word “squaw”, used as a pejorative term for Native American women. The bill striking “halfbreed” or “breed” from the titles of 17 geographic sites or features in Montana and renaming them cleared the State Administration Committee in a 20-0 vote and now moves to the full House. Montana tribes have made it a priority to rid the state of place names that contain offensive words that were added to the lexicon at a time when Indians were treated as second-class citizens or even non-citizens, said Gerald Gray, chairman of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe in north central Montana. “We don’t need reminders in this day and age of how severely we were discriminated against,” Gray said. If approved by the Republican-led Montana legislature as expected and signed into law by the state’s Democratic governor, the measure would see updating of maps, signs and other markers when they need replacing because of age or vandalism. Montana is one of several US states in which the word “squaw” has been removed from place names. The vote comes as the National Football League’s Washington Redskins face pressure to change their name. The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board last year voted unanimously to remove “Redskins” as the nickname for a high school after hearing pleas from students and teachers who found the term offensive. The demeaning reference once appeared in the titles of more than 800 geographic places or features in the United States but it has since been excised from numerous sites in states including Maine and Oregon, according to the US Board on Geographic Names. The board must approve or reject name changes proposed by federal and state governments. Florida mom delivers 14-pound baby Home attacked Agencies Tampa, Florida M A makeshift memorial outside a home in a suburban neighbourhood in Douglasville, Georgia. At least seven people were shot in the community west of Atlanta on Saturday in an attack that left five people dead. axxzandra Ford said she realised during delivery that she was giving birth to an unusually large baby, but had no idea her son was 14.1 pounds. It was a double surprise for the Florida mom who didn’t even realise she was pregnant until her third trimester.Ford said her “feet never swelled, never was really that tired, my back didn’t hurt so obviously I didn’t think anything of it”, Ford told TV station WFLA. But Ford said she was rapidly gaining weight last fall. That’s when doctors confirmed she was more than eight months along. Ford, who also has a 1-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter, initially thought she was having twins. After 18 hours of labor, Ford naturally delivered Avery at St Joseph’s Women’s Hospital in Tampa on January 29. Hospital officials say Avery is the heaviest born at the hospital, and one of the largest-ever born in the state. “I was cussing up a storm,” during delivery, Ford said. Avery Denton “I was like, ‘Oh my goodness,’ and they were like ‘Stop pushing. Stop pushing,” she told WFTS. “When I felt his head come out I knew he was bigger than 10 pounds,” said Ford, whose other children weighed nine and 10 pounds at birth. His father said he’s a linebacker in the making. “When I finally did get to hold him, I loved it,” Ford said. “I just melted.” Avery, who has a full head of hair, remains in neonatal intensive care but is expected to go home soon. “They can have some difficulties getting out of the birth canal and there can be some residual effects from that,” said Dr Jenelle Ferry, a neonatologist who is taking care of him. Lawmakers want tougher vaccine exemptions Reuters Seattle/Portland S everal US states are considering laws to make it harder for parents to legally opt out of vaccinating their children, as health officials fight a measles outbreak that has sickened some 120 people in more than a dozen mostly West Coast states. Lawmakers in California, Oregon, and Washington state, which have all had recent measles cases, want to remove exemptions based on personal beliefs, while farther afield, Ohio recently extended a law that covers those entering childcare. All US states require certain vaccines for students for diseases such as mumps, rubella, tetanus, or polio, but school immunisation laws grant exemptions to children for medical reasons, including an inhibited immune system. At least 20 states extend exemptions to include a range of personal beliefs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. “I’m a physician and a mother. I don’t want my kids exposed to un-immunised kids,” said Oregon senator Elizabeth Hayward, a Portland Democrat. “These are totally preventable diseases.” Health officials have reported that more than 120 people across the US have been infected with measles, many of them traced to an outbreak that began at a Disneyland theme park in Anaheim in December. Lawmakers in California, which has 99 confirmed cases, said on Wednesday they would introduce legislation requiring all school children to be vaccinated unless a child’s life is threatened. On Thursday, five babies at a suburban Chicago daycare center were diagnosed with measles. All are under 1 year old and would not have been subject to a routine vaccination, which begins at 12 months. In Ohio, a law requiring children enrolled in a licensed childcare facility to be immunised against measles and other diseases takes effect in March, a state Department of Health spokeswoman told Reuters. Oregon, with some of the country’s lowest immunisation rates, passed a 2013 law requiring parents to obtain a doctor’s signature or watch an educational video on vaccination risks and benefits. Colorado forces schools to collect and publish data about vaccination and exemption rates. “The vast majority of the exemptions currently being used are the personal ones,” said Washington state Representative June Robinson. But some lawmakers are going the other way, backing measures that expand parental freedoms even in the face of mainstream medicine and science supporting vaccinations. Bills in New York State and Montana would add philosophical and personal beliefs to the current medical exemption, while proposals in Mississippi and West Virginia would add exemptions for “medical reasons or conscientious beliefs” and on religious grounds, respectively. Debate over vaccinating has even seeped into the 2016 presidential race, with at least two potential Republican candidates in the last week causing a stir after voicing support for giving parents some choice in whether to immunise their children. A paediatrician vaccinates 1-year-old Cameron Fierro with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, or MMR vaccine Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 19 ASEAN Protest against education bill Malfunction forces AirAsia X to abort flight, turn back AFP Kuala Lumpur A Myanmar students hold placards as they stage a protest and march in Yangon yesterday. Dozens of Myanmar students marched in protest against a national education bill they see as undemocratic after the government did not meet their demands. Junta denies Yingluck permission to travel Reuters Bangkok T hailand’s military government has denied former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra permission to travel overseas to ensure she is in the country to face criminal charges later this month, a government spokesman said yesterday. The military toppled the remnants of Yingluck’s government in a coup last May, ending months of demonstrations on the streets of Bangkok that had paralysed her administration. Yingluck was last month banned from politics for five years and indicted on criminal charges over her involvement in a state rice buying scheme that cost Thailand billions of dollars. The attorney general will submit a subpoena to the Supreme Court on Feb 19, and wants Yingluck to be present for that, government spokesman Sunsern Kaewkumnerd said yesterday. Yingluck had asked for permission to leave from Sunday until Feb. 22, he said. “The suspect must be present for the first process of the case otherwise the case cannot proceed,” Sunsern said. Yingluck’s lawyer, Norawit Aussie religious leaders’ plea for death row pair Laleng, said it was not necessary for her to appear in court for at least two months while prosecutors consider the case and chose judges to oversee it. “If the NCPO (junta) denies her permission to travel using her court case as an excuse, then it is a violation of her basic rights,” Norawit said. Thailand has been tense since Yingluck’s impeachment in January. Two bombs rattled a luxury shopping mall a week ago, and Thai media reported on Saturday that the government had confiscated banners from students ahead of an annual university football match. Yingluck’s supporters say the charges against her are an attempt to limit the political influence of her brother, ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The charges are the latest twist in 10 years of turbulent politics that have pitted Yingluck and her brother against the royalist military establishment that sees the Shinawatras as a threat and reviles their populist policies. Yingluck’s fortunes have been similar to those of her billionaire brother. Both led populist governments toppled in coups, despite being elected in landslides, and both were subjected to legal action and street protests by pro-establishment activists. Thaksin was ousted in 2006 and fled Thailand to avoid a 2008 jail term for corruption. He has lived abroad since, but retains a strong influence over Thai politics. Yingluck could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty by the Supreme Court. She has pledged to fight the charges and her advisers say she has no intention of fleeing. “Yingluck is ready to fight. She will not run because we have facts and evidence to fight the case,” Norawit, her attorney, said. A S enior religious leaders in Australia yesterday called on Indonesia to show mercy to two men on death row in Bali, as Indonesia’s top diplomat in the country said their executions would go ahead. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were arrested in 2005 on the holiday island of Bali and sentenced to death the following year for attempting to smuggle heroin out of Indonesia. The pair, members of an Australian drug-smuggling gang dubbed the “Bali Nine”, recently lost their final appeals for clemency despite arguing that they had rehabilitated themselves in prison. Indonesian authorities are pushing ahead with the planned executions, which are expected to be carried out this month. Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher and Grand Mufti Ibrahim Abu Mohamed called on Indonesian President Joko Widodo to save the men, who are both in their early 30s. “Our request today is for clemency or a commuted sentence for Andrew and Myuran so as to allow them to be further rehabilitated,” Helen Chan (left), the mother of Australian death row prisoner Andrew Chan, accompanied by her son Michael, leave Kerobokan Prison yesterday. the religious leaders said in a joint statement. “To execute would prematurely end these lives, robbing both of them and our communities of the opportunity for ongoing repentance and rehabilitation.” But Indonesia’s ambassador to Australia Nadjib Riphat Kesoema told reporters in Canberra the duo’s legal appeals had already reached the “highest level”. “I think all the efforts, all the legal efforts have reached the highest level now and Indonesia has notified the government of Australia that we will execute,” The Australian reported him as saying yesterday. “One auto-thrust not functioning properly. Actually okay to fly but we just returning it to base” Although QZ8501 was the AirAsia group’s first deadly accident, it followed two deadly Malaysia Airlines incidents last year that killed over 500 people and raised concerns among many travellers about the safety of the country’s carriers. “What is happening with Malaysia and airplanes? This is really, really scary,” posted one Twitter user. Flight QZ8501 went down in stormy weather on December 28 in the Java Sea. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared last March after inexplicably diverting from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing course. The airliner, carrying 239 people, is believed to have crashed in the Indian Ocean, but no trace has been found. MH17 went down last July in rebellion-torn eastern Ukraine —believed hit by a surfaceto-air missile — killing all 298 aboard. Malaysia Airlines had previously had a solid safety record. Jet search teams find emergency transmitter DPA Jakarta I ndonesian search teams found an emergency locator transmitter believed to be part of the AirAsia plane that crashed into the Java Sea in December, local media reported yesterday. The device, which was switched off, was plucked from the waters off Majene in West Sulawesi, Kompas.com reported. It was the second emergency locator transmitter from AirAsia flight QZ8501 found within a week. National broadcaster Metro TV also reported yesterday that a large piece of debris believed to be part of the plane’s wing was located by a fisherman. The AirAsia Indonesia plane departed from Surabaya, Indonesia on December 28 en route to Singapore. It fell off the radar midway to its destination after the pilot requested a descent in altitude in order to avoid bad weather. All 162 people on board were killed. Police chief row sparks crisis for Widodo AFP Jakarta AFP Sydney system malfunction forced the pilots of an AirAsia X flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah to abort the flight and return to Malaysia yesterday, the AirAsia Group’s CEO said. The incident sparked fresh questions on social media about the Malaysian airline group’s safety record as it struggles with the aftermath of the loss of Flight QZ8501 in late December with 162 people on board. “One auto-thrust not functioning properly. Actually okay to fly but we just returning it to base,” Tony Fernandes said in a text message, calling it a “minor issue”. Auto-thrusters are systems that are used to ensure a plane continues to travel at a steady speed. Fernandes confirmed the Airbus A330 — operated by the long-haul arm of the AirAsia Group of carriers, AirAsia X —landed safely at Kuala Lumpur’s international airport late yesterday afternoon. Flight-tracking websites indicated AirAsia X Flight D7172 flew several wide circles over the Strait of Malacca to burn off fuel. Fernandes called the manoeuvre a “routine” precaution as the plane was heavily laden with fuel that normally would have been used up during the several-hour flight to the Saudi Arabian city. “Just burning off fuel as it has lots of fuel as was going to Jeddah,” he said. AirAsia later said the passengers were put on another plane which was to depart in the evening. “As a safety precaution, and in full compliance with all international security and safety standards, the aircraft made a turn back and safely landed at ... 1740 hours (0940 GMT),” it said in a statement. feud between Indonesia’s law enforcement and its corruption watchdog over the nomination of a police chief has escalated into a full-blown crisis for Joko Widodo, testing the new president’s pledge to usher in cleaner governance. Barely 100 days into his term, Widodo sparked an outcry last month when he nominated Budi Gunawan, a politically-connected figure with a murky financial record, to be head of the national police. The situation snowballed several days later when the anticorruption agency, known as the KPK, named Gunawan as the subject of a bribery investigation, prompting Widodo to postpone -- but not cancel -his appointment as police chief. The notoriously corrupt police — who have in the past clashed with the hugely popular KPK — retaliated by arresting the agency’s deputy chairman on years-old perjury allegations, triggering angry protests. The deputy chairman has resigned, and police are now threatening to bring charges against the KPK’s entire leadership, a move that the agency warns could paralyse it. Activists rallying day after day outside KPK headquarters are urging Widodo, who comes from a humble background and is Indonesia’s first leader from outside the political and military Budi Gunawan, a politically-connected three-star police general with a murky financial record, during a hearing with lawmakers in Jakarta. elites, to intervene. But so far the president has taken a cautious approach to a scandal that is proving the first real test of his leadership. “If he blunders in this KPK case, his image of running a clean government, he can kiss it goodbye,” Yohanes Sulaiman, a political expert at the Indonesian Defense University, said. Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, is under immense pres- sure to make a decision about Gunawan’s future, but is backed into a corner. Pressing ahead and installing a known criminal suspect as police chief would shatter his clean credentials, but Widodo risks revolt from political allies if he dumps Gunawan. Parliament, which must endorse new police chiefs, has already backed Gunawan, and many parties -- including from Widodo’s own coalition —want to see him inaugurated. Gunawan used to be a close aide of Megawati Sukarnoputri, the head of Widodo’s political party who backed him for the presidency, and many suspect she is the one who is continuing to push the officer’s nomination. Widodo is seeking to buy time as he mulls a way out of the crisis. He asked a team of handpicked advisers to recommend a course of action, and they said he should not press ahead with the nomination. While he now seems likely to reject the nomination in the coming days, Widodo is facing accusations of dithering like his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was frequently criticised for his indecision. Former KPK deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, one of the special advisers assisting the president, said Widodo wanted to please but was more firm than his predecessor. “I think there is a strong will to solve this problem as soon as possible,” he said, adding he did not think Widodo would go ahead with Gunawan’s inauguration. But activists fear every day that passes puts the KPK in greater jeopardy. If police level accusations against the remaining commissioners they will be forced by law to stand aside, hollowing out the agency’s leadership. While the current showdown has triggered an immediate crisis for Widodo, it has also prompted broader questions about how to stop the cycle of conflict that has seen the police and KPK lock horns over the years. The KPK has made many enemies since it was established in 2002 to improve Indonesia’s poor record on fighting graft. Bribery is pervasive in Southeast Asia’s largest economy, which was ranked 107th out of 175 nations and territories in Transparency International’s latest corruption index. A number one ranking means the least corrupt. The KPK has exposed graft at the highest levels, leading to convictions for high-profile figures such as the former top judge of the constitutional court, who was jailed for life for bribery last year. But the agency’s near perfect conviction rate has attracted many enemies, none more than the police, who loath its extensive powers to pursue cases and seek prosecutions in a special corruption court. The force has baulked at KPK attempts to tackle police corruption, with Indonesia’s chief detective in 2009 famously mocking it as a “gecko versus a crocodile”. Some are calling on Widodo to grant KPK commissioners immunity from prosecution during their tenures. However, others see tensions as inevitable until the graft-ridden police undertake drastic reform. “I think it will be a long battle, a long war,” said Hardjapamekas. 20 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Australian premier brings forward vote on leadership Reuters Sydney A ustralian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, fighting for his political life, said he would bring forward to today a meeting of his ruling party to consider a challenge to his leadership in an effort to halt a destabilising internal revolt. A member of Abbott’s conservative Liberal Party called on Friday for a secret ballot to decide whether to declare the leadership and deputy leadership positions vacant, to be held at a scheduled meeting on Tuesday. However, Abbott said the meeting would be brought forward by a day. “It is important to end the uncertainty at the very beginning of the parliamentary sitting week,” Abbott said in a brief statement yesterday. Seeking to shore up support among lawmakers, Abbott reportedly promised to hold an open tender to replace the country’s ageing Collins-class submarines, reversing a decision that would likely have barred state-owned shipbuilder ASC Ltd from competing. Japan has been the frontrunner to win the contract, valued at up to A$40bn ($31bn). “I’m very pleased with the decision of the Prime Minister and when he rang me today with this very good news,” said South Australian Senator Sean Edwards, who had made his support for Abbott contingent on an open tender. No member of the government has so far indicated a direct challenge to Abbott, although most attention has focused on Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, a former party leader toppled by Abbott. Turnbull, a millionaire law- Tony Abbott: fighting for political survival yer and former investment banker, has not yet said he will challenge Abbott directly but yesterday he gave the strongest indication yet he would run. “If for whatever reason, the leadership of a political party is vacant, then any member of the party can stand ... without any disloyalty,” Turnbull told reporters outside a party fund-raising function in Sydney. Abbott has faced a torrent of criticism in recent weeks over policy decisions ranging from his handling of the econ- omy to awarding an Australian knighthood to Queen Elizabeth’s husband, Prince Philip. Abbott, describing the call for a leadership vote as a “very chastening experience” vowed to be more consultative in his approach after several of his so-called “captain’s calls” backfired on his administration. Political analysts said Abbott’s move to bring forward the vote on his leadership would give any challenger less time to accumulate support from colleagues, who will return to the nation’s capital, Canberra, for parliament today. “My reading of this is that there is very strong support behind the prime minister (and) that it has strengthened,” said Nick Cater, a conservative columnist and commentator. However, the move appeared to backfire with at least some of Abbott’s colleagues. Influential lawmaker Arthur Sinodinos — chief of staff for Abbott’s mentor, long-serving former prime minister John Howard — and former minister Teresa Gambaro were both scathing in their criticism of the decision. If Abbott is ousted, Australia is faced with having its sixth prime minister in eight years. Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, deputy leader of Abbott’s party, has also been touted as either a potential successor to Abbott or party deputy under Turnbull. Bishop, seen as one of the best-performing ministers in Abbott’s Cabinet, has said she will vote against the motion but has not ruled out standing if the positions are declared vacant. Opinion polls have consistently shown voters prefer Turnbull to lead the party but his views on a carbon trading scheme, marriage equality and support for an Australian republic have made him unpopular with the right wing of his party. Removing Abbott would need support from more than 51 of the 102 members of the federal Liberal Party at the party-room vote. Japan seizes passport of journalist trying to visit Syria AFP Tokyo J apan has seized the passport of a journalist planning to travel to Syria following the brutal killing of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State Actress to marry rocker after drone proposal group there, local media said yesterday. It was the first time Tokyo had taken such a measure on the grounds it was needed to protect the passport-holder’s life, the Asahi Shimbun and other news reports said. They said the foreign ministry on Saturday confiscated the passport of Yuichi eign ministry’s passport division came and took my passport,” Sugimoto told the Asahi. “What happens to my freedom to travel and freedom of the press?” The passport confiscation came in the wake of the beheadings of journalist Kenji Goto and adventurer Haruna Yukawa by Islamic State extremists. HK police fire pepper spray at anti-mainland protesters AFP Hong Kong H ong Kong police fired pepper spray and arrested protesters demonstrating against an influx of visitors from mainland China inside a shopping mall yesterday, reports said. More than 100 people took part in the protest in the town of Tuen Mun in the New Territories, not far from one of the border crossings to the mainland. Local residents are becoming increasingly angry at the growing number of mainland Chinese traders, who they say have disrupted their daily lives and clogged public transport. The so-called parallel traders typically travel to Hong Kong by train and stock up on everything from iPads to milk powder, taking advantage of lower prices, wider choice and better quality in the city and dodging hefty tariffs on their return. Sunday’s protest was largely peaceful until a group of activists broke off and headed into shopping malls despite police warnings. Pepper spray was used against protesters inside one mall. Broadcaster RTHK said about 10 people had been arrested fol- Sydney siege survivors speak of terror at hands of gunman AFP Beijing AFP Sydney C urvivors of a 16-hour siege in a Sydney cafe yesterday told of their terror during the deadly standoff, as a jihadist gunman threatened to kill people “one by one”. Iranian-born, self-styled cleric Man Haron Monis, 50, held 17 people hostage at the Lindt chocolate cafe in the heart of the city’s financial district on the morning of December 15 before being killed when police stormed the building in the early hours of the next day. In emotional interviews, some of the surviving hostages told Channels Seven and Nine of how Monis forced them to call emergency services to tell them his demands, and how the gunman became more frustrated as night fell. “I literally thought he was going to shoot us so that everybody can see through the window,” survivor Harriette Denny told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine. “You lose hope, thinking about your family outside, thinking there’s nothing you can do to get yourself out and it’s very hard,” said the 30-year-old, who was pregnant at the time of the hostage crisis. The siege horrified Australia hinese actress Zhang Ziyi has accepted a marriage proposal from a romantic rock star who delivered a diamond ring to her by drone, media said yesterday. Musician Wang Feng sent a white drone carrying the ring flying into Zhang’s 36th birthday party, Chinese web portal Netease reported. Pictures posted online showed a smiling Wang reaching into a basket attached to the hovering drone, as Zhang — standing beside a large cake —- covered her face. Zhang, who starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha, accepted Wang’s proposal at the party Saturday amid tears and applause from a crowd of onlookers including other celebrities, it added. Yesterday morning a microblog account widely believed to be Zhang’s posted a picture of fireworks with the words “I do”, attracting thousands of comments. Wang, 43, a popular musician and rock singer in China, was reportedly married twice before his relationship with Zhang, divorcing his second wife in 2013. Sugimoto, a freelance photographer who had planned to enter Syria on February 27 to cover refugee camps among other places. But the 58-year-old Japanese, who has covered conflict zones in Iraq and Syria over the years, said he had no plans to enter areas controlled by Islamic State.“Tonight, an official with the for- Hong Kong police confront protesters demonstrating against an influx of visitors from mainland China in the town of Tuen Mun in the New Territories of Hong Kong yesterday. S This undated handout photo shows a portrait of Sydney siege survivors who shared their stories with the Australian commercial broadcaster. and prompted a mass outpouring of grief that saw thousands of flowers laid near the cafe in the city’s Martin Place. Survivor John O’Brien, 82, said Monis was “ranting and raving” about Prime Minister Tony Abbott and threatened to kill everyone in the cafe. “Tony Abbott wouldn’t come to the phone, he said Tony Abbott will have all your blood on his hands when I kill .you all, one by one,” O’Brien told Channel Seven. The interviews, for which channels Seven and Nine reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, came just over a week after an inquest opened into the siege. Cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, and barrister and motherof-three Katrina Dawson, 38, were killed during the standoff, and the New South Wales cor- oner had been told in graphic detail how Johnson was made to kneel down and shot in the back of the head after a group of hostages escaped. Dawson was killed after six fragments of a police bullet, or bullets, ricocheted from hard surfaces and struck her body. Louisa Hope, 52, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and needs a walking stick to move around, was one of the hostages that failed to get away and described to Channel Nine how she saw Johnson die. “When the noise of the gun, and then Tori fell forward... He hasn’t just died, his life has been taken,” she said. Hostage Marcia Mikhael said Monis, who had a history of violence and extremism, told her he had a “plan” to die in the standoff. “I knew he didn’t want to get out of there alive and because of that, I was very scared about how it was going to end,” the 43-year-old told Channel Seven, struggling to hold back tears. Mikhael said she was beside Dawson as police charged into the cafe, shortly after Johnson was killed. “There were just so many shots. I could smell the gunpower, I could feel the heat... It was so bright, everyone was just lit up as if it was New Year’s Eve,” she said. “And then all of a sudden it stopped... and I could see police officers wearing the black uniform,” Mikhael added. “She wasn’t moving. She was just lying down with her head facing me, looking at me.” A separate report into the siege commissioned by the federal and NSW state governments has been completed and is expected to be published this month. lowing rowdy demonstrations in which protesters shouted at police and mainland visitors, forcing some shops to close early. Police were unable to provide details when contacted. “Police have used pepper spray and brought out batons inside a shopping mall, there are injured people that are being surrounded by police,” rally organiser Hong Kong Indigenous said on their Facebook page. It was the first time police had used pepper spray since a series of major pro-democracy rallies in the city last year which saw intermittent violent clashes with police. The semi-autonomous Chinese city governs itself in many matters and imposes restrictions on tourists from the mainland. But Hong Kong’s leaders have expanded tourist quotas in recent years to try to prop up the city’s economy. The influx has caused tensions between Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese to soar. Reports said an estimated 10,000-12,000 mainland traders travelled to Tuen Mun within three hours after shopping malls there offered free bus rides. The city in 2013 barred people from crossing into mainland China with large quantities of baby formula. Short-range missiles fired into sea by North Korea AFP Seoul N orth Korea test-fired five short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast yesterday, raising crossborder tensions ahead of Seoul’s planned joint army drills with the US. The North fired the missiles into the East Sea (Sea of Japan) from its eastern city of Wonsan between 4:20-5:10 pm, (07200810 GMT) Seoul’s defence ministry spokesman said. They flew about 200 kilometres (124 miles) before landing. “We are closely watching for any signs of additional missile launches by the North,” said the spokesman. On Saturday, the North said it had test-fired an “ultra-precision” anti-ship rocket, which will be deployed across its navy “before long”. The missile tests come as South Korea and the US prepare to start major annual joint military exercises hated by Pyongyang. The large-scale Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercises, which will begin in early March, look set to trigger a sharp rise in military tensions on the divided peninsula. The Seoul and Washington also started last week a joint naval exercise involving a US nuclear submarine. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 21 BRITAIN Tories pumping £100,000 a month into Facebook advertising Guardian News and Media London “ Like David Cameron’s new Facebook page for the latest updates from the prime minister .” That is what Facebook urged many of its British users to do in a so-called suggested post, paid for by the Conservative party. And perhaps surprisingly, a lot of people did - 470,718 Elderly woman robbed as she lay dying and counting. This promotion, dropped in to the middle of news feeds otherwise full of drunken selfies and baby pics, did not come cheap for the Tories. That and other adverts pumped out on Facebook, including some allowing users to hand over their e-mail addresses, are costing the party a whopping £100,000 a month, or £1.2mn if continued for a whole year. Put another way: one in every £17 the Tories spent on the last general election campaign is going towards drumming up support on Facebook. The party has been mercilessly mocked this week for appearing to try to “buy” friends for the prime minister. But the Tories’ social media push does have a point. The site is an effective new method of bombarding voters with political messaging, given that there are about 35mn users in the UK - more than the number of people who voted in the last general election. The majority of these people check into the site daily. Facebook allows electoral strategists to get ordinary users to do the parties’ hard work for them by sharing or endorsing political messages with friends and family - thought to be a much more effective form of social pressure than a slogan coming directly from a politician. Hoping to get Londoners fit T Former PM bids to end talk of rift as officials hold talks over election role Guardian News and Media London W Every major park in London will get a free-to-use open-air gym under plans launched by mayoral hopeful Tessa Jowell to make the city “healthier and happier”. The former Olympics minister wants to get more Londoners fit by offering workouts at 100 more recreation grounds and play areas across the capital. Jowell, 67, a keen runner and gym user, said just 36% of Londoners took part in sport at least once a week. Tycoon’s private garden plan angers neighbours London Evening Standard London P roperty tycoon Christian Candy has come under fire from his future neighbours over plans to create a private garden next to his £200mn home in Regent’s Park. The row was triggered by the One Hyde Park developer’s £3mn purchase of a lease on a 200ft stretch of private road and pavement from the Crown Estate at the end of last year. Candy already has planning permission to convert a row of offices at Cambridge Terrace and Chester Gate into a stucco-fronted 15-bedroom family home for his wife Emily and twins Isabella and Cayman. However, residents were angered by the latest proposal to create a new garden by the side of the house, which they say will involve more than two years of disruption. The Chester Terrace Residents’ Association also claims the work will pose a danger for cyclists and pedestrians. The group represents 40 households in a Grade I listed row of £7mn neo-classical villas which use Candy’s road to reach the Outer Circular route through the park. A spokeswoman said: “We had a meeting with Crown Estate and they said there would be hoardings in the road for more than two years while the work was ongoing. The work will “interfere with our quiet enjoyment of our homes, there will be traffic jams “Then we were told about the garden proposals and it would only be for private use by Christian Candy. All the other gardens around here are for communal use and this would be the largest private garden near here.” She said the work will “interfere with our quiet enjoyment of our homes, there will be traf- fic jams and it will pose a serious danger to cyclists and pedestrians. It will be difficult to get out of Chester Terrace and on to the Outer Circular.” A spokesman for andy’s company CPC said the land had been a private garden built by architect John Nash as part of the early 19th-century Regent’s Park master plan. He said: “The garden was subsequently removed to make way for an extra lane of traffic and for a period was two-way. The road is now reverted to a one-way street. It seems proper and fitting to replace the second lane of tarmac and to reinstate the garden. This would, with the other private gardens which feature throughout the Nash Terraces, restore Nash’s original design.” Residents would be consulted before any decisions were taken, he said. Work on the house is due to start this year but the garden plans need to be approved by Camden council and Crown Estate Paving Commission. ing Ed Miliband, then invites users to say what they think of the Labour leader as well as providing their contact details - only mentioning in tiny small print at the bottom that it is promoted by one Alan Mabbutt on behalf of the Conservatives. Invoices show the vast bulk of Tory Facebook advertising was actually spent on “e-mail collection” like this: enticing users to sign up to a mailing list by asking them if they want more information on what the prime minister is up to or on policies such as Help to Buy. The size of the Conservative mailing list is unknown, but those who have signed up now get attention-grabbing e-mails that appear to come directly from George Osborne or Cameron, addressing recipients by their first names and appealing personally for their support. I will do what it takes to help Miliband win, pledges Blair Agencies London he family of a dying pensioner whose purse was stolen have urged the culprit to give himself up. Police have described the theft from 82-year-old Irene Ditcher as a “disgusting” crime. The incident happened in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on Wednesday. The dead woman’s nephew and niece, in a statement issued through police, said: “We cannot believe that someone has done this to our auntie. We are absolutely disgusted by this person’s actions. “Had Auntie Irene been alive she would have given them the money if they’d asked. We just hope their conscience gets the better of them and they hand themselves in to the police.” They said they wanted to thank the public for the kindness shown in their loss. “To our dearly loved auntie, who was taken from us; you now sit with your beloved family. You will be sadly missed by your dear friends and you will always be in our hearts but never forgotten. “Rest in peace until we meet again. Good night, God bless.” Officers were called to Leigh Road at 11.45am following reports that a woman had been hit by a lorry. They found her dead. Officers were told by witnesses that after the collision a man stole her purse before leaving. Detective sergeant Neil Lawless said: “This is one of the most disgusting crimes I have ever investigated and I find it hard to believe someone could stoop so low to commit such a horrific offence. “This man has taken what he sees as an easy opportunity by stealing a purse from a dying woman. I am sure the community will be equally disgusted and I appeal to anyone who may have seen this man take the purse and walk off on Leigh Road to contact police”. On top of that, as US data gurus realised in the last presidential campaign, the social network is an unrivalled source of gaining information on voters. E-mail addresses are a great source, which is why the Tories have several non-party branded websites aimed at sucking in data, like Justnotuptoit.com , registered to Tory HQ. The red website confronts a reader with a map of Labour figures criticis- ith Miliband under intense pressure after a succession of business leaders criticised his policies as bad for the country, former prime minister Tony Blair has made clear that he was ready to aid Miliband restore Labour to power. The Observer understands that talks between Labour officials and Blair’s office have been going on for weeks about the role he might play in the election campaign. Asked whether the three-time election-winning Labour leader was prepared to throw his support behind the campaign, Blair’s office said that regarding “his involvement in the party’s election campaign, he will do whatever the party wants”. While Blair’s presence in the campaign will inevitably be controversial, , the declaration is a sign that the leading lights of New Labour are prepared to rally behind the current leader. Labour sources say Blair would be ideally placed to counter recent bruising attacks on Miliband from some Tory-supporting entrepreneurs, by arguing that the Tories would do far more damage to British business if they opened the way for the UK to leave the EU. David Cameron, whose party is under heavy pressure from Ukip, has promised to hold a referen- Honoured dum on EU membership by the end of 2017 if he is returned to Downing Street. A majority of Tory cabinet ministers say they will back a British exit unless he can renegotiate terms of membership. Most business leaders, however, are strongly in favour of the UK staying in. In a recent interview with the Economist, Blair suggested he had reservations about Miliband’s strategy, saying the election looked like becoming a battle between traditional leftwing and rightwing parties, with the right most likely to win. He later said he had not meant that Miliband was on course to lose. But with his former spin doctor Alastair Campbell now heavily involved in preparing Miliband for TV debates, Blair will know he cannot be absent from the campaign without fuelling further damaging speculation. Despite a bruising couple of weeks, during which two members of Blair’s cabinet - Alan Milburn and John Hutton - both raised questions about Miliband’s policies, Labour appears to be holding on to a narrow lead over the Tories. The latest survey by Opinium for the Observer puts Labour on 34%, two points ahead of the Tories. On Friday Peter Mandelson, another New Labour luminary, who has recently criticised Labour’s plan for a mansion tax on properties worth more than £2mn, also lined up behind the Nuns can be brilliant teachers: Hunt Agencies London S Author Hilary Mantel poses with her Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award at Buckingham Palace in London. Labour leader. The former minister and Blair ally said Miliband would “make a very good prime minister” and was not anti-business. Mandelson also said that a newspaper claim that he had sounded out Alan Johnson as an alternative Labour leader last autumn was “complete rubbish.” Campbell, the other senior Labour figure quoted as having sounded out Johnson, has also denied the claim. Mandelson told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme that he had spoken to Johnson only because of speculation about him standing: “As a rather good friend of Alan Johnson, it would be rather strange if I didn’t phone him and find out what all this hype was about. “I think I probably teased him a bit and suggested it was the publicity agent ... whipping up media interest to boost sales of his book... But the rest of the story is complete rubbish.” Over the past week, Labour has been under siege over its stance on business, after the boss of Boots said a Miliband premiership could be a “catastrophe”. Mandelson accepted that more needed to be done to counter the impression being created, but said the criticism was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent the party’s position. He said the greatest risk to business would come from a Tory party that offered a referendum on EU membership at which many Conservative MPs would campaign for a British exit. ome nuns are “brilliant teachers” who are doing “fantastic jobs”, shadow education secretary Tristram Hunt has said. The Labour frontbencher was asked a number of times whether an unqualified nun could be a good teacher before making the comment. Last week, Hunt was forced to insist he meant “no offence” to nuns after being accused of making “arrogant and ignorant” comments about their teaching ability. He came under fire after he clashed with journalist Cristina Odone on a TV show as she praised the education she received. Odone said some of the “most inspiring” teachers she had were ones who had not been through teacher training colleges, prompting Mr Hunt to say “these were all nuns, weren’t they?”. Yesterday on the BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show, Hunt said: “I’m sure there are brilliant teachers who are nuns who are doing fantastic jobs.” On Thursday’s Question Time, Hunt, who has opposed the use of unqualified teachers in classrooms, said: “I know about your religious schooling and there’s a difference, I think, between a state education system having qualified teachers in the classroom.” Odone said she had been to a Catholic school, a state school and a private school and “the best (teachers) did not come out of teacher training college”. Following the exchanges on the show, Odone hit out at Hunt. Odone, a former editor of the Catholic Herald, told the publication: “Tristram Hunt’s comments on nuns were arrogant and ignorant.” “To know he and Labour stand a chance at the next election makes me fear for the 7,000 brilliant faith schools in this country.” Hunt responded to the row by posting a message on Twitter saying: “On BBC QT I was trying to make a generalised point about the use of unqualified teachers in schools. I obviously meant no offence to nuns.” 22 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 BRITAIN Magna Carta copy found in archives Agencies London A n edition of the Magna Carta which could be worth up to £10mn has been found after it lay forgotten in a council’s archives. The discovery of the version of the historical parchment which established the principle of the rule of law, in the files of the history department of Kent County Council, has been described as an important historical find by an expert. The document was found in the archives kept in Maidstone but belonging to the town of Sandwich. Speaking from Paris, Professor Nicholas Vincent, of the University of East Anglia, who authenticated the document, said: “It is a fantastic discovery which comes in the week that the four other known versions were brought together at the Houses of Parliament. “It is a fantastic piece of news for Sandwich which puts it in a small category of towns and institutions that own a 1300 issue.” Prof Vincent said the fact Sandwich had its own Magna Carta gives backing to the theory that it was issued more widely than previously thought to at least 50 cathedral towns and ports. And he added the discovery gives him hope that further copies will also turn up. There are only 24 editions of the Magna Carta in known existence around the world. Prof Vincent said: “It must have been much more widely distributed than previously thought because if Sandwich had one ... the chances are it went out to a lot of other towns. “And it is very likely that there are one or two out there somewhere that no one has spotted yet.” Prof Vincent, who specialises in medieval history, said the value of the Sandwich edition could be up to £10mn, but it was ripped with about a third missing. He said: “This would be an upper value as it has, like the town of Sandwich, suffered over time from French invasions and the like.” The discovery was made by archivist Dr Mark Bateson at the end of December just before the 800th anniversary year celebrations of King John’s concession. The Sandwich Magna Carta was found when Prof Vincent asked Dr Bateson to look up a copy of the town’s original Charter of the Forest. It was found next to the charter in a Victorian scrapbook and its high value comes from the fact it also comprises the Forest Charter. There is only one other such pair in the world, owned by Oriel College, Oxford. It is understood that Sandwich does not intend to sell its Magna Carta but instead is hoping to benefit from its potential as a tourist attraction. Paul Graeme, mayor of Sandwich Town Council, said: “On behalf of Sandwich Town Council, I would like to say that we are absolutely delighted to discover that an original Magna Carta and original Charter of the Forest, previously unknown, are in our ownership. “To own one of these documents, let alone both, is an immense privilege given their international importance. “Perhaps it is fitting that they belong to a town where Thomas Paine lived, who proposed in his pamphlet Common Sense a Continental Charter for what were then the American colonies, ‘answering to what is called the Magna Carta of England ... securing freedom and property to all men, and ... the free exercise of religion’. “Through the American Declaration of Independence, continuing in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Magna Carta still underpins individual liberties worldwide. “To own such a document and the Charter of the Forest - is an honour and a great responsibility.” The four known 1215 editions are from Salisbury Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and two held at the British Library. They were brought together for a one-day exhibition at Parliament for a crowd of 2,015 chosen by a public ballot. Police team search cliff in death probe A police search team is examining a cliff face where a man was killed in a fall. Jamie Tipper, 28, from the Old Market area of Bristol, died after falling at the Avon Gorge on December 20 last year. Specially trained officers with the rope access team started searching a section of the 250ft high cliff face earlier yesterday. Detective inspector Andy Bevan, who is leading the investigation, said the rope team had been asked to look for “specific items” but did not give any further details. Tipper’s death is being treated as unexplained and a 24-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains on police bail. A small area off Circular Road has been cordoned off to allow the investigative work to take place. “The team has been tasked to look for specific items relating to the inquiry as a result of new information we’ve received,” Bevan said. The police are also trying to identify a taxi driver who was on the Circular Road on Clifton Down between 7pm and 7.30pm when Tipper fell to his death. Sledgehammer time at Mayfair hotel It’s not every day a luxury hotel encourages you to give one of its rooms the full rock ‘n’ roll treatment. However, the Marriott Hotel Park Lane armed reporter Anna Dubois with a sledgehammer to do her worst to the final room to be demolished in its renovation. The Grade II listed hotel in Mayfair, overlooking Hyde Park, has been transforming its 152 rooms and will relaunch in June. New hacking powers for security services outlined Home Office code of practice spells out rules and safeguards surrounding use of computer hacking outside UK Guardian News and Media London B ritain’s security services have acknowledged they have the worldwide capability to bypass the growing use of encryption by Internet companies by attacking the computers themselves. The Home Office release of the innocuously sounding “draft equipment interference code of practice” this week put into the public domain the rules and safeguards surrounding the use of computer hacking outside the UK by the security services for the first time. The publication of the draft code follows David Cameron’s speech last month in which he pledged to break into encryption and ensure there was no “safe space” for terrorists or serious criminals which could not be monitored online by the security services with a ministerial warrant, effectively spelling out how it might be done. Privacy campaigners said the powers outlined in the draft guidance detail the powers of BMWs, Range Rovers seized from containers London Evening Standard London P olice have seized a haul of Range Rovers and BMW car parts stolen from London and the Home Counties which were bound for export abroad in huge shipping containers. They swooped on the containers at Felixstowe port and found five stolen Range Rovers and hundreds of vehicle parts destined for Cyprus and Kenya. In an operation to target organised crime gangs engaged in “keyless” car thefts, officers found one container with two £80,000 Range Rovers which had been stolen from homes in London and Surrey last month. Criminals used old mattresses and dozens of stolen bicycles in an attempt to conceal the vehicles in the containers. The police haul also included parts from 12 BMWs stolen in east London in recent weeks which were bound for Cyprus. The five Range Rovers, stolen from Islington, South Woodford and Surrey, were destined for Kenya. Detectives believe the haul is just part of a multi-millionpound racket involving eastern European gangs stealing cars in London and the South-East to smuggle abroad. Vehicles are stolen to order and immediately driven to the Home Counties where many are stripped down in as little as 30 minutes Last year more than 6,000 cars and vans were seized across the capital by gangs using key fobs that bypass vehicle security systems. Vehicles are stolen to order and immediately driven to the Home Counties where many are stripped down at locations known as “slaughter houses” or “chop houses” in as little as 30 minutes. From there, the parts are exported as far afield as Africa where components fetch as much as £1,000 for an engine, while whole vehicles are sold for £10,000. Earlier this week the Met revealed that Ford and Mercedes vans are the most commonly stolen vehicle using keyless methods, followed by BMWs and Land Rover models, including Range Rovers. In a week-long operation 800 officers from the Met, Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Surrey and Thames Valley police forces monitored 20 major roads around London to check for stolen vehicles. Eighty-four people were arrested during “Operation Endeavour”, 16 of them for being allegedly involved in keyless vehicle thefts. intelligence services to sweep up content of a computer or smartphone, listen to their phonecalls, track their locations or even switch on the microphones or cameras on mobile phones. The last would allow them to record conversations near the phone or laptop and snap pictures of anyone nearby. The code spells this out by saying the new rules give the security services the power to use hacked computers to “enable and facilitate surveillance activity”. Eric King of Privacy International, said: “They hack their way, remove and substitute your hardware and software and enable intelligence collection by turning on your webcams and microphones and shipping the data back to GCHQ at Cheltenham.” The Security Minister, James Brokenshire, said the draft code, which is subject to a six-week consultation ending on March 20, details the safeguards applied to different surveillance techniques, including “computer network exploitation” to identify, track and disrupt the most sophisticated targets. Computer network exploitation, or mass hacking, is a technique through which computer networks are used to infiltrate target computers’ networks in order to extract and gather intelligence data. It enables intelligence services to penetrate and collect any sensitive or confidential data which is typically kept hidden and protected from the public. It may also be used to bypass the end-to-end encryption increasingly used by the US Internet companies to protect their customers’ communications in the aftermath of the Snowden disclosures of bulk Internet surveillance. End-to-end encryption secures messages by ensuring that only the recipient of a message can decode it: not any of the supplying companies computers’ in between. The publication for the first time of the legal codes of practice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 surrounding “equipment interference” was timed to coincide with the landmark ruling that GCHQ had been operating a bulk intelligence sharing operation with the Americans within an unlawful framework for the past seven years . That ruling by the investigatory powers tribunal required the internal GCHQ rules and safeguards to be made public surrounding their receipt of the bulk collection of British citizens’ personal data by the American National Security Agency. Protest Privacy campaigners say the powers outlined in the draft code were more intrusive than intercepting the content of phone calls or e-mails or scooping up communications data, because they included sweeping up files and material on the computer that had never been shared with anybody else. The powers in the draft code at 7.11 also appear to give the security services wide-ranging powers to “self-authorise” or give “internal approval” for particular operations once they have the authorisation of a secretary of state for a “broad class of operations”. This would mean that, unlike an operation to put a bug a particular house, they would not necessarily need a specific warrant to do the same thing by hacking a computer. Carly Nyst, legal director of Privacy International, said they believed any steps that made the security services more transparent about and accountable for their surveillance activities should be welcomed. She said: “However, GCHQ cannot legitimise their unlawful activities simply by publishing codes of conduct with no legislative force. In particular, the use by intelligence agencies of hacking - an incredibly invasive and intrusive form of surveillance - cannot be snuck in by Hundreds fined as spitting ban widens London Evening Standard London A Muslim demonstrators protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, near Downing Street in central London. the back door through the introduction of a code of conduct that has undergone neither parliamentary nor judicial scrutiny. It is surely no mistake that this code of conduct comes only days before GCHQ is due to argue the lawfulness of its hacking activities in court.” But the Home Office security minister said that terrorists and paedophiles were increasingly sophisticated in their use of technology and in their efforts to evade detection. “The abilities to read or listen to a suspect’s communications or to interfere with his or her computer equipment are amongst the most important, sensitive, and closely scrutinised powers available to the state,” said Brokenshire. He added: “It is vital that the police and their partners in the security and intelligence agencies are able to stop them. There are limits on what can be said in public about this work. But it is imperative that the government is as open as it can be about these capabilities and how they are used.” He said the revised and updated codes provided more information than ever before on the safeguards, including in the use of computer network exploitation, and other techniques to “identify, track and disrupt the most sophisticated targets”. lmost 700 people have been forced to pay fines totalling tens of thousands of pounds for spitting in London’s streets, the Standard revealed. Every borough now has the power to fine people for spitting in public after Communities Secretary Eric Pickles last month agreed to a fixed £80 penalty scheme drawn up by London Councils. Following a Freedom of Information request, it can be revealed that the three boroughs who have already introduced bans have fined 689 people up to £55,120. Newham council was the first to ban spitting, in April 2011, and its wardens have issued 634 fines. Waltham Forest council followed suit in February 2013, also using the Environmental Protection Act 1990 by categorising spit as “litter”, and has fined 42 people. In November that year, Enfield council introduced bylaws under which it has issued 14 fines — although one person successfully challenged the fine in court. All of London’s 33 boroughs can now fine people £80 for spitting after Pickles approved the penalties drawn up by London Councils’ transport and environment committee. He has previously branded spitting a “deeply anti-social and unpleasant practice”. The fine can be cut to £50 if it is paid within 14 days. A spokesman for London Councils said: “Anti-social spitting impacts people’s quality of life. This is exactly the sort of measure boroughs can and should implement to make their local areas more pleasant places to live and work.” Newham councillor Ian Corbett, who is the mayoral adviser on environment and leisure, said: “Spitting is an unhygienic and anti-social act which our residents should not have to witness or walk through.” Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 23 EUROPE Erdogan unhappy with spy chief’s resignation AFP Istanbul T Davutoglu: had the final say on the matter. ‘Bling bishop’ gets new job at Vatican A German bishop who resigned in disgrace last year for spending millions of euros of believers’ money to renovate his home has taken a new post at the Vatican, sources told DPA. Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, who became known internationally as the “bling bishop”, resigned in March after months of criticism for the €31mn ($43mn) spent renovating his residence, including the fitting of a €15,000 bathtub. He had also came under fire for lying under oath about flying first class to visit slum dwellers in India. Tebartz-van Elst avoided prosecution for perjury by paying a €20,000 settlement to Hamburg prosecutors. Sources told DPA on Saturday that Tebartz-van Elst, 55, was appointed in December to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation. His job title and role were not known. Tebartz-van Elst had been bishop of Limburg, a western German city north of Frankfurt. His lavish lifestyle was a public embarrassment to the Catholic Church. Most Germans happy with govt More than half of German citizens are happy with their coalition government’s performance, including its handling of Greek bailout negotiations and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, an opinion poll showed. The Infratest Dimap poll – conducted on behalf of public broadcaster ARD and newspaper Die Welt – showed that 57% of Germans are either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the work of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and her Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners. Over half of supporters of Germany’s main opposition Green Party are also satisfied with the so-called GroKo – a German abbreviation for Grand Coaltion. Only 34% of respondents said they were less satisfied with the coalition government. Seven per cent said they were not at all satisfied. urkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that he was unhappy with the decision by powerful intelligence chief Hakan Fidan to resign from his post and stand for parliament in June elections. “I do not view Hakan Fidan’s candidacy positively,” Erdogan said in televised comments at Istanbul airport before heading on a visit to Latin America. Erdogan said he had made his opinion on the matter clear to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu but that the premier had the final say. “I cannot interfere,” Erdogan added. Erdogan’s comments stunned Turkish media which had assumed Fidan’s departure was part of a masterplan by the Turkish strongman ahead of the June 7 legislative poll. It also raised the prospect of a public split between Erdogan and Davutoglu, who have shown tight unity since Erdogan moved to the presidency in August after more than a decade as prime minister. Widely seen as one of Turkey’s most powerful figures, Fidan served as head of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) since 2010 and has always been regarded as one of Erdogan’s closest allies. Fidan, who rarely speaks in public, has made no comment on the matter since his resignation was first reported on Friday. Davutoglu made no comment on the resignation during a political speech to a mass rally of AKP sup- porters in Istanbul. Erdogan however also criticised the opposition for saying that Fidan had no right to stand as an MP as a former head of the MIT. “Any civil servant has the right to run for parliament and so does the head of the MIT. If the party fields him, then he can run,” said Erdogan. Turkish state officials have until February 10 to resign from their posts if they were to stand for parliament. As head of the MIT, Fidan led negotiations with Kurdish rebels for an end to a decades-long insurgency and has been a key player in Turkey’s policy on the Syria conflict. He was also instrumental in controversial talks that secured the release in September of almost 50 Turkish diplomats, staff and their families who were kidnapped by Islamic State (IS) jihadists at the Turkish consulate in Mosul in Iraq. In a previous note of dissent at his resignation, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc questioned the need for Fidan to leave the MIT, saying that it was a “waste”. “Personally, I think seeing a person, who was assigned the duty of superman, entering the parliament to become an MP is a waste,” he told the CNN-Turk television channel. There has been frenzied speculation in the Turkish press that Fidan could after the elections enter government as foreign minister or even replace Davutoglu as premier and AKP chief. But another Deputy Prime Minister, Yalcin Akdogan, ridiculed the suggestion that Fidan could be premier. “There is no such search. I cannot but laugh at this,” he said. Erdogan: I do not view Hakan Fidan’s candidacy positively. Hollande’s post-attacks ratings surge faces test AFP Besançon, France F rench President Francois Hollande’s newfound popularity after the Paris attacks faced its first major test yesterday as a member of his ruling Socialist party battled against a far-right National Front (FN) candidate in a tense by-election. The first round of the poll on February 1 in the eastern Doubs district – called after Socialist lawmaker Pierre Moscovici left for Brussels to take office as economic affairs commissioner – saw FN candidate Sophie Montel come first with close to a third of the vote. The Socialist Frederic Barbier, 54, came second and the main opposition UMP candidate was knocked out of the race. If she wins yesterday’s decisive second round, Montel, 45, will be the third far-right lawmaker to sit in France’s lower house National Assembly. UMP leader and former president Nicolas Sarkozy warned on Tuesday of a real risk of the National Front taking power at a national level in the future. His party nevertheless called on its supporters to abstain from voting for either candidate, and all eyes were on whether the 60.5% of voters who abstained last weekend would turn out this time round. An hour before polling booths closed yesterday, more than 43% of voters had cast their ballots – compared with some 34% at the same time last week. In Pont-de-Roide-Vermondans, Barbier’s town in Doubs, voters streamed to the ballot box, waiting in line in bitter cold under a grey sky. The result will be a test for Hollande’s Socialist party and for the president himself. The ruling party has won none of the 13 by-elections held since Hollande came to power in May 2012, with voters becoming steadily more exasperated with record high unemployment and near zero economic growth. By the time of the deadly Paris attacks last month, Hollande had become the most unpopular president in modern French history. But his widely praised handling of the January 7-9 Islamist killings that left 17 people dead boosted his image, and he has now shot back up in the ratings. An opinion poll carried out by the Ifop polling company 10 days after the attacks showed Hollande’s ratings had doubled to 40%. Hollande: his popularity has surged since the deadly Paris attacks last month. But official figures published late last month showed unemployment hit a new record in December, casting a cloud on this popularity spike. And a poll published in the daily Le Parisien yesterday found that two-thirds of French people still think that Hollande is a “bad president” – down from 77% in July. The importance of the byelection was highlighted last week when both Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve visited Barbier to pledge their support. The FN’s number two Florian Philippot, meanwhile, has visited Montel, as has Steeve Electoral campaign posters for the by-election in the 4th constituency of Doubs are seen in Audincourt. Briois, the high-profile mayor of the former coal-mining town of Henin-Beaumont in northern France. Marine Le Pen’s Eurosceptic FN, which she has skilfully rebranded as more than just an anti-immigrant party, has been going from strength to strength in France. The FN won control of 11 towns and more than 1,200 municipal seats nationwide in local elections last year in which the Socialists suffered such a drubbing that Hollande reshuffled the entire government. The result was a huge success for the FN, which in the last local elections in 2008 had claimed only around 60 seats. The party’s rising popularity is widely seen as a result of unhappiness with Hollande’s government, as well as general exasperation at mainstream parties which many believe are unable to resolve problems of unemployment, poor growth and security. PEGIDA rally in Austria dwarfed by counter-protest 23,000 phones, PCs monitored AFP/Reuters/DPA Linz/Dresden German investigators monitored telephones and Internet communications in 22,917 cases in attempts to convict criminals during the course of 2013, a media report said on Saturday. A total of 19,670 mobile phones, 5,033 computers and 3,271 landlines were intercepted, the Bild newspaper reported, citing data from the justice ministry. Most cases involved gang-related theft (2,047 cases), murder (1,863 cases) and fraud (1,745 cases). Authorities requested telecommunications data, such as location information, in a further 20,923 cases. No previous data were provided to make comparisons. Germans have become increasingly concerned about privacy and surveillance following revelations that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting German citizens’ private data. Whistle-blower Edward Snowden’s leaks of NSA files also showed that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s phone was monitored by the US. he first protest in the Austrian city of Linz by Germany’s “anti-Islamisation” movement PEGIDA drew just 150 supporters yesterday and was dwarfed by a counter-demo by some 2,000 people, police said. A planned PEGIDA march through the centre of the northern city was abandoned after several hundred counter-demonstrators blocked their way, chanting “Auf Wiedersehen” (“Goodbye”), the Austria Press Agency reported. During a stand-off lasting around an hour a few snowballs were thrown there were no incidents of violence. “There were no arrests,” a police spokesman told AFP. He also said that unlike at last Monday’s PEGIDA march in Vienna, the first in Austria, police did not see any raised-arm Hitler salutes or “Sieg Heil” chants. Unlike in Germany, Austria has a strong far-right party in the Freedom Party (FPOe), the thirdlargest in parliament with around 20% support and which has long T Austrian riot police face counter-marchers protesting against PEGIDA in Linz, Austria, yesterday. Turkey detains 21 police officers Reuters Istanbul A Turkish court ordered the arrest of 21 police officers yesterday as part of an investigation into the illegal wiretapping of politicians, civil servants and businessmen, the Dogan News Agency reported. Raids began in several cities as prosecutors enforced the court order, privately owned Dogan said, the latest step in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s campaign against supporters of his ally turned arch-foe, US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Prosecutors were not immediately available for comment. Scores of police officers have already been detained as part of the investigation since the middle of last year. Erdogan accuses Gulen of setting up a “parallel state” within the Turkish administration and of trying to topple him, blaming Gulen’s supporters within the police and judiciary for a corruption inquiry that rocked the government late in 2013. In the course of the scandal, wiretap recordings of senior officials leaked onto the Internet. Thousands of police officers, judges and prosecutors have since been removed from their posts. In December, a Turkish court issued an arrest warrant for Gulen on suspicion of heading a criminal organisation and last week Turkey revoked his passport. Gulen, who lives in selfimposed exile in the United States, denies plotting against the government. campaigned against immigration and “Islamisation”. “In Austria the FPOe has always been the real PEGIDA. We have always taken seriously the problems to do with Islamism,” the party’s leader Heinz-Christian Strache told NEWS magazine in a recent interview. Meanwhile, a new German movement that broke away from PEGIDA drew just 500 people to its first rally in the city of Dresden yesterday, highlighting the obstacles they face in winning further support and making a national impact. PEGIDA (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident) marches began in the German city of Dresden last year with several hundred supporters and snowballed to reach 25,000 people on January 12. But numbers have fallen since the movement’s founder stepped down on January 21 after a picture surfaced of him posing as Adolf Hitler. Other senior figures have also since resigned. PEGIDA offshoot “Direct Democracy for Europe”, led by Kathrin Oertel who was a founding member of PEGIDA but quit last month, wants tighter immi- gration controls, more referendums to decide policies and more money for the police. Oertel and four other founding members broke from PEGIDA last month following the resignation of figurehead Lutz Bachmann who quit after a photo was published of him posing as the Nazi leader and prosecutors opened an investigation for inciting hatred. “The goals were the same (as those of PEGIDA) but the ways and means of achieving these goals are no longer the same,” Oertel told the crowd in Dresden, adding she wanted an immigration law and greater involvement for ordinary people in political decisions. They also cited the need to distance themselves from a hardline PEGIDA offshoot in Leipzig. Some 5,000 people had been registered for yesterday’s demonstration in Dresden but only about 500 turned up, said local police. Small offshoots of PEGIDA have sprung up in other German cities and marches have taken place in the Czech Republic, Denmark and Norway, involving however only a few hundred people. 24 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 EUROPE Appeal for ‘urgency’ at UN climate talks AFP Geneva U This picture taken yesterday shows the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. UN climate negotiators gathered in Geneva were urged yesterday to show urgency and compromise in crafting a draft by next week for a global pact to be signed in December. Police thriller dominates Spanish film event AFP Madrid S panish police thriller Marshland picked up 10 trophies at the Goya Awards, Spain’s version of the Oscars, which honoured Antonio Banderas with a lifetime achievement award. Among others, the movie about a police probe into the disappearance of two sisters after a local fiesta in rural Spain in 1980, won best film, best original screenplay and best director for Alberto Rodriguez at a ceremony in Madrid late on Saturday. Spanish actor Javier Gutierrez won the best actor prize for his role as a violent police officer in the movie – Spanish title La Isla Minima – while Barbara Lennie was named best actress for her role as an unstable housewife in dark comedy Magical Girl. Oscar-winning director Pedro Almodovar praised Banderas as he handed him with a lifetime achievement award, an honorary Goya, saying that the 54-yearold actor “lit fire to Spanish movie screens in the 1980s” and then went on to become the first Spanish actor to achieve success in Hollywood. Banderas made his film debut in Almodovar’s 1982 screwball comedy Labyrinth of Passion. He went on to star in dramas such as Philadelphia, horror films such as Interview with the Vampire, the musical Evita and was the voice of the animated character Puss in Boots in the Shrek films. “If I look back I feel old, if I look forward I feel young. The second half of my life starts now,” the actor said in his acceptance speech. Banderas has been nominated on four occasions for a Goya but has never won before. He dedicated the award to his 18-year-old daughter Stella del Carmen, saying she is “the person who has suffered the most from my professional commitments, my absences”. “Forgive me my daughter,” he added. Del Carmen is the actor’s only child with US actress Melanie Griffith. The couple who first worked together on the set of the 1995 romantic comedy Two Much filed for divorce last year, putting an end to an 18-year marriage. The awards ceremony comes after the best year for Spanish movies in terms of both box office and market share since the country returned to democracy following the death of dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975. Spanish movies grossed around €130mn ($156mn) in Spain in 2014. Their market share was around 25%. N climate negotiators in Geneva were urged yesterday to show urgency and compromise in crafting a draft by next week for a global pact to be signed in December. “I ask you to work with efficiency and a sense of compromise,” Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peru’s environment minister and president of the negotiations told the opening session of the sixday talks. Pointing to scientific warnings of a dangerous Earth-warming trend, he appealed to country representatives to “work with an even higher sense of urgency”. “This is not a competition among us. We are just one team for one planet,” Pulgar-Vidal said. Negotiations resumed for the first time since an annual ministerial-level meeting in Lima last December yielded a sprawling 37-page blueprint for the agreement that countries had in 2011 agreed to finalise by the end of this year. To be inked in the French capital, the pact must enter into force by 2020 to further the UN goal of limiting global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels. Scientists warn that on current greenhouse gas emission trends, Earth is on track for double that – a recipe for catastrophic droughts, storms, floods and rising seas. Last Monday the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said that 2014 was the hottest year on record – part of a “warming trend” set to continue. But the 195 nations gathered under the UN banner remain at odds, broadly on rich-developing country lines, and the Lima document is stuffed with options that reflect conflicting interests and demands on many fundamental points. The goal of Geneva is to trim the document down to a workable draft for an official “negotiating text” to guide the process through to December. Procedure requires that an official draft text must be submitted by the end of May this year – six months before the next Conference of Parties in Paris that will adopt the final version. “This session in Geneva is the only session planned before May 2015,” the meeting’s cochairman Daniel Reifsnyder of the United States told delegates. “The objective is to deliver ... on Friday (February 13) at 6pm (1700 GMT) the negotiating text of the Paris climate agreement.” South Africa, on behalf of a broad group of developing and poor nations, called for a show of good faith – including for rich countries to show how they intend keeping a promise to scale climate assistance up to $100bn (€88bn) by 2020. “As the primary bearers of the impacts of climate change, we have been asked to do so much and have made so many concessions in these negotiations throughout the years. The group looks forward to seeing what our partners are prepared to bring to the table,” said ambassador Nozipho Mxakato-Diseko. “We... need to see all country parties bringing their positive intentions into this process.” A key disagreement is the issue of “differentiation” – how to divide responsibility for curbing greenhouse gas emissions between rich and poor nations. Countries must submit carbon-cutting pledges in the months leading up to the Paris meeting. But they also disagree on how to measure whether the pledges, collectively, add up to meeting the 2°C target, and how to ramp them up if they don’t. “We have to know how much is on the table and what more needs to be done,” European negotiator Elina Bardram said yesterday. “Like other parties we are concerned that the target set in Paris may fall short of what is required by science. We will need to regularly set new targets that can respond to the new science and technological development.” The February 8-13 meeting is one of three special sessions added to this year’s schedule of talks. the details of a case involving a beautiful young woman whose husband had asked Holmes to track her movements. Her fate has troubled him ever since, and led him to give up detective work. Condon said that the project had been 11 years in the making and he had persisted because he wanted to work with McKellen again and because he believed in the script. “It was such a delicate and beautifully told story and I have to say, too, secretly for 17 years I’ve been reading scripts constantly imagining that I could work with Ian McKellen and suddenly there is this script,” he said. American actress Laura Lin- ney, whom McKellen complimented on her English workingclass accent, said the setting in 1947, with part of the plot taking Holmes to war-ravaged Japan in search of a cure for his amnesia, gave it an extra dimension. “She’s a war widow from that period of time and the impact that the war has on everyone in this film is the sort of unspoken earthquake underneath the story,” Linney said. Child actor Milo Parker said that he had been thrilled by the opportunity to work with McKellen. “I learned a lot from Ian on the basis that he’s a really nice man and he’s also an amazing actor and he’s Gandalf,” Parker said. Hollywood odyssey sets Berlin fest alight By Deborah Cole, AFP Berlin R eclusive US director Terrence Malick drew cheers yesterday with the mostanticipated competition contender of the Berlin film festival, Knight of Cups starring Christian Bale as a crisis-racked Hollywood screenwriter. Malick, true to form, did not attend the event but Bale and co-star Natalie Portman were set to represent him on the red carpet at the gala premiere in the German capital. They told reporters after a packed press screening, which met with lengthy applause and cries of “bravo”, that the 71-year-old Texan filmmaker had given them precious few clues about the story before turning on the camera. “Our mantra throughout the whole film was kind of like ‘let’s start before we’re ready’ and so you get a lot of happy accidents and real responses,” he said. Knight of Cups, whose title is taken from a tarot card, tells the story of Rick, a successful film industry writer and compulsive womaniser who is haunted by failed relationships. He sets out on an odyssey in which Malick’s signature nonlinear storytelling, spectacular cinematography and whispered voiceovers take the place of standard movie plot and dialogue. Rick goes to see the loves of his life – his estranged wife, a doctor played by Cate Blanchett, and his former mistress (Portman) as well as a revolving cast of models, strippers and hangers-on. “It’s about somebody whose dreams and desires have been fulfilled but who feels a great void within himself,” Bale, 41, said. “It’s somebody who’s seen the peak of the mountain and has all the acclaim and all of the invitations to the right places and knows all the right people and all that. There’s a great deal of laughter but there’s a great deal of sorrow as well within it.” Bale said that Malick’s insistence on improvisation extended to the filming as well. “They would just hand me a GoPro (camera) and say, ‘shoot a scene’,” he said. Portman, 33, said she had long hoped to work with Malick, calling his 1978 drama Days of Heaven “probably my favourite film ever”. “It was one of the rare experiences where the person exceeds your expectations,” she said. The actress said Malick gave the cast “30 pages a day of suggested dialogue that we could pick and choose from”. “Just searching for the discoveries every day – there’s no sense that you have a script that you’re just executing while you’re making the movie – everyday is a search for something beautiful,” she said. Answering a reporter’s question about the film’s portrayal of women as either “seductresses or saviours” and its lushly shot nude scenes, Portman said Malick had captured part of Hollywood’s essence. The film depicts “everything from the superficiality that you might find at a Hollywood party and the way women might be treated there, as opposed to Cate Blanchett’s character who has great soul and generosity and humanity,” she said. “The city can encompass both those extremes and he (Rick) is trying to find that path in a world peopled by those extremes, both male and female.” Malick won Berlin’s prestigious Golden Bear top prize for The Thin Red Line in 1999 and Above: Bale poses for photographers during a photocall of the film Knight of Cups. Right: Portman arriving for the screening of the movie Knight of Cups. the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2011 for The Tree of Life. Knight of Cups is one of 19 films in the running for the 65th Golden Bear, to be awarded on Saturday by jury president Darren Aronofsky. Ahead of yesterday’s premieres, critics polled by industry magazine Screen gave the highest marks to Andrew Haigh’s 45 Years, which drew rave reviews for Charlotte Rampling’s performance as a woman whose time-tested marriage begins to falter. ‘Gandalf’ turns into ‘Sherlock’ as McKellen plays detective By Michael Roddy, Reuters Berlin I Sir Ian, Parker and Linney pose for photographers during a photocall of the film Mr Holmes, presented in the competition of the 65th Berlin International Film Festival. an McKellen transformed himself from Gandalf into a nonagenarian Sherlock Holmes for Mr Holmes, shown in Berlin yesterday, giving the veteran British actor a chance to portray one of England’s most treasured characters. McKellen, making his second movie with Bill Condon, said he had leapt at the opportunity to work with the American director, with whom he last filmed in 1998 in Gods and Monsters, and at the opportunity to portray Holmes. “He’s one of the great Englishmen and he never lived – it’s astonishing,” McKellen said at a news conference after the movie was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival. Based on the Holmes spin-off novel A Slight Trick of the Mind by Mitch Cullin, the film, like other new iterations of the detective stories, picks up where Arthur Conan Doyle left off. This one finds Holmes in retirement in the English countryside where he lives as a recluse, tending bees and looked after by a middle-aged woman, widowed when her airman husband was shot down during World War II, and her son Roger. Partly because of Roger’s curiosity, the aged detective, who is losing his memory, tries to recall Ingenious one-take heist film Victoria impresses critics By Rollo Ross, Reuters Berlin G erman heist film Victoria, shot in one take in more than 20 locations, took the idea of single-take films popularised by Birdman to a new level at the Berlin International Film Festival. “To shoot a film in one take is absolutely moronic but we did it,” director Sebastian Schipper said of his film, which had its festival premiere on Saturday night. The story follows all-night Berlin clubber Victoria, played by Laia Costa, who as she leaves a nightclub becomes embroiled in an armed robbery and its fallout. “Everything is improvised, everything,” Schipper said on the day of the film’s premiere. He added that he had courted disaster on several occasions while filming the movie, which lasts two hours and 20 minutes. “On the last take, there was a Russian couple and they had been partying – as they should – and they saw one of my actors having a panic attack ... and they thought that poor guy is having a panic attack or needs help,” he said. “At first, I was yelling at them ‘No, go, step back’ and then the guy was a little bit ‘What?’ ‘No, sorry, sorry, sorry we’re shooting a film’ and then he was all talkative.” Actress Costa said making the film had been a thrill. Trade publication Variety called the film “undeniably a stunt, but one suffused with a surprising degree of grace and emotional authenticity”. Victoria is one of the 19 films in competition at the Berlin festival. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 25 EUROPE Ukraine conflict dominates Munich conference By Nikolaus von Twickel, DPA Munich T o many, this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) was the toughest since the event was first held in 1963. “We discussed primarily bad news,” conference organiser Wolfgang Ischinger said in his closing remarks yesterday. And the bad news had mainly to do with Russia and Ukraine. The bloody conflict between Russia-backed separatists and government forces in eastern Ukraine was discussed during many panels. German Chancellor Angela Merkel captured the tense atmosphere when she remarked after her speech that “we are all exposed to the non-military aspects of hybrid war”. A combination of intelligence, propaganda and other non-conventional operations, “hybrid war” and its covert use by Russia against Ukraine and the West was certainly the talk of the conference, which featured a special panel on information warfare. The conference’s famed discussion atmosphere descended into a downright war of words, when Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: baseless accusations and calls for punishment are a road to nowhere. Sergei Lavrov addressed it on Saturday. Lavrov accused the US and its allies of destroying Europe’s security architecture and of fomenting a coup in Ukraine. The audience broke out into undiplomatic laughter when he claimed that Crimea’s joining Russia happened in accordance with the UN Charter, and then again when he said that the Soviet Union had been against the partitioning of Germany. Lavrov only dryly remarked “they say that laughter prolongs life”. The Russian top diplomat’s speech, which he rattled down as if he had a plane to catch (he stayed another night), was lambasted as a “torrent of lies” by conference participant Edward Lucas, a senior editor at The Economist. Henrik Ilves, the outspoken president of Estonia, who was also in the hall, tweeted: “I feel badly for smart people forced to say dumb things, to obfuscate and lie to a room full of other very smart people.” German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier told the conference yesterday that Lavrov’s speech was not helpful. Unfazed, Lavrov told journalists later that he had a good conference thanks to more than 15 bilateral meetings at the sidelines. “I felt an understanding that whipping up emotions in public, making baseless accusations and calls for punishment are a road to nowhere,” he said. However, there was one more covert conflict present in Munich – the US-European split over military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko launched another desperate call for weapons deliveries at the conference, saying that Ukraine needs to ramp up its defences. Poroshenko looked downbeat, almost close to tears, when he presented the confiscated passports of what he claimed were Russian soldiers who “lost their way” inside Ukraine. “This conflict must be resolved, not frozen,” he said. But Merkel and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini made it clear that there won’t be arms deliveries from Europe, because most member states view this as a path to total escalation. “The number of arms is big in the region and it has not led to a situation in which I see a solution,” Merkel said. Neither United States VicePresident Joe Biden nor Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned weapons deliveries, and Kerry stressed that there is no division and that Europe and America are Kerry (centre) with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius (left) and German Foreign Minister Steinmeier during a panel discussion on the third day of the 51st Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich. 4-way summit planned AFP/Reuters/DPA Kiev T he leaders of Ukraine, Germany and France are pushing for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in a frantic bid to halt escalating bloodshed in eastern Ukraine. The four leaders discussed the meeting in a phone call yesterday as part of their efforts to achieve a “comprehensive settlement” in the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels, Berlin said. Putin, however, warned that the summit planned in the Belarussian capital Minsk would only take place if the leaders agreed on a “number of points” by then. “We will be aiming for Wednesday, if by that time we manage to agree on a number of points which we’ve been intensely discussing lately,” Putin told Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko yesterday in televised remarks. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande have ramped up their push for peace in recent days, jetting to Kiev first for talks with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and then to Moscow to meet Putin, accused by the West of masterminding the 10-month-old conflict. Today foreign ministry officials from the four countries will hold preparatory talks in Berlin while Merkel briefs US President Barack Obama on the latest peace initiative during a visit to the White House. In their telephone conversation yesterday, Putin, Poroshenko, Merkel and Hollande “continued to work on a package of measures to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine”, Merkel’s office said. The Ukrainian government said the leaders expected their efforts to lead to “an immediate and unconditional bilateral ceasefire”. But German officials say Putin has shown little appetite for compromise and they acknowledge in private that he has repeatedly broken promises in the past. One senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Russian leader might have little incentive to clinch a peace deal now, while pro-Russian rebels are making gains on the ground in eastern Ukraine. “He can sit back and wait as the pressure steadily builds on Ukraine and its leaders,” the official said. Tomorrow mediators from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) are expected to meet with Ukrainian and Russian representatives as well as the rebels, Ukraine’s presidency said. Fresh fighting in the former Soviet republic claimed 12 civilian lives, separatist and Kiev authorities said, with 12 Ukrainian united in support of Ukraine. But US Senator John McCain asked: “how long can Putin sustain a war that he says is not happening?” He added: “That’s why we must provide defensive weapons to Ukraine.” Journalist arrested after call to dodge the draft AFP Kiev U Above: An elderly man has a free meal, with a girl looking at him, at a public canteen yesterday near Donetsk. Right: A Russian convoy of trucks carrying humanitarian aid is parked yesterday, with a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) seen in the foreground, on the outskirts of Donetsk. Below: A pro-Russian rebel carries a cat as he walks past a dead Ukrainian soldier in the eastern Ukrainian town of Vuglegirsk in the Donetsk region. troops also killed in the last 24 hours. A previous peace deal agreed in Minsk in September has been largely ignored, with fighting escalating in recent weeks as the rebels push further into government-held territory. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told the Munich Security Conference that “what Germany and France are seeking right now is not peace on paper, but peace on the ground”. European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels today are to confirm the addition of 19 people to a list of EU sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine. Poroshenko has said he is ready to take a hard line against Russia and the separatists. Speaking on the sidelines of the Munich conference, he also insisted that the idea of granting greater autonomy to the separatist-controlled eastern districts or making Ukraine a federation would only be considered on the basis of a nationwide referendum. “And I know the result of that referendum,” he said. The Ukrainian leader did, however, say that he was ready for an unconditional ceasefire. EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini has also weighed in on the debate, saying in Munich that there is no alternative to a diplomatic solution. “It is our duty to try” and find a diplomatic solution, Mogherini said of the Merkel-Hollande initiative. In Washington, momentum has been building for the US to arm Ukraine against the separatists. Merkel came under sharp criticism from US senators Lyndsey Graham and John McCain, both Republican hawks, for opposing the sending of defensive weapons to the Ukraine army to help it fight the separatists. “The Ukrainians are being slaughtered and we’re sending them blankets and meals,” McCain said in Munich. “Blankets don’t do well against Russian tanks.” Speaking in Munich, US Secretary of State John Kerry dismissed talk of a rift with Europe on the issue. “Let me assure everybody, there is no division, there is no split,” Kerry said. “We all agree that this challenge will not end through military means (but) the longer it takes, the more the off- ramps are avoided, the more we will be forced to raise the costs on Russia and its proxies.” “Will we remain united? The answer is absolutely, positively, unequivocally we are united, we will remain united,” Kerry told the conference yesterday, describing any differences as tactical rather than strategic. Members of the Obama administration are also believed to be sceptical about arming Ukraine but the president faces intense pressure from a Republican-led Congress to act. The Germans believe sending weapons to a depleted Ukraine army would not improve its chances against separatists armed with “unlimited” supplies of Russian military equipment. They also fear that delivering arms would internationalise the conflict, playing into the hands of Putin, who has painted the crisis as a western plot to weaken Russia. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said a resolution of the conflict was still far off. “Europe can only have permanent security with, not against, Russia,” said Steinmeier. A senior US State Department official has said that the new European peace plan is based on September’s ceasefire deal. Hollande told French TV station France 2 that the proposal includes the creation of a 50km to 70km demilitarised zone around the current demarcation line. But this idea appeared to face opposition from Ukraine’s president, who has lost territory to the rebels since the Minsk accord. “There is only one line, and that’s the line from the Minsk agreement,” Poroshenko said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the Kremlin was expecting “important decisions” to be taken if the leaders’ summit went ahead on Wednesday. Moscow’s top diplomat played up the reported divisions between the US and Europe on arming Ukraine. “An overwhelming majority if not all European politicians think this is a bad idea,” he said in Munich. Some 5,400 people have been killed since the start of the conflict in April. Kiev accuses the rebels of sending more tanks, armoured vehicles and rocket launcher systems to the embattled Debaltseve region and to Granitne, around 35km northeast of the city of Mariupol. A Ukraine military spokesman said yesterday that intense fighting was continuing around the rail junction town of Debaltseve, with rebel fighters making repeated attempts to storm lines defended by government troops. The town of Debaltseve – midway between the rebel centres of Donetsk and Luhansk – has been the focus of fierce fighting for over a week as insurgents try to encircle government troops holding the strategic railway hub. If there is no breakthrough on Wednesday, European Union leaders meeting in Brussels the following day may signal their readiness to ratchet up sanctions against Russia, including targeting new sectors of the economy, like the banking sector. However officials said that a final decision on tougher sanctions is not expected before the next summit of EU leaders in March. Describing Putin as a “tyrant”, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond told Sky News that the Minsk talks were a last opportunity for the Russian leader to avert crippling new sanctions that would cause “significant damage” to the Russian economy. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, speaking on French television, said he feared a “dramatic spiral” in violence if dialogue with Moscow did not succeed. “It’s a matter of hours and days. The moment that a break in these discussions ends in an impasse, I fear the worst,” he said. kraine’s security service arrested a journalist on treason charges yesterday after he posted a video online urging people to dodge the country’s new military draft, his wife and officials said. Ruslan Kotsaba – a television journalist from the western region of Ivano-Frankivsk – was ordered held in custody for 60 days pending investigations, his wife Uliana wrote on Facebook. A senior official at Ukraine’s SBU security agency, Markian Lubkivskyi, wrote online that Kotsaba was detained on suspicion of treason, an accusation that carries a possible 15-year jail sentence. Kotsaba published a video on YouTube last month denouncing a new round of military call-ups by Kiev to boost its forces fighting pro-Russian rebels in the east. “I would prefer to go to prison than to participate in this fratricidal war,” Kotsaba said in the footage, which was viewed more than 300,000 times. “I refuse to be drafted and call on everyone who is called up to refuse.” After 10 months of conflict, opinion is split in war-weary Ukraine over the latest government plan to mobilise around 50,000 men. A senior official has admitted that almost 40% of men called up to serve in Kotsaba’s home region have left Ukraine. Britain says Putin is behaving like tyrant Russian President Vladimir Putin is behaving like a “mid-20th century tyrant”, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said yesterday, urging him to change track and save Russia’s economy from further decline. He told Sky News television that supplying arms from Britain to Ukraine would not be the right thing to do “at the moment”, but insisted London’s position would be kept under review. “This man has sent troops across an international border and occupied another country’s territory in the 21st century acting like some mid-20th century tyrant,” Hammond said of Putin. “Civilised nations do not behave like that in the 21st century. We live in a rules-based society. We want the Russian people to be part of that international community. “We want Russia to enjoy the kind of economic growth and rising standards of living that people in the rest of Europe enjoy and we do not see any reason to tolerate this kind of outrageous and outdated behaviour from the Kremlin.” French, German and Ukrainian leaders are planning a summit with Putin for Wednesday in a frantic attempt to halt the escalating bloodshed in east Ukraine. The four leaders talked by phone yesterday as part of urgent efforts to achieve a “comprehensive settlement” in the 10-month conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels, Berlin said. Hammond said Britain was not involved in the discussions as it was not practical to have a “committee of 10” talking to Moscow. He said the international talks were “one of the last opportunities that Russia will have to avoid yet further significant damage to its economy which is bound to happen if the intransigence of Vladimir Putin forces the rest of the world to increase and tighten the sanctions from which Russia’s economy is already reeling”. Putin “will have to trim his behaviour to reflect the decline in the Russian economy”. 26 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 INDIA POLITICS ACCIDENT OBITUARY ANNIVERSARY OPINION Parrikar accused of poll code violations in Goa Man burnt alive as car catches fire after collision Journalist Majumdar dies aged 56 President, PM pay tributes to Zakir Hussain Haryana demands other states give Delhi water too Ahead of the Panaji assembly bye-election, the Congress has complained that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has allegedly violated the model code of conduct twice, which includes announcing the possible setting up of a helicopter manufacturing unit in Goa. The Congress has alleged that the ex-chief minister has also violated the code of conduct on February 5 by announcing the inclusion of Panaji in the Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulb distribution scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Panaji assembly byeelection was necessitated after Parrikar’s elevation as the defence minister in November last year and he quit his assembly seat in Goa. A 32-year-old man was burnt alive inside his car which caught fire after crashing into another car, police said yesterday. The incident happened in north Delhi’s Jahangirpuri area on Saturday night where Sanjeev, a motor mechanic, was returning home after work. “His Swift Dzire hit an Alto car and toppled at Outer Ring Road. Before he could come out of the car, it caught fire,” a police officer said. People at the spot called up police and also informed the fire department. Two fire tenders were rushed to the spot which took 30 minutes to douse the flame. Police said the body of Sanjeev which was completely charred was recovered from the car. Journalist Diptosh Majumdar, who was national affairs editor with NewsX news channel, died yesterday, his colleagues said. He was 56. Majumdar, who was born 1958, had worked in senior positions both in the print and electronic media. He was admitted to Apollo Hospital in New Delhi with suspected blood cancer. His colleagues said that his last rites will take place today morning at Lodhi Road crematorium. Majumdar had also worked as national affairs editor with CNN-IBN news channel. He also worked with The Telegraph and DNA dailies. He is survived by his wife. Majumdar’s colleagues and friends paid him tributes on Twitter. President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday paid tributes to former president Zakir Hussain on his birth anniversary. “The president, officers and staff paid floral tributes in front of a portrait of Zakir Hussain in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan,” said a statement from the president’s house. Modi said in a statement: “I pay my tributes to India’s former president, the illustrious scholar and freedom fighter, Zakir Hussain on his birth anniversary.” Zakir Hussain was the country’s first Muslim president and the third president from May 13, 1967, till his death May 3, 1969. He was conferred the Bharat Ratna in 1963. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar yesterday categorically said that his water-deficit state alone should not be banked upon for meeting the water needs of Delhi. “Other states too should also come forward and pitch in with their contribution in this regard,” he said in his address at the meeting of the Governing Council of Niti Aayog chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. “Waters of the inter-state rivers should be declared national property and we should aim to achieve the national goals by putting aside inter-state disputes,” Khattar said. Delhi has been seeking more water from Haryana for the last few years. Modi eyes overhaul of costly welfare schemes BJP rejects forecast of defeat in Delhi polls AFP New Delhi P rime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday ordered a review of dozens of national welfare schemes in the first meeting of a new economic planning body. Modi, who stormed to power at general elections in May, is targeting the schemes designed to help tens of millions of India’s poor that were a hallmark of the previous left-leaning Congress party’s decade in power. At the meeting, Modi asked chief ministers of India’s states to come up with suggestions for the future of the schemes that opponents say are inefficient, prone to corruption and drain public finances. The group of ministers will study the 66 schemes “and recommend which to continue, which to transfer to states, and which to cut down,” the government said in a statement. They include guaranteed employment and access to health schemes for tens of millions of rural poor, along with a programme to provide free lunches to school children. It is unclear whether a multi-billion-dollar food welfare programme, offering subsidised grains to nearly 70% of the population, is included in the review. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said new groups would “look into skill development” and enhance a clean-up India campaign, along with the “rationalisation of federal schemes”. “We discussed the economic direction the country must get,” Jaitley also told reporters after the meeting. Two other “taskforces” would be formed to better focus on alleviating poverty and improving farm productivity, the government said. The new economic body replaces India’s Soviet-style Planning Commission, which was axed by Modi last year. AFP New Delhi N An Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by party leader Arvind Kejriwal leaves after meeting the election commissioner in New Delhi yesterday. No proposal to amend civil N-liability law: govt IANS New Delhi T he government yesterday released details of the breakthrough on the civil nuclear agreement arrived at last month during the visit of US President Barack Obama, including clarifying that there is no proposal to amend the nuclear liability law and that it was on par with international norms. In a detailed “Frequently Asked Questions” on the civil liability law and related issues, the statement by the external affairs ministry also reveals that operators of nuclear installation shall be liable for damage caused by nuclear incident. It also states that the liability of the operator shall be strict and shall be based on the principle of ‘no fault liability’. The operator shall also take out an insurance policy covering his liability. However, the operator, after paying compensation for nuclear damage can have right to recourse in cases where the nuclear incident is due to the supplier, including defective or sub-standard services or where it is with an intent to cause nuclear damage. The statement adds that after discussions, both sides had arrived at an understanding that India’s Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act is compatible with the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC), which New Delhi has signed and intends to ratify. There is no proposal to amend the civil liability act or the rules, it said, adding: “India Nuclear Insurance Pool has been instituted to facilitate negotiations between the operator and the supplier concerning a right of recourse by providing a source of funds through a market based mechanism to compensate third parties for nuclear damage. It would enable the suppliers to seek insurance to cover the risk of invocation of recourse against them”. On the India Nuclear Insurance Pool, that statement says it is “a risk transfer mechanism formed by GIC Re and four other PSUs who will together contribute a capacity of Rs7.5bn out of a total of Rs15bn.” The balance would be contributed by the government. Through this mechanism, “operators and suppliers instead of seeing each other as litigating adversaries will see each other as partners managing a risk together. This is as important for Indian suppliers as it is for US or other suppliers. “An international workshop will be held in India to exchange information on international experience with the 26 insurance pools operating around the world in countries such as France, Russia, South Africa and the US,” it said. On the way forward it said it is now “up to the companies to follow up with their own negotiations and come up with viable techno-commercial offers and contracts consistent with our law and our practice so that reactors built with international collaboration can start contributing to strengthening India’s energy security and India’s clean energy options”. arendra Modi’s party yesterday staunchly denied that the prime minister was facing his first election defeat since storming to power last year, even though exit polls tipped an anti-corruption campaigner to win New Delhi’s state polls. Six exit polls released hours after voting ended on Saturday indicated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had comfortably beaten Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Although the polls have been inaccurate in the past, a loss for Modi would set back his plans to consolidate power in the national parliament to push through promised economic reforms. Victory for Kejriwal would mark a stunning comeback for the anti-graft champion who resigned following a chaotic 49day spell in charge of the Delhi state government a year ago. A win would also be particularly sweet for the former tax official, who was trounced by Modi when they battled for the same seat in May’s general election. The AAP won only four seats nationally. But a BJP leader refused to throw in the towel yesterday, saying official results released tomorrow would show a different story. “The results will defy the exit poll predictions as BJP will emerge victorious and will defi- Art Festival nitely form the next government,” Ramesh Bidhuri, general secretary of the BJP’s Delhi party, predicted. “(But) if BJP does lose the elections, we cannot say Modi’s popularity has dwindled or the Modi wave is over,” he added. Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was less confident, saying only that “we are hopeful that we will win”. Observers say a defeat will be a significant setback for a prime minister who has enjoyed an extended honeymoon with voters since his landslide general election victory. Modi needs to win state elections in coming years to gain control of both houses of the national parliament, where he is attempting to push through reforms on land acquisition, tax and other issues to revive the economy. His efforts are being frustrated in the upper house where the BJP lacks a majority. States are Matter of concern if exit polls come true: Maken Ajay Maken, who led the Congress poll campaign for the Delhi assembly election, yesterday said the exit polls cannot be dismissed and if the forecast about the party’s performance comes out correct, it will be a matter of concern. “We cannot dismiss the exit polls. If these turn out to be true, it will be a matter of concern for us,” Maken said. Exit polls released after Saturday’s voting for the 70-member assembly said the Congress could slide further from the low it recorded in the 2013 assembly elections when it won only eight seats. “From what the exit polls have projected, you can imagine that the mood in the party will not be very optimistic,” said a party leader, who did not want to be identified. H1N1 claims six lives in Karnataka IANS Bengaluru T Actress Juhi Babbar attends the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai yesterday. allocated seats in the nation’s upper house. Modi headlined several major rallies during the Delhi campaign, portraying his rival as a “backstabber” for quitting so early. He appeared in front-page newspaper advertisements on the eve of the poll to try to win over last-minute voters. BJP heavyweights including Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were also ordered to campaign in the final days. AAP senior leader Yogendra Yadav said his party was headed for a majority of more than 50 seats in the 70seat assembly following Saturday’s record voter turnout. “My own sense is that the numbers should be much, much bigger (than the exit poll numbers of around 43),” he told NDTV late on Saturday. All seven exit polls predicted another humiliating loss for the left-leaning Congress party which has dominated Indian politics since independence in 1947. he dreaded H1N1 influenza has claimed six lives in Karnataka, including four in Bengaluru and one each in Bidar and Raichur districts in the northern region, a senior health official said yesterday. “Though 95 people, affected by the H1N1 influenza over the last two weeks, tested positive and have been under treatment, six of them succumbed to the disease so far. We have stocked adequate number of Tamiflu tablets for distribution,” state health department director H C Ramesh said. Asserting that the department had taken steps to contain the disease by educating the people about its symptoms and creating awareness to ensure they take preventive measures, Ramesh said district health officers were directed to monitor the situation in their respective areas and take corrective steps. “A woman patient, who died Saturday at a private hospital in the city, tested positive on Friday. About 20 fresh cases tested positive on Saturday in Bengaluru urban and civic limits,” Ramesh added. Meanwhile, with the number of suspected cases of H1N1 influenza in the city going up to 14, the health department in Agra has been put on high alert. Four new patients with symptoms of the disease were admitted to the Sarojini Naidu (SN) Medical College on Saturday and their samples have been sent to the National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi. Divisional commissioner Pradip Bhatnagar has directed health workers and the SN Medical College to up the alertness and provide prompt treatment to patients. So far, four junior doctors, four children, three youngsters and three women are under observation, with preliminary reports suggesting they have contracted the flu. The samples have already been sent to Delhi and the treatment in the isolation ward is continuing, medical department officials said yesterday. Doctors at the SN Medical College held an emergency meeting on Saturday evening to discuss the state of preparedness. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 27 INDIA TRAGEDY. MILITANCY EVENT WILDLIFE INITIATIVE Telugu news presenter, son killed in road accident Terror attack averted in Assam Christian convention begins in Kerala Over 70 monkeys found dead in Agra Haryana to launch IT mass literacy scheme A news reader of a Telugu news channel and his son were killed and three others injured in a road accident in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari district yesterday, police said. K Veerabhadra Rao, popular as Bhadri, died on the spot and his wife, two sons and another family member were injured when the car in which they were travelling hit a tree near Lakshminagar in Dwarka Tirumala mandal. Bhadri’s youngest son Sati Satwik (eight) succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at a hospital. Bhadri, a popular face on Telugu news channel TV9, was returning to his native village in the same district after attending the marriage of his relative Saturday night. He was 38. A terror attack was yesterday averted in Assam’s Chirang district, when the army recovered a 5kg explosive device. A statement issued by the army said its Red Horns Division found an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing over 5kg as well as many incriminating documents with details of extortion carried out by the anti-talk faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Lieutenant Colonel Suneet Newton, a defence spokesman based in Guwahati, said details about cadres and linkmen of the outfit were also found during the operation. Over 70 cadres of the NDFB have either been killed or nabbed in the last one month after security forces launched an operation following the December 23 massacre of tribals in three districts. Asia’s biggest Christian convention got underway in Maramon, Kerala, yesterday. The 120th edition of the week-long meet -- called Maramon Convention -- has become the flagship programme of the Thiruvallaheadquartered Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. The chief guests include Bishop Sipho De Siva from South Africa, presiding bishop of the Methodist Church, Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Mar Aphrem-II, and Rev Dushantha Rodrigo from Sri Lanka. Maramon is located in Pathanamthitta district and is about 20km from Thiruvalla. The church runs a number of institutions. The convention takes place on the Pampa river banks. Over 70 monkeys have been found dead in three places in Agra district since February 5, and preliminary reports say the animals were poisoned, police said yesterday. Police said 13 monkeys were found buried on February 5 at Jheejhan Ki Puliya, while 14 bodies were found on Sarendhi Road and 13 in Khairagarh on Feburary 6. A total of 31 bodies were found on Friday in Mohanpura village in Saiyan. Many bodies were found by villagers. The bodies have been sent for autopsy examination. A farmer told police that in some villages money was being collected by people to catch the monkeys and shift them elsewhere. To achieve the goal of ‘Digital Haryana’, the Haryana government will launch an Information Technology mass literacy scheme (Digital Saksharta Abhiyaan), to make the people of the state digitally literate. A spokesman of the electronics and information technology department said yesterday that under the programme, training would be imparted to 100,000 people in five selected blocks by selecting one person from every household. The programme will begin in March. “One block each in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Karnal, Jind and Panchkula districts has been selected for the programme,” he said. Helped by Love Commandos, couples escape prejudice AFP New Delhi V andna left everything behind when she fled her parents’ home to be with the man she loved, giving up family, friends and the studies she hoped would help her become a teacher. It is only thanks to the Love Commandos, a New Delhi-based organisation that helps desperate couples who have defied their families, that the 22-year-old and her new husband have a roof over their heads. The organisation is the brainchild of former journalist Sanjoy Sachdev, who launched it in 2010 after coming to the aid of a young man falsely accused of rape by the family of the woman he wanted to marry. Since then, it has helped thousands of desperate couples in the country, giving them sanctuary in safe houses and access to legal advice. The organisation operates seven apartments in the capital, but can also call on 300 couples to take in lovers fleeing relatives’ wrath for a short period. “Some stay with us 14 months, others 14 hours,” said Sachdev. Like many young women in India, Vandna was expected to marry a man chosen by her parents, who were furious when they discovered her relationship with Dilip, whom she married in July. They first stopped her from going to college, where she was studying business and accountancy, and then hastily arranged a marriage to a male relative. That was the final straw, and she fled the family home a day before the marriage was due to take place. “I haven’t called my parents or my friends since I left,” Vandna said, sitting beside her new husband in the modest apartment provided to the couple by the Love Commandos. “I want to be a teacher and my husband wants to set up his business, but we don’t know when that is possible,” said the young woman, who rarely leaves their apartment. The country may be modernising rapidly, but Sachdev says that violence against young people who choose their partners against their parents’ wishes is still a big issue. “Because of caste, religious, economic or social status issues, many times parents still oppose their children’s relationship,” he said. “A lot of young people try to convince their parents to accept their marriages, but that often ends with girls having their education stopped and being illegally detained. It can even end with honour killings.” India has for centuries seen killings that target young couples whose families or communities disapprove of their relationships. The killings are carried out by close relatives or village elders to protect what is seen as the family’s reputation and pride. That was the fate of 21-yearold Bhawna Yadav, whose parents and uncle are accused of conspiring to kill her and dispose of her body after she married in secret. Her family had wanted her to marry a man from the Yadav caste to which her husband Abhishek Seth did not belong. When they learned of the secret marriage, Bhawna’s parents asked Seth to let her go back to the community for a celebration, which he agreed to do on the advice of friends. Shortly afterwards, he received a call from Bhawna’s cousin to say she had been killed and her body burned. “We had so many plans,” Seth said. “She wanted to go to Goa on holiday and for us to have our arms tattooed with a heart and our initials” - a promise that he has kept despite his wife’s death. Love Commandos founder Sachdev says horrific incidents like these often go unreported, with even police sometimes happy to turn a blind eye. He says the authorities need to do better at protecting young couples, and even calls on political parties to come up with an “agenda for the protection of lovers’ rights”. Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Majhi arrives at the Bihar Nivas in New Delhi yesterday. Bihar CM refuses to step aside for Nitish Kumar IANS Patna/New Delhi T he crisis in Bihar’s ruling JD-U deepened further yesterday, as a defiant Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi asserted he will not resign, while the rival camp led by Nitish Kumar decided to parade legislators at Raj Bhavan today and stake claim to power. Manjhi, who was handpicked by then chief minister Nitish Kumar as his replacement last year after the Janata Dal-United’s rout in the Lok Sabha polls, has refused to quit. In New Delhi to attend the NITI Aayog meeting yesterday, Manjhi also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi but said no politics were discussed in the meeting which lasted 40 minutes. Addressing a press conference afterwards, he said: “I did not discuss politics with him. Modi has done some good work for Bihar and we thanked him for that.” Manjhi said he will prove his majority in the assembly on February 20, and step down only if he fails. “On the floor, whoever gives us support we will take it. I will not resign from the chief minister’s post,” he said, adding: “They (JD-U) had this misunderstanding that they will make me do whatever they want me to do”. He termed Nitish Kumar “power hungry and said he showed his real face when he humiliated me.” In response, JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said Manjhi was speaking the language of the Bharatiya Janata Party by attacking Nitish Kumar, who picked him for the top post. “Manjhi has forgotten that he was nominated by Nitish Kumar,” he said. JD-U’s Bihar unit president Vashsisht Narain Singh said his party would form a new gov- P rotests erupted in Haryana’s Rohtak town yesterday after details emerged of the barbaric manner in which a mentally-challenged Nepali woman was raped and murdered and how the Haryana Police and the state government failed to act. Protesters yesterday took out a march in Rohtak town, 75km from Delhi. Reports said the Rohtak-Delhi highway was blocked by protesters in the evening. The woman’s body was found in an agricultural field near Bahu Akbarpur village on the RohtakHisar highway by villagers on February 4. The post-mortem report said objects had been thrust into her body. Doctors said the woman was gang-raped before being brutally killed. The woman’s skull had a fracture and her body parts had been eaten. She had gone missing on February 1 and a relative had filed a complaint with police in Rohtak. However, police did not register a case. The woman had come to Rohtak from Nepal a couple of months back for treatment at the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak. The Haryana Police, under fire from various quarters for not taking action in the matter, claimed it was conducting raids to arrest the culprits. Additional director general of police (law and order) Mohamed Akil yesterday said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Rohtak deputy superintendent of police Amit Bhatia had been constituted to investigate the case. Over 10 officers were part of the SIT and its sub-teams were also investigating the incident. Police have also announced a reward of Rs100,000 for any credible information about the rape. “A team of specialists from Forensic Sciences Laboratory, Madhuban, visited the scene of crime and collected all physical evidence, which has been sent to the laboratory for further examination. Criminals who have been involved in similar crimes are being interrogated,” Akil said. Leader of the opposition Congress legislature party, Kiran Chaudhary, condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party government led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. She said the law and order situation had deteriorated under Khattar. “The heinous crime has earned Haryana the infamy of Nirbhayatype incident involving a helpless and mentally challenged woman and sent shockwaves across the state. “Though the heinous and gruesome crime was committed a week ago, the SIT is yet to catch the culprits who are still at large. It is time the BJP government woke up from its deep slumber and acted to protect people’s life and limbs,” she said. over a dozen JD-U legislators. He is banking on the support of the BJP, which has openly come out in his favour. The BJP has 88 legislators and it is supported by three independents. JD-U president Sharad Yadav, in a letter in Manjhi, has asked the chief minister to resign. Yadav said that as Manjhi no longer enjoyed the support of majority of party legislators and the legislature party has re-elected Nitish Kumar as its leader, he should resign. Earlier, the JD-U legislators submitted letters of support for Nitish Kumar to Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi staking claim to form the government. Pak national rescued by coastguards Outrage at police apathy over Nepal woman’s rape IANS Chandigarh ernment in the state under Nitish Kumar’s leadership with the backing of the Congress and Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal. “We will parade 130 MLAs, including those of the Congress and the RJD, before the governor today,” he said. The JD-U has 115 legislators in the 243-member assembly, most of whom are reportedly with Nitish Kumar. The party is backed by 24 legislators of the RJD, five of the Congress, one from the Communist Party of India and two independents, making it a total of 147 — more than the 122 needed for simple majority. Manjhi enjoys the support of By Ashraf Padanna Thiruvananthapuram T A medical officer attends to Khan Mohamed Riaz. he coastguard unit stationed at Beypore port in the southern state of Kerala has saved the life of a Pak national requiring emergency medical aid. “On receiving a message for medical emergencies onboard MT Bunga Angsana, the Coast Guard operation team immediately co-ordinated medical evaluation at Beypore on February 7,” a spokesperson said yesterday. Khan Mohamed Riaz, 55, an electrical officer onboard the vessel, complained of acute lower abdomen pain suspected to be from appendicitis at mid-sea 57 nautical miles north off Beypore coast. He was immediately evacuated by the Coast Guard ship, C-404, and shifted to the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) in the northern Kerala city of Kozhikode for treatment. The Malaysia-registered vessel was on its way to Singapore from Sohar in Oman with a 29-member crew when the emergency occurred. The patient was examined by onboard the Malaysian vessel by the Indian medical team and provided first aid. Despite the rough sea conditions, the patient was brought to shore and on completion of immigration formalities at the Beypore port, he was shifted to the MIMS hospital in an ambulance, the spokesperson claimed. The Malaysian vessel continued her voyage to the next port of call on completion of evaluation, the spokesperson added. Meanwhile, reports claimed the evacuation was delayed for several hours due to the lack of co-ordination among the Coast Guard authorities, the state police and the immigration department. A local television quoted the sailor as saying that he had to undergo a harrowing night spending several hours at sea without clearance from the mainland. His surgery was also delayed due to the confusion. He described it as “miserable night” but felt better now. 28 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 LATIN AMERICA Foreign experts slam Mexico probe into missing students 60 bodies found in abandoned crematorium AFP Mexico City A rgentina-led forensic experts strongly criticised Mexico’s investigation into the presumed massacre of 43 missing students on Saturday, insisting the probe must remain open as they listed a series of mishaps. The Argentine Forensic Anthropology Team, with experts from 30 countries including the US, Canada and France, joined international human rights groups in questioning the conclusions of authorities about the fate of the students. Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam declared last month that he had the “legal certainty” that the aspiring teachers were murdered in the southern state of Guerrero in September. Murillo Karam said evidence proved the 43 young men were abducted by corrupt police and delivered to drug gang members who killed them, incinerated their remains in a landfill in the town of Cocula and dumped them in a river. The Argentine team, which was hired by the parents of the students and has worked alongside federal investigators, said it did “not exclude the possibility that some of the students met the demise” described by prosecutors. “However, in our opinion, there is no scientific evidence to that effect at the Cocula landfill,” the team said in a 16page statement. People requesting information about the 60 bodies found in a crematorium gather outside of the Guerrero State Attorney General building, in Acapulco, Guerrero state. Human rights groups have also criticized Murillo Karam’s conclusions, saying the investigation relied too much on witnesses in a country where authorities often get coerced confessions. The case has sparked angry protests, engulfing President Enrique Pena Nieto in the biggest crisis of his administration. Parents of the students have refused to believe their sons are dead, saying they do not trust the authorities. Officials sent 17 sets of charred bones to Austria’s Innsbruck University, but the world-renowned lab was only able to confirm the identity of one student and indicated that the rest of the remains were nearly impossible to identify. The Argentine experts said they found anomalies in 20 of the 134 genetic profiles of relatives that were sent to the university by the attorney general’s office. The team also provided pictures showing that several fires have burned Carnival time! Sixty bodies, including men, women and children, were found in an abandoned crematorium in Western Mexico, authorities said over the weekend, in a discovery that the state attorney general said was likely linked to negligence rather than drug-related violence. Authorities, who originally said 61 bodies were found, said the remains at the crematorium, near the decaying seaside resort of Acapulco, were clothed, wrapped in sheets and sprinkled with lime. Many of them were in a state of decomposition. “We are talking about a clear violation of state sanitation laws,” Miguel Angel Godinez, attorney general for the state of Guerrero, told Reuters. The crematorium had been abandoned for months, and local residents had called police because of the smell, Godinez said. at the Cocula landfill since 2010, meaning physical evidence collected at the site could belong to other events unrelated to the case. Among the samples collected by prosecutors was a denture with a tooth, even though none of the students used one. The Argentine investigators said they found evidence “strongly suggesting the possibility” that the area of the fire contains human remains that do not belong to the students. Still, some of the bodies were “perfectly embalmed” and prepared for cremation, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office in Mexico City. The discovery was made 211km from the town of Iguala, where 43 student teachers were abducted by corrupt police and apparently massacred by drug gang members. Authorities are investigating how and when the people died, and whether those responsible were guilty of disrespecting humans remains, the statement said. President Enrique Pena Nieto is facing his deepest crisis over his government’s handling of the students’ disappearance. The case laid bare Mexico’s deep problem of impunity and corruption and it has overshadowed his efforts to focus attention on economic reforms. The experts complained that after the discovery of the remains the landfill was left open to the public for three weeks, which could taint some of the evidence. The forensic team said much of the landfill still needs to be investigated and the work will take several more months to complete. “The investigation cannot be concluded as long as an important quantity of evidence still needs to be processed” by prosecutors and the Argentine team, the statement said. Market chain rejects ‘hoarding’ charges AFP Caracas A Revellers of Bloco Gigantes da Lira perform on a street during the pre-carnaval parade in Rio de Janeiro. Drug ‘Queen of Pacific’ out of Mexico jail AFP Mexico City A Mexican woman whose links to drug traffickers earned her the nickname “Queen of the Pacific” and inspired a soap opera was released from prison on Saturday after winning an appeal. Sandra Avila Beltran, 54, was freed after a judge ordered her immediate release, saying she could not be put on trial twice for the same crime, a federal official told AFP. Avila Beltran, whose nickname comes from a drug ballad written in her honour, had been sentenced to five years in prison for money laundering in September. She was first arrested in Mexico City in 2007 along with her boyfriend, Juan Diego Espinosa, also called “El Tigre,” who was a go-between for Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel and Colombian traffickers. She was acquitted of charges of handling illicit funds in 2012, but authorities then extradited her to the US. US officials accused her of conspiring to import 5kg of cocaine between 1999 and 2004. But she struck a plea bargain that resulted in a conviction on charges of helping Espinosa avoid arrest, and a judge sentenced her to time served and deported her back to Mexico in August 2013. While she admits knowing famous drug kingpins, she has denied trafficking drugs herself, insisting that she amassed her fortune through real estate deals and her work in fashion. private supermarket chain taken over by the Venezuelan government denied on Saturday accusations of food hoarding, amid huge lines and shortages in the crisis-hit country. President Nicolas Maduro on Friday ordered the government takeover of the Dia a Dia chain, accusing it of “waging war against the population.” The company, which has 35 stores across Venezuela, rejected the allegations. “Dia a Dia has not engaged in hoarding,” it insisted in a statement, adding that it has not engaged in any actions to undermine the economy, contrary to the government’s allegations. The takeover was Maduro’s latest attempt to control what he has called an “economic war” waged by the private sector and the opposition to destabilize the recession-hit country. He has accused the company of hoarding goods to keep “the population irritated, suffering” in order to fuel discontent against the government. Maduro earlier in the week deployed soldiers and state workers to supervise the sale of products at the supermarket’s stores. A similar intervention was made at the Farmatodo drugstore chain, whose understocked shelves and unstaffed cash registers led to long lines, which the government alleged was designed to foment speculation and instability. Two Farmatodo executives were detained earlier this week, while Dia a Dia’s director, Manuel Morales, was jailed on Friday. Rousseff ’s popularity plunges Reuters Sao Paulo B razilian President Dilma Rousseff ’s popularity has plunged by nearly half since her recent re-election as a severe government corruption scandal, an economic slowdown and surging prices for electricity, gasoline and bus fares left voters feeling misled. The Datafolha poll of 4,000 people published on Saturday showed those interviewed who rated Rousseff ’s performance as “excellent or good” fell to 23% from 42% in December, just after she won her second term in a tight race. Over the same period the percentage of people who rated her as a “bad or terrible” president rose to 44% from 24%. It was the first time since Rousseff took office in 2011 that she received more negative marks than positive ones. The remainder of respondents, 33%, rated Rousseff’s government as average, which was unchanged since December. Rousseff promised during last year’s campaign that she would not have to dramatically raise utility prices or slash government spending, but since her October re-election she has done both to try to regain investor confidence and revive an economy that has sputtered since she took office. The economy is expected to shrink in the first months of the year, annualized inflation is above 7% and rising, and many Brazilians are facing the possibility of water and energy shortages due to a prolonged drought. About 60% of respondents said they believed Rousseff had lied more than she told the truth during the campaign. And a whopping 77% of respondents said they believed Rousseff knew about corruption in the staterun oil company Petrobras, which she has controlled for several years as president and previously during the administration of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, when she was chairwoman of the board. Rousseff has denied any knowledge of the graft scheme, which investigators say siphoned billions of dollars. The worsening of Rousseff’s image was consistent across age groups, but the poorest socioeconomic groups, who benefited most from the policies of Rousseff and her mentor Lula, showed less disapproval than higher income earners. The rich showed the highest disapproval. Farc rebels mull ‘political party’ avatar Miss Universe for peace talks? AFP Bogota L eftist Farc guerrillas on Saturday vowed to lay down their weapons and reinvent themselves as a political party, if the Colombian government follows through with the reforms under discussion in peace talks. The rebel group, whose full name is the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, “is committed to ensuring that the armed hostilities of the past don’t get recur,” one of its negotiators Jesus Santrich said in a statement read to the media at the start of another day of talks. Among the changes the Farc hopes to see, Santrich said, is the group’s “transformation into a political movement that can work to bring about structural change” in Colombia. The Farc as a political party would also endeavour to bring about reparations for victims, and to preserve “the historical truth” about the country’s decades-old civil conflict, he said. Negotiations between the two sides resumed this week in Havana after a year-end break, as rebels and the Bogota government try to end the half-century old insurgency. Talks so far have yet to resolve key issues including disarmament and how any agreement should be ratified. The Farc said in its statement that it also is looking for reform of the government’s position on communism, overhaul of the armed forces, greater protection of minority rights, and other changes. The government’s delegation, led by Humberto de la Calle, has been meeting with negotiators from the rebel group since November 2012. So far, the two sides have agreed on three of the six points of the agenda to end the conflict, which is estimated to have claimed the lives of more than 220,000 people. Miss Colombia Paulina Vega being crowned Miss Universe during the 63rd Annual Miss Universe Pageant at the Florida International University on January 25 in Miami. Colombia’s Marxist Farc rebels have invited the newly-crowned Miss Universe Paulina Vega, a native of the country’s Caribbean coast, to attend their peace negotiations with the government, a bid to end 50 years of fighting. The 22-year-old Vega, a business student and model from the northern city of Barranquilla, was named Miss Universe in January and has said in interviews that she would be willing to travel to the talks. “We have read with interest your desire to contribute with your good works to reaching peace,” the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or Farc, said in a statement on their website. “We salute your willingness to travel to Havana, at this time we invite you to make a visit,” added the Farc, which has been holding negotiations with the government in Cuba since late 2012. The FARC did not say how Vega’s visit would help advance the peace talks. She has yet to respond to the invitation. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 29 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN DISASTER UTILITY SECURITY ENERGY Four babies die in famine-hit district Pakistan’s mega power project facing delay Rights experts concerned at digital surveillance Pakistanis to start getting imported LNG from March Famine in Pakistan’s Hindu-majority district of Tharparkar bordering India claimed four babies’ lives yesterday, raising the toll to 15 in the month of February, a media report here said. The district, located in Sindh province, has been facing scarcity of water, food and facilities for three years. But government authorities seem to be unperturbed. A sluggish distribution of wheat, blankets and dates has only added to the troubles of the affected people. Most Hindus in Pakistan live in Sindh province and a majority of them are residents of Tharparkar. Most of them are subsistence farmers who are facing famine due to poor rainfall for almost five successive years. Pakistan’s flagship $914mn Tarbela fourth extension hydropower project, which planned to add 1,410 megawatts by 2018 to the national grid, is facing delays as the country could spend only 17% of the contracted loan in the first three years, underscoring the problems at the implementation stage. The slow pace of work has not only put an additional burden on the exchequer in the shape of millions of dollars that the government is paying to the World Bank (WB) in commitment charges on unspent amounts, but it has also blocked the resources that could have been used in other areas. Two rights groups working on Internet freedom in Pakistan - Bolo Bhi and Digital Rights Foundation - have expressed reservations over extensive digital surveillance powers given to investigation agencies. While discussing at a meeting over the weekend on the draft of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill Pakistan 2015, formulated last year by the Ministry of Information Technology and pending before a National Assembly sub-committee for review within the next two weeks, the rights activists said the law proposed harsh penalties for violators. The Bin Qasim Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal in southern Pakistan will start supply of imported gas to consumers by March 31, a senior government official has said. Official sources say that the agreement for LNG purchase from Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei and China is expected by March. He said the price of LNG will be less than $8 per mmbtu in Asia which will bring down the cost of power production from the independent power producers by up to 20%. The official said Pakistan will make an agreement for LNG import for five to 15 years. Pakistan will purchase about 3mn tonnes LNG per year which will cost $1.5bn according to current estimates. Military courts to begin terror trials soon The special military courts set up to try terror cases will start hearing cases next week; They will deliver verdicts in months Agencies Islamabad M ilitary courts in Pakistan will next week start trying some of the 10,000 suspects arrested since the start of a massive anti-terrorism operation, officials said yesterday. The first “twelve cases will be heard [by military courts] next week,” military spokesman Major General Asim Bajwa said. The government set up special military courts in the wake of a December 16 Taliban attack that killed 136 children at an armyrun school in the north-western city of Peshawar. Security forces have since arrested more than 10,600 on suspicion of having links to militants, according to Interior Ministry data. Bajwa did not give any further details about next week’s trials, but an Interior Ministry official said most cases were from the north-western province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, an area badly affected by decades of violence. The courts will be established for two years in four provinces, according to the new legislation. Officials say that the provincial governments have prepared lists of the cases to be referred to the military courts in the coming weeks. The government of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has also decided to refer cases against the Pakistani Taliban chief, Maulvi Fazalullah, who has been charged with the killings of many people. Fazalullah, in a video, had claimed responsibility for the attack on the Army Public School. “To prevent further bloodshed and to stop tensions between the two countries from reaching a boiling point, the Pakistan government must crack down on terrorism as a whole and LeT in particular” Defence sources said the courts will deliver verdicts in months. The government says fasttrack military trials are needed to ensure the terrorists are punished. Rights activists, however, fear possible abuses as a result of hasty legal proceedings. Meanwhile, a leading newspaper said yesterday that the Pakistan government must crack down on terrorism “as a whole” including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) which carried out the Mumbai terror attack. Pakistan and India must also cut down on rhetoric against each other and realise that only a peaceful solution can resolve the decades old dispute over Jammu and Kashmir, the Daily Times said in an editorial. “To the indignation of the Indian people and politicians, the government of Pakistan has not so far been able to bring the perpetrators (of Mumbai terror attack) to justice,” it said. “Hafiz Saeed and other leaders of the LeT remain at large and the group is still active.Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the organiser of the Mumbai attack, still has his case pending in the Pakistani courts. “To prevent further bloodshed and to stop tensions between the two countries from reaching a boiling point, the Pakistan government must crack down on terrorism as a whole and LeT in particular,” it said. The Times said that bilateral negotiations must be carried out with the realisation that “only a historic compromise on Kashmir” would resolve the dragging dispute. “After three wars, massive casualties and material damage on both sides of the Line of Control, a peaceful resolution is both long overdue and the only way out.” 30,000 Afghans left Pakistan since start of the year: IOM More than 30,000 Afghans living in Pakistan have returned home since the start of the year after coming under intense scrutiny following a Taliban massacre at a Peshawar school in December, the IOM said yesterday. There are an estimated 3mn Afghan refugees living in Pakistan either officially or unofficially, most of whom left their country to escape conflict in the 1980s and 1990s. But they are viewed with deep suspicion inside Pakistan and routinely accused by authorities of harbouring militants. Richard Danziger, head of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) mission in Kabul, said that out of the 30,599 Afghans who had left Pakistan since January, 1,817 had been deported while the rest had left of their own accord. “They are mostly Afghans without papers who have been living in Pakistan for the past 20 to 25 years,” he said. The figure, which eclipses the 25,000 Afghans who returned from Pakistan over the entire year in 2014, was a result of the breakdown in relationships between the migrants and their host communities following the Peshawar attack, added Danziger. “It all began after the attack on the school in Peshawar. Their lives became intolerable,” he said. SECURITY CONFERENCE Afghan President Ashraf Ghani addresses during the 51st Munich Security Conference at the Bayerischer Hof hotel in Munich yesterday. Taliban surrender Afghan former Taliban fighters are photographed holding weapons before they hand them over as part of a government peace and reconciliation process at a ceremony in Jalalabad yesterday. Over 20 former Taliban fighters from Achin district of Nangarhar province handed over weapons as part of a peace reconciliation programme. India, Pakistan suspend trade on Kashmir border AFP Muzzafarabad I ndia and Pakistan have suspended trade across their de facto border in the disputed territory of Kashmir after Indian authorities detained a truck driver accused of drug trafficking, Pakistan officials said yesterday. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the two countries won independence from Britain in 1947. Both claim the scenic Himalayan territory in full. Barter trade across the de facto border began in 2008 as part of peace efforts, but it is frequently disrupted by disputes. “We were informed by the Indian authorities on Friday evening that they have stopped 22 Pakistani trucks which crossed the Line of Control (LOC) earlier that day,” Basharat Iqbal, trade facilita- tion officer on the Pakistani side of the border, told AFP. “They told us that they had discovered 12 kilogrammes of opium from a truck carrying oranges and were taking an action against the driver. After the incident, we also held 50 Indian trucks on Pakistani Kashmir side, because traffic crosses the border simultaneously,” said Iqbal. “We were informed by the Indian authorities on Friday evening that they have stopped 22 Pakistani trucks which crossed the Line of Control (LOC) earlier that day” Imtiaz Wayen, directorgeneral of Pakistani Kashmir’s trade and travel authority, said India was not entitled to stop Pakistani drivers on the grounds of smuggling. “According to our agreement, if they find any banned item in our trucks they are bound to hand over that item and the relevant truck driver to us for further action,” he said. “We have informed the officials of the ministry of foreign affairs about this matter and have asked them to take up this issue.” Wayen said Pakistan had also temporarily suspended a special bus service ahead of talks on Monday. Families separated by the de facto border can also usually apply for special passes to visit their relatives on the service, which operates two days a week. “The two sides will negotiate this issue during talks tomorrow. We have suspended departure of a passenger bus, which was scheduled to cross into Indian part tomorrow, until the outcome of these talks,” Wayen said. “We will see what these talks will bring for us tomorrow and then will decide to resume the bus and truck service or not.” Training for Afghan cadets boosts ties Internews Islamabad T he arrival of six Afghan army cadets in Islamabad this week serves as welcome proof of enhanced bilateralism and trust between Afghanistan and Pakistan, analysts here say. In his welcome speech Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai billed the cadets as the first group from the Afghan National Army to receive military training at Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Abbottabad. According to Mosazai, the induction of these cadets is a step in the right direction which will strengthen co-operation between the military in Afghanistan and Pakistan. More significantly, the move coincides with a six-day visit to Pakistan by a five-member Afghan military delegation led by Afghan National Army chief. EU trade deal boosts Pakistan exports by $1bn: minister AFP Islamabad P akistani exports to the European Union increased by more than a billion dollars after a landmark trade deal last year which made its products more competitive, the commerce minister said. The EU signed a law in late 2013 granting Pakistan so-called “GSP-plus” status, which means firms pay no tax on certain categories of goods exported to the 27-nation bloc for 10 years. The EU makes GSP-plus conditional on implementing international conventions on human and labour rights, and there have been fears Pakistan’s decision to end a moratorium on executions could affect the deal. Pakistan’s key textile industry in particular welcomed the agreement, which came into force in January 2014, and in an interview with AFP commerce minister Khurram Dastgir Khan hailed its impact. “As a result of GSP-plus, Pa- kistan’s exports to the EU have increased by $1.08bn during the period January to October 2014 as compared to the same period in 2013,” Khan said. Exports to the EU in JanuaryOctober 2014 totalled $6.38bn, up by just over 20% from the $5.3bn recorded in the corresponding period in 2013, he said. Before GSP-plus, textile exports faced customs tariffs of between 6.4 and 12% and leather goods and footwear up to 6%, he said. The textile industry is the backbone of Pakistan’s exports, making up more than 50% of the country’s total overseas shipments. “Now these exports have duty-free access in EU and it has helped Pakistani products to become more competitive visa-vis its competitors, including Bangladesh, India and Vietnam,” he said. Khan played down the possibility that resuming executions could threaten GSP-plus status. “There is no legal obligation This photo taken on February 7, shows a Pakistani tailor making shirts at a factory in Karachi. to EU regarding death penalty, though they have expressed concern over it,” Khan said. “They understand our situation that GSP-plus would help us create jobs and when we cre- ate jobs, it keeps young men and women away from terrorism.” Pakistan has executed 22 con- victs since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted a six-year death penalty moratorium in the wake of a Taliban massacre at a school. Heavily-armed gunmen murdered 153 people, including 134 children, at the school in the northwestern city of Peshawar in Pakistan’s deadliest ever terror attack. Opposition to the death penalty is a key EU policy and the bloc’s mission in Islamabad condemned the resumption of executions in December. But EU diplomats in Islamabad have said that while they are concerned about the return to hangings, the development was unlikely to affect the GSP-plus arrangement immediately. Improving the economy after years of drift and sluggish growth under the last Pakistan People’s Party government was a key pledge in Sharif’s election campaign in 2013, when he was swept to power for a third term. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said this week the government’s reform programme — tied to a $6.6bn loan from the Washington-based lender — was on track. “Economic activity and the external position continue to improve, driven by prudent monetary and fiscal policies and helped by lower oil prices and robust remittances,” IMF mission chief Jeffrey Franks said. Growth for 2014-15 is expected to hit 4.3% and the budget deficit for end-December was below the target, the IMF said. But the government has so far struggled to improve a longrunning energy crisis, with hours-long electricity blackouts still a near-daily reality. Power and gas shortages have hampered industry and held back GDP growth, which experts say needs to hit 7% in order to provide enough jobs for new entrants to the workforce. Projects to boost electricity production are in the pipeline, including a 6,600-megawatt coal-fired energy park along the Arabian Sea coast west of Karachi, but these have yet to yield results. 30 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 PHILIPPINES Military aids rebel group despite bloody clash with cops AFP Manila P hilippine soldiers rescued members of a armed group from rival extremists despite frayed ties over the killing of 44 policemen last month, a military report said yesterday. Members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which is engaged in a peace process with the government, were besieged by the rival Abu Sayyaf group in the troubled island of Basilan on Saturday, requiring military intervention, said a statement from the regional military command. “Three platoons... along with armoured vehicles together with some members of MILF in the area... proceeded to the encounter site to reinforce the beleaguered MILF members who were engaged in the firefight,” the statement said. One wounded MILF fighter was evacuated by the soldiers who later overran an Abu Sayyaf camp and are believed to have killed one Abu Sayyaf leader, the report added. MILF members and other fighters ambushed and killed 44 police commandos while they were on an anti-terror operation in the southern island of Mindanao on January 25. The incident violated a ceasefire between the government and the MILF and threatened President Benigno Aquino’s efforts to complete a peace process which would create an autonomous Muslim area in the south. The MILF have said they were only acting in self-defence but the killings have led many people to question their sincerity. Aquino has said the peace process must continue to avoid a return to decades of fighting that claimed tens of thousands of lives over previous decades. It was unclear why the MILF members were fighting guerrillas of the Abu Sayyaf, an extremist group with ties to the Al Qaeda network who have been blamed for the worst terror attacks in the country’s history. Ombudsman probes three linked to senator in graft case By Reina Tolentino Manila Times T he Office of the Ombudsman is investigating individuals who were identified by the AntiMoney Laundering Council (AMLC) as alleged dummies of Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada. Estrada is facing plunder and graft charges at the Sandiganbayan for reportedly receiving P183mn in kickbacks by pouring his pork barrel funds to bogus projects. “The office is conducting the fact-finding investigation on these persons,” Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said, explaining that the ombudsman would have to follow the proper procedure and give these individuals the opportunity to clear their names. State prosecutors earlier moved for the seizure of Estrada’s assets pending resolution of the P183mn plunder case against him. Citing an AMLC report, prosecutors said the total commissions or rebates allegedly pocketed by Estrada from his pork barrel allocation were received “by himself or through his dummies, namely, Pauline Labayen, Carl Dominic Labayen, and Juan Tan Ng within a period of 30 days from the dates mentioned in the Luy ledger or summary of rebates.” “The remaining P86.875mn, which were not included in the Luy ledger, were reflected in the fund transfers from Napoles to Juan Tan Ng and Francis Yenko who were considered by the AMLC as dummies of Estrada,” the report added. Rafanan said at this stage, the anti-graft office cannot say if these alleged Jinggoy dummies will be impleaded. “If there are findings eventually, then the procedure also states that the information (charge sheet) may be amended,” he said. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo walks with Philippine Lt General Jeffrey Delgado (right) upon his arrival at the airport for a state visit in Manila yesterday. Widodo arrives as fate of death row Filipina lingers AFP Manila N ew Indonesian President Joko Widodo arrived on his first state visit to the Philippines yesterday, as the fate of a Filipina facing execution for drug smuggling in his country hovers over planned talks. Dressed in traditional batik shirt, Widodo was met at a Manila airbase by Philippine officials before being whisked away without making any statement. Widodo, who is on the last stop of a three-nation trip after visiting Malaysia and Brunei, will meet with Philippine President Benigno Aquino today with the pair expected to sign several agreements, the presidential palace in Manila said. However, his visit comes as the Philippines tries to prevent the execution of a female national facing death by firing squad in Indonesia after being convicted of smuggling heroin. A spokesman for Aquino, Edwin Lacierda, said the leaders would discuss drug trafficking but did not say if they would address the case of the woman, who has not been publicly named. “We are in discussions to further work out co-operation in various areas of mutual interest and concerns, such as migrant workers, technical-vocational skills upgrading, the combatting of trafficking of narcotics, and (for) educational visits,” Lacierda said. Another Aquino spokesman, Herminio Coloma, later said in an interview on government radio that the two leaders would also take up “maritime co-operation, defence, trade and investment.” The Department of Foreign Affairs said that the accords would cover education, narcotics co-operation, a joint declaration on protecting migrant workers and “research and training in the field of defence studies.” This could include the issue of China, which regards Indonesia as having a potentially pivotal role in calming rising tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, according to analysts. In August, then-president- Bangsamoro bill ‘will allow killers of soldiers to join police force’ By Jefferson Antiporda Manila Times T he government has to go after the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members responsible for the killing of 44 police commandos and have them jailed, to prevent them from possibly joining the police force once the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is passed by Congress, Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr said yesterday. The chairman of the Senate Committee on local government said there is a provision in the pending measure that allows MILF members to be trained and converted into a police force. Marcos was referring to Article 11, section 2 of the BBL which establishes the Bangsamoro police, which shall be part of the Philippine National Police (PNP). The article provides that “the Bangsamoro Police shall be professional, civilian in character, regional in scope, effective and efficient in law enforcement, fair and impartial, free from partisan political control, and Indigenous students perform a ritual dance for peace in Manila near a display of photos of the 44 Special Action Force commandos slain in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. accountable under the law for its actions. It shall be responsible both to the Central Government and the Bangsamoro Government, and to the communities it serves.” This means that if the BBL is enacted into law without first identifying and charging the MILF fighters behind the killing of the Special Action Force commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, the chief of the Bangsamoro Transitional Assembly (BTA) Mohagher Iqbal, during the transitional phase of the BBL, will have the power in choosing the head of the Bangsamoro Police force. “Where will Iqbal get his police force? Obviously, he will do so from the ranks of the MILF. So, members of this rebel group will now be policemen under the Bangsamoro Police. And being members of the PNP, these former MILF fighters will be trained possibly even by the SAF,” Marcos said in a radio interview aired over DZMM. He also cited a provision in the BBL which says that the head of the BTA, during the transitional phase, has the power of “selection, employment and deployment” of existing PNP forces in areas considered within Bangsamoro claimed territories. Furthermore, the proposed BBL states that Bangsamoro police is restricted only to defend the Bangsamoro Republic since BBL members are not required to take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines. Articles 16, section 5 and 11 of Section 17 of the BBL contains co-ordination protocols with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which are actually restrictions on the movement and deployment of military personnel. Marcos has suspended committee hearings on the BBL while various bodies are investigating the Maguindanao clash. elect Widodo told Japan’s Asahi newspaper that Indonesia, which has better bilateral ties with China than the Philippines, stood ready to act as an intermediary. “Indonesia has the gravitas to be the champion of peace in the Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations). Widodo can also be our partner in our efforts to improve relations with China,” Wilfrido Villacorta, a former Philippine ambassador to Asean, said. “Even if Indonesia is not a claimant country (in the South China Sea dispute), it has always been playing the role of a convener of important discussions on the issue since the 1980s,” said Villacorta, now an international relations special- ist at De la Salle University in Manila. The Philippines signed a maritime border accord with neighbouring Indonesia in May 2014 that has been hailed as a model for peacefully settling territorial disputes. Last month, Widodo, who has disappointed rights activists by voicing support for capital punishment, angered several countries by allowing the execution of six offenders on drug charges last month, including five foreigners. The Catholic-majority Philippines does not have the death penalty, and the fate of Filipinos abroad is a political hot potato in a country where 10% of the population is forced to seek work overseas. Five new malls to open in Bicol this year By Manny T Ugalde Manila Times F ive new malls are set to open in Bicol region within the year. Three of these malls will come up in Naga City in Camarines Sur, while two will open in Legazpi City in Albay. The cities of Legazpi and Naga are tightly competing as the centre of trade and commerce in the region. Naga City Mayor John Bongat identified the three malls as the Gaisano, Robinson Place and the Starmall shopping complex. Gaisano Naga is located at the city commercial hub at Panganiban Drive, Robinson Place along the Roxas Avenue and Starmall at Del Rosario section, beside the Government Service Insurance System regional office. In Legazpi City, local giant Liberty Commercial Centre (LCC) has partnered with the Ayala group to infuse P1bn to build the Legazpi Modern LCC mall located right at the very centre of the city commercial district and facing the LCC Metro, the first mall in the city. The new mall is expected to be operational by the end of this year. The Gregorian Mall is being constructed at the Penaranda Park facing the Albay Capitol and Legazpi City Hall beside the Albay Cathedral at the old Albay district, some 700 metres from the Legazpi airport. In Legazpi City, local giant Liberty Commercial Centre (LCC) has partnered with the Ayala group to infuse P1bn to build the Legazpi Modern LCC mall located at the centre of the city commercial district Mayor Noel Rosal confirmed that LCC’s P1bn in fresh investment was reinforced by its tie-up with the Ayala Group. The Tan family of Tabaco City, where the first LCC was built some 40 years ago, owns LCC. The Tan family is known as the pioneer of malls in Albay. In the late ’90s, LCC branched out in Legazpi City with its LCC Metro, followed by another mall in Naga City. Albay governor Joey Salceda said new investments are now pouring in Albay with the expected 2016 opening of the P4bn Bicol International Airport located in Daraga town overlooking the Mayon volcano. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 31 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Return to democratic process, PM tells Zia By Mizan Rahman Dhaka T Businessmen waving the national flag as they take part in a protest against an ongoing nationwide strike and blockade called by the BNP-led alliance in Dhaka yesterday. Business leaders urge end to strike by BNP AFP Dhaka T housands of business leaders protested in the Bangladesh capital yesterday against a month-long campaign of anti-government violence that they say has cost the economy nearly $10bn. Garment factory owners and other business leaders joined hands and waved national flags in Dhaka and other major cities, calling for an end to the opposition-led strikes and nationwide transport blockade. Protesters told the Dhaka rally the economy suffered 750bn taka ($10bn) in losses in the 33 days since opposition leader Khaleda Zia called the protests to try to topple the government. “We’ve seen with great concern that non-stop blockade and strikes since the beginning of the year have crippled the economy,” said Kazi Akram Uuddin Ahmed, president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. “This situation can’t go on any more. The businessmen’s backs are now on the wall.” The garment sector, the mainstay of the economy, has alone lost nearly $4bn as the campaign halts exports to Western retailers who are being forced to look to other countries to fill orders, he said. On Saturday, Finance Minister A M A Muhith said the blockade was having a “severe” impact on businesses outside the capital and the economy might not reach 7.2% projected growth this year. Zia called the indefinite blockade of roads, railways and waterways after police confined the former two-time premier to her office on January 3 as she tried to mobilise protests. Some 79 people have been killed in the violence, as opposition activists firebomb trucks, buses and cars to try to enforce the blockade. Zia denies her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) party is behind the violence, but has vowed to continue the blockade until Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina agrees to new polls. Zia leads a 20-party opposition alliance which boycotted a general election last year on the grounds it would be rigged. Yesterday, one person died in hospital in the northern city of Bogra after the bus on which he was travelling was firebombed. Officers shot dead a protester elsewhere, police said. N epal increased the health check-up fees for overseas outbound workers. The decision will come into effect from February 13, a media report said. Under the new medical fee structure revised by the ministry of health based on the recommendation of the Nepal foreign employment medical association (NeFMA), male workers will have to pay Rs2,940 from the previous Rs2,625. Women applicants will have to pay Rs3,100, Rs200 more from the earlier Rs2,900, news portal ekantipur reported. The ministry of labour and employment (MoLE) has also endorsed the decision. A notice issued by the MoLE to the Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies (NAFEA) has mentioned that the decision was taken by State Minister for Labour Tek Bahadur Gurung on February 1. Tirtha Raj KC, MoLE undersecretary, has said that the rates were fixed as per the recommendation of NeFMA and a special committee comprising health experts and other stakeholders. “The medical centres should provide the required medical services under the new rates which cannot be revised for another two years,” reads the statement issued by NeFMA. NeFMA has also called a meeting of the stakeholders to discuss the new decision and its implementation. Kailash Khadka, chairman, NeFMA, said that they had been requesting for revision of the fees, as they were providing the service at the same rates for a long time. Meanwhile, NAFEA representatives have objected the decision, saying that their views were not sought finalising the fees. They said the increase in medical fees will add burden on the workers who are already be- “Zia, along with Jamaat-eIslami, is enforcing siege and blockade programmes with an intention to multiply the sufferings of the public” ondary School Certificate examinations only on Friday and Saturday as children cannot put to risk. “We have prepared a new timetable apprehending that the opposition might call strikes even on the weekends,” she said. So far, at least 65 people have been killed and more than 300 wounded during the ongoing nationwide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. Of those, a large number of arson attacks are being conducted on highways. Hundreds of vehicles, including those belonging to law enforcers, were burnt and attacked. Dhaka-Kolkata train attacked IANS Dhaka P Police stand guard in front of the Secretariat building during an ongoing nationwide strike and blockade called by the BNP-led alliance in Dhaka yesterday. Ten people were killed on Saturday when protesters firebombed a bus and a truck in one of the deadliest episodes of the campaign. Authorities have deployed Nepal hikes medical fees for workers Agencies Kathmandu he Bangladesh prime minister yesterday called upon the opposition BNP to return to democratic process, saying the party can come to power only under a democratic process, not through violence. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was in power and they have dream to come to power again. But they cannot come to power over the burned bodies of bus and truck drivers, children and innocent people. They must follow the democratic process. She was addressing the officials of the ministry of religious affairs at Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday. The PM came to the ministry as part of her plan to visit every ministry to exchange views with the senior officials and give directives to them to bring dynamism in the activities of the ministry. Hasina reiterated that BNP chief Khaleda Zia made political mistake by taking decision to boycott the January 5, 2014 general election. “Why the countrymen will pay for her wrong decision?” she asked. “Zia, along with Jamaat-eIslami, is enforcing siege and blockade programmes at the same time with an intention to multiply the sufferings of the public,” she said. The PM said the government has decided to hold the Sec- ing charged high rates for poor service. “We were informed about the decision at the last hour. There should be a guarantee of better facilities with new rate,” Nefea general secretary Kumud Khanal said, adding that hundreds of migrant workers are returning after failing to pass medical examination in work destinations. It is said that one out of 10 migrant workers return within a month of their departure after failing to pass medical test. “NeFMA has stopped compensating such workers due to huge outflow of workers who are sent home due to their misreporting. The defective medical check-up has forced many workers to lose time and money,” Khanal said. Officials at the department of foreign employment said many medical centres are issuing certificate without proper check-ups. They claimed that half of the medical centres in the capital Kathmandu fall short of standard. thousands of troops and police to guard vehicles and more than 10,000 protesters have been arrested, but the unrest shows no sign of abating. Bangladesh is the world’s sec- ond largest garment exporter after China. The sector provides jobs for 4mn people, mostly women, and has spurred economic growth to over 6% a year in the last decade. etrol bombs were hurled yesterday at the DhakaKolkata Maitree Express train in Bangladesh amid a violent BNP-sponsored countrywide blockade. No casualty was reported in the incident near the Iswardi railway station in Pabna of Rajshahi division, BdNews24 reported citing police. Railway official Humayun Kabir said three bombs were lobbed at the Dhaka-bound train as soon as it reached a loco shed after leaving the Iswardi station. The attack caused minor Mass marriage ceremony Grooms waiting for their brides during a mass marriage ceremony at Bankali in Kathmandu yesterday. As many as 100 couples tied the knots during the function organised by Sivashakti Rahuleshworananda Foundation. damage as the bombs exploded under the wheels of the train’s engine, he said. Earlier, BNP called a 72-hour nationwide strike from yesterday morning against the “arrest and killing” of its leaders and activists. Meanwhile, Shyamali Paribahan of Bangladesh has suspended its bus service between Dhaka and Agartala, capital of the Indian state of Tripura for an indefinite period due to security reasons. The decision has been informed to Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC). An official said the ongoing violence in Bangladesh forced them to suspend the service. Lanka invites UNHRC chief Sri Lanka’s new government yesterday invited the UNHRC chief to visit the country, as the top UN human rights body is set to submit a report on alleged war crimes committed during the final stages of the brutal civil war in the country. Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera has extended a formal invitation to UN Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, to visit the country, the ministry sources said. The report on Sri Lanka by the investigation team of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will be taken up for discussion at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, in March. Last year in March, UNHRC adopted its third successive resolution on Sri Lanka - commissioning an international investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the military operations that crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. The former Mahinda Rajapakse government had opposed the investigation and did not allow the UN investigators entry. The new government led by Maithripala Sirisena has also pledged to continue with the same policy of non-cooperation but would engage UNHCR to set up a domestic investigation. 32 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 COMMENT Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief : Darwish S Ahmed Production Editor: C P Ravindran P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474 GULF TIMES Healthy goals as Qatar marks yet another Sport Day The National Sport Day, launched in 2012 to be observed annually on the second Tuesday in February, with the main objective of promoting a healthy lifestyle among Qatar’s population, has achieved a lot within a brief span of three years. Qatar is one of the few nations to dedicate a day for sports. What began as an initiative to tackle the country’s rising obesity and diabetes rates has managed to create tremendous awareness among the residents on the need to be physically active. On the occasion of the fourth edition of the National Sport Day, which is to be observed tomorrow, it is also essential to do some stock taking and adopt changes in the strategies, if required, to achieve the goals. Qatar Biobank, which recently concluded its pilot phase, has produced some highly relevant insights into the current health of the residents. Nearly threequarters of the 1,209 participants were overweight or obese and at risk of developing cardiovascular disease. More than a third had borderline or high levels of total cholesterol, while more than two-thirds of individuals had below-average levels of vitamin D, which can lead to low bone density. A more alarming find was that a substantial number of the respondents were not aware of the health conditions. A survey conducted ahead of last year’s National Sport Day revealed that some 60% of respondents could not find time to exercise more often. While those who do single shift jobs which finish not later than 5pm could be blamed for being lazy if they do not dedicate time to exercise, the same cannot be said about their less fortunate brethren who have to slog on split shifts or extended single shifts that exceed 10 or 12 hours. This is where employers have a say. The government should insist that companies ought to provide appropriate exercise facilities for their employees at the workplace itself. Companies, which provide a room for smokers to get their regular nicotine fix, should also make arrangements for a room with some units of cross training equipment and shower and changing facilities. There are companies which do more than this, but legislation is required to make the concept mandatory. A good number of employees would jump at the opportunity to burn off a few hundred calories after finishing their work and before heading home, all in the convenience of their workplace. Unless one is obese, regular and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week, could work wonders to maintain and nurture wellness. Even for the obese, there is hope in the form of regular exercise for a couple of hours, daily. Exercise should not be confused with lifting weights. Brisk walking or jogging is highly effective to maintain fitness, coupled with a sensible and healthy diet. The need to eat healthy has to be given more emphasis in Qatar. There should be affordable “good food” shops just like there are “junk food” shops. The mall walking concept has to be popularised in Qatar, considering the adverse weather conditions that the country endures for at least six months a year. More roads should become pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly so that people could walk and bike when the weather permits. May this year’s National Sport Day be a turning point to boost the mission to have a healthy population. The importance of investing in fight against climate change Global warming is now a vital factor to consider when planning any development project By Anne Paugam Paris C limate change is already wreaking havoc throughout the developing world. Vietnam, for example, has reported that natural disasters, some of them exacerbated by climate change, have caused annual losses equivalent to 2% of its GDP. In agriculture-dependent countries like Ethiopia, longer droughts and more frequent flooding are threatening livelihoods and food supplies. As the international community gears up for the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December, identifying and streamlining sources of financing for the fight against climate change must be a top priority. Development banks like the French Development Agency (AFD), where I am CEO, are well placed to contribute. For starters, development banks can finance projects that benefit both development and the environment. Global warming is now a vital factor to consider when planning any development project. For example, the effects of climate change can pose critical risks to infrastructure – agricultural irrigation, public transportation, or nearly anything else. Meanwhile, rising incomes – a goal of any development effort – nearly always means increased consumption of natural resources and energy, resulting in more emissions and further warming. Such interlocking relationships between global warming and development explain why the French government requires that at least 50% of the funding provided by the AFD be directed toward development projects that also have a positive impact on the environment. Examples include wind farms in Ethiopia, better forest management in Madagascar, nationwide climate plans in Indonesia and Vietnam, and clean urban transport in Colombia. Development banks can finance projects that benefit both development and the environment Development banks can also play an important role in designing financial tools that allow private investors to contribute to the fight against climate change. But today’s funding challenge is no longer just about quantity. Though potential sources for climate-friendly development financing now include pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, and sovereign wealth funds, what is often missing are mechanisms to ensure that investments are channeled into well-targeted and effective projects. One solution is “green” (or “climate”) bonds. These instruments have all the characteristics of conventional bonds, but they are backed by investments that contribute to sustainable development or the fight against climate change. Until recently, only a few organisations or governments, including the World Bank, the American state of Massachusetts, and the French region of Île de France, issued green bonds, and generally the amounts involved were modest. But in the past two years, other players have entered the market, and volumes have skyrocketed. In 2014, emissions of green bonds exceeded the total in all previous years combined. Indeed, demand is outstripping supply. The latest bond offers were all oversubscribed – and the trend is likely to continue. The insurance industry has committed to double its green investments, to $84bn, by the end of 2015. And in September, three major pension funds from North America and Europe announced plans to increase their holdings in lowcarbon investments by more than $31bn by 2020. As the market for these bonds expands, they must be better labeled and certified. Today, harmonised standards do not exist. The quality of the assets backing the bonds depends solely on issuers’ goodwill and technical skills. Specific guidelines and rating methods need to be developed. In this context, the recent decision by a coalition of institutional investors to measure and disclose the carbon footprint of at least $500bn b in investments is a step forward. In September, the AFD issued €1bn ($1.2bn) in climate bonds, with one goal being to contribute to the development of concrete quality standards. With the help of a major agency that rates corporate social responsibility, we were able to provide investors with solid information – and an accountability process – about the portfolio’s direct impact on greenhouse-gas emissions. Indeed, the projects financed by these bonds were required to meet stringent criteria, including a prior analysis of their carbon footprint, proof of a clear and significant impact on climate change, and a design that is aligned with the broader strategies being pursued by local actors and countries. Climate bonds have the potential to empower countries and institutions as they move toward meeting enforceable commitments to reduce CO2 emissions. However, if they are to be effective, they will require clear guidelines and a reliable framework for assessment. As leaders from countries and institutions from around the world prepare to meet in Paris in December, getting the financing right should be a top priority. - Project Syndicate zAnne Paugam is chief executive officer of France’s development financing institution Agence Française de Développement. France will host COP21 in December 2015 in Paris. Qatar is one of the few nations to dedicate a day for sports To Advertise [email protected] Display Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Classified Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Subscription [email protected] 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Demonstrators in front of the Greek parliament in Athens in support of the new anti-austerity government’s efforts to renegotiate Greece’s international loans. Recent analysis shows that forgiveness of Greece’s official debt is unambiguously desirable, as another bogus deal will keep the Greek economy depressed, ensuring that the problem soon recurs. If European sensitivities must be assuaged, Greece’s debt repayment could be drawn out over 100 years. Obama joins the Greek chorus By Ashoka Mody Princeton U S President Barack Obama’s recent call to ease the austerity imposed on Greece is remarkable – and not only for his endorsement of the newly-elected Greek government’s negotiating position in the face of its official creditors. Obama’s comments represent a break with the longstanding tradition of official American silence on European monetary affairs. While scholars in the US have frequently denounced the policies of Europe’s monetary union, their government has looked the other way. Those who criticise the euro or how it is managed have long run the risk of being dismissed as Anglo-Saxons or, worse, anti-Europeans. British prime minister Margaret Thatcher accurately foresaw the folly of a European monetary union. Gordon Brown, as British chancellor of the exchequer, followed in Thatcher’s footsteps. When his staff presented carefully researched reasons for not joining the euro, many Europeans sneered. And that is why Obama’s statement was such a breath of fresh air. It came a day after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Greece should not expect more debt relief and must maintain austerity. Meanwhile, after days of not-so-veiled threats, the European Central Bank is on the verge of cutting funding to Greek banks. The guardians of financial stability are amplifying a destabilising bank run. Obama’s breach of Europe’s intellectual insularity is all the more remarkable because even the International Monetary Fund has acquiesced in German-imposed orthodoxy. As IMF managing director Christine Lagarde told the Irish Times: “A debt is a debt, and it is a contract. Defaulting, restructuring, changing the terms has consequences.” “You cannot keep on squeezing countries that are in the midst of depression” The Fund stood by in the 1990s, when the eurozone misadventure was concocted. In 2002, the director of the IMF’s European Department described the fiscal rules that institutionalised the culture of persistent austerity as a “sound framework”. And, in May 2010, the IMF endorsed the European authorities’ decision not to impose losses on Greece’s private creditors – a move that was reversed only after unprecedented fiscal belt-tightening sent the Greek economy into a tailspin. The delays and errors in managing the Greek crisis started early. In July 2010, Lagarde, who was France’s finance minister at the time, recognised the damage incurred by those initial delays, “If we had been able to address (Greece’s debt) right from the start, say in February, I think we would have been able to prevent it from snowballing the way that it did.” Even the IMF acknowledged that it had been a mistake not to impose losses on private creditors preemptively; it finally did so only in June 2013, when the damage had already been done. There is plenty of blame to go around. Former US Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner championed a hardline stance against debt restructuring during a crisis. As a result, despite warnings by several IMF directors in May 2010 that restructuring was inevitable, the US supported the European position that private creditors needed to be paid in full. Lee Buchheit, a leading sovereigndebt attorney and the man who managed the eventual Greek debt restructuring in 2012, was harshly critical of the authorities’ failure to face up to reality. Obama may have arrived late to the right conclusion, but he expressed what should be an obvious truth: “You cannot keep on squeezing countries that are in the midst of depression.” If Obama’s words are to count, he must continue to push for the kind of deal Greece needs – one that errs on the side of too much debt forgiveness, rather than too little. Recent analysis shows that forgiveness of Greece’s official debt is unambiguously desirable, as another bogus deal will keep the Greek economy depressed, ensuring that the problem soon recurs. If European sensitivities must be assuaged, Greece’s debt repayment could be drawn out over 100 years. At the end of the day, debt forgiveness benefits creditors as much as it helps debtors. Creditors have known this since at least the sixteenth century, when Spain’s King Philip II became the world’s first known serial sovereign defaulter. European authorities must come to understand that the next act of the Greek tragedy will not be confined to Greece. If relief fails to materialise, political discontent will spread, extremist forces will gain strength, and the survival of the European Union itself could be endangered. Project Syndicate zAshoka Mody, a former mission chief for Germany and Ireland at the International Monetary Fund, is currently visiting professor of international economic policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 33 COMMENT Support education in emergencies No child should be denied opportunity simply because adults are unable to work together By Gordon Brown London I n an ideal world, whenever children needed help, they would get it. When girls and boys were forced from their homes or classrooms because of war, natural disaster, or other crises, the international community would, within days, formulate a plan to ensure their immediate wellbeing. And such plans would include not only life-saving interventions, but also havens of psychological support and learning that protect opportunity and hope. Such places exist. They are called schools. Unfortunately, ours is far from an ideal world. When children need help, days turn into weeks and months. Hundreds of desperate children become thousands and eventually millions. Hope gives way to prolonged misery – not for a few months or even a year, but on average for more than a decade. They are shut out of schools, locked out of opportunity, and condemned to live in unbearable conditions – subject to child labour or forced begging, sold into marriage, trafficked, conscripted into gangs, or recruited by extremists. What has happened in recent years in South Sudan, northern Nigeria, and Iraq – and in Jordan, and Lebanon, where hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugee children are being denied the chance to return to school – makes an overwhelming case for a new humanitarian fund for education in emergencies. What has happened during the Ebola crisis in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone – where schools serving fivemn children remain closed or have not reopened quickly enough – makes this case, too. Yemen and Chad are likely to be next. In all of these countries and situations, children’s future depends on whether we, the international community, act. The Millennium Development Goals commit the international community to achieve the target of universal primary education by the end of 2015. But the official out-of-school figure currently stands at 58mn. And, once out of school for a year or more, children are unlikely to return. There is a huge gap in our array of solutions. In 2014, education received just 1% of humanitarian funds – leaving millions of children and young people on the streets or idle in camps. And there is no mechanism to pay for the education of refugee children or those affected by disaster. To be sure, there are organisations – the UN High Commission for Refugees, Unicef, and many other groups – that, working together, perform heroically. And organisations like the Global Partnership for Education, Sheikha Mozah’s Educate a Child foundation, and the Global Business Coalition for Education also contribute in times of emergency. But that woefully small 1% figure means that the world simply does not have enough to ensure that more than a fraction of affected children get help. The solution must be based on a simple humane principle: No child should be denied opportunity simply because adults are unable to work together. That means establishing an emergency education system that enables adequate funding to be released to UN agencies and operational NGOs at the onset of a crisis – not years later. What has been happening in Lebanon over the past two years is a case in point. Today, there are 465,000 Syrian child refugees. The Lebanese government has volunteered to accept refugee children into the country’s schools by introducing a second afternoon session and enlisting teachers and school directors to take on the extra workload. Complicating the situation, officials have had to persuade a divided country, already worried about the influx of refugees (which has added 20% to the country’s population). But few refugee children have enrolled. Unicef and the UNHCR have devised a plan with the Lebanese government to implement this programme, but the international community has failed to help. Only $100mn has been pledged, but $163mn is still needed. Though the Global Partnership for Education and other organisations want to do more, their mandate does not permit them to provide assistance to middle-income countries like Lebanon. Something is very wrong with this picture. Lebanon’s government has a plan that requires no new schools or infrastructure, making it one of the most cost-effective solutions to a refugee crisis imaginable. But, still, the money is lacking. The same thing is happening in South Sudan. And in northern Nigeria, countless attacks by the terrorist group Boko Haram have underscored the need for a full safe-schools program; but the money to deliver it simply is not there. Similarly, in Pakistan, the Peshawar massacre in December last year has revealed how much more must be done to protect schools and children’s future. Given such crises, the world can no longer afford to do without a humanitarian fund for education during emergencies. In April, at the World Bank’s annual meeting, I will call for action by the assembled government ministers, and I hope to announce the establishment of such a fund at the Oslo Summit on Education for Development on July 6-7. Education, it is said, cannot wait. Passing the hat when a crisis erupts is not the solution. In 2015, we must do more. - Project Syndicate zGordon Brown, former prime minister and chancellor of the exchequer of the United Kingdom, is UN special envoy for global education. Weather report Letters Three-day forecast A welcome sign for Indian banks Dear Sir, Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has advised public sector Indian banks to constitute a committee to monitor non-performing assets (NPA) and appoint nodal officers to expedite their recovery. He has further instructed that write-offs should not be more than recovery. The steps initiated are a welcome sign as they are expected to accelerate the pace of progress being achieved by Indian economy in the last few months. Indian public sector banks’ NPAs have been consistently registering an alarming increase. To remove bottlenecks in the recovery process, an act of law has been passed by Indian parliament which came into force in 2013. While the finance minister’s clarion call to Indian public sector banks to “implement various instructions and adopt adequate safeguards in order to ensure that the banking activities undertaken by them are run on sound, prudent and profitable lines” is a welcome signal, it is for the government to extend a helping hand to these banks to give them a free hand, not to pressurise them to extend finance and loans under various schemes. When a goal is set, the channels and the strategies to achieve it must be kept open by the finance ministry to enable Indian public sector banks to prove their mettle. Indian public sector banks, unlike new entrant players, have contributed in no small measure to the growth of the Indian economy and one wishes that this trend will continue. V Kalyanaraman (e-mail address supplied) Shocking indictment Dear Sir, The battle for the heart and soul of the Syrian town of Kobane rages on. People there have faced horrors beyond belief in the last several months. When blood is spilled, there are no actual winners, only pain. The failure to intervene at the right time is a shocking indictment, not just of the TODAY UN Security Council, but even more so of governments and individuals who could have prevented what was happening but chose not to do so. High: 26 C Low : 18 C Strong wind and low visibility due to dust Farouk Araie [email protected] TUESDAY High: 26 C Low : 21 C Please send us your letters Clear By e-mail [email protected] Fax 44350474 Or Post Letters to the Editor Gulf Times P O Box 2888 Doha, Qatar WEDNESDAY High: 26 C Low : 20 C Clear Fishermen’s forecast All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the writer, address and phone number. The writer’s name and address may be withheld by request. OFFSHORE DOHA Wind: SE 18-28/33 KT Waves: 7-10/12 Feet INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE-S 10-20/25 KT Waves: 2-4/5 Feet Around the region Live issues Abu Dhabi Baghdad Should you choose your airline seatmates? Dubai Kuwait City Manama Muscat Riyadh Tehran By Barbara Brotman Chicago Tribune/TNS A n impending vacation had me set to board an airplane with the universal question along with my carry-on: what kind of stranger will I be sitting next to for several hours? It could go well or horribly. You never know. However, it turns out that now, in a few cases, you can know. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines offers a programme called Meet & Seat. It lets passengers share parts of their Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn profiles, see the profiles of other participants on their flight and choose seats next to someone who seems like good in-flight company. And the Quicket smartphone travel app recently introduced a Facebook check-in feature that lets users see who will be sitting next to them and, if those passengers have allowed it, link to their Facebook profiles. But is the thought of using social media to see who is on a flight and choose whom to sit with attractive? Or creepy? When Meet & Seat was introduced in 2012, commentators warned of the intrusion of networking into a bastion of quiet away from work; of hellish flights trapped next to Facebook stalkers; of cabins turned into the social equivalent of high school cafeterias. But the programme, which reveals the social media profiles only of people who opt into it, has fans. Last year, it was used by 30,000 passengers. Sharing of social media profiles is changing how some air travellers choose their seats. For me, the notion induces a twinge of social anxiety. Do I really want to open myself up to an online vote on whether I am interesting enough to be a worthwhile seatmate? Frankly, when I’m flying, I don’t want to be interesting. I want to be plugged into my headphones and doing my knitting. This social matching feels like it could turn flying into some kind of dating game, a cross between LinkedIn and OKCupid. Maybe we’ll end up writing seatmate-enticing personal ads: Me: Petite, headphone-using knitter with mild fear of flying. I enjoy listening to music and looking out the window. You: Off-duty airline pilot, 40 years-plus experience and military veteran preferred, willing to hold my hand in turbulence and explain why plane will not fall down. Knitting knowledge a plus. And what about hurt feelings? KLM’s Meet & Seat lets passengers switch seats as many times as they like. What if some fascinating personage reserves the seat next to me but then changes it for someone better? Or if I choose a seat next to a prime candidate and the object of my seat affection promptly moves? It’s enough to make me want to stay home from high school. Most of us have simple seatmate wishes. We would like to avoid the discomforts caused by small seats and large passengers. Some of us would like to travel in silence and hope for a seatmate who feels the same. Some of us wish planes had family sections, which I would have loved when I travelled with young children and I would love now that I travel with grown ones. More basically, we don’t want to sit next to people who are smelly, barefoot, clipping their nails or eating gross food. Even more basically, a friend of mine doesn’t want to sit next to someone who gets drunk and barfs on her, which once happened to her daughter. Networking is the least of our concerns. As for interesting conversations with seatmates - sometimes they just happen, without any planning. I’ve had some great conversations with seatmates. There was the guy who had just bought a beachfront hotel to run in Florida. The young woman heading off to start her first post-college job. The man on a long transAtlantic flight who talked about being divorced with children on another continent. And I’ll never forget the beefy, kindly ex-football player who let me clutch his arm when a flight turned bumpy and talked to me to distract me the rest of the way home. I hadn’t chosen to sit with any of them. They were random strangers. I got to sit next to them through luck of the draw. If I had been given the opportunity to choose a seatmate through social media profiles, I might not have picked any of them. Chance picked them for me. I’m going to stick with chance as my seat assignment programme, at least in the future. Because for a recent trip, at the last minute, I moved someone I’m connected with on LinkedIn and Instagram from a seat in another row to a newly-open seat next to me. And I’m pretty sure my daughter and I will get along just fine. Weather today Clear P Cloudy Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear P Cloudy Max/min 29/18 23/12 32/19 28/14 28/20 25/22 31/19 13/07 Weather tomorrow Clear P Cloudy Clear Clear Clear Clear Clear Rain Max/min 29/18 26/13 30/19 34/19 27/20 25/21 32/18 12/09 Weather tomorrow C Showers Rain P Cloudy Fog P Cloudy C Showers T Storms Clear Clear Snow T Storms Clear Fog P Cloudy Clear P Cloudy P Cloudy Cloudy T Storms Clear C Storms P Cloudy Clear Max/min 03/00 18/12 33/22 06/02 16/09 24/17 30/24 27/19 17/12 03/02 27/25 29/14 08/03 29/21 -7/-11 22/10 03/-7 07/01 29/20 07/-3 29/24 28/20 09/02 Around the world Athens Beirut Bangkok Berlin Cairo Cape Town Colombo Dhaka Hong Kong Istanbul Jakarta Karachi London Manila Moscow New Delhi New York Paris Sao Paulo Seoul Singapore Sydney Tokyo Weather today C Showers Rain Clear C Rain Clear Clear T Storms P Cloudy P Cloudy C Showers T Storms Clear P Cloudy P Cloudy Cloudy Clear Ice Pallets Fog C Storms Clear C Storms C Showers Clear Max/min 09/02 17/14 33/23 05/03 22/11 25/18 32/24 25/19 18/12 06/03 29/25 28/16 08/02 29/23 -3/-6 22/11 01/-4 07/04 29/19 04/-4 29/24 27/20 07/-2 Our reach is phenomenal... so could be yours. A credible source for the latest news from every corner of the globe, providing in-depth coverage of major events and as well as avenues for recreational reading—everything for everyone. An authentic, reliable, up-to-date source of information on business, sports, lifestyle, technology, entertainment, fashion, environment and health, favoured by local and international organisations and enterprises in Qatar for well over three decades. Gulf Times serves as a prestigious publication catering to the information needs of the English-speaking population, both expatriates and nationals. The readers of this well-established newspaper include government officials, top decision-making executives, business leaders, students and a wide range of workers from a variety of sectors and industries. The expert editorial team of Gulf Times comprises thoroughly professional, experienced journalists from Qatar, UK, India, Egypt, Jordan and other Asian / Middle East nations. In addition to various commercial supplements, Gulf Times publishes different magazines and special reports on numerous countries. Innovative products like the weekly “Dining Out” guide make these much sought-after publications rich sources of diverse and useful information. Keeping pace with the latest technological advancements in Information Technology, Gulf Times has expanded its presence in the extensive world of internet with infographics and galleries on its constantly updated website www.gulf-times.com besides popular platforms to read, share and interact on the vibrant social media like facebook, twitter and Instagram. 36 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 QATAR Maserati launches Q4 all-wheel-drive models M aserati Qatar, represented by Alfardan Sports Motors, has announced the launch of its first ever all-wheel-drive system, Q4, at Qatar Motor Show 2015. The system will be available on Maserati’s four-door sedan models, the Quattroporte and Ghibli, as the top-of-the-line S Q4 variant. The S Q4 accelerates the Quattroporte and Ghibli from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 and 4.8 seconds - faster than their rear-wheel drive counterparts - up to a top speed of 283 km/h and 284 km/h. The Q4 system has been designed to maximise traction and further amplify Maserati’s highperformance, grand touring qualities and rear-wheel driving experience while offering absolute safety whatever the road conditions. The system acts by transferring traction to the front wheels on demand and with an immediate response. “With the Quattroporte and Ghibli S Q4, we are now able to offer our clients all-wheel-drive models that drive like a real Maserati,” explained Charly Dagher, general manager of Alfardan Sports Motors. “The sole objective of Q4 is optimising the balance between increased driving pleasure and safety.” Maserati’s first ever all-wheel-drive system, Q4, will be available on four-door sedan models. The launch comes ahead of the 2016 launch of the luxury manufacturer’s first SUV, the Levante. In normal driving conditions, the system provides 100% of the engine torque to the rear wheels; this is also to optimise fuel consumption and emissions. In low grip driving conditions such as slippery or loose road surfaces, or in case of loss of grip at the rear axle, for example, dur- ing acceleration from zero or at very high cornering speeds, the system reacts instantaneously, transferring the necessary traction to the front wheels. In a mere 150 milliseconds, the Q4 system is capable of altering the torque split from 100% rear wheel drive to an equal 50%-50% distribution between the front and rear wheels. When conditions require, the Q4 all-wheeldrive system, with its variable torque control, activates constantly and continuously. The Ghibli is Maserati’s latest addition to its model range and the first four-door sports executive sedan by the Italian luxury brand. By combining breathtaking design with exceptional handling qualities and outstanding performance, the Ghibli appeals to the head and the heart, making the dream of owning a Maserati more accessible. In addition to the top-of-therange Ghibli S Q4, Maserati also offers the Ghibli and Ghibli S, all featuring a new-generation twin turbo-charged 3.0-litre V6 engine and an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. With its power output of 410 hp, the Ghibli S races to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds and reaches a top speed of 285 km/h. The Ghibli delivers 330 hp, a top speed of 263 km/h and accel- eration of 0 to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds. With the original 1963 Quattroporte, Maserati invented the concept of the luxury sports sedan and the sixth generation Quattroporte continues to be the benchmark for high-quality engineering, supercar performance and limousine comfort. In addition to the Quattroporte S Q4, Maserati also offers the GTS, S and the Quattroporte with 330 hp as part of its Quattroporte range with two state-of-the-art, high performance direct-injection engines: a 3.8-litre V8 (Quattroporte GTS) and a 3.0-litre V6 (Quattroporte S Q4, S and Quattroporte). Both engines are twin turbo-charged, developed by Maserati Powertrain in partnership with Ferrari Powertrain, and built by Ferrari at its world-leading engine construction facility in Maranello. The engine of the Quattroporte GTS reaches 100km/h in just 4.7 seconds and achieves a 307km/h top speed. The Quattroporte S engine doesn’t lack in performance, either, reaching 100km/h in 5.1 seconds and achieving a 285km/h top speed. The 330hp Quattroporte retains its sporty Maserati character with an acceleration of 5.6 seconds from zero to 100km/h and a top speed of 263 km/h. New Mercedes-AMG GT S unveiled by NBK Automobiles T he Mercedes-AMG GT S 2015 has been revealed by Nasser Bin Khaled (NBK) Automobiles at Qatar Motor Show 2015, currently taking place at Qatar National Convention Centre. “The GT is the second sports car developed entirely in-house by Mercedes-AMG,” it was explained in a statement issued yesterday. Its front mid-engine concept with transaxle and the intelligent aluminium lightweight construction form the basis of a highly dynamic driving experience. The vehicle’s newly developed AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine underscores the hallmark AMG driving performance. The first sports car engine with internally mounted turbochargers (“hot inside V”) and dry sump lubrication is configured in two output ratings: as a GT with 340 kW (462 hp) and as a GT S with 375 kW (510 hp). The new GT combines driving dynamics and first-class racetrack performance with superb everyday practicality and efficiency that sets new standards in the segment. The two-seater is a straightforward, comfortable and reliable companion for everyday motoring, thanks to its practical tailgate, easily accessible luggage compartment, high level of comfort on long journeys and the extensive range of MercedesBenz Intelligent Drive assistance systems. The new Mercedes-AMG GT S embodies sportiness and emotion as an expression of sensual purity. The long bonnet with its pronounced powerdomes, the greenhouse which has been moved far back, the large wheels and broad tail end make up the distinctive looks. The trimmed cabin results in muscular shoulders – the hallmark Mercedes “Coke bottle” shape – which lends the car its extremely powerful stance. All modern Mercedes feature this “Coke bottle” theme, the GT being the most extreme example. Positively arched surfaces give the Mercedes-AMG GT its sensuous character and the appearance of a sculpture. The interior design also embodies maximum emotion and sensual purity. Radically low, sporty proportions create a unique sense of spaciousness. Clearly drawn components and their authentic materials underscore the dynamic character and create instant excitement: anyone opening the door discovers an exciting interplay between the deep, sloping dashboard and a dominant, arched high centre console, a design that evokes emotions and impresses with its perfection. The new high-performance engine springs to life at the push of a button: even the sound as the The new Mercedes-AMG GT S, which has been revealed at Qatar Motor Show 2015. engine starts up brings you out in goose pimples. The 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine was developed specifically for the GT. The innovative eight-cylinder engine as the newest member of the BlueDIRECT engine family boasts of outstanding power delivery, performance figures on a par with motor racing, light- weight construction as well as high efficiency and environmental compatibility. The GT sets new benchmarks in terms of efficiency, too. With its 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine, it already meets the Euro 6 emissions standard, including the maximum particulate emissions level that takes effect in 2016. QIC reveals new products, services at motor show Q Teyseer Motors officials at the Suzuki stand. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Suzuki displays line-up of latest vehicles S uzuki Motors is showcasing some of its latest vehicles at Qatar Motor Show 2015, currently under way at Qatar National Convention Centre. The new models are the Ciaz, Ertiga and the new Alto K10. Adel al-Mannai, president of Teyseer Motors, the sole distributors of Suzuki Motors in Qatar, said: “The Suzuki range of vehicles is well-equipped with safety features and ABS. They are economical and fuel-efficient.” The new Suzuki Ciaz is a 1.4-litre vehicle with 92hp. It is packed with advanced features like camera-assisted reverse parking, keyless push start system, smart key, rear AC vents, personal reading lamps and rear sunshade. Ertiga is a seven-seat compact MPV with 92hp. Powered by a 1.4-litre engine, the Ertiga is a true combination of power and comfort and is capable of overcoming the toughest terrains and harshest weathers. The new Alto K10 is an upgraded version of an already successful car with a full model change that makes it taller, wider and roomier. The New Alto K10 is 15% more fuel efficient, delivering best-in-class 24.07km per litre. The Suzuki motorcycle product range on display at the motor show includes super sport and sport bikes (Hayabusa, GSXR1000, GSXR750, GSXR600), sport ATVs, utility ATVs and scooters. atar Insurance Company (QIC), official insurer for this year’s Qatar Motor Show, has revealed its new products and services at the event – all aimed at making car, travel and home insurance purchasing easier and exciting. QIC introduced its recently launched “U-Club”, the nation’s-first loyalty programme for policyholders of comprehensive car insurances, to tell visitors about the series of new services and benefits. U-Club offers special services on regular car maintenance, value-added packages to existing insurance and privilege offers for the car owner and his family. The programme also includes offers and discounts from a variety of different partners, ranging from selected workshops in the Industrial Area, home and travel insurance discounts to special offers on home appliances and personal items – all centred on the car and the people owning or using the car. “To protect the driver, his car and add more excitement, we were delighted to be the official insurer of the motor show and showcase our product offerings, which are synonymous with safety, security, special services and benefits,” said Ali al-Fadala, senior deputy group president and CEO of QIC. QIC’s new offerings have been revealed at Qatar Motor Show. As part of its channel strategy to reach out to customers and be accessible at their convenience, QIC has also enhanced its online retail platform by offering quotes for personal insurance products (car, home and travel) in just 10 seconds. “Most people see insurance as something they need to purchase to protect themselves and their car from untoward incidents,” said P E Alexander, CEO of QIC Qatar. “We, therefore, introduced a series of services and benefits that make our custom- ers benefit from insurance, even without having to file a claim.” He noted that they want to change the general perception towards insurance. “To reinforce this, we designed U-Club to add an element of excitement and fun.” PRICE PLUNGE | Page 5 GROWTH PUSH | Page 16 US natural gas shale drillers undaunted Sluggish growth, chaotic markets concerns for G20 Monday, February 9, 2015 Rabia II 20, 1436 AH GULF TIMES BUSINESS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL: Page 2 Tasweeq hosts Japan delegation on learning and development MoU QIIB posts QR826mn ’14 profit R egistering growth across all portfolios of its business, QIIB has posted a net profit of QR826mn in 2014, up 10.1% on the previous year. The bank’s total revenues stood at QR1.52bn in 2014, QIIB chairman and managing director Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah alThani said yesterday. QIIB’s board of directors yesterday proposed to the bank’s general assembly to distribute a cash dividend of 40% of its capital, which translates into QR4 a share. This is subject to the Qatar Central Bank approval. Earnings per share (EPS) reached QR5.45 in 2014. Sheikh Dr Khalid said, “The results strongly confirm the bank has made good growth across all portfolios of its business and succeeded in realising its strategy, which is commensurate with the rich opportunities available in the Qatari economy. The national economy is seeing a renaissance and has become prosperous under the wise leadership of HH the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.” He said QIIB would continue to focus on the domestic market, which has many mega projects under implementation. QIIB believes it is the bank’s responsibility to fully engage in nation Sheikh Dr Khalid (left) and al-Shaibei: Good growth across all portfolios. building and support the national economy, he said. Sheikh Dr Khalid emphasised QIIB’s commitment to various kinds of project financing; be it large projects related to infrastructure, other major development plans or small and medium enterprises. This will help QIIB realise its strategy of actively getting engaged in national economic development and realise the expectations of its shareholders and customers. QIIB chief executive officer Abdulbasit A alShaibei said operating income earned by the bank in 2014 stood at QR1.51bn compared with QR1.46bn in 2013. Customer deposits totalled QR26.6bn at end-2014, compared with QR24.4bn in 2013, representing a growth rate of 8.9%. Al-Shaibei said the bank’s total assets stood at QR38.4bn in December, 2014; a growth of 12.8% compared with 2013. Total shareholder equity stood at QR5.4bn in December, 2014 compared with QR5.1bn in 2013. Capital adequacy ratio under Basel II stood at 16.27% at 2014-end compared with 18.86% at 2013-end. Al-Shaibei said 2014 represented another year of success and growth for QIIB as the bank was able to take full advantage of various opportunities available within the banking system and the overall Qatari economy. The bank continued to participate in financing various projects in Qatar, he said, and noted that QIIB did not spare any effort in getting involved or supporting the national economy. While focusing on the national economy, the CEO said, “QIIB studied foreign markets carefully. We will look for safe opportunities abroad that provide good returns for the bank and its shareholders alike, in compliance with the bank’s investment policies.” Al-Shaibei said 2014 saw a steady increase in the bank’s customer base, reflecting the demand for QIIB’s quality service and products. The bank continued to open many new branches and ATMs and strengthened the bank’s electronic delivery channels in line with its strategy of reaching out to the customers. MPHC reports QR1.8bn 2014 net profit; suggests 11% cash dividend Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company (MPHC) - an umbrella entity for Q Chem, Q Chem II and Qatar Vinyl Company (QVC) - has reported net profit of QR1.8bn in 2014 and suggested 11% dividend to shareholders. The proposed QR1.1 cash dividend is equivalent to 77% of the group’s profits. QVC registered full-year revenue of QR0.8bn. Results for 2014 were impacted by planned shut-downs of the company’s EDC (ethylene dichloride), VCM (vinyl chloride monomer) and caustic soda facilities, principally during the first half of the year. (Gulf Times had erroneously mentioned 11% cash dividend as 110% and EDC as endocrine disruptive chemicals on February 2 edition). 2 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 BUSINESS QGIRC profit drops to QR920mn in 2014 The Japanese delegation with al-Kuwari and other senior company executives in Doha. Tasweeq hosts Japan delegation on learning and development MoU T asweeq (Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company) recently hosted a Japanese delegation that comprised executives representing many Japanese oil and gas companies and the Japan Cooperation Centre Petroleum (JCCP). The JCCP delegation visited Qatar based on a memorandum of understanding signed between Tasweeq and JCCP in November 2013. The MoU was put in place for exchange of programmes related to learning and development. One specific objective is to have access to the various technical and non-technical courses organised by JCCP. Another major component of the MoU is the implementation of the “Exchange Programme for Young Generations”, which allows young employees on both sides to share knowledge and best practices, and to discuss future marketing challenges in the oil and gas industry. The Japanese delegation was headed by Fumihiro Tone, master lecturer, Training Department at JCCP. The eight delegates consisted of Japanese employees working for prominent oil and gas companies in Japan. The reception was attended by Saad A al-Kuwari, Tasweeq CEO; Abdulla al-Abdulmalek, executive director (Administration); Dr Majid Ibrahim, head (Learning, Development & Qatarisation) along with other Tasweeq directors. During the reception, Abdulaziz alMeer, Tasweeq planning and performance director, gave a presentation on the company and its unique model of operations. This was followed by a presentation on Japan’s energy outlook delivered by Tone. “This was an excellent opportunity to introduce the young Japanese to the marketing infrastructure of petroleum products in Qatar, and to show them major educational, cultural and economic landmarks,” Tasweeq said. Tasweeq also arranged technical tours to Ras Laffan, Mesaieed and Dukhan Industrial cities and cultural tours to Katara, The Pearl and The Museum of Islamic Art. The first Qatari delegation as part of the exchange programme visited Japan in December 2014. The team comprised some seven Tasweeq Qatari employees who benefited from the programme on both technical and personal levels. Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company (QGIRC) has reported 57% plunge in net profit to QR920mn in 2014 on higher premium ceded to reinsurers and lower fair value gains. The company has, however, recommended 20% cash dividend and 15% bonus shares, which will have to be approved by general assembly scheduled to be meet on March 15. Gross earned premium, otherwise, rose 8% to QR560.4mn; even as premium ceded to reinsurers grew faster at 16% to QR362.4mn; resulting in a 4% fall in net earned premium to QR198.01mn, according to its financial statement filed with the Qatar Stock Exchange. Although fee and commission income grew 15% to QR17.93mn, other operating revenue by 18% to QR14.36mn, investment income more than doubled to QR192.45mn and net realised gain almost tripled to QR64.98mn; the insurer reported a 49% decline in total revenue to QR1.21mn as fair value gains plummeted 64% to QR724.27mn. Net claims were higher by 2% to QR144.28mn. Total expenses rose 20% to QR310.86mn with finance costs more than doubling to QR39.87mn and other operating and administrative costs growing 25% to QR126.72mn. Total assets were valued at QR8.55bn, comprising investment properties of QR5.01bn and available-for-sale financial assets of QR1.18bn. Total equity stood at QR5.68bn on capital base of QR691.75mn and earnings-per-share was QR13.3 at the end of December 31, 2014. Salam International’s 2014 profit falls to QR78.28mn Salam International Investment has reported 31% decline in net profit to QR78.28mn in 2014 despite higher operating income. The company has suggested 6% cash dividend, which will have to be approved by shareholders at the annual general assembly slated to be held on February 25. Operating income grew 16% to QR2.37bn, but operating cost rose faster at 20% to QR1.77bn, resulting in a 6% rise in gross profit to QR599.44mn, according to its financial statement. Other income more than tripled to QR28.71mn, investment income soared 27% to QR148.92mn, share of results in joint ventures by 12% to QR7.71mn and other operating income by 6% to QR5.25mn; even as service and consultancy income fell 40% to QR1.71mn. Salaries and other staff benefits expanded 7% to QR297.86mn and general and administrative costs by 12% to QR216.11mn; while finance costs were down 15% to QR76.68mn. Total assets were valued at QR4.64bn, comprising current assets of QR2.15bn and noncurrent assets of QR2.49bn. Total equity stood at QR5.68bn on a capital base of QR691.75mn and earnings-per-share was QR0.68 at the end of December 31, 2014. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 3 BUSINESS Ministry of Municipal Affairs, ExxonMobil Research sign MoU Gulf institutional funds favour ‘Japan, Asia; shun Europe’ Reuters Dubai Gulf institutional investors are putting their money into Asian equities, in particular Japanese stocks, but are shunning European shares after years of underperformance, the Middle East head of Pictet Asset Management said yesterday. Many of these Middle Eastern entities, including some of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, have traditionally been regarded as significant investors into European developed markets. Qatar for example, through the Qatar Investment Authority and its subsidiaries, has in recent years embarked on an aggressive expansion spree which has seen it buy up stakes in major companies such as Volkswagen and Siemens, as well as real estate and infrastructure on the continent. The eyes of many institutional funds are now turning east, according to Francesco Genovese, regional head of Middle East, Dr Jennifer Dupont, research director, ExxonMobil Research Qatar, and Abdulla Ahmed al-Karrani, acting director, Urban Planning Department at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for ExxonMobil Research Qatar to assist with the ministry’s Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan. The signing was attended by Dr Mohamed al-Sulaiti, Technical Interface co-ordinator at ExxonMobil Research Qatar, and Said Ahmed Salim al-Muqaddam, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan Project co-ordinator. Saudi Kayan gets more gas for making ethylene S audi Arabia’s Oil Ministry has allocated more natural gas to Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co for it to expand ethylene production at its petrochemical complex in Jubail, the company said yesterday. The ministry has allocated the affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic) an extra 10mn cubic feed a day of ethane from July 1, Kayan said in a bourse statement. The extra gas will allow it to raise ethylene production capacity by at least 93,000 tonnes a year and ethylene oxide capacity by 61,000 tonnes a year by the second quarter of 2017, it said. The additional ethane supply will also allow the company to reduce its consumption of butane gas, it said. As part of the same deal, SABIC will also reduce the marketing fees it charges Saudi Kayan, which will save the company 280mn riyals ($74.6mn) this year and 600mn riyals a year once its projects are completed, it said. Africa and Central Asia at Pictet Asset Management. “There’s lots of traction for Japanese equities, Asian equities and global emerging markets (equities), as well as emerging (market) debt in local currencies,” he told reporters at a media event. “They were really keen to invest in European equities four or five years ago, but they have been so disappointing (for returns) that, now, they look at other investments.” Europe’s economy, especially in the eurozone, has struggled in recent years due to repeated fears over sovereign debt levels and weak growth indicators. The euro traded at its lowest level against the dollar in 11 years on January 26, and a poll conducted by Reuters last month forecast a median average GDP growth rate for the eurozone of 1.1% this year and 1.5% in 2016. Japan’s Nikkei 225 Index has gained around 54% in the last two years, aided by government stimulus measures. 4 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 BUSINESS Gulf markets rise after oil gains QSE extends rally to 6th day By Santhosh V Perumal Business Reporter T he Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday opened the week on a stronger note, gaining for the sixth consecutive day, to surpass the 12,600 level, mainly on the back of mid cap stocks. Real estate, telecom, insurance and transport stocks were seen gaining faster as the 20-stock Qatar Index (based on price data) rose 0.82% to 12,623.93 points with trade volumes also on the rise. Islamic stocks were seen gaining faster in the bourse, which is up 2.75% year-todate. Both local and non-Qatari retail investors turned bullish in the market, where realty and telecom stocks cornered more than 58% of the total trading volume. Market capitalisation expanded 0.78%, or more than QR5bn, to QR681.34bn with mid, small and micro cap equities gaining 1.89%, 0.78% and 0.26% respectively. Large caps were down 0.03%. The Total Return Index rose 0.82% to 18,948.1 points, the All Share Index by 0.86% to 3,263.76 points and the Al Rayan The 20-stock Qatar Index rose 0.82% to 12,623.93 points yesterday amid rising trade volumes. Islamic Index by 1.8% to 4,471.13 points. Real estate stocks appreciated 2.8%, followed by telecom (1.89%), insurance (1.46%), transport (1.08%), industrials (1%) and banks and financial services (0.02%), while consumer goods fell 0.24%. About 71% of the stocks extended gains with major movers being Barwa, Ezdan Real Estate, Mazaya Qatar, Vodafone Qatar, Nakilat, Aamal Company, Alijarah Holding, QNB, Doha Bank and Qatari Investors Group; even as United Development Company, Qatar Islamic Bank and Salam International Investment bucked the trend. Qatari retail investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR12.69mn against net sellers of QR36.42mn the previous trading day. Non-Qatari individual investors also turned net buyers to the extent of QR48.05mn compared with net sellers of QR29.08mn last Thursday. Foreign institutions’ net buying sunk to QR3.07mn against QR31.02mn on February 5. However, domestic institutions turned net profit-takers to the tune of QR64.71mn against net buyers of QR34.47mn the previous trading day. Total trade volume rose 43% to 40.25mn shares, value by 28% to QR1.13bn and transactions by 6% to 11,302. The telecom sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 10.18mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR191.36mn on a 22% jump in deals to 1,560. The consumer goods sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 2.91mn equities and value almost doubled to QR69.51mn on an 89% rise in transactions to 1,107. The transport sector’s trade volume more than doubled to 1.47mn shares, while value surged 48% to QR46.41mn and deals by 33% to 334. The industrials sector witnessed morethan-doubling of trade volume to 6.15mn stocks, value soared 64% to QR230.19mn and transactions by 45% to 2,337. The market witnessed a 33% expansion in the insurance sector’s trade volume to 0.2mn equities, 34% in value to QR12.47mn and 4% in deals to 152. Although the banks and financial services’ trade volume rose 16% to 6.04mn shares; vale fell 10% to QR233.88mn and transactions by 2% to 2,608. However, the real estate’s trade volume was down 7% to 13.3mn stocks but value rose 8% to QR349.43mn. Deals shrank 22% to 3,204. In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and government bonds. Basci besieged with investors adding to Erdogan jabs Bloomberg Istanbul W ith President Recep Tayyip Erdogan bearing down on him over interest rates, Turkish central bank Governor Erdem Basci is now at risk of alienating investors who want to see evidence of greater autonomy on policy. Basci’s decision to tie holding an emergency interestrate meeting last week to the outcome of an inflation report caused “tremendous damage” to the central bank’s credibility, according to Societe Generale’s Benoit Anne. The move made “everyone uneasy,” said Commerzbank’s Simon Quijano-Evans. While the “interim” policy meeting, as it was later rebranded by Basci, was cancelled last Tuesday after consumer prices didn’t fall the required amount, some analysts saw his willingness to hold a special review as bending to government pressure to cut borrowing costs. Yields on twoyear notes jumped the most in 19 months the next day, with the lira falling to a record, after Erdogan questioned the wisdom of maintaining the central bank’s independence. “Governor Basci has a tough job, he’s stuck between the market and President Erdogan,” Anne, head of emergingmarket strategy at Societe Generale, said Thursday by e-mail. “Investors don’t like political pressure on central banks and they blame Basci for coming across as excessively dovish.” Central bank spokesman Yucel Yazar declined to comment for this story when he was contacted on Thursday by phone. Consumer-price inflation slowed to 7.24% in January, missing by seven basis points the 1 percentage point reduction Basci re- Basci’s decision to tie holding quired to convene an emergency interest-rate the meeting. The meeting last week to the median estimate in outcome of an inflation report a Bloomberg survey caused “tremendous damage” of economists was to the central bank’s credibility 6.8%. While core-inflation indicators continued to show improvement and the effect of oil-price declines on producer costs were sustained, the downward move was limited by exchange- rate developments, the central bank said in an assessment posted on its website Wednesday. “This is a time when it is very important for central banks to be able to decide on their own,” said Quijano-Evans, Commerzbank’s head of emerging-market research. “Otherwise, the risk of currency overshooting increases, again blurring the picture for policy.” Erdogan has repeatedly called for lower borrowing costs to support economic growth even as the central bank cut the benchmark rate by 50 basis points to 7.75% last month. He said last Wednesday making lower rates dependent on slowing inflation is the result of the “wrong mentality.” “Unfortunately, this is the point we come to when the institution is independent,” Erdogan said. The benchmark one-week repurchase rate has been lowered by 225 basis points since Basci last held an emergency meeting in January 2014, when it was more than doubled to 10% to arrest the lira’s slide. The next scheduled meeting of the bank’s monetary policy committee is on February 24. “Basci has been quite smart, linking his decision to the inflation data,” Guillaume Tresca, an emerging-market strategist at Credit Agricole in Paris, said by e-mail on Thursday. “For two decimals, he decided not to cut. It gives a little bit more credibility to the” central bank, he said. Erdogan’s call last week for a cut in central bank rates isn’t leading to lower bond yields. Two-year government note yields climbed 115 basis points last week, the biggest weekly increase since July 2013. They fell to 6.69% on January 28, a 19-month low, as investors anticipated a reduction in rates. Turkish local-currency bonds returned 8.9% last year, the most in Eastern Europe, according to the Bloomberg Emerging Market Local Currency Sovereign Index. They have lost 2.1% this year, in line with the regional average. Gulf stock markets rose yesterday after oil made further gains and local companies reported mostly upbeat earnings and other positive news. Brent crude jumped 2.2% to $57.80 per barrel on Friday, posting its largest two-week gain in 17 years because of falling oil rig counts and violence in producer Libya. Saudi Arabia’s stock index rose 1.8% to its highest close since November 24 in heavy trade. Shares in Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals Co surged their daily 10% limit and its bigger affiliate Saudi Basic Industries (Sabic) jumped 3.0%. The kingdom’s oil ministry has allocated more natural gas to Saudi Kayan for it to expand ethylene production at its petrochemical complex in Jubail, the company said yesterday. In a sign that some money is flowing back into Saudi stocks from abroad after pulling out during the oil price plunge in December, the US dollar/Saudi riyal spot rate dropped back to 3.7510 yesterday, very close to its peg. The exchange rate had climbed in recent weeks as high as 3.7605 - its highest level since January 2010, when markets were in the grip of the global financial crisis - because of outflows from Saudi stocks. Dubai’s index edged up 0.2% and property developer DAMAC was one of the top gainers, surging 5.8%. The stock originally listed in London, but it joined the emirate’s bourse last month and its Dubai shares subsequently plunged by more than a third. It recovered those losses last week and its sharp rise may have attracted more investors. Abu Dhabi’s bourse edged up 0.3% as National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank rose 1.8 and 2.1% respectively. Food and beverage firm Agthia Group gained 2.5% after it reported a 22% increase in 2014 profit. Egypt’s market slipped 0.1% as property companies pulled back further after gaining strongly in the last few weeks. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait’s index climbed 0.8% to 6,755 points; Oman’s index edged up 0.6% to 6,725 points, while Bahrain’s index edged up 0.2% to 1,438 points. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 5 BUSINESS Natural gas shale drillers in US undaunted by 32% price plunge Bloomberg New York U S natural gas production is poised to reach a record for a fifth year as shale drillers boost efficiency, driving prices toward a low of more than a decade. Output will rise 3.2% in 2015, led by gains at the Marcellus formation, the nation’s biggest shale deposit, according to the Energy Information Administration. Marcellus production will increase 2.8% through February after a 21% gain in 2014, a year when prices tumbled 32%. Producers in Pennsylvania and West Virginia have cut breakeven costs by half since 2008, according to Oppenheimer & Co. Drilling more wells at one site and extending the length of horizontal wells are among the efficiencies that have helped gas companies cope with falling prices. The EIA expects Marcellus to climb to about 20% of production in the lower 48 states from about 2% in 2007. Cabot Oil & Gas Corp, the biggest Marcellus producer, plans to increase output by at least 20% this year. “The Marcellus has been a game changer in terms of production, reserve potential, everything,” said Fadel Gheit, a senior energy analyst for Oppenheimer & Co in New York. “They are not waiting for higher gas prices to bail them out.” Natural gas futures fell 2.1 cents to $2.579 per million British thermal units on Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest settlement since June 2012. Gas has declined 81% from a high in 2008 as production from shale formations increased, touching $1.907 in April 2012, the lowest since 2002. Break-even prices for Marcellus producers have dropped below $2 per thousand cubic feet ($1.95 per million Btu) from around $4 in 2008, Gheit said in a February 3 interview. US gas production growth was projected to slow to 1.4% last year, the least since a decline in 2005, the EIA said in December 2013. Instead, output jumped 5.6%. Efficiency gains at Marcellus producer Range Resources include plans to increase the length of underground horizontal wells by 36% to 6,200ft (1,890m), with a third of the total topping 7,000ft, according to a January 15 company presentation. Range used drilling efficiencies to cut costs to $2.64 per thousand cubic feet in 2014 from $3.01 in 2012. The company said it’s targeting 20% to 25% production growth “for many years.” Southwestern Energy Corp’s output Trees stand beyond a drill rig as a shale-gas well is drilled in Mannington, West Virginia (file). The well was being drilled into the Marcellus Shale, a formation that may hold 262tn cu ft of recoverable natural gas, making it the largest known deposit according to a US Energy Department estimate. may rise 28% this year as it drills longer wells, increases pipeline capacity and after spending $5.4bn to acquire shale fields, according to a December 30 company conference call. Output is also rising at other shale plays. Gas production at the Eagle Ford deposit in Texas has climbed more than fourfold since January 2007, while output at the Utica shale, much of which lies below the Marcellus, has increased 12-fold. Proved US gas reserves, supplies that can be recovered based on economic and operating conditions, jumped 9.7% in 2013 to 354tn cubic feet, equal to about 13 years of demand, a December EIA report showed. “Just the magnitude of the buildout in shale and the pace at which it gained momentum is surprising,” Jason Schenker, president of Prestige Economics in Austin, Texas, who was ranked by Bloomberg in the fourth quarter as the top gas price forecaster, said on January 29. “Supplies will remain high. We could test the 2012 lows this spring in natural gas prices.” While they save money at the wellhead, Marcellus producers have been able to bolster sales of the fuel as new interstate pipelines give them access to more lucrative markets priced at Henry Hub in Erath, Louisiana, the US gas benchmark. “The Northeast has been at a discount to Henry Hub and more pipelines that come on will narrow this to the cost of transport,” Moses Rahnama, an analyst at London-based consultants Energy Aspects Ltd, said by phone on January 5. “That will be more of an incentive to drill.” New pipelines near the Marcellus deposit will allow Range to ship 63% of its Oil company CEOs likely to avoid big hit to compensation, for now Reuters Boston These are nervous times at the top of North America’s oil companies. Executives are trying to cope with the plunge in oil prices and are slashing costs as they watch earnings and revenue drop. Their own compensation, though, may not yet be on the chopping block. According to compensation consultants and some investors, the mostly generous packages executives were receiving when the oil price was much higher, and the US shale oil boom was roaring away, are in most cases going to survive - at least for awards based on their performance in 2014. Those will be announced in the next few months. “2014 is going to look like a pretty good year for most,” said Mike Halloran, senior partner and executive compensation specialist at the Dallas office of consulting firm Mercer. This is largely because the oil price decline did not push down company profits until well into the second half of 2014 and some shares finished the year around where they began. Given the substantial increases many of them received in 2013, compensation that is little changed should not be much of a hardship. The median increase in total compensation packages for oil and gas company CEOs was 11% for 2013, according to Institutional Shareholder Services, compared with a 7% median increase for all Russell 3000 CEOs. In dollar terms, energy company CEOs made an average of $7.3mn in 2013 compared with an average of $5.3mn among all Russell 3000 CEOs, ISS found. Still, the C-suite won’t be altogether unscarred. Some CEOs and other top executives have already seen the value of the stocks and options they hold in their companies drop in the past few months. And Halloran warned that in a year’s time total compensation - which mainly consists of base pay, bonus and long-term incentive payments - may be a different story. If oil prices stay low throughout the year then executive packages could shrink by 30% as bonus goals become harder to reach, while stocks and options may not keep their value if shares fail to recover or sink further. There are signs that investor pressure to rein in excessive compensation may be having an impact at a handful of oil and gas companies. Drilling contractor Nabors Industries Ltd, which faced a shareholder backlash last spring over its high level of executive compensation, said in a December securities filing that it reduced the annual base salary of chairman and CEO Anthony Petrello to $1.53mn from $1.7mn for the first six months of 2015, which would be a decline of $85,000. Nabors spokesman Denny Smith said via e-mail that Petrello initiated the cut and that his direct reports also took voluntary 10% salary reductions. “This was done in light of a weaker industry outlook precipitated by the decline in crude oil prices which are a significant driver of our business,” Smith said. Oil and other resource companies traditionally tend to buffer executives from being directly affected by commodity prices that are out of their control. Incentive pay tends to be linked to metrics - like share price performance - that are pegged against peers who would also be affected by oil prices. A few boards may even compensate for depreciation in stock and option awards earned in previous years by providing bigger bonuses or even by repricing stock options that have gone underwater - meaning that they will expire worthless unless the share price recovers. Most companies, though, will be wary of the optics of such moves as perceived by employees and shareholders who have seen jobs cut and share prices fall, the consultants said. The CEOs with most at stake could be from the exploration and production companies who don’t have operations such as refining and pipelines that are affected less by moves in the oil price. Take for instance Houston oil producer Anadarko Petroleum Corp. In a November securities filing the company said its board’s compensation committee decided in its annual pay review that “targeted total compensation should remain flat year-over-year as compared to 2013.” Anadarko CEO and chairman Al Walker may, though, feel the impact of a decline in the company’s share price. Walker’s 2013 compensation totalling $16.9mn included stock and options together estimated to be worth $11mn when the awards were made in November that year. The company’s share price was at $92 then but closed on Friday at $82.70, meaning the options, which expire in 2020, are currently underwater. The lower share price would cut the value of the restricted shares Walker received to $2.48mn from $2.76mn. In addition, the share price decline likely puts at risk at least some of the estimated value of stock that Walker could earn as the final amount he will receive is tied to performance targets, according to an analysis by Houston executive pay consulting firm Longnecker & Associates. Anadarko declined to comment on the analysis. The oil industry does not seem to be headed for a major showdown with activist investors over compensation just yet. Boards are unlikely to make up for the lower value of stock awards by boosting bonuses or sweetening packages in other major ways, said Chris Crawford, president of Longnecker. “That would be tone deaf” at a time when the industry is already cutting capital expenditures and laying off workers, he said. David Winters, the Wintergreen Advisers fund manager known for raising concerns about whether executive compensation at Coca-Cola Co was too high, said he is satisfied with executive compensation plans at two Canadian oil companies he holds, Birchcliff Energy Ltd and Canadian Natural Resources, whose share prices through Friday had fallen 49% and 21% respectively off their highs from last summer. Winters said via email: “We like the way their pay is structured. It rewards them for adding value for shareholders, not riding the swings in oil prices.” production outside of Appalachia, the company said on January 15. Cabot plans to increase output by 20% to 30% in 2015, and will “re-accelerate activity” once the new Constitution pipeline from Pennsylvania to upstate New York comes into service later this year or in 2016, the company said in November. “All these companies tell us the growth rate will be maintained,” Gheit said. “Gas prices continue to be lower because people are convinced no matter how low gas prices go, these guys are not going to stop growing.” Oil price fall exacerbated by hedging, energy firms’ debt, says BIS Reuters London Oil’s dramatic price fall since mid-2014 cannot be explained by changes in production and consumption alone, with hedging and energy firms’ high debt levels also playing a part, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) said on Saturday. The BIS compared oil’s recent fall, which saw prices collapse to below $50 a barrel from levels of above $100, with declines in 1996 and 2006 and concluded that unlike on previous occasions, this time oil production has been close to expectations and consumption was only slightly below forecasts. “The steepness of the price decline and very large day-to-day price changes are reminiscent of a financial asset,” said the organisation, representing central banks around the world. While the recent Opec decision not to cut production “has been key to the fall”, other factors could have exacerbated it, the BIS said. These included increased indebtedness in the oil sector in recent years. The Basel-based organisation said this greater debt burden may have had an influence on the oil market itself. “Against this background of high debt, a fall in the price of oil weakens the balance sheets of producers and tightens credit conditions, potentially exacerbating the price drop as a result of sales of oil assets,” it said. The BIS said reduced cash flows as a result of a lower oil price heightened the risk of firms being unable to meet interest payments and this could lead them to continue pumping oil to maintain cash flows, delaying a reduction in supply. This may be a particular factor in emerging markets where a stronger dollar would hit indebted companies even harder. An increased reliance by oil producers on swap dealers as counterparties for their hedging since 2010 may also have played a part. Dealers may “at times of heightened volatility and balance sheet strain for leveraged entities... become less willing to sell protection to oil producers,” the BIS said. Libya’s Hariga oil port shut by strike Reuters Benghazi, Libya L ibya’s eastern oil export port Hariga shut down due to a strike of security guards, a port official said yesterday, closing the country’s last functioning export port apart from two offshore fields. The closure will lower oil output to less than 300,000 bpd, a fraction of the 1.6mn Libya used to pump before the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. Libya is in the middle of a power struggle between two governments and parliaments allied to armed factions fighting for legitimacy, territory and oil facilities . Hariga in Tobruk, an eastern city near the Egyptian border, used to export around 120,000 bpd. Only Brega port is still open but it is used to supply the 120,000 bpd-Zawiya refinery with crude. All other ports and most oilfields have shut down due to fighting nearby or pipeline blockages by rival factions. The guards at Hariga complained their salaries had not been paid, preventing Greekregistered Minerva Zoe from loading 725,000 barrels of oil, the official said. The port closed on Saturday morning. The fall of oil exports to a trickle has led to a budget crisis, delaying salary payments and halting development projects and hampering the supply hospitals with drugs. Hariga has closed several times due to strikes over payment demands from security guards, which have been resolved within a week or two. Libya’s two biggest oil export ports, Es Sider and Ras Lanuf, shut in December when an armed faction allied to a selfdeclared Tripoli government moved east trying to seize them. The internationally-recognised government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni has been forced to work from the east since August when a faction called Libya Dawn seized Tripoli, reinstating the old parliament and setting up a rival administration. A general view of the Hariga oil port and loading installation in Tobruk, Libya (file). The closure of Hariga will lower oil output to less than 300,000 bpd, a fraction of the 1.6mn Libya used to pump before the 2011 uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi. 6 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 BUSINESS SAUDI ARABIA Company Name QATAR Company Name Zad Holding Co Widam Food Co Vodafone Qatar United Development Co Salam International Investme Qatar & Oman Investment Co Qatar Navigation Qatar National Cement Co Qatar National Bank Qatar Islamic Insurance Qatar Industrial Manufactur Qatar International Islamic Qatari Investors Group Qatar Islamic Bank Qatar Gas Transport(Nakilat) Qatar General Insurance & Re Qatar German Co For Medical Qatar Fuel Co Qatar Electricity & Water Co Qatar Cinema & Film Distrib Qatar Insurance Co Ooredoo Qsc National Leasing Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Dev Mesaieed Petrochemical Holdi Al Meera Consumer Goods Co Medicare Group Mannai Corporation Qsc Masraf Al Rayan Al Khalij Commercial Bank Industries Qatar Islamic Holding Group Gulf Warehousing Company Gulf International Services Ezdan Holding Group Doha Insurance Co Doha Bank Qsc Dlala Holding Commercial Bank Of Qatar Qsc Barwa Real Estate Co Al Khaleej Takaful Group Aamal Co Lt Price 86.00 64.00 18.55 25.15 15.48 16.70 105.70 145.00 193.10 85.10 47.75 85.00 40.35 109.20 24.50 59.00 10.82 218.00 199.10 47.00 88.80 114.50 22.40 21.70 29.45 215.00 129.30 105.60 50.50 21.80 155.00 120.00 60.00 109.10 17.00 27.20 58.90 44.65 70.00 51.10 54.40 19.00 % Chg 2.26 4.23 8.23 -1.37 -10.00 1.83 0.67 0.00 0.57 1.43 1.60 1.19 2.67 -0.73 1.66 7.27 9.96 0.14 0.86 0.00 0.11 -0.17 7.18 2.79 -1.34 0.00 1.02 -2.13 -0.98 0.46 0.45 -1.64 0.00 0.09 3.03 0.74 0.86 0.11 -0.85 4.29 1.12 8.32 Volume 1,020 196,161 10,082,054 1,955,114 2,090,674 1,224,534 102,209 29,079 137,905 14,880 2,724 224,002 196,734 121,311 1,310,176 17,587 512,928 44,502 80,603 36,183 96,587 2,668,880 2,153,814 327,048 18,257 41,869 75,474 892,409 11,064 229,594 95,102 61,745 542,722 6,222,562 12,584 373,426 136,321 157,162 2,966,434 122,740 4,666,857 SAUDI ARABIA Company Name Saudi Hollandi Bank Al-Ahsa Development Co. Al-Baha Development & Invest Ace Arabia Cooperative Insur Allied Cooperative Insurance Arriyadh Development Company Fitaihi Holding Group Arabia Insurance Cooperative Al Abdullatif Industrial Inv Al-Ahlia Cooperative Insuran Al Alamiya Cooperative Insur Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev Al Babtain Power & Telecommu Bank Albilad Alujain Corporation (Alco) Aldrees Petroleum And Transp Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair & C Alinma Bank Alinma Tokio Marine Al Khaleej Training And Educ Abdullah A.M. Al-Khodari Son Allianz Saudi Fransi Coopera Almarai Co Saudi Integrated Telecom Co Alsorayai Group Al Tayyar Travel Group Amana Cooperative Insurance Anaam International Holding Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Arabian Pipes Co Advanced Petrochemicals Co Al Rajhi Co For Co-Operative Arabian Cement Arab National Bank Ash-Sharqiyah Development Co United Wire Factories Compan Astra Industrial Group Alahli Takaful Co Aseer Axa Cooperative Insurance Basic Chemical Industries Bishah Agriculture Bank Al-Jazira Banque Saudi Fransi United International Transpo Bupa Arabia For Cooperative Buruj Cooperative Insurance Saudi Airlines Catering Co Methanol Chemicals Co City Cement Co Eastern Province Cement Co Etihad Atheeb Telecommunicat Etihad Etisalat Co Emaar Economic City Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insu United Electronics Co Falcom Saudi Equity Etf Filing & Packing Materials M Wafrah For Industry And Deve Falcom Petrochemical Etf Gulf General Cooperative Ins Jazan Development Co Gulf Union Cooperative Insur Halwani Bros Co Hail Cement Herfy Food Services Co Al Jouf Agriculture Developm Jarir Marketing Co Jabal Omar Development Co Al Jouf Cement Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co Knowledge Economic City Kingdom Holding Co Saudi Arabian Mining Co Malath Cooperative & Reinsur Makkah Construction & Devepl Mediterranean & Gulf Insuran Middle East Specialized Cabl Mohammad Al Mojil Group Co Mouwasat Medical Services Co The National Agriculture Dev Najran Cement Co Nama Chemicals Co National Gypsum National Gas & Industrializa National Industrialization C Maadaniyah National Shipping Co Of/The National Petrochemical Co Rabigh Refining And Petroche Al Qassim Agricultural Co Qassim Cement/The Red Sea Housing Services Co Saudi Research And Marketing Riyad Bank Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co Lt Price 45.47 16.98 13.50 64.21 27.20 22.97 24.36 20.25 39.30 15.74 63.00 10.37 41.17 49.28 23.43 58.84 110.07 23.46 53.28 68.88 34.83 44.81 82.64 24.30 18.83 134.33 16.09 32.91 113.94 21.74 51.09 45.43 79.59 33.75 93.39 39.55 37.96 53.25 28.81 38.24 37.83 69.75 29.40 35.34 78.83 175.12 45.55 196.00 14.00 23.11 61.32 8.01 38.34 15.01 30.64 98.10 31.70 57.99 42.23 28.60 31.87 17.00 20.75 91.17 25.30 117.68 46.92 204.95 59.43 16.19 13.70 20.96 19.98 39.49 34.50 84.80 53.33 25.69 12.55 131.40 40.27 30.73 13.56 29.84 32.63 28.26 37.61 38.21 27.10 21.25 15.37 95.96 43.68 19.60 17.95 61.08 14.80 % Chg 0.26 0.95 0.00 0.91 0.55 -0.13 1.46 0.65 1.52 0.83 -9.68 -0.67 4.04 2.60 2.90 3.35 -1.19 2.49 1.39 1.23 2.53 1.31 1.71 0.00 5.73 0.54 -0.43 0.86 -0.69 1.97 2.08 0.55 1.92 1.29 1.15 0.89 1.42 0.34 0.42 0.37 0.08 0.00 1.59 0.45 3.40 4.21 5.91 -0.07 3.55 1.05 -0.78 -0.74 -0.26 2.46 0.99 0.36 -0.94 4.47 0.72 0.00 2.21 1.55 1.07 0.21 1.00 0.16 2.18 0.57 2.91 1.50 9.95 1.95 5.38 5.25 0.52 1.42 -0.76 3.21 0.00 2.70 2.91 -0.13 1.73 2.90 0.25 3.18 1.62 0.50 7.33 4.63 4.56 1.51 2.82 1.03 0.84 1.85 1.51 Volume 795,552 5,969,134 167,228 650,891 1,565,471 327,634 388,927 204,051 867,846 26,274 66,390,159 562,906 692,324 1,855,329 320,160 601,396 64,469,381 378,235 355,159 3,887,401 465,692 260,763 2,836,253 409,938 1,137,505 734,555 297,020 1,635,342 1,653,065 319,719 494,421 340,893 1,390,447 405,285 3,619,359 389,223 960,579 1,050,916 290,300 4,555,710 502,540 170,575 310,226 929,991 39,436 9,621,824 3,495,887 570,919 7,364,230 6,026,641 5,528,414 847,809 156,394 1,000 1,285,185 836,876 638,673 1,514,783 879,887 83,523 607,754 11,300 269,502 62,221 3,666,913 3,012,483 83,346,141 3,967,302 1,682,620 20,875,003 2,411,768 102,618 1,712,681 5,540,746 115,589 2,633,836 315,510 5,228,384 415,252 65,920 5,348,739 1,838,075 633,441 1,118,710 11,972,295 4,209,418 122,087 471,404 839,459 1,771,578 4,901,667 2,313,398 Saudi British Bank Sabb Takaful Saudi Basic Industries Corp Saudi Cement Sasco Saudi Dairy & Foodstuff Co Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co Al Sagr Co-Operative Insuran Saudi Advanced Industries Saudi Arabian Coop Ins Co Salama Cooperative Insurance Samba Financial Group Sanad Cooperative Insurance Saudi Public Transport Co Saudi Arabia Refineries Co Hsbc Amanah Saudi 20 Etf Saudi Re For Cooperative Rei Savola Saudi Cable Co Saudi Chemical Company Saudi Ceramic Saudi Electricity Co Saudi Fisheries Al-Hassan G.I. Shaker Co Dur Hospitality Co Arabian Shield Cooperative Saudi Investment Bank/The Saudi Industrial Development Saudi Industrial Export Co KUWAIT Lt Price 55.37 36.40 96.88 97.46 28.71 122.25 153.50 32.53 22.92 44.21 31.34 47.02 15.23 26.87 68.47 30.10 10.01 80.21 10.50 67.05 117.63 16.39 30.99 76.50 34.32 43.18 28.34 17.20 57.78 % Chg 1.82 0.58 3.12 -1.83 2.72 0.62 0.47 2.85 2.09 0.80 0.03 0.88 0.00 1.28 0.28 0.00 0.81 0.70 1.25 -1.11 1.62 2.12 3.20 0.42 1.48 -0.48 1.21 1.47 2.94 Volume 150,921 573,706 3,343,073 416,838 1,170,274 28,962 123,162 1,466,774 1,255,794 269,389 431,834 1,097,361 2,166,974 386,287 102 3,130,373 432,836 1,355,868 1,074,363 244,702 3,850,428 1,031,026 132,936 91,995 542,369 276,069 1,907,872 1,339,969 KUWAIT Company Name Securities Group Co Viva Kuwait Telecom Co Sultan Center Food Products Kuwait Foundry Co Sak Kuwait Financial Centre Sak Ajial Real Estate Entmt Gulf Glass Manuf Co -Kscc Kuwait Finance & Investment National Industries Co Kuwait Real Estate Holding C Securities House/The Boubyan Petrochemicals Co Al Ahli Bank Of Kuwait Ahli United Bank (Almutahed) National Bank Of Kuwait Commercial Bank Of Kuwait Kuwait International Bank Gulf Bank Al-Massaleh Real Estate Co Al Arabiya Real Estate Co Kuwait Remal Real Estate Co Alkout Industrial Projects C A’ayan Real Estate Co Investors Holding Group Co.K Markaz Real Estate Fund Al-Mazaya Holding Co Al-Madar Finance & Invt Co Gulf Petroleum Investment Mabanee Co Sakc City Group Inovest Co Bsc Kuwait Gypsum Manufacturing Al-Deera Holding Co Alshamel International Hold Mena Real Estate Co National Slaughter House Amar Finance & Leasing Co United Projects Group Kscc National Consumer Holding Co Amwal International Investme Jeeran Holdings Equipment Holding Co K.S.C.C Nafais Holding Safwan Trading & Contracting Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Gulf Finance House Ec Energy House Holding Co Kscc Kuwait Slaughter House Co Kuwait Co For Process Plant Al Maidan Dental Clinic Co K National Ranges Company Kuwait Pipes Indus & Oil Ser Al-Themar Real International Al Ahleia Insurance Co Sak Wethaq Takaful Insurance Co Salbookh Trading Co K.S.C.C Aqar Real Estate Investments Hayat Communications Kuwait Packing Materials Mfg Soor Fuel Marketing Co Ksc Alargan International Real Burgan Co For Well Drilling Kuwait Resorts Co Kscc Oula Fuel Marketing Co Palms Agro Production Co Ikarus Petroleum Industries Mubarrad Transport Co Al Mowasat Health Care Co Shuaiba Industrial Co Kuwait Invest Co Holding Hits Telecom Holding First Takaful Insurance Co Kuwaiti Syrian Holding Co National Cleaning Company Eyas For High & Technical Ed United Real Estate Company Agility Kuwait & Middle East Fin Inv Fujairah Cement Industries Livestock Transport & Tradng International Resorts Co National Industries Grp Hold Marine Services Co Warba Insurance Co Kuwait United Poultry Co First Dubai Real Estate Deve Al Arabi Group Holding Co Kuwait Hotels Co Mobile Telecommunications Co Al Safat Real Estate Co Tamdeen Real Estate Co Ksc Al Mudon Intl Real Estate Co Kuwait Cement Co Ksc Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Kuwait Portland Cement Co Educational Holding Group Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Kuwait China Investment Co Kuwait Investment Co Burgan Bank Kuwait Projects Co Holdings Al Madina For Finance And In Kuwait Insurance Co Al Masaken Intl Real Estate Intl Financial Advisors First Investment Co Kscc Al Mal Investment Company Bayan Investment Co Kscc Egypt Kuwait Holding Co Sae Coast Investment Development Privatization Holding Compan Kuwait Medical Services Co Injazzat Real State Company Kuwait Cable Vision Sak Sanam Real Estate Co Kscc Ithmaar Bank Bsc Aviation Lease And Finance C Arzan Financial Group For Fi Ajwan Gulf Real Estate Co Manafae Investment Co Kuwait Business Town Real Es Future Kid Entertainment And Specialities Group Holding C Abyaar Real Eastate Developm Dar Al Thuraya Real Estate C Lt Price 102.00 790.00 94.00 315.00 112.00 210.00 550.00 73.00 200.00 37.00 84.00 580.00 395.00 650.00 900.00 600.00 270.00 300.00 77.00 48.50 73.00 0.00 112.00 38.50 1.54 138.00 24.00 92.00 1,020.00 460.00 66.00 0.00 13.00 0.00 38.50 152.00 65.00 760.00 118.00 34.00 59.00 106.00 88.00 0.00 124.00 25.00 112.00 212.00 248.00 0.00 37.00 0.00 92.00 485.00 56.00 148.00 0.00 69.00 450.00 160.00 182.00 182.00 94.00 162.00 128.00 152.00 81.00 174.00 275.00 0.00 33.00 0.00 0.00 78.00 310.00 100.00 780.00 39.00 76.00 132.00 40.00 196.00 108.00 108.00 180.00 78.00 158.00 0.00 540.00 24.50 450.00 116.00 390.00 91.00 1,340.00 150.00 0.00 51.00 140.00 465.00 680.00 32.00 300.00 74.00 41.50 0.00 33.50 66.00 210.00 63.00 63.00 90.00 71.00 32.00 59.00 49.50 236.00 50.00 38.50 60.00 36.50 120.00 130.00 35.00 0.00 % Chg -5.56 -1.25 1.08 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.29 0.00 7.25 1.20 0.00 -1.25 -1.52 1.12 0.00 1.89 0.00 4.05 5.43 0.00 0.00 3.70 6.94 0.00 -1.43 4.35 0.00 -1.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.49 -1.67 -1.85 -1.12 0.00 0.00 2.04 0.00 2.91 0.00 0.00 7.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.70 7.25 0.00 -1.43 0.00 3.90 -1.09 0.00 2.17 3.85 0.00 0.00 6.58 0.00 5.77 0.00 3.13 0.00 0.00 5.41 0.00 0.00 -1.27 -3.70 0.00 0.00 3.90 0.00 0.00 -1.82 0.00 1.30 0.00 0.00 1.89 4.26 0.00 3.57 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.00 -2.78 0.00 0.00 1.59 3.45 -1.33 3.75 0.00 1.52 0.00 5.00 3.28 3.28 0.00 -1.39 6.67 -4.84 1.02 0.00 2.04 2.67 -7.69 1.39 0.00 1.56 4.48 0.00 Volume 118 2,052,351 31,300 77,063 50,000 10,500 2,000 380,124 49 3,051 1,687,200 956 513,228 3,273 2,850,256 948,420 741,470 113,700 25,600 7,851,890 3,415,114 5,644,420 17,299,401 8,457,665 463,500 1,240,146 513,220 3,885 163,550 3,002,000 50,000 10 50,100 3,500 10 378,500 24,900 2,143,934 17,500 20 36,060,694 241,800 1,500 60 34,407,780 2,109 660 356,680 4,119,472 1,958,694 6,739 910,304 100 10 1,046,383 306,359 30,000 25,900 676,720 6,448 1,860,978 4,279,456 1,515,940 50 158,484 227,168 1,000 70,100 70,000 425,699 678,257 50,010 328 20,100 4,353,843 10,000 1,452,587 13,517,338 3,939 1,436,473 1,741 231,400 50 71 174,658 703,019 201,778 1,180,149 3,346,323 6,121 135,100 4,496,926 5,107,261 2,738,960 10 2,971,319 1,629,593 200 100,000 40 8,064 5,842,830 5,086 298,402 5,714,510 100,000 994,402 43,540 70,000 30,369,903 - Company Name Al-Dar National Real Estate Kgl Logistics Company Kscc Combined Group Contracting Zima Holding Co Ksc Qurain Holding Co Boubyan Intl Industries Hold Gulf Investment House Boubyan Bank K.S.C Ahli United Bank B.S.C Al-Safat Tec Holding Co Al-Eid Food Co Al-Qurain Petrochemicals Co Advanced Technology Co Ekttitab Holding Co S.A.K.C Kout Food Group Ksc Real Estate Trade Centers Co Acico Industries Co Kscc Kipco Asset Management Co National Petroleum Services Alimtiaz Investment Co Kscc Ras Al Khaimah White Cement Kuwait Reinsurance Co Ksc Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Human Soft Holding Co Ksc Automated Systems Co Metal & Recycling Co Gulf Franchising Holding Co Al-Enma’a Real Estate Co National Mobile Telecommuni Al Bareeq Holding Co Kscc Union Real Estate Co Housing Finance Co Sak Al Salam Group Holding Co United Foodstuff Industries Al Aman Investment Company Mashaer Holdings Co Ksc Manazel Holding Mushrif Trading & Contractin Tijara And Real Estate Inves Kuwait Building Materials Jazeera Airways Commercial Real Estate Co Future Communications Co National International Co Taameer Real Estate Invest C Gulf Cement Co Heavy Engineering And Ship B Refrigeration Industries & S National Real Estate Co Al Safat Energy Holding Comp Kuwait National Cinema Co Danah Alsafat Foodstuff Co Independent Petroleum Group Kuwait Real Estate Co Ksc Salhia Real Estate Co Ksc Gulf Cable & Electrical Ind Al Nawadi Holding Co Ksc Kuwait Finance House Gulf North Africa Holding Co OMAN Lt Price 26.50 106.00 900.00 100.00 11.00 76.00 62.00 480.00 234.00 58.00 0.00 196.00 910.00 46.00 840.00 33.50 300.00 98.00 0.00 83.00 128.00 200.00 66.00 415.00 425.00 82.00 54.00 73.00 1,400.00 0.00 150.00 0.00 68.00 192.00 83.00 134.00 52.00 70.00 58.00 0.00 510.00 93.00 122.00 67.00 37.00 92.00 142.00 355.00 144.00 23.50 1,020.00 82.00 400.00 75.00 370.00 660.00 118.00 790.00 39.50 % Chg 6.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.80 1.64 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.37 0.00 6.35 -4.76 -1.01 0.00 2.47 0.00 0.00 1.54 -5.68 6.25 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.49 0.00 1.22 3.08 1.96 4.48 1.75 0.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 1.52 1.37 1.10 5.97 0.00 -2.70 2.17 0.00 0.00 5.26 5.63 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.28 Volume 16,868,880 289,614 5,000 126,695 838,859 3,807,104 2,850,577 743,864 545,750 200 99,386 1,500 441,501 45,000 229,849 100 56,000 4,455,880 915 500 4,389,360 24,500 110 3,510 3,500 327,496 144 50 3,190,414 3,992 375,766 50,070 6,185,334 2,110,019 854,520 889,828 740,555 168,105 1,383,874 104,540 499,980 12,040 10 100,000 7,175,055 1,768,392 6,489,888 755 6,790,732 10,010 5,000 13,500 1,431,077 2,801,910 OMAN Company Name Voltamp Energy Saog United Finance Co United Power Co United Power/Energy Co- Pref Al Madina Investment Co Taageer Finance Salalah Port Services A’saffa Foods Saog Sohar Poultry Shell Oman Marketing Shell Oman Marketing - Pref Smn Power Holding Saog Al Shurooq Inv Ser Al Sharqiya Invest Holding Sohar Power Co Salalah Beach Resort Saog Salalah Mills Co Sahara Hospitality Renaissance Services Saog Raysut Cement Co Port Service Corporation Packaging Co Ltd Oman United Insurance Co Oman Textile Holding Co Saog Oman Telecommunications Co Sweets Of Oman Oman Orix Leasing Co. Oman Refreshment Co Oman Packaging Oman Oil Marketing Company 0Man Oil Marketing Co-Pref Oman National Investment Co Oman National Engineering An Oman National Dairy Products Ominvest Oman Medical Projects Oman Ceramic Com Oman Intl Marketing Oman Investment & Finance Hsbc Bank Oman Oman Hotels & Tourism Co Oman Holding International Oman Fiber Optics Oman Flour Mills Oman Filters Industry Oman Fisheries Co Oman Education & Training In Oman & Emirates Inv(Om)50% Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% Oman Europe Foods Industries Oman Cement Co Oman Chlorine Oman Chromite Oman Cables Industry Oman Agricultural Dev Omani Qatari Telecommunicati National Securities Oman Foods International Soa National Pharmaceutical-Rts National Pharmaceutical National Packaging Fac National Mineral Water National Hospitality Institu National Gas Co National Finance Co National Detergents/The National Carpet Factory National Bank Of Oman Saog National Biscuit Industries National Real Estate Develop Natl Aluminium Products Muscat Thread Mills Co Muscat Insurance Company Modern Poultry Farms Muscat National Holding Musandam Marketing & Invest Al Maha Petroleum Products M Muscat Gases Company Saog Majan Glass Company Muscat Finance Al Kamil Power Co Interior Hotels Hotels Management Co Interna Al-Hassan Engineering Co Gulf Stone Gulf Mushroom Company Gulf Invest. Serv. Pref-Shar Gulf Investments Services Gulf International Chemicals Gulf Hotels (Oman) Co Ltd Global Fin Investment Galfar Engineering&Contract Galfar Engineering -Prefer Financial Services Co. Flexible Ind Packages Lt Price 0.41 0.15 1.82 1.00 0.00 0.17 0.65 0.78 0.21 2.00 1.05 0.66 1.04 0.20 0.37 1.38 1.49 2.45 0.48 1.85 0.33 0.48 0.35 0.27 1.76 1.35 0.16 2.45 0.26 2.22 0.25 0.42 0.30 0.00 0.46 0.00 0.45 0.52 0.25 0.00 0.23 0.00 5.51 0.58 0.00 0.07 0.14 0.16 0.00 1.00 0.51 0.56 3.64 2.00 1.45 0.00 0.17 0.52 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.06 2.05 0.57 0.15 0.70 0.00 0.38 3.75 0.00 0.34 0.15 0.00 0.00 1.86 0.00 2.18 0.83 0.24 0.15 0.31 0.00 1.25 0.13 0.08 0.43 0.16 0.19 0.20 10.50 0.11 0.18 0.43 0.17 0.00 % Chg 0.00 0.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 8.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.51 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.42 -0.54 1.88 0.00 6.02 0.00 0.29 0.00 3.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.48 0.00 0.00 2.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.39 0.00 6.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -4.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.59 -7.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.97 0.00 0.00 -2.52 0.00 0.50 0.00 -1.74 3.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 2,200 536,906 429,570 39,898,654 200 410,000 12,610 308,822 352,708 33,348 1,928,075 51,340 31,000 91,900 16,000 1,490,350 1,000 12,820 1,858,242 1,500 14,965 896,118 65,000 15,000 55,566 1,307,156 18,000 11,316,311 108,206 633,175 894,507 - Company Name Financial Corp/The Dhofar Tourism Dhofar Poultry Aloula Co Dhofar Intl Development Dhofar Insurance Dhofar University Dhofar Power Co Dhofar Power Co-Pfd Dhofar Fisheries & Food Indu Dhofar Cattlefeed Al Batinah Dev & Inv Dhofar Beverages Co Computer Stationery Inds Construction Materials Ind Cement & Gypsum Pro Marine Bander Al-Rowdha Bank Sohar Bankmuscat Saog Bank Dhofar Saog Al Batinah Hotels Majan College Areej Vegetable Oils Al Jazeera Steel Products Co Al Sallan Food Industry Acwa Power Barka Saog Al-Omaniya Financial Service Taghleef Industries Saog Gulf Plastic Industries Co Al Jazeera Services Al Jazerah Services -Pfd Al-Fajar Al-Alamia Co Ahli Bank Abrasives Manufacturing Co S Al-Batinah Intl Saog Lt Price 0.13 0.49 0.18 0.53 0.53 0.23 1.47 0.00 0.00 1.28 0.18 0.20 0.26 0.25 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.24 0.64 0.37 1.13 0.50 5.51 0.35 0.00 0.82 0.33 0.00 0.39 0.37 0.55 0.75 0.23 0.05 0.00 % Chg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.67 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.70 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.27 0.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.66 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 25,000 10,000 306,260 115,938 365,885 302,644 100,579 343,076 203,129 1,247,998 - UAE Company Name National Takaful Company Waha Capital Pjsc Union Insurance Co Union National Bank/Abu Dhab United Insurance Company Union Cement Co United Arab Bank Abu Dhabi National Takaful C Abu Dhabi National Energy Co #N/A Invalid Security Sorouh Real Estate Company Sharjah Insurance Company Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Ras Al Khaima Poultry Ras Al Khaimah White Cement Rak Properties Ras Al-Khaimah National Insu Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics Ras Al Khaimah Cement Co National Bank Of Ras Al-Khai Ooredoo Qsc Umm Al Qaiwain Cement Indust Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% National Marine Dredging Co National Corp Tourism & Hote Sharjah Islamic Bank National Bank Of Umm Al Qaiw National Bank Of Fujairah National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Methaq Takaful Insurance #N/A Invalid Security Gulf Pharmaceutical Ind-Julp Invest Bank Insurance House Gulf Medical Projects Gulf Livestock Co Green Crescent Insurance Co Gulf Cement Co Foodco Holding Finance House First Gulf Bank Fujairah Cement Industries Fujairah Building Industries Emirates Telecom Corporation Eshraq Properties Co Pjsc Emirates Insurance Co. (Psc) Emirates Driving Company Al Dhafra Insurance Co. P.S. Dana Gas Commercial Bank Internationa Bank Of Sharjah Abu Dhabi Natl Co For Buildi Al Wathba National Insurance Intl Fish Farming Co Pjsc Arkan Building Materials Co Aldar Properties Pjsc Al Ain Ahlia Ins. Co. Al Khazna Insurance Co Agthia Group Pjsc Al Fujairah National Insuran Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co Abu Dhabi National Insurance Abu Dhabi National Hotels Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Abu Dhabi Aviation Lt Price 0.75 3.15 1.19 5.63 2.00 1.31 7.00 7.24 0.80 0.00 0.00 3.85 1.10 1.27 1.50 0.80 3.80 3.00 0.96 8.18 143.50 1.23 1.20 6.90 6.30 1.82 3.50 4.85 13.85 0.78 0.00 3.00 2.90 1.00 2.00 2.70 0.72 1.10 4.60 3.45 18.00 1.35 1.45 11.15 0.84 7.00 5.00 7.70 0.48 2.00 1.90 0.79 5.35 7.48 1.08 2.56 60.00 0.41 6.15 300.00 1.76 6.08 3.75 5.22 7.20 3.00 % Chg 0.00 -0.63 0.00 -0.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.27 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.56 0.00 -1.64 1.05 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.84 4.00 0.00 0.00 -0.34 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.77 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.13 14.29 0.00 5.33 0.00 0.00 3.85 -0.78 0.00 0.00 2.50 0.00 -0.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.13 0.00 Volume 2,133,735 206,301 218,244 24,782,954 72,518 69,110 322,438 1,420,624 22,000 11,000 12,900 2,461,091 1,840,279 110,072,389 256,700 24,849,414 1,625 30,000 236,547 13,119,926 5,000 263,396 29,267 1,204,626 1,083,192 - BAHRAIN Company Name United Paper Industries Bsc United Gulf Investment Corp United Gulf Bank United Finance Co Trafco Group Bsc Takaful International Co Taib Bank -$Us Securities & Investment Co Seef Properties #N/A Invalid Security Al-Salam Bank Delmon Poultry Co National Hotels Co National Bank Of Bahrain Nass Corp Bsc Khaleeji Commercial Bank Ithmaar Bank Bsc Investcorp Bank -$Us Inovest Co Bsc Intl Investment Group-Kuwait Gulf Monetary Group Global Investment House Kpsc Gulf Finance House Ec Bahrain Family Leisure Co Esterad Investment Co B.S.C. Bahrain Duty Free Complex Bahrain Car Park Co Bahrain Cinema Co Bahrain Tourism Co Bahraini Saudi Bank/The Bahrain National Holding Bankmuscat Saog Bmmi Bsc Bmb Investment Bank Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Bahrain Islamic Bank Gulf Hotel Group B.S.C Bahrain Flour Mills Co Bahrain Commercial Facilitie Bbk Bsc Bahrain Telecom Co Bahrain Ship Repair & Engin Albaraka Banking Group Banader Hotels Co Ahli United Bank B.S.C Lt Price 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.19 0.00 0.14 0.00 0.30 0.86 0.18 0.05 0.17 451.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.12 0.21 0.88 ` 1.54 0.25 0.00 0.48 0.00 0.88 0.00 0.00 0.15 0.85 0.40 0.00 0.00 0.33 0.00 0.81 0.00 0.80 % Chg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.78 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.94 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 25,097 54,950 430,000 28,786 60,000 46,194 186,698 185,000 403 62,138 26,623 102,460 20,000 5,200 82,534 104,600 12,500 6,352 15,774 18,295 375,000 LATEST MARKET CLOSING FIGURES Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 13 BUSINESS China’s record trade surplus highlights weak demand Reuters Shanghai C hina’s trade performance slumped in January, with exports falling 3.3% from year-ago levels while imports tumbled 19.9%, far worse than analysts had expected and highlighting deepening weakness in the Chinese economy. Largely as a result of the sharply lower imports – particularly of coal, oil and commodities - China posted a record monthly trade surplus of $60bn. The data contrasted sharply with a Reuters poll which showed analysts expected exports to gain 6.3% and the slowdown in imports to slow to 3%, following a better-than-expected showing in December. The poll had also forecast a trade surplus of $48.9bn. The slide in imports is the sharpest since May 2009, when Chinese factories were still slashing inventories in reaction to the global financial crisis. Exports have not produced a negative annual reading since March 2014. The dismal trade performance will increase concerns that an economic slowdown in China - originally considered a desirable adjustment away from an investment-intensive export model toward one based on domestic consumption – is at risk of derailing. The government is expected to lower its GDP target to around 7% this year, after posting 7.4% in 2014 - the slowest pace in 24 years. Chinese economic indicators in January and February are typically viewed with caution given the distortions caused by the shifting week-long Lunar New Year holiday, and while the analyst median estimate was for a rise, the range of estimates was extremely wide. However the data - in particular the import data – is worrisome even after accounting for cyclical factors; last year the new year holiday idled factories and financial markets for a week in January, but this year the holiday comes in late February and January was a full month of business as usual. “It’s a very strange data print,” said Andrew Polk, economist at the Conference Board in Beijing, noting that exports tended to be less effected by the holiday than other indicators, but added he was more concerned by the implications of the startlingly negative import figure. “The import data suggests a substantial slowdown in the industrial sector. The first quarter looks to be pretty horrible.” Investors had hoped that the announcement of domestic stimulus spending plans, combined with moves to ease monetary policy, including a re- A truck drives past shipping containers at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. China’s trade performance slumped in January, with exports falling 3.3% from a year-ago levels while imports tumbled 19.9%, customs data showed yesterday. duction in banks’ reserve requirement ratios on Wednesday, would restore confidence and boost demand in China’s struggling manufacturing sector. However, many analysts believe measures taken so far to boost yuan liquidity are insufficient to do much more than offset surging capital outflows. Advocates of more aggressive action will seize on the weak January trade data to support their case. Chinese imports have fallen every Australia central bank cuts growth forecast AFP Sydney Australia’s central bank cut its forecasts for economic growth and inflation this year and warned unemployment would likely rise as the economy transitions away from a mining investment boom. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) said gross domestic product would expand 2.25-3.25% in 2015, compared with a November estimate of 2.50-3.50%. “Growth overall is now forecast to remain at a below-trend pace somewhat longer than had earlier been expected,” the RBA said in a quarterly economic update. The bank had hinted at lower growth rates last week when it cut interest rates to a record low of 2.25% in a bid to kickstart the economy. Friday’s update said the economy had grown at about 2.5% on average in the past two years but non-mining business investment was subdued. The RBA said growth in the year to June 2015 was expected to come in at 2.25%, the lower end of its November forecast of 2.0-3.0%. “GDP growth is forecast to remain a bit below trend over the course of this year, before picking up to an above-trend pace in the latter part of the forecast period as consumption growth improves, non-mining business investment lifts and LNG exports increase,” it said. The bank also lowered its inflation outlook to 2.0-3.0% this year, from the 2.25-3.25% forecast previously. The RBA said lower interest rates and the further depreciation of the Australian dollar, which has fallen about 9.0% against the US dollar since November, were expected to support demand. But unemployment, currently 6.1%, was likely to remain above 6.0% until mid-2017. “While leading indicators of labour demand have picked up since late 2013, at this stage they point to only modest employment growth and a slight rise in the unemployment rate in the near term,” it said. Pedestrians walk past the Reserve Bank of Australia headquarters in the central business district of Sydney. The RBA cut its forecasts for economic growth and inflation this year and warned unemployment would likely rise. month since October, seen as reflecting weak domestic demand, and the scale of January’s drop was mostly due to an across-the-board fall in import volumes of major commodities. For example, coal imports dropped nearly 40% to 16.78mn tonnes, down from December’s 27.22mn tonnes, and China also appeared to cut back on its strategic stocking of crude oil imports, which slid by 7.9% in volume terms. Imports from Australia and the Rus- sian Federation, both major fuel and commodity suppliers, slid by 35.3% and 28.7%, respectively. Chinese officials had predicted that monetary easing measures in Europe would boost demand for Chinese goods, and analysts polled by Reuters had also been optimistic that signs of economic strengthening in the US would support exports. However, the data showed that while exports to the US rose by 4.8% year-on-year to $35bn, exports to the European Union slid 4.6% to $33bn in the same period. Exports to Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan were also down, with exports to Japan slumping over 20%. During 2014, China’s total trade value increased by 3.4% from a year earlier, short of the official target of 7.5%, and some analysts have raised questions about whether export data was inflated by fake invoicing as firms speculated in the currency and commodities markets. Commodity imports slow in January after record December China’s imports of key commodities eased in January after the record high set in December, as expected as the earlier heavy purchases to take advantage of weak prices had swollen inventories, preliminary customs data released yesterday showed. China’s slowing economy – 7.4% growth in 2014 was the weakest in 24 years – has weighed on global markets as it is the world’s biggest buyer of iron ore, coal, copper and soy, and the second-largest crude oil importer after the US. The sharp falls in commodity imports helped result a record monthly trade surplus of $60bn. But analysts urged caution interpreting the trade data, as it would be distorted by the Lunar New Year holiday, which fell in January last year, and will fall in February this year. Customs data showed imports of iron ore at 78.57mn tonnes in January, down 9.5% from December. It recorded a similar decline over January 2014. “Steel demand in northern China has slowed as cold temperatures hampered construction activity along with the continued weakness in the property sector, forcing mills to hold back buying of raw material from Australia and Brazil,” said Hu Xiaodong, an analyst with Nanhua Futures in Hangzhou. Domestic iron ore prices fell 13% in January, suffering the biggest monthly fall since May 2013 due to oversupply and high inventories. Some Chinese steel mills have scheduled maintenance in a move to curb production. Imports of crude oil totalled 27.98mn tonnes, or 6.59mn barrels per day, in January, 0.6% below year ago levels and nearly 8% below December’s total. China’s crude imports had risen nearly 10% in 2014, as the government and state oil firms took advantage of steep falls in global prices to build stockpile. Imports of copper, at 410,000 tonnes in January, eased slightly from December but were down by nearly a quarter from a year earlier, as tight bank credit continued to deter smaller buyers even though domestic prices were high compared with those posted on the London Metal Exchange. Coal posted the steepest fall, with last month’s imports 38% below December at 16.78mn tonnes, and less than half the level imported in January last year. China’s coal mining was among the worst hit by the economic slowdown with many small mines closed due to the government’s campaign for clean air and efficiency. Mystery cloaks Disney’s future Magic Kingdom in Shanghai AFP Shanghai T he towers of Disney’s planned Magic Kingdom in Shanghai are wreathed in scaffolding and mystery after the US entertainment giant pushed back the opening of its first mainland China theme park to 2016. On a tightly-guarded, 3.9-squarekilometre site east of China’s commercial hub, a grey turret of the unfinished “Enchanted Storybook Castle” rises into the sky. There is no Disney branding at the main entrance, only a sign reading: “Shanghai International Tourism and Resort Zone”. It was originally due to be transformed in time to open this year, but Disney chairman and chief executive Bob Iger last week announced a delay, pushing the opening back to next spring. He attributed the change to an expansion in the park’s size and number of attractions. “The artistry, complexity, the magnitude and the detail, it’s all quite astonishing,” Iger said, calling the facility “spectacular”. But Shanghai authorities have not confirmed any plans to expand the project, and people familiar with it point to it following stricter environmental and labour standards than normal in China. The studios of Hollywood are competing not just for screen eyeballs in China—whose 1.37bn people generate the second-largest annual box office in the world—but also theme park visitors. The Shanghai Disney Resort will be the company’s third in Asia after Tokyo and Hong Kong. But its park in the former British colony can only partly serve the The castle under construction of the Shanghai Disney Resort’s in Pudong area. The towers of Disney’s planned Magic Kingdom in Shanghai are wreathed in scaffolding and mystery after the US entertainment giant pushed back the opening of its first mainland China theme park to 2016. Chinese market, while Universal Studios and DreamWorks Animation are planning rival attractions on the mainland. For Shanghai, the park represents the city’s tourism future following the World Expo in 2010. One Chinese academic estimates it will contribute $3.3bn to Shanghai’s economy every year and account for one% of the city’s annual gross domestic product. Disney and its Chinese partner, state-backed Shanghai Shendi Group, broke ground on the park in April 2011. Chinese construction is normally staggeringly fast, with towering skyscrapers and multi-lane highways changing urban landscapes at extraordinary pace. But a Shanghai official told AFP that said one delay arose after con- taminated soil on the site failed to meet environmental standards, prompting Disney to bring in a foreign contractor to remedy the problem. Workers removed topsoil up to a metre deep. A worker said that the builders were insisting on a standard eight-hour work day, preventing faster construction—unlike many other sites in China where labour laws are loosely enforced and routinely violated. Disney did not respond to a request for comment on the delay. As well as its Asian properties, the firm also has parks in the US states of California and Florida and near the French capital Paris—where there was outrage over the prospect of American cultural invasion when it was first proposed. The Shanghai government is promis- ing to finish a metro line extension linking to the park and other infrastructure this year. But city fathers also have another issue in mind after 36 people were killed in a stampede during New Year’s Eve celebrations. “Management of the Disney Resort’s huge flow of people is an extremely important issue,” Shanghai mayor Yang Xiong told reporters last month. “We believe Disney has a lot of experience, but we should also do our part to make full preparations.” With the opening of its first resort in mainland China, Disney is banking on Chinese parents willing to spend lavishly on their children and a rising middle class intent on travel. It has not announced prices for Shanghai, but an adult one-day ticket at the Hong Kong park costs $65, nearly a quarter of China’s average monthly disposable income last year. When the $5.5bn Shanghai facility opens, it will boast the biggest Disney castle in the world, a production of “The Lion King” in Chinese and a piratethemed zone based on the movie franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. An artificial mountain will loom over the park, becoming the highest hill in Shanghai’s Pudong district, and a 420room Disneyland Hotel is planned in an “elegant Art Nouveau style”, with another based on the Toy Story films. On a commercial level, an adjacent “Disneytown” will have 46,000 square metres (495,000 square feet) of shops, restaurants and a 1,200-seat theatre. He Jianmin of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, who has consulted for the city on the tourism zone, forecast the park will initially attract sevenmn visitors a year, eventually rising to 16mn. 14 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 BUSINESS Fed official says rate-rise confidence needs higher inflation Bloomberg Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Dennis Lockhart said he wants to see inflation move closer to the central bank’s 2% target before raising interest rates from near zero around mid-year or later. “I’d like to see some evidence that what we believe to be transient factors driving recent weak inflation readings are, in fact, passing,” Lockhart said in Naples, Florida. “I would like to see firming of inflation readings. This will give me confidence that the outlook on which important decisions will swing remains realistic and likely to play out.” The Federal Open Market Committee said last week it would be “patient” with its plans to raise interest rates. Chair Janet Yellen said in December that meant no tightening “for at least the next couple of meetings.” The central bank described the expansion as “solid,” while cautioning that inflation could decline further “in the near term.” Lockhart said last week’s jobs report was part of an improvement showing “that the economy is on a path to a satisfactory and desirable state of health.” With the unemployment rate falling over the past several years, “we would seem to be approaching an acceptable steady-state level of employment.” Employers in the US added 257,000 jobs in January, capping the biggest three-month jobs gain in 17 years, and wages increased the most since 2008, Labor Department data showed today. The unemployment rate rose to 5.7% from 5.6% as more than a million Americans streamed into the labour force seeking work. Even as the Fed approaches its goal of full employment, it is far from lifting inflation toward its target. “There are worrisome aspects of the current inflation picture, and reading underlying trends is problematic at present,” Lockhart said. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, based on personal consumption expenditures, rose 0.7% in December from a year earlier and has lingered below the central bank’s 2% goal for 32 months. Market-based expectations for inflation in the five years starting five years from now tumbled last month to 1.75%, the lowest since 1999. “As of today, I remain comfortable with the assumption that circumstances will come together around mid-year, or a little later, that will deliver sufficient confidence to begin normalization with the liftoff decision,” Lockhart said. “I won’t be more definitive than that. I think all possibilities from June on should remain open. I don’t at this juncture have a prediction or preference. Timing will depend on what the data tell us.” A former Georgetown University professor, Lockhart, 68, has led the Atlanta Fed since 2007. The Atlanta Fed district includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and portions of Louisiana, Lockhart: For new measures to boost growth. Mississippi, and Tennessee. Twitter chief allays concern with user growth forecast Reuters Mexico City M Bloomberg San Francisco D ick Costolo is getting a temporary reprieve from Wall Street criticism after Twitter posted quarterly revenue that topped estimates and forecast that the number of new users will pick up. The shares soared 16% after Twitter said that fourth-quarter revenue increased 97% to $479.1mn, with the net loss narrowing to $125.4mn. The San Francisco-based company also projected adding 13mn to 16mn users in the first quarter, up 4.5% sequentially faster than the 1.4% growth in the prior period. The stock increase added to gains so far this year that are reversing a 44% drop in 2014. Chief Executive Officer Costolo, who has been under fire for slowing user growth and management turbulence, is working to recover investors’ trust with new features to attract people to the microblogging site and to rev up advertising revenue. “We know they have the monetization tools to significantly grow the business,” said James Cakmak, an analyst at Monness Crespi Hardt & Co, adding that investors may forgive Twitter for slow user growth because of moves to distribute tweets more widely. “They get a pass this time.” In an interview, Costolo said user growth remains a top priority and added that he is confident Wall Street is gaining “an increasingly solid understanding of the strategy that we’ve laid out, the way we’re pursuing that strategy and how we think about evaluating ourselves as we exercise that strategy.” Twitter climbed to $48.01 at the close in New York, the biggest gain since July. The stock plunge last year compared with an 11% gain in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Twitter isn’t out of the woods with investors. Membership growth continues to decelerate year-over-year, even with the forecast for user growth to pick up sequentially in the current quarter. For the fourth quarter, monthly active users increased 20% from a year ago to 288mn, compared with 23% growth in the prior period. The company said the introduction of a new Mexico sees Pacific trade pact in first half of 2015 Costolo: Working to recover investors’ trust with new features. mobile operating system from Apple and integration issues cost it 4mn new users. For the first quarter, Twitter projected revenue of $440mn to $450mn, compared with the average analyst estimate of $449.9mn. “He did a great job taking some fairly negative results and putting them in a positive light,” Nate Elliott, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc, said of Costolo. “But the fact is, every quarter they make a big deal about how important it is to grow their user base, and every quarter they fail.” Costolo said on a conference call on Thursday that the slowdown of new monthly active users is already turning around. He added that the pace of product introductions has quickened. “You’ve already seen evidence of this improvement in our cadence of prod- uct launches,” he said. Costolo last year ousted his chief operating officer and switched his heads of finance, product and engineering. In November, Twitter held an analyst meeting where the CEO made a list of promises about how the company would accelerate the release of new features to retain and recruit users, such as tools to shoot and edit video, or send messages between groups of people. Twitter has sought to show it is making good on the promises, recently unveiling group chat and more video capabilities. The company on Thursday said it is testing a new homepage to draw people in, as well as “instant timelines” so new users can more easily get started on the service. “We launched or have public experiments out for nearly all of the features we talked about at the analyst day in November,” Costolo said on the call. The changes are intended to keep people glued to Twitter’s product for longer. In the fourth quarter, the company said its members viewed their timelines more often, with 182bn views, compared with 181bn in the prior quarter. Mobile advertising was 88% of total ad revenue in the fourth quarter, Twitter said. International revenue more than doubled. Costolo said on CNBC Friday that more needs to be done to help users grapple with nasty and abusive posts on the service. He said the company is working on algorithms to deal with the issue so that “the onus and the burden isn’t on the person being abused to report it,” adding that the company is making “aggressive efforts” to reduce trolls on Twitter. Twitter has addressed slowing user growth in the past by saying that a wider audience of people see tweets on news websites and television sets than they do on the company’s own site. Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday that Twitter has also struck a deal with Google to make tweets easier to find on the search engine, which Costolo confirmed on the conference call. The company is also extending advertising beyond its main site. This week, Twitter said it would push ads known as Promoted Tweets onto websites and apps from Flipboard and Yahoo Japan Corp Twitter is also working to convince outside developers to use its mobile-advertising marketplace, MoPub, to run ads on their games and applications. exico expects negotiations toward a 12-nation Asia-Pacific trade pact to be finalised during the first half of this year, Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade said. Mexico had previously said a deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) could be concluded in mid-March, though negotiators are still going over several issues including wrangling between the US and Japan over agriculture. A deal would still need to be approved by the US Senate, where President Barack Obama is likely to face resistance from some of his fellow Democrats. “We feel there are windows of opportunity for the treaty to reach its final stage during the first half of the year,” Meade said in an interview before a visit to London ahead of state visit by President Enrique Pena Nieto next month. “Mexico is ... ready and willing for an early conclusion, but is not in a position to determine the timeline,” he added. Late last month, US Trade Representative Michael Froman told lawmakers the pact could be wrapped up within months. Froman said sticking points included a lack of consensus on how long to protect the exclusivity of biologic drugs and gaps on other intellectual property protections, environmental protection rules, investment and stateowned enterprises. The TPP would link up a dozen Asia-Pacific economies by eliminating trade barriers and harmonising regulations in a pact covering two-fifths of the world economy and a third of all global trade. During the state visit to the United Kingdom, Meade said the Mexican delegation expected to hold talks with a host of companies, including oil majors as Mexico prepares to open up its oil fields to private and foreign investment. Anthem attack seen bearing signature of China-backed hackers Bloomberg Washington I nvestigators of Anthem’s data breach are pursuing evidence that points to Chinese state-sponsored hackers who are stealing personal information from healthcare companies for purposes other than pure profit, according to three people familiar with the probe. The breach, which exposed Social Security numbers and other sensitive details of 80mn customers, is one of the biggest thefts of medical-related customer data in US history. The attack appears to follow a pattern of thefts of medical data by foreigners seeking a pathway into the personal lives and computers of a select group – defence contractors, government workers and others, according to a US government official familiar with a more than year-long investigation into the evidence of a broader campaign. The Anthem theft follows breaches of companies including Target Corp, Home Depot and JPMorgan Chase & Co that have touched the private data of hundreds of millions of Americans and increased pressure on the US government to respond more forcefully. Though President Barack Obama promised action against North Korea after the destruction of property at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Corps and the government have struggled to come up with appropriate responses to attacks that fall into a gray area between espionage and crime. Technical details of the attack include “fingerprints” of a nation-state, according to two people familiar with the investigation, who said China is the early suspect. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, according to Anthem, which has hired FireEye, a Milpitas, California-based security company, to assist. China has said in the past that it doesn’t conduct espionage through hacking. The Chinese embassy in Washington didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Hackers could use stolen information – which Anthem said in its case included birthdates and e-mail addresses – to conduct “phishing” attacks on customers who unwittingly The Anthem website is displayed on a laptop computer in Washington. Anthem said hackers obtained data on tens of millions of current and former customers and employees in a sophisticated attack that has led to a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe. provide access to their companies’ networks. Government officials have been investigating whether foreign interests are using personal, financial or medical information as leverage to gain intelligence from people who want their information to stay private, according to the US official. Michael Daniel, President Obama’s chief adviser on cybersecurity, is an an Anthem customer who would be resetting his password, he said in a Bloomberg Web seminar early Thursday. Among those insured by Anthem have been employees of Northrop Grumman Corp, according to the insurer’s website, while the company has processed claims for workers at The Boeing Company in Missouri. Boeing has about 15,000 workers in Missouri, where the company’s defense unit is based. Those and other defence contractors could be of interest to foreign intelligence organizations. Anthem spokeswoman Kristin Binns declined to comment. John Dern, a spokesman for Boeing, and Mark Root, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman, didn’t immediately comment. Jenny Shearer, a spokeswoman for the FBI, declined to comment. In the past year, Chinese-sponsored hackers have taken prescription drug and health records and other information that could be used to create profiles of possible spy targets, according to Adam Meyers, vice president of intelligence at Crowdstrike, an Irvine, Califorinia-based cybersecurity firm. He declined to name any of the com- panies affected.“This goes well beyond trying to access health-care records,” Meyers said. “If you have a rich database of proclivities, health concerns and other personal information, it looks, from a Chinese intelligence perspective, as a way to augment human collection.” That doesn’t mean that personal information wouldn’t make its way to criminals, he cautioned, pointing to the possibility of moonlighting by hackers who work by day for China. A different major US health insurer was breached recently by Chinese hackers, according to a person involved in that investigation, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential. In that case, investigators concluded that the goal of the hack was to obtain information on the employees of a defence contractor that makes advanced avionics and other weaponry, said the person, who declined to identify the insurer. The hackers first hijacked a translation website that the insurer’s customer representatives used when dealing with foreign clients, using it to implant malware on the company’s computers, the person said. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 15 BUSINESS Harris buying Exelis signals defence consolidation amid cuts Bloomberg New York H Pump attendants work at a BP petrol station in Moscow. Oil majors BP and Shell, which have the biggest trading operations among international energy firms, have both reported improved results from trading divisions over the past week as part of their fourth quarter results. Global oil traders set to celebrate their best market for years Reuters London T he oil price crash has meant slashed budgets, staff layoffs and mothballed projects for big producers, but oil traders will celebrate their best market for years this week. As hundreds of dealers flock to London for the annual International Petroleum Week, cocktail circuit talk will be of the chance of huge returns after years of low volatility. For them the market presents near perfect conditions, mimicking the year after the 2008 oil crash when some booked their best profits in history. Then, those with the know-how and storage were able to lock-up millions of barrels of crude until prices eventually recovered. The bumper profits on offer are reflected in the long list of IP Week parties, with no firms cancelling their events this year, even as they make cuts in other areas. “I haven’t been more positive about trading conditions since 2009,” said Torbjorn Tornqvist, head of trading house Gunvor, one of the world’s largest independent oil dealers, told Reuters. “I see contango in the market, I see the cost of funding going down, I see the dollar strengthening, I see strong refining margins.” Contango – industry jargon for when prices for delivery months in the future are higher than in the spot market - is key to much of the trading boom. Any trader with access to storage, on land or at sea, can buy a barrel of oil today for $58 and sell it 10 months down the line for $65, based on current prices. Volatility has also jumped in recent weeks. After posting a 60% crash from above $115 a barrel June to near $45 in January, Brent crude oil has rallied by as much as 30%, touching $59 a barrel this week. Prices have swung wildly, gaining as much as 9% in one session only to fall 5% the next, as traders wrestle over whether a price floor has really been hit, even as supplies look to continue outstripping demand in the first half of this year. Gunvor and its rivals Glencore, Vitol, Mercuria and Trafigura have seen profits falling in the past five years versus the peak of 2009, although the amount of oil, coal, and gas they move has grown rapidly. While revenues can amount to more than $300bn a year for the biggest trader Vitol, profit-margins are razor thin, shrinking to less than 1% even in the better years. “Whoever has storage this year will win,” the head of Mercuria, Marco Dunand, told Reuters last month. “Not necessarily traders - but oil companies too and even refiners.” Oil majors BP and Shell, which have the biggest trading operations among international energy firms, have both reported improved results from trading divisions over the past week as part of their fourth quarter results. “Since 2009, when a lot of oil was stored onshore and offshore, a lot of new storage capacity has been built and a lot of refineries were turned into storage,” said Dunand. Dunand estimates that by the end of the first quarter of 2015 some 400mn barrels of oil worth $22bn will be stored onshore and offshore as global production volumes are still massively exceeding demand. However, as storage is being gradually filled in Europe more and more barrels will be sent to the US where storage capacity is still abundant, meaning potentially record profits for traders with a large presence there. “There is a lot of spare capacity in the US and some geographical rebalancing still remains to be done,” said Dunand. arris Corp’s purchase of Exelis in a transaction valued at $4.75bn could signal further consolidation among mid-size defence companies as they search for growth while government spending stagnates. The deal brings together two of the largest government contractors. Together they would generate about three-fourths of their revenue from the US government and become the 11th- biggest federal contractor, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. “The last couple of years, the defence primes have been focused on returning cash to shareholders and at some point when the budgets turn, that is going to move back into M&A and this is one of the larger deals from an existing prime that suggest that it’s being explored,” Josh Sullivan, an analyst at Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc, said in a phone interview. The tie-up between military-radio maker Harris and Exelis, which makes surveillance equipment among other communications systems for aerospace and defence markets, is the fourth among top federal contractors since the beginning of 2014, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Among transactions announced, Aecom Technology Corp bought URS Corp last year for $4bn and Orbital Sciences Corp plans to combine with the aerospace and defence business of Alliant Techsystems Inc in a $5bn deal projected to close this month. “There’s been talk for a while that we would start seeing mergers among the top contractors because if there’s limited organic growth opportunities then you look to inorganic growth or to consolidation so you can cut costs,” said Brian Friel, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst in Washington. “I think it’s a continuation of a trend that’s already begun and it’s a trend that will likely continue,” Friel said. Harris Chief Executive Of- ficer William Brown said on a conference call the timing of the purchase was excellent because of what he sees as a bottoming of the US government spending cycle and an indication that the Department of Defense’s budget might increase. Some base-funding line items and continued support for Afghan and Iraqi security forces could help drive demand for Harris’s products, Brown said in a phone interview. “We do see, both in the overall shape of the budget but also in some of the specific line items, opportunities for us,” he said in the interview yesterday. Defence spending has declined 17% since hitting a peak in 2010. Of the US military programs, the Air Force is likely to have the best budget picture in the future, Friel said. Exelis’s strong ties with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the US Navy, Air Force, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will help open up new opportunities for Harris, Brown said. With networks of customers in the U K and North Asia, Exelis also brings an extended geographical reach to Harris. “There’s an opportunity to leverage existing channels where they’ve got a presence and we don’t or vice versa,” Brown said in the interview. “And when you have that, you’re able to now sort of drive more products through those existing channels.” Exelis will generate $1bn in free cash flow in the fourth year after the acquisition, Melbourne, Florida-based Harris predicted Friday on a conference call. Harris jumped 9.6% to $76.18 in New York, the biggest increase since October 2009. Exelis surged 36% to $24.13. The $23.75-a-share offer for McLean, Virginia-based Exelis includes almost $16.63 in cash and 0.1025 share in Harris stock, the companies said in a statement. Harris will own 85% of the combined company and Exelis holders will own the rest. The closing is targeted for June, the companies said. Exelis was the defence business of White Plains, New Yorkbased ITT Corp until a spinoff in late 2011. Petrobras fresh start is more of same with state bank lifer Bloomberg Sao Paulo/Rio de Janeiro There’s a new face at the top of Petrobras, but little else has changed. Aldemir Bendine, the former Banco do Brasil head, is a ruling party collaborator like his predecessor and has some ethics questions of his own. While Bendine, 51, helped build Banco do Brasil into Latin America’s biggest lender by assets, Petrobras’s plunging share price when his new job was announced suggests he’s seen by investors as more government loyalist than champion for needed change. Under Bendine, Banco do Brasil - like Petrobras, controlled by the government - responded quickly to pressure from the country’s president, Dilma Rousseff, to boost lending to stimulate the economy, and profits suffered. The choice “was a disaster,” Adriano Pires, head of Rio-based energy consulting firm CBIE, said. “The market expected a name that represented change and independence, instead Bendine is more of the same.” Rousseff “apparently didn’t realise how serious the Petrobras situation is,” Pires said by telephone. Bendine, who joined state-run Banco do Brasil at age 15 and worked his way up to chief executive officer, quit on Friday to replace Maria das Gracas Foster at Petroleo Brasileiro, the oil company embroiled in the nation’s largest-ever graft scandal. What was supposed to be a chance for Petrobras to start distancing itself from scandals, turned into a market rout with a new round of unwelcome headlines. Shares fell as much as 9.5%. Roughly 82% of Brazilians say corruption is damaging Petrobras, according to a Datafolha poll published on February 7 on the website of Folha de S. Paulo. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said Rousseff was aware of corruption at the company, according to the poll, which surveyed 4,000 people on February 3-5 and has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. As Petrobras’s government-controlled board was approving Bendine’s appointment, federal prosecutors requested police to investigate an “irregular loan” that Banco do Brasil allegedly made during his tenure. Prosecutors in Sao Paulo allege the 2.79mn-real ($1mn) loan was granted to an unnamed businesswoman with terms to which she should not have had access given her record at the bank. The woman is a friend of Bendine’s who participated in a reality television show called “Rich Women” and accompanied him on two official bank trips, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported on Friday. The loan is normal, payments have been made on time and the bank will cooperate with authorities when requests are made, Banco do Brasil said in an e-mailed statement. Petrobras shares fell the most among major drillers on Friday on concern Bendine lacks the independence needed to lead a turnaround. Mauro Cunha, who represents international funds on the company’s board, issued a statement after the board meeting criticising the appointment. The government “once again imposes its will on the company’s interest and ignores the appeals from long-term investors,” said Cunha, who has long Bendine: Tough task ahead. been critical of the government’s intervention in the company. Bendine is a name recognised for experience in banking and in the public sector, which satisfies both the politicians of Rousseff ’s party and some demand for market experience, said Joao Paulo Peixoto, a political science professor at the University of Brasilia. It will be harder for Bendine to make the sweeping changes that might be implemented by someone more neutral, he said. “We’re more likely to see a continuation of the policies the government demands from Petrobras that aren’t necessarily in the company’s best interest,” Peixoto said. “He won’t have the same independence as someone who was chosen specifically for professional qualifications.”One of the first tasks awaiting Bendine and his team is gaining approval of the board and independent auditors for writedowns from the contractor kickback scheme. A lack of consensus has delayed the release of earnings and shut out Petrobras from international debt markets at a time of slumping oil prices, threatening the company’s spending plans. “The main problem now will be to get enough credibility to resume negotiations with the auditors,” said Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, Latin America analyst at Eurasia Group. “He’s far from bringing this kind of credibility punch right from the start to his tenure at Petrobras.” The government didn’t help with an appearance of independence in having one of its spokesmen announce the appointment before it was disclosed in a regulatory filing. On January 28, the company announced at least 4.1bn reais in graft losses - as part of a total potential writedown of 89bn reais - related to the scheme, in which company executives allegedly took bribes from a cartel of construction companies and shared the proceeds with politicians. “Bendine has the right experience and qualities to lead the company in this moment,” said Rui Falcao, the president of Rousseff ’s Workers’ Party. “He’s a good manager who was a good leader of Banco do Brasil for many years.” The former banker, who doesn’t hold a position in the party, “without a doubt” will continue policy initiatives Rousseff supports such as requiring national content for projects and having Petrobras control operations at fields in the so-called pre-salt region, Falcao said. Local press reported last month that Bendine had been invited to head Brazil’s state development bank BNDES. With a master’s degree in finance from Rio de Janeiro’s Pontificia Universidade Catolica, Bendine helped build Banco do Brasil into Latin America’s biggest bank by assets during his 36 years at the institution. He requested employees call him by his nickname “Dida” when he became chief executive in 2009. As CEO he responded to pressure from President Dilma Rousseff to boost lending as a way to stimulate the economy. Profits suffered. While Banco do Brasil’s loan book rose 2.7 times through the third quarter of last year, Itau’s lending doubled. Return on equity for Banco do Brasil declined to 15.2% from 19.1% in the period, compared to an unchanged 23.1% rate for Itau. Foster, like Bendine, rose through the ranks to claim the top job of a staterun company. She announced her resignation on February 4 after failing to get a consensus on writedowns of assets under corruption allegations investigation by federal police and prosecutors. As the probe escalated and oil prices tumbled, Petrobras’ market value shrank by $100bn since September. The driller also named Banco do Brasil chief financial officer Ivan Monteiro to the same position on Friday. Then-finance minister Guido Mantega named Bendine CEO when Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was Brazil’s president, saying the executive had a mission to increase banking clients, boost credit and compete with other lenders. As part of the plan to boost lending, Bendine led the acquisition of a 50% stake in Banco Votorantim in September 2009. It posted nine straight quarterly losses after the deal. Despite the declining profitability, Banco do Brasil held the world’s largest initial public offering in 2013. The sale of insurance unit BB Seguridade Participacoes SA raised 10.2bn reais ($3.7bn). Apart from the loan under investigation, Bendine paid a 122,000-real fine to Brazil’s tax agency in 2012, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. He wasn’t investigated after paying the fine, the people said in August, asking not to be identified discussing a personal financial matter. Banco do Brasil said at that time the matter was dismissed and Bendine had no outstanding tax issues. The statement didn’t give details about what the case involved. Monday, February 9, 2015 BUSINESS GULF TIMES IPad era is wreaking havoc in airlines’ seat-back pockets Bloomberg New York With fliers no longer always required to turn off phones and tablets during takeoff and landing, they’re glued to electronic devices for longer than ever, leaving little downtime for leafing through a magazine. As carriers from American Airlines Group to Air France-KLM Group vie for fleeting attention spans of hundreds of millions of passengers, they’re turning to writers like novelist Dana Vachon and New Yorker music critic Sasha FrereJones to pen articles, producing glossy photo spreads and introducing digital editions. Whatever the format, the magazines are a way to connect with passengers and build an airline’s brand and the advertising revenue helps, too. “Onboard magazines are living printdinosaurs,” said René Steinhaus, an aviation expert at consultant AT Kearney in Berlin. “While a lot of printed media disappeared in the last few years, onboard magazines are still ‘alive.’ They are a phenomenon.” Weidmann: Talking tough. Bundesbank chief warns Greece against emergency funding for banks Reuters Venice T he head of Germany’s powerful Bundesbank warned Greece against using emergency funding to prop up its banks long-term and said countries must bear the impact of their decisions, further isolating Athens after it all but ditched a reform-for-aid deal. Jens Weidmann’s remarks follow the European Central Bank’s statement that it would no longer accept Greek government bonds as collateral for funding, shifting the burden onto Athens’ central bank to finance its lenders. The ECB’s move means the Greek central bank will have to provide its banks with tens of billions of euros of additional emergency liquidity in the coming weeks. However, Weidmann’s remarks call into question Athens’ freedom to use this emergency liquidity assistance (ELA). The ECB Governing Council can restrict such funding if a twothirds majority agrees. “ELA should only be awarded for the short term and to solvent banks,” Weidmann, who also sits on the ECB’s Governing Council of decision makers, told business daily Boersen Zeitung. “As the banks and the state are closely bound in Greece, the economic and fiscal policy course that the Greek government follows plays an important role in this assessment,” he added. “Governments and parliaments must take decisions about whether and how to keep banks afloat, or wind them up.” Speaking later in Venice, Weidmann upped the ante, demanding that countries bear the consequences of their own fiscal decisions and warning that any move to bail out a eurozone peer could lead to the spread of solvency doubts. Singling out Greece’s refusal to cooperate with the troika of inspectors from international lenders, he said there could be no sharing of fiscal responsibility without first ceding sovereignty. “Member states remain fully responsible for the consequences of their own autonomous fiscal decisions,” Weidmann said in Venice. “If market participants tend to see the monetary union as a system of mutual financial assistance in the event of serious trouble, doubts about a country’s solvency could spread more quickly to the other member states.” The challenge is to make the publications attractive and entertaining enough that passengers will actually open them. That means wooing the likes of Paige Wilson. On her twice-weekly flights from New York to Boston for work over the past four months, Wilson, 23, said she occasionally skims the pages of in-flight magazines, usually while eating a bagel before turning on her personal electronic device so she can chip away at work for her consulting firm. “When I’m flying on the actual plane itself, I’m usually on my tablet or my laptop,” Wilson said in a telephone interview. “That’s been my main distraction.” In theory, airline passengers trapped on planes for hours at a time represent a lucrative audience for advertisers, Steinhaus said. “If a large carrier has 100mn customers per year, and if just 10% of that read the magazine, that’s 10mn clients for an advertiser. That’s huge reach,” Steinhaus said in a telephone interview. Emirates relaunched its magazine, Open Skies, in January and plans to increase the print run by 5% to keep up with a fleet expansion. Changes include a focus on strong photography, a mix of short stories and long articles, and allowing readers to download a digital copy in addition to the print version. “You can read an article in the magazine about a hotel then get online and make a hotel booking,” said Patrick Brannelly, vice president of passenger communications for the Dubai-based carrier. “They complement each other.” Brannelly said Emirates’ onboard magazine has “healthy sales” and “more than covers itself” in terms of costs. The profit it generates is “not inconsiderable,” he said. “We think it has many years ahead of it and will evolve further.” The new platforms are helping to attract advertisers who want to be promoted digitally and in print, according to Raymond Girard, president of content marketing for Spafax. The London- based agency produces AirCanada’s enRoute and Royal Jordanian’s Royal Wings, among others. Publishers of print editions must balance between editorial content that interests travellers while still showcasing the airline and its advertisers, according to Girard. Passengers need to feel more like readers, not just customers, he said. “If they feel they’re being oversold to, if they feel they’re reading a 160-page catalogue for the airline’s products and services, I think you’re losing an opportunity to really connect with them,” Girard said in a telephone interview from Toronto. Air France uses its two in-flight magazines to focus on luxury as a way to distinguish its brand from upstarts. Air France Madame, started in 1986 as a women’s addition to Air France Magazine, taps into a rich vein of advertising from high- end fashion houses and sees itself among peers like Vogue and Elle. In 2013 Air France overhauled its publications, tapping into the literary industry for prizewinning writers like David Foenkinos and Daniel Picouly to write short novels specifically for the flagship magazine, which also focuses on food and sports. “We put a lot of energy into our inflight magazine,” said Jean Charles Tréhan, vice president of corporate communications, who oversees the publications. “It’s a good way of supporting the brand image of Air France.” The airline has never considered giving up the glossy paper versions even as it’s making them available online. “Studies show that people enjoy the experience on paper. There will always be a paper magazine. We’re in the business of providing luxury,” Tréhan said in an interview. American Airlines recently revamped its four-decade-old magazine, which reaches 193mn people annually, by hiring London-based media company Ink Global. The overhauled American Way appeared last month with a new layout, features and a redesigned cover featuring rock band Foo Fighters. “It continues to be an important part of our marketing strategy,” Fernand Fernandez, vice president for American’s global marketing, said in an e-mailed statement. United Airlines, whose two publications Hemispheres and Rhapsody reach 140mn passengers a year, has also used Ink to help spiff up its product. Since 2009, Ink has hired writers like New York Times columnist David Carr and essayist Sloan Crosley to lend some heft to Hemispheres and started chasing luxury advertisers. Even as in-flight magazines go upscale, they also serve an important basic function for many people. “The unsung hero of the in-flight magazine is that fleet page and the route map,” Spafax’s Girard said. While some travelers might lament the disappearance of SkyMall, the quirky, in-flight shopping catalog that shared seat-pocket real estate with airline magazines and filed for bankruptcy protection last month, they can rest easy that the crossword puzzle will still be there. “Magazines will stay around for quite some time and electronic onboard platforms will come on top,” AT Kearney’s Steinhaus said. “We may see a point in time when a printed magazine may actually become something special, just like a personal letter on paper.” Sluggish growth, turbulent markets concerns for G20 Reuters Istanbul F inance ministers and central bankers face a tough task coordinating action to spur global growth at G20 meetings this week, with major economies running at different speeds and monetary policies diverging. Concern over the ability of the US to sustain the global economy as most of the world slows will be high on the agenda as the Group of 20 leading economies hold talks in Istanbul today and tomorrow. The meetings come as Greece casts a new shadow over Europe, cheap oil plays havoc with inflation and growth forecasts and a strengthening dollar threatens emerging economies. “There is a lot at stake,” IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said in a blog post on Friday. “Without action, we could see the global economic supertanker continuing to be stuck in the shallow waters of sub-par growth and meagre job creation.” Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan told an Institute of International Finance (IIF) meeting yesterday that tackling sluggish global growth and giving low income nations more voice will be among the priorities for Turkey’s G20 presidency. The former will be easier said than done. US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said last week the US could not be “the sole engine of growth” and a senior US official said Washington’s message going into the meetings would again be that Europe is not doing enough. “Kick-starting global growth will be front and centre” at the G20 meetings, Canadian Finance Minister Joe Oliver said last week, citing the stalled euro zone, slowdowns in China and India and geopolitical crises in Ukraine, Iraq and Syria as key risks. “Though America is carrying the world economy at the moment, that is Lagarde: For creating millions of new jobs over the next four years. simply not sustainable,” he added. Germany is likely to argue that its rising domestic demand and plans to increase public spending show Europe’s largest economy is doing what it can, according to European sources familiar with the G20 agenda. Babacan said pushing G20 members to meet previous reform commitments would be key, a strategy he has dubbed: “Keep your word, or explain”. “It has a lot to do with leadership ... Doing the necessary but difficult things,” he said. Coming good on pledges made at November’s G20 summit in Brisbane could add more than $2tn to the global economy and create millions of new jobs over the next four years, Lagarde said in her blog post. UBS Chairman Axel Weber said enabling the private sector to help close the financing gap for an estimated $60-70tn in infrastructure spending needed by 2030 would fuel growth. Higher capital requirements are limiting banks’ ability to invest and regulators should “revisit whether they got that calibration right”, the former Bundesbank president told the IIF meeting. “My key message to policymakers would be very easy - don’t work against the private sector, work with it,” he said. The G20 put together a global stimulus package during the 2007-09 financial crisis but today’s challenge is more delicate, with diverging monetary policies a cause of global turbulence. The US Federal Reserve looks set to raise interest rates this year, a stark contrast to impromptu cuts from India to Australia, Canada to Denmark, as well as China’s cut in bank reserve requirements and the abrupt end to the Swiss franc cap. A senior Canadian official said the G20 communique would probably emphasise the importance of central bank actions in sustaining demand and said the Fed and Bank of England had voiced support for other central banks’ actions to lift growth. Turkey’s own monetary policy may also be in the spotlight. Its central bank is under government pressure to cut interest rates ahead of a June election despite stubborn inflation, with critical comments by President Tayyip Erdogan last week sending the lira to a record low. A source close to French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said Greece would be discussed, although the situation was very different to a few years ago, with protection mechanisms in place and European markets less sensitive to its woes. France has also asked to discuss the fight against terrorist financing, an important topic for Turkey given fighting with Islamic State militants taking place just over its southern borders in Syria and Iraq. QE also means free lunch for multinationals AFP London G ermany and France have been able to borrow at negative rates for some time, meaning investors are paying to loan Berlin and Paris money, but with interest rates falling further as the ECB gears up to launch quantitative easing, multinationals are also now getting paid to borrow. The phenomenon is a result of investors seeking a safe place to park their money in debt markets where interest rates have been dragged down to ultralow levels. The need for low-risk instruments, and with little concern about inflation, has seen investors actually push the interest rate into negative territory for short-term German and French government bonds. Swiss food giant Nestle was the first to see the interest rates on its euro-denominated debt fall into negative territory when the yields on bonds that expire in nearly two years fell below zero. “It is sort of a domino effect. If sovereign bonds are paying less, then this ricochets and those of Corps will pay less and finally investors will enter uncharted territory,” said Christophe Quesnel, a trader at Oddo Securities, which specialises in corporate debt. “Among the distortions caused by low interest rates and QE is that some governments, corporates and households are now getting paid to increase debt,” said analysts at Royal Bank of Scotland. “For the first time, high-rated corporate bonds are also trading at negative yields (Nestle), and many are near-zero (Shell, Novartis, Air Liquide, BASF, Sanofi, etc),” added RBS. The ECB has brought its main interest rate to just 0.5% as it seeks to boost growth in the eurozone by lowering borrowing costs. With the eurozone now hit by a bout of deflation thanks to falling oil prices, the ECB is about to launch quantitative easing (QE) in which it will buy up €60bn ($68bn) of sovereign and corporate bonds per month. This will have the effect of pushing down yields, or the rate of return to investors, even further. But why would investors accept paying to loan money The new headquarters of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. The ECB is about to launch quantitative easing (QE) in which it will buy up €60bn of sovereign and corporate bonds per month. to someone? “It’s the effect of fear” about the delicate situation in Europe, said Juan Valencia, a credit specialist at Societe Generale CIB. “Investors are putting their money in the safest instruments, as they aren’t sure about getting their money back with other investments. Thus they are paying for the ‘privilege’ to loan to the most solid states and Corps,” he said. The ECB’s QE programme, which will buy up over 1€tn in bonds, will have a massive impact on the eurodenominated debt market which totals just €1.5tn. Valencia said €900bn of that debt already yields under 1%, and €400bn less than 0.50%. Some investors, such as pension funds and insurance firms, are required to place a certain percentage of their funds into bonds issued by countries and companies with secure credit ratings. With the ECB entering the market, finding good returns in safe investments will get even harder. “There is a compression process underway and everything is heading for zero,” said Valencia. “Investors are thus being pushed to choose bonds of companies a little less safe or frankly to change assets to get a better return,” said Quesnel. For companies “it is excellent news”, said Valencia, although he warned “just because money is practically free doesn’t mean that some companies won’t find themselves in complicated situations.” Quesnel said the drop in borrowing costs shows “the ECB has done its job” and now “we need growth to pick up and unemployment fall so people consume.” NBA | Page 7 GOLF | Page 6 CRICKET | Page 4 Nowitzki, Parsons rally Mavericks past Trail Blazers India’s Anirban Lahiri wins first European Tour title Maxwell blasts ton as Aussies expose India’s bowling woes Monday, February 9, 2015 Rabia II 20, 1436 AH GULF TIMES SPORT FOOTBALL Admirable Aspire undone by Arsenal in Al Kass Cup Page 8 Azarenka for Qatar Total Open By Sports Reporter Doha T wo-time former champion Victoria Azarenka has been confirmed as a singles wildcard for the 2015 Qatar Total Open. The winner of the 2012 and 2013 titles in Doha is keen to return to the city where she has gained so much success and a tournament she always states that she loves. Azarenka intended to play last year but she had 12 months of numerous injuries. It appears she is well and truly over her injuries having put in a quality performance at the recent Australian Open. She reached the fourth round at the first Grand Slam of the year with classy wins over Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki and Barbora Zhalavova Strycova before being beaten by Dominkia Cibulkova. She has two Grand Slam titles to her credit; the Australian Open 2012 and 2013 and was a finalist at the US Open the same years. She reached the fourth round at the first Grand Slam of the year with classy wins over Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki and Barbora Zhalavova Strycova before being beaten by Dominkia Cibulkova Azarenka enters the tournament with a ranking of 41, however she reached the position of world No.1 in January 2012. “Victoria Azarenka is extremely popular with fans in Qatar. She is a two-time winner on the court and a winner off the court with her wonderful personality,” said Qatar Total Open Tournament Director Saad al-Mohannadi. “Even with major injuries in 2014 she still made an impact around the world, particularly at Grand Slams and so far this year she has shown her form by beating top players at the Australian Open. The Qatar Tennis Federation knows Victoria Azarenaka will be an asset to the tournament and knows spectators will appreciate her skill when she plays.” Despite her injuries last year she still managed to make the final at Brisbane and the quarters at the 2014 Australian Open as well as the US Open. Already confirmed for the Qatar Total Open are six top 10 ranked players; world No.3 and defending champion, Simona Halep, current Wimbledon champion and No.4 ranked Petra Kvitova. Joining them are Agnieszka Radwanska from Poland at No.6, Caroline Wozniacki ranked No.8, Germany’s Angelique Kerber at No.9 and Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova the world No.10. Also in the player acceptance list are seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, former US Open winner Sam Stosur from Australia and two-time Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. The tournament will be held at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex from February 23-28 with qualifying taking place 21-22 February. Tickets are available online at www. qatartennis.org and at City Center, Landmark, Lagoona, Villaggio and onsite at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex. 2 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 SPORT CYCLING / TOUR OF QATAR Rojas edges Boonen, Demare to take stage 1 ‘I was determined to do well and was not scared of the big names here’ By Yash Mudgal Doha M ovistar’s Jose Joaquin Rojas won the wind-swept opening stage of the Tour of Qatar 2015 with a well-timed sprint at Sealine Beach Resort that saw him fend off challenges from four-time Qatar champion Tom Boonen of Etixx-QuickStep and Arnaud Démare of FDJ. It was a reduced peloton that sprint it out at Sealine Beach with Rojas claiming the 136km stage, which started from Dukhan, on his debut in Qatar. The Spaniard admitted that he was not expecting a win on day one of the tour. “We didn’t expect that. It is a very good win at the beginning of the tour and we want to enjoy the victory and we’ll see what we have to do tomorrow,” Rojas said. “I was very nervous during the race as the wind was quite hard. But I was determined to do well and was not scared of the big names here. We took the opportunities that came our way today. I first jumped on Terpstra and then I moved to the other side for my sprint to beat Boonen,” the 2011 Spanish road race champion said. Talking about the wind, the 29-year-old Movistar rider said: “We expected the wind to be strong here in Doha, the condition is always like that. So we came here prepared for this.” Peter Sagan of Tinkoff-Saxo claimed fourth place in the group finish at the end of the day that saw the peloton fractured by crosswinds as the race navigated Qatar’s interior. Bradley Wiggins of Team Sky and Marcel Kittel of Giant-Alpecin was among the riders who lost contact with the 51-man leading group on the run-in to the finish. The finale was marked by a breakaway attempt from the Astana pair of Lars Boom and Lieuwe Westra, along with Matti Breschel of TinkoffSaxo, but they were pegged back by the combined efforts of Etixx-QuickStep and Trek Factory Racing teams. Boonen survived a scare after crashing with rival Sagan around the second intermediate sprint of the day, however, the Belgian was unhurt and managed to finish second on a day that was marked by consistent headwinds and fraught nerves. “It was a messy day with the headwind and everyone had the nerves even though they knew the headwind conditions would keep it together,” Boonen said. “When Sagan crashed I was on his wheel, and I stumbled over him but I was going about five kilometres per hour when it happened so there’s nothing bad. “As for the finish sprint, I was behind Rojas but then lost some ground on him. When I made it back to his wheel it was already over,” he said. World Time Trial champion Wiggins, who has not ridden on the track since the Commonwealth Games last August, finished the stage in Qatar in the second group, 33 seconds behind leader group. He said: “I didn’t necessarily come for an overall win, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t. In this type of race I feel like I need a day or two to find my legs, to get used to fighting and taking risks. But I was happy with the way I felt, that’s the main thing. “Whatever group you’re in here, it’s a hard race. You’re always fighting hard, from that point of view it’s pretty good preparation for the season.” Rojas will wear the leader’s jersey in today’s 1945km second stage which will run from Al Wakrah to Al Khor Corniche. Rojas also leads the points’ classification, while Démare has the Pearl White Jersey for the best young rider. Movistar rider Jose Joaquin Rojas celebrates his first stage win as he crosses the finish line at Sealine Beach Resort yesterday. PICTURES: Anas Khalid STAGE RESULTS 1. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar 3:49:50 2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-Quick Step 3. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ 4. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 5. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 6. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing 7. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling 8. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana 9. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha 10. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis GENERAL CLASSIFICATION 1. Jose Joaquin Rojas (Spa) Movistar 3:49:40 2. Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx-Quick Step 0:00:04 3. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ 0:00:06 4. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx-Quick Step 0:00:08 5. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:00:09 6. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 0:00:10 7. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 8. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing 9. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM Cycling 10. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Astana SPRINT ONE 1. Jarl Salomein (Bel) Vlaanderen-Baloise 3pts 2. Luca Sterbini (Ita) Bardiani CSF 2 3. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin 1 SPRINT TWO 1. Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-Alpecin 3pts 2. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx - Quick-Step 2 3. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Lampre-Merida 1 YOUNG RIDER 1. Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.fr 3:49:50 2. Peter Sagan (Svk) Tinkoff-Saxo 3. Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Argon 18 4. Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek Factory Racing 5. Nacer Bouhanni (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits Australian Rohan Dennis breaks one hour world record Granges, Switzerland: Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis (pictured) became the latest rider to break the world hour record completing 52.491 kilometres on the track in Granges, Switzerland, yesterday. The 24-year-old—who recently won the Tour Down Under—broke the previous mark of 51.852km set by Austrian Mathias Brandle last October in Aigle, Switzerland. Dennis, world track pursuit champion in 2011, was always on target to break the record and was at one point in line for completing 52.739km but he slowed down in the final 10 minutes. His success, at a track close to his team BMC’s headquarters, comes a week after his compatriot Jack Bobridge failed in his bid in Melbourne. “I feel pretty proud, also happy. I’ve prepared myself for a long time, it’s a huge relief,” Dennis said. “I’m really proud to take the chance. 2015 starts better than expected, with the victory in the Tour Down Under and now this record. It’s absolutely amazing. We set 52.5 km as the goal, above this it would have been a bonus.” Dennis said that he believed he could improve on the record. “Yes I can improve this record. There are some things I didn’t do perfectly, my pacing could be better, I could have more control,” he said. “As I’m getting older, I’m getting stronger.” Dennis, Olympic team pursuit silver medallist in 2012, may not have the record for long as several other formidable cyclists have pledged to tackle the mark this year including British legend Olympic and world time-trial champion as well as the 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins. “Wiggins is the main rider to be able to beat me,” admitted Dennis. “There’s also (Thomas) Dekker, we have to see what the altitude in Mexico can bring.” WORLD RECORDS PROGRESSION 49.441km: Chris Boardman (GBR), October 27, 2000, Manchester (GBR) 49.700km: Ondrej Sosenka (CZE), July 19, 2005, Moscow 51.115km: Jens Voigt (GER), September 18, 2014, Granges (SUI) 51.852km: Matthias Brandle (AUT), October 30, 2014, Aigle (SUI) 52.491km: Rohan Dennis (AUS), February 8, 2015, Granges (SUI) FDJ rider Arnaud Demare grabbed the Pearl White Jersey for the best young rider. 6. Youcef Reguigui (Alg) MTN – Qhubeka 7. Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha 8. Jef Van Meirhaeghe (Bel) Vlaanderen–Baloise 9. Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky 10. Marcel Aregger (Swi) IAM Cycling TEAM 1. Astana Pro Team 11:29:30 2. FDJ 3. Etixx-Quick Step 4. Team Katusha 5. Trek Factory Racing 6. Tinkoff-Saxo 7. BMC Racing Team 8. IAM Cycling 9. Bora-Argon 18 10. Cofidis, Solutions Credits 0:00:13 BOTTOMLINE Save the dream, ICSS’ Hanzab recognised by Aston Villa Agencies Birmingham I CSS president Mohamed Hanzab was welcomed as a special guest by Aston Villa FC yesterday as part of the club’s acknowledgement of save the dream’s involvement in the recent Delhi Dreams project. The celebrations, which took place during Saturday’s Premier League match at Villa Park between Aston Villa and Chelsea, included a programme of activities that acknowledge save the dream’s partnership with the Delhi Dreams project – a special football tournament with Villa in the Community, the club’s official charity, and CEQUIN (Center for Equity and Inclusion) that aims to improve the lives of young girls living in slum areas of New Delhi, India. The highlight was a half-time presentation on the field of play where Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor presented Hanzab with an official club jersey and a video featuring Delhi Dream was shown to the sold-out crowd on the big screen. Speaking of save the dream’s involvement in the programme, Ravinder Masih, Director of Villa in the Community, said: “Save the dream played an essential role in the success of the Delhi Dreams project and on behalf of Aston Villa Football Club, I would like to thank Mohammed and the ICSS for their involvement in the programme, as well as their ongoing commitment to educating and encouraging young people through sport. “Delhi Dreams has given many young girls from poorer areas of Delhi an opportunity to play sport and make new friends. I would like to thank all partners involved with this project, especially Mohamed and the team at save the dream, and I look forward to continuing our work at Villa in the Community, which hopes to make a positive impact on people through football.” ICSS president, said, “I would like to thank all those at Aston Villa Football Club, as well as the fans, who made this day truly special. “However, it is worth highlighting that today is not about the ICSS or save the dream. Today is about recognising the value of sport to society and how it can enhance the lives of young people. “The Delhi Dreams project with CEQUIN and Aston Villa Football Club is just part of save the dreams ongoing efforts to promote and protect the values of sport and its integrity, as well as encouraging organisations to use sport to educate and inspire young people. “As part of the ICSS’s commitment to safeguarding sport, I would encourage other clubs and organisations to develop programmes for young people that protect sports future for a new generation.” As part project’s objective to support CEQUIN’s work and in line with save the dream’s to promote and protect the core values of sport in young people, two young girls who participated in the Delhi Dreams tournament will come to England to train with the Aston Villa girls development team, as well as being given the opportunity to watch the Villa Ladies first team in action. Aston Villa legend Ian Taylor presents ICSS president Mohamed Hanzab with an official club jersey. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 3 SPORT FOCUS RALLYING Josoor and Leaders deliver workshop for senior sports figures SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi delivered the opening note By Sports Reporter Doha S ome of the most senior figures from the sports and events industries in Qatar and across the region yesterday participated in the first day of a professional development workshop titled Leadership: Lessons for Sport. The two-day workshop has been organised by Josoor Institute and Leaders, a global event, publishing and consultancy business. A mix of secretary generals, CEOs, executive directors and other senior level executives from organisations including the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and the Qatar Stars League (QSL) joined representatives from sports clubs, sports authorities and football associations from Iran, Jordan and Saudi Arabia in attending the event at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). Josoor Institute have partnered with Leaders for delivering the workshop, given its enviable reputation for organising premium gatherings of world leaders to inspire learning across the business and performance side of sport. This is the first time that Leaders has organised a summit for senior executives in the Middle East. During the two days, participants will benefit from sessions that focus on sharing best practices in organisational leadership and management as well as valuable leadership lessons based on the experience of influential global figures from across government, the sports and events industries and its related fields. Speakers from some of the world’s best-known sports, business and academic organisations including The Football Association, Abu Issa Holding, Salford University’s Centre for Sports, Atlanta MLS Franchise, the United States Olympic Committee and the Norwegian Centre of Football Excellence are joining experts from Leaders Consulting for the workshop. SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi delivered the opening note at the workshop and said, “We have an amazing opportunity to host the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East. It is an opportunity to create a positive change. A step towards bringing this change was the establishment of Josoor Institute.” He further elaborated, “To have a renowned sports organisation such as Leaders host their first event in the region, showcases both Josoor Institute’s rising stature and its commitment towards developing capabilities from grassroots to senior leadership.” The workshop has been designed to support senior executives in enhancing their strategic oversight and overall operational management to ensure peak performance in their organisations. Topics will also focus on nurturing and developing innovation, building high performing teams and managing talent effectively. “Working with our partners such as Leaders is the ideal way to continue the momentum that we established this past year. Our workshop will help develop the knowledge and skills that the region needs as well as equip existing and future leaders with world-class education and training,” highlighted Mushtaq al-Waeli, executive director (acting) of Josoor Institute. The professional development workshop will also provide unique opportunities for senior executives to share their knowledge, ideas and their experiences with one another. Commenting on the workshop, Clive Reeves, Managing Director from Leaders Consulting said: “Working with Josoor Institute provided the ideal introduction for our first major event in the Middle East. With this high calibre audience, we had the ideal blend of skills, experience and expertise to really explore in depth how high performance principles from sport and beyond can support the leadership, strategy, culture, and talent management of successful organisations. We’re delighted to be working with Josoor Institute, the centre of sporting excellence for the region, and look forward in continuing collaboration and partnership in the future.” The workshop builds on Josoor Institute’s progress to date in catalysing the growth of a sustainable sports and events industry in Qatar and across the region. In 2014, Josoor Institute equipped more than 1,100 junior and mid-level sports and events professionals with practical skills and techniques on topics such as the running of major events, marketing and PR, and venue and stadium Management. The workshop takes place during the same week that Qatar celebrates its National Sports Day, designed to encourage sport and activities for everyone to enjoy regardless of their age, ability or fitness level. Promoting healthy living through sport and other physical exercise supports the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030’s Human Development pillar. New-look Ha’il Rally in March Agencies Riyadh, Saudi Arabia I t will be 10 years this year since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stepped out of the motorsport wilderness and ran the Ha’il International Rally for the first time as a small club event in 2006 and then as a larger national rally in 2007. In that time, the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) has seen the event grow into a top class international cross-country rally. The Ha’il-based event was a candidate round for the FIA International Cross-Country Cup for Bajas in 2007 and took its place as a round of the prestigious FIA series in 2008 and 2010. The 10th Ha’il International Cross-Country Rally will take place across the north-central region of the Kingdom on March 19-22 this year. The FIA-sanctioned event is being staged under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Ha’il, President of the Supreme Commission for Ha’il Development and the Head of the Supreme Commission of the Ha’il Rally. The SAMF runs under the chairmanship of Prince Sultan bin Bandar al-Faisal and the event is being organised in conjunction with the High Authority for the Development of Ha’il. “We are delighted to be hosting the rally in Ha’il on its 10th anniversary,” said Nayef al-Hejelan, the general secretary of the SAMF. “The Ha’il Rally has been the flagship off-road rally in the Saudi Arabian motor sporting calendar since car sports were given the go-ahead in the Kingdom. The 10th Ha’il International Rally will be a four-day event, with a super special stage and three demanding selective sections in the desert.” Officials at the SAMF have now finalised the Ha’il route and confirmed that the opening super special stage will be held after the ceremonial start in Ha’il on Thursday, March 19, before three desert stages take place on March 20, 21 and 22. The rally offices and media centre will be located at the Maghwat Conference Centre on the outskirts of Ha’il. One stage will be similar to the one that was used across the An Nafud desert in 2014, a second has around 85 percent of new tracks and the third is completely new. Race officials are planning around 1,200km of competition over a wide variety of terrain, including gravel trails, sand dunes, wadis, areas of tricky navigation and the passing of small oasis farms. Mshawish wins Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi makes opening remarks for the workshop titled Leadership: Lessons for Sport. Speakers at the professional development workshop titled Leadership: Lessons for Sport. HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Mshawish won his first Group 1 on Saturday, at Gulfstream Park, in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap. After being boxed in while going easily, Mshawish found a gap 100m from home and got up to win by a nose. This was also a first Group 1 success in the USA for Al Shaqab Racing. Todd Pletcher, who trains Mshawish, said: “He needs to be covered up and we were able to do that. When you have to cover one up in turf races, you have to roll the dice that you get a gap at some point. He was lucky to find one when he did, and he finished like a good horse. It was a very determined effort. He’s a really nice horse.” Winning jockey Javier Castellano added: “It was a tough trip all the way in the race. It was very tight from the beginning all the way to the end. I never had a place to go. I had to stay patient and go from there. At some point in the race I got a little bit frustrated turning for home because I never saw any hole. Finally by the eighth pole, when I saw the hole, he went through a tiny gap and he made a big effort today. I give all the credit to the horse because the way he did it today, it was amazing. Not too many horses can do it the way he did it today.” Mshawish is entered in the Dubai Turf, on the Saturday of the Dubai World Cup. He was fourth in this Group 1 in 2014. Al Shaqab Racing’s Sandiva wins Suwannee River Stakes Al-Boenain chairs IFAHR meeting in Dubai S ami Jassim al-Boenain, Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) General Manager and International Federation of Arabian Horseracing Authorities (IFAHR) Chairman, chaired the meeting of IFAHR Executive Committee, which was hosted by the Emirates Racing Authority in Dubai on 5 February 2014. IFAHR works to enhance co-operation among all Arabian horseracing authorities worldwide and is concerned with considering matters related to purebred Arabian horseracing and movement between countries. Chaired by Sami Jassim al-Boenain, IFAHR General Assembly was held on the sidelines of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris in October 2014. IFAHR has in its membership many countries organising purebred Arabian races worldwide. IFAHR has 30 member states representing the world’s six continents and the most recent members are Iran and Portugal. IFAHR Executive Committee consists of eight members from Qatar, the UAE, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Turkey and Syria. Arabian horseracing has been growing all over the world. IFAHR is considered the driving force for improving pure Arabian breeds and developing the guiding principles of this discipline with a view to expand its portfolio to include larger sectors of the international community. IFAHR was created as a non-profit organisation according to the French law following the adoption of IFAHR Statutes by its founding members and these are Qatar, France, Germany, Belgium, the UAE, Switzerland, the UK, Austria, the Netherlands, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Turkey, Egypt, Spain, Sweden, Morocco and Poland. Al Shaqab Racing’s Sandiva, won the Suwannee River Stakes, a Group 3, on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. This was a first Group success in the States for the Todd Pletcher trained filly. Having sat in the middle of the pack, in fourth position, Sandiva made up ground on the last bend three wide. She found herself besides the leader Skylander Girl turning into the straight. She kept up her acceleration and won easily by a length. Javier Castellano, who rode Sandiva, explained: “I had a beautiful trip. My concern was that I had to save some ground from the outside post. You want to get covered up so you can save some ground. It worked out perfect today. I covered up three, four lengths behind the other horses, I kept track of the speed. I covered her up the best I could around the first turn, and around the last turn I lost a lot of ground but my concern was on the first turn. It worked out beautifully; perfect.” Already a dual Group 3 winner in Europe, Sandiva will no doubt continue to step up in class. 4 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 CRICKET SPOTLIGHT HIGHLIGHT Warner, Maxwell tons expose India’s bowling frailties Australia peaking at the right time for WC ‘Early wickets tonight would have been nice, just to blow the game out of the water. As great as our batting was, we were probably one wicket down too many’ Australia’s David Warner (left) raises his bat after scoring a century as India’s Ravichandran Ashwin looks on during the ICC one-day international warm up cricket match between Australia and India. AFP Sydney A Australia’s Glenn Maxwell plays a shot during the bowling of India’s Mohammed Shami during the ICC ODI warm up match between Australia and India in Adelaide. Reuters Adelaide D avid Warner and Glenn Maxwell struck blistering centuries as Australia flexed their batting muscles to expose defending champion India’s bowling limitations in a World Cup warmup match in Adelaide yesterday. Opting to bat first, Australia piled up 371 in 48.2 overs and bowled out India for 265 in a dominant display to explain why they are considered favourites for the World Cup beginning on Saturday. They dominated India in all three departments even though the tournament co-hosts did not last a full 50 overs in what was possibly the only blemish in their 106-run win. Left-handed Warner (104) played his natural game, racing to his century in 80 balls. Maxwell (122) did even better, needing 53 balls to reach the 100-mark, his second 50 coming in just 19 balls. There was momentary discomfort India pick Mohit Sharma in place of injured Ishant World Cup organisers yesterday accepted India’s request to include seamer Mohit Sharma in place of pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. The World Cup’s technical committee had agreed to make the change in the defending champions’ 15-man squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the International Cricket Council said in a statement. The lanky Ishant, the most experienced seamer in India’s current squad with 106 wickets from 76 one-day internationals, has not played since being injured during the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne in December. Mohit, 26, who has played 12 one-dayers and taken 10 wickets, is already in Australia as an additional member of the team that played in the recent tri-series that also featured England. India open their World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Adelaide on February 15. for Maxwell, whose attempted hook off Umesh Yadav resulted in an inside edge that crashed onto his helmet and he also needed medical attention on his lower back after reaching 50. Maxwell retired to allow his teammates to get some batting practice but not before plundering 27 runs from a Yadav over and hitting three sixes in a row. India, having lost paceman Ishant Sharma to a knee injury earlier in the day, had a scare when Mohammad Shami (383) left the field with a split webbing but returned soon after to resume bowling. Their batting on a good track could not offer much relief, however, with only Shikhar Dhawan (59), Ajinkya Rahane (66) and Ambati Rayudu (53) managing to impress. Batting mainstay Virat Kohli dragged a Mitchell Starc delivery onto his stumps and the Australian nonchalantly took a one-handed blinder on the edge of the boundary to dismiss India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni for a golden duck. “It was a very good performance,” said Australia stand-in skipper George Bailey before pointing out areas his team could still improve. “Early wickets tonight would have been nice, just to blow the game out of the water. As great as our batting was, we were probably one wicket down too many and you’d like to see Mitchell Starc catch with both hands,” he quipped. Dhoni said he was still looking for the final 11 players for next Sunday’s tournament opener against Pakistan. “It’s a very long tournament and what we have seen is the team that does well is the one that comes from the bottom and slowly picks up momentum,” he added. Brief Scores: Australia 371 (Maxwell 122, Warner 104, Shami 3-83) beat India 265 (Rahane 66, Dhawan 59, Rayudu 53) by 106 runs ustralia are peaking at the right time for a crack at their fifth World Cup triumph and will go into this month’s tournament at home on top of the rankings. Under the attacking coaching of Darren Lehmann, the Australians have registered some impressive results and have only lost one of their last 12 ODIs. Australia accounted for the third-ranked South Africans 4-1 in a series at home last November and comfortably beat England and India in a tri-series in the final weeks before the World Cup. Lehmann and fellow selectors have assembled a strong playing group around a core of key players—David Warner, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson and possibly skipper Michael Clarke, fitness issues depending. Clarke has been troubled by hamstring and back problems throughout the southern summer and he is already a doubt for the opening game against England on February 14. Given stand-in skipper Smith’s phenomenal form with the bat this season—three ODI centuries since October—there are those who say Australia may not even miss Clarke’s leadership and batting. Australia’s biggest challenge will be how the team handles the external pressures as the host nation that will decide its winning chances. The Australians didn’t cope in 1992 when they last hosted the sport’s showpiece and they missed out on the semi-finals. The home team have traditional rivals England first up on February 14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the venue for the March 29 final. The Australians also have Sri Lanka, New Zealand Bangladesh and associate teams Afghanistan and Scotland in their pool and will have home advantage for all but their pool game with the Black Caps in Auckland on February 28. Much will depend on Australia’s ability to get quick runs at the top of the innings and they have the right ammunition with adventurous opening pair of Aaron Finch and Warner. Warner has three ODI centuries, including a recent 127 off 115 balls against England in the triseries, while Finch has five tons, four of them last year. Throw in Smith, the experienced Shane Watson, possibly George Bailey depending on Clarke’s availability, batting allrounders Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner and Mitchell Marsh and Australia have plenty of runs in their ranks. Mitchell Johnson, the ICC Cricketer of 2014, leads the attack with fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins offering pace and venom. Given stand-in skipper Smith’s phenomenal form with the bat this season— three ODI centuries since October—there are those who say Australia may not even miss Clarke’s leadership and batting While the Australians are well stocked with fast bowlers, there is some concern over the selection of Xavier Doherty as the specialist attacking spinner. The Australians relish playing aggressive cricket under Lehmann and Warner has already been told by Cricket Australia to “stop looking for trouble” after his recent clash with Indian batsman Rohit Sharma. The explosive opener was fined half his one-day match fee by the ICC for confronting Sharma and demanding he “speak English” during Australia’s four-wicket win in Melbourne this month. New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe called Warner’s behaviour “thuggish” and slammed him as being the most juvenile cricketer he had ever seen. But it’s like water off a duck’s back for coach Lehmann, who said: “David’s an aggressive character and we support that. It’s just making sure he does the right thing on the ground.” BOTTOMLINE Veterans set for key role in this World Cup AFP Sydney T he belief that “old is gold” will once again be put to the test in this World Cup, with several players bolstering teams with their experience and guile. Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene, Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori are the most experienced players as each of the trio will be featuring in their fifth World Cup. Jayawardene, 37, retired from Test cricket last year after a glittering career and he will hang up his one-day international kit after the World Cup. With a 33-match tally in the tournament, Jayawardene will be the most experienced player when it comes to World Cups. After a miserable first round exit as defending champions in 1999 the next three editions were memorable, with Sri Lanka the losing semi-finalists in 2003 and runners-up in the next two World Cups. He led the team from the front with a scintillating century in the 2007 semifinal against New Zealand and then Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (left) and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene are two of the most experienced players at this World Cup. notched another ton in the final of 2011 World Cup, albeit in a losing cause as hosts India won in Mumbai. Jayawardene still holds a key position in Sri Lanka’s batting order, along with Kumar Sangakkara who will be featuring in his fourth World Cup. Sangakkara has played 30 World Cup matches and just like old wine has embellished his batting, with the lefthander the highest run-getter in oneday internationals last year. AFRIDI FINALE Afridi was a relative newcomer when Pakistan finished runners-up to Australia in the 1999 World Cup but the next two World Cups weren’t memorable for the aggressive all-rounder. Pakistan crashed out in the first round in 2003 and 2007. Afridi played just one game in the 2007 event after being suspended for the first two. He was Pakistan’s captain in the 2011 World Cup and led them to the semifinals, where they were beaten by India. Pakistan will rely heavily on Afridi’s late-over slogs to give their innings much-needed impetus. Moreover, Afridi, also a handy legspinner, will want to shine at this World Cup after announcing he will quit oneday cricket following the tournament. Matching Afridi in the spin department will be New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, with the 36-year-old left-armer having featured in the 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 editions of the World Cup. A skilled spinner, Vettori still holds the trump card when it comes to slow bowling, being able to put a brake on batsmen’s run-scoring besides taking wickets at crucial stages. Vettori’s captain, Brendon McCul- lum, will also be featuring in his fourth World Cup. McCullum will be the key to co-hosts New Zealand’s hopes of posting big totals in the World Cup. His blistering form in all three formats of the game augurs well for the Black Caps, who for the first time are amongst the top three favourites. Like McCullum, Chris Gayle is a danger for bowlers. Gayle can hit any bowler on his day, hitting big shots at will and has performed well for the West Indies in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups. Trading his best swing bowling against the best batsmen of the world will be England’s James Anderson, playing his fourth World Cup. Besides Steven Finn and Stuart Broad, Anderson will form a solid pace attack for England, who can be the dark horses of the event. Also playing in his fourth World Cup will be Pakistan’s Younis Khan. At 37, Younis will be the second-oldest Pakistani in the World Cup behind 40-yearold captain Misbah-ul Haq. Despite his age, it will be only a second World Cup for Misbah, who featured in the 2011 edition. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 5 CRICKET SPOTLIGHT INJURY Wounded Pakistan hard pressed to repeat 1992 victory ‘Despite the problems this team has the spirit of cornered tigers’ Pakistan’s Hafeez ruled out of WC File picture of Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Hafeez (centre). Reuters Karachi P akistan allrounder Mohammad Hafeez has been ruled out of the World Cup with a calf muscle injury, an official of the country’s cricket board told Reuters yesterday. “He has been advised two to three weeks rest by the doctors so he is out of the World Cup,” Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesman Raza Kitchlew said. He said the tour selection committee has sought to replace Hafeez with 25-year-old opener Nasir Jamshed who has played 45 ODIs. “A request with medical reports has been sent to the ICC technical committee for induct- ing Jamshed into the squad,” Kitchlew said. Hafeez, 34, has been one of Pakistan’s key player, having scored 4542 runs and taken 122 wickets in 155 One-day internationals. He became the second Pakistan player to miss the World Cup through injury after leftarm paceman Junaid Khan pulled out with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Rahat Ali. Hafeez, who is not allowed to bowl because of his illegal action, was due to undergo an official bowling assessment on Feb 16 in Brisbane but another PCB official said it was unlikely that the player would undergo the test on that day. Pakistan begin their World Cup campaign against archrivals India next Sunday at Adelaide. HIGHLIGHT Afghanistan look to repeat Ireland shock factor this time Pakistan cricket captain Misbah-ul-Haq (left) arrives at a press conference in Sydney yesterday, ahead of the Cricket World Cup. AFP Sydney I f there is one team among the top eight at the World Cup which could either crash out embarrassingly in the first round or romp to the title, it’s Pakistan. The talented yet unpredictable side are haunted by injuries to their fast bowlers, the suspension of match-winning spinner Saeed Ajmal and a tussle for the captaincy between Misbah-ul Haq and Shahid Afridi. Frontline paceman Umar Gul was not selceted in the 15-man squad after failing to recover from a knee injury while another new-ball bowler Junaid Khan had to withdraw. Twin defeats in the warm-up matches to second string sides followed by two one-day internationals routs by New Zealand multiplied the enormity of the task for Misbah’s men to match Imran Khan’s World Cup triumph—Pakistan’s only win—in Australia some 23 years ago. “Despite the problems, this team has the spirit of cornered tigers,” said chief selector and former captain Moin Khan, a key member of 1992 winning team. “If they play to their potential this team can surprise the world.” Captain Misbah, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, is also confident of the best results. “The format of this World Cup is such that teams have a lot of opportunities,” said Misbah, who will retire from one-day cricket after the World Cup. “It would be the icing on the cake if I end my one-day career with the trophy.” But Misbah knows his bowling will miss Ajmal, who has single-handedly won matches for Pakistan before being suspended for an illegal bowling action last September. Spinning all-rounder Mohammad Ha- feez—suspended in November last year also over an illegal bowling action—needs to clear a reassessment test to allow the right combination to Misbah. “It will be important that Hafeez clears the test because he is two-in-one and his bowling gives us the right combination,” said the captain. IRFAN X-FACTOR Lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan—the tallest man to ever play international cricket at 7 feet, one inch—is expected to be the X-factor in an otherwise inexperienced pace attack. “To me the X-factor in our team is Irfan. With his height I think he can be dangerous,” said coach Waqar Younis, who missed Pakistan’s World Cup win in 1992 with a back problem. In Ajmal’s absence, leg-spinner Yasir Shah, along with all-rounder Afridi, will handle the spin department. Afridi, who will also quit one-day cricket after the World Cup, will be important too as a batsman in the slog overs as will be Umar Akmal, Misbah and Sohaib Maqsood. Pakistan’s top-order problem persists as Hafeez opening the innings with Ahmed Shehzad doesn’t always guarantee a trouble-free start. They will hope experienced the Younis Khan and Misbah provide stability to the batting, for which the main problem lies in playing too many dot balls. Pakistan has the worst run-rate among the top ten teams in playing dot balls from over 11 to 40. Pakistan must win one of their first two matches—against arch-rivals India and the West Indies—in order to have an easier passage into the last eight. If not, their qualification will rely on their last group B match against a dangerous Ireland team, the same opponents who ousted them in the first round of the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean. BOTTOMLINE Skipper Misbah unsure reinstated Ajmal will make the World Cup AFP Sydney P akistan captain Misbahul Haq said yesterday he was unsure whether Saeed Ajmal would participate in the World Cup after the off-spinner’s bowling action was cleared. The 37-year-old had originally withdrawn from the World Cup, which begins on Saturday, after he failed to correct his action in time for the 15-man squad announcement last month. Ajmal was reported during the Galle Test in Sri Lanka in August last year and he was subsequently suspended by the governing body ICC from bowling at international level after his action was assessed a month later. His withdrawal left Pakistan’s World Cup plans in tatters as they lost four one-day matches—two warm-up and two one-day internationals—in New Zealand. Ajmal was on Saturday cleared Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal. by the ICC (International Cricket Council) to play again, sparking talk of a surprise call-up for the World Cup. “You never know, there are a lot of ifs and buts,” Misbah told a press conference when asked of Ajmal’s chances of appearing in the showpiece event. “The main concern is that he hasn’t played any cricket yet, let’s see how it goes in the next week because the team is already announced and everybody is here so I can’t just say anything about that,” he added. Ajmal played two unofficial one-day matches for Pakistan’s second string against Kenya in Lahore in December, bowling only 12.1 overs. Misbah said that Ajmal himself had doubts whether he would be ready to play. “I can say he is not sure about that because you need some cricket behind you before such a big event,” said Misbah. Pakistani media have reported that the team’s management were not in favour of reinstating Ajmal, and the rules state a player can only be added when injury rules out a member of the original squad. Misbah admitted his team’s poor form was a concern, having lost three one-day series last year and going down 2-0 against New Zealand this month. “I think we are not having good times in the ODIs... but I think this team is capable of turning that around. “I am excited about this team. This is a bunch of youngsters and a few senior and we are a team which can surprise anybody at any stage. “I am really hopeful that we are going to improve our performance but we can do that in the World Cup.” Pakistan open their campaign against arch-rivals and defending champions India in Adelaide on February 15, a day after the tournament begins in Australia and New Zealand. Misbah said loss of key paceman Junaid Khan to injury was another setback. “Definitely, Junaid’s loss is a big blow,” said Misbah. Junaid failed to recover from a leg injury and was replaced by Rahat Ali last week. “Junaid had been our key bowler, especially in the one-days and it’s big blow to lose our best bowler but other bowlers need to stand up and play to their best. File picture of Afghan cricketers practicing at the Kabul Cricket Academy training centre in Kabul. AFP Sydney A fghanistan hope to follow the World Cup giant-killing blueprint drawn up by fellow outsiders Ireland when they make their debut at the game’s showpiece tournament. Ireland defeated mighty Pakistan to reach the Super Eights stage at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean before defeating England in a high-scoring match in the 2011 tournament in India. “My wish would be to emulate what Ireland have done in the last couple of World Cups. They have caused shocks by playing positive, entertaining cricket,” said Andy Moles, who replaced former Pakistan paceman Kabir Khan as Afghanistan coach in September last year. It was Kabir who lifted the nascent cricket nation from division five in 2008 to narrowly missing out on a berth in the 2011 World Cup. Another former Pakistani international, Rashid Latif, then helped Afghanistan reach the the 2010 World Twenty20 and take the silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in China. Latif believes Afghanistan should not worry about results in the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where they will face both co-hosts as well as Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Scotland in the group stages. “I have faith in them. The way they are investing money, the Afghanistan team will beat top teams in the next five years,” said Latif. But he also cautioned: “I don’t want them to go down like Kenya.” The African nation reached the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup but their fall from grace led them to losing their one-day international credentials. “For me they should gain more and more experience and with “My wish would be to emulate what Ireland have done in the last couple of World Cups. They have caused shocks by playing positive, entertaining cricket,” said Andy Moles, who replaced former Pakistan paceman Kabir Khan as Afghanistan coach last September that learn to play better after the World Cup. “I want them to play in a manner that if the kids are watching on television back home they will feel proud of them.” With two channels pledging live coverage, Afghanistan will begin their maiden World Cup campaign against Bangladesh in Canberra on February 18. Afghanistan will take heart from their shock win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last year. It was their first win in 10 one-day internationals against a Test-playing nation. But like most of the Asian and Associates teams, batting on bouncy Australian pitches and coping with swing in New Zealand will be the main challenge. Afghanistan’s batsmen know one way of batting—to attack. “The biggest challenge is going to be how the batsmen handle the quicker bowlers. Playing in Australia is going to be quite brutal for some of these guys who aren’t used to those conditions,” said Moles. “I will work hard to get them as much confidence as possible, to play without fear of failure and, if they see an opportunity at any stage in a game, to take it. “I’d like them to enjoy the challenge that lies ahead of them.” With experienced players like Nowroz Mangal, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Zadran and Hamid Hasan, Afghanistan will hope they can show their talent in the big league. 6 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 SPORT GOLF RUGBY India’s Lahiri fends off Wiesberger to win in Malaysia ‘I don’t think it has sunk in yet but I’m pretty sure when it does I’ll be pretty happy’ Schmidt wants improvement as Irish target England AFP London I reland coach Joe Schmidt has warned the defending Six Nations champions they will have to up their game if they are to impress against France next week before the arguably tougher assignment of facing cofavourites England. Ireland took the first step towards defending their crown with a 26-3 win over long-suffering Italy with Conor Murray and Tommy O’Donnell scoring secondhalf tries and fly-half Ian Keatley added 14 points with the boot. Yet it was a largely disjointed performance from both sides at the Stadio Olimpico until Murray touched over just after the hour when the hosts were reduced to 14 men following Leonardo Ghiraldini’s trip to the sin bin. Having watched England’s stirring second-half fightback to claim a 21-16 win over Wales on Friday, Schmidt said he was impressed with how both sides went about their business at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. But the New Zealander believes England “have set the benchmark” for this year’s tournament, and already given his side a fair idea of what might be required if they are to emerge victorious in Dublin in three weeks’ time. “The benchmark was set by England last night in that second half... England just kept the pressure right on them,” Schmidt said. “The physical nature of that battle... it certainly means we’ve got a lot to do. We’ll have to roll our sleeves up early on next week and hopefully put together a sufficiently improved performance to be competitive against France.” He added: “For us, we certainly need to up our game. I do think that part of it was the pressure Italy put on us, but at the same time I know we can do better than that, and we’re going to have to.” Ireland were shorn of several regulars who helped them secure last year’s title as they travelled to the Italian capital intent on making amends for their 22-15 defeat to the Italians two years ago. But any worries Schmidt had about his young side were dispelled just after the hour mark when Murray, then O’Donnell— a late replacement for Sean O’Brien after he suffered a twinge to his hamstring in the warm-up—touched down to put the match beyond the reach of the hosts 14 minutes from the final whistle. Schmidt admitted O’Brien’s absence had partly led to a “disjointed” first-half but he was quick to praise the new faces in his side, in particular fly-half Keatley, centre Robbie Henshaw and flanker Jordi Murphy. “It’s the first small step for them. They get a little bit of confidence from having played at the level, played in the pressure cooker that is the Six Nations championship,” added Schmidt. Italy captain Sergio Parisse had pledged the Azzurri would “spit blood” in a bid to hand the Irish their second consecutive Stadio Olimpico defeat, but the challenge from the hosts fell resoundingly flat. The Italians looked clumsy from the outset and were soon left focusing all their efforts on defence as Ireland steadily worked their way towards a more creative, attacking game in the second half having taken a 9-3 lead at the break. Anirban Lahiri of India poses with the trophy after winning the 2015 Maybank Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. AFP Kuala Lumpur I ndia’s Anirban Lahiri reeled off four birdies in his first five holes and held on down the stretch for a one-stroke victory over Bernd Wiesberger to take his first European Tour title by winning the Malaysian Open yesterday. Lahiri had vaulted into contention the day before with a tournament-low tenunder 62, and followed up with a finalround 68 for the win. “I don’t think it has sunk in just yet but I’m pretty sure when it does, I’ll be pretty happy,” said the 27-year-old. “I’ve got a bad habit of making it hard for myself, but I’m happy I managed to get it over the line.” The Malaysian Open is co-sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours, and the win was Lahiri’s sixth on the Asian circuit. Lahiri began the day five strokes behind third-round leader Wiesberger, who had shot to the top of the boards Saturday with a European Tour personal-best nine-under 63 at the tricky Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. But on the par-five fifth hole Sunday, Wiesberger chunked his third shot into a water hazard for a costly double bogey, opening the door for Lahiri. The Indian charged through with his early birdie blitz. Despite a couple of later bogeys, he fended off the faltering Wiesberger, who suffered three bogeys on the back nine to card a two-over 74 for the day. “It hasn’t quite finished the way I intended to,” Wiesberger said. “After the hiccup on five, I didn’t hit it anywhere near as good as the last 15 rounds. It’s tough to say, but it is what it is and unfortunately I beat myself out of it today.” England’s Paul Waring and the second round co-leader Spain’s Alejandro Canizares finished two strokes behind Wiesberger in a tie for third on a breezy yet scorching day. England’s Lee Westwood had held the co-lead after each of the first two days and remained in the hunt when the final round started. But his chances of defending the title he won last year crumbled as he posted a disappointing 75 to end in a four-way tie for fifth, five strokes back of Lahiri. Westwood, who has won the tournament twice and seems to play some of his best golf in Asia, is notably comfortable with the Malaysian Open course’s undulating fairways. But after a strong start, his birdie count dropped each day while several other golfers seemed to get hotter. The European Tour said Lahiri’s performance could move him to within the top 40 in the world golf rankings—from 73rd before the tournament—putting him in line to play the upcoming Masters, golf’s most sought-after individual prize. “The Masters is definitely one of my targets. I don’t know how far I moved up but I’m pretty confident now that with this win, I should have a good chance,” he said. Germany’s Andrea Petkovic (C, background) celebrates with teammates (R-L) Angelique Kerber, Sabine Lisicki and Julia Goerges after Petkovic defeated Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova in the FedCup yesterday. TENNIS LPGA Piller clings to lead AFP Paradise Island, Bahamas A merican Gerina Piller clung to a one-stroke lead when darkness halted Saturday’s third round of the Bahamas LPGA Classic while a dozen rivals lurked within two strokes of the lead. Only six of 74 players who made the cut earlier in the day managed to finish before sunset at the event, fighting to finish as planned Sunday in windy conditions after heavy rain washed out much of Thursday’s play. Piller, seeking her first LPGA title, was three-under for nine holes to stand on 10-under overall, but a pack on nineunder included Americans Lexi Thompson, Brooke Pancake and Kelly Shon, Germany’s Sandra Gal, South Korean Kim Sei-Young and France’s Perrine Delacour. South Koreans Park In-Bee, Yoo Sun-Young and Park HeeYoung were on eight-under along with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Americans Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome. SPOTLIGHT Holmes, English ahead at Torrey Pines Reuters La Jolla, California B rain surgery survivor J.B. Holmes joined overnight leader Harris English atop the Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard following the third round at Torrey Pines on Saturday. Holmes put together a four-under 68 on the tough South course to move to nineunder 207 for the tournament while English finished with a 73. Former US Open winner Lucas Glover (70), recent Sony Open winner Jimmy Walker (70) and fellow Americans Spencer Levin (70), Chad Campbell (70) and Nick Watney (72) shared third at eight-under. Holmes, who underwent brain surgery for Chiari malformations in 2011, managed seven birdies with three bogeys leaving him in great shape to chase down a fourth win on tour. “I hit it really well all day and putted well, so it was nice to get out there on this beautiful golf course and make some putts,” Holmes said. “Started out pretty good and was able to chip one in on four to kind of get me going.” English began the day with a two-shot lead and extended it to three with an opening-hole birdie but a costly double-bogey on his fourth hole created a tight leaderboard. After driving the ball in the fairway bunker of the picturesque par four that hugs the Pacific Ocean coastline, English sent his approach into the left rough short of the green. His chip shot flew over the putting surface and his par save attempt from the fringe rolled six feet by the hole. When he missed the bogey putt the 25-year-old dropped back to nine under and while he was back in double digits under par through 13 holes an bogey on 16 dropped him back into a share of the lead. Campbell made a silky hole-in-one on the postcard third hole on the way to his 70. Five players are just two shots off the lead including Australian world number eight Jason Day, who holed out for an eagle on the 17th from 147 yards just two holes after felling a young boy with an errant tee shot. LEGEND Golfing great Billy Casper dead at 83 AFP Washington U S golfing great Billy Casper, who had the seventh most PGA Tour wins but was still considered one of the game’s most underrated players, died of a heart attack Saturday at the age of 83, ESPN reported. Casper, described as an underdog, was often overlooked for some of his better-known peers despite a long roster of accomplishments on the green. He was a two-time US Open winner, including an impressive come-from-behind triumph in 1966 when he rallied from a seven-shot deficit to take the trophy. He also won the US Open in 1959 at Winged Foot and the 1970 Masters. He had a total of 51 PGA Tour wins to his name, but the “Big Three”—Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player—of- ten dominated headlines and basked in golf glory, despite Casper’s feats. From 1964 to 1970, Casper won 27 US events, six more than Palmer and Player combined. Casper was remembered as a skilled competitor and a dedicated family man by his peers, and in 1978 he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. “Billy Casper was one of the greatest family men—be it inside the game of golf or out—I have had the fortunate blessing to meet,” Nicklaus said on his Facebook page. “There was always much more to Billy Casper than golf. But as a golfer, Billy was a fantastic player, and I don’t think he gets enough credit for being one.” Nicklaus said Casper often didn’t get the praise he deserved. “I think it is fair to say that Billy was probably underrated by those who didn’t play against him. Those who did compete against him, knew how special he was.” Petkovic fires Germany into Fed Cup semis AFP London A ndrea Petkovic endured another gruelling three-set marathon to seal Germany’s 3-1 win over Australia yesterday and put the hosts in the Fed Cup semifinals. Germany, the 2014 finalists, will face Russia in the semi-finals on April 18-19 after Petkovic again dug deep to seal a 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 win over Jarmila Gajdosova with the third set taking nearly an hour. It was the second time in 24 hours Petkovic was carried to victory by the vocal 4,000-strong crowd in a gruelling tie after Saturday’s victory over Samantha Stosur came down to a 12-10 battle in the third-set after three hours, 13 minutes of tennis. Having been 4-2 down in the crucial third, Petkovic showed her composure by converting her second match point to seal Germany’s win and keep them bidding for a second straight final appearance. “I was a bit tired from yesterday, but I always just played it one point at a time,” said a jaded Petkovic at Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena. “I hope there is Champagne, but beer is also okay. “We’ll mix in with the fans anyway, the atmosphere was incredible.” Angelique Kerber had earlier put Germany on the brink of the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Stosur, who has lost both of her singles rubbers in Stuttgart. Also yesterday, former world number one Maria Sharapova sent Russia into the semi-finals as she defeated Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 7-5 to give her country an unassailable 3-0 lead. The doubles pairing of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Vitaliya Diatchenko later made it 4-0 as they beat Klaudia Jans-Ignacik and Alicja Rosolska 6-4, 6-4. Following Sharapova’s victory over Urszula Radwanska in straight sets on Saturday, combined with a three set win for veteran Svetlana Kuznetsova over Urszula’s sister Agnieszka, Russia cruised into the last four. French Open champion Sharapova is playing just her fourth Fed Cup tie since her 2008 debut but in order to make the Olympics next year all players have to make themselves available for the annual women’s team tournament. “It is a very important win for me,” said Sharapova, who has often been criticised for not playing enough Fed Cup matches. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 7 SPORT NBA Nowitzki, Parsons rally Mavs past Trail Blazers ‘It was a game we should’ve had. We did a lot of things to give it away’ DPA Los Angeles T he Dallas Mavericks appeared headed for another loss to a Western Conference playoff team when German superstar Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons took them on a delightful detour. Nowitzki scored 25 points - including a threepointer that forced overtime - and Parsons had 10 of his 20 in the extra session as the host Mavericks staged a frenetic comeback to a 111-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Monta Ellis also scored 20 points for Dallas, which never led in the second half but never trailed in the extra session. The Mavericks improved to 5-0 in overtime games this season. “This was a game we needed,” Parsons said. “We hadn’t really beaten a top-tier team yet. Portland’s a really good team. We’re just glad we got out of here with a win.” “That one’s a tough one to take,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “It was a game we should’ve had. We did a lot of things to give it away.” It was the fifth win in six games for the Mavs (35-18), who are fifth in the West but came in just 2-10 against the other top seven teams in the conference. They lost their only previous meeting with the Trail Blazers by 21 points. Portland (34-17) held a 16-point lead late in the third quarter and still owned a 94-83 advantage with under three minutes left in regulation. But Devin Harris and Parsons made threepointers to trigger the comeback. Portland’s Damian Lillard made two free throws, but Nowitzki made a jumper and Harris scored again before Nowitzki drilled his tying three-pointer with 20 seconds left. Lillard missed a three-pointer at the regulation buzzer. “A lot of things had to go right for us,” Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. “There had to be a lot of belief that we could still win to keep fighting like that, and our guys deserve credit for that.” With Dallas riding the momentum, Parsons opened overtime with two free throws and Nowitzki made a jumper before Parsons snared an offensive rebound and fed Ellis for a threepointer that gave Dallas a 103-96 lead with 2:49 remaining. Parsons took over from there, added a driving layup, jumper, two free throws and a tip-in to seal the win. “I was more than comfortable doing it (taking over),” said Parsons, who made 7-of-16 shots and grabbed nine rebounds. “I struggled early. I missed a lot of bunnies, missed some open shots. But I was just glad to come through when my team needed me.” Harris scored 16 points and Tyson Chandler added 11 and 13 rebounds for the Mavs, who made 14-of-36 three-pointers. Lillard scored 26 points and LaMarcus Aldridge added 25 and 14 boards for the Trail Blazers, who were 10-of-32 from the arc and committed 24 turnovers. Portland fell to 3-1 in overtime and has lost seven straight road games. “This is as dead of a locker room as I have ever been around and everybody is pretty much (ticked),” said Blazers guard Wesley Matthews, who scored 17 points. “Rightfully so. I mean, we’re just shocked.” Elsewhere Chicago Bulls 107, New Orleans Pelicans 72: Spanish star Pau Gasol had 20 points and 15 rebounds for the visiting Bulls, who stopped a three-game slide. Pelicans All-Star forward Anthony Davis left the game and did not return after landing hard on his right shoulder follow- Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard (right) fouls Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki during their NBA game in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday. (USA TODAY Sports) ing an alley-oop dunk. Golden State Warriors 106, New York Knicks 92: Stephen Curry scored 22 points and Draymond Green added 20 and 13 rebounds for the visiting Warriors, who have won four of five. All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony was rested by the Knicks, who fell to a league-worst 10-41. Washington Wizards 114, Brooklyn Nets 77: John Wall scored 17 points to lead six players in double figures as the host Wizards stopped a season-high five-game losing streak. The Nets had their three-game winning streak stopped. Milwaukee Bucks 96, Boston Celtics 93: Brandon Knight scored 26 points for the host Bucks, who won for the sixth time in seven games. The Celtics saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Philadelphia 76ers 89, Charlotte Hornets 81: Robert Covington scored 22 points as the 76ers won their fourth straight home game. The Hornets had a three-game winning streak snapped. Utah Jazz 102, Sacramento Kings 90: Gordon Hayward scored 30 points and Turkey’s Enes Kanter added 17 and 13 boards for the host Jazz, who stopped a three-game skid. DeMarcus Cousins scored 27 points for the Kings, who have lost 11 of 12 and reportedly are pursuing George Karl as their next coach. US college coaching legend Smith dead at 83 D ean Smith, a US college basketball coaching legend who mentored Michael Jordan and dozens of other NBA stars, has died at 83, his family announced yesterday. The iconic former University of North Carolina coach, who guided the 1976 US Olympic team to gold at Montreal, died in Chapel Hill, the home city of his Tar Heel teams that became iconic in American college basketball during his run as coach at the school from 1961 to 1997. Smith coached the Tar Heels to US national championships in 1982 and 1993 and 11 trips to the “Final Four” of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Jordan, who won six NBA crowns for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s, was on Smith’s 1982 college championship squad and said Dean Smith (right) had mentored Michael Jordan (left) and dozens of other NBA stars. Smith had a major impact upon him on and off the court. “Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than coach Smith,” Jordan said in a statement. “He was more than a coach—he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. Coach was always there for me whenever I needed him and I loved him for it. “In teaching me the game of basketball, he taught me about life. We’ve lost a great man who had an incredible impact on his players, his staff and the entire UNC family.” In 1967, Smith recruited Charlie Scott to North Carolina, making the state prep star the first African-American athlete to receive a scholarship to the college and helping push desegregation. Scott became a 1970s NBA star but was far from the last player Smith guided to make an impact at the professional level, a list notably including Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter and Rasheed Wallace. Smith earned praise as an innovator, including using the four-corner offense that forced basketball to adopt a shot clock. NHL Rangers hold their own but fall to Predators By Steve Zipay Newsday (TNS) L ife without injured Henrik Lundqvist for the next three weeks began with a solid effort on the road against one of the NHL’s top teams. But after a 3-2 loss to the Predators Saturday, the Rangers left Music City without a point and with a three-game winning streak in the dust. Mike Ribeiro snapped a 2-2 tie at 12:46 of the third period with a rising shot from the left circle that Cam Talbot saw too late to lift the Predators over the Rangers (30-16-4), who held their own for most of the matinee in a building in which the Predators are 21-3-1. “A lot of times I’m thinking about passing,” said Ribeiro, whose point was his 700th. “That was the end of my shift, so I was thinking shot before I got the puck.” The Rangers lamented a lost opportunity. “That’s just what happens against good teams, but we have to find a way to win that one, especially coming back in the third,” said Rick Nash, who scored his 33rd goal of the season to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the second period. “Their defense boxes out pretty well, but once we kind of worked a little bit harder to get in front, we had some good opportunities.” Nash was referring to forging a 2-2 tie on Ryan McDonagh’s first goal since New Year’s Eve. He beat Pekka Rinne through traffic at 1:37 of the third period. But the Rangers, who surrendered two goals in a 41-second span during the final two minutes of the second period on blasts by defensemen Roman Josi and Shea Weber, couldn’t solve Rinne (30 saves) the rest of the way. Derick Brassard, who had two assists, missed an open net on a two-on-one with Mats Zuccarello with less than three minutes to play. “I really liked the way we played on the road,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “We didn’t give them too many opportunities. A couple of the goals, the puck had eyes and found the holes. In the second, we played a great period until then.” Weber’s go-ahead goal was unstoppable, Marc Staal said: “It sets up on a tee for a guy with the hardest shot in the world.” But Talbot, who made 20 saves and will start against Dallas Sunday -- the first time he will start three games in five days -- called Ribeiro’s goal “a backbreaker.” “I think the puck went right between two of them [in front],” he said. “Saw it at the last second. I was a little late.” The Predators came closest to scoring in the first period. Just before the seven-minute mark, Talbot, Staal and Kevin Klein combined to clog the crease and deny a couple of shot attempts. In the final minute, Filip Forsberg’s wrister flew past Talbot’s glove but dinged the left post. Talbot did make several key saves in front. “He gave us a chance,” Vigneault said, “and that’s all you can ask.” Vigneault will be asking more of Talbot, who prevailed in a 3-2 win over Boston on Wednesday, because Lundqvist will be out an extended time with a neck injury. To win consistently, the Rangers will need to find ways to continue scoring at a pace of close to three goals a game. “There’s not many positives when you lose,” said Nash, who took over the league lead in goals, “but at least we get right back at it.” New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot (centre) makes a save during the NHL game against Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (USA TODAY Sports) 8 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 FOOTBALL AL KASS INTERNATIONAL CUP HIGHLIGHT Admirable Aspire undone by Arsenal Qatar Stars League gives fans chance to win Qmiles by attending matches Arsenal put in a professional performance to defeat a plucky Aspire Academy team By Sports Reporter Doha T he Qatar Stars League (QSL), the highest professional league in Qatari football, gives fans across the country the opportunity to win ten prizes of 1 million Qmiles, as well as the chance to win two return Qatar Airways flights* to a FC Barcelona match. The initiative is part of Qatar Stars League Football Rewards loyalty programme which recognises and rewards people in Qatar for supporting their favourite Qatar Stars League team. From today, anyone purchasing a ticket online at tickets.qsl. com.qa and attends a match between February and March will be in with a chance to win one of ten prizes of 1 million Qmiles. Also up for grabs is the opportunity to fly out with a friend on Qatar Airways to a FC Barcelona match at Camp Nou in Barcelona. Khalifa al-Haroon, Executive Director Marketing and Communications, Qatar Stars League commented on the opportunity, “We’re delighted to launch these exciting promotions for both our current and future fans. We’re giving people a chance to win 1 million Qmiles so that they can visit their dream destination, and hopefully also watch a match in the country they visit too. Having said that, we’re also pleased to give fans the opportunity to go and see FC Barcelona play in their home stadium. All you need to do is simply buy a ticket online and attend one of our matches! The more matches you attend, the greater your chance of winning!” The FC Barcelona competition will end on 7 March and the Qmiles competition will end on 22 March. The winners will be announced soon after. Khalifa al-Haroon went on to explain that the Football Rewards campaign is part of Qatar Stars League’s commitment to excite even more people in Qatar about football and encourage everyone to go and watch their favourite football club play. Qatar Stars League Football Rewards is one of the first football loyalty programmes in the region and is open to Qatar residents aged 14 years old and over; enabling members to earn points by attending matches which provides access to appealing discounts and rewards across Qatar. Members are automatically registered for Football Rewards when purchasing tickets online. Action during the match between Aspire Academy team and Arsenal during the Al Kass International Cup yesterday. PICTURE: Fadi al-Assaad By Sports Reporter Doha A rsenal put in a highly professional performance to defeat a plucky Aspire Academy team by three goals to null on Sunday evening. Going into the game, hopes were high for Aspire after they had recorded the biggest victory of the group stages, a 6-1 mauling of Vissel Kobe. Although Arsenal had only beaten the Japanese by the odd goal in five, it was obvious that the Gunners would provide the Qataris with a far sterner test than they had encountered in their opener, and so it proved. The London side dominated the early proceedings and almost went ahead within two minutes, when captain Kaylen Hinds latched on to a left-sided corner and flicked a back-heeled volley narrowly over. It proved a temporary reprieve for the Qataris as Arsenal took the lead after five minutes. Stephy Mavididi, a hat-trick hero against Kobe, continued his hot streak by turning his man and firing hard and low into the right corner from 12 yards out. Aspire struggled to get a foothold in the game, and on 14 minutes they fell further behind when Christopher Willock pulled the ball back from the left, with Donovan firing into the top left corner from distance after three successive shots had been blocked by the valiant Aspire defence. Left-winger Willock was in inspired form, and on 25 minutes he put the visitors three goals in front, cutting in from the left and expertly curling a low ball into the far corner. Aspire found themselves chasing shadows as a ruthless Arsenal side bossed possession, seemingly able to cut open the opposition defence at will. To the enormous credit of the young Qatari players, they stuck to their task and maintained a disciplined shape despite the Gunners’ dominance. And, as the Results Sao Paulo 5 PSG Aspire Academy 0 Arsenal 0 3 first half wore on the home side gradually settled, competing for every ball and attempting to disrupt Arsenal’s crisp passing moves. The vocal home crowd cheered upped the volume as the second half began, and their support seemed to have an instant impact as Aspire almost reduced the deficit. Amro Surag made a great run down the left only for his progress to be curtailed by Marcus Tabi, who received a yellow card for his aggressive challenge. Khalid Mazeed’s beautifully flighted ball from the resultant free kick picked out Mohammed Abushahab at the far post, but he just failed to connect. Tabi was joined in the referee’s notebook two minutes later by teammate Kostas Pilias for a foul on Abu Shahab. This time Majeed went straight for goal and keeper Oliver Keto could not hold on to the ball, recovering just in time to gather under pressure from captain Khalid AlNaimi. Aspire were growing into the game and created another fine chance on 55 minutes. Abushahab fed Hazem Shahata on the right of the area, and he skillfully beat his man before crossing for Surag, who just failed to get his head on the ball as a goal beckoned. Arsenal almost increased their advantage around the 70-minute mark when three of their newly introduced substitutes combined well. Owen Moore broke down the right and fed Edward Nketiah on the left of the area, cutting back into the path of the advancing Savvas Mourgos who fluffed his lines from 12 yards out, the ball rolling to safety past the left-hand post. It said much for Aspire’s improved performance that this was the closest the Gunners came to scoring in the second period. FOCUS Aspire International look real deal after downing Madrid BOTTOMLINE Action during the match between Aspire International (in white) and Real Madrid (in black) during the 2015 Al Kass International Cup. Al Kass talents warned about danger of corruption in football A By Sports Reporter Doha By Sports Reporter Doha D uring a joint event of Al Kass International Cup and ICSS on Friday morning at “La Cigale Hotel” that featured former Dutch international Edgar Davids, coaching legend Bora Milutinovic and ICSS Head of Anti-Corruption & International Development Partnerships, Werner Schuller, the players were warned about the dangers of corruption in football such as match-fixing and were also made aware of the importance to be careful with the personal use of social media. According to the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), many criminals and match-fixers are now utilising sites like Twitter and Instagram to approach and groom young footballers. “Criminals are very clever about the way they infiltrate and corrupt players and it is important that young athletes are educated about the dangers Coaching legend Bora Milutinovic (second right) talks to the players. of social media and the amount of personal information they make public,” stated Schuller, who also told the young players how important it is to support the integrity of the game. “As part of our commitment to safeguarding and educating young athletes, we would encourage any young player to recognise, resist and report any approaches by suspicious individuals immediately to their club or governing body.” As social media usage has rapidly expanded in recent years, it forms an increasingly colourful addition to the excited chatter around the Al Kass International Cup. For the young, web-savvy players, platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram present fantastic opportunities to share their experiences in Doha with fans, followers and friends alike. This year a record level of ‘selfies’ are predicted as more and more participants utilise social media to publicise their footballing feats, perhaps with the long-term aim of building up personal online ‘brands’. With the tournament just a couple of days in, the photography phenomenon has already been embraced by the AC Milan team who celebrated their 4-3 victory over River Plate with a joyful victory selfie at the side of the pitch However, while such activity is generally nothing more than harmless fun, some experts are warning of the growing dangers that social media can present to young footballers. “Through our investigations at the ICSS, we have come across numerous cases where criminals have contacted young players at clubs through Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with a view to compromising them,” said Schuller. In an effort to encourage greater awareness of these risks, Al Kass and the ICSS hosted a joint event on Friday to highlight these hazards to the tournament’s young players. The lessons form part of a wider legacy initiative by the Al Kass International Organising Committee to ensure that players leave Qatar with more than just a footballing education. Commenting on the social media classes, Essa al-Hitmi, Chairman of the tournament’s Organising Committee said: “We hope that players who compete in the Al Kass International Cup will leave Qatar with positive memories of this country and its relationship with the beautiful game. This is a tournament that seeks to open minds and inspire the next generation of football stars. Furthermore, we believe these practical lessons on such a contemporary topic can help protect the players and ensure they reach their full potential.” spire International produced a clinical performance to defeat Real Madrid 1-0 in Day 3’s final game. In a repeat of the 2014 final, both Aspire and Real came into this match off the back of convincing victories over Schalke 04, making this tie a contest for first place in Group B. This year’s Aspire squad contains 16 changes from the 2014 vintage. In contrast, the Real side has maintained continuity, and their familiarity with one another was quickly apparent as they established a smooth passing groove. Aspire’s physical approach occasional strayed into dangerous territory, with Alasana Manneh receiving a yellow card on 27 minutes after crudely hacking down Ousama Siddiki. Meanwhile, Jean Myondo was extremely fortunate not to receive a caution after two high challenges. Oscar Rodriguez was proving integral to his side’s chances, and in added time at the end of the first half he almost succeeded in lobbing Uzoho from at least 40 yards, only to see his effort drop just wide of the left post. Aspire international began to show more attacking intent as the second half progressed, and on 53 minutes the Spanish defence did not clear its lines and Ramazan Orazov struck a fierce drive that Marino only just managed to keep out. Aspire were increasingly threatening Real’s backline, with left-winger Ishmael Baidoo in particular asking questions of Achraf Mouh. Aspire made Real pay for this profligacy with a piece of stunning individual brilliance. Jean Amani showed supreme skill to wriggle past several challenges as he advanced through the inside right channel, before exchanging passes with Rogerson and smashing the ball hard and low into the bottom left corner. In the 80th minute Real had a golden opportunity to level, when Martin had a free header but directed his effort wide. Real began to pile on the pressure but Aspire defence held firm. And, on 84 minutes Washington Becerra had a chance to put the result beyond doubt but a heavy touch allowed the keeper to save. Aspire International saw out the remaining moments with ease, and found the net for a second time in the dying moments only for Oralkhan Omirtayev’s goal to be ruled out for offside. They now head into the knockout stages as group winners, without having conceded a goal in their first two games. Already, their defence of the Al Kass trophy appears formidable. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 9 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Frank Lampard’s New York City FC: A team no one has seen play NYCFC will wear the same colours as their Manchester counterparts, be known as ‘City’ and their supporters have already set about establishing east coast rivalry by photographing Rocky Balboa’s statue in Philadelphia wearing one of their scarves By Daniel Taylor The Observer I t hasn’t exactly been a smooth journey. Shambolic was how one of America’s sports writers described the embryonic stages of New York City FC’s operation, complaining that it has been “operating in a virtual vacuum” in advance of the club’s first game, to be staged at Manchester City’s new academy stadium tomorrow, against St Mirren. Then again, has any club been set up without encountering some kind of difficulties in their early years? Not in Manchester, certainly. St Mark’s, the club that eventually spawned Manchester City, won one game in their first season and, wading through the history books, it became apparent that was largely because the opposition, Stalybridge Clarence, had eight players and made up the numbers with three volunteers from the crowd. The club accrued so much debt when they were known as Ardwick FC that the director who bailed them out had to put back his wedding by three years. It was hardly straightforward either for Manchester United’s predecessors at Newton Heath, bearing in mind they finished bottom in their first two seasons and, in a move Sir Alex Ferguson would undoubtedly approve of, took one newspaper to court for complaining their style was “not football but simple brutality”. The Birmingham Daily Gazette had concluded that the tactics in one game would “perhaps create an extra run of business for undertakers”. The libel case was won and the newspaper was ordered to pay one farthing in damages. Nothing, though, feels stranger than the story of the royal family from the Middle East who bought a football club from a criminal ex-prime minister of Thailand, turned them into the champions of England, then introduced us to a series of Mini-Me offsprings. New York, or NYCFC, will wear the same colours as their Manchester counterparts, be commonly known as “City” and their supporters have already set about establishing some kind of east coast rivalry by photographing Rocky Balboa’s statue in Philadelphia wearing one of their scarves. It must be slightly weird supporting a team nobody has seen play but the club has more than 13,000 seasonticket holders, four weeks before the new MLS season, and a series of events has been organised by the “Third Rail” fans’ group, named after the method of running New York’s subway system and promising “to be the electricity that powers NYCFC”. Looking at the work that has been undertaken in Manchester, and knowing the expertise of some of the people involved in the two projects, I would probably back them to get it right. Take away the Frank Lampard farrago and there is plenty to admire. Their data states they are in the top three clubs in MLS for season-ticket sales and, again, when it comes to the interest generated by their Twitter and Facebook accounts. Momentum is gathering even without, lest it be forgotten, a ball being kicked. Yet, it certainly requires some modern thinking and an open mind to feel immediately at ease with the new “franchise” (never a word that fits snugly into the football lexicon), the back-scratching agreement that exists between Manhattan and Manchester and the lingering sense of awkwardness surrounding what happened with Lampard, a long story involving what the MLS commissioner described as the truth being “mischaracterised” and eventually coming down to one key fact: City’s owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan, kept Lampard in Manchester after some delicate negotiations with—well, fancy this—NYCFC’s owner, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan. Lampard will not be in New York until June but it is not easy trying to predict when he will make his debut given that it is normal practice for any Premier League footballer, let alone one who will be close to 37, to have a month off at the end of the season, followed by around five weeks of pre-season training. Lampard has the people skills to explain that the backdrop to his story is maybe not quite as cynical as has been portrayed but it will be interesting to see what reception he gets and my bet is he will have to forego his summer break and throw himself straight into it. Almost 300 people asked for refunds on their season tickets because they felt misled about his contract situation and he might also be aware of what happened at the MLS super-draft in the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event had barely started when the first chant of “Where’s Frank Lampard?” echoed through the grand ballroom. NYCFC’s only other run-out was a practice ground match against Jacksonville Armada and the supporters who have spent from $306 to $2,975 on season tickets have largely had to make do with snippets from the club’s social-media feeds. One cross from David Villa drew acclaim because of the way he “puts it on a platter”. Another player scored with a “snap shot bar and down finish”. It must be slightly weird supporting a team nobody has seen play but the club has more than 13,000 season-ticket holders, four weeks before the new MLS season, and a series of events has been organised by the “Third Rail” fans’ group, named after the method of running New York’s subway system and promising “to be the electricity that powers NYCFC” The match was played in four quarters of 24 minutes and, if that sounds slightly odd, it’s nothing compared with the story about the Phoenix Fire’s first game in 1979 and the sudden panic, 10 minutes before kick-off, when the kit turned up and the president, Len Lesser, bounded into the dressing room to announce why there was no goalkeeper’s jersey: “We’re going to be the smartest team in the league. None of this bullshit with players wearing different uniforms. I want us all to have the same uniform.” Lampard should ask his uncle, Harry Redknapp, about that one. Redknapp was in the team and had persuaded the goalkeeper, Kieron Baker, he should leave Ipswich Town to join him in Arizona. NYCFC, one imagines, will be able to rustle up a goalkeeper’s shirt. As you can imagine, it has not been easy locating somewhere for a stadium in New York and they had to give up on the site MLS proposed on Queens parkland because of the kind of problems David Beckham ran into when he suggested putting a 20,000-seat arena in Miami’s Museum Park—to which the local residents’ association posed the question, quite reasonably, in the Miami Herald whether he would “go to the mayor of London and ask to put a soccer stadium in Hyde Park”. The New York Times made it clear what it felt about “inserting a soccer stadium into the green lungs of Queens County”. The search will continue but Yankee Stadium is not a bad temporary home, leased for the next three years, and when you analyse the sheer scale of work is it realistic that so many people take the view it is all a cunning plan driven by financial fair play manoeuvring on behalf of the Manchester side of the operation? For some, that appears to be the default setting every time the club’s owners are rich enough, or clever enough, to do something that is beyond their rivals. But just think about it for a second: would they really go through years of political pain, moving heaven and earth to try to squeeze a stadium on to the New York skyline, creating a new club at immense cost with 25 players and more than 100 full-time staff, simply because City found it difficult to get beneath the break-even line in their last FFP accounts? Arsène Wenger might be suspicious about the number of players who will be loaned from one City to the other but maybe Arsenal should be doing something similar bearing in mind their majority shareholder, Stan Kroenke, is the owner of the MLS team Colorado Rapids. Chelsea have an agreement in place whereby they load players on to Vitesse Arnhem. Manchester United have made all sorts of tie-ups over the years and it strikes me, overall, as smart business from the CFG (City Football Group) empire. Not hugely sensational, I know, but maybe the relevant people have just seen an opportunity for MLS to flourish with New York and, indirectly, Abu Dhabi at the forefront of it. CFG has other ventures with Melbourne City FC and Yokohama Marinos. It does feel like their ultimate aim is some form of global domination. That is going to be a long process. On Friday, someone in City’s ticket office told me there were 100 tickets left for tomorrow’s game. It sounded like wishful thinking and, as it turns out, the 7,000-capacity ground will be a small fraction full, as you might expect for a midweek game in February against the team third from bottom of the Scottish Premier League. But there is momentum. The people behind this operation are here for the long haul, and they generally get what they want. 10 Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 FOOTBALL AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS LIGUE 1 Congo beat hosts on penalties in third-place playoff ‘I knew we would win. I don’t take penalties for my club, nor in training. Today I did it in such a highprofile match. I didn’t really feel the pressure, it helped that Equatorial Guinea missed two penalties’ Monaco’s unbeaten run ends at Guingamp AFP Monaco M onaco’s recent charge up the Ligue 1 standings came to a shuddering halt yesterday when they conceded their first goal in over 800 minutes to fall 1-0 at ten-man Guingamp. The result leaves Monaco fifth on 40 points while Saint Etienne, who drew 3-3 with Lens on Friday, have 41 in fourth, but only the top three in France qualify for the Champions League. Croatian international ‘keeper Daniel Subasic had not let in a league goal for Monaco in 842 minutes when Dorian Leveque tapped in at the far post for Guingamp after Claudio Beavue beat the backline with a searching pass in the 52nd minute. And this came despite the numerical advantage enjoyed by the visitors after Guingamp midfielder Moustapha Diallo was red-carded on 21 minutes for a studs up challenge. Monaco lost a League Cup semi-final to Bastia in midweek after a penalty shoot-out and had been unbeaten in the league since November. They were runners-up in Ligue 1 last season and are looking forward to facing Arsenal in a Champions League last-16 two-legged affair. Monaco were on an eight match unbeaten run in the league, with five straight wins on the road, while Guingamp extended their winning streak at home to six straight wins. France’s top three teams went into the weekend separated by two points with leaders Lyon on 49 hosting Paris Saint Germain, on 47 and who can go top if they win. Marseille also went into the weekend on 47 but drew 1-1 at Rennes to pull within one point of Lyon. Swedish striker Ola Toivonen gave Rennes the lead after 26 minutes, smartly chesting down a loose ball to score past Steve Mandanda in the Marseille goal. Marseille were saved when Lucas Ocampos, the Argentine signed on loan from Monaco in the last moments of the transfer window, found the net in the 59th minute after coming on as a half-time substitute. BUNDESLIGA Werder Bremen stun Bayer Leverkusen AFP Munich W Democratic Republic of the Congo players celebrate after winning the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations third place play-off against hosts Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Saturday. (AFP) Reuters Malabo A frican Nations Cup hosts Equatorial Guinea ended their tournament on a low note as they lost the third-place playoff 4-2 on penalties after drawing 0-0 with Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday. Javier Balboa and Raul Fabiani both missed with poor spot kicks, while all four DR Congo penalty takers found the net, with Cedric Mongongu firing home the decisive kick. Although supporters largely stayed away from the playoff after the fan violence that marked Equatorial Guinea’s semi-final defeat to Ghana on Thursday, those in attendance created a fitting atmosphere for the hosts’ final match. The two defeated semi-finalists played out a low-key but well-tempered 0-0 draw and had to be separated by the first penalty shootout of the 2015 event. Equatorial Guinea looked lively and creative during the first half and the joy they elicited from the several hundred fans in attendance was a reminder of the positive impact they had earlier in the tournament. However, the circling police helicopter betrayed the previous troubles at the Estadio de Malabo that made the playoff a subdued occasion. Both attacking units were encouraged Democratic Republic of Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba Muteba stops a penalty. Congo won the shootout 4-2 after 120 minutes failed to break the deadlock. (AFP) by unconvincing goalkeeping during the opening stages. DR Congo’s Robert Kidiaba, playing his last international match, flapped at a number of chances prompting uncertainty among his defenders but recovered well to save his team. The game opened up after the break, with both sides keen to take the initiative and claim the bronze medal. Dieumerci Mbokani was introduced at half-time for the visitors but wasted a good opening with a scuffed finish after 52 minutes. Equatorial Guinea forced a lastgasp diving tackle from Cedric Mongongu after an hour as Emilio Nsue attempted to break through on goal, while Ruben Belima wasted a good opportunity for them after 77 minutes. The contest ambled towards penalties, where Equatorial Guinea never recovered from opening misses by Javier Balboa, who blazed wide, and Raul Fabiani, whose weak shot was saved by Kidiaba. Cedric Mabwati, Lema Mabidi, Chancel Mbemba and Mongongu converted for DR Congo, who received their bronze medals after the match. Mbemba later said he knew his side would win the shootout. “I knew we would win,” Mbemba said. “I don’t take penalties for my club, nor in training, I rarely shoot in a match so this was something new. “Today I did it in such a high-profile match for my family because my family have supported me 100 percent. I didn’t really feel the pressure, it helped that Equatorial Guinea missed two penalties.” The Anderlecht defender heaped praise on coach Florent Ibenge. “We are a young team working with a local coach,” he said. “Not many local coaches get the chance in Africa but Florent Ibenge gave me and my team mates confidence.” Despite playing out of position in central midfield, Mbemba has been one of the standout players at the tournament. “I was here to do anything necessary for the team,” he said. “The coach is the teacher, he wants to use every student, every player. If he says play right, I’ll do it, play left, I’ll do it. “That was the first Nations Cup I played in. Back in South Africa in 2013 I didn’t play, I was on the bench and then-coach Claude Le Roy said I was too young. “I have shown at Anderlecht that I am very capable, everyone knows me there, but coach Ibenge has shown me what I can do, that I can flourish as a defensive midfielder.” erder Bremen’s meteoric rise up the Bundesliga table continued yesterday as their 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen means they have gone from 18th to eighth in just four games. Leverkusen, who face last year’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, found themselves 2-0 down with half an hour gone as hosts Bremen produced some dazzling firsthalf football. A superb lofted cross from attacking midfielder Fin Bartels allowed 20-year-old striker Davie Selke to put Bremen ahead with 17 minutes gone. Bremen’s Austrian midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic then drilled home a stunning free kick just inside the near post to double Werder’s lead after 29 minutes. Bayer pulled a goal back when Hakan Calhanoglu headed home after Gonzalo Castro had hit the post just before half time. But Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt lost his cool with tough-tackling Bremen and was banished to the stands by referee Peter Sippel on 65 minutes for using offensive language to the fourth official. Having been bottom of the table just before their last game of 2014, Bremen have shot up the table to eighth under caretaker coach Viktor Skripnik while Leverkusen stay sixth. Argentina seal Rio spot with U-20 triumph Sao Paulo: Argentina will return to Olympic football next year after sealing victory in the South American under-20 qualifying tournament in Uruguay on Saturday. The Argentines, winners of the Olympic gold in 2004 and 2008, missed out on London but will be in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 after beating hosts Uruguay 2-1 in Montevideo. Uruguay took the lead in the seventh minute with a goal from Gaston Pereiro, but Argentina levelled before half time through Sebastian Driussi. Angel Correa got the winner for the visitors nine minutes from time. The result means that Argentina are under-20 South American champions and grab the one guaranteed qualification spot for next year’s Olympics. Second-placed side Colombia will play off against a team from the Concacaf region for a place in the Games. The Colombians beat Brazil 3-0 on Saturday to secure second place in the competition. Brazil, who finished fourth in the 10-team tournament behind Uruguay, qualify automatically as hosts. The top four sides all qualified for the under-20 World Cup, which takes place in New Zealand in May. The tournament threw up a number of noteworthy performances, especially from Argentina, the topscoring team with 24 goals in 10 games. BOTTOMLINE Barca scout blames power games for sacking Reuters Barcelona F ormer Barcelona technical secretary Alberto Valentin has blamed power games for his dismissal and that of sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and is now looking for a new challenge away from the pressure cooker of La Liga. Zubizarreta and assistant Valentin, who oversaw scouting, were both sacked last month in the aftermath of a FIFA transfer ban for the following two windows over the breaching of rules on the signing of foreign under-18 players. Fan criticism had also been building over failures in the transfer market and their perceived involvement in the scandal over Neymar’s real cost. “I haven’t given any interviews to the media here (in Spain) as I don’t think they have treated us correctly. I want to now continue my work in a different atmosphere than in Spain,” Valentin said. “I’ve read the stories about me going to Liverpool but I haven’t spoken with anyone. The problem at Barcelona is that there is always a power struggle. “Often the sports director is the one who is given the job of putting out fires and he is the first person people look at when there are problems,” he said. “Zubizarreta was always looking to conciliate but got tired of the situation.” Valentin felt Zubizarreta was hung out to dry over the transfer ban. “The error over the signing of youth players was huge. I would add, though, these mistakes happen when you are dealing with hundreds of kids and it is happening at other clubs as well,” he said. “It is true that FIFA has thrown a dart at the club which has set the standard for youth development.” Valentin denied Zubizarreta and those working in the technical department were at fault in the Neymar transfer which was first investigated after a fan took legal action seeking clarity over the price. The club said they spent 57.1 million euros ($64.64 million) on the Brazil forward when he signed ahead of last season and former president Sandro Rosell steadfastly repeated the figure. However, when Rosell was asked to give evidence after a judge decided to investigate possible tax evasion, he stood down last January but denied wrongdoing. Court proceedings are ongoing but now the prosecution say Neymar’s real cost was 94.9 million euros. “I did my report on Neymar after the U-20 South American championships in Peru, 2011. Neither Zubizarreta nor I were involved (in trying to sign the player),” he said. “I would discuss players with Zubizarreta, the coach and directors and a decision would be made. “I don’t think you would have a situation anywhere else where a fan takes the club to court in this way.” Valentin arrived at Barcelona, having previously been technical secretary at Espanyol, along with Zubizarreta at the start of the Rosell presidency in 2010. He said they had to deal with a particularly turbulent spell in the club’s history. “I think in time our jobs will be evaluated differently. We had to deal with the decline of a team which was possibly the best side ever,” Valentin remarked. “We had continual changes of coach, there was the illness for (coach) Tito (Vilanova) and then Tata (Martino) came in for one year. There were external problems that had nothing to do with our job like the Neymar case, Messi’s tax case and the FIFA transfer ban. “I didn’t speak to (former coach Pep) Guardiola about why he left but he was aware of the problems that were facing the club and the restructuring that was needed.” Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta and technical secretary Alberto Valentin were both sacked last month over the breaching of rules on the signing of foreign under-18 players and their perceived involvement in the scandal over Brazilian striker Neymar’s (pictured above) real cost. Gulf Times Monday, February 9, 2015 11 FOOTBALL FOCUS Mourinho warns team against title complacency AFP London J ose Mourinho insists the Premier League title race is not over even though Chelsea extended their lead at the top to seven points with a 2-1 victory at Aston Villa. Branislav Ivanovic’s second-half winner enabled the league leaders to take advantage of Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Hull and strengthen their grip on pole position on Saturday. It also meant Blues boss Mourinho finally claimed a first win at Villa Park at what was the sixth attempt. But Mourinho was keen to play down the significance of his side’s advantage over City and he claimed he will take nothing for granted until another title is mathematically guaranteed. “In another country I would say it’s fantastic, in this country I would say it’s nothing,” Mourinho said. “Every game is difficult, anything can happen. It’s very, very difficult. “Seven points means seven points, we have 14 matches to go. We are speaking about 42 points to play for and in 42 we have a lead of seven. I think it’s nothing. “I’m surprised by nothing. In this country every team can take points so I am not surprised. “I didn’t care about it. Somebody told me after the game and that was it. “When you are top of the league you don’t need other teams to lose points. If they lose, good, but if they don’t it’s not a problem. “We have to focus on ourselves. If we win the next game we have a seven point lead with 13 matches to go. Let’s try to go step by step.” Villa’s goal drought had finally end- ed at precisely the 11-hour mark after Jores Okore had cancelled out Eden Hazard’s opener, yet Ivanovic had the final say with his winner midway through the second half. Paul Lambert’s side are now just two points clear of the relegation zone ahead of Tuesday’s crucial clash at fellow strugglers Hull. “There’s a lot of good things to come out of the game for us, we’re disappointed to lose. I didn’t think we deserved to lose,” Lambert said. “Football-wise we played well. I thought the front three were excellent. The performance was very good. “We’re coming into a run of games that, if we play like that, we’ll pick up points. It’s not just about 17th, we want to go as high as possible. That’s the standard they have set themselves.” The corresponding fixture between these sides last term was a tempestuous affair—two Chelsea players, Willian and Ramires, as well as Mourinho all dismissed—and this contest was much the same both on the pitch and in the dugout. Lambert, who has had a series of spats with Mourinho in the past, was incensed in the first half by a comment from the Chelsea bench which prompted him to angrily gesticulate in their direction and remove and throw down his coat in disgust. “I went to shake Jose’s hand (at the end) but he was halfway down the pitch so I didn’t get a chance,” he added. “He is a great manager, it’s fantastic what the guy has done. I’d love to learn from him as a football manager. “But I wouldn’t like to learn things off the pitch by someone in his dugout, that’s for sure.” PREMIER LEAGUE SERIE A Blind rescues point for United, Crouch header saves Stoke ‘I made two fouls all game so I wasn’t repeat offending but if I had of been sent off I wouldn’t have had much argument. You get that bit of luck in the game sometimes’ Manchester United’s Colombian striker Radamel Falcao misses this great chance, shooting wide as West Ham United’s Spanish goalkeeper Adrian attempts to block during their English Premier League match yesterday. (AFP) AFP London D aley Blind’s injury-time equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Manchester United against West Ham United yesterday but a point was not enough to regain third spot in the Premier League. West Ham created the better chances in a goalless first half as Enner Valencia forced two neat saves from David De Gea before James Tomkins had a shot blocked by the Spanish stopper. The Hammers’ perseverance paid off at the start of the second half when Cheikhou Kouyate scored a neat volley after juggling the ball in the box. United struggled to break West Ham down but Radamel Falcao squandered an opportunity when through on goal and Robin van Persie had a shot well-saved by Adrian. But with time running out West Ham failed to clear their lines and Blind was on hand to guide the ball home from the edge of the box. A draw for United keeps them fourth on 44 points from 24 matches, one behind Southampton, while West Ham remain eighth with 37 points. Earlier yesterday, West Bromwich Albion came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with struggling Burnley, while Peter Crouch’s late equaliser for Stoke City was enough to rescue a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United. Burnley were 2-0 in front after just over half an hour thanks to goals Ashley Barnes and Danny Ings. But Chris Brunt pulled a goal back for West Brom in first-half stoppage time with a header from a corner before, in a similar scenario, Nigeria striker Brown Ideye headed the Baggies level in the 67th minute, with this result seeing the Midlands club remain two points in front of their hosts. However, Burnley’s longstanding weakness in defending corners once more proved their undoing, both of the Baggies’ goals coming from the set-piece. But Burnley at least came away with a draw, having lost 3-2 to Crystal Palace after going 2-0 up in their last home match. Elsewhere, Crouch’s late equaliser ensured Stoke gained a 1-1 draw away to Newcastle that kept them in 10th place. A mediocre match belatedly burst into life in the final 16 minutes when Jack Colback, who moments earlier might have been sent off for a second bookable offence following a poor challenge on Victor Moses, fired Newcastle into the lead to the delight of the St James’ Park faithful. But much-travelled former England striker Crouch made sure Newcastle did not leapfrog Stoke when the beanpole forward’s trademark header at the back post gave the visitors a share of the spoils. “I thought we controlled the game and deserved to win,” Crouch told Sky Sports. “I was pleased to get the goal and the point was the least we deserved.” Meanwhile midfielder Colback admitted he had been fortunate to still be on the pitch when he scored. “I made two fouls all game so I wasn’t Roma post a win after four draws AFP Rome A late strike by Leandro Paredes ended Roma’s run of four successive league draws to reduce the gap on leaders Juventus to seven points and keep Rudi Garcia’s men in the Serie A title hunt yesterday. Elsewhere, Napoli tightened their grip on third place with a dominant 3-1 home win over Udinese at the San Paolo where Dries Mertens opened the scoring and prompted an own goal by Frenchman Cryril Thereau in the second half. Samuel Eto’o came off the bench for Sampdoria in Genoa but failed to make the difference as Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men saw their push for a Champions League place stall after being held 1-1 by Sassuolo. Juventus sit top on 53 points, with Roma second on 46. Napoli are a further four points adrfit in third and Fiorentina, who dominated a five-goal thriller with Atalanta earlier, moved up to fourth on 35 points. Sampdoria are fifth, also on 35 points, while Lazio, in sixth, can move up to fourth if they account for Genoa on Monday. Juventus had taken their lead over Roma to 10 points on Saturday with a commanding 3-1 win over Milan in Turin, where Carlos Tevez took his league-leading goals tally to 14 for the season. Roma’s title push stalled due to four consecutive league draws and with several key players missing, their trip to Sardinia was set to be anything but plain sailing. Alessandro Florenzi, Kostas Manolas, Daniele De Rossi, Kevin Strootman, Juan Iturbe, Gervinho and Seydou Doumbia were all unavailable against a Cagliari team that has enjoyed a minor resurgence under the guidance of Gianfranco Zola. Captain Francesco Totti shook off ‘flu symptoms to spearhead a three-pronged attack with 18-year-old Daniele Verde to his right and Adem Ljajic out on the left. Cagliari had the brighter start and Roma ‘keeper Morgan De Sanctis had to use his legs to save from Duje Cop at the near post. Verde, however, made the most of his Serie A debut for the Giallorossi and was Roma’s most dangerous player in the opening half. He first hit the side-netting from a Seydou Keita assist before sending a lob into the path of Ljajic for the Bosnian to beat Zeljko Brkic in the 18th minute. Roma survived a secondhalf onslaught by Cagliari before virtually sealing the points when Paredes fired a superb first-timer from the edge of the area to beat Zeljko at the keeper’s far post. Cagliari reduced arrears in the fifth minute of injury time when Paul-Jose M’Poku rose to send a looping header over De Sanctis. However the Sardinians’ 11th reverse of the campaign means they remain just one place and one point above the drop zone. Parma’s match with fellow-strugglers Chievo was postponed until Wednesday after heavy snowfall in recent days had left Parma’s pitch unplayable. Results Fiorentina Cagliari Empoli Napoli Sampdoria 3 1 2 3 1 Atalanta Roma Cesena Udinese Sassuolo 2 2 0 1 1 STANDINGS Team Chelsea Man City Southampton Man United Tottenham Arsenal Liverpool West Ham Swansea Stoke City P 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 W 17 14 14 12 13 12 11 10 9 9 D 5 7 3 8 4 6 6 7 7 6 L 2 3 7 4 7 6 7 7 8 9 Pts 56 49 45 44 43 42 39 37 34 33 repeat offending but if I had of been sent off I wouldn’t have had much argument,” he said. “You get that bit of luck in the game sometimes and it has paid off.” Results Burnley Newcastle West Ham 2 West Brom 1 Stoke City 1 Manchester United 2 1 1 AS Roma’s Leandro Paredes celebrates with Miralem Pjanic after scoring against Cagliari during their Italian Serie A match yesterday. (Reuters) Monday, February 9, 2015 SPORT GULF TIMES Athletes encourage public to come down and learn more about Paralympic sport SPOTLIGHT By Sports Reporter Doha Q atar’s Para Champions Abdulrahman Abdulkader, Sara Hamdi Masoud and Mohamed al-Khubazi, have hailed the Paralympic activity that is taking place in the National Sport Day Sports Village. The Qatar Paralympic Committee have set up an athletics track in the Village and the athletes encourage the public to come down, join in and learn more about Paralympic sport and the activities available in Qatar for people with a disability. Adbulrahman, Sara and Mohamed between them won five medals - three gold and two bronze - at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea. With the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships taking place in Doha in October this year, they believe that this is an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of Paralympic sport in Qatar and across the region. Speaking from the Sports Village, Sara said: “Winning two gold medals at the 2014 Asian Para Games was one of the best moments of my life. This came after many years of hard work and dedication and I was so pleased that all the hard work paid off. Para-athletics has changed my life and I am so glad that I made the decision to get involved. “I encourage everyone with a disability to try paralympic sports and National Sport Day is a fantastic opportunity to come down to the Sports Village and find out more about what is on offer. I want more people with a disability to realise that sport is for them and that it is the perfect way to raise self-esteem, increase confidence, learn new skills and stay fit and active.” Doha will host the IPC Athletics World Championships from 22-31 October 2015 in the 12,000 capacity Qatar Sports Club’s Suhaim Bin Hamam Stadium. The competition will feature around 1,300 athletes from 90 countries and will be one of the last major Mohamed al-Khubazi competitions before the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Qatar aims to use its hosting of the event to increase opportunities for people with a disability to participate in sport, to raise the profile of disability sport and to spread awareness across Qatar and the whole of the Middle East. Speaking ahead of the IPC Athletics World Championships, Adbulrahman said: “I cannot wait to compete in the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha in October. Winning two gold medals for Qatar at the 2014 Asian Para Games was an amazing experience but competing in one of the biggest para sports events in the world in front of a home crowd will be a dream come true. “The World Championships will be a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about para-athletics and disability sport in Qatar and across the whole of our region. I really hope that I will inspire others to realise that being disabled is not a negative thing and that you can strive and achieve so many things in spite of your disability.” Since its inception in 2012, National Sport Day sees innumerable activities across Qatar for all ages and aims to give the people of Qatar an opportunity to take part in new activities and kick start a future of healthy living. The Sports Village is once again the main hub of activity in Doha, ensuring the whole of Qatar can celebrate sport together in an electric, festival atmosphere. It is open every day from 3pm to 10pm daily until National Sport Day on 10th February when it will be open from 8am-10pm. In addition to the Paralympic Committee, over 10 National Federations are offering free activities and entertainment for every age and fitness level. The public are encouraged to pass by the Sports Village on National Sport day and try as many activities as possible. Some of Qatar’s sporting stars, including Sara and Adbulrahman, will be on hand to demonstrate their skills and pass on training tips. Speaking about National Sport Day, Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Head of Media at the QOC, said: “The Qatar Olympic Committee Sport Vil- Mohamed al-Khubazi, Sara Hamdi Masoud and Abdulrahman Abdulkader are all excited about their participation in the National Sport Day. lage is bigger and better than ever with entertainment and exciting sporting activities for everyone. Our aim is to introduce as many people as possible to a whole range of sports with dem- onstrations and skill sessions. This way we hope to get all of Qatar trying new sports, meeting new people and taking steps towards leading an active and healthy lifestyle.”