BUSINESS | Page 1 INDEX QATAR 3 – 8, 30, 31 9 REGION ARAB WORLD 10, 11 INTERNATIONAL 12 – 27 COMMENT BUSINESS 28, 29 1 – 7, 14 – 16 CLASSIFIED 8 – 13 SPORTS 1 – 12 Qatar storm into Gulf Cup final after defeating Oman 3-1 QATAR | Conference HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving Algerian Prime Minister Abdulmalek Sellal at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. They discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them during their meeting. Regional developments were also reviewed. The meeting was attended by HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani. Also present were HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, a number of ministers and the delegation accompanying Sellal. The Qatari and Algerian prime ministers later cochaired the fifth meeting of the joint Qatari-Algerian supreme committee. Pages 4, 5 GCC ministers to meet in Doha The foreign ministers of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) member states will hold the 133rd ministerial meeting in Doha tomorrow. HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah will chair the meeting. Page 4 AFGHANISTAN | Blast Suicide bomber kills 45 at volleyball match A suicide bomber detonated his explosive vest in a crowd of spectators at a volleyball match in Yahya Khel district in Afghanistan yesterday, killing 45 people, an official said, as foreign troops withdraw from the country after more than a decade of fighting. Page 25 World powers and Iran discuss extending nuclear deal deadline AFP Vienna W orld powers and Iran began discussing late yesterday whether more time is needed to reach a nuclear deal, a US official said, as they struggled to overcome major gaps barely 24 hours before a deadline. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (the P5+1) have been locked in talks with Iran for months to turn an interim deal struck in Geneva that expires today into a lasting accord. Such an agreement, after a 12-year standoff, is aimed at easing fears that Tehran will develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian activities, an ambition it hotly denies. But a last-ditch diplomatic blitz in Vienna in the last few days to secure a deal appeared to be unable to bridge major differences, forcing negotiators to question whether more time is a better option. Page 9 +0.66 +0.87% in Thundershowers, accompanied by strong winds, are expected until 6pm today in Qatar, according to the Met Office. Doha and some other parts of the state experienced scattered rains last night. While it is expected to remain mostly cloudy onshore with chances of rains at times, the offshore areas may witness scattered thundershowers. Winds offshore are likely to be in the region of 8 to 25 knots while they could vary anywhere between 15 and 20 knots in the onshore areas. Page 31 -91.12 -0.66% d Showers expected until this evening 76.51 +91.06 +0.51% NYMEX he is A R 8 7 AT 19 Q since QATAR | Weather 13,754.89 bl In brief QE 17,810.06 Latest Figures GULF TIMES Emir meets Algerian PM DOW JONES pu QIC to raise $250mn from convertible notes SPORT | Page 1 MONDAY Vol. XXXV No. 9551 November 24, 2014 Safar 02, 1436 AH www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Doha to host international opera awards This is the first time the International Opera Awards Oscar Della Lirica - are being held outside its native place Italy By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter Q atar will host the fourth edition of the prestigious International Opera Awards - Oscar Della Lirica - for the first time in the Middle East, at Katara, the Cultural Village, on December 12. “The annual awards will honour various achievements of musicians and artistes of opera and classical music from different parts of the world,” Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti told a press conference yesterday. This is the first time the International Opera Awards are being held outside its native place Italy. “Hosting such a prestigious event highlights Qatar’s cultural excellence and the strategic importance of Katara as a cultural centre,” he explained. “Katara aspires to become a beacon and a place that brings together authors, writers, inventors and educated people from different cultures of the world,” Dr al-Sulaiti pointed out. The event, promoted by the Verona Bella Arena Foundation and other organisations, was established to honour, popularise and re-launch the world of Lyric Opera, recognised as part of the World Cultural Heritage movement. It is deeply rooted in Italian and European history and is now open to new interpretations. Organisers have invited wellknown opera artistes to the event. Katara will also honour Qatari musician-artist Abdul Aziz Nasser Obeidan, composer of Qatar’s national anthem. “He enriched the Katara musical library and we consider him as an asset. He is a devoted Qatari artist who had numerous performances and received many awards,” said Dr al-Sulaiti. The International Opera Awards categories are divided into 13 categories: soprano, tenor, baritone, mezzo-soprano, bass, contralto, conductor, orchestra, choir, corps de ballet, costume designer, director, and set designer. For every new edition of the event, the organising committee chooses eight categories among the 13. Katara also announced that a number of special awards would be given in memory of some of the legends of the opera arts. Dr al-Sulaiti noted that they had organised a press conference in Milan recently where 40 international and popular websites announced the staging of the awards in Doha. Dr Alfredo Troisy, secretarygeneral of the Verona Bella Arena Foundation, said they would involve some of the biggest music and opera associations in the world. While they receive many nominations of various artistes for different categories, he noted that a jury of international experts would select the winners. “What we would like to set to this event is the first co-operation relationship that can be the basis of a cultural bridge with Qatar between Verona and Doha,” he stressed. “I am convinced that culture and art have no borders, it goes beyond the borders and it is a universal concept.” Darwish Ahmed, Katara’s marketing and international relations department manager and the deputy director of the Cultural Affairs Department, attended the press conference. Page 6 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 3 QATAR Emir honours Uruguay ambassador HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing Ambassador of Uruguay to Qatar Jose Luis Remedi at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Emir presented the ambassador the Sash of Merit in recognition of his efforts to enhance relations between Qatar and Uruguay. The Emir wished the ambassador success in his future posting and relations between Qatar and Uruguay further progress and prosperity. The Uruguayan ambassador thanked the Emir and officials in the State for their co-operation during his tenure. Wakra Hospital to add new evening clinics A l Wakra Hospital (AWH) is adding new evening clinics for urology and ultrasound services. The new evening urology clinics will be open from 3pm to 7pm from Sunday through Wednesday, in addition to the day clinics which operate from 7am to 3pm on weekdays. The clinics provide specialised medical assessment and management of all adult male urological problems and offer a number of therapeutic procedures. Around three clinics, staffed by a consultant and specialists in various fields of urology, will be running daily. The Urology Outpatient Department was established in AWH in April 2012. Since its opening, a total of 11,259 patients have received medical assistance at the OPD clinics. From January to September this year, some 2,561 diagnostic and therapeutic procedures have been performed in the clinics. The hospital’s ultrasound clinic for Obstetrics and Gynecology is now open every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 3pm to 7pm. A new MRI session will run every Wednesday from 3pm to 9pm, starting in December. This is in addition to the MRI sessions which currently run from Sunday to Tuesday from 3pm to 9pm. Head of the Urology De- partment at AWH, Dr Ahmed Shamsodini stated: “In order to address the growing numbers of patients who are seeking our services, we are delighted to announce the extended hours of operation through the evening clinics. This is part of our endeavour to offer high-quality urological management to an even greater number of patients as many of them are unable to visit the morning and afternoon clinics due to work commitments.” Dr Mahmoud al-Heidous, AWH assistant medical director, said: “We have introduced these new clinics and extended opening hours in response to patient demand. It is great news that our skilled team at Al Wakra Hospital will be able to help more people get the treatment they need, at a time convenient to them.” Emergency services for urgent care are offered at anytime, including after clinic hours on weekends and holidays at the Emergency Department in the hospital. Faced with the challenge of providing secondary and tertiary care to a rapidly-increasing population, HMC is delivering improvements across its network. Expanding existing services to allow more patients to access them, at more convenient times, is a key part of HMC’s strategic response to that challenge. 4 Gulf Times Monday, November 24 , 2014 QATAR Sheikha Moza meets Algerian prime minister QNA Riyadh H S H the Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development Sheikha Moza bint Nasser yesterday met Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and his accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed prospects of co-operation in the field of education and scientific research. They also discussed the possibility of partnership between the �Educate A Child’ programme and Algeria, which is a strategic partner in Africa. The meeting also looked at ways of enhancing cooperation in human resources sector. Page 5 Qatar’s envoy to Saudi presents credentials HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser holding talks with Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal. They discussed prospects of co-operation in the fields of education and scientific research, as well as possibility of partnership between the �Educate A Child’ Programme and Algeria. PICTURE: AR al-Baker/HHOPL GCC foreign ministers to meet in Doha tomorrow QNA Doha T he foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member-states will hold the 133rd ministerial meeting in Doha tomorrow. HE the Foreign Minister Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah will chair the meeting. In a statement released yesterday, GCC Secretary General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said the ministerial meeting will prepare for the 35th session of the Supreme Council of GCC leaders, which will also be held in Doha from 9 to 10 December. The GCC foreign ministers will discuss reports on GCC strategy, dialogues among the GCC and foreign countries and latest regional and international developments. They will also hold separate meeting with Jordanian and Moroccan foreign ministers to discuss ways to enhance strategic partnership and relations with these countries, in addition to another meeting with Yemeni foreign minister to discuss the latest developments in Yemen. The foreign ministers will, as well, hold a meeting with the Advisory Board of the GCC Supreme Council to discuss a number of issues. Awqaf ministry team to attend Kuwait meeting The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, represented by the Zakat Fund Department, will take part in the 11th meeting of the GCC Zakat institutions, due to start today in Kuwait. Qatar’s delegation to the meeting will be led by the Fund’s Director Jassim bin Mohamed al-Kubaisi who will present a paper on the Qatari Zakat Fund’s dealings with donors. The 11th meeting of the GCC Zakat institutions will discuss a host of issues, including the obstacles facing Zakat organs, the GCC Zakat diploma programme, a proposal for promoting charity projects of GCC Zakat institutions via a unified site and review of successful projects. audi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud received a copy of credentials of Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer al-Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud wished ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer al-Thani success during his tenure and wished further progress and prosperity to Qatar-Saudi relations. Qatar-Vietnam ties reviewed HE the foreign minister’s assistant for foreign affairs met the Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh in Doha yesterday. The meeting dealt with bilateral ties and means to develop them in addition to topics of mutual interest. Defence minister back from US HE the Minister of State for Defence Affairs Major General Hamad bin Ali al-Attiyah and his accompanying delegation returned to Doha yesterday after several days’ official visit to the United States of America. Qatar envoy meets Somalia’s minister Somalia’s Minister of Culture and Higher Education Duale Adam Mohamed held talks with Charge d’affaires of Qatar’s embassy in Somalia Hasan bin Hamza Asad Mohamed in Mogadishu yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 5 QATAR HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani holding talks with Prime Minister of Algeria Abdelmalek Sellal yesterday. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Algerian Prime Minister Sellal chairing the the 5th meeting of the Qatari-Algerian supreme committee in Doha yesterday. Qatar, Algeria sign pacts, PM chairs meeting QNA Doha Q atar and Algeria yesterday signed a raft of agreements and memoranda of understanding following the 5th meeting of the Qatari-Algerian supreme committee co-chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and the Prime Minister of Algeria Abdelmalek Sellal. At the outset of the meeting, the Prime Minister and Interior Minister welcomed the Algerian Prime Minister and his accompanying delegation, expressing satisfaction at the growth of the two countries’ relations. He praised the positive results of the four previous joint supreme committee meetings, which led to the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understand- ing between the two countries in various fields, contributing to the development of bilateral relations. He stressed the importance of Qatar-Algeria relations, and the activation of all bilateral cooperation agreements. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the existing bilateral relations and means to bolster them in addition to several regional and international issues of mutual concern. Several Qatari ministers and the members of the official delegation accompanying the Algerian prime minister attended the meeting. Later the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and the Algerian Prime Minister signed the minutes of the Qatari-Algerian supreme committee meeting. They also witnessed the signing of following memoranda of understanding and agreements: 1. An agreement on co-operation and exchange of news between Qatar News Agency (QNA) and the Algerian Press Service (APS). 2. The first implementation programme in tourism. 3. The second implementation programme of the co-operation agreement in the field of youth. The Prime Minister praised the positive results of the four previous joint supreme committee meetings, which led to the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding 4. The second implementation programme of the co-operation agreement in the field of sports. 5. The fourth implementation programme of the education cooperation agreement. 6. The first implementation programme of co-operation in the field of higher education. 7. The third implementation programme for media agreement. 8. The first implementation programme for co-operation in the fields of fishing under the co-operation MoU on fisheries. 9. The second implementation programme in the cultural field under the cultural co-operation agreement. 10. The twinning protocol between national libraries. 11. MoU in the field of water resources. 12. MoU on the areas of consumer protection, economic control and combating commercial fraud. 13. A bilateral agreement on mutual administrative assistance for the optimum application of customs law to suppress, investigate and combat customs violations. Later the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon banquet in honour of the Algerian premier and the accompanying delegation. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Algerian Prime Minister Sellal witnessing the signing of an agreement between Qatar and Algeria yesterday. 6 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 QATAR QU and Sidra sign partnership pact Q atar University (QU) and Sidra Medical and Research Centre (Sidra) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to foster research, develop academic and scientific relationships, and facilitate academic and technical exchange. “This initiative between QU and Sidra is a demonstration of the two organisations’ commitment to the realisation of the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 as it aims to develop and empower our people to be able to sustain a prosperous society” Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, QU vice-president for Research, and Dr Abdulla Mohamed al-Kaabi, executive vice-chief medical officer Sidra and a member of the Office of Sidra Chief Executive Officer exchanging the MoU. The agreement was signed by Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham, QU vice-president for Research, and Dr Abdulla Mohamed al-Kaabi, executive vicechief medical officer Sidra and a member of the Office of Sidra Chief Executive Officer. The purpose of the MoU is to identify the areas of interest, and articulate a mutual strategic intent for further development and collaboration and facilitate the work of QU’s Laboratory Animal Research Centre (LARC) in those areas. Dr al-Derham said: “This initiative between QU and Sidra is a demonstration of the two organisations’ commitment to the re- alisation of the objectives of the Qatar National Vision 2030 as it aims to develop and empower our people to be able to sustain a prosperous society”. “The agreement will further empower QU’s LARC in its efforts to realise its mission of providing quality animal husbandry and veterinary care to support QU’s leading role in education and research,” he added. Dr al-Kaabi said: “Sidra’s partnership with QU signifies the growing importance of developing talent, research and knowledge in Qatar. Our partnership can help build a thriving and sustainable future in the field of science and medicine. We hope that through shared areas of interest, such as joint research, training and educational initiatives, exchange programmes and student sponsorships; we can create the landscape necessary for the delivery of globally relevant research and ultimately contribute towards advanced healthcare services in the country”. LARC Director Dr Hamda alNaemi said: “The agreement between QU and Sidra opens opportunities for collaboration between the two parties. It serves as an umbrella to develop scientific relationship between LARC and Sidra in various areas of interest such as establishing joint research projects or programmes, and developing training programmes for professional staff ”. Shahry Super Pack promotion made permanent O oredoo yesterday announced that the Shahry Super Pack promotion has been made a permanent addition to their growing postpaid portfolio. The Shahry Super Pack promotion gives Shahry customers unlimited free local calling minutes to call Ooredoo mobile and landline numbers for QR150 per month, as well as 200 international minutes for making calls to 121 countries and 1GB of mobile data. Since its launch in August, Ooredoo has seen an unprecedented surge for the Shahry Super Pack, with many prepaid customers switching to postpaid. Other Shahry Smart Packs start from QR15 and goes up to QR 750. Each pack is valid for 30 days and is automatically re- newed at the end of the cycle. A host of add-ons are also available to bring customers “the lowest ever rates” for international calling and data. A Shahry Super Pack could be bought from any of the Ooredoo Shops or premium dealers. International Opera Awards Katara general manager Dr D Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti announcing at a press conference the hosting of the fourth edition of the International Opera Awards – Oscar Della Lirica - for the first time in the Middle East, at Katara, the Cultural Village. Dr Alfredo Troisy, secretary-general of the Verona Bella Arena Foundation, and Darwish Ahmed, Katara’s marketing and international relations department manager and the deputy director of the Cultural Affairs Department, were present. “The annual awards will honour various achievements of musicians and artistes of opera and classical music from different parts of the world,” Dr al-Sulaiti said. PICTURE: Thajudeen. Increased acceptance of Seha among Qatari nationals T he National Health Insurance Scheme – Seha – has seen more than 605,000 visits to health services providers in the six months since the scheme was expanded to cover all Qatari nationals. The Seha provider network has grown to over 150 providers over the same period – well ahead of the target of 100 providers by the end of 2014 – offering Qatari nationals more choice and flexibility. Seha saw just 242 complaints made over the course of the six months, 215 of which have been resolved with the remainder under investigation. Stage 1 of the scheme was launched on 17 July 2013 providing health insurance coverage for Qatari national females aged 12 and above for a select set of maternity and women’s healthcare services. The scheme was expanded to cover all Qatari nationals for the full spectrum of basic healthcare services with the launch of Stage 2 on 30 April 2014. Dental coverage and physiotherapy was included in June. “At the National Health Insurance Company (NHIC) we are here to serve the nation and to play our part in building a world class health sector in line with the National Health Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030. “Our mission is to provide the people of Qatar with access to the best healthcare possible and to assure every member of the Qatari family that they need not worry should they fall ill, because Seha provides them with the flexibility and choice to seek the quality healthcare they need,” explained Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussain Ali, acting CEO NHIC. NHIC has set up Seha information booths at key hospitals, including Al Ahli, Al Emadi, Doha Clinic, Hamad General, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Road crash leaves three motorists severely injured T wo expatriate men and a Qatari woman narrowly escaped death when their vehicles crashed into each other at a roundabout in Wakrah, local Arabic daily Al-Arab reported yesterday. The woman was driving her car at the roundabout and going straight when a bus, trying to take a U-turn, crashed into her car. The woman’s car overturned several times and settled on the other side of the road, while the bus ran over the pavement and its driver was thrown out of it. The woman sustained severe injuries and the police patrols and civil defence personnel who hurried to the scene had to cut part of the car door to get her out of it. All the three injured were immediately carried by the ambulances to Wakra Hospital for treatment. Expatriate gets 3-year jail for drug trafficking A Doha Criminal Court has sentenced an Asian expatriate to three years in jail and a fine of QR200,000 for drug trafficking and consumption, local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday. Further, the court ordered the accused to be deported after serving his sentence. However, the lawyer of the accused appealed the ruling and asked that his client should be acquitted. Besides, he asked the court to deal with his client with leniency and mercy and release him after spending the period he had already remained in jail after the first ruling. The accused was arrested while possessing marijuana for the purpose of selling and consuming it, the daily added. Indian embassy Open House on November 28 The Indian embassy will hold an Open House on November 28 to address any urgent consular and labour problems of Indian nationals in the State of Qatar. The Open House will be held from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. Written information on issues/cases proposed to be discussed with the embassy may be given from 5.30pm to 6pm. This will be followed by meeting with embassy officials from 6pm to 6.30pm. Hospital, Cuban Hospital and the Women’s Hospital. Over 16,000 inquiries by the public were made at the information booths in the six months since the launch of Stage 2 while more than 27,000 calls were made to the Seha call centre. During the first year of Seha, a number of Disease Management Programmes were launched, like the Maternity Programme, which treated 34,990 Qatari women during Stage 1 of the scheme, and the Diabetes Management Programme, an added long-term benefit for Seha members. Introduced in May 2014, the programme provides support and education to enable patients to live healthier lives and delay the onset of diabetesrelated complications. The programme is open to adult Seha beneficiaries who have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 7 QATAR Philippine labour official stresses no �delay’ in deploying OFWs to Qatar By Peter Alagos Business Reporter Some of the actors from Sound of Music, an award-winning and classical musical play, attended the press conference yesterday. PICTURE: Nasar TK Sound of Music set for Qatar debut on Nov 26 By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter A ward-winning and classical musical play, the Sound of Music, will debut in Qatar from November 26-29. The musical will be staged at the Qatar National Convention Centre. “The production was played in Dubai twice and in Bahrain, the last was in 2012 and this has been refreshed and renewed, it’s a new cast,” said Lucy HunterJames at a press conference yesterday. She was joined by Paul Robinson, who will play Captain von Trapp and some of the 26 actors mostly coming from London’s West End and Broadway. The production comprises nearly 50 individuals from London and a similar number comes from the State Media, the organiser and presenter of the musical. She told reporters that specta- tors will have a “lovely journey” throughout, featuring a host of lavish costumes and sets as well as live orchestra and music from start to finish. The musical will last for two hours and 20 minutes with a 20-minute break. Lucy noted that the crowd will also see a lot of scripts besides singing and dancing. “But it is a very clear script and such a beautiful love story,” she said. While the Sound of Music is played in various parts of the world, a member of the cast said every performance always has something new since they usually sing a couple of extra songs and engage the audience. The leading character pointed out that watching a live stage performance is far different from watching its movie. Asked to compare the audience in the Middle East with those in the West, she said it is “more exciting and extra special” in this part of the world because it does not happen very often.“In the Western part, obviously you have a huge market, a huge amount of choice, plays, musicals and concepts to go and see everyday,” she explained. “There is a lot of excitement in the air, a lot of possibility.” Lucy has performed in various musicals held in London and Dubai. These include Oliver!, Blood Brothers, Fame Annie and The Wizard of Oz. Monzer al-Samad, executive manager at State Media, told reporters that to bring such a show with a huge production is not simple. It took them nearly a year for the planning, he added. The Sound of Music had received five Oscars, including Best Picture. Its soundtrack stands in history as the best selling musical of all time going to Platinum more than 12 times. Some of the popular songs in the musical include Do Re Mi, The Lonely Goatherd, Climb Ever’ry Mountain, Edelweiss and Sixteen Going on Seventeen. V isiting Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz has addressed issues involving the purported “delays” in the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to Qatar. She stressed that documents for OFWs undergo a streamlined processing system. Speaking before Qatar-based employers and foreign placement agencies at the Qatar Chamber yesterday, Baldoz clarified that the so-called delays could be traced to either the principal employer or the recruitment company. “It would be very easy for us to look into that (delays) because all processes at the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) have been streamlined and certified as ISO-compliant quality management system,” Baldoz said. She added: “For every transaction, they (POEA) already have a list of very clear documents required and the required process cycle time.” This was seconded by POEA administrator Hans Cacdac, who said that it would only take five to six days to register a foreign employer or principal, and two to three days to document a Filipino worker. He also said the POEA had recently discussed issues involving “grey areas” raised by Philippine recruiters when streamlining the documentation process. “We had agreed to facilitate the process as long as the Philippine recruiter could show us in writing and guarantee that the particular �grey area’ that was not in the rules is a legitimate transaction and a legitimate type of work for a Filipino worker,” Cacdac said. He also said that the POEA has a special set of rules for Filipino housemaids, which he noted are “stricter,” according to Philippine laws and POEA rules and regulations. Labour attache Paul de Jesus also said that some cases involved a one or two-day delay but this was due to missing docu- Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz speaks while Qatar Chamber board member Rashid al-Athba looks on. PICTURE: Nasar TK ments, pending the submission of the foreign placement agency or principal employer. “Complete documents submitted by agencies and employers are released in the afternoon following a two-day processing cycle…But you also have to allow us the opportunity to make certain verifications and to validate the document submitted,” he emphasised. He said documents should be “clean” and contain no erasures. “Documents that contain erasures or suspicious changes will be returned to the filer.” During her visit to Qatar, Baldoz also met with HE the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi to discuss issues affecting OFWs. Baldoz told Gulf Times that during the meeting they had agreed to convene on January 2015 the joint labour committee, which was formed in 2007. Asked if she had the chance to glean Qatar’s new labour laws, Baldoz said: “Not yet.” “We will look at their labour laws and if anything there would be advantageous to our workers then we have no reason to apply amendments,” she explained. She added: “For policies that appear to be conflicting with our laws, we would need time to reconcile them, to determine how they would be applied. We would also like to know what are the terms and conditions on recruitment, selection, employment of domestic workers here because this is not part of their labour laws and that is the big difference.” 8 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 QATAR QDA, Asthma Qatar Network sign agreement Q atar Diabetes Association (QDA) and Asthma Qatar Network yesterday signed a friendship agreement to strengthen co-operation in the future initiatives. This agreement will raise awareness about diabetes and asthma in the society and will help give individuals the access to medical advices provided by specialists. The World Health Organisation considers asthma and diabetes chronic diseases that last for long time and spread within the communities. According to the WHO, there are more than 50mn people with diabetes or asthma across the world. The agreement was signed by QDA executive director Dr Abdulla alHamaq and, Asthma Qatar Network CEO Khalifa Salman al-Muhanadi in the presence of executives and consultants from both organisations. “We are proud to sign this agreement with Asthma Qatar Network, as it opens new horizons for strategic co-operation to raise awareness of chronic diseases. We value the role of Asthma Qatar Network as it is the first and only platform that is dedicated to asthma and contributes in health development,” Dr al-Hamaq said. “We always welcome knowledge exchange with other parties, and are confident of the fruitful results we will get from this co-operation with Asthma Qatar Network. The advantages that both parties will get will increase people’s knowledge of our activities which are necessary for our society,” he added. Al-Muhanadi stressed that the agreement is a new step for supporting the research in the fields that benefit both associations. “We hope it is only the beginning for strategic cooperation between us, and look forward to increasing our effort to accomplish our goals.” 102 health, educational buildings in the works By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter A Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq and Khalifa Salman al-Muhanadi shaking hands after the signing ceremony. number of school buildings, the construction of which were announced at the beginning of last year are through the last stages of completion across Qatar, Ashghal authorities have said in their annual report. An amount of QR4.2bn was earmarked for the construction of 102 buildings, of which 44 were for educational institutions, spread all over the country. Of the schools, the construction of six complexes is already over. Besides, a large number of buildings in the health sector and recreation facilities are also being developed in different parts of the country. Steady progress has been reported in the development works being carried out in the health sector, notably in the Hamad Medical Corporation’s facilities including the surgery department. In all, 18 projects were assigned in the health sector, of them some of them have already been delivered, the report said. Among those projects accomplished in the financial year 2013-14 were the renovation of the Qatar Radio & TV Corporation Complex, development of the fishing harbour complex in Ruwais Port, six schools, work at Al Khor Park including installation and maintenance related works of playgrounds, 10 kindergartens, refurbishment works for outdoor playgrounds in 20 schools in Doha, demolition of the old boundary wall of graveyard in Al Ruwais and its reconstruction, and the renovation works at the General Postal Corporation building in West Bay. The construction of most of the schools tendered last year is in progress. They in- cluded 15 kindergartens, most of which would be ready for commissioning in the coming months. Ten new schools and as many kindergartens will start functioning soon. The schools which will become operational are in Doha, Al Asiri, Madinat Khalifa North, Al Luqta, Al Gharrafa, Al Shahaniya. The new kindergartens will be located in Fereej Al Murra, Al Thumama, Rawdat Legdeim, Al Wajba, Al Duhail, Al Kharaitiyat, Umm Salal Ali and Al Mirqab. As already announced in this columns QR1.2bn has been earmarked for the construction of new projects in the healthcare sector. The major allotments are for work at Hamad General Hospital, health centres in Al Nuaim, Al Muntaza. Al Karaana, Al Rouda and Al Leghwairiya and the wellness centre in Umm Salal. Some of the new projects in healthcare, including the centres in Al Muntaza, Al Nuaim, Al Karanaa, Al Leghwairiya, Al Rouda, Umm Salal and Communicable Diseases Hospital are expected to be ready in the next few months. The complex featuring the gynecology section and rehabilitation centre at Hamad Medical City, which has been earmarked a whopping QR2bn for completion, will be ready early next year, according to Ashghal authorities. The project, spread over approximately 227,000sq m, has a facility to park 1,100 cars. The gynecology section has 190 beds and 53 baby beds whereas the rehabilitation centre will have 200 beds on its completion. The Naufar Centre for Rehabilitation in Muaither, spread over more than 50,117sq m, is also being given a new facelift at a cost of QR459mn. An artist’s impression of one of the new facilities in Hamad Medical City. Sewage treatment plant in Doha North to cost QR8bn A number of major sewage treatment works are currently under way across the country, according to the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). Information sourced from the authority’s 2013-14 annual report shows that the QR8bn Doha North Sewage Treatment Works is among the prominent projects currently being executed. The project, the largest for an integrated drainage system, will serve approximately 900,000 residents around the north of Doha and West Bay in addition to the western areas of Doha, The Pearl-Qatar and Lusail city (under development). The drainage system includes a sewage treatment plant with a capacity of 245,000 cubic m per day and a sewage pumping station for treated sewage effluent. According to the report, the drainage sys- tem covers the stretch starting from Duhail to The Pearl-Qatar as well as Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat. The formal commissioning of the project is expected soon. Similar drainage sewage treatment works are also going on in Doha South. The other ongoing works include the upgrade and refurbishing of a package treatment plant at Al Jamailiya and North Camp, expansion of the Industrial Area sewage treatment plant (Phase 2), extension works of the Al Khor treatment plant (phases 1 and 2) and maintenance and operations of the Doha South treatment plant. The report says some of the other major works are in different stages of tendering. These include the Al Thakira sewage treatment works and Madinat al Shamal sewage works. A view of the Doha North Sewage Treatment Works. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 9 REGION Iran, powers eye extension of nuclear deal deadline A last-ditch diplomatic blitz in Vienna to secure a deal appears to be unable to bridge major differences Agencies Vienna W orld powers and Iran began discussing late yesterday whether more time is needed to reach a nuclear deal, a US official said, as they struggled to overcome major gaps barely 24 hours before a deadline. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (the P5+1) have been locked in talks with Iran for months to turn an interim deal struck in Geneva that expires today into a lasting accord. Such an agreement, after a 12year standoff, is aimed at easing fears that Tehran will develop nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian activities, an ambition it hotly denies. But a last-ditch diplomatic blitz in Vienna this week to secure a deal appeared to be unable to bridge major differences, forcing negotiators to question whether more time is a better option. “Our focus remains on taking steps forward toward an agreement, but it is only natural that just over 24 hours from the deadline we are discussing a range of options both internally and with our P5+1 partners,” a senior US State Department official said. “An extension is one of those options. It should come as no surprise that we are also engaged in a discussion of the options with the Iranians,” added the official. “This does not mean that we are not continuing to discuss the broad range of difficult issues and working to make progress on all the issues that need to be part of a comprehensive agreement.” US Secretary of State John Kerry met Iranian counterpart Mohamed Javad Zarif yesterday for the sixth time since Thursday in an attempt to break the deadlock. Neither commented publicly afterwards. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a key player who arrived yesterday afternoon, also met both Zarif and Kerry separately as well as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Britain and France’s ministers had also arrived in Vienna while their Chinese counterpart was due early today. “What a deal would do is take a big piece of business off the table and perhaps begin a long process in which the relationship not just between Iran and us but the relationship between Iran and the world, and the region, begins to change,” US President Barack Obama in an ABC News interview aired yesterday. Diplomats on both sides say that the two sides remain far apart on the two crucial points of contention: uranium enrichment and sanctions relief. Enriching uranium renders it suitable for peaceful purposes like nuclear power but also at high purities for the fissile core of a nuclear weapon. Tehran wants to massively ramp up the number of enrichment centrifuges—in order, it says, to make fuel for future reactors—while the West wants them dramatically reduced. Iran wants painful UN and Western sanctions that have strangled its vital oil exports lifted, but the powers want to stagger any relief over a long Woman in volleyball match case out on bail AFP Tehran A Kerry and Zarif shake hands prior to their meeting at the Palais Coburg in Vienna yesterday. period of time to ensure Iranian compliance with any deal. In view of the difficulties— and of the dangers posed by a complete collapse—many experts have long believed that the negotiators would put more time on the clock. An Iranian source said earlier yesterday, while stressing at that point that adding time was not yet on the table, that the extension “could be for a period of six months or a year”. Another extension - as happened with an earlier deadline of July 20 - carries risks of its own including possible fresh US sanctions that could lead Iran to walk away. Arms Control Association analyst Kelsey Davenport said that an extension of six months to a year “would not fly” with the other parties. Any extension “will have to be very short because there are too many hardliners, particularly in Washington and Tehran, that Bahrain govt, opposition trade charges over polls AFP Manama C ontroversy clouded yesterday Bahrain’s first election since authorities quelled protests led by Shias, with the opposition mocking government boasts of more than 50% turnout. The focus was on turnout, a key marker of the poll’s validity after an opposition boycott, and the count was still under way after Saturday’s election to a 40-member parliament. The official electoral commission put turnout at 51.5%, but the Shia opposition, which has dismissed the polls as a “farce”, said only 30% of eligible voters had cast their ballot. Both sides also traded accusations of electoral malpractice, with the opposition saying tens of thousands of people were pressured to vote, while the authorities accused Shia militants of preventing others from reaching polling stations. “Lying, insults and ridicule are the weapon of the defeated,” wrote Infor- mation Minister Sameera Rajab on her Twitter account, retaliating to claims of vote rigging. The legislative polls were the first since security forces in the kingdom crushed Arab Spring-inspired protests led by Shias in 2011. “It was an astonishing turnout. It was unprecedented,” wrote columnist Hisham al-Zayani in Al Watan daily, insisting the fraud claim was the result of a failed boycott. Voting closed at 1900 GMT on Saturday after a two-hour extension decided by the electoral commission. An hour later the commission’s head, Sheikh Khaled al-Khalifah, who is also justice minister, said initial estimates showed 51.5% of registered voters turned out to vote. The high turnout “puts an end to confessionalism in Bahrain”, he said in reference to the opposition’s boycott call. Almost 350,000 Bahrainis had been called to elect the lower house of parliament. Al Wefaq, the main Shia opposition group, dismissed the official turnout figure as “amusing, ridiculous, hardly credible”. Government officials were “trying to fool public opinion and ignore the large election boycott by announcing exaggerated figures”, the group said in a statement early yesterday. The Shia opposition instead cited a turnout figure of “around 30%”, allowing a possible 5% difference either way. It also accused the authorities of forcing tens of thousands of state employees and others to vote or face consequences. Government officials, for their part, accused Shia militants of provoking incidents which blocked roads in Shia areas of the capital Manama to prevent people from voting. Security forces fired teargas to disperse the demonstrators, some them masked and armed with petrol bombs, in Shia villages on Saturday. The political rivals have struggled to bury their differences through a so-called “national dialogue” that fell apart despite several rounds of negotiations. Action to protect migrant workers urged AFP Kuwait City I nternational rights and labour groups called yesterday for urgent action to protect migrant workers from abuse in Gulf countries. Ahead of a meeting this week of Gulf and Asian labour ministers, 90 groups issued a statement saying millions of Asians and Africans are facing abuses including unpaid wages, confiscation of passports, physical violence and forced labour. “Whether it’s the scale of abuse of domestic workers hidden from public view or the shocking death toll among construction workers, the plight of migrants in the Gulf demands urgent and profound reform,” said Rothna Begum, Middle East women’s rights researcher at New York-based Human Rights Watch. HRW was one of the signatories of the statement, along with other groups including Amnesty International, the International Trade Union Confederation and the International Domestic Workers Federation. Ministers from the Gulf Co-operation Council and Asian countries are meeting in Kuwait on November 26 and 27 for the third round of the so-called Abu Dhabi Dialogue on labour migration. About 23mn foreigners, including at least 2.4mn domestic servants, live in the six-nation GCC. The rights groups called for comprehensive laws to protect migrant labourers and reform the kafala system to allow workers to change employers without permission from their sponsors. Representatives of some of the groups also held a seminar at Kuwait University on the plight of domestic workers in the Gulf. Begum said that reports and investigations by HRW and other rights groups have found common patterns of abuse against domestic workers in the Gulf including unpaid wages, no rest periods, excessive workloads, food deprivation and confinement in the workplace. In several cases, domestic workers reported physical or sexual abuse and had been in situations of forced labour, including trafficking, she said. Marieke Koning of the International Trade Unions Confederation said GCC states signed a landmark International Labour Organisation Convention issued in 2011 to extend the labour laws coverage to domestic workers, but none implemented it. Begum said GCC states are studying a model common contract for domestic workers. Qatar and the UAE both have a draft law for domestic helpers. Bahrain has reformed its labour law to extend some benefits to maids, while Saudi Arabia issued a decision last year granting domestic workers a nine-hour rest per day and one month’s leave after two years of service, Begum said. Most of those regulations, however, lack enforcement and have not been successful in halting abuse against domestic workers, she said. want to sabotage this deal”, she said. Last year’s negotiations opened secret talks between Tehran and Washington, which have transformed relations between two countries whose deep enmity has been one of the central facts of the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution. This year, the United States and Iran have found themselves on the same side on the battlefield against Islamic State militants, especially in Iraq where both Washington and Tehran provide military support to the Baghdad government. But without a nuclear deal, two countries that have labelled each other the “Great Satan” and a member of the “axis of evil” are destined to remain enemies. Sanctions, tightened sharply since 2010, are inflicting severe damage to Iran’s economy, while the United States and Israel have said they reserve the right to use force to destroy any Iranian nuclear bomb programme. Both US President Barack Obama, a centre-left Democrat, and Iranian President Hassan Rohani, a Shia cleric elected on a pledge to reduce Iran’s isolation and improve the economy, would have to sell any deal to sceptical hardliners at home. Washington would also have to win acceptance from Israel and Saudi Arabia. Kerry briefed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone on Saturday and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal in person at the Vienna airport yesterday. “Iran must not be allowed to set itself up as a nuclear threshold state,” Netanyahu said about his conversation. “There is no reason for it to retain thousands of centrifuges which would allow it to enrich uranium for a nuclear bomb in a short period of time.” British-Iranian woman controversially jailed months ago in Tehran after trying to attend a men’s volleyball match was released on bail yesterday pending an appeal court verdict, her family said. The case of Ghoncheh Ghavami, a law graduate from London, has been surrounded by confusion since her lawyer said earlier this month that the 25-year-old had been sentenced to a year in prison for committing propaganda against the Iranian regime. That reported jail term has been denied by judicial authorities, but in a fresh twist Ghavami’s mother Susan Moshtaghian said a judge had agreed to let her daughter leave jail on bail of 1,000,000,000 Iranian rials (around $30,700). “Right now, my daughter is freed until the Court of Appeal issues the final verdict,” she told the Isna news agency in a report in which she also appeared to confirm the initial prison sentence. Saying that the one-year jail term and an additional twoyear restriction on leaving Iran had been communicated to her, Moshtaghian added: “My daughter merely defended herself in the preliminary court and insisted on herself being innocent. “We hope she’ll be acquitted by the appeal court of the charges.” Ghavami was detained outside Azadi (“Freedom” in Persian) Stadium in the capital on June 20, having gone there to watch a volleyball match. 10 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 ARAB WORLD Divided cabinet approves Jewish nation-state law Reuters Jerusalem A divided cabinet approved yesterday a bill to anchor in law Israel’s status as the nation-state of the Jewish people, legislation critics say could undermine its democratic foundation and the rights of its Arab minority. Right-wing supporters of the initiative, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have pledged such a law, which has widened rifts within his governing coalition, would guarantee full equality for all of Israel’s citizens. A final wording of the bill is still pending, and Israel’s attorney general has cautioned against giving Jewish values, based on religion and history, prominence over democratic principles in law-making and judicial rulings. The measure pitted centrist ministers against right-wing and ultranationalist cabinet members, who outvoted them 15 to seven to approve three versions of the bill likely to be merged later. Officials said the legislation would be brought to parliament on Wednesday for preliminary ratification. Palestinians had rejected Netanyahu’s demand they recognise Israel as a Jewish state, voicing concern that could deny Palestinian refugees a claimed right of return to homes they left or were forced to flee during Israeli-Arab wars. Legislators from the country’s Arab minority have described the bill as racist, noting that at least one version of the proposed law would leave Hebrew as Israel’s only official language - and demote Arabic to “special status”. Netanyahu has submitted his own wording for the law, listing 14 principles that include declaring that “the State of Israel is democratic and founded on the principles of liberty, justice and peace in accordance with the visions of the Prophets of Israel”. The Israeli leader’s draft, which was released to the media, pledges to “uphold the individual rights of all of Israel’s citizens”, but also says that only the Jewish people have a right of self-determination in the State of Israel. The phrasing appears to rule out any binational state with the Palestinians, but makes no ref- Arab FMs to discuss Jerusalem tensions Israel moves to target Arab residency and welfare rights Netanyahu has promised a raft of tough measures to tackle the violence in East Jerusalem, in a nod to hardliners within his rightwing Likud party AFP Jerusalem T he Israeli government is to seek powers to strip Arabs of their residency and welfare rights if they or their relatives participate in unrest, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday. His comments at the weekly cabinet meeting came as Interior Minister Gilad Erdan used existing powers to revoke the residency of a Palestinian who had already served 10 years in prison for his role in a 2001 bombing. Netanyahu told ministers that the proposed change to the law would seek authority to revoke the rights of any Arab resident who took part in, or incited, violence, even stone-throwing. He said the proposals would complement the policy of demolishing the family homes of those involved in attacks on Israelis which his government adopted in annexed Arab East Jerusalem earlier this month despite condemnation by human rights watchdogs. “It cannot be that those who attack Israeli citizens and call for the elimination of the State of Israel will enjoy rights such as Na- tional Insurance—and their family members as well, who support them,” Netanyahu told ministers. “This law is important in order to exact a price from those who engage in attacks and incitement, including the throwing of stones and firebombs,” his office quoted him as saying. Annexed Arab East Jerusalem has been hit by months of unrest, which has spread across the occupied West Bank and to Arab communities inside Israel. Last Tuesday, two Palestinians burst into a Jerusalem synagogue with meat cleavers and a gun and killed four rabbis and a policeman who came to their aid, in the city’s deadliest violence in six years. The following day, Israeli forces demolished the East Jerusalem home of a Palestinian who killed a young woman and a baby with his car last month before being shot dead by police. Punitive house demolitions have been used by Israel for years in the West Bank but the policy was halted in 2005 after the army said they had no proven deterrent effect. Their introduction in annexed Arab East Jerusalem this month drew condemnation from human rights groups, which said the practice amounted to collective punishment as the victims were not the perpetrators of attacks but their families. Palestinians in East Jerusalem have residency rights but not Israeli citizenship. Their residency entitles them to freedom of movement as well as social benefits, such as national insurance or health insurance, and its revocation entails loss of those benefits. Netanyahu has promised a raft of tough measures to tackle the violence in East Jerusalem, in a nod to hardliners within his rightwing Likud party as talk grows of an early general election. The interior minister yesterday revoked the residency and welfare rights of Palestinian Israel resident Mahmud Nadi, who served 10 years in prison for driving a suicide bomber to a Tel Aviv nightclub where he killed 21 people in 2001. Nearly all Arabs in Israel have citizenship but a small number have only residency rights. By contrast, the vast majority of Palestinians living in East Jerusalem hold residency rights, not citizenship. For them, taking citizenship would be tantamount to accepting Israel’s seizure of the eastern sector of the city during the 1967 Six-Day War. The decision to strip Nadi, who comes from the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya, of Israeli residency was communicated to him in a letter sent by Erdan, which gave no explanation of the timing of the move. “In these circumstances, given the severity of your actions and the flagrant breach of trust as a resident of Israel... I have decided to make use of my authority to cancel your permanent residency in Israel,” Erdan wrote. erence to the independent country they seek in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem in a stalled, USbrokered peace process. “A flag, anthem, the right of every Jew to immigrate to the country, and other national symbols. These are granted only to our people, in its one and only state,” Netanyahu said in public remarks at the cabinet meeting. AFP Cairo T Halawa’s daughter cries during his funeral in Gaza City yesterday. Troops kill Palestinian along Gaza border Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian in the Gaza Strip near the border with Israel yesterday, the Palestinian health ministry said, the first such fatality since a 50day war ended in August. The Israeli military said it fired at two Palestinians who approached Israel’s security fence with the Hamas Islamist-dominated enclave, hitting one of them, after they ignored shouts to halt and warning shots. The health ministry said Fadel Mohamed Halawa, 32, was killed in the incident, east of Jabalya refugee camp. One of Halawa’s relatives said he had been searching for song birds, which nest in trees near the Israeli border and command high prices in Gaza markets. Israel has long designated areas along its frontier with the Gaza Strip as “no-go” zones for Palestinians, citing concerns that militants could plant bombs or carry out surveillance of Israeli patrols. he Arab League will hold an extraordinary meeting next week to discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories in the presence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, an official said yesterday. The meeting on November 29 comes as East Jerusalem is roiled by months of unrest, which has spread across the West Bank and to Arab communities inside Israel. Four rabbis and a policeman were killed last week when two Palestinians carrying meat cleavers and a pistol launched a rare attack on a place of worship, in Jerusalem’s deadliest violence in six years. Arab foreign ministers meeting on Saturday will discuss the latest unrest as well as plans by the Palestinians to seek “membership in UN agencies”, Arab League deputy chief Ahmed Ben Helli told reporters. The Palestinians have said they will submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council later this month, calling for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories within two years. The text, which the Palestinians have been discussing for weeks, is expected to be vetoed by the United States. The Palestinians have said they will seek membership of the International Criminal Court, where they could sue Israeli officials over alleged war crimes, if the US wields its veto power. Ben Helli said the Arab foreign ministers will also discuss Israeli activities in Jerusalem, which he said is “pushing the region to (an) explosion” of violence and compromising peace efforts. Tensions have been rife in Jerusalem, where right-wing Jews are pressing for the right to pray at Al Aqsa mosque compound. Killer cop charged with manslaughter Reuters Jerusalem I A man walks inside the torched house in Khirbet Abu Falah yesterday. W Bank home torched in suspected settler attack AFP Ramallah S uspected Jewish extremists firebombed a house in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank early yesterday, its mayor said, pointing the finger of blame at local settlers. “At 4am, settlers came and threw Molotov cocktails at a house which partly burned down,” said Masud Abu Mura, mayor of Khirbet Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. He said four women were inside the house at the time, but they all escaped unharmed. Near the house, the assailants scrawled “Death to Arabs” in Hebrew. Mohamed Abdelkarim Hamayel, whose aunt and two female cousins live in the house, said the assailants were believed to be from the Shilo settlement, a few kilometres to the north of the village. “In the middle of the night, my aunt woke up when she heard voices speaking Hebrew. Some- one knocked on the door but she didn’t answer because she was afraid,” he said. “They threw a teargas canister and several Molotov cocktails at the balcony which caught fire.” Israeli police, who are responsible for all settler-related incidents in the West Bank, said forensic investigators and members of the nationalistic crime unit were at the scene. “It is a two-storey house and the fire caused major damage to the ground floor,” spokeswoman Luba Samri said. On November 12, a mosque in the neighbouring village of Al Mughayir was set ablaze in another arson attack blamed on local settlers. Yesterday’s attack bore the hallmarks of so-called “price tag” violence—a euphemism for nationalist-motivated hate crime by Jewish extremists aimed at Arab property. Such attacks began as a reaction to state moves against the settlements but have since escalated into a much broader expression of xenophobia. srael charged a policeman yesterday in the fatal shooting of a teenage Palestinian protester, accusing him of deliberately switching his rubber bullets for the live round that killed the youth. The prosecutors’ decision to level a charge of manslaughter rather than murder drew criticism from the boy’s father, who said there was ample proof the killing was premeditated. Nadim Nuwara, 17, was shot in the chest during a demonstration in May at which Palestinians hurled stones at Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. A second teenage protester was killed but Israel has made no arrest in that case, citing lack of evidence as an autopsy was not carried out. CCTV footage suggested neither youth posed any immediate threat to the troops stationed more than 60m away, in that neither appeared to be throwing stones when they were shot. Their deaths stoked Palestinian fury at Israel in the weeks after US-sponsored peace talks collapsed in April. The accused, a member of the paramilitary border police, was Prison guards sit beside the accused policeman at Jerusalem District Court yesterday. arrested on November 12. His name has not been released for publication. He denies wrongdoing in the incident, which occurred near an Israeli prison and the Palestinian town of Beitunia. An indictment filed at Jerusalem District Court said the policeman had slipped a live bullet into his ammunition clip, which was meant to hold only non-lethal blank rounds with which to propel rubber bullets mounted separately on the rifle muzzle. “The defendant used the blanks magazine so that his live fire, as opposed to rubber-bullet fire, would not be observed,” the indictment said, adding that he had targeted Nuwara’s torso “with the intent of causing him grave injury, and while anticipating the possibility that he would cause his death”. Manslaughter, killing without the clear intention to cause death, carries a maximum 20year jail term in Israel though judges can hand down lighter sentences. Murder, killing intentionally, usually carries a life term. “All indications show the killing was deliberate and premeditated. It was not random fire,” Nuwara’s father, Siam, said. “A manslaughter charge is unacceptable. What sentence might he get if the charge is manslaughter?” Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 11 ARAB WORLD Runoff likely after �historic’ presidential poll in Tunisia Exit polls show that Essebsi clinched 47.8% of the vote with Marzouki trailing at 26.9%, a state television report says AFP Tunis B oth leading candidates in Tunisia’s first free presidential election since the 2011 revolution sparked the Arab Spring predicted a runoff as each claimed to be ahead after yesterday’s vote. The election is a milestone in the North African country where a popular uprising set off a chain of revolts that saw several Arab dictators toppled by citizens demanding democratic reform. The campaign manager for incumbent Moncef Marzouki said he is neck and neck with Beji Caid Essebsi, the pre-polling favourite among 27 candidates vying for the top job. “At the worst we are even but at best we’re between two and four percent ahead,” Adnene Mancer told reporters after polling closed. “Our chances are good as we go into a runoff ” next month, he said. But the camp of Essebsi, an 87-year-old former premier whose anti-Islamist Nidaa Tounes party won October parliamentary polls, said he was ahead. Essebsi, “according to preliminary estimates, is ahead and has a large lead”, his campaign manager Mohsen Marzouk told journalists. But despite Essebsi being “not far short” of the absolute majority needed to win outright, a second round was likely, Marzouk added. Exit polls conducted by a private organisation showed that Essebsi had clinched 47.8% of the vote with Marzouki trailing at 26.9%, a state television report said. Official results from what Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa called a “historic day” will be known by Wednesday and a runoff will be held at the end of December if there is no outright winner. Despite Tunisia’s march to democracy being fraught by crisis, it has still won international plaudits for not slipping into the post-revolution chaos seen by other Arab Spring states, namely its neighbour Libya. EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini called the election a further step in Tunisia’s “democratic transition” and said it was up to the people to “complete the electoral process with transparency and respect”. Whatever the outcome, Tunisians hailed the election as a landmark which they hoped would lead to economic and political stability. “This election is very important. It’s the culmination of the revolution and something that we really should not pass up,” said an electoral observer who gave his name only as Moez. Some 5.3mn people were eligible to vote, with tens of thousands of police and troops deployed to guarantee security amid fears Islamist militants might seek to disrupt polling. Other candidates included ministers who served under ousted dictator Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali, left-winger Hamma Hammami, business magnate Slim Riahi and a lone woman, magistrate Kalthoum Kannou. Bechir Yahyaoui could hardly control his emotions as he voted in Tunis, saying that for once Jail terms for Egypt students confirmed AFP Cairo A Essebsi gestures after casting his ballot at a polling station in Tunis. Below: Marzouki casts his vote in Sousse. he was “voting for who I want, with no pressure, no bribes”. “Before (under Ben Ali) you had to go and vote, regardless of the outcome. This time the election is free and transparent,” he said. But Marzouki’s campaign manager said he was concerned that “fraud” had been committed by the Essebsi camp, and urged election monitors to stay vigilant until the count was complete. Polling stations opened at 0700 GMT and closed at 1700 GMT, but voting was restricted to just five hours in about 50 localities near the Algerian border, where armed groups are active. Until the revolution, Tunisia knew only two presidents—Habib Bourguiba, the “father of independence” from France in 1956, and Ben Ali, who deposed him in a 1987 coup. To prevent another dictatorship, presidential powers have been restricted under a new constitution, with executive prerogatives transferred to a premier from parliament’s top party. Essebsi’s campaign focused on “state prestige”, with a wide appeal to Tunisians dissatisfied with Islamist rule in the postrevolution era. But his critics have warned that Essebsi is out to restore the old regime, having served under both former presidents. Marzouki argues that only he can preserve the gains of the uprising, while his critics say he hijacked the spirit of the revolution by allying himself with the moderate Islamist party Ennahda in 2011. n Egyptian appeals court yesterday confirmed jail terms for at least 85 students convicted of illegal demonstrations and vandalism in protests backing ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, officials said. Hundreds of students have been tried in civilian courts after violence on campuses, bastions of pro-Islamist activists following the army’s overthrow of Mursi in July 2013. His student supporters have clashed regularly with security forces on university campuses since a nationwide government crackdown left hundreds of people dead and thousands jailed. More than 200 Mursi supporters have also been sentenced to death after speedy mass trials, which the United Nations criticised as “unprecedented” in recent history. A Cairo appeals court upheld verdicts sentencing at least 85 students in separate cases to jail terms of up to five years after finding them guilty of illegal protests, illegal assembly, vandalism and joining a terrorist group, judicial sources and a lawyer said. Defence lawyer Mukhtar Mounir, who represented nine defendants, confirmed the outcome. “A Cairo misdemeanour court of appeals confirmed the verdict against 85 students, including five female students... for violent clashes in Al Azhar University,” said Mounir, who attended yesterday’s session. The verdict can still be appealed at the Court of Cassation. Iraqi forces �liberate’ two towns held by IS Reuters Baghdad I raqi forces said yesterday they retook two towns north of Baghdad from Islamic State fighters, driving them from strongholds they had held for months and clearing a main road from the capital to Iran. There was no independent confirmation that the army, Shia militia and Kurdish peshmerga forces had completely retaken Jalawla and Saadiya, about 115km northeast of Baghdad. Many residents fled the violence long ago. At least 23 peshmerga and militia fighters were killed and dozens were wounded in yesterday’s fighting, medical and army sources said. “We have liberated Jalawla and Saadiya,” said Mala Bakhtiar, a senior official in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, speaking by phone from a nearby town. He estimated 50 IS fighters may have been killed out of a force of 400. Iraq’s Shia-led government, backed by US-led air strikes, has been trying to push back IS since it swept through mainly Sunni Muslim provinces of northern Iraq in June, meeting virtually no resistance. Last week the army broke a months-long siege of the country’s largest refinery north of Baghdad, but Iraqi pro-government forces stand guard on a road during the operation to retake Saadiya yesterday. IS fighters continue to take territory in the western province of Anbar, which shares borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The militants have been fighting in the last two days to take full control of the Anbar provincial capital Ramadi. Yesterday, Iraqi and foreign jets struck IS fighters near central Ramadi, provincial council member Mahmoud Ahmed Khalaf said. Clashes continued in the city, he said. Jalawla and Saadiya are located in Diyala province which is mainly under the control of the Baghdad government forces and Kurdish peshmerga. Recapturing the towns would help secure the Kurdish-controlled towns of Kalar and Khanaqin to the north as well as nearby dams and oilfields, peshmerga secretary general Jabbar Yawar said. It would also allow the road to be reopened between Baghdad and Khanaqin, close to the Iranian border. While IS forces have not advanced into Baghdad, they hold a ring of towns around the capital and have claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Shia districts of the city. A car bomb in the Shia town of Yousufiya, 30km southeast of Baghdad, killed five people yesterday, police and medics said. Two other bombs in towns near the capital killed four. Syria rebels attack northern Shia villages AFP Beirut F ierce fighting pitted regime loyalists against rebels backed by Al Qaeda yesterday, after insurgents launched an offensive aimed at seizing two Shia villages in northern Syria, a monitoring group said. Elsewhere, Islamic State (IS) fighters shot down a government warplane over the eastern province of Deir alZor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The villages of Nubol and Zahraa in war-battered Aleppo province have been under rebel siege for a year and a half. Late Saturday, the rebels and their allies from Al Qaeda affiliate Al Nusra Front launched a major assault aimed at taking the villages, although they have yet to do so, the Observatory said. “Fierce clashes have raged since midnight on the edges of Nubol and Zahraa,” it said. The Britain-based group described the offensive as “the most violent” since the rebels and Al Qaeda besieged the villages. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman also said it was the first time that Al Nusra Front had made advances in the area. The militants announced their role via Twitter. “The mujahedeen (have launched) an offensive against the rawafed in the villages of Nubol and Zahraa,” the group said, using a pejorative term for Shias. At least eight rebels and militants and one civilian have been killed since Saturday night, the Observatory said. The main forces defending Nubol and Zahraa are pro-regime militiamen and fighters from Lebanon’s Shia Hezbollah movement. Activists say previous rebel attempts to seize Nubol and Zahraa failed after the rebels were pressured by their US backers into retreating, for fear of sectarian massacres. Several aid convoys have entered Nubol and Zahraa in recent months. The Observatory says the rebel goal is to ease the Syrian army’s pressure on their fellow insurgents in Aleppo city, the scene of heavy fighting since July 2012. The monitoring group also reported 25 regime loyalists killed in fighting and rebel ambushes in Zibdin east of Damascus on Saturday. ;17ŏ4' +08+6'& Be a part of the new zing at ZĞĂĚ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ƌŝĐŚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ƉůĂƚĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ YĂƚĂƌ͛Ɛ ůĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ĚĂŝůLJ� sŝƐŝƚ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ŶĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂů ŶĞǁƐ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŝŶĨŽŐƌĂƉŚŝĐƐ ĂŶĚ ŐĂůůĞƌŝĞƐ� >ĞĂƌŶ ǁŚĂƚ͛Ɛ ŚĂƉƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŝŶ LJŽƵƌ ŽŚĂ ŶĞŝŐŚďŽƵƌŚŽŽĚ � &ŝŶĚ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ĂŶĚ ĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ ŽŶ ƐƉŽƌƚƐ͕ ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ͕ ĞŶƚĞƌƚĂŝŶŵĞŶƚ͕ ĨĂƐŚŝŽŶ͕ ůŝĨĞƐƚLJůĞ͕ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ͕ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĂůƚŚ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĐůŝĐŬ ŽĨ Ă ďƵƚƚŽŶ� >ŽŐ ŽŶƚŽ www.gulf-times.com &ĂĐĞŬ͕ dǁŝƚƚĞƌ͕ /ŶƐƚĂŐƌĂŵ 12 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 AFRICA Boko Haram rebels kill 48 fish vendors Boko Haram continues to slaughter unimpeded AFP Lagos Reuters Harare S uspected Boko Haram extremists killed 48 fish vendors after setting up a roadblock near Nigeria’s border with Chad, the head of their association said yesterday, in the latest violence to hit the country’s volatile northeast. “Scores of Boko Haram fighters blocked a route linking Nigeria with Chad near the fishing village of Doron Baga on the shores of Lake Chad on Thursday and killed a group of 48 fish traders on their way to Chad to buy fish,” Abubakar Gamandi, head of the fish traders association, told AFP. Gamandi said the attackers set up a barricade at Dogon Fili, 15km from Doron Baga in Borno state, and stopped a convoy of fish vendors around midday, slaughtering some of them and drowning others in the lake. “The Boko Haram gunmen slit the throats of some of the men and tied the hands and legs of the others before throwing them into the lake to drown,” Gamandi told AFP by telephone from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital. It was unclear if the motive for the gruesome attack was robbery or if there were other reasons for the killings. Boko Haram has at times targeted residents seemingly indiscriminately in its deadly insurgency. Doron Baga, 180km from Maiduguri, is the base of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), comprising troops from Nigeria, Chad and Niger fighting the Islamist group. The MNJTF was formed in 1998 to fight trans-border crime but its mandate was expanded as part of efforts to tame the Boko Haram insurgency in the restive region. Gamandi claimed the assailants killed Mugabe changes his party’s charter Z A screengrab taken in July shows the leader of the Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau. all of their victims without using their guns. “The attackers killed their victims silently without the use of the gun to avoid attracting attention from the multi-national troops,” he said. Kaloma Zarami, a fish vendor in Maiduguri, said he learned of the killings from other traders in Doron Baga. “The news came to us late yesterday through some of our colleagues who came from Doron Baga to inform us of the incident because there is no telephone service in the area,” he said. “We lost 48 people in the attack. Some were slaughtered and others were thrown into Lake Chad with their hands and legs tied and left to drown,” he added. A military officer in Maiduguri confirmed the attack but said details were sketchy. “We heard of the attack near Doron Baga but we don’t have any details because the area falls under the operational jurisdiction of the MNJTF,” the military officer said. News of the attack was slow to emerge due to the destruction of mobile phone towers in the area by Boko Haram in previous attacks. Incessant Boko Haram attacks have disrupted fishing and farming along the shores of Lake Chad. Fishermen from Doron Baga have been forced to abandon fishing and have turned to importing dried fish from neighbouring Chad. Gamandi said the Dogon Fili route provided the safest passage for traders from Doron Baga to Chad as other routes are infested with Boko Haram gunmen who rob and kill travellers. Last December at least seven fishermen were killed when Boko Haram Islamists attacked Doron Baga in a nighttime raid that left many homes burnt. In August, the Islamists raided Dogon Baga and kidnapped 97 people after killing 28 villagers. The hostages, including women and children, were loaded on speed boats and ferried across the lake into Chad. Chadian troops rescued 85 of the hostages when they intercepted a convoy of buses transporting them from the shores. More than 13,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began in 2009 and Boko Haram is now said to be in control of more than two dozen towns in Nigeria’s northeast in its quest for a hardline Islamic state. The Islamists have made major gains over the past 18 months and violence has continued at a relentless pace in three northeastern states that had long been under a state of emergency. The emergency measures expired this week and President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to get a parliamentary approval for an extension. imbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe has changed the constitution of his ruling ZANU-PF party to allow him to directly appoint his deputies, giving the 90-year-old sole power to anoint his successor, party sources said yesterday. Until now Mugabe and his two ZANU-PF deputies have been elected by members from the country’s 10 regions. The deputies automatically took up the same posts in government. The changes to the ZANUPF charter enacted at an all-night meeting of its politburo give Mugabe an even tighter grip at a time when deputy president Joice Mujuru has been accused of plotting to oust him at a party congress next month. ZANU-PF’s chairman told reporters that the party had agreed “far-reaching amendments” to its constitution. He declined to give details but two senior ZANUPF members at the marathon meeting of the party’s top executive body told Reuters Mugabe would now appoint his deputies, giving him unassailable control of a party he has led since 1975. “There will no longer be elections for deputies. They will all be appointees now and the logic is that this will bring cohesion in the party,” one of the officials said. The changes will be adopted by a larger Central Committee this week before endorsement at the December 2-7 congress, where Mugabe is set to be elected unopposed as party leader. Proponents of the amendments argued that elected deputies were creating parallel centres of power, the party sources said, leading to factional fights as party members position themselves to eventually take over from Mugabe. Mugabe, who has run Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980, has refused to name a successor but Mujuru and justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa have long been seen as likely successors when Africa’s oldest head of state dies or retires. In the last three weeks, Mujuru has been systematically stripped of support, with her allies either suspended or fired for backing her. State media have also accused her of plotting to challenge Mugabe. Mujuru has denied the charges and says public calls by Mugabe’s wife Grace and state media for her to resign are unconstitutional. Pistorius kin jail visit may have bent rules Namibians to vote electronically AFP Pretoria O Namibian opposition party Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) supporters cheer up during the last General Election campaign rally in Windhoek on Saturday. In a first for Africa, Namibians will cast their ballots electronically in this month’s presidential and legislative polls, the election commission said Friday. Over 1mn voters, or just about half of the nation’s 2.3mn people, are due to vote on November 28. scar Pistorius, serving a five-year prison sentence for killing his girlfriend, received a long visit from his brother and sister for his 28th birthday that may have bent the rules of his incarceration, a South African newspaper reported yesterday. Carl and Aimee Pistorius were able to visit the doubleamputee track star for nearly two hours on Saturday morning at Pretoria’s central prison, the Sunday Times reported. Pistorius is technically allowed five hour-long visits per month, the paper said. His siblings also brought balloons, gifts and a birthday cake bought outside the prison, which would usually not be allowed, the paper said, while their vehicles did not appear to have been searched. Prison services spokesman Logan Maistry told the paper that Pistorius had not been receiving special treatment, but that an investigation would be opened to look into the allegations. Oscar Pistorius Because of his physical disability, Pistorius, sentenced in October, is being held in the prison’s hospital ward. The fallen Paralympian gold medallist shot and killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his upmarket home in Pretoria in the early hours of Valentine’s Day in 2013. He said he shot the 29-yearold model four times through a locked bathroom door because he thought she was an intruder. He was found guilty of culpable homicide, escaping a harsher murder conviction. Prosecutors are appealing his prison term, which they have called “shockingly light”. Under South African law the double-amputee could serve just 10 months in jail. The application for appeal is set for December 9. Ebola-hit Sierra Leone’s cocoa leaves bitter taste AFP Sierra Leone C ocoa farmer Sam Turner grips tight as his bike wobbles along the country track in Ebola-hit eastern Sierra Leone, groaning under the weight of beans harvested a month late. The arable district of Kenema—at the centre of the outbreak of the deadly epidemic in May—has been under quarantine for three months and its onceabundant, verdant landscape is going to seed. To make matters worse, the rainy season has continued far longer than usual, and Turner forlornly points to his still green but already pitted pods. “The harvest is late and it’s not going to be good. We didn’t start early enough. The rain has destroyed a lot,” he says back on the plantation. Turner has roped in the whole family to work and he deals out the odd judicious clip around the ear as his children, aged eight and ten, bicker and jostle for pickings in the branches. The Turners are lucky to have escaped an Ebola epidemic which raged through Kenema and neighbouring Kailahun at the height of summer before spreading west, leaving in its wake around 1,200 deaths. The two eastern districts are experiencing a slowdown in the spread, but Turner and his family, like all farmers in the area, are still playing for high stakes. “Prices are falling, to 4,000 leones ($0.92) per pound. Buyers no longer come. Ebola is really setting us back,” he sighs. Ebola, an aggressive tropical pathogen causing a fever which can lead to unstoppable internal and external bleeding, spreads fear as quickly as pestilence. Farmers who were lucky enough to escape the contagion have downed tools in their droves. According to an initial evaluation of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, at least 40% of farm hands in Kenema and Kailahun have abandoned their posts or died. In the most productive agricultural areas, 90% of plots have been unattended during the epidemic. Amid the eastern region’s crocodileinfested swampland and dense forests of African teak and khaya trees, thousands of acres of savannah lie neglected and fallow, the grass uncut for months. Kenema’s capital, a bustling export hub of the same name, attracts traders from across the country and beyond who bargain with small farmers and large plantation holders alike. In October and November they come for cocoa, while the coffee season starts in February. A number of exporters—Tropical Farms, Randlyn Holdings, the Capitol Trading Company and others—line the main road through Kenema city. All day motorcycles, taxis and vans drive up and unload bags of beans in warehouses monitored by armed men. “Last year at the same time, we were still unloading at midnight,” says Bassam Dayoub, head of Dayoub Trading. “Today, I do about 300 bags of 65 kg a The arable district of Kenema—at day, compared to about 2,000 bags last the centre of the outbreak of the deadly epidemic in May—has been year. We don’t have enough product.” Dayoub says that even if there were under quarantine for three months enough produce to ship out, transporand its once-abundant, verdant tation is a major issue. landscape is going to seed. Every day at 5pm army and police The country is working gradually to checkpoints lock down the district, and return to pre-war levels of cocoa pro- no one can get in or out until 9am. “Because of Ebola, the buyers no duction and is just 5,000 off the target longer come. People are afraid to travel of 25,000 tonnes per year. But it remains a small player com- because of all the roadblocks. They pared with neighbouring Ivory Coast, have to spend the night on the road,” Dayoub says. which produces 1.75mn tonnes. Almost a decade after a ruinous 11year civil war shattered industry and agriculture, Sierra Leone’s chemicalfree soil remains one of its principal assets. The European Union plays up the “organic” certification of its plantations, and its cocoa and coffee beans are a sought-after commodity. The journey from Kenema to Freetown, where hauliers’ goods are shipped to Turkey and the Netherlands, can take two days now, whereas it took just a few hours before Ebola. He says prices are rising. “Suddenly, the prices are rising because volumes are declining,” says Dayoub, adding that he is buying cocoa from farmers at $2.50 a kilo, a rise of 25 in a few months. At Capitol Trading, Hassan Hashim, the boss, turns over 600 bags a day but he, too, expects to export less—“70% of last year’s volume: 1,500 tonnes, maximum”, he predicts. The price of cocoa on global commodity markets shot up to 3.5-year highs in September on fears that Ebola’s spread would disrupt the harvest in top exporters Ivory Coast and Ghana, but has since pulled back as speculators pulled out of the market. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 13 AFRICA Afrik Fashion Show Kenyan troops kill dozens in Somalia raid The Kenyan raid into Somalia may raise the stakes in the battle against Shebaab Reuters Nairobi K enyan security forces have pursued and killed more than 100 militants and destroyed their camp in Somalia after the ambush of a Nairobibound bus that killed 28 people, deputy president William Ruto said yesterday. Somalia’s Islamist Al Shebaab militants have claimed responsibility for the attack on Saturday, when gunmen ordered passengers on the bus to recite Koran verses and shot dead non-Muslims - 19 men and nine women who could not. The group said the killing outside Mandera, a town in the far northeast near the Somali and Ethiopian borders, was in retaliation for raids on mosques in the southern port city of Mombasa. Kenyan police said on Saturday that security forces pursued the attackers as they fled to Somalia after the ambush. “Two successful operations were carried out against the perpetrators of these murderous executions across the border. Our Relatives of those who were killed in the bus attack cry as the bodies of their loved ones arrive at Chiromo mortuary in Nairobi yesterday. retaliatory action left in its trail more than 100 fatalities,” Ruto told a news conference in Nairobi. Ruto said a camp used by the attackers and four “technicals” - pick-up trucks mounted with guns - were also destroyed. “Our message to them is clear - you may sneak and attack innocent civilians. But for any attack on Kenya and its people, we shall pursue you wherever you go,” Ruto said. Saturday’s attacks drew international condemnation from Somalia, Britain, the United States and the United Nations. Former prime minister Raila Odinga called on the government to do more to counter the country’s deteriorating security. “When can we expect an end to this desperate state of affairs? Where is the bottom?” Odinga, now an opposition leader, asked in a statement. Last week, police in Mombasa shot dead one man and arrested almost 400 others when they raided four mosques that they said were being used to recruit militants and store weapons. Al Shebaab killed at least 67 people in a gun and grenade raid on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi last September, saying it was revenge for attacks on its fighters by Kenyan troops in Somalia. During the Westgate attack, some of the victims were killed after the gunmen weeded out non-Muslims for execution by demanding they recite the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith. That and other attacks in the past year on the coast and in Nairobi have prompted Western nations to issue travel warnings, hitting the tourism industry. Experts have blamed poor command structures and intelligence sharing for Kenya’s problems fighting the militants in the past, but Ruto said improved coordination had assured the success of the weekend raid against the attackers. Police this week closed the four mosques in Mombasa, a largely Muslim city unlike much of Kenya where Christians make up 80 percent of the population, on the grounds they had come under the influence of hardliners. “Any place of worship that wilfully hosts terror platforms disqualifies itself from the sanctity of a place of worship,” Ruto said. A model takes part in the ninth �Afrik Fashion’ in Abidjan. Designers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Senegal and Ivory Coast attended at the African fashion trade show and presented their latest creations. Burkina interim leaders set to finally unveil new government AFP Burkina B urkina Faso’s interim leaders are expected to unveil a new government lineup yesterday, with the country anxious to see the extent of military influence under civilian president Michel Kafando. Kafando, a former diplomat, took office on Friday to steer the west African nation for a transitional period after veteran president Blaise Compaore was toppled in a wave of popular unrest last month. But intense wrangling over cabinet posts delayed the announcement of the government to be headed by interim prime minister Isaac Zida, who led a military power grab after Compaore was ousted on October 31. An army officer close to Zida said the cabinet lineup would be announced at around 1700 GMT after being finalised overnight. The shape of the new government was initially expected to be unveiled on Thursday, and then Saturday, but has been held up by differences between the rival parties. One source said the delay was caused by the army’s opposition to several ministe- army wanted all the most important positions in the 25-member government, including defence, internal security, and mining. Civilians chosen by the military were to get the foreign, finance, justice, and budget posts, according to the document. That would leave Kafando free to name only relatively minor ministers, such as industry, communication and scientific research. Some civil society representatives have voiced concern over Zida’s appointment and some residents of Ouagadougou called it a betrayal of their “revolution”. Both Kafando and Zida are barred from Burkinese interim president Michel Kafando standing in elections scheduled to be held in November next year under the transi(R) with Niger’s President Mahamadou tion deal. Issoufou at an official handover ceremony But a diplomat said: “Make no mistake, attended by African heads of state on Friday. it’s (Zida) who will lead the country.” Zida, 49, was appointed premier by rial candidates proposed by civil society Kafando on Wednesday, a day after the groups. Zida formally handed power to Kafando, former UN ambassador was sworn in as a 72-year-old former foreign minister and interim leader. Chosen after negotiations between pocareer diplomat, in a ceremony attended litical parties, the army and civil society, by six African heads of state on Friday. However, despite the civilian shift, it Kafando has emphasised his “humility” is expected that the military will retain a as a figure entrusted with “power that belongs to the people”. strong say in government. Kafando has pledged he will not An early draft cabinet list prepared by the military and seen by AFP showed the let his landlocked nation of 17mn peo- ple become a “banana republic”. He vowed to punish those responsible for excesses during the 27-year rule of Compaore, who was very close to slain Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi and Liberian warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, currently jailed for war crimes. “We will settle accounts with all those who have abused justice and who think they can syphon off public funds,” Kafando said. “The message of the people is clear and we have heard it,” he said. “No more injustice, no more chaos, no more corruption.” Compaore, meanwhile, flew into Morocco Friday on a visit from Ivory Coast, where he fled after an uprising against a constitutional change that could have enabled him to extend his hold on power. Under intense international pressure, and the threat of sanctions if the military retained the post of head of state, an agreement was thrashed out to work towards elections in November 2015. Burkina Faso notably exports cotton and gold, but almost half the population lives on less than a dollar a day and many are subsistence farmers. Every change of regime in the country has been triggered by a coup since independence from France in 1960, when it was called Upper Volta. Opposition party office is raided AFP Lagos N igeria’s main opposition party claimed yesterday that security agents had ransacked its office in Lagos, arresting workers and seizing documents, in the latest flareup ahead of February elections. The All Progressives Congress (APC) said 28 workers were arrested during the raid on its data centre in Lagos early Saturday, which the party likened to the Watergate burglary in the United States in the 1970s. “Over 50 security operatives drafted from Abuja blocked the two major street entrances to the APC data entry centre, pulled down the gates, and spent over two hours ransacking and vandalising the centre,” APC spokesman Lai Mohamed told AFP. “More than a dozen computers were destroyed. The server was also vandalised along with other equipment in the building,” he said. “Saturday’s attack is an- other one in the string of attacks and illegal actions of the PDP-led administration,” Mohamed said, referring to president Goodluck Jonathan’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party. He described the raid as the worst political scandal in Nigeria’s history and likened it to the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of US president Richard Nixon in 1974. “Just like the Watergate scandal in the USA, the statesponsored security operatives apparently acting at the behest of the ruling PDP government turned the office upside down, and pulled out and vandalised everything in sight,” he said. He called for an inquiry to find those responsible for the raid, which came on the day the APC warned the government against a plan to arrest the speaker of the house of representatives after he quit the ruling party for the opposition. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was also tear-gassed on Thursday as police tried to prevent him and others from entering the chamber. Booming malls, a sign of Angola’s middle class AFP Luanda “ It’s a great joy for Angolans,” says Luciano Manuel, nudging his trolley through a huge supermarket in the Angolan capital of Luanda. During almost 30 years of civil war, “we’ve never had a supermarket like this - it’s a undeniable gain, and another sign of Angola’s development”, he said, combing the aisles of Kero, a local hypermarket chain. Supermarkets and shopping malls are signs of Angola’s rising middle class as the southwest African nation’s economy has grown rapidly in the last decade thanks to its large oil resources. Retailer Kero has jumped on the burgeoning prosperity, opening a dozen branches in the past four years with two more set to Canned food piled up in a market in Cabinda. open soon, bolstering a local workforce of 5,000. Domestic products make up 30% of total sales, creating more local jobs, according to a recent study by consultancy firm Deloitte. Not far from the polished floors and well-lit aisles of the supermarket, at the far end of the parking lot, a group of women sit back in plastic chairs under a tree. They are selling cellphone airtime, vegetables and exchanging dollars for Angolan kwanza. “We set up here after the supermarket opened,” says Maria. “It’s a great location. There are a lot of pedestrians so there are lots of opportunities to make a sale.” This coexistence of formal and informal economies is reflected across Angola, a nation where extreme poverty and newfound wealth live cheek by jowl. After the devastation of a violent civil war between 1975 and 2002, oil has fuelled the country’s economy, which has grown by 3.9% this year and is expected to expand by 5.9% in 2015, according to the IMF. While many complain that the oil wealth has mainly lined the pockets of the elite, the sprouting of big shopping centres is a sign of more people in the middle class, currently about a fifth of the population. “In the last 10 years, we have witnessed the growth of a middle class both in Luanda and the rest of the country,” said Feizal Esmail, who is helping build a mall with 240 stores in Luanda. He’s already planning a shuttle service for shoppers from more remote provinces. Economics professor Justino Pinto de Andrade says increasing wealth is also changing lifestyles and social mores. “A section of the population has seen its purchasing power increase and, because they work during the week, they concentrate their shopping on the weekend,” he said. “At the big malls they can buy everything they need at once,” he added. “And there’s more evidence for this social dynamic: more small cars, high-rise real estate projects, and the spreading use of credit cards.” In this regard Angola reflects a growing trend across the continent. A third of Africans - about 370mn people - now belong to the middle class, according to an African Development Bank study published in late October. By African standards, these individuals spend between $2 and $20 a day, and have access to water, electricity, cars and a number of household goods like televisions and refrigerators. But the middle class is still far from a dominant group in Angola, said sociologist Joao Nzatuzola. An August study by economists from South Africa’s Standard Bank put Angola’s middle class at 21% of the population. By 2030, they estimate the country will have an extra 1mn middle class households. But 54% of the population still live on less than $2 a day. For many, street trading or traditional markets remain their sole source of revenue. “The multiplication of supermarkets has not overtaken street trading, which is still flourishing,” said Nzatuzola. Nelson Pestana, professor at the Catholic University of Angola, sees the emergence of supermarkets as a test for small traders, but not an insuperable one. “The arrival of supermarkets poses a challenge to small businesses, but the informal sector is more resilient because it has advantages not offered by the malls, like selling used goods or negotiating prices,” said Pestana. A bigger threat could ultimately be the Angolan government’s plans to regulate informal trade, organising a network of traditional markets in licensed premises. 14 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 AMERICAS Controversial Washington ex-mayor Barry dies at 78 AFP Washington F Marion Barry: “A fixture in DC politics for decades” ormer Washington mayor Marion Barry, who left office in disgrace and went to prison on drug charges only to return for a fourth term, has died aged 78. US President Barack Obama was among those paying tribute to Barry yesterday, calling him “a fixture in DC politics for decades” and praising him for his role in the civil rights movement. “Through a storied, at times tumultuous life and career, he earned the love and respect of countless Washingtonians,” Obama said in a statement. The Washington Post, citing hospital officials in the US capital, said the mayor was in cardiac arrest when he arrived and could not be revived. Barry, the Mississippi-born son of a sharecropper, dominated local politics in Washing- Buffalo area braces for floods after record snow Reuters Buffalo E mergency workers filled thousands of sandbags yesterday as the area around Buffalo, New York braced for potential flooding as warming temperatures began to melt up to 7ft (2m) of snow. Hundreds of members of the New York National Guard were in Erie County and Buffalo to help with flood prevention after days of work to clear roads and dig homes and cars out of the record snow from a storm that killed 13 people. The National Weather Service said roads could flood quickly from snow melt, since the storm blocked drains, and issued warnings for potential flooding of four rivers and creeks. “We hope to get back to business on Monday. Government offices will be open. Schools will be open. We are sending teams of structural engineers in to inspect any school that might have the potential of a structural problem,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters on Sunday at a news briefing. Cuomo said the state had prepared in case of widespread flooding, moving in hundreds of pumps, tens of thousands of sandbags and putting together a robust evacuation plan. Three sandbagging machines and 176,500 sandbags were among the supplies taken to staging areas. Ellen Przepasniak, spokeswoman for the Erie County emergency operations effort, said sandbags would be quickly deployed to cities and towns that report rising waters. State agencies have also deployed high axle vehicles that can drive on flooded roads, pumps, water bottles, a water tank and other emergency material, the governor’s office said. Roofs collapsed and some people were stuck in their cars for more than 24 hours when the heaviest snow fall in memory hit areas of New York state along the Great Lakes. The November storm system, dubbed the “Knife Storm,” lasted for three days. The National Weather Service said higher temperatures - rising to 50F (10C) yesterday and 60F today - could rapidly unlock up to 6in of water. “Snowmelt is well underway and will continue through Monday. It is this snowmelt that will ultimately cause the flooding concerns,” the weather service said on its website. “It is warming up already, it’s in the 40s right now and based on the temperatures we’ve been dealing with, it’s pretty balmy,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown told CNN news yesterday morning. ton for many years starting in the mid-1970s despite repeated scandals and multiple arrests. The most notorious incident came during his third term as mayor when he was arrested in January 1990 for crack cocaine use and possession in an FBI sting operation caught on video. The “mayor for life” was sentenced to six months in prison, but swept back into the city’s top post in 1994. Barry, who also served many terms on the DC Council and was head of the board of education, was able to parlay his political disgrace into a theme of redemption during the 1994 election. More recently, in 2009, Barry, who was serving again as a city councilman, was arrested for allegedly stalking a woman. In his early terms Barry gained recognition as a charismatic leader who used the city administration to further his ambitious social programs including jobs for the poor. In his DC Council biography, Barry wrote that he lived by the motto “always fighting for the people.” But by his later terms Barry’s fortunes and those of the city had begun to sag. The municipal deficit ballooned, crime rose, and a close mayoral confidant was convicted for misuse of public funds. Current Washington Mayor Vincent Gray said in a statement he would work with Barry’s family and city officials to plan official ceremonies “worthy of a true statesman of the District of Columbia.” Local media said Barry died having just been released from another hospital earlier Saturday evening after being admitted for observation, following what the local NBC affiliate reported was a urinary tract infection. Barry had a kidney transplant five years ago and had also suffered from prostate cancer and diabetes. A security guard puts up police tape outside of the Buzz Westfall Justice Center where a St. Louis County grand jury is considering whether or not to charge Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting of Michael Brown yesterday in Clayton, Missouri. Anxious Ferguson waits for grand jury’s decision Agencies Ferguson, Missouri A fter a fourth straight night of low-level protests in Ferguson, Missouri, anxious residents still did not know yesterday when a grand jury will return a decision on whether to charge a white policeman who shot an unarmed black teen to death this summer. It appeared that the St. Louis suburb, which has become a flashpoint for US race relations since Officer Darren Wilson killed 18-year-old Michael Brown on Aug. 9, will have to wait until at least today and perhaps longer for an announcement. The 12-member grand jury adjourned and will not resume meeting behind closed doors until today, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, citing an unidentified St. Louis County official. Reuters could not confirm that report. Media reports had suggested the panel would have a decision by this weekend. There have been nightly rallies and a high-profile law enforcement presence. A lawyer for Brown’s family criticised how prosecutors have handled the grand jury process, which has dragged on longer than many expected. The attorney, Benjamin Crump, told ABC’s This Week programme yesterday it was the first time in his 20 years of practising law that a prosecutor had not recommended charges to a grand jury hearing a case. “Why you can’t come in and recommend charges right now based on the probable cause?” Crump said, a reference to witnesses who said Brown had his hands up in the air, signalling surrender, when the officer shot him. Wilson’s supporters say he shot Brown in self-defence. St. Louis County prosecutors have said the grand jury’s decision will be announced at a news conference, but the date, time and location remain unknown. Crump said he expected to get about six hours notice before an announcement. Steady rain put a dampener on Saturday night’s demonstrations in Ferguson. About 40 protesters, mostly teenagers, strode up and down a main street, waving upside-down US flags and home-made placards and chanting, “We’re young, we’re strong, we’re marching all night long.” Convoys of law enforcement vehicles patrolled after dark, and for a fourth straight night other protesters gathered outside police headquarters while a helicopter with a spotlight buzzed overhead. As on previous evenings, demonstrators briefly blocked the road and there were at least two arrests: an activist from Chicago who has been detained three times since Wednesday, and a man identified as a Washington, DC-based reporter. St. Louis, the mostly black suburb of 21,000 with an over- whelmingly white police force and town government, has been on edge for several days in anticipation of the jury’s decision. Metal interlocking fences and orange plastic barricades sealed off the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, another suburb of the city of St. Louis and where the grand jury has been meeting, with a handful of uniformed officers on duty outside. A police officer unfurled yellow tape saying, “St Louis Police Lines” and “Do Not Cross” around the barricades, watched by a clutch of journalists in the rain. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has declared a state of emergency and called in National Guard troops to back up police, which protesters have criticised as heavy-handed. Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden, told demonstrators on Saturday night they should remain peaceful whatever the grand jury decides. Voters crave �that new car smell’: Obama AFP Washington A man walks past a collapsed structure on his farm following a massive snowstorm in Cowlesville, New York, on Saturday. Warm temperatures and rain were forecast for the weekend in Buffalo and western New York, bringing the threat of widespread flooding to the region bound for days by deep snow. B arack Obama says voters in the US are going to want “that new car smell” when the 2016 presidential campaign comes along to choose his successor. Obama’s former secretary of state Hillary Clinton is strongly fancied to run on the Democratic ticket for the White House, although she has repeatedly refused to confirm she wants to do so. “I think the American people, you know, they’re gonna want, you know, that new car smell,” Obama said in an interview broadcast yesterday on ABC News. “You know... they wanna drive somethin’ off the lot that... that doesn’t have as much mileage as me.” Obama, in the interview conducted in Las Vegas on Friday, described Clinton as a friend and said they speak regularly. He believes she would be “a formidable candidate” and “a great president.” “And she’s not gonna agree with me on everything,” he added. “One of the benefits of running for president is you can stake out your own positions.” Facebook �newspaper’ spells trouble for media AFP Washington F acebook’s move to fulfil its ambition to be the personal “newspaper” for its billion-plus members is likely to mean more woes for the ailing news media. The huge social network has become a key source of news for many users, as part of a dramatic shift in how people get information in the digital age. Company founder Mark Zuckerberg told a forum in early November that his goal is to make Facebook’s newsfeed “the perfect personalised newspaper for every person in the world.” Zuckerberg said that while a newspaper provides the same information to every reader, Facebook can tailor its feed to the interests of the individual, delivering a mix of world news, community events and updates about friends or family. “It’s a different approach to newspapering,” said Ken Paulson, a former editor of USA Today who is now dean of communications at Middle Tennessee State University. “It’s neither good nor bad, but it’s something a traditional newspaper can’t do.” With Facebook, editorial decisions about what members see are made not by a journalist, but an algorithm that determines which items are likely to be of greatest interest to each person. This may concern the traditional journalism community, but even some media experts acknowledge that Facebook appears to be able to deliver more of what people want to see, in an efficient way. “It’s intimate, it’s relevant, it’s extraordinarily timely and it’s about you. That’s more than any newspaper can do,” said Alan Mutter, a former Chicago daily newspaper editor who is now a consultant for digital media ventures. Mutter said that as newspapers cling to their “ancient” business model, organisations like Facebook are making the news more personal. And he said the trend will continue as younger readers shun print in favour of digital and mobile platforms. Nikki Usher, a George Washington University journalism professor specialising in new media, said Facebook configures its news feed using an algorithm taking into account tens of thousands of factors. “Facebook has all the data to tell you what all of your friends are reading, so you have a better chance of seeing things that you are interested in,” she said. “The reason Facebook has so many engineers and data scientists is to continually make the algorithm better. The algorithm gets stronger as more people use it.” Facebook is a source of news for at least 30% of Americans, and a major driver of traffic to news websites, according to a Pew Research Center study. This gives the social network enormous power over the news media, which is increasingly dependent on traffic from Facebook and other social platforms. Even though Facebook is known for its computer coding, it still must make editorial decisions, Usher points out. “What’s scary is how reactive a position it puts news organisations, which are trying to guess Facebook’s next move,” she said. “That’s a lot of power to put in a single organisation.” Facebook, Google and other tech firms jealously guard their algorithmic formulas. But observers note that a single tweak of that formula can have impor- tant consequences for news organisations. “News organisations are trying to build their strategy around trying to guess the algorithm, and ultimately that’s a losing strategy,” Usher said. But with traditional news media hurting, it remains unclear how the industry can support the kind of journalism needed to keep people informed as it has in the past. Mutter said what people read may change - it may be sponsored or subsidised in a way that may or may not be transparent. “It won’t necessarily be real journalism, but it will be content,” he said. Paulson said that while Facebook can deliver much of the in- formation from newspapers, “it would be hard pressed to capture the soul” of traditional print news. “Freedom of the press was established to keep an eye on people in power and inform the community,” he added. “There’s a tremendous public spirit component that you can’t address with an algorithm.” Paulson said that while Facebook is a useful platform for sharing, it will not underwrite the kind of investigative journalism upon which newspapers often pride themselves. With journalism retrenching, that weakens the entire democratic process. “We get the kind of news we deserve and are willing to pay for,” Paulson added. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 15 ASEAN Colour Run King meets premier, ministers easing health concerns Reuters Bangkok T hailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej met the country’s prime minister and two other ministers yesterday, helping to ease concern over his health after he was admitted to hospital last month. Bhumibol, 86, attended an official ceremony at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital where he is being treated following an operation to remove his gallbladder. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army chief who led a May coup that helped remove the remnants of an elected government, attended the ceremony with the ministers. Photographs released by the Royal Household Bureau, which tightly controls information about the royal family, show Prayuth, dressed in a white uniform, bowing and the king sitting on a golden chair. The meeting was originally scheduled for Friday but the palace said doctors had advised the king to cancel the engagement, raising public concerns over the monarch’s health. Participants throw coloured powder during the Colour Run in Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday. The 5km event sees runners get covered in coloured powder from head to toe. Two senior Thailand policemen charged with royal defamation AFP Bangkok T wo high-ranking Thai police officers have been arrested for royal defamation, an official said yesterday, a rare charge against senior public servants as lese majeste cases mount following a May coup. Central Investigation Bureau chief Pongpat Chayapun and his deputy Kowit Vongrongrot have been charged under the strict lese majeste law, a police spokesman said. Under the law, which is Section 112 of the Thai criminal code, anyone convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent faces up to 15 years in prison on each count. “The two police officers have been arrested and charged under Section 112,” national police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said, confirming their names and positions. He would not confirm where they were being held or give any other details of the arrests. Rights groups say there has been a rise in both charges and convictions under Thailand’s royal slur law — one of the strictest in the world — since the army seized power on May 22. Under martial law — declared two days before the coup by then-army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who is now premier — suspects are now tried under military courts, where there is no right to appeal. Earlier cases were handled in civilian courts. The royal family is a highly sensitive topic in the politically turbulent kingdom where 86-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch who is currently in a Bangkok hospital, is revered by many as a demi-god. The law is designed to protect the monarchy from insult, but academics say it has been politicised in recent years as the king’s reign enters its twilight. Many of those charged have been linked to the “Red Shirt” movement, whose activists are broadly supportive of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. It is rare for high-ranking public servants to face charges under the law. Last week a Thai radio show host was sentenced by a military court to five years in jail for royal defamation. Early in November a 24-year-old student was jailed for two-and-a-half years for defaming the monarchy. And in another recent case a 28-year-old musician was sentenced to 15 years in jail for writing insulting Facebook posts about the royals between 2010 and 2011. The coup was the latest twist in Thailand’s longrunning political conflict, which broadly pits a Bang- kok-based middle class and royalist elite, backed by parts of the military and judiciary, against rural and workingclass voters loyal to Thaksin. Yesterday afternoon two government ministers, accompanied by Prayut, were sworn in before the king at Bangkok’s Siriraj hospital, the Royal Household Bureau said in a statement. The ceremony took place two days after it was scheduled as the palace Friday said the king’s medical team had advised against him granting an audience. Suspected IS supporters arrested DPA Kuala Lumpur T wo women and one man were arrested on suspicion of supporting Islamic State militants in Malaysia, a news report said yesterday. The 34-year-old wife of a suspected jihadist charged in court earlier this month and a 28-year-old events manager were arrested at a train station in Kuala Lumpur Friday, according to the New Straits Times. The 33-year-old male suspect was arrested at a bus terminal, the report added. Fuel price rise tests Indonesia leader’s poverty pledge AFP Jakarta I n an old cemetery in the Indonesian capital, Enur’s family and others live in makeshift houses between tombstones, a handful of the millions of poor people that new President Joko Widodo has pledged to help. But Widodo’s promise to close a fast-growing wealth gap is looking tougher after his decision last week to hike subsidised fuel prices, which observers warn will hit the poor hard as food prices rocket due to higher transportation costs. While the reduction in government subsidies is widely viewed as the right move towards getting Southeast Asia’s top economy back on track, for those at the bottom it will mean a harder time in the short term. Enur, 40, who earns about 50,000 rupiah ($4) a day to feed his family by driving a construction truck and selling fried snacks, sees no other choice than to borrow more to deal with an expected spike in inflation. “What else is there to cut? Should I halve our daily rice intake? My children will be crying in hunger,” said the father of two, who has another child on the way and goes by one name. It is the same story for his neighbours at the Jakarta cemetery, many of whom work as scavengers in the city’s rubbish dumps, hunting for plastic bottles and cardboard boxes that they can sell on to scrape by. About 100mn Indonesians, A recent photo shows shanty houses on a river bank in Jakarta. Right: A man receives direct cash transfers (400,000 rupiah or $32.73) from the government at a post office. out of a population of 250mn, have missed out on the country’s sustained economic boom over the past decade, living below or just slightly above the poverty line. The country’s Gini coefficient, which measures income inequality, rose from 31% in 2001 to 41% in 2012, one of the fastest rates in Asia, the World Bank said. The higher the figure, the less evenly wealth is distributed in an economy. The gap is all too clear in Jakarta, a sprawling metropolis where flashy Lamborghini sports cars zoom past people hauling wooden carts filled with rubbish that they are trying to sell, and in which they sleep at night. In the short term, the increase in fuel costs risks widening this gap. Fuel prices rose more than 30%, to 8,500 rupiah (70 US cents) for a litre of petrol and 7,500 rupiah for diesel, but are still among the cheapest in the world. While it is Indonesians wealthy enough to own cars and motorbikes who mainly benefitted from the subsidies, they are not the ones who are hardest hit when the payouts are cut, observers warn. The government predicts inflation will increase by around 2% in the coming weeks but the poor, who often live in remote places where it is more difficult to transport food, will face even higher price rises. Inflation was 4.8% year-onyear in October. Nevertheless, observers agree that Indonesia had no choice but to reduce the subsides that gobble up a huge chunk of the state budget, particularly at a time growth is slowing and the money is needed to help the economy. “It is a bitter pill that we have to swallow because we need it,” Asep Suryahadi, the director of a think-tank focusing on poverty, SMERU, told AFP. They also say that any inflation spike is likely to be temporary -- after an increase in the fuel price last year, the rate jumped initially but then dropped back. Widodo, who took office last month, argues that in the long term the money can be diverted to aid the poorest, through programmes aimed at helping the country’s many millions of hard-pressed farmers and fishermen. Just before the fuel price was increased, Widodo, known by his nickname Jokowi, also launched a system of benefit cards to help the poorest across the sprawling archipelago. This included immediate cash handouts for the poor families to cushion the impact. However analysts believe that such moves are insufficient to stave off the short-term effects of a broad rise in the cost of everyday goods. “These cards are an intervention to solve a long-term problem,” said Sonny Harmadi, an economist from University of Indonesia’s demographic institute. While he is worried about the looming price increases, Enur is also patiently looking to the long term, and hopes the new government might find him a secure job. “Give us a job, a barn where we can do the simplest of tasks such as making shirts, stitching buttons, and give us houses next to it,” he said. 16 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA RESCUE COMPLETE CONSERVATION DIPLOMACY HOMES DESTROYED ESPIONAGE Death toll rises to 5 after huge China earthquake Tasmanian Devils are �back from the brink’ Xi wraps Pacific talks with Fiji aid boost 39 hurt as strong quake rattles Japan ski resort Man photographs China base for �foreign spy’ The death toll from a 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck a remote part of China’s southwest rose yesterday to five, as media reported the injured have all been successfully rescued. The quake struck 39km northwest of Kangding in the mountainous west of Sichuan province at 0855 GMT Saturday. The latest toll was reported by state news agency Xinhua, which also adjusted the number of injured from 60 to 54. Three were said to be in critical condition. “Within nine hours, emergency services were able to successfully rescue all those injured,” Xinhua said, without giving details on the current state of the rescue operation. A research and breeding programme has brought the critically endangered Tasmanian Devil back from the brink of extinction. The outlook for the noisy and fierce-looking marsupial is now the best it has been in a decade, Tasmania’s Environment Minister Matthew Groom told yesterday’s Hobart Mercury newspaper. The devils, which are native to the island, were being wiped out by a transmissible cancer that caused facial tumours. The disease was first detected in 1996. “The challenge for the devil is not over, but as a species the devil is more secure now than it has been for a decade,” Groom told the newspaper. A new vaccine is also about to be tested on wild devils. Chinese President Xi Jinping injected a further 70mn yuan (US$11.4mn) of aid money into Fiji as he wrapped up a round of talks yesterday in the Pacific nation. Xi held talks with Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and seven other island nation leaders, who form the nucleus of a 12-nation Pacific voting bloc in the UN. “I hope my visit can open a new chapter in bilateral friendly and co-operative relations,” Xi told the leaders of Samoa, Vanuatu, Niue, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, and Papua New Guinea. The talks also involved signing memoranda of understanding on a range of issues including climate change. A strong 6.2 magnitude earthquake in central Japan left 39 people injured, seven seriously, and wrecked homes in a popular ski resort. The quake struck at 10.08 pm local time (1308 GMT) on Saturday at a depth of 10km at the epicentre, in the north of Nagano Prefecture. The government yesterday confirmed that the quake injured 39 people, destroying houses and snapping water pipes, with the worst damage in mountainous areas. In Nagano Prefecture’s famous Hakuba Village, many homes were toppled and destroyed. Bird’s-eye footage by public broadcaster NHK showed houses reduced to rubble. Around 30 people trapped in houses were rescued, Jiji Press said. A Chinese man was arrested for selling pictures of an aircraft carrier base to a foreign spy. The man, who was surnamed Cao, was detained in the eastern port city of Qingdao in April with a camera, telescope, computer and “other tools”, state broadcaster China Central Television said. Cao told Chinese security officials he was selling the pictures to an individual who claimed to be a “military magazine editor”, CCTV said on its website. “The �editor-in-chief’ is actually an overseas spy,” the report said. The report also said Cao had sneaked into a military airport to take pictures for his contact for a “generous premium”. North Korea again lashes out over UN rights ruling AFP Sydney AFP Seoul A N orth Korea’s top military body yesterday warned of “catastrophic consequences” for supporters of a UN resolution censuring its human rights record, as state media reported its leader presiding over a fresh military exercise. A resolution urging the UN Security Council to refer the North’s leadership to the International Criminal Court for possible charges of “crimes against humanity” passed by 111 to 19 with 55 abstentions at a UN General Assembly human rights committee last week. The resolution, introduced by Japan and the European Union and cosponsored by some 60 nations, drew heavily on the work of a UN enquiry which concluded in February that the North was committing rights abuses “without parallel in the contemporary world”. The North since then has repeatedly slammed the resolution as a political “fraud”. On Thursday it warned that it was being pushed into conducting a fresh nuclear test. The National Defence Commission (NDC), chaired by the country’s leader Kim Jong-Un, said yesterday the resolution amounted to a “war declaration” which “dared take issue with the dignity of our supreme leadership”. The resolution makes no mention of Kim but notes the UN enquiry’s finding - that the “highest level of the state” has responsibility for the rights abuses. The dignity of its leader “cannot be bartered for anything”, the NDC said in a statement, adding that Japan as well as South Korea and the US - cosponsors of the UN resolution - were Pyongyang’s “primary target.” “The US and its followers will be wholly accountable for the unimaginable and catastrophic consequences to be entailed by the frantic �human rights’ racket against the (North),” it said. Mum quizzed after new-born baby found in Sydney drain North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un looks through a pair of binoculars at a military drill in this photo released yesterday by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency in Pyongyang. As Pyongyang ramped up its threats, Kim guided a major military drill involving sea transport and amphibious landing craft, the state-run news agency KCNA said. The NDC also said that South Korean President Park Geun-Hye would not be safe “if a nuclear war breaks out” on the Korean peninsula, and its attacks could make Japan “disappear from the world map for good”. The isolated state has staged three Christmas cheer! atomic tests - most recently in 2013, which was its most powerful test to date. Last week, the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said on its 38 North website that new satellite imagery suggested Pyongyang may be firing up a facility for processing weapons-grade plutonium. South Korea said last week its military was on standby, and the US Thursday described the North’s re- newed threat of a nuclear test as a “great concern”. Yesterday’s threat and the report of Kim’s military trip coincided with the anniversary of Pyongyang’s shock bombardment of a border island that killed four South Koreans. The shelling of Yeonpyeong island in 2010 was the first such attack on civilians since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War and briefly sparked fear of all-out conflict. Taiwan ruling party faces rout in biggest ever local elections AFP Taipei W Miniature chocolate Terracotta Warriors wearing Santa Claus hats are displayed at a hotel for the Christmas celebrations in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. Three hundred miniature replicas of the Terracotta Warriors were made by 10 pastry chefs in 10 days from about 100kg of chocolate. Seoul’s military, which since then has reinforced troops and weaponry on the island, on Friday staged a livefire exercise there as part of a major annual nationwide drill. The North reacted angrily to the drill, accusing the South of pushing the peninsula to the “brink of war.” The South’s Hoguk exercise, which ended on Friday, involved a record number of 330,000 troops this year. ustralian police were questioning a mother yesterday after passing cyclists who had heard crying found her new-born son abandoned in a 2.5m deep drain in Sydney. New South Wales police said a group of cyclists were riding on a bike track along a highway in western Sydney yesterday morning when they heard the sound of crying coming from a nearby drain. “We actually thought it was a kitten at first, but when we went down there we could hear exactly what it was, you could definitely tell it was a baby screaming,” David Otte, one of the cyclists, told The Daily Telegraph. “We’re just thinking about the little fella, he’s a beautiful, beautiful baby.” Police said the concrete slab covering most of the drain was so heavy it needed several people to lift it. “With the assistance of several passers-by we managed to raise a large concrete slab which covers the inspection pit of the stormwater drain,” Inspector David Lagats told reporters. “Officers climbed into the drain and located a baby wrapped in a striped hospital blanket, approximately 8ft down on the bottom of the pit.” The baby, who police fear may have been dropped through a gap into the drain, was taken to hospital conscious and breathing and remains in a serious but stable condition, Lagats said. He added that the baby was malnourished and between two days to a week old. The Telegraph reported that the boy may have been in the drain since Tuesday. Lagats said the cyclists found the baby just in time, as a heatwave later swept through the state, with temperatures rising as high as 40 degrees Celsius in some areas. “He was already malnourished and dehydration would have taken effect so I would have had grave fears for the child’s welfare had it been exposed to this weather for the rest of the day,” Lagats said. “It’s a horrific incident... but with all the teamwork from the bystanders too, it was a good result and hopefully the child will survive,” the police officer said. Investigators spent several hours searching hospital records and knocking on doors before they tracked down the 30-year-old mother, who is now being interviewed at a police station. ith public fears of Chinese influence growing, a slowing economy and a series of food scandals, Taiwan’s ruling party is facing a rough ride in the island’s biggest ever local elections - seen as a barometer for the 2016 presidential race. Campaigning is well under way with almost 20,000 candidates contesting a record 11,130 seats, and analysts predict the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang government will take a serious knock. “The Kuomintang party is very likely to lose ground in the vote, it’s just a matter of to what extent,” said Tung Chen-yuan, social science professor at Taipei’s National Chengchi University. From mayors of the country’s six municipalities to county chiefs, city councillors and village leaders, the elections on November 29 could see new faces at every level of local government. Campaign tactics so far have ranged from traditional street rallies to bizarre efforts to garner attention. One Kuomintang candidate for mayor of Tainan cast herself as a “dark horse” against her more popular DPP opponent - by riding a black horse down the city’s streets. Meanwhile an independent candidate for mayor in the city of Kaohsiung stripped to his underpants on stage as he drew his candidate number, shouting: “Naked to meet you, honesty is the best policy”. It was, perhaps, an offbeat nod to allegations of vote buying which have dogged election campaigns in some areas. Government figures say more than 2,400 people are being investigated, both candidates and supporters, mostly in rural locations. Two suspects were detained Friday accused of bribing college students in a county council election. “The public feels apathetic over the vote, so candidates are resorting to publicity grabbing tactics, rather than focusing on critical issues,” said one Kuomintang official, who did not want to be named. The vote comes at the end of a turbulent year which saw Taiwan’s parliament occupied in March for three weeks by student protesters over a controversial trade deal with China, sparking mass rallies. Ties with Beijing have warmed since the Kuomintang came to power in 2008, with trade booming and millions of Chinese tourists visiting the island each year. But the improved relationship has led to domestic anxiety that Taiwan is too reliant on the mainland. Taiwan broke away from China after the Communist Party took power in 1949. Beijing has never recognised the island’s sovereignty and has said it wants to reunifiy, by force if necessary. More than 12mn people are eligible to vote in the six municipalities alone, out of the island’s total population of 23mn. Stagnant income levels and soaring housing prices are a major source of complaint among voters, particularly for younger generations. The Kuomintang is also under fire over a string of food safety scandals, the latest of which prompted the resignation of the health minister after more than 1,000 restaurants, bakeries and food plants were found to have used tainted cooking oil - known as “gutter oil”. “The Kuomintang has even seen their support from the military, teachers and government employees - who have long been stalwarts of the party shaken after cuts to their pensions and benefits,” says Tung. Currently, the Kuomintang dominates three municipalities in the north, including Taipei City, and one in the centre, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) holds two in the south. But even the key Taipei mayoral seat is under threat - DPP-backed independent candidate Ko Wen-je has a strong lead over the Kuomintang’s Sean Lien in opinion polls. Recent polls by three major newspapers put Ko’s lead at between seven and 14%. Young voters are set to shun the ruling party. “I believe lots of young peo- ple would prefer to vote for the DPP who have more reformist ideals,” Shih Yen-ting, a graduate school student who participated in the spring protests, told AFP. Long-time supporter of the Kuomintang, Claudia Wu, said she would abstain to reflect her disillusionment. “I’m not going to vote this time as I was really disappointed in the poor performance of the government,” said Wu, who works for a construction company in Taipei. “Food safety is the most basic demand from the people. The government has to fill the people’s stomachs,” she added. The anonymous Kuomintang official said: “The most important thing is for candidates to win back voters’ passion for the party.” Taiwan will go to the polls in early 2016 to elect a new president after Ma Ying-jeou completes his second and last four-year term. The DPP has said the local elections are an important prelude, calling on supporters to cast a “no-confidence” vote. Pro-Kuomintang think tank National Policy Foundation also emphasised the local vote’s significance. “If the results substantially change the present political landscape, they could impact the 2016 presidential vote,” it said in a research paper, “and even influence Taiwan’s political ecology in the next 10 years”. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND DISRUPTION MEDIA HEALTHCARE VIOLENCE TRAGEDY London railway station evacuated after fire Pro-independence daily launched in Scotland Mental health nursing cuts slammed Fire bomb attack on police station Windsurfer pulled from sea dies One of London’s busiest railway stations, Charing Cross, was evacuated yesterday after a fire caused by a suspected electrical fault, the British Transport Police (BTP) said. The incident generated a lot of traffic on social media, in part because Britain raised its terrorism alert in August to the second-highest level, saying militants operating in Syria and Iraq posed the biggest security threat. Pictures from the scene showed part of a stationary passenger train on fire with a crowd looking on. Nobody was hurt and there was no suggestion the incident was malicious, a BTP spokesman said. The incident caused disruption to train services. A new pro-independence daily newspaper entitled The National is to be launched in Scotland today, the editor revealed. Richard Walker, who edits the Sunday Herald weekly title, told a rally of Scotland’s pro-separation governing Scottish National Party (SNP) in Glasgow that he would be running the new daily paper. It will be on sale for a pilot period of five days to see if there is sufficient demand for such a daily paper. The Sunday Herald was the only Scottish newspaper which came out in favour of independence in the run-up to the September 18 referendum, when Scottish residents voted 55% to 45% to remain part of the United Kingdom. A large drop in the number of mental health nurses and shortages in inpatient beds are “unacceptable” and a “false economy”, the head of the nurses’ union has said. Dr Peter Carter, chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said there are 3,300 fewer posts in mental health nursing, and 1,500 fewer beds, compared with 2010. Last month Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg announced an injection of £120mn to improve mental health services. But Dr Carter urged the government to take action “now” to mitigate the cuts, which had come at a time of “unprecedented demand” for services with one in four people estimated to experience a mental health problem. A police station has been targeted in an overnight petrol bomb attack in Northern Ireland. Officers from the Warrenpoint station in Co Down who were out on patrol in the early hours of the morning discovered the device when they returned around 3.30am. The petrol bomb was thrown over the perimeter wall into the station yard but failed to ignite. Inspector Colin Patterson said some minor damage had been caused to a vehicle parked in the yard. “We will be viewing footage from the station security cameras, but I would also like to appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity in the vicinity of the police station to contact officers,” he added. A windsurfer has died after apparently getting into difficulties in the water. The Coastguard was alerted after the occupants of a dinghy spotted windsurfing gear in the water off Langstone Harbour, near Portsmouth, Hampshire, at about 12.15pm on Saturday. A man, aged in his 50s, was found floating face down in the water near Hayling Island. He was brought back to shore before being flown by the Coastguard to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Hampshire police say they are in the process of notifying his next of kin and said his death was not being treated as suspicious. Police cracks down on errant cyclists Melinda Gates honoured Immigration target unlikely to be met, admits May London Evening Standard London T he number of fines given to cyclists in London more than doubled to almost 15,800 last year, as police launched a campaign against unsafe bike riding. Cyclists were caught jumping 4,896 red lights — a four-year high. The total number of £50 fines imposed across the capital last year spiralled to 15,786, compared with 6,286 in 2012, according to figures obtained by the Standard. Police raised £789,000 from tickets for offences such as ignoring traffic lights and signs, failing to stop for officers, not having suitable lights or carrying unauthorised passengers. In November 2013 the Met launched Operation Safeway after the deaths of six cyclists on London’s roads in a fortnight. Officers patrolled 166 blackspots and fined almost 6,000 bike users in November and December last year — mostly for cycling on pavements and jumping lights. The operation is ongoing, with 5,851 cyclists fined in the first seven months of this year alone. Fourteen cyclists died on London’s roads in 2013. So far this year 11 have been killed. There has also been a huge rise in the number of cyclists. Daily cycle journeys in London increased from 320,000 in 2002 to 580,000 in 2012, according to Transport for London figures. Ann Kenrick, chairwoman of the London Cycle Campaign’s board of trustees, said: “When I see a cyclist jump a red light I turn to the cyclist next to me in despair. “We need to tell cyclists to put out the message that they have to follow the rules like everyone else. But we need infrastructure, so cyclists don’t take risks, like dedicated cycle lanes.” Mayor Boris Johnson has unveiled a “Crossrail for bikes” plan, featuring an 18-mile east-west route that would take one of the Embankment’s road lanes. Home secretary gives clearest sign yet that Cameron’s pledge to reduce net influx of people by general election won’t be achieved Guardian News and Media London T Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, presents the Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) Prize 2014 to Melinda Gates at the Banqueting House, Whitehall, London. The annual Chatham House Prize is awarded to the person who is deemed by Chatham House members to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. Water levy protests �dent’ Irish PM party popularity Reuters Dublin T he popularity of Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny’s party has slumped since it announced the first non-austerity budget in seven years last month and mass protests against new water charges began, an opinion poll showed. Only 22% of voters said they would vote for Kenny’s centreright Fine Gael party, down 6 percentage points since the October 14 budget and 14 points since its election in 2011, the RED C-Sunday Business Post opinion poll, said. It was the lowest rating the party has ever had in a Red C poll. Fine Gael has been rocked by mass protests against new water charges and a series of scandals about poor management at the company set up to administer them. Water services had been paid for from general taxation. The biggest beneficiaries of the protests have been leftwing Sinn Fein party which is the most popular party with 22% and Independents/Others on 27%. The Fine Gael has been rocked by mass protests against new water charges and a series of scandals about poor management at the company set up to administer them Sinn Fein’s popularity was unchanged compared to the last RED C poll in an apparent sign recent accusations in parliament that members of the party had failed to properly report sex abuse had not had a significant impact. The three parties that have formed the backbone of all Irish government’s since the 1930s, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, now have less than 50% of the vote between them, the poll said, highlighting the possibility of a major realignment of Irish politics at elections due in early 2016. Kenny’s coalition government with Labour has overseen a dramatic recovery in the Irish economy from a disastrous real estate crash and banking crisis that forced an international bailout in 2010. Ireland last year became the first eurozone country to exit an international bailout and the economy is forecast to grow almost 5% this year, which would likely make it the best performing in the eurozone. But many people who took part in two mass protests in recent weeks said they were not feeling the recovery and accused the government of unfairly targeting the poor with cutbacks. heresa May has issued the clearest declaration by the government yet that it will fail to meet its target to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands by the general election next year. In a blow to David Cameron, who issued a “no ifs, no buts” pledge to meet the target, the home secretary said it was “unlikely” the government would achieve that goal. Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show on BBC1, May said: “It is of course unlikely that we are going to reach the tens of thousands by the end of the parliament. Why is that? It is because we have seen increasing numbers of people coming from across Europe, partly because our economy is doing better than other economies across Europe. We have been doing what we can in relation to EU migration but there is more to be done.” May’s intervention comes as the prime minister prepares to deliver a long-awaited speech on immigration. The Sunday Times reported that he is expected to draw on proposals by the Open Europe thinktank to block access to in-work benefits, such as tax credits, to EU migrants for two Paddington premiere years. Downing Street believes Britain has to block access to benefits and reform the EU’s rules on free movement of people if the Tories are to counter the Ukip threat. The government has reduced migration from outside the EU. But it has missed the net migration target because it has no control over immigration from full member states of the EU. The home secretary, who watered down the prime minister’s 2011 migration pledge to a mere “comment” earlier this month, made clear Cameron would seek to tackle free movement of people if he renegotiates Britain’s EU membership after a Tory election win. May said: “It is only the Conservative party that is guaranteeing people that if in government after the May 2015 election then we will renegotiate our relationship with the EU. Free movement will be one of those issues that we will be dealing with. I believe we can win that negotiation because I see within Europe there is greater mood now for looking at this issue of free movement and dealing with the problems people are seeing in relation to free movement. That is about cutting out abuse. But it is more than that.” Ministers have made clear in private for over a year that they have no expectation of Emission zone plan hits Nissan cab launch London Evening Standard London N Australian actress Nicole Kidman and her husband musician Keith Urban arrive for the world premiere of Paddington in London yesterday. meeting the prime minister’s pledge to bring net migration below 100,000 by the time of the election. The home secretary indicated earlier this month that there was little chance of meeting the target when she was asked on the Today programme to explain the missed goal. May said: “When we made that comment, when we said … we would be aiming to bring the net migration down to the tens of thousands and we wanted to do that within this parliament - yes we were very clear that was what we wanted to do.” In a speech in April 2011 the prime minister issued an unequivocal declaration to bring down immigration. Cameron said at the time: “I believe that will mean net migration to this country will be in the order of tens of thousands each year, not the hundreds of thousands every year that we have seen over the last decade. “Yes, Britain will always be open to the best and brightest from around the world and those fleeing persecution. But with us, our borders will be under control and immigration will be at levels our country can manage. No ifs. No buts. That’s a promise we made to the British people, and it’s a promise we are keeping.” issan has suspended plans to launch a new London taxi before Christmas amid doubts triggered by plans for an Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The car giant said the plan had also cast doubt over its development of an advanced green electric model. Nissan had been poised to launch its petrol-powered cab in the capital in December, with a zero-emission, electric version to follow next year. But it said it was impossible to finalise launch plans for the two cabs until it knew the outcome of the consultation, which closes in January. The final ULEZ Scheme Order won’t go before the Mayor for approval until the spring. The zone would not come into effect until 2020, but rules governing the sale of new cabs would come in two years earlier. Nissan fears regulations outlined in the consultation, requiring all new taxis registered in London to be zero-emission by 2018, mean its new petrol cab would be obsolete in three years. The NV200 has cost millions to develop. It also said that until it knew the requirements for new cabs under the ULEZ, such as the range needed for an electric taxi and guidance on charging points, it would have to suspend development of its greener London cab. Steve McNamara, General Secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said: “I suspect the main reason Nissan are not proceeding with the project is that there is no proper infrastructure for charging electric vehicles in London. There’s not one rapid charger within six miles of Charing Cross, leaving London falling behind the rest of the world.” A Nissan spokesman said: “Nissan is a strong supporter of air quality and CO2 reduction measures and is encouraged to see the recent consultation launched by the Mayor’s office. “However if this were implemented then our planned petrol taxi, designed to meet the challenging London taxi standards... would be obsolete a few years after introduction” 18 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 BRITAIN Probe launched as hospital A&E delays soar after units’ closure London Evening Standard London A n independent investigation has been ordered into soaring A&E delays in west London following the closure of two casualty units. NHS England is examining whether the decline in performance at Northwick Park and Ealing hospitals is linked to the axing of the A&Es at Hammersmith and Central Middlesex. The probe was requested by local GPs after London North West Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Northwick Park and Ealing, recorded the worst delays in the country for patients waiting to be treated at main A&Es. In the week to October 19, it saw just 67.8% of patients within four hours. The following week, it was 73.3%. �Cannibal’ victim had face, neck injuries, inquest hears Postmortem on Cerys Yemm, killed by Matthew Williams at a south Wales hostel, records provisional cause of death Guardian News and Media London A young woman who was killed in an apparent cannibal attack died of “sharp force trauma” to her face and neck, a coroner has heard. Cerys Yemm, 22, was murdered by Matthew Williams, 34, after he lured her back to his room in a hostel in south Wales. Williams, who had been released from prison just a few weeks before the attack at the Sirhowy Arms in the village of Argoed, near Blackwood, died after a police officer shot him with a Taser. Cerys Yemm, 22, was murdered by Matthew Williams, 34 , after he lured her back to his room in a hostel in south Wales D S William Davies, who is leading the investigation, told the inquest in Newport: “Police received a 999 emergency call at 1.23 am on November 6. On arrival officers found the body of a female on the floor of a hotel room. “She was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. In the room with Cerys Yemm was a male identified as Matthew Williams. He was arrested and detained but died a short time later. His death will be the subject of a separate report.” The inquest heard a post- mortem examination on Yemm carried out by Home Office pathologist Richard Jones recorded a provisional cause of death as sharp force trauma to the face and neck. Sharp force trauma injuries are usually wounds caused by any implement having a sharp edge such as a knife or broken glass. Davies, of Gwent police, said the investigations into both deaths were ongoing. Gwent coroner David Bowen released Yemm’s body so her family can hold a funeral, which is expected to be a private service. None of her family attended the five-minute hearing. Bowen adjourned the inquest until April while the police investigation continues. Williams and Yemm, who worked for the clothes shop Next, are believed to have met on a night out in Blackwood. Friends have said he invited her back to the hostel where he was staying, promising to get her a taxi home. After hostel staff heard a woman’s cries, owner Mandy Miles burst into the room. She has said Williams was covered in blood and had black eyes. Miles said: “I can still see the amount of blood and the stillness of her, there were no signs of life at that point. I said to Matthew: �Do you know what you’re doing to that girl?’ He said: �That’s no girl.’” Williams was staying at the hostel, which is used by Caerphilly council to place single homeless men. A serious further offence review will take place to see if lessons can be learned from the case amid claims that Williams was unable access the medication he needed to control his paranoid schizophrenia. Questions have been raised over how he was being monitored after being released from prison for a violent offence. Gwent police are investigating Yemm’s murder while the Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking into the use of the Taser. In the last four weeks, 2,813 patients have waited more than the four-hour NHS target to be seen. Dr Mark Spencer, clinical lead for the Shaping a Healthier Future programme behind the A&E changes in North West London, claimed the increased delays were not a result of the closures but were due to more people seeking emergency treatment. “Undoubtedly we are not happy with the performance,” he told the Standard. “At the moment, a lot of this is unexplained. We need to look at that. If we are wrong, we will find out how we got it wrong and not do it again. It’s not good care. If you had a relative stuck on a trolley for four hours you would be pretty cheesed off. Whether it has an impact on mortality is hard to say.” The A&E closures at Ham- mersmith and Central Middlesex, on September 10, were the first in a series of changes to emergency care approved by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt a year ago. The next changes will see Ealing and Charing Cross rebuilt as £80mn “local hospitals” performing day surgery, with their A&Es becoming “emergency centres” run by GPs and emergency nurse practitioners. B oris Johnson has revealed that he is refusing to pay a tax demand issued to him by US authorities - despite previously lambasting the US embassy in London over its failure to pay the congestion charge. The mayor of London, who was born in New York and holds a US passport as well as a British one, visited the country last week to promote his book and said during an interview with NPR (National Public Radio) that he had been hit with a demand for capital gains tax. He said the US demand related to his first home in the UK, which was not subject to capital gains tax in England. All US citizens, including those with dual citizenship, are legally obliged to file a tax return and liable to pay US taxes, wherever they are living, even if the income is earned abroad. Asked whether he would pay the bill, Johnson initially avoided the question. But when it was put to him a second time, he replied: “No is the answer. I think it’s absolutely outrageous. Why should I? I think, you know, I’m not a … I, you know, I haven’t lived in the US for, you know, well, since I was five years old … I pay the lion’s share of my tax, I pay my taxes to the full in the United Kingdom where I live and work.” Johnson said the US demand related to his first home in the UK, which was not subject to capital gains tax in England Johnson, who is bidding to return to parliament at the next general election and has been tipped to replace David Cameron as leader if the Tories lose power, was then asked why he continued to carry a US passport, to which he responded: “It’s very difficult to give up.” lian Bell claimed that an emergency department run by GPs and without an intensive care unit and blue-light ambulances “isn’t an A&E that the public would recognise”. Dr Spencer insisted Northwick Park was now “safer” than before as it was relying on fewer agency staff and locum doctors, and the number of emergency consultants “on the shop floor” had increased. Explosion injures 14 Gas workers are seen by the �Churchill Hyatt Regency’ hotel after what appeared to have been a gas explosion hit the hotel in London. At least 14 people were reportedly injured in the explosion. The cause of the explosion is under investigation but it is believed it was caused by a leaking gas pipe, a spokesperson of the fire department was cited in media reports. �Four or five’ terror plots foiled, says police chief AFP London B ritish police have foiled four or five suspected terror plots this year, the country’s most senior police officer said yesterday ahead of a week-long campaign to enlist the public’s help in countering the threat. “We’ve said on average over the last few years it’s been about one (plot) a year, but this year alone we think four or five,” Scotland Yard commissioner Bernard Hogan- Howe told BBC television. He added: “Certainly we’ve seen a change to the momentum... we’ve seen a change to the frequency and the seriousness of the types of plots that we’re looking at.” More than 250 counter-terrorism arrests have been made so far this year, according to police sources. Most recently, three people were charged in London last week over an alleged plot which media reports said included a plan to behead somebody in Britain. Hogan-Howe said the threat from so-called “lone wolf” at- tacks by individuals or small groups was causing “growing concern”, and warned their ability to act quickly left little time for the security services to intervene. But he said the public could help by being more vigilant, particularly in crowded places and transport hubs where attacks are more likely to happen. For a week starting today, police will hold a series of events across Britain to let ordinary people and businesses know how they can help by identifying and reporting suspicious behaviour. London mayor not to pay US tax bill Guardian News and Media London The department of health insists that the hospitals will continue to provide “A&E services” but campaigners believe the units are being downgraded. A department of health spokesman said: “Local people can be reassured that, as the health secretary made clear to Parliament last year, Ealing hospital will continue to provide A&E services.” But Ealing council leader Ju- Johnson has continually pressed the US embassy to pay unpaid fines it has incurred for the congestion charge. The embassy has refused to do so, claiming the charge is a tax and therefore its diplomats are immune. During a visit to the UK by Barack Obama in 2011, Johnson reportedly asked him for a £5mn cheque for unpaid congestion charges but the US ambassador intervened before the president could answer. By last year the amount the US embassy owed in congestion charge fines had risen to more than £7mn, the most of any diplomatic mission in the capital. Johnson would also be liable to pay US income tax as he earns well above the foreign-earned income exclusion - the level up to which no tax is paid on income earned by US citizens overseas - which was set at $97,600 last year. As mayor, he earns a salary of £144,000 and on top of that he is paid £250,000 a year for his column. The campaign will also urge people to question charities about where their money is going, amid concerns that some are being used to channel funds to militants. “If the public, the businesses and police work together with the security services then that’s an incredibly powerful team,” Hogan-Howe said. The national terror threat was raised in August to “severe”, meaning an attack is highly likely, but the police chief said the message was to “keep calm but be aware”. He repeated fears that Brit- ons who have gone to fight with rebel groups in Iraq and Syria might return to use their new training and experience to attack Britain. But he did not comment on a claim by an opposition Labour lawmaker that as many as 2,000 Britons are fighting overseas four times the official estimate of 500. Khalid Mahmood, an MP for the city of Birmingham, told the Sunday Telegraph newspaper that in his area there was a “huge problem” of people going to fight with the Islamic State (IS) group. Ex-PM Brown to quit Commons �on a high’ Agencies London F Johnson: tax demand �absolutely outrageous’ ormer prime minister Gordon Brown is to announce that he is standing down as an MP, according to reports. Brown, 63, will soon confirm that he will quit at the general election in May, after playing a key role in the Scottish independence referendum campaign, sources have said. The Labour MP has focused on charity work and his role as United Nations special envoy for global education since his resignation as prime minister in 2010. An ally told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “Gordon has confirmed to friends that he will stand down at the election in May. He wants to go out on a high after effectively salvaging the campaign to keep the UK together in September. He will focus on his charity work.” Brown was first elected to Parliament in 1983 and was prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and chancellor from 1997 to 2007. His last-minute intervention in the referendum debate was widely credited with helping the pro-union Better Together campaign to victory. A timetable he championed for devolving more powers to Scotland was later endorsed by the three UK party leaders in their vow for greater autonomy for the Scottish Parliament in the event of a No vote. A series of impassioned speeches, culminating in an eve of poll rallying cry in Glasgow, was also widely praised. Brown had been tipped to stand for the Scottish Labour leadership following the shock resignation of Johann Lamont last month, but instead made clear he had no intention of returning to front-line politics. He won the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath seat with a majority of more than 23,000 in the last election. Former Labour chancellor Alistair Darling has also announced that he is to stand down as an MP at the next general election in the wake of the referendum. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 19 EUROPE French city bans street advertising Commercial street advertising will be banned in Grenoble to make way for trees and community noticeboards, the eastern French city’s new Green mayor announced yesterday. “The municipality is taking the choice of freeing public space in Grenoble from advertising to develop areas for public expression,” the office of Eric Piolle, of the French Greens, said. Between January and April, 326 advertising signs, including 64 billboards, will be taken down and the city’s outdoor advertising contract will be cancelled. In place of the hoardings, “about 50 young trees will be planted before spring”, the mayor’s office said. Starting in January, officials will offer local cultural and social groups free advertising space. The new signs will be smaller and aimed “not only at drivers, but also pedestrians”, said Lucille Lheureux, deputy in charge of public spaces for the city. There is a dispute over how much the greening of Grenoble’s streets and cancelling of the old advertising contract will cost the city. The mayor’s office said the city used to pull in €600,000 a year selling advertising space, but that this figure had been expected to drop to €150,000 in the new year due the wider slump in advertising rates. €20,000 fine for defacing Colosseum A Russian tourist caught red-handed trying to carve his initials on a wall of Rome’s Colosseum was ordered on Saturday to pay a fine of €20,000 ($24,700), Ansa reported. The 42-year-old was using a sharp-edged stone to engrave a large K, some 25cm tall, onto the brick surface, the Italian news agency said. The judge also handed down a suspended four-month jail sentence. He was the fifth visitor to the Colosseum to be penalised for defacing the famous monument this year. The others were an Australian father and son, and two teenagers, from Canada and Brazil. The Roman daily Il Messaggero said authorities would increase the number of surveillance cameras and step up visual and audio warnings against vandalism. The Colosseum, the biggest amphitheatre built during the Roman Empire standing 48.5m (159’) tall, welcomes more than 5mn visitors a year. Long-delayed repairs to the 2,000-year-old monument, once used for bloody gladiatorial contests, began in September. Funded by Italian billionaire Diego Della Valle,the refurbishment is expected to end in 2016. Regional votes test Renzi’s popularity AFP/Reuters Rome T wo Italian regions voted yesterday in elections seen as a test of popularity for youthful centre-left Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Some 5.4mn people are eligible to vote in the polls in Emilia-Romagna, a wealthy central region, and southern Calabria, Italy’s poorest. Renzi, the 39-year-old former mayor of Florence who became prime minister last year, initially enjoyed wide praise for his dynamic, modern style, but his popularity has been eroded by the economic crisis, unemployment and social tensions. Renzi’s popularity peaked in June shortly after a landslide WWII bomb found in French city Three thousand people were evacuated from their homes in the centre of the French city of Rennes yesterday while a huge British bomb from World War II was defused. The 250kg (550-pound) bomb was found near the city’s town hall during the building of a new metro line in the capital of the Brittany region of western France, mayor Nathalie Appere told AFP. She said it was packed with 70kg of high explosives and police bomb disposal experts faced a very “delicate operation” to disarm it. Police evacuated all homes and businesses within 270m of the scene, including a fire station and 90 residents of a home for the elderly while the operation took place. Rennes, a major railway junction, was the target of several raids by Britain’s RAF during the war, including a major attack in 1944. E-cigarettes judged to be non-drug The tobacco alternative, e-cigarettes, are not a drug under German law, the country’s federal administrative ruled this week in a victory for the growing e-cigarette industry. The devices emit a vapour from a nicotine liquid. If the liquid had been judged to be a medication, it would have required testing and clearance as a drug. The ruling means the product can continue to be sold in Germany at tobacco stalls and by online merchants. Giving a verdict in an appeal by e-cigarette merchants and manufacturers, judges in the eastern city of Leipzig ruled that pharmaceuticals law does not apply because the liquid serves a therapeutic purpose and does not improve health. German authorities had vainly attempted to restrict sales of the products, arguing that they were subject to pharmaceuticals laws. 60 Germans died fighting for IS Some 60 Germans have been killed while fighting under the banner of the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, the head of the German domestic intelligence service said yesterday. “About 60 people from Germany have died or killed themselves, at least nine in suicide attacks,” Hans-George Maassen told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. 5.7-magnitude quake rattles Romania A 5.7-magnitude quake shook eastern Romania on Saturday evening and was felt as far away as the capital Bucharest, the National Institute for Earth Physics said, though no injuries were reported. The epicentre of the earthquake was in the Vrancea region, some 200km northeast of Bucharest. Renzi: his popularity has been eroded by the economic crisis, unemployment and social tensions. victory in European parliament elections, but his ruling party has been steadily slipping lower in opinion polls since, as the economy stutters and joblessness remains stubbornly high. The public mood has soured in recent weeks, with labour unions marching through cities, and clashes between police and residents in poorer neighbourhoods of Milan and Rome after dark. Opinion polls suggest the candidates from Renzi’s Democratic Party (PD), which is still by far the country’s biggest party, are favourites to win over a divided centre-right. Local factors will play a big role in the ballots, which were called after the outgoing governors were forced to resign in corruption scandals, but they remain Renzi’s first electoral test since winning 41% of the European vote. Renzi campaigned in both regions this week and scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators awaiting his arrival in Parma, one of EmiliaRomagna’s main cities. On Friday evening in Calabria, Renzi appealed to deep-rooted local concerns about high joblessness, organised crime and lower availability of childcare than in the industrialised north. Soon after toppling his predecessor in a party coup, Renzi was nicknamed “Demolition Man” Grillo: wants to consolidate its position as Italy’s second-largest party. for his commitment to breaking old Italian political structures, but he has yet to deliver promised reforms and revive the economy. Planned changes to labour laws that impede hiring and firing – partly blamed for Italy’s economy shrinking around 9% since 2007 – have met fierce union opposition. The right-wing Northern League, which is exploiting growing anti-immigrant sentiment, is focusing on Emilia. Party leader Matteo Salvini appealed on Facebook to his “Emiliani and Romagnoli friends” to vote for his party’s candidate. The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, whose leader Beppe Polish poll results finally published after glitches AFP Warsaw P oland’s electoral commission finally published last weekend’s local election results overnight on Saturday, after computer glitches had stopped the vote count and called the balloting process into question. The delay in publishing the results prompted opposition parties to question the credibility of the vote, though President Bronislaw Komorowski on Wednesday called the idea of an election re-run “complete madness”. Poland’s largest opposition party said the result of the local elections, which gave the ruling Civic Platform (PO) party the highest number of provincial assembly seats, was “dishonest”. “We believe the results announced by the PKW are un- true, dishonest, not to simply say falsified,” Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, told a news conference, adding his party would appeal the vote in courts. Official results of the November 16 election were announced by the state election commission PKW late on Saturday following technical glitches that delayed the vote count. PO’s victory defied an exit poll which showed PiS ahead of PO by a wide margin. Such an outcome would have given the party its first nationwide victory in nine years. Final results showed the centre-right PO won 179 seats in provincial assemblies. The conservative bloc led by PiS came second, securing 171 seats. The junior ruling coalition partner Polish Peasant Party (PSL) won 157 seats, while the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), which joined earlier PiS calls for a re-run of the vote, secured 28 seats. The election commission said nearly 18% of votes were invalid. Kaczynski called for a demonstration on December 13 against the election result. “This is a big issue for Poland, for Polish democracy, because approving such a situation means simply a change of regime, means pushing Poland eastwards,” he said. Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz dismissed the opposition calls as an attempt to undermine democracy in Poland, European Union’s largest ex-communist economy. “Questioning of the election results by opposition leaders is an act that only benefits partisan interests,” Kopacz said in a letter to party members read out by the administration minister. “It has one effect – it is an attempt to destroy the fundamentals of democracy.” The delay in publishing the results, caused by the failure of a piece of software intended to aid the vote count, led eight out of nine members of the election commission, including its head, to say they will resign. Regional elections are held every four years to choose mayors, provincial assembly members and other local authorities. The Polish government has been led by Kopacz since late September, following former premier Donald Tusk’s resignation after he was tapped to become the next European Council chief. The country is now preparing to join the eurozone. Poland is obliged to join the single currency bloc as part of its 2004 European Union entry deal but has dragged its feet on the move, which would require it to amend its constitution. More than 30mn voters were eligible to cast ballots to pick nearly 47,000 municipal and regional representatives and about 2,500 mayors. Norwegian prodigy Carlsen retains chess title AFP Moscow N orwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen retained his title as World Chess Champion yesterday, defeating rival Viswanathan Anand for the second year in a row. The 23-year-old world number one beat India’s Viswanathan, title-holder of the championship from 2007 to 2013 when he was dethroned by Carlsen, in the 11th game of the competition. “I am very happy,” Carlsen was quoted as saying by Russian press agency Tass. “It was a very difficult match, much more difficult than last year. Anand is a very strong chess player, but he had practically no chance of winning.” Carlsen had been playing since November 8 against Viswanathan, who is nearly 20 years his senior, in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. The victory will mean €1mn ($1.2mn) in prize money for Carlsen just a week before his 24th birthday. “Overall, throughout the match, Carlsen played better than I did,” Viswanathan was quoted as saying by Tass. “I tried, but the risk didn’t work out. Carlsen didn’t make a mistake. I had nothing left to do but take risks.” Carlsen turned grandmaster at 13 and in 2010, aged only 19, became the youngest player in history to be ranked world number one. He won the Candidates Tournament in 2013 to earn the right to challenge Anand. His breakthrough in chess came in 2004, when as a 13-year-old he defeated Russian former world champion Anatoly Karpov, forced Russian legend Garry Kasparov to a draw, and became a grandmaster. Before Carlsen captured the championship crown in 2013, the last Westerner to hold the title was American legend Bobby Fischer who relinquished it in 1975. Carlsen missed by a few weeks becoming the youngest world champion, a record set by his one-time coach Kasparov in 1985. Introduced to chess by his father, Carlsen showed signs of genius as a toddler. At the age of two, Carlsen knew by heart all the major car brands and later memorised the long list of Norway’s municipalities, with their flags and administrative centres. Sibling rivalry with one of his sisters sparked his interest in chess, which soon led to his first competition at the age of eight. Carlsen has been hailed by Kasparov as a Harry Potter-type “super-talent”. A fashion model in his spare time, he made it to the Time magazine list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2013. Anand, who remains one of the most popular sports figures in cricket-mad India, and his opponent enjoyed a remarkably similar rise in their careers since they were talented teenagers. Anand, 44, became an international master at 15, was crowned Indian champion at 16, won the world junior title at 17 and became the country’s first grandmaster at 18. His longevity and persever- Carlsen playing against Anand for the FIDE World Chess Championship 2014 in Sochi. The Norwegian retained his title. ance – he won his first world title in 2000 – has often been compared with that of cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar, the world’s batting record-holder. The soft-spoken family man, who lives in Spain with wife Aruna and three-year-old son Akhil, is far removed from his temperamental predecessors like Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov and Kasparov. Grillo made a surprise visit to Emilia-Romagna on Friday, wants to consolidate its position as Italy’s second-largest party. Turnout will also indicate whether voter apathy is still rising. In Calabria, 46% voted in the European elections, versus 70% in Emilia-Romagna. Emilia’s outgoing governor, PD-affiliated Vasco Errani, resigned in June after being convicted of fraud. Giuseppe Scopelliti governed Calabria until March when he was given jail time for abuse of office and false accounting. Polls closed at 2200 GMT and results will be announced today. Paintings found at Greece’s biggest ancient tomb AFP Thessaloniki P aintings of daily life have been discovered on columns at Greece’s biggest ancient tomb at Amphipolis in the northern region of Macedonia, the Greek culture ministry said on Saturday. “After cleaning the columns, images of people, objects and utensils were uncovered,” Culture Minister Kostas Tassoulas said at a press briefing on the discovery at the site. The paintings may help solve the mystery of who is buried at the highly-decorated tomb from the time of Alexander the Great. A skeleton was found at the site earlier this month. “We will have the first indications (about the identity) after the bones are examined at an anthropological laboratory,” said Lisa Mendoni, a top official at the culture ministry. Archaeologists had to dig their way past huge decapitated sphinxes, break through a wall guarded by two caryatids and empty out an antechamber decorated with stunning mosaics to finally find the tomb’s occupant. The culture ministry said on November 12 that the remains were clearly those of “a powerful personality, which can be seen from this unique tomb”, with speculation rife that it could be that of Roxana, Alexander’s Persian wife, his mother Olympias, or one of his generals. Whoever was buried at the massive fourth-century BC structure, historians say it is highly unlikely to have been Alexander himself, who conquered the Persian empire and much of the known world before his death at the age of 32. A team from the University of Thessaloniki plans to use threedimensional tomographic imagery to search the area for other tombs. The archaeologist in charge of the dig, Katerina Peristeri, is set to hold a press conference about the discoveries on November 29 in Athens. 20 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 EUROPE Francis to push Europe to act against racism AFP Vatican City P Pope Francis acknowledges the crowd on his arrival for the canonisation ceremony of six men and women, in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican, yesterday. 220 Syrian migrants rescued off Cyprus AFP Nicosia S ome 220 Syrian migrants crammed onto a fishing boat were rescued off the northern coast of Cyprus yesterday as the vessel hit rough seas in the Mediterranean, authorities said. Turkish Cypriot authorities were able to rescue the passengers including a number of children in an operation lasting several hours in bad weather, local police said in a statement. The boat had signalled for help when it was some 300m off the coast near the port of Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey. The passengers were transferred to another vessel and later taken to a gymnasium in Kyrenia. The statement said 13 migrants were taken to hospital but that their lives were not in danger. The others were sent back later in the day by ferry to the southern Turkish port city of Mersin, from where they had set off. Turkey has become a hub for illegal immigrants seeking to reach western Europe, with many setting their sights on Italy. The UN refugee agency says that more than 2,500 people have drowned or disappeared so far in 2014 while trying to cross the Mediterranean. ope Francis is expected to take Europe to task over racial and religious intolerance during a visit to the European parliament tomorrow, as the crisis-hit continent battles growing populism and the spectre of radicalisation. It will be the second visit by a Pope to the parliament in the French city of Strasbourg lightning, four-hour trip which will see Francis address both lawmakers and the Council of Europe. The Pontiff has in the past dubbed Europe a “tired” continent which has lost its way, criticising its high unemployment, a declining birthrate and poor treatment of the marginalised and elderly by those in thrall to “the idol of money”. The climate has changed greatly since the last papal visit to the French city in 1988, and Vatican watchers say the Argentine Pontiff will have to fight harder to be heard in an increasingly secular continent. The 77-year old Pontiff had been criticised for neglecting Europe since his election in February last year, preferring to focus on areas of potential growth for the Roman Catholic Church, such as Asia. He then surprised many by choosing Albania – a poor country outside the European Union – as his first destination, a decision which experts said underlined his desire to see European ideals applied across borders rather than along institutionally-defined lines. The Pope is expected to repeat his call for greater tolerance, social inclusion and dialogue as a recourse to a rise in racism and radicalisation in countries hit hard by the economic crisis and Pope declares sainthood of two Indians, four Italians Pope Francis conferred sainthood on two Indians and four Italians yesterday, praising their “creative” commitment to helping the poor. Francis added to the roster of Catholic saints a Keralite mystic nun, an Indian priest and social reformer, the former Bishop of Vicenza, and three members of the Franciscan order. “They responded with extraordinary creativity to the commandment of love of God and neighbour,” Francis told crowds in Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican. “Their preference for the smallest and poorest was the reflection and measure of their unconditional love of God,” said Francis, who chose his own papal name after the saint of Assisi, who symbolises austerity and love for the poor. Portraits of the newly sanctified hung from Saint Peter’s Basilica, in front of which 5,000 Keralite Catholics and two local government ministers joined the crowd, according to the Union of Catholic Asian News. Carmelite nun Sister Eufrasia was sanctified with Kuriakose Elias Chavara, who founded the sisterhood she belonged to. Eufrasia, canonised six years after India’s first female saint, was born to an aristocratic family in 1877 and took a vow of chastity aged nine. the austerity measures imposed to overcome it. Nationalist, Eurosceptic and anti-immigration parties in several countries scored victories in European Parliament elections in May on the back of widespread frustration with Brussels. Europe is also grappling with the departure of hundreds of citizens for Syria and Iraq, where they openly join jihadist groups and urge others to follow. The leader of the world’s 1.2bn Roman Catholics will likely call for more to be done to tackle youth unemployment – which stands at an average 21.6% in the continent – and to care for those fleeing war zones and persecution. His visit has sparked protests in some quarters, with critics slamming European Parliament head Martin Schulz’s decision to invite a religious leader to address a secular body. Decaying complex shelters generations of migrants By Helene Colliopoulou, AFP Athens A group of people – Greeks, Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, Bulgarians, Iranians, Turks – gather around a steaming pot outside a dilapidated building complex from the 1930s set in the heart of Athens. Dubbed the Ta Prosfygika, meaning “The Refugees”, the once stately complex was erected on what is now plum real estate in downtown Athens to house some of the hundreds of thousands of Greeks chased from Turkey between the two world wars. Under the international 1923 Lausanne Treaty closing one of the last chapters of the Great War, Greece and Turkey exchanged each other’s migrant populations – 385,000 Turks living in Greece and 1.3mn Greek settlers in Turkey. Some of their descendants still live in the decaying complex, others around the pot are recently-arrived refugees eking out a living in economicallycrippled Greece. “It’s our Sunday get-together, the proof we can help each other in these difficult times, struggle against alienation,” said Lucas P as he poured tomato sauce over noodles. Lucas, a bank employee, works as a volunteer every Sunday, helping to cook for about 100 people here, immigrants as well as homeless Greeks. For the past several years these people have been squatting in around half of the 228 small housing units initially built for an earlier generation of refugees. “We all live together, cheek by jowl,” said Aras Hosien. “The Greeks help the foreign children to learn the language, they throw parties, show movies. It’s like a family. Hosien, 34, is an Iraqi Kurd who shares his apartment with an Iranian from the southern city of Shiraz. The lobby of one of the buildings has been turned into a sort of activity centre for children – there are around 30 of them aged between five and 15. The walls are adorned with paintings and the letters of the Greek alphabet. “The children have difficulties at school, and we try to help them,” said Vaguelis, 31, who was a squatter here three years ago and still serves on the residents’ co-ordination team. The complex stretches for eight blocks along a central artery of the Greek capital, its crumbling facades an eyesore near the Supreme Court, police headquarters, and major hospitals. Across the way is the stadium of Athens’ premier football club Panathinaïkos. It stands on 1.5 hectares (nearly four acres) of prime real estate. For now the wastelands between each block serve as carparks during the working week. “These stone buildings, with characteristics of the Bauhaus style, were the Greek idea of public housing at the time,” said Yannis Polyzos, a professor of urban planning at the Athens Polytechnic. The German modernist Bau- haus art school deeply influenced design and architecture across Europe between the two wars, and the decaying complex, which has been declared a “national heritage”, cannot be demolished, said Polyzos. The cash-strapped government that owns the major part of the building is avid to sell at a profit to help balance its books rather than invest in restoration work. The remaining 30-odd private owners, descendants of the original refugees of whom only a few still reside in the complex, too would like to sell. “Living conditions are abysmal in these derelict buildings that offer very little sanitation,” said one of the private owners, who asked to remain anonymous. “I’m not a racist, I understand that these people have to live somewhere, but the authorities need to force them out because the complex is worth a lot of money,” he added. Some of the squatters would agree. “It’s not a good life for our children here,” said Mohanomo Kezari, an Afghan refugee who fled to Greece with his family to escape the Taliban, but who, like many others dreams of moving on elsewhere in Europe. “I’d rather go live somewhere else, in Sweden, Germany or Austria,” he said. But many of the Prosfygika squatters are content with life within this multicultural community, defending it as a “social self-management and cohabitation project for people of different origins”. Right: Children are seen at the entrance to their apartment building at the prosfygika complex in central Athens. Below: A view of the �Prosfygika’ complex. Wedged between the Supreme Court of Greece and the police headquarters, this is hardly the place you would imagine Greek and immigrant squatters. This architectural marvel dating back to the 30’s originally built for Greek refugees fleeing Turkey after World War I is known as Prosfygika, meaning Refugee House in Greek. Chavara founded two Carmelite congregations in India in the 19th century, and decreed that every church should have its own school. Applause rang out yesterday when Francis said the Italian saints – who between them founded refuges for pilgrims, street urchins and the sick – could inspire citizens today. “May the example of the four Italian saints help the dear Italian people to rekindle the spirit of collaboration and harmony for the public good, and to look to the future with hope,” Francis said, after a month punctuated by protests and strikes across the country. The Italian saints were Giovanni Antonio Farina, Bishop of Vicenza in the late 1800s; missionary Ludovico da Casoria, and fellow Franciscans Nicola da Longobardi and Amato Ronconi. The often decades-long process of considering a person for sainthood must normally wait until they have been dead for five years, and have been credited with bringing about two miracles. A pope can bypass the five-year rule, as Francis’s predecessor Benedict did for John Paul II, who had in turn started the process of sanctifying Mother Teresa of Calcutta within five years after her death in 1997. „ See also page 22 However, in an editorial published yesterday in the Vatican daily l’Osservatore Romano, Schulz rejected the criticism and said that he believed Francis would “wake Europe from its lethargy”. “As president of the parliament I can only say that the church has played a leading role in limiting the material and immaterial damage from the economic crisis,” Schulz said. While the European People’s Party (EPP) – the largest in parliament – was founded by Christian Democratic parties in the 1970s, ties to the Catholic Church have eroded over time and the Vatican has little clout in contemporary European politics. According to the Italian Catholic news agency SIR, the parliament’s directorate-general for external policies published an internal report ahead of Francis’s visit which flagged up major dif- ferences between the Vatican and Europe on issues from the free market to gender theories. Many, particularly in the church’s conservative arm, will be watching closely to see whether Francis will address hot-button topics such as gay marriage, abortion and euthanasia – particularly after a slew of recent legislative changes in European countries. He has warned Catholic leaders against focusing too much on divisive issues and has avoided making strong pronouncements on such topics himself. He is more likely, 25 years after the fall of the Berlin wall, to urge Europeans to continue on the path of inclusion rather than lending their ears to those who would bolster borders. On the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I, Francis may also call for peace in Ukraine and other conflict zones. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 21 EUROPE Russia will not allow isolation over Ukraine Reuters/AFP Moscow P resident Vladimir Putin blamed the West for worsening relations with Russia since the Ukraine crisis and said that Moscow would not allow itself to become internationally isolated behind another “Iron Curtain”. In an interview published by state news agency Tass yesterday, Putin also said Western sanctions against Moscow, combined with the slide in the rouble and oil price falls would have no “catastrophic consequences” on Russia’s economy. The United States and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and ratcheted them up over Moscow’s backing for separatists fighting Kiev troops to split east Ukraine. “We understand the fatality of an �Iron Curtain’ for us,” Putin was quoted as saying. “We will not go down this path in any case and no one will build a wall around us. That is impossible!” Russia’s ties with the West are at their worst since the Cold War because of Ukraine, where more than 4,300 people have been killed since violence erupted in the east mid-April. As the West pressures Moscow over Ukraine, Putin accused Washington and Brussels of disregarding Russia’s interests. “When Russia starts ... safeguarding people and its interests, it immediately becomes bad (in the view of the West), he said. “You think it’s over our position over east Ukraine or Crimea? Absolutely not! If it wasn’t for that, they would have found a different reason. It has always been like that.” The sanctions hit Russia’s weak economy and sparked a slide in the rouble, which shed about a third of its value this year. Economic woes are exacerbated by a sharp drop in the global price for oil, one of Russia’s main exports. “If the price of energy is lowered on purpose, this also hits those who introduce those limits,” Putin said, adding that major producers such as the United States and Saudi Arabia could be in cahoots to lower prices and harm the Russian economy. He said that big supply, which he blamed for the price fall, came The freight train carrying parts of the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet to Kharkiv. from the US shale fields, Libya and Saudi Arabia, as well as from Iraq, including what he said were black market sales by Islamic State militants who hold swathes of that country. However, he struck a defiant tone on possible consequences for the Russian stagnant economy. “It’s far from certain that sanctions, sharp falls in the oil price (and) the depreciation of the national currency will cause negative effects or catastrophic consequences only for us. No such thing will happen!” Putin also did not rule out running for the presidency again in 2018 when his current term expires, though he denied he wanted to rule until death. He first came to Russia’s top job as acting president on the Putin breaks silence on family AFP Moscow R Putin: We understand the fatality of an �Iron Curtain’ for us. We will not go down this path in any case and no one will build a wall around us. That is impossible! last day of 1999, remaining the country’s paramount leader ever since. “Yes, the possibility exists of my standing as a candidate again. Whether or not it will happen, I don’t know yet,” Putin said. He said that although the constitution allows him to stand for another term, “that absolutely doesn’t mean that I will take such a decision. I will look at the general context, my inner feelings, my mood”. “Is it really necessary to think about this now? 2014 isn’t yet over and you’re talking about 2018,” Putin asked. At the same time, the Russian president ruled out staying on forever. “No, that’s wrong for the country, it’s harmful, and I don’t need it,” Putin said. Under the Russian constitution, Putin is allowed to hold office for a maximum of two consecutive terms. After completing his second consecutive term in office in 2008, he got around the constitutional limit by swapping roles with Dmitry Medvedev and serving as prime minister for one term, before returning to the presidency. Now aged 62, Putin would turn 72 in 2024. Soviet leaders Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev held onto power to a more advanced age, dying at 74 and 75 respectively while still in office. Putin had last commented in 2013 on whether he would run for a fourth term, saying: “I do not rule it out.” Cadets swear allegiance to east Ukrainian rebel state AFP Donetsk Dutch complete MH17 wreckage recovery Reuters/AFP Amsterdam A week-long operation to clear the wreckage from the crash site of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in Ukraine has been completed, the Dutch government said yesterday. A cargo train took pieces of the Boeing 777 aircraft to the eastern Ukrainian town of Kharkiv. The wreckage will be transported to the Netherlands and reconstructed as part of the investigation into the cause of the disaster on July 17. “Despite the complex circumstances and local safety situation, the team was able to work as planned,” said a statement issued by Dutch authorities, the Dutch Safety Board (OVV). “A few parts of wreckage were too big for transport by train and arrived in Kharkiv by truck yesterday.” The crash, believed to have been caused by a surface-to-air missile fired from pro-Russian rebel territory, killed all 298 passengers and crew, two-thirds of them from the Netherlands. “When the wreckage has arrived in Kharkiv, transportation to the Netherlands will be prepared,” the OVV said. “At this point it cannot be said when and in what way this transport will be carried out.” Kiev and the West have claimed that the airliner was shot down in the conflict-torn area by separatist fighters using a BUK surface-to-air missile supplied by Russia. Moscow denies the charges, pointing the finger at Kiev. So far 289 victims had been identified through body parts recovered from the site, but no wreckage had yet been retrieved due to safety issues. Most of the victims on the flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur were Dutch nationals. Investigators began the removal operation a week ago under the auspices of monitors from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) amid fears that full-scale fighting could break out again in the area. “Despite the complex circumstances and local safety situation, the team was able to work as planned under the guidance of the OSCE,” the OVV said, hailing good co-operation from “local services”. Some debris not considered useful to the investigation was left at the site, the OVV said, and would be picked up by local services. N ot long ago, the cadets at the military academy in east Ukraine’s industrial hub of Donetsk swore allegiance to the Ukrainian flag. Now, as fighting rumbles on between pro-Russian insurgents and government forces, they are pledging an oath of loyalty to the rebels’ self-proclaimed “Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR)”. “As I enter into the Donetsk military academy I promise to serve the country,” some one hundred teenagers in military uniforms and black great coats chanted at a recent ceremony. “I promise to be a worthy heir to the traditions of my people, its armed forces and to respect the culture and customs of my country: the DNR.” Before them stood Alexander Zakharchenko, the head of this unrecognised Kremlin-backed statelet, in combat fatigues. “The life of the republic and our citizens will one day be in your hands and you will be protected. Protected from all our current and future enemies,” he told the teenaged cadets. The boys, he says, will one day become the future “backbone officers of the army of the DNR”. After that he took a walkabout among the large number of relatives that had come to attend the ceremony, shaking hands and stirring them with more rhetoric. “Do not forget that we are a republic. The army is one of the official attributes of the republic,” he tells one person. “People Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed �Donetsk People’s Republic’, at a swearing-in ceremony for military school cadets in Donetsk. died for that flag, carried out attacks with the flag. Some say it is not recognised, but for us it is a sacred symbol.” Mothers, fascinated, listened in. They filmed the charismatic leader with their laptops and giggled when they caught his gaze. Victoria, her hair red and lips redder, could not hide her pride in her son for swearing allegiance to the new republic. “Quite simply, he made his choice,” said the 40-year-old mother. Another parent Olga, 32, sent her son Dmitry to military school “to become a man”. What is important, she said, is that her son grows up into “a future protector of the homeland”. “We do not have anything against Ukraine,” Olga, who was wrapped up against the cold in a fur coat, said. “But what is happening now is not our fault.” One elderly woman briefly broke the protocol, shouting to her grandson Vladik to turn round and smile for the camera. The embarrassed adolescent did his best to ignore the shouting. In the distance the thud of shelling could be heard occasionally from the deadly clashes between Kiev’s army and the rebels forces that have left over 4,300 dead since April. ussian President Vladimir Putin, who is fiercely protective of his private life, said yesterday that his two daughters – who had reportedly lived abroad with their foreign partners – now live in Moscow. In a rare glimpse into the Russian ruler’s notoriously secretive family life, Putin told the Tass news agency that he tries to meet his daughters Maria, 29, nicknamed Masha, and Yekaterina, 28, known as Katya, every month. “I have a packed work schedule. Even my daughters I only see once or twice a month, and then I need to pick my moment,” Putin said in an unusually frank interview. Asked what country his daughters live in, the former KGB officer said: “In Russia, where else?” “Of course, they live in Moscow. We meet at home,” Putin added. Maria was forced to flee her home in the Netherlands after a missile allegedly supplied by Moscow downed Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine killing 298 people, mostly Dutch nationals, according to unconfirmed reports this summer. The mayor of the Dutch city of Hilversum, which lost several inhabitants in the July 17 crash, called for her to be deported before retracting his “unwise” comments. Ukrainian activists even published photos and the address of her alleged “luxury apartment”, urging people to protest outside. Yekaterina was reportedly set to marry the son of a South Korean general in 2010 but the rumour was denied by Putin’s spokesman. Putin is never officially photographed with his daughters and most Russians do not know what they look like, unlike his predecessor Boris Yeltsin’s notoriously high-profile daughter Tatyana Yumasheva, who was one of his closest aides. Putin’s own love life has long been the subject of rumours. He was first linked to former Olympic rhythmic gymnast Alina Kabayeva several years before his divorce from his wife of 30 years, Lyudmila, a former Aeroflot stewardess, was announced last year. In 2008 Moskovsky Korrespondent newspaper reported Putin was about to wed Kabayeva, who is 31 years his junior. The newspaper’s owner closed it shortly afterwards. “There is a private life in which no one should interfere – I’ve always had a low opinion of those with snotty noses and erotic fantasies who delve into the lives of others,” Putin said at the time. Kabayeva is now the head of a powerful pro-Kremlin media group, after resigning her seat in the Duma, the Russian lower house of parliament, as an MP for Putin’s United Russia Party. Lyudmila Putina has all but vanished from public view after their divorce was finalised in April. EU learns lessons a year after start of Ukraine crisis By Alix Rijckaert , AFP Brussels W Yanukovych: took the EU by surprise when he pulled the plug on the association agreement last year. hen Ukraine pulled out of its association agreement with the European Union a year ago, kicking off its revolution, it took Brussels by surprise. Twelve months later the EU is still learning bitter lessons about geopolitics and Russian aggression, experts say. “We walked into a fight almost without realising it,” Vivien Pertusot, an expert at the IFRI think-tank in Brussels, told AFP. “Even the experts, the universities that follow this closely were surprised.” The Ukraine-EU association agreement was supposed to be the culmination of long efforts to bring Kiev back in from the cold, only for pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych to pull the plug on November 21, 2013 in favour of closer ties with Moscow. There then came weeks of protests, the flight of Yanukovych after dozens of protesters were massacred in February, and the annexation of Crimea by Russia the following March, while Brussels stood by largely helpless. The conflict in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin rebels and government forces then began in April and has since claimed more than 4,300 lives, including nearly 300 on a Malaysian Airlines plane shot down over the region. “Nobody had predicted this chain reaction, maybe not even Russia,” said Giselle Bosse of Maastricht University of in the Netherlands. The EU has since had to face searching questions. Most crucially, did it sow the seeds of the conflict with its push eastwards over the past decade into the former Soviet and Warsaw pact states that used to be Russia’s backyard, especially when Moscow is trying to reassert itself? The EU had to realise that Moscow sees a Western military threat behind everything it does “The (European) Commission did not realise the geopolitical implications opened up by the association agreement that it was negotiating” with Ukraine, said Pertusot, adding that the country of 45mn people should instead have been an example of the benefits of EU “soft power”. While European officials and experts were concentrating on the technical details, Poland and the Baltic states were thinking more politically, trying to “set down an irreversible barrier” with Russia and stop it having free rein in the region. “The EU might have triggered something it didn’t mean to,” she said. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, seeking to restore its international clout two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, saw Brussels’ behaviour as part of a broader Western conspiracy, experts said. “The EU ... became increasingly coupled with Nato in Russia’s perception. When the Eastern Partnership’s offer materialised ... Russia adopted an overtly confrontational position vis-à -vis the EU,” Laure Delcour and Hrant Kostanyan said in a paper for the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS). Russia has long felt threatened by the “Eastern Partnership” that the EU launched five years ago with Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus. The first three finally signed the association and free trade deal in June, marking a leap forward in relations with Brussels, even if it is not planning to integrate them any further for now, and winning hundreds of millions of euros in funding. Russia meanwhile has tried to create its own club, setting up a customs union and Eurasian economic union bringing together Kazakhstan, Belarus and Armenia, which enters into force on January 1, 2015. Moscow’s war with Georgia in 2008 and a gas war with Ukraine at the start of 2009 also showed Moscow could take more aggressive action. But the Eastern Partnership does not bear all the blame for Russia’s involvement in Ukraine since March, experts say. “The Russian reaction has much more to do with Nato and Russia’s security interests than with the EU as such,” said Bosse. Russia’s main concern in Ukraine was to secure its strategic naval base in Sevastopol, Crimea, she said. “It was predictable that if Russia feels insecure enough it would seek to extend its security zone, like any other great power does.” In future the EU had to realise that Moscow sees a Western military threat behind everything it does, something that Brussels seems not to have factored in in the past. “The EU should not forget that the shadow behind us is Nato – you have to be aware you have this shadow,” she added. 22 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 INDIA ACCIDENT VOTING TOMORROW WAGE WOES TIGHT SCHEDULE 7 killed as bus falls into Himachal gorge Campaigning ends for first phase of Jharkhand polling Tea plantation owner is lynched in West Bengal Modi will only attend Saarc summit in Nepal END OF AN ERA! Seven people, including two women, were killed yesterday when a privately-owned mini-bus rolled down a gorge in Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district. The bus rolled down a 500ft gorge. The bus driver was among the dead, police said. Nine people were also injured in the accident which took place near Haripurdhar in Sangrah, one of the remotest areas in the state, some 95 km from Nahan. They have been admitted to government hospitals in Haripurdhar and Sangrah. The bus was going to Baddi town from Ratwa village, Additional Superintendent of Police N.S. Negi told IANS over the phone. Most of the victims were locals. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi yesterday addressed two election rallies in Jharkhand, the last day of campaigning for the first phase of polls in the state. Besides Sonia Gandhi, her son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi also addressed two rallies Saturday. Polling will be held in the state in five phases. In the first phase tomorrow, voting will be held for 13 of the 81 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several central ministers such as Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal held poll rallies. Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national president Amit Shah had kicked off the party campaign. Angry workers have hacked to death the owner of a tea plantation in eastern India over a payment dispute, police said yesterday, underscoring festering labour unrest in the region. Rajesh Jhunjhunwala, 45, was dragged out in the middle of discussions and attacked by the irate mob at the Sonali tea estate in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal state, a local police officer told AFP over phone. “Our preliminary investigations have revealed that there was some issue of payments. It appears he was attacked by some sharp weapons,” P T Bhutia said. Police were also searching the neighbouring villages as the culprits fled after the incident at the estate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Nepal to attend only the Saarc Summit in Kathmandu on November 26-27 and not go to Janakpur, Lumbini and Muktinath, the government said yesterday. The external affairs ministry said this was decided due to Modi’s “unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels within” India. “There has been widespread interest in the prime minister’s schedule in the upcoming visit. Due to (Modi’s) unavoidable domestic commitments and pre-scheduled travels, he will travel only to Kathmandu to attend the Saarc Summit,” the spokesman said. Workers dismantle the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at a ship-breaking yard in Mumbai. Bulletproof jackets, arms recovered from Rampal’s ashram IANS Barwala, Haryana T The tapestry with the image of Kuriakose Elias Chavara (left) and Mother Euphrasia Eluvathingal are displayed during a canonisation ceremony led by Pope Francis at Saint Peter’s square in Vatican City. Catholics celebrate two Kerala saints Around 4,000 devotees from Kerala reach Vatican to witness their proud moment By Ashraf Padanna Thiruvananthapuram T housands of believers thronged the tombs of Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805-1871) and Euphrasia Eluvathingal (1877-1952) as Pope Francis II formally declared them as saints at the Vatican yesterday. The priest is revered across regions and religious communities in Kerala for spreading the message of empowerment through education and the nun dedicated her life to the service inspired by him were among the six who were conferred with sainthood. The other four new saints eligible for public veneration were Italians. Besides special prayers and celebrations at the tomb of the priest at Mannanam in Kottayam and Ollur in Thrissur where the nun was interred, processions were taken out in cities and town across the state welcoming the new saints. Bells pealed in many Catholic churches as the function took place in the Vatican. Hundreds of thousands of people watched the at the canonisation ceremony, televised live by India’s major national as well as regional televisions, from their homes and at public venues in parishes. Governor P Sathasivam inaugurated the celebrations in the state capital while Chief Minister Oommen Chandy attended a mass in his hometown of Puthuppally. Nearly 4,000 people from Kerala, including P J Kurien, deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament, Kerala ministers P J Joseph and K C Joseph, and 25 bishops attended the ceremony in Rome. India’s Catholics now have three native saints to seek intercession-all from the southern Indian state, whose 19% of population is Christian, and from the he Haryana Police’s ongoing search operation inside the Satlok Ashram of self-styled godman Rampal has led to the recovery of two bulletproof jackets, more weapons and over 4,200 sticks among other things, officials said yesterday. A police department spokesman said that two bullet proof jackets, four .315 bore rifles, five .12 bore rifles and other ammunition were found yesterday at the ashram during the search operation. The recovery was made on a day when police’s special investigation team (SIT) brought Rampal back to his ashram in custody for investigations. Rampal was arrested by the police Wednesday after a high-voltage stand-off and clashes between his supporters and security forces. The SIT had earlier claimed that it had found a “huge cache” of weapons and ammunition from the ashram complex. These included three .32 bore revolvers, 19 air guns, two double-barrel .12 bore guns, two .315 bore rifles, and ammunition for these weapons. Haryana’s Director General of Police S N Vashisht and Inspector General of Police Anil Kumar Rao also visited the ashram complex yesterday. Police recovered 4,250 sticks, 171 helmets, 235 pairs of black uniforms (meant for Rampal’s private commandos), 12 petrol bombs and other equipment used by his supporters to prevent the security forces from entering the 12-acre ashram complex, located near Barwala town in Haryana’s Hisar district, 210km from Chandigarh. Police had earlier found a bullet-proof enclosure for giving sermons, a bullet-proof SUV, a personal swimming pool, several air-conditioners including 1ACs even in his bathrooms, flat-screen LED TVs, gym equipment, massage beds and other luxuries lined up for Rampal. The spokesman said that the search operation would continue at the ashram for the next few days. Rampal has been slapped with cases of murder, attempt to murder, sedition, rioting, illegal detention and others. Six people - five women and an infant - lost their lives in the stand-off between Rampal followers and security forces last week. Officials charged for 2013 hanging bridge collapse By Ashraf Padanna Thiruvananthapuram K Governor P Sathasivam at the celebrations in Thiruvananthapuram. same denomination of Syro Malabar Church. Sister Alphonsa of Bharananganam, also in Kottayam, became the first native saint in 2008. Cardinal Mar George Alenchery of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, who led a brief prayer session after the ceremony, said to get two saints on one day was a historic blessing. “Am so happy that God has blessed us all through this historic event and we have now two saints and that happened on a single day, so today is very special,” he told a television channel on phone from Vatican city. Prayers began at the St Mary’s Church, Ollur, at 7am. Sr. Euphrasia was Mother Superior at the St. Mary’s Convent there. St Joseph’s Monastery at Mannanam, where the mortal remains of the priest were interred after initial burial at Koonammavu in Kochi, also witnessed thousands of devotees gathering for prayers and sharing joy. A rosary rally was held there. Chandy inaugurated a public meeting while his finance minister K M Mani inaugurated the housing projects being implemented as part of the celebrations. Mani also flagged off a water procession along River Pampa at Kainakary the ancestral village of Chavara. Chavara Achen and Evuprasiamma, as they are popularly known in Kerala, were cleared by the Pope for sainthood on April 3. Kuriakose Chavara was born February 10, 1805, at Kainakary near Alappuzha as the son of Iko Kuriakose Chavara and Mariam Thoppil. At the young age of 13, he began his priesthood studies. He entered the seminary in 1818 and was ordained November 29, 1829. Chavara became Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Verapoly (near Kochi) in 1861. Chavara was also a social reformer and believed that intellectual development and education of women was the first step towards overall social welfare. He first introduced the system called “A school along with every church”, which was successful in making free edu- cation available for everyone. He died January 3, 1871, aged 65. Sister Euphrasia was born as Rosa Eluvathingal October 7, 1877, at Edathuruthy (Ollur) in Thrissur district. She joined Congregation of the Mother of Carmel and received her veil as a nun in May 1900. She died August 29, 1952. Sister Euphrasia was declared a Servant of God in 1987, followed by Venerable July 5, 2002. She was declared as “Blessed” December 3, 2006, by Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil, the Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar church. The two of them also belong to the same Carmelite congregation of the Syro Malabar Catholic church in the state and more importantly the women’s congregation was founded by Chavara Achen. On November 29, the church will hold a thanksgiving mass and public meeting in the port city of Kochi , to be attended by Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the papal ambassador to India, and Chandy. erala’s Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has booked four officials for corruption in building what is billed as the longest hanging bridge in South India. The 320m bridge at Madakkal connecting the mainland to the remote island across Valiyaparamba backwaters in the northern Kasaragod district collapsed within two months after it was opened to the public. Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash inaugurated the suspension bridge on April 29, 2013 and it collapsed on June 27, fortunately at a time when there were very few people on the bridge, averting a major tragedy. Valiyaparamba is the third largest backwater of Kerala separating a 23km long island from the mainland. The bridge was seen as a great relief for children of this part of the island who had to depend on the risky boat ride to reach mainland schools besides. Police sources said cases were registered against officers of the Kerala Electrical and Allied Engineering Company (KEL) namely KH Shaji, KM Soman, VT Narayana Pillai and TK Muraleedharan. The KEL, which was awarded the contract to build the bridge at a cost of Rs39.3mn, like other inefficient state-run companies notorious for draining the exchequer, brought a private firm to execute the work. Preliminary investigations found that the work was completed disregarding the specifications and “draining” around Rs3.5mn in the process, ultimately leading to its collapse. The government decided to construct 33 suspension bridges across the state after a boat tragedy in Malappuram and the construction began in 2011. A damaged railing was noticed on the inaugural day itself, forcing the authorities to regulate traffic. Its 29m high pillar collapsed first before the entire bridge being submerged in the water. Two people aged 47 and 58 who were in the middle sustained injuries as it fell. They were rescued by fishermen passing by. The bridge was not reconstructed nor has the debris been removed so far. Confident government ready to face winter session By Prashant Sood, IANS New Delhi F resh from its assembly polls successes, a confident BJPled government is expected to push for the passage of key economic bills, including on the insurance sector, in the winter session of parliament beginning today. But the depleted opposition has vowed to expose the “double speak” of the Bharatiya Janata Party and oppose the dilution of legislation passed by the previous Congress-led government. The session is being held after Prime Minster Narendra Modi scripted a historic success for his party in Haryana and Maharash- tra, boosting the confidence of a government that will soon complete six months in office. The session, the first after the expansion of the council of ministers this month, will have 22 sittings and will end December 23. The session will coincide with assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand. In both states, the BJP is confident of taking power or, in Kashmir, at least be a kingmaker. The session will see a unity of sorts by the opposition after the Lok Sabha rout. The Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata DalSecular have agreed to team up in parliament. “There will be coordination among these parties,” JD-U’s K.C. Tyagi told IANS. He said the government would find the going tough if it tried to pass the insurance amendment bill in the Rajya Sabha where it does not have a majority. “The government also faces the task of building consensus around the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, for which the select committee report is expected by the second week of December” The bill, which seeks to raise foreign direct investment (FDI) in the insurance sector to 49% from 26% now, is being examined by a select committee of the Rajya Sabha. States have voiced concern on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill. Congress general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said his party will expose the “double speak” of the BJP on the insurance and GST bills. “When we pushed for their passage, the BJP created hurdles... If the bills had been passed, the country would have benefited,” he said. The Congress also wants to raise the issue of black money stashed abroad by Indians and oppose moves to dilute the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGREGA) and the Land Acquisition Bill. But the Congress is ready to support those steps of the gov- ernment which it feels are in the interests of the people. The Trinamool Congress is expected to toughen its stand against the government following the arrest of its Rajya Sabha MP Srinjoy Bose in the Saradha scam. Officials said the government agenda for the session could include a bill to resolve problems related to ponzi schemes. The government has promulgated two ordinances - the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Ordinance, 2014 and the Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation) Laws (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2014. Bills to replace both these ordinances would be brought during the session. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government was ready to discuss all issues with the opposition. “We will work with the cooperation of the opposition parties,” Naqvi told IANS. According to PRS Legislative Research, a research initiative which tracks the work of parliament, there are 67 bills pending before the house. Of these, nine were introduced in the monsoon session of parliament, while 40 of these were introduced in the 15th Lok Sabha during the UPA II government. Eighteen bills are pending from earlier Lok Sabhas. Shreya Singh of PRS Legisla- tive Research said a number of bills lapsed at the end of the 15th Lok Sabha. “These included the GST Bill, the Public Procurement Bill and the Citizen Charter Bill. It is now upto the new government to decide which of these lapsed Bills it wants to reintroduce in Parliament,” she said. “The government also faces the task of building consensus around the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill, for which the select committee report is expected by the second week of December,” she added. Starting with this session, the Rajya Sabha has decided to shift its Question Hour from 11am to noon, and has also extended its sitting time by an hour. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 23 INDIA Jaitley attacks Didi over Saradha scam, Burdwan probe IANS New Delhi U (From left) Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, All-India Anti-Terrorist Front chairman M S Bitta and actor Akshay Kumar pay tribute yesterday to policemen who lost their lives in the November 26, 2008, militant attack in Mumbai. Network launched for coastal surveillance IANS Gurgaon I n order to strengthen India’s coastal surveillance, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday dedicated the National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network (NC3I) and Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) here. The NC3I, which interlinks 20 naval and 31 Coast Guard monitoring stations to generate a seamless real-time picture of India’s nearly 7,500-km-long coastline, comprises a terrestrial and VSAT secure network, coastal surveillance and decision support software and the IMAC. It will be the single-point cen- tre interlinking the newly-formed coastal radar chain. “India has to neutralize the presence of forces of neighbouring countries in the Indian Ocean. The project is the reply of the nation to what happened on November 26, 2008,” an official said, referring to the Mumbai terror attack. The official also noted that India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offshore is one and a half times of the land mass and has extremely high potential which needs to be guarded. For this, the Indian Navy needs data which would be provided by the IMAC, which would herald a new era in the arena of coastal security by collecting, co-relating and implementation of data fusion from various coastal security sensors and networks, the official said. Parrikar, however, pointing towards the gaps in the project, said the distance between Karwar and Mangalore is about 350km but there is no radar point on this stretch. On this stretch, Bhatkal is important which needs close monitoring. Similarly, a radar point is needed between Goa and Ratnagiri. He, however, noted that in terms of coastal surveillance, the nation was in a better position than earlier and more than 37,000 vessels were being tracked through this system. Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan said the NC3I will provide a comprehensive maritime domain awareness network. Noting that India was a mari- time nation with 90% of its trade through the sea, he said: “We have about 5,000 merchant ships around us and thousands of boats. There are chances of sea piracy also. The project will enable the Indian Navy to provide safe seas for resurgent nation.” Assistant chief of naval staff (communications, space and network centric operations) Rear Admiral K K Pandey said the NC3I system currently comprises 46 radars and 30 additional radars are planned to fill all the gaps. The hubs are linked by high speed optical fibre networks and satellite links serve as a back-up in case of emergency, he said, adding that apart from coastal radars and optical sensors, it also draws information from auto- matic identification systems fitted on merchant ships and has a comprehensive shipping database of world registers of shipping for analysis of traffic. The network was built by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) which has sourced customised software from the US’ Raytheon. The project, which was approved by the Defence Acquisition Council in 2012, has become operational in 15 months at a cost of Rs45.3bn. Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjeet Singh, Indian Coast Guard Director General Vice Admiral A G Thapliyal, Navy vice chief Vice Admiral Sunil Lanba, deputy chief Vice Admiral R K Patnaik and BEL CMD S.K. Sharma were also present on the occasion. Modi’s Hindu nationalists eye power in restive Kashmir By Parvaiz Bukhari, AFP Srinagar A s armed police in bulletproof vests patrolled the tense streets of India’s only Muslim majority state, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Avatar Singh forecast victory for the Hindu nationalists in Kashmir’s upcoming elections. “My godfather Modi Ji’s development initiatives make me confident that I will win,” Singh said, referring to India’s new BJP prime minister while out canvassing in the town of Tral last Thursday. Just hours later, three suspected separatist rebels were shot dead in a stark reminder of the tensions in the picturesque Himalayan region, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan and has been the scene of two wars between the neighbours. About a dozen rebel groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989 for Kashmir’s independence. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have died in the violence. So the idea of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP taking even a share of power in Kashmir would have been unthinkable only a few months ago. But Modi’s landslide May general election win and a meltdown in support for the incumbent chief minister after deadly floods in September have given the BJP hope of a breakthrough. Separatist hardliners have called for boycott of the vote, a move that could play to the BJP’s advantage. Voting begins in the five-phase election tomorrow, with results due on December 23. Analysts say the BJP is almost certain to fall short of an outright majority in the 87-member assembly. But they also say it has drawn up a strategy of military precision to mop up in the Hindu majority Jammu area, and then cut a deal with one of the smaller Muslim parties to become the lead player in a coalition. “Jammu is like a launching pad,” said Mehmood-ur-Rashid, an analyst based in Srinagar. The BJP battleplan is “to sweep Jammu, and then cobble together some kind of a loose coalition with individual winners in Kashmir,” he added. Speculation is rife that the BJP will link up with the small People’s Conference, a formerly proseparatist party which now argues that economic growth is the best way of improving the lives of Kashmiris. Its leader Sajjad Lone met Modi this month in Delhi, telling reporters he had felt “respected and humbled” by the talks. The BJP is even fielding 32 Muslims candidates in the 70 seats it is contesting, including 25 in the restive Kashmir Valley. The party won 11 seats in the last elections in 2008, its best ever performance. The BJP is enjoying a honeymoon period after Modi’s victory over the previously ruling Con- State Assembly candidate Avatar Singh (centre) poses with supporters ahead of filing his election nomination papers in Tral. gress party, winning a string of state elections since May. Singh, a member of Kashmir’s small Sikh population, hopes to persuade voters that Modi’s party is best placed to improve their livelihood by pointing to green shoots of recovery at national level. Modi has made five visits to the state as premier, including during Diwali last month when he promised more flood relief. “We in the BJP consider Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh as extremely close to our hearts,” Interior Minister Rajnath Singh said at a rally last week. One handicap is the BJP’s longstanding pledge to scrap a constitutional provision known as Article 370, which allows Kashmir to make its own laws. One of its candidates in Srinagar, Hina Bhat, even said she would “pick up a gun” if the article was removed. While talk of scrapping the article plays well at a general election, the leadership has been more circumspect while campaigning in the state. “Article 370 is a national issue for us and there should be an extensive debate over its utility,” Rajnath Singh said. While there is anger over the Modi government’s response to the September flooding, which killed around 200 people, most of the ire has been directed towards Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his ruling National Conference party. Thousands of residents are still homeless as winter sets in. Business leaders have put the total losses from the floods at around $17bn. Abdullah has admitted his administration was overwhelmed by the scale of the floods - the worst in nearly a century. He says he is best placed to defend the state’s special status, accusing the BJP of “talking in different voices”. “In Jammu, they talk about abrogating Article 370 and in the Valley they say that if people want, it will remain,” he told reporters. Pundits are predicting a major fall in his centre-left party’s support. Many commentators have said the real contest this time would be between the BJP and the People’s Democratic Party which advocates “self-rule”. The separatist boycott of the polls suffered its first setback in 2008 elections, when turnout crossed 60%. Tral has a history of low turnout and few voters voiced support for the BJP - although Ghulam Rasool, who lives near the candidate Singh, said he would consider voting for the BJP as “he has been good a neighbour”. Bashir Ahmed Wani, whose son is one of Kashmir’s most wanted militants, said he wouldn’t vote out of principle, but acknowledged that could help the BJP. “Many people may end up voting for the PDP even if they support a boycott as the fear of the BJP winning is worse,” he said. nion Finance Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her reactions to the arrest of leaders of her Trinamool Congress in the Saradha chit fund scam as well as her statements in the Burdwan blast case. In an article posted on Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) website, Jaitley wrote: “I was deeply disappointed with Mamata Didi’s reaction to the interrogation and arrest of some of TMC leaders in the Sharada hit fund scam. “Some individuals connected with the TMC have been involved in making easy money from the Ponzi schemes it was incumbent on any responsible leader to purge the party of such leaders. It is regrettable that Mamata Didi instead of doing that has chosen to identify herself with the cause of these leaders,” he said. The senior BJP leader also raised questions about Banerjee’s intentions for terming the Burdwan blasts as stagemanaged. “The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has arrested several people who have engineered the blast. They are enemies of the state. “The West Bengal police or other intelligence agencies have no substantive material to establish that the blast was stagemanaged. If there is no such material, why has Didi (Banerjee) chosen to allege that the blast was stage managed,” he asked. “Such allegations clearly help the actual culprits. This is neither responsible nor nationalistic,” he said. The Trinamool hit back seeking to know the source of BJP’s massive funds spent during the elections. “Let me ask the BJP leadership a few straight questions. Where did the BJP raise their billions of dollars to spend in the Lok Sabha elections? How much money was spent on Maharashtra and Haryana elections? Where is the party getting its massive funding to continue the lavish spending in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand? Why don’t they provide transparent accounts for this unprecedented splurge?” said Trinamool Rajya Sabha chief whip Derek O’Brien in a statement posted on the party’s official website. “If the nation gets to know how much black money the BJP has spent this year on elections, the party will get black-listed.” He made three charge against the BJP-led central government: “This is all part of a devious BJP master game plan; The current PM used this narrative throughout his election campaign in Bengal. This wasn’t a mere coincidence. It was a plan; The NSA is a known RSS sympathizer. These devious plans are all conceived, drafted and approved at RSS headquarters.” New Delhi to host 4th business meet with the Arab League C ommerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will inaugurate the 4th India-Arab conference here on Wednesday to advance ties with a region so crucial for the country’s energy security besides accounting for some $200bn worth of bilateral merchandise trade. The two-day event is being organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in association with the Ministry of External Affairs and the 22-member League of Arab States, that is home to some 7.22mn Indians. “The objective of the conference is to promote bi-directional flow of investment and to facilitate the process of seeking investable projects across sectors, open to joint business ventures,” FICCI said in a statement. “It also seeks to provide an ideal platform to promote the export of Indian expertise, extend technical know-how to member states of the League of Arab States and act as an example for setting up identical business models and improve their human resources.” The organisers also sought to underline the fact that the member nations of the League of Arab States are a major destination for India’s exports, thanks to a collective GDP of nearly $3tn. Their investments to India top $3.5bn since April 2000. The two-day conference comes against the backdrop of the first senior officials meeting between India and the 22-member league here earlier this month where emphasis was laid on expanding business ties, especially in energy and information technology. 24 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 LATIN AMERICA CRIME TRAVEL LAW AND ORDER SPORTS PROPOSAL Five females of family murdered in Honduras US, Mexico reach aviation agreement 31 arrested for violence at Mexico demonstration Soccer match suspended after racist insults Peru outlines tax cuts to revive economy Five females from one family were found hacked to death in their home in northern Honduras, the La Prensa newspaper reported. The dead were the mother, 47, her three daughters aged 16 to 23 and a nine-year-old granddaughter. The killings took place in the town of La Lima. A 11-year-old girl was also injured in the attack. The father of the three daughters discovered the bloodbath when he came home from work. Further details were not available. The slayings come just days after the bodies of Miss Honduras, Maria Jose Alvarado Munoz, 19, and her older sister Sofia Trinidad were found buried. Sofia Trinidad’s boyfriend was the main suspect in the case, an official said. The US and Mexico have reached an agreement to expand passenger and cargo air service that would remove current limits on the number of airlines that can provide passenger service on routes between the two countries, the US transportation department said. As a result, it said, some routes might see new carriers entering the market, and airlines already in the market could consider offering service to new destinations. Cargo airlines could also benefit, with expanded opportunities to provide service to new locations unavailable under the current agreement, the department said in a news release. Police have arrested 31 people for violent acts during the largely peaceful demonstrations in Mexico City for justice over the fate of 43 missing students, the authorities said. The demonstrations late Thursday, which were led by relatives of the missing students from Ayotzinapa teacher’s training college, brought together 30,000 people. Masked youths committed acts of violence first near Mexico City’s international airport, and later before the National Palace, the seat of the Mexican government, despite calls from speakers to remain peaceful. “These young people had several objects in their possession to cause damage,” Mexico City mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said. San Marcos de Arica striker Emilio Renteria was for the second time in two weeks the target of Chilean fans’ racist insults, this time prompting the referee to suspend a match against Deportes Iquique. Arica led 1-0 thanks to a Renteria header when referee Julio Bascunan suspended the match near the 70-minute mark due to Iquique fans’ repeated racist abuse. The referee had previously halted play for several minutes as the racist chants began following Renteria’s goal. Renteria, a Venezuelan, was visibly affected by the abuse. Racism has become a serious issue in South American soccer, with Peru, Brazil and Argentina among those trying to crack down on discrimination. Peru is planning to introduce a law to cut corporate and personal taxes as part of a reform package that analysts welcomed as an “audacious” attempt to revive a slowing economy. The government will submit a bill to Congress that will seek to gradually reduce company income tax to 26% by 2019 from the current 30%, announced Finance Minister Alonso Segura following a cabinet meeting. “The change (will) incentivise investment ... so companies have greater income and productivity,” Segura told journalists. Peru’s economic growth has fallen to five-year lows as mineral exports have tumbled on lower global prices and weaker production. Mexican police play havoc with president’s security pledge Reuters Mexico City R estoring order to a country torn apart by drug violence was Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto’s first promise when he took power two years ago, but corruption and police brutality have handed him the biggest crisis of his rule. Local police abducted 43 trainee teachers in the southwestern city of Iguala on September 26 and handed them over to a drug gang. The gang almost certainly murdered them and torched their bodies, the government says. The case, still not closed, has infuriated Mexicans and highlights the scale of the challenge that Pena Nieto faces in trying to end shocking violence and impunity. “What we’re seeing are the results of many years of deterioration, complacency and denial by successive governments,” said Eduardo Olmos, a former mayor of the northern city of Torreon, who purged all but one of its 1,000-strong police force in 2010 when it was infiltrated by the Zetas drug gang. Such cases mean police are held by most Mexicans to be inept and massively corrupt, better known for breaking the law than for solving crimes. Former president Ernesto Zedillo said the rule of law in Mexico is in a “really bad” state. There are no easy solutions. The country has thousands of different police forces, with each of about 2,500 municipalities, 31 states and the capital Mexico City boasting its own. Salaries run as low as 5,000 pesos ($370) per month, encouraging corruption, and training is poor. Drug cartels and other gangs routinely buy off police to at least turn a blind eye to their operations, and sometimes to take part in murders and kidnappings, like in Iguala. In Torreon, which lies at the crossroads of key smuggling routes, the Zetas recruited police for their war with now captured drug lord Joaquin �Shorty’ Guzman, whose henchmen controlled police in the neighbouring city of Gomez Palacio. When Olmos brought in an army general to clean up Torreon, the police rebelled, surrounding and occupying his office. He responded by ordering the entire force to take tests to prove their loyalty. All but one either failed the tests or deserted. Even with a new force, purges continued for the rest of Olmos’ term as mayor because the city struggled to hire clean cops and prevent them being corrupted. In Iguala, dozens of local police have been arrested in the hunt for the killers of the 43 students, and the rest of the 380-strong force have been removed pending the investigation. Iguala’s mayor Jose Luis Abarca, his wife and its former police chief are suspected of masterminding the kidnapping of the students with local drug gang Guerreros Unidos. Two decades ago, Guerrero was mired in a similar scandal when police massacred 17 farmers. Soon afterward, president Zedillo created a new, improved force, the federal police. But problems persisted, and the federal police was accused of a spate of abuses under the presidency of Pena Nieto’s predecessor, Felipe Calderon. In 2012, a group of them were charged with the attempted murder of two CIA operatives. Zedillo’s successors have one by one carried out their own police overhauls, with limited success. Pena Nieto recently launched a military force within the federal police, or gendarmerie - albeit at barely one tenth of the size he had envisaged when he was running for president. In a country where 98% of crimes go unsolved, justice is frequently non-existent. Hardly a week goes by without a new scandal. Maduro meets supporters Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores speak to supporters during a meeting with students outside Miraflores Palace in Caracas. Brazil �to unveil budget cuts with new economic team’ Reuters Sao Paulo B razilian President Dilma Rousseff ’s new, still unconfirmed economic team is preparing budget cuts for 2015 that will be announced next week, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo reported yesterday. The paper did not give an amount for the proposed cuts. Citing an unnamed aide to the president, it said that the measures would be unveiled along with the names of Rousseff ’s new finance minister and Vazquez favourite to win Uruguay presidential vote Reuters Montevideo L eftist ruling party candidate Tabare Vazquez is a clear favourite to win Uruguay’s presidential election this month, buoyed by widespread affection for the country’s outgoing leader and strong economic growth. Opinion polls show Vazquez, who was president in 2005-10, trouncing Luis Lacalle Pou of the centre-right National Party by between 13 and 17 percentage points in the November 30 runoff. Vazquez, 74, ended his first term with approval ratings hitting 70% for his blend of promarket economic policies and welfare programmes that set the South American nation on a path of robust growth and falling poverty levels. The constitution bars presidents from seeking consecutive terms so Vazquez resumed his work as an oncologist and in 2011 said he was quitting politics. Three years later, however, he is again running for the ruling Broad Front coalition. “I remember how bad things were economically before 2005,” said shopkeeper Horacio Miranda, recalling when one in three Uruguayans lived in poverty. “I’ll vote Vazquez because with the Broad Front we’ll live better.” “I remember how bad things were economically before 2005. I’ll vote Vazquez because with the Broad Front we’ll live better” Vazquez beat pollsters’ expectations in the first round of voting on October 26. He won 47.8% support while 41-year-old Lacalle Pou, viewed by supporters as a fresh political face to take on the Broad Front, trailed with just 30.8%. Political pundits said Lacalle Pou, a surfing enthusiast, lacked convincing answers to voters’ main concerns: high taxes squeezing the middle class, rising crime and deteriorating health services. A demoralised opposition is lamenting a missed opportunity. “It was like a bucket of cold water,” National Party senator Gustavo Penades said of the first round results. Vazquez goes into the runoff sure of strong support from rural voters, with whom Lacalle Pou struggled to connect. In Uruguay’s agricultural hinterlands, affection runs deep for the outgoing president Jose Mujica. His straight-talking, unpretentious style has made him a popular figure although his groundbreaking legalisation of the commercial production and sale of marijuana upset more conservative voters. The 79-year-old ex-guerrilla last week spurned a $1mn offer for his beat-up Volkswagen Beetle, which has become a symbol of his modest lifestyle. During the decade of Broad Front rule, Uruguay’s $55bn economy has grown an average 5.7% annually. “The Broad Front is reaping the rewards of 10 years of economic growth and social reforms,” said political analyst Alfonso Garce. other cabinet members. Three of the country’s leading newspapers reported on Friday that Rousseff will appoint Joaquim Levy, head of the asset management arm of Brazil’s second-largest private bank Bradesco SA, in a bid to regain investor confidence and revive economic growth. A government official said Levy was highly likely to be finance minister. Other sources said the new ministers would be announced on Wednesday. The presidential palace has declined to comment on speculation over the names of the new ministers. Levy, head of the asset management arm of Brazil’s second largest private bank Bradesco SA and a former government treasury secretary, emerged as a candidate for the job on Thursday after Bradesco’s chief executive reportedly turned it down. The University of Chicagotrained economist is a proven fiscal hawk who helped Brazil obtain its investment grade rating while he was treasury chief between 2003 and 2006 by checking spending and overhauling its debt structure. Many investors have expressed hope that Levy will pull off some- Concert thing similar this time if his appointment is confirmed. They have said hefty budget cuts are needed to restore confidence in an economy that has been stagnant for four years. Another leading paper, Estado de S. Paulo, reported yesterday that Rousseff is facing opposition from within her leftist Worker’s Party over University of Chicago-trained economist Levy. The paper said the confirmations, which were expected last week, were delayed in order to give Congress time to pass a law allowing the country to miss its Magazine’s Petrobras claims anger govt AFP Brasilia B Lead singer of US band Real Estate, Martin Courtney, performs during a concert as part of the �Movistar spring fauna’ festival in Santiago de Chile, Chile. 2014 primary surplus target and give the new economic team a fresh start. A sharp deterioration of Brazil’s finances under Rousseff has put the once-booming economy in the sights of rating agencies and eroded investor confidence in the country. The government plans to deduct 106bn reais, or 2.15% of gross domestic product off the target, according to a planning ministry report published on Friday. It needs Congress to pass the bill making the goal more flexible for the new target to become official. razilian authorities have blasted a news magazine for media “manipulation” as the government of President Dilma Rousseff battles an escalating kickbacks scandal at state-owned oil giant Petrobras. Rousseff ’s press service lambasted Veja magazine for alleging that jailed former Petrobras director and whistleblower Paulo Roberto Costa had sent her e-mail alluding to the payments in 2009. Veja did not reproduce any evidence to back its claim but alleged Costa wrote to Rousseff as he sought to blindside attempts by the federal accountability office (TCU) to halt three Petrobras refinery projects, thereby preventing any possibility of kickbacks from those schemes. Rousseff’s press service slammed Veja’s interpretation as “another episode of journalistic manipulation.” A statement read: “After trying to interfere in the results of the presidential election ... Veja is now trying to fool its readers by insinuating that, in 2009, the siphoning off of money by Paulo Roberto Costa, Petrobras director fired in March 2012 by President Dilma’s government, was already known about. “(But) the illegal practices of Paulo Roberto Costa only came to light in 2014, thanks to investigations carried out by the federal police and justice ministry. “Once again, Veja is misinforming its readers and trying to manipulate the facts,” the statement concluded. Rousseff, a former Petrobras board chair, has vowed not to interfere in the investigation into Brazil’s biggest company. But Ronaldo Caiado, leader of Brazil’s opposition Democrats, urged Rousseff and predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to appear before the congressional investigation. On the eve of last month’s presidential election, Veja quoted detained money dealer Alberto Youssef as testifying that Rousseff knew about a kickbacks scheme. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Saarc summit may facilitate Pak-India talks resumption Internews Islamabad T he eight-member South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (Saarc) Summit next week in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu is expected to act as facilitator for paving the way for restoration of stalled dialogue between Pakistan and India, diplomatic sources here say. India’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr A T C Raghavan has reached New Delhi for consultations and it is understood that India is working on methods for restoration of talks with Pakistan as pressure across the world is mounting on the South Asian nuclear states to engage in talks. The sources said that Pakistan would be forthcoming for resumption of talks with India on any echelon but the initiative for the purpose will have to come from New Delhi as it had severed the talks. “We are civilised people and in our culture such occasions ask for decency” Sources said India may re- think and re-prioritise restoration of dialogue with Pakistan before the visit of US President Barack Obama to India who will be visiting New Delhi in January 2015. He will be the guest of honour in the ceremonies of Indian Republic Day on January 26. Sources said that the United Bomber kills 45 people at Afghan volleyball match Bomber walked into crowd and detonated explosives vest, says spokesman for Paktika provincial governor; Most casualties were civilians ; No claim of responsibility Agencies Kabul A suicide bomber killed at least 45 people when he attacked a crowd of spectators at a volleyball match in eastern Afghanistan yesterday. The attack, which wounded 60 more, took place in a village in Yahyakhail district in Paktika province, one of the most unstable areas in the country. The bomber entered a large crowd, wearing a belt with explosives, and blew himself up in the middle of spectators and players, said Mokhles Afghan, spokesperson for the governor of Paktika. The match was part of a youth tournament between three districts of Paktika, and as a result most casualties were young people. “There were no checkpoints, and that is the reason the suicide attacker could enter this area,” he said. According to Bahawul Khan, a member of Paktika’s provincial council, there were also eight members of the local police among the dead. The attack happened at 5pm, when the local health clinic was closed, so all the wounded had to be transferred to the hospital in the provincial capital Sharana, said Ali Khan, provincial head of public health. “I and my friends were watching the game and we were cheering each time our team scored,” Abdulhay, an 11-year boy being treated for minor injuries in hospital in Sharana, the provincial capital of Paktika, said by telephone. “Then I heard a boom that threw me back unconscious. I opened my eyes in the hospital and don’t know if my friends are dead or alive.” There was no immediate response from the Taliban, the Islamabad to buy copters from Russia Internews Islamabad I n a major breakthrough in bilateral relations after Moscow recently lifted an embargo on arms sales to Islamabad, defence authorities of Pakistan and Russia have finally given the go-ahead for purchase of Mi35M helicopters from Russia. “The matter remained under consideration for many months. Now we have given Russians final go-ahead for the purchase of these helicopters,” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was yesterday quoted by Dawn.com website as saying. “We must forget what Russia did in the past and look forward to a new beginning in the region” The Mi-35M is a multi-purpose transport helicopter for combat missions capable of operating round the clock in mountainous terrain. The minister said these helicopters would be used in the fight against militants. “Russia has now placed Pakistan in category B from D for arms sales, which means that Pakistan can buy weapons from Russia’s defence market,” Asif said. He brushed aside an impression that the Russian defence minister’s visit to Pakistan might annoy New Delhi and Washington, saying that IslamabadMoscow ties were not “at the cost of our relations with any other country”. He termed it independent diplomacy, adding that Russia is a regional power and Pakistan cannot ignore it. “After US-Nato forces withdrawal from Afghanistan, security will be a bigger challenge for Afghanistan. So Pakistan wants Russian engagement in the Afghan peace process,” Asif said. “We must forget what Russia did in the past and look forward to a new beginning in the region.” “Pakistan sees Russia and China’s presence in the region as a source of peace and stability. This is why all three are getting closer on strategic matters,” Asif remarked. On relations with India, he said Moscow’s top defence official was briefed about the situation on eastern borders and relations with India. insurgent group behind many of the attacks across Afghanistan. “The suicide attacker was on a motorcycle, he detonated himself in the middle of a volleyball match,” Attaullah Fazli, deputy governor of Paktika, said. “A lot of people including some provincial officials and the police chief were there. About 50 people have been killed, and 60 injured, a lot of them seriously.” “The scale of the attack and its aftermath is shocking,” he said. “We have asked Kabul to send us helicopters to take some of the critically wounded for treatment”, Afghan said. President Ashraf Ghani, who came to power in September, swiftly condemned the attack, describing it as “inhumane and un-Islamic”. “This kind of brutal killing of civilians cannot be justified,” he said in a statement that put the toll at 45 people dead. One eyewitness, Khushal, 25, said that he saw a man in a traditional shawl get off his motorbike before blowing himself up. Paktika was also struck by a massive suicide blast in July, when a bomber driving a truck packed with explosives killed at least 41 people at a busy market in Urgun district. A suicide bombing at a mosque in the northern province of Faryab in October 2012 killed 42 people, while another suicide blast at a shrine in Kabul on the Shiite holy day of Ashura in December 2011 killed 80. Yesterday’s attack occurred on the same day that the lower house of parliament approved agreements to allow about 12,500 Nato-led troops to stay on next year. US-led Nato combat operations will finish at the end of this year, but the Taliban have launched a series of offensives that have severely tested Afghan soldiers and police. Armed opposition groups in Afghanistan are vehemently opposed to the security agreements, which Ashraf Ghani ordered his security adviser Hanif Atmar to sign on 30 September, in one of his first acts as president. The upper house of parliament has yet to ratify the deals. The attack emphasises the challenge the president faces tackling an insurgency that has flared up over the past months. As foreign troops withdraw, Taliban militants have intensified assaults on government troops, particularly in provinces in the east and south. Paktika has borne the brunt of the attacks. Bordering some of Pakistan’s volatile tribal areas, the province is rife with insurgent activity, including from the Pakistan-based Haqqani network. In July a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb at a busy market square in Urgon district, killing at least 42 people. According to western security officials, the threat of attacks and kidnappings in eastern Afghanistan increased when the Afghan intelligence service captured two senior Haqqani leaders in the neighbouring Khost province a month ago. Yesterday evening, however, no group had taken responsibility for the attack. Vintage car show Visitors gather during a car show organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of Pakistan in Peshawar. More than 40 vintage and classic cars were on display from all across Pakistan, some coming all the way from Karachi. States is among the countries that have impressed upon India to resume dialogue with Pakistan. A close associate of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs said that “if the host prime minister in Kathmandu makes the In- dian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit across the table and ask Sharif to have a word with him, one shouldn’t expect from Pakistan that it would decline.” “We are civilised people and in our culture such occasions ask for decency,” he added. Afghan lower house approves foreign troops staying on Agencies Kabul/Washington A fghanistan’s lower house of parliament yesterday approved agreements that will allow about 12,500 Nato-led troops to stay on next year as the national army and police struggle to hold back the Taliban. US-led Nato combat operations will finish at the end of this year, but the Taliban have launched a series of recent offensives that have severely tested Afghan soldiers and police. The new Nato mission — named Resolute Support — will focus on supporting the Afghan forces, in parallel with US counter-terrorism operations. The Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States, and a similar pact with Nato, were the source of huge friction between the Afghan government and its allies under previous president Hamid Karzai. But Ashraf Ghani, who became president in September, reset ties by signing the longawaited deals on his first day in power. Ghani welcomed lawmakers’ overwhelming vote in favour of the two agreements yesterday and said he awaited the prompt approval of the upper house. “It is a good step in strengthening Afghanistan’s national sovereignty,” Ghani said in a statement. “The Afghan security forces will be in charge of full security of their country, and will be further equipped and strengthened.” Karzai’s refusal to sign the security accord came to symbolise the breakdown of Afghan-US relations after the optimism of 2001, when the Taliban regime was ousted from power with US assistance. A senior administration official said President Obama has approved plans to give US military commanders a wider role to fight the Taliban alongside Afghan forces after the current mission ends next month. The decision made in recent weeks extends previous plans by authorising US troops to carry out combat operations against the Taliban to protect Americans and support Afghanistan’s security forces. Obama had announced in May that US troop levels would be cut to 9,800 by the end of the year, by half again in 2015 and to a normal embassy presence with a security assistance office in Kabul by the end of 2016. Under that plan, only a small contingent of 1,800 US troops was limited to counterterrorism operations against remnants of Al Qaeda. The new orders will also allow operations against the Taliban. “To the extent that Taliban members directly threaten the United States and coalition forces in Afghanistan or provide direct support to Al Qaeda, we will take appropriate measures to keep Americans safe,” the official said. A report by the New York Times late on Friday said the new authorisation also allows the deployment of American jets, bombers and drones. The announcement was welcomed by Afghan police and army commanders after heavy losses against the Taliban this summer. “This is the decision that we needed to hear ... We could lose battles against the Taliban without direct support from American forces,” said Khalil Andarabi, police chief for Wardak province, about an hour’s drive from the capital and partly controlled by the Taliban. Afghan government forces remain in control of all 34 provincial capitals but are suffering a high rate of casualties, recently described as unsustainable by a US commander in Afghanistan. More than 4,600 Afghan force members have been killed since the start of the year, 6.5% more than a year ago. Despite being funded with more than $4bn in aid this year, police and soldiers frequently complain they lack the resources to fight the Taliban on their own. “Right now we don’t have heavy weapons, artillery and air support. If Americans launch their own operations and help us, too, then we will be able to tackle Taliban,” said senior police detective Asadullah Insafi in eastern Ghazni province. The Taliban said it is undeterred by the US announcement. “They will continue their killings, night raids and dishonour to the people of Afghanistan in 2015. It will only make us continue our jihad,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujajhid said. Kabul eyes paradigm shift in relations with Pakistan Internews Peshawar T raditionally, the Afghan media has always been sceptical and dismissive of Pakistan. Yet, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to Pakistan last week has made a cross section of the media appear optimistic. Even with suspicion and some unfavourable comments, the majority of Afghan political commentators have attached high hopes to Ghani’s maiden state visit to Pakistan on November 14-15. During his stay, Ghani vowed to bridge trust deficit and open a new chapter in bilateral relations. A visible change could also be seen in the approach of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), the Afghan intelligence agency, to spare Pakistan when its spokesperson Haseeb Siddiqi addressed a news conference about the growing number of Taliban attacks in Kabul and other cities. Afghan electronic and print media was more focused on Ghani’s visit than its Pakistani counterpart. All major Afghan TV channels hosted debates on the possible outcome of the visit, particularly Islamabad’s role in peace talks with the Taliban. Pashto and Dari language newspapers wrote editorials and published op-eds on the importance of the visit. And despite some mistrust, a majority of the political observers were convinced that Ghani’s visit would be much more fruitful than his predecessor Hamid Karzai’s 20 trips to Islamabad. Pashto daily Sarnevesht described the visit as a good start, insisting that Pakistan should help the peace process and exert pressure on the Taliban to prepare for peace talks. “It should drive the Taliban, who oppose peace, out of its area or eliminate their hideouts and sanctuaries,” the daily said in an editorial this week. Hasht-e-Subh, an independent Dari-language daily, viewed Ghani’s visit to the army’s General Headquarters in Rawalpindi as a significant step. “This was unprecedented. In order to achieve stability and a strong economy, Afghanistan needs constructive strategic relations with Pakistan. And if Pakistan wishes to overcome its economic and security problems, which are damaging it internally, it has to stop pushing an India-centric policy towards Afghanistan,” wrote the daily. Afghan papers also highlighted what they termed Pakistan’s important role in the peace process with the Taliban. Without the co-operation of regional countries, especially Pakistan, the peace process will fail and remain incomplete in Afghanistan, they said. “If Afghanistan and Pakistan work together with complete sincerity and transparency, they can make it easier for the peace process to succeed,” said The Daily Afghanistan. The pro-government Pashto daily, Weesa, said Afghans “can pin hopes” on thinking that the visit has opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. “Afghans want peace and tranquillity. They want an end to the devastating war and to live in a peaceful atmosphere with their neighbours. If Pakistan helps the Afghan people and officials honestly meet these desires, there is no more good news than this for our people,” the daily said. The Dari-language independent daily Hasht-e-Subh described the role of Pakistan’s security establishment as very important in the stability of Afghanistan. “There is no doubt that if the Pakistani government, especially the Pakistani army, co-operates with the Afghan government, the situation in the region will improve,” it said. State-owned daily Anis said the recent developments in Pakistan show the country’s political and military leaders have now agreed they should “make use of the opportunity and pursue a mild policy towards the new government of Afghanistan.” Like Pakistani leaders, Ghani also had a clear approach to the relationship. “Pakistan is continuously our partner.” “We have overcome obstacles of 13 years in three days, thank you,” Ghani said during the joint presser with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on November 15. He also received a pledge from senior Pakistani civilian and military leaders to help in the urgently-needed reconciliation process. Pakistan’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said Pakistan will “facilitate” the peace process but it is up to Kabul to “take the initiative as with whom it wants to talk, where, and how.” While interacting with the Afghan media in the company of President Ghani, Aziz had rightly pointed out Pakistan cannot force anyone for talks but will help when the Afghan government takes the initiative. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Thursday termed the visit “very successful as it was rich not only in symbolism but also in substance.” The ministry’s spokesperson, Tasnim Aslam, said the agreed minutes contain 42 decisions and they cover a broad range in trade, economy and connectivity. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Bangladesh arrests nine in crackdown on militants Reuters Dhaka B angladesh has arrested four members of an outlawed militant group, including the chief of its women’s wing, as well as five suspects in a southern city, police said yesterday, as authorities stiffen a crackdown on militants. The arrest follows Indian security officials’ exposure of a plot last month targeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Two members of a banned Bangladesh group were killed in an explosion while building bombs in India’s eastern state of West Bengal, just over the border with Bangladesh. Police said they arrested Fatema, the chief of the women’s wing of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, whose husband Sajid was arrested by Indian police in connection with the West Bengal blast. “Fatema and three men were arrested in a raid in Dhaka and we also recovered a huge quantity of bomb-making materials and explosives,” police spokesman Monirul Islam told a news conference. The group also planned to assassinate Bangladesh’s main opposition leader, Khaleda Zia, Indian officials said. She and Hasina have dominated the country’s politics for more than a decade. “Fatema and three men were arrested in a raid in Dhaka and we also recovered a huge quantity of bombmaking materials and explosives” During interrogation, Begum reportedly confessed that she trained at least 25 women, including five Bangladeshis, in Burdwan’s Simulia area. Last week, a team headed by the chief of India’s main counter-terrorism arm, the National Investigations Agency, held talks with Bangladeshi officials in Dhaka and handed over a list of 11 suspects thought to be hiding there. Another five suspected militants, including a Pakistani and a Saudi national, were arrested yesterday at a hotel in the southern port city of Chittagong, police official Banaj Kumar Majumdar told Reuters by telephone, but which group they belong to is not yet known. Under Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has been working closely with India to tackle militant groups, including the handover of those India suspects of stirring up trouble in its remote northeast. The Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen was thought to have been lying low since a crackdown by authorities after it detonated nearly 500 bombs almost simultaneously on a single day in 2005 across Bangladesh, including in Dhaka, the capital. Subsequent suicide attacks by its militants on several courthouses killed 25 people and left hundreds injured. A security van taking members of the group to court earlier this year was targeted by gunmen who opened fire and tossed bombs at the vehicle. Nepal bus crash toll climbs to 14 IANS Kathmandu T he toll from last week’s deadly bus accident in Nepal rose to 14, including one Indian, as rescue operations entered in its third day yesterday. The passenger bus carrying more than 50 people had skidded off a narrow stretch in Jajarkot district’s mountainous region and plunged into the Bheri river in western Nepal on Thursday. On day one, officials confirmed that five people were killed and around 45 remained missing. The bus had completely submerged into the water soon after it fell around 80m off the road. Sakil Miya, 29, of Raxual, Bihar was among those who lost their lives as the death toll yesterday climbed to 14 after officials retrieved bodies of nine more persons from the strong water currents of the river, Himalayan Times said. According to the Jajarkot district police office, more than 36 passengers are still estimated to be missing. Apart from an Indian, rest of the victims are said to be locals as efforts were on to trace those who are still unaccounted for. Some of the bodies had crushed under the bus which made it difficult for the divers to recover. Local people with the help of police, army and armed police force personnel are carrying out search and rescue operations. A team of deep divers have also been pressed into service. Road accidents are on rise in Nepal as more than 62 people have died in five separate accidents in the last one month. Bad roads, negligence, speeding and overloading were the main reasons behind these accidents, police said. Opposition presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena offering flowers at the temple of top Buddhist monk Maduluwawe Sobitha in Colombo yesterday. Opposition secures Buddhist backing for Sri Lanka vote AFP Colombo S ri Lanka’s main opposition candidate yesterday won important backing from a top Buddhist monk campaigning to scrap the executive presidency and return the country to a parliamentary democracy. Former agriculture and health minister Maithripala Sirisena, who defected on Friday to challenge his former boss President Mahinda Rajapakse in the January 8 election, visited monk Maduliwawe Sobitha to receive his blessings. “I applaud your courage to enter the fray only to scrap the presidency and bring back parliamentary democracy, ensure rule of law and end corruption,” Sobitha said while blessing Sirisena in front of reporters and TV cameras at his temple. The monk is a key figure campaigning for political reforms in the majority Buddhist nation of 20 million. He had been the spir- itual guide of former president Chandrika Kumaratunga who is also backing the 63-year-old Sirisena for the presidency. The monk expressed regret that Rajapakse had failed to deliver on promises to abolish the 1978 constitution, which gave strong powers to the executive including immunity from prosecution. Sirisena told reporters he would launch his campaign after visiting two more Buddhist shrines in the central and the north-central region of the island on Monday. “We will not engage in violence, character assassination or any such thing,” Sirisena said. “We hope the campaign will be peaceful.” Almost all previous elections in the country have been marred by assassinations, bomb attacks and widespread campaignrelated violence. The authorities have already removed the elite police commando unit which protected Sirisena while bodyguards of By Mizan Rahman Dhaka T Vehicles passing through the prepared welcome gate for 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit in Kathmandu yesterday. The Saarc summit got under way on November 22 and will conclude on November 27. Jamaat chief challenges death sentence J amaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) for 1971 war crimes, yesterday filed appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the death penalty. Tajul Islam, a counsel for Nizami, filed the appeal. On October 29, the threemember ICT unanimously condemned Nizami to death for crimes against humanity, including genocide and the murder of intellectuals, during the Liberation War. The ICT sentenced the Jamaat boss, the I971 commander-inchief of Al Badr, a secret killing squad of Jamaat-e-Islami, the capital punishment each on four counts of charges of war crimes, “I applaud your courage to enter the fray only to scrap the presidency and bring back parliamentary democracy, ensure rule of law and end corruption” Sources close to the president said at least another dozen SLFP legislators have been identified as trying to defect but they would not be suspended as yet. Rajapakse called the election two years ahead of schedule in an apparent attempt to seek a fresh mandate before his party’s popularity tumbles further, after dropping over 21 percent in September local elections. While Rajapakse remains popular with voters from the Sinhalese majority after he won a 37-year war against Tamil separatists in 2009, critics say he has become increasingly authoritarian. A key coalition partner, the JHU, or party of Buddhist monks, walked out of the government on Tuesday, accusing Rajapakse of failing to deliver promised democratic reforms. Rajapakse is also struggling to avoid international censure over claims his troops killed 40,000 Tamil civilians in the bloody finale of the fighting, an issue that has overshadowed his ongoing chairmanship of the Commonwealth. After his meeting with Sobitha, Sirisena had a closeddoor meeting with rights activists to discuss plans to push through reforms if he is elected. “He was basically told of the work carried out by civil society over the years pressing for democratic freedoms and reforms,” media rights activist Sunil Jayasekera said. “It is up to him to carry it forward.” Ban on manpower export agencies lifted Welcome gate By Mizan Rahman Dhaka three other defecting ministers have also been withdrawn. Rajapakse’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has also suspended five members who pledged support to Sirisena. terming Al Badr a criminal organisation. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the death verdict awarded to Nizami by the ICT-1 on October 29 had satisfied the prosecution and the state will argue against his appeal. “The court was convinced that justice will fail if he was not given the maximum penalty for the number of killings and genocide he committed.” Eight out of the 16 war crimes charges levelled against him had been proven and Nizami was handed death for four charges and life terms for four others. The 71-year old was already carrying a death sentence in the infamous Chittagong 10-truck arms haul case. He served as a minister until 2006 when the Jamaat was in power in coalition with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. he Bangladesh government yesterday lifted restrictions on manpower export by private agencies to boost the supply market for overseas recruiters. Cautioning the ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment to remain vigilant, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said: “We don’t want to stop the business of manpower exporters or recruiting agencies. Their business will continue, but there should be no exploitation of distressed people in the name of business ... there would be profit, but there should not be 100% profit to make the poor people paupers.” The prime minister said this in her introductory speech in a meeting with officials of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment and its different organisations held at the ministry’s conference room in the capital. The government-to-government (G-to-G) recruitment system, introduced for the first time for employment of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia, failed to click as Bangladesh could send only 5,000 workers, a number far less then announced earlier. Due to the G-to-G system, Bangladesh is failing to send more workers abroad to traditional markets as the government officials cannot negotiate recruitment deals as private recruiters can. According to Bangladesh Bank, around 450,000 migrants managed overseas jobs in 2013, down by more than 33% from 680,000 in 2012. The number of migrant workers returning to Bangladesh has also increased because the government could not resolve the problems related to the legal status of Bangladeshi migrant workers the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait through diplomatic channels. These three destinations accounted for approximately 54% and 56% of our total remittance inflow for the last two years although overseas workers’ remittances and readymade export earnings have emerged as two pillars of the Bangladesh economy. The prime minister asked the ministry to prepare a database of the Bangladeshi workers to leave no scope for exploitation of workers and said: “You’ll (ministry) have to look into the matter so that no one could confuse or exploit the Bangladeshi workers who want to go abroad for jobs.” Stressing the need for creating newer employment opportunities abroad, Hasina said the ministry will have to identify which country has higher demand for what kinds of works. About 9mn Bangladeshi expatriates work abroad, are a big source of foreign exchange. Hasina said the training institutes under various ministries, including the expatriates welfare and overseas employment, labour, play key role preparing them through proper skills training. The PM stressed the need for coordination among the training institutes of various ministries in different trades and vocations for generating more local and foreign employment opportunities. Referring to the recent trend of making attempts by the fortune seekers to cross the sea, including the seizure of a Malaysia-bound trawler by the navy and coast guard with about 600 people on board, Hasina said: “I just wonder why people taking too much of life risk want to cross the sea … this is very unfortunate.” 28 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 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 A big step forward in the fight against wildlife crime It is laudable that the first global operation led by Interpol and supported by the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC), targeting individuals wanted for serious environmental crime, has been announced recently. The initial phase of Interpol’s Operation “Infra-Terra” (International Fugitive Round Up and Arrest), is targeting nine fugitives wanted for environmental crime, in particular wildlife crime. The entire operation is meant to catch 139 fugitives wanted by 36 member countries for a variety of environmental crimes, including illegal fishing, wildlife trafficking, illegal trade and disposal of waste, illegal logging and trading in illicit ivory. The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has added its voice to support its ICCWC partners in asking for the public’s assistance to provide information that could help track down the suspects whose cases were selected for this initial phase. The CITES chief of Enforcement Support, Ben Janse van Rensburg has described the operation as a big step forward in the fight against wildlife criminal networks. Pointing out that historically, countries have not drawn on these law enforcement tools to hunt down fugitives wanted for offences against the natural heritage, he conveyed the appreciation of the CITES Secretariat to governments that are making use of this mechanism and strongly support the initiative to combat wildlife crime and the kingpins behind it. Wildlife crime has become a serious threat to the security, political stability, economy, natural resources and cultural heritage of many countries. The extent of the response required to address this threat effectively is often beyond the sole remit of environmental or wildlife law enforcement agencies, or even of one country or region alone. It was reported on Friday that as many as 1,200 rhinos have been poached in South Africa this year for their horn, scuppering multiple efforts authorities to curb the slaughter of the endangered species. The vast Kruger National Park has been hit the hardest by poachers, with 672 killed inside the park. Last year, 1,004 beasts were poached in parks across the country. The latest statistics prove that a large number of heavily armed poachers continue to defeat all the protection measures. It is in this context that the new operation has to be seen. The global mission will extend efforts beyond national borders and across range, transit and destination states in support of a collective global response to fight such crime. Technical and financial support for the operation is offered by the ICCWC, thanks to the generous contribution of the European Union. Information on the possible location of the targets of Operation Infra-Terra, or any internationally wanted persons, can be sent to Interpol’s Fugitive Investigative Support unit. Information can also be given anonymously to any national “Crime Stoppers” programme. With 180 member states, CITES remains one of the world’s most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora. CITES regulates international trade in over 35,000 species of plants and animals, including their parts and products, ensuring their survival in the wild, with benefits for the livelihoods of local people and the global environment. The CITES permit system seeks to ensure that international trade in listed species is sustainable, legal and traceable. The 15th conference of the Parties to CITES was held in Doha in March 2010. CITES regulates international trade in over 35,000 species of plants and animals To Advertise [email protected] Display Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Classified Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Subscription [email protected] 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Germany’s credit-fuelled expansion comes to an end We need to stimulate growth and increase inflation without generating higher private or public leverage By Adair Turner London W ith recent data showing that German exports fell 5.8% from July to August and that industrial production shrank by 4%, it has become clear that the country’s unsustainable credit-fuelled expansion is ending. But frugal Germans typically do not see it that way. After all, German household and company debt has fallen as a share of GDP for 15 years and public debt, too, is now on a downward path. “What credit-fuelled expansion?” they might ask. The answer lies in the reality of our interconnected global economy, which for decades has depended on unsustainable credit growth and now faces a severe debt overhang. Before the 2008 financial crisis hit, the ratio of private credit to GDP grew rapidly in many advanced economies – including the US, the United Kingdom and Spain. Those countries also ran current-account deficits, providing the demand that allowed China and Germany to enjoy exportled expansion. Credit-driven growth enabled some countries to pay down public debt. The ratio of Irish and Spanish public debt to GDP, to cite two examples, fell significantly. But the overall advanced-economy debt/GDP ratio, including public and private debt, grew from 208% in 2001 to 236% by 2008. And total global debt rose from 162% of world GDP to 175%. Credit growth fuelled asset- price increases and further credit growth, in a self-reinforcing cycle that persisted until the bubble burst and confidence collapsed. Faced with falling asset prices, households and companies then attempted to deleverage. The ratio of household debt to GDP in the US has indeed fallen – by 15% since 2009. But the debt did not go away; it simply moved from the private sector to the public sector. Private deleveraging depressed the economy as households cut consumption and businesses cut investment. Tax revenues fell and social expenditures rose. Fiscal deficits therefore soared. As a result, for every percentage reduction in private debt, the ratio of public debt to GDP rose by a greater amount. This was a repeat of Japan’s experience over the last 25 years. After the country’s 1980s credit boom went bust, large fiscal deficits were essential to prevent a severe depression. But the inevitable consequence was that, while Japanese companies slowly deleveraged, public debt rose to 245% of GDP. Leverage shifted not only from private to public sectors, but also among countries. From 2002 to 2008, China’s total debt/GDP ratio was relatively stable and below 150%. It is now around 250%. This was the deliberately chosen policy response to deleveraging in advanced economies. Fearing that post-crisis recession in advanced economies would produce a socially dangerous decline in Chinese employment, the government instructed its banks to open the credit floodgates, triggering an infrastructure and housing-construction boom. Commodity and capital goods producers – such as Germany – benefited from credit-driven demand. Household and company debt grew rapidly in many other emerging markets as well. Overall emergingmarket debt has grown from 114% to 151% of GDP, and total global leverage is 37% higher than it was in 2008. As the recent 16th Geneva Report on the Global Economy puts it, “Deleveraging? What deleveraging?” Today’s total debt level seems both unsustainable and impossible to reduce without depressing the economy. Eurozone rules demand fiscal consolidation, but the result is slow growth, which makes deleveraging even more difficult. Likewise, Japan raised its consumption tax in April to cut the fiscal deficit, but the increase has tipped the economy into recession. Relying solely on ultra-easy monetary policy is dangerous China now faces the dilemma that arises in the late stage of any credit boom. Faced with falling property prices and credit growth, should it accept a hard landing as inevitable, or keep the boom going, which would undoubtedly lead to bigger problems later? Whatever its choice, growth will slow significantly, and inflation already is well below the central bank’s 4% target. Slower growth in major markets in turn depresses Germany, until recently, the eurozone economy’s only strong motor. And simultaneous slowdowns in Japan, China and the eurozone threaten to slow the US and UK recoveries. With global growth anaemic and inflationary expectations falling, further growth in debt looks unsustainable. And yet total global leverage continues to rise. This poses two questions to which orthodox economics and conventional policy have provided an inadequate response. First, how can we ensure that economies grow without rapid private credit growth, which leads to crisis and a debt overhang? Second – and the crucial issue today – how can we escape the debt trap in which past credit growth has left us? As the International Monetary Fund’s latest Global Financial Stability Report warns, relying solely on ultra-easy monetary policy is dangerous. It encourages excessive financial risk-taking, increases inequality, and can work only by regenerating the rapid private credit growth that got us into this mess in the first place. Relying on competitive exchange rates, meanwhile, is collectively impossible. The Bank of Japan considers a weak yen crucial to its quantitative easing strategy. The European Central Bank hopes that negative interest rates will help drive the euro down. And in China, economists are discussing the merits of a lower renminbi to offset the impact of a cooling property market. But the whole world cannot devalue against other planets. If all countries except the US devalue, the US economy will face the deflationary impact of their attempted deleveraging. We need to stimulate growth and increase inflation without generating higher private or public leverage. The only way to do that is to run increased fiscal deficits, permanently financed by central-bank money. Otherwise, the world will either become mired in deflation and slow growth, or will need to accept further increases in leverage – thereby simply postponing the problem and making it still more intractable. The end of Germany’s credit-fuelled expansion has now made that choice clear. - Project Syndicate z Adair Turner is a senior fellow at the Institute for New Economic Thinking and at the Centre for Financial Studies in Frankfurt. An official demonstrating the capabilities of a germ-zapping robot at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. The US military has enlisted a new germ-killing weapon in the fight against Ebola - a four-wheeled robot that can disinfect a room in minutes with pulses of ultraviolet light. Resembling a taller, skinnier version of R2D2 from Star Wars, the robots are operating at three military medical centres and about 250 other American hospitals are using the machines to destroy pathogens. Can robots help stop the Ebola outbreak? By Dan De Luce Washington/AFP T he US military has enlisted a new germ-killing weapon in the fight against Ebola - a four-wheeled robot that can disinfect a room in minutes with pulses of ultraviolet light. Resembling a taller, skinnier version of R2D2 from Star Wars, the robots are operating at three military medical centres and about 250 other American hospitals are using the machines to destroy pathogens. Sending out 1.5 pulses per second in a 3m radius, the robots use xenon, a non-toxic gas, to create the ultraviolet rays that eradicate germs faster and more thoroughly than any human cleaning crew, officials said. “The robot is currently part of our Ebola mitigation strategy, but will be used across the hospital to combat a variety of other pathogens known to cause hospital acquired infections,” said Alton Dunham, a spokesman for Langley Air Force Base, which acquired one of the robots in October. Although ultraviolet light has been around for decades as a tool for cleaning, the new robot uses environmentally-friendly xenon instead of mercury-vapor bulbs that are sloweracting and toxic, according to Texasbased Xenex Disinfection Service, which manufactures the machines. Researchers say the disinfecting bot is just one example of how autonomous devices could play a crucial role in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. “Robots could reduce the number of times humans handle contaminated waste” At a conference this month organised by the White House linking up universities across the country, scientists and aid workers concluded that robots could help haul contaminated waste or enable health workers to remotely interview patients. The General Dynamics Land Systems MUTT, a robotic wagon, was cited as a machine already in existence that could be deployed now to help health workers in West Africa, said Robin Murphy, a professor of computer science and engineering at Texas A&M University. “The major takeaway was that robots do exist that could be immediately repurposed now to protect Ebola health workers,” Murphy said in a report on the November 7 brainstorming session. But any robots sent over would have to fit into the wider medical effort, take the local culture into account and avoid imposing radical new procedures on stressed health workers, she said. As a virus that spreads through direct human contact, Ebola demands medical equipment and methods that shield a doctor or a nurse from the risk of infection. Like surgical masks, robots can offer a way for patients to be treated and monitored while reducing the risk of infection for the physician. “Robots could reduce the number of times humans handle contaminated waste or the number of people needed to carry a litter,” Murphy said. But a clinic in Liberia or Sierra Leone presents challenges to robots designed in more pristine, Western settings, and Wi-Fi access, ample electrical power, batteries and flat floor surfaces may not be readily available in areas where the robots are most needed. There are no immediate plans to send the Xenex robot to West Africa but concern over the Ebola outbreak has underscored the wider problem of hospital-associated infections in the US and other Western countries. Hundreds of patients in America die every year of infections contracted during a hospital stay, including from Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to government statistics. Dozens of the hospitals that have used the Xenex robot have reported a reduction in hospital infections, according to Melinda Hart, a spokeswoman for the robot company. The robot’s ultraviolet light can disinfect surfaces and hidden areas that even the most diligent human cleaner cannot reach. “The robot is able to eliminate the risk of human error,” said Hart. Given widespread public fears over Ebola, the Xenex robots are a reassuring presence to patients and medical workers, said Colonel Wayne Pritt, commander of the US Air Force 633rd medical group at the Langley base. “The Xenex device adds a level of surety to the process of disinfection that wasn’t possible before. With Ebola, that translates to increased confidence in staff and patients alike,” Pritt said. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 29 COMMENT Where on earth have I put them! I worry that I will spend whatever time I have left wandering the Earth looking for things I can’t find By Sharon Randall Tribune News Service W hen you think of growing old, what’s your greatest fear? Do you worry about having enough income to live on? I worry about that sometimes. But I think, hey, I’ve been poor before, there are worse things that could happen. I don’t know what those things are, but I’m sure there are lots of them. Do you fear losing your youth and your get-up-and-go, getting all wrinkled and gray and, of all things, uncool? I don’t worry about any of that stuff. It’s too late. They already happened to me years ago. My biggest fear about getting old is simple. I worry that I will spend whatever time I have left wandering the Earth looking for things I can’t find. For example: I can’t find my glasses because they’re on top my head. I can’t find the glass of water I was drinking because I drank it and put the glass in the sink. I can’t find the keys that I always keep in my purse, because somehow, the first five times I looked for them there, they were nowhere to be seen. Then on the sixth time, when I looked again - after taking apart my car, my house and my sanity - they showed up, in the purse where I always keep them. I could swear I spend half my waking hours looking for stuff I can’t find. And not just my own stuff. My husband’s, too. Recently, he walked out of the bedroom, where he had been putting away his laundry, and said to me (in that accusing tone he always takes when he tries to blame me for losing or breaking something that he lost or broke himself) “Did you do something with my red boxer shorts? I can’t find them anywhere.” “Don’t fancy yourself,” I said. “What would I possibly do with your red underwear?” “I know you don’t like those shorts,” he said. “You told me never to buy red ones again.” Allow me to explain. I come from a long line of germaphobic women who firmly believe that some things - sheets, towels and especially undergarments - need to be washed in hot water. Do you know what happens if you wash something red in hot water? Dear Sir, As a new expatriate in Qatar I had to undergo medical check-up as part of the resident visa procedure recently. I had the check-up at the Industrial Area clinic which is run by the Qatar Red Crescent Society. As a newcomer to Qatar, I have great hopes mixed with a tinge of tension. Qatar is known as one of the most hospitable places in the world. Qatari nationals are courteous and honest, true to their traditions and culture. Humanitarian values are held in high esteem in the local society. All these give me great hope and confidence. But unfortunately my experience at the Industrial Area clinic was not an encouraging one as I witnessed the way the clinic staff, most of them expatriates themselves, dealt with people visiting there. Visitors to the clinic were made to line up close to the X-ray section somewhat rudely. This, I feel, could have been done in a polite way. Most of the workers in the queue were ignorant of procedures like these. But that doesn’t mean they could not be dealt with in a better way. The staff, I felt, should undergo appropriate awareness sessions and frequent in-service training to improve the way they interact with zSharon Randall can be reached at PO Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall. com Weather report Letters Need for more politeness That’s right, you end up with a whole load of pink. “The only thing I have against those red boxers,” I said, “is they happen to be red. It doesn’t mean I got rid of them.” “Well, I looked everywhere,” he said, “and I can’t find them.” Talk about throwing down the gauntlet. For some reason, if he says he can’t find something, I feel duty bound to start looking. I looked everywhere. In the hamper. The closet. The dresser drawers. Under the bed. Behind the toilet (you don’t even want to know what you can find back there.) In the washer and dryer. I even checked the lint screen. I gave him a look. “Did you leave those shorts some place?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m not accusing you,” I said, “I’m just saying. They have to be somewhere. How about the case where you keep your bass?” He plays bass in a band. Sometimes they play late. “Be serious,” he said. “Well?” “They’re not in my bass case!” I checked. They weren’t there. Have you ever spent hours looking for something that cost next to nothing and you’re not even sorry that it’s gone? “Tell the truth,” he said. “Did you give them to Goodwill?” “I tried,” I said, “but they wouldn’t take them.” Finally, we gave up and decided to go in the hot tub to soak off a little frustration. My husband went to the bedroom to change into his swim trunks. A minute later, he came back laughing. “Look what I found!” he said, waving the boxers like a flag. “I don’t believe it! Where did you find them?” “Well,” he said, with his face turning almost as red as the boxers, “I was wearing them.” If I lose my mind, will you help me find it? Three-day forecast workers visiting the clinic for their health checks which are mandatory for all newcomers to Qatar. It is especially so since the clinic is associated with a renowned charity doing exemplary work in many parts of the world. I hope the authorities concerned will look into the matter and take necessary steps to make the place more welcoming. Thufail M K (e-mail address supplied) Root out radicalism Dear Sir, Many people and states condemn the Islamic State (IS or ISIS) group for its barbaric activities yet no one seems to speak out about the way it functions and recruits new members. Not much has been published as to why so many youth, especially from developed countries like the UK and Australia, have become a recruitment target for forces like IS. Even at the level of the UN, the only focus that is being considered is to how to tackle IS militarily to destroy the group. Common sense dictates that just trimming does not solve the problem of a diseased tree; it needs to be eradicated from its roots. Radicalisation of people has mainly two aspects: religious and economical. Let’s look at the religious aspect first. It is abundantly clear to Muslims and non-Muslims alike that forces like IS have no roots in Islam and are misrepresenting it on all fronts. Anyone who reads the Holy Qur’an with focus and understanding can never be radicalised. Second and perhaps the most fundamental reason why many educated young people are joining forces like IS, is the rise of unemployment in Western nations. Young people who have high education, sometimes even with doctorates, cannot find jobs. This has caused frustration among youth who become an easy recruitment target for militant forces like IS. One has to address fundamental causes like these which will eventually uproot this diseased tree. Muslims must grasp the true teachings of Islam. The Muslims states in specific and the world in general need to learn to act with justice. Muslim states should denounce sectarian violence which is being fuelled indirectly by some states in order to generate revenue through promoting warfare and keeping the Islamic world from unifying. The solution to joblessness lies in economic revival by scrapping policies based on interest rates. The economic crisis of 2008 should be an eye-opener to all states of the world that the current economic system based on TODAY interest and usury is not sustainable. The world needs to realise this. Otherwise this disease will spread to all parts of the world and no weapons will be able to contain it. Muslim states need to unify and become stronger in brotherhood so that once again we can see those days when Lebanon was progressing, Beirut was being called Paris of the Middle East and Baghdad was matching Europe in its splendour. High: 29 C Low: 23 C Strong wind and high seas with thunder rain TUESDAY High: 29 C Low : 24 C P Cloudy WEDNESDAY High: 28 C Low : 22 C AA (Full name and address supplied) P Cloudy Please send us your letters By e-mail [email protected] Fax 44350474 Or Post Letters to the Editor Gulf Times P O Box 2888 Doha, Qatar 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. Fishermen’s forecast OFFSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 08-18/25 KT Waves: 4-7/8 Feet INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 05-15/20 KT Waves: 1-3 Feet Around the region Abu Dhabi Baghdad Dubai Kuwait City Manama Muscat Riyadh Tehran Weather today Clear Clear Clear T Storms P Cloudy Clear C Rain P Cloudy Max/min 31/21 21/11 32/21 23/17 27/23 32/23 24/18 14/07 Weather tomorrow Clear P Cloudy Clear C Storms P Cloudy Clear P Cloudy C Rain Max/min 32/22 20/06 32/21 24/12 29/22 32/22 27/18 10/06 Weather tomorrow P Cloudy C Rain P Cloudy P Cloudy C Rain Clear C Rain P Cloudy Clear Rain C Storms Clear C Rain P Cloudy Clear Clear P Cloudy C Rain T Storms M Cloudy C Storms C Showers Cloudy Max/min 12/08 19/14 34/26 06/02 19/13 31/19 29/24 28/18 25/20 10/07 33/27 32/20 08/07 30/25 -3/-8 26/11 10/02 12/11 27/21 13/06 31/26 23/17 16/10 Live issues How probiotics are soldiers against illness By Barbara Quinn The Monterey County Herald/Tribune News Service W ho would have guessed that cowboys sitting around a campfire eating beans would be feeding their bodies’ good bacteria? In our gut (a cowboy term for “intestinal tract”) we have trillions of good guys called “probiotics” - beneficial bacteria that protect us from the bad bacteria that can make us sick. Here’s how they work: More than 1,000 species of microbes live in our digestive tract. Some are beneficial and some are harmful. When the good guys outnumber the bad, we digest our food better, have less diarrhea and constipation, and are protected from infectious diseases. Some evidence even suggests that good bacteria can help us stay lean. Probiotics don’t wear white hats but they can be identified by their distinctive titles. Common family names include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium - sometimes abbreviated L. and B. respectively. Species within these families include acidophilus and casei. Probiotics are further identified by distinct strains with specific actions within the body. More than 1,000 species of microbes live in our digestive tract For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a well-studied probiotic for digestive health found in a product called Culturelle. Bifodobacterium lactis - a probiotic found in Activia yogurt was found to protect the lining of the intestinal tract in people with a sensitivity to gluten. Perhaps the most studied use of probiotics is in the prevention of diarrhoea due to antibiotic use. Lactobacillus GC, L.rhamnosus, and S.boulardi have been shown to be effective good guys in this arena. Dan Active - a yogurt that rounds up L. bulgaricus, S.thermophilus, and L.casei - lowered the risk for antibiotic-associated diarrhea caused by the bad germ, Clostridium difficile (aka “C.dif”). Probiotics in food run with the cultured crowd. Yogurt, buttermilk and kefir as well as fermented vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut are home to many of these good guys. Look for products that feature “live and active cultures.” Just like rough and tough cowboys, good gut bacteria need to be fed. They thrive on fibres found in whole grains, fruit, vegetables and beans, of course. These “prebiotic” dietary fibres thus nourish the good “probiotics” that keep us well. When we eat a varied diet, we ingest a posse of these good guys to more effectively fight the bad guys. A 2014 update on probiotics for human health from Martin Floch at Yale University lists how specific strains of probiotics have been used to prevent or control diseases of the digestive tract, especially those related to diarrhea and bowel disease. Yet we still have much to learn about which probiotics are useful for certain medical conditions. One caution: Even though probiotics are “Generally Recognised As Safe” by the US Food and Drug Administration, they should not be used willy nilly, especially in people with critical illnesses. zBarbara Quinn is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. Email her at [email protected] 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 P Cloudy P Cloudy P Cloudy Rain C Rain Clear C Storms P Cloudy P Cloudy Rain T Storms Clear Clear P Cloudy Cloudy Clear Rain Cloudy C Rain Cloudy T Storms C Storms Cloudy Max/min 14/09 18/12 34/25 08/03 20/13 25/17 30/23 28/17 24/21 11/08 33/27 33/17 09/02 30/25 -2/-6 25/11 19/09 11/10 25/19 12/05 30/26 28/21 17/10 30 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 QATAR Sheikh Faisal Centre inaugurated at business college in Chicago T he new Sheikh Faisal Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business in Chicago has been inaugurated by HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani on behalf of Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation (ALF). The new centre aims to foster entrepreneurship through exchange programmes that will allow DePaul University students to study in Qatar, while giving Qatari students the opportunity to go to Chicago to work with business college faculty and alumni. The long-term collaboration supports entrepreneurship and business development in Qatar and the Middle East. Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim alThani, chairman, ALF, said the launch marks a milestone for entrepreneurship for students at DePaul University and students in Qatar. He said that Qatar has launched many initiatives to support enterprise and is investing heavily to enhance op- Qatar International Motor Show to begin on Feb 6 Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has announced that the fifth edition of the Qatar International Motor Show will be held from February 6 to 10, 2015, at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) in Doha. The motor show will continue to grow in size and visibility, and showcase the passion this region has for the automotive industry, QTA has said in a statement, adding that automobile aficionados, motorsports enthusiasts and professionals from the automotive sector are eagerly waiting for the fifth edition of the event after experiencing five days of excitement last year. Hosted by QTA in conjunction with q.media and Fira de Barcelona, the Qatar International Motor Show has become one of the most talked-about international annual events in the automotive calendar. The fourth edition of the show was held between February 21 and 25 at QNCC and clocked an unprecedented registration of online passes prior to the show and a record-breaking 70,000 visitors from over 100 countries, according to the statement. The fifth edition is slated to surpass the previous one in terms of participation and number of visitors, QTA has said. The venue is being designed specifically to celebrate the fifth edition and will have an environment charged with adrenalin associated with motorsports. The show will exhibit notable international car and motorcycle brands that will display their latest models in the luxury, sport, mid-size and SUV segments. Visitors can witness and participate in presentations, hosted talks, photo exhibitions and a whole spectrum of automobilerelated activities at the motor show, which is a highly interactive platform. Motorsports celebrities and experts are expected to enthral visitors as well. portunities in the private sector, providing many first-class educational facilities to support the next generation to become tomorrow’s leaders achieve success. Ray Whittington, dean of the Driehaus College of Business, said: “Our faculty and successful alumni entrepreneurs look forward to working with emerging entrepreneurs from Qatar and throughout the Middle East to support their continued development into a thriving, professional class. The centre will also provide a great opportunity for DePaul students to gain real-world experience on an international stage.” The newly-formed centre will also hold an annual conference in Chicago that convenes an international audience of business leaders in an effort to expose students to the business world. It will serve as a source of professional knowledge for Qatar entrepreneurs and those who do business in the Middle East. Sheikh Faisal will also host a business competition in Qatar for emerging entrepreneurs. Both parties believe that this initiative will strengthen the entrepreneurial spirit at both DePaul and in Qatar. “Al Faisal Without Borders Foundation is a strong supporter of Qatar’s vision and this agreement will help to accelerate knowledge transfer, which is very important for success in business,” Sheikh Faisal observed. “With a booming economy and excellent educational system we are sure that this centre will foster the entrepreneurial spirit and help to fuel Qatar’s thriving economy.” The Sheikh Faisal Centre will facilitate a Young Entrepreneur Academy that develops new generations of Qatari and US entrepreneurs and business leaders through student exchange programmes. DePaul plans to host a group of Qatari students each summer on its Chicago campus where they will work with the business college faculty and alumni entrepreneurs to apply entrepreneurship theory and practice in developing their own business plans. Additionally, a group of Driehaus College of Business students who are enrolled in programmes related to business development in the Middle East will have the opportunity to participate in a study abroad programme in Qatar. DePaul University is a private university in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1898, and serving nearly 25,000 students. The Driehaus College of Business is one of the oldest business schools in the US. The launch of The Sheikh Faisal Centre was also attended by Abdullatif al-Yafei (ALF general manager), Patricia Donoghue (interim president of DePaul University, Chicago), Tarek El Sayed (group chief financial officer, Al Faisal Holding and managing director of Aamal QSC), and Ali Mare (executive director, ALF). HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani with al-Yafei, Donoghue, El Sayed, Mare and another official at the launch of the Sheikh Faisal Centre for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East at DePaul University in Chicago. Based in Qatar, ALF is a charitable foundation that promotes sustainable development and improved quality of life for QRC launches workshop on �national shelter system in US’ Q atar Red Crescent (QRC) yesterday launched a workshop titled “national shelter system in the US.” The two-day event is in participation with the American Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), Qatar’s Shelter Committee, and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI). The objective is to review the US experience in collective shelter during disasters and explore how to make use of it, in the course of sharing experience and enhancing co-operation with different components of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The opening ceremony was attended by Saleh bin Ali alMohannadi, QRC secretarygeneral; Brigadier General Hamad bin Othman al-Dehaimi, secretary-general of the Permanent Emergency Committee and operation director of Qatar’s Civil Defence; and Anne palmer, division disaster state relations director at the American Red Cross. Al-Mohannadi welcomed the guests and partners, confirming that QRC plays a principal role in disaster preparedness and has considerable potential and strong relationship with IFRC, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 189 National Societies worldwide. “Following the establishment of the Shelter Committee, which we are honoured to be a member of, it was advisable to utilise experiences in the international arena, remarkably the American Red Cross, Al-Mohannadi welcomes the workshop participants yesterday as Brigadier General al-Dehaimi and Palmer look on. which plays an essential role in disaster response locally and internationally, particularly in sheltering. “This will help the State of Qatar have a top-level shelter system. In tandem with the Permanent Emergency Committee, we have already conducted certain studies and measures, which, together with this workshop, would be an excellent start to get some basic information and avoid past mistakes,” he added. Palmer thanked QRC for giv- ing the American Red Cross the opportunity to be a part of the workshop. She explained that the US is particularly vulnerable to all sorts of disasters, from hurricanes to floods to tornadoes to volcanoes. “We have seen a real need for key shelter centres across the nation to provide disasters response services, so that leaders can have an understanding of our national recourses, the affected communities, their needs, and how governments and NGOs can work to- gether to effectively allocate resources especially in terms of large-scale response,” she pointed out. Palmer concluded by hoping that the Qatari programme will make a big success, and that the American Red Cross will share beneficial experience and data from its already existing national system, which was established in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina and saw enhancements in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. people around the world. Aiming at managing development programmes and providing humanitarian and relief aid, the philanthropic not-for-profit organisation partners with governments, charities and other NGOs around the world. Vodafone helps refurbish 1,700 handsets in five months V odafone Qatar has announced that is has helped refurbish a total of 1,700 handsets over the last five months. The initiative is in line with the company’s focus on sustainability and follows in the steps taken by Vodafone globally to reduce waste and prolong products’ lifecycle, according to a statement. Between April and October, Vodafone has refurbished a total of 137,713 handsets across 16 markets, including Qatar. The initiative kick-started in June, shortly after the launch of Vodafone 4G in Doha, and allowed customers to exchange their old handsets with a 4G-enabled smartphone to enjoy Vodafone 4G. Old handsets were then refurbished by HYLA Mobile, which also ensured 100% data security for customers by professionally wiping the phones before refurbishing or reselling. To run this initiative, Vodafone partnered with HYLA Mobile, formerly known as eRecycling Corps, one of the world’s leading providers of products and services that capture, extend and optimise the life and value of used mobile phones. The trade-in scheme is a permanent offer from Vodafone through which any cus- tomer can trade in their phone at any Vodafone store in Qatar. Customers can check the value of their phone prior to the trade-in via http://www.vodafone.qa/en/smartphones/ special-deals/tradein Dana Haidan, head of CSR and sustainability at Vodafone Qatar, said: “At Vodafone, we aim to reduce the environmental impacts of our products and services, empowering our customers to make more sustainable choices. For many years, we have encouraged customers to return their unwanted handsets and accessories to Vodafone for reuse, where possible, and for recycling... through the new trade-in scheme, we offer both consumers and business customers an attractive incentive to return used phones and tablets, which is store credit.” “We’re very happy to be partnering with Vodafone in Qatar to deliver such an initiative, which has considerable economic, environmental and social benefits to the community it serves. At HYLA Mobile, we are transforming the wireless ecosystem by helping consumers realise and take advantage of the residual value of their used devices and are providing a reliable and responsible way of collecting, processing and distributing used mobile phones,” HYLA Mobile said. Ras Laffan Community in tie-up with INJAZ Qatar T he Ras Laffan Community Outreach Programme (COP) has announced its partnership with INJAZ Qatar to support the Maqad Al Duha Programme, organised by the Quodorat Training and Development Centre. Maqad Al Duha aims to provide support to an important group of society, namely female retirees and senior citizens who have life skills and practical experiences that can be utilised and taught to younger generations, by encouraging the spirit of volunteerism among them, and promoting their full participation at community events. Between 2014 and 2016, Maqad Al Duha will transfer the knowledge and experiences of these women to younger generations of Qataris, either through conducting training workshops in schools, or organising site visits to various facilities of the state, and in turn activate their roles in the community as valuable and active contributing members. In partnership with INJAZ Qatar, experienced volunteers among the retired women will be engaged in teaching the organisation’s curricula, by co-ordinating with the schools located in the northern region. Thus, for the first time, INJAZ Qatar will serve as a link between retirees and schools. Typically, INJAZ Qatar relies on the efforts of employees from various companies to teach its curricula at several secondary and preparatory local independent schools, and universities in Qatar. A total of 10 retired women have been registered to teach INJAZ Qatar’s curricula at the participating schools in the northern region from November through January, for an hour per week over the span of five to six weeks. Moza al-Mohannadi, the community liaison lead at Ras Laffan COP, said, “We consider elders as a very important group in our communities due to their wide range of expertise and skills. We believe that they can be used as a resource for the benefit of society, and this is what we are doing through our sponsorship of the Maqad Al Duha Programme.” COP aims to build communication bridges based on trust and co-operation between the industrial companies located in the northern region of Qatar and the local community. It also serves to benefit the local community as a whole by working in partnership with public institutions in supporting several cul- tural, educational, health, environmental, security and safety initiatives. The programme supports industrial companies in the northern region, including Qatar Petroleum, Al Khaleej Gas, RasGas, Qatargas, Dolphin Energy Limited, Pearl GTL and Oryx GTL; and covers Smaismah, Al Daayen, Umm Qarn, Al Khor, Al Dhakira, Al Kaaban, Al Ghariyah, Al Ghuwairiya, Madinat Ash Shamal, Al Ruwais, Abu Az Zuluf and Fuwayrit. The programme also supports several initiatives across various fields, whether cultural, educational, health, environmental, safety or security, and contributes in providing direct support to local programmes/facilities, such as community cultural centres, youth centres, women’s associations and several community initiatives. Officials and resource persons at an event organised by the Ras Laffan Community Outreach Programme. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 31 QATAR Ooredoo contest winners meet brand ambassador Messi A group of 12 talented young people had the chance to meet sporting hero and Ooredoo brand ambassador Leo Messi in Barcelona, Spain, this week, as Ooredoo’s “Simply Do Wonders” competition concluded. The young sports fans won the competition after uploading videos of themselves displaying their football skills to the dedicated website, Simplydowonders.com. They were flown from countries across Ooredoo’s footprint on an allexpenses-paid trip to meet and show their football skills to Messi at training facilities in Barcelona. While visiting Barcelona, the children also saw Messi playing football during an official match. The winners came from Tunisia, the Maldives, Qatar, Indonesia, Algeria, Kuwait and Palestine. The company also extended two additional places for children from Gaza. “This talented group of young people is an inspiration. Despite the challenges many of them face, they are passionate about football and the life op- portunities that sport can provide. The reason I began the Leo Messi Foundation and teamed up with Ooredoo is to let children know that if they work hard, they really can do wonders. Ooredoo’s support for this contest and their ongoing work to promote sport and healthy lifestyles is a great example of how leading companies can make a difference,” said Messi. “This competition has brought football fans from around the world together and showcased the skills and aspirations of young people. Working with Leo Messi has enabled us to reach a whole new audience, and we hope that together we can keep them engaged and supported through our initiatives for young people,” said Dr Nasser Marafih, Group CEO of Ooredoo. “Simply Do Wonders” was Ooredoo’s first ever global communication campaign with Messi and involved a television commercial as well as advertising across media. During its run, more than 11mn people viewed the advertisement online, making it the most-seen video ever from an Arab brand on YouTube, according to a statement. Ooredoo Group received over 500,000 posts on Instagram, 110,000 engagements with the brand on Twitter and 130,000 new fans on Facebook during the period, awarding the Ooredoo Group Facebook page the number one telecommunications profile in terms of engagement in July, according to SocialBakers. The TV commercial was also named the 10th top viral video in the world during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. The company is continuing to work with the Leo Messi Foundation on its ongoing mobile health clinic programme, which provides healthcare services for remote areas in Indonesia, Myanmar, Algeria and Tunisia. In Indonesia, 16 mobile health clinics have provided free healthcare services for more than 600,000 people. The mobile health clinics have been particularly effective following natural disasters and emergencies, and have now expanded their activities to include providing medicine, vaccinations and education on infectious diseases for children and their families. Messi with the youngsters. HE Dr al-Kuwari and HE Sheikha Mayassa with officials of QPI and Qatar Shell and others. Qatar Brazil 2014 platinum sponsors honoured at MIA Q atar Museums honoured the platinum sponsors of the Qatar Brazil 2014 Year of Culture - Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) and Qatar Shell - during a VIP private gala dinner held recently at the Museum of Islamic Art featuring Brazilianinspired cuisine and entertainment. The event was attended by HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari and Qatar Museums chairperson HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. The Years of Culture is an annual initiative by Qatar Museums and co-organised by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, aiming to forge new partnerships between Qatar and the world through cultural exchange in the areas of community, culture and sport. As platinum sponsors of Qatar Brazil 2014, QPI and Qatar Shell have provided long-term support to Qatar Museums and the ministry in presenting cultural programming that brings the people of Qatar and Brazil together to create mutual understanding that will last generations. Nasser al-Jaidah, CEO of QPI, said: “Qatar Petroleum International is proud to be sponsoring the Qatar Brazil Year of Culture, an important initiative that aims to expand knowledge, develop creative leaders and drive progress in support of Qatar National Vision 2030. Following QPI’s investment in Brazil’s oil-producing project, BC-10, the Years of Culture initiative provided us with the opportunity to demonstrate our strong commitment to building global partnerships and creating a positive impact in the international communities where we operate.” Wael Sawan, managing director and chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, said: “Qatar Shell, in partnership with Qatar Petroleum International, is honoured to be the platinum sponsor of the Qatar-Brazil Year of Culture, which brings us and other key organisations in Qatar together to celebrate the richness of Qatari and Brazilian cultures and to appreciate their distinctive contributions to the world.” Guests at the event had the opportunity to explore the BC-10 exhibition, showcasing the strategic partnership with QPI and Shell. Under an agreement, QPI has acquired ownership in an oil production project called Parque das Conchas (BC-10), located in offshore Brazil. QPI shipped the first internationally acquired oil cargo for Qatar from the BC-10 project earlier this month. The Qatar Brazil 2014 events to date have been highly successful, according to a statement. Early in the year, Qatar Brazil 2014 and the National Museum of Qatar hosted Kheit, an international fashion design competition, for students from Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar and the Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo in Brazil. Brazil was also well-represented during the Qatar International Food Festival in March at the MIA park. The Qatar Brazil zone attracted thousands of visitors to take part in Brazilian dance, music and food over the course of the three-day festival. During each month this year, Doha Film Institute and Qatar Museums have screened Brazilian movies as part of the Brazil Cinema Showcase. In June, the photography exhibition Qatar Brazil: A Journey from the Amazon to the Desert opened at Katara, featuring the works of two Qatari photographers from the Qatar Photographic Society as they journeyed across Brazil with Qatar Museums, as well as works from two Brazilian photographers’ exchange trip across Qatar. In July, Qatar Museums’ exhibition Pearls opened to great acclaim at the renowned Museu de Arte Brasileira (Brazilian Museum of Art) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Qatar Museums and the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage also hosted Qatar Week in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where numerous Qatari artisans travelled to showcase Qatari cultural traditions, including music, coffee, henna and ardha. Qatar Museums and Qatar Fine Arts Association has collaborated with Brazilian artist and curator Luiz Dolino to host a contemporary art exhibition with works by Qatari and Brazilian artists. Then, on October 30, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra performed a concert featuring Brazilian conductor Claudio Cohen as part of the Year of Culture. Finally, Qatar had the opportunity to experience the tastes, sounds and excitement of Brazil during the Brazil Festival at MIA Park from November 6 to 8. Rota drive to enhance local youth’s capabilities T he organisers of the `Back to the Future’ campaign of Qatar Foundation’s Reach Out to Asia have announced their forthcoming campaign aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the local youth and empowering them for major initiatives in future. At a briefing yesterday the organisers said they were expecting 32 talented individuals who they hope to develop in to enlightened individuals by the end of the programme. Changes, the youth organisation of which some of the organisers were members, it was told, is working to create frameworks of developmental thoughts of the country’s youth to help them cope with the requirements of the time. Selected youths, mostly in the age group 15-17 will undergo intensive training programme to be hosted by professional trainers. The workshops that the organise will hold in the coming days will focus on enhancing the hid- den talents and capabilities of the participants. The main goals of the organisation, they said, is to provide youth with projects that promote the culture of devotion in the areas of voluntary assistance, charitable and awareness works. To give the youth a proper direction to utilise their talents, and direct resources to support the development of educational concepts among members of the society. Season’s first rains Strengthening the noble values of the community and build bridges of communication and understanding. Among those present at the briefing were Founder and President of the Changers Khader Ibrahim Sulaiman, last year’s participants Rashid al-Kuwari and Sarah al-Sabah and Rota’s Community Development Manager Abdullah al-Bakri and trainer Mukthar al-Mukthar. QDF opens Giorgio Armani boutique at HIA Q Doha received the first rains of the season yesterday evening. Thunder showers, accompanied by strong winds, have been forecast until 6pm today by the Met Office. Earlier, scattered rains were forecast today and tomorrow in many places in Qatar. Picture shows a scene from C Ring Road. PICTURE: Hussain Ali The organisers of the `Back to Future’ programme explaining the features of their campaign. atar Duty Free (QDF) has announced the official opening of its Giorgio Armani boutique at Hamad International Airport (HIA). Adding to the overall shopping experience of passengers looking for luxury brands as they travel through the airport, and supporting QDF’s strategy of positioning HIA as a world-class retail hub for global travellers, this is the first Giorgio Armani boutique to be opened in any airport in the Middle East, according to a statement by QDF. The launch follows the opening of Armani Junior in September at the airport, which has already proved popular with passengers enjoying the mix of global brands available within the 25,000sqm of retail space at HIA. This is the first Armani Junior boutique in the world to be opened in an airport environment, the statement adds. “Qatar Duty Free welcomes these exciting new additions to the brand lineup at Hamad International Airport,” said Keith Hunter, senior vice-president of QDF. “At Qatar Duty Free, we are entirely focused on satisfying the needs of our passengers by hand-picking brands that will go that extra mile and make the maximum effort to appeal to our travelling guests. Giorgio Armani and Armani Junior not only meet these expectations but surpass them on every level, as our guests will discover when they visit our new boutiques.” The Giorgio Armani boutique covers an area of over 190sqm and is entirely dedicated to ready-to-wear collections and accessories for men and women. Brushed silk - which is the main material used in the boutique, walls lined with special fabric panels and contrasting backlit onyx, floors finished with beige Giorgio Armani boutique at HIA. polished stone and large Armani/ Casa greige linen carpets add an intimate and refined touch, while a visually striking, shiny fauxfinished ceiling emphasises the boutique’s sophisticated and elegant atmosphere. Invisible downlights outline the space and shine a direct light onto the garments and accessories on display, according to the statement. At HIA, QDF offers 40,000sqm of combined retail, food and beverage facilities. With more than 70 retail outlets offering a wide range of designer labels, fashion, electronics, gourmet foods and more, QDF at HIA caters to all passengers’ tastes. In addition, more than 30 cafes and restaurants offer a selection of global and local cuisine. SPORTS DEALS | Page 3 SURPRISE MOVE | Page 6 Qatar, French firms explore construction China rate cut knocks legs off yuan rally Monday, November 24, 2014 Safar 02, 1436 AH ALFARDAN GROUP PARTNER: Page 16 GULF TIMES BUSINESS Qatar key regional growth market: Rolls-Royce Cars chief executive QIC eyes $250mn from convertible notes By Santhosh V Perumal Business Reporter Q QIC board has okayed $250mn convertible notes. atar Insurance Company (QIC), a dominant risk provider, is raising $250mn (QR910mn) by issuing convertible notes to the General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority (GRSA) as part of its efforts to shore up the capital base and strengthen the solvency regime. “As per the solvency and capital adequacy reviews conducted by the company, it is projected that we need to increase the capital at the end of 2015 or during 2016, in line with the projected future expansion plans,” QIC vice chairman Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah said, officiating as the chairman of the general assembly of shareholders. Based on the reviews and analysis, the QCI board has resolved to issue convertible notes totalling $250mn with maturity of five years and annual coupon, which is yet to be agreed upon. The notes, which could be converted any time after three years of issuance and priced at a premium once converted, will not exceed 8mn shares, which represent only 5% of the current share capital. While preparing the future business plan for the coming years, the company has factored in the targeted expansion in the global and reinsurance activities, in addition to the expected growth in the local and regional operations (direct insurance) as a result of the upcoming infrastructure development projects planned across the region, al-Attiyah said. Together with these projected business plans, he said, “QIC has conducted appropriate reviews and analysis to ensure that the solvency and the capital adequacy norms are maintained to meet the anticipated future expansion in activities that would be sufficient to bring us to the level of international standards adopted by global insurance and reinsurance supervisory and regulatory bodies.” The GRSA has offered to solely and fully acquire these convertible notes. The board agreed to this offer taking into consideration that the national capital has to be given priority in any future expansion plans of the company, and also because the GRSA is a govern- ment entity and as such, no limit is imposed upon the number of shares it can hold in the company as per Article (7) of the company’s amended Articles of Association. QIC, which led the domestic insurance companies consortium in covering one of the major projects of Doha Metro, has successfully acquired the UK-based Lloyds Syndicate operations Antares Holdings Limited in a QR1bnplus deal, which was fully financed through its internal funds. Currently, Antares Holdings, together with the reinsurance company of QIC �Qatar Re’, constitutes the key pillars of QIC’s international operations which currently represent around 60% of the overall insurance revenue for QIC. This was reflected in the net profit of QR780mn achieved at the end of September 30 compared to QR535mn during the same period of last year. The mammoth infrastructure development programme, in the run-up to both 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2019 World Athletics Championship, has provided ample opportunities to the insurance sector, prompting many global players to set their foot in Qatar. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 3 BUSINESS Qatar, French firms explore construction prospects in sports By Peter Alagos Business Reporter M embers of a French business delegation met with Qatari businessmen yesterday to expand trade relations and explore opportunities in construction-related projects in the sports industry. France-Qatar Business Council chairman Yves-Thibault de Silguy and the accompanying delegation composed of some 32 French companies were welcomed by Qatar Chamber officials led by board member Mohamed Mahdi al-Ahbabi at the QC headquarters. Arnaud Berthet of French Team 4 Sport (FT4S) delivered a presentation on smart city and sports infrastructures, as well as sports event management. Berthet said FT4S aims to promote partnerships between Qatar and France by introducing French firms to Qatari developers and local firms and inform decision makers and advisers about “French know-how.” “We also want to propose a large scope of expertise with high added value in one global portfolio from management of large integrated projects to innovative and proven solutions for specific needs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large groups, and financing to design, implementation, management, operation and maintenance,” he said. Berthet added that FT4S has expertise from four clusters, namely construction and transportation; energy and environment; security and telecommunications; and communication, events and services “to answer Qatar’s needs.” Al-Ahbabi said the meeting also served as a follow-up of the Qatar-French Business Forum, which was attended by HH the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad alThani during his official visit to France in June. This was echoed by French Ambassador Eric Chevallier, who assured that French companies “could match Qatar’s desire for excellence,” specifically preparations related to the country’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines, de Silguy underscored the importance of “frequent contacts” between French and Qatari businesses. “These meetings create a good business climate and investment relations. It opens the opportunity to present an Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed Mahdi al-Ahbabi (centre) and other QC officials. French Ambassador Eric Chevallier. Right: France-Qatar Business Council chairman Yves-Thibault de Silguy. PICTURES: Nasser TK offer, get to know the country well, specifically its business climate and political situations that are supportive to investments,” de Silguy said. He said the meeting was the initiative of Medef International (Mouvement des Enterprises de France International), a global organisation represented by 800,000 French companies. Big-ticket companies such as Dassault Aviation, Alstom, GDF Suez, Groupe SNCF, Bouygues Construction, Thales, and Vinci as well as innovative SMEs were present during the meeting. Marc Auberger, president of Future French Champions (FCC), elaborated on the €300mn partnership forged between CDC International Capital, the investment subsidiary of Caisse des Dépôts Group, and Qatar Holding on June 23, 2013. The partnership, Auberger said, was based on a shared approach of investment, corporate governance, and development strategies with the objective of financing the development of French enterprises to promote future French champions. With the intention to invest a minimum of €15mn per transaction, Auberger said, “FCC would seek companies that demonstrate strong commercial viability and high growth potential, could benefit from potential business opportunities in relation to Qatar and the greater Mena (Middle East and North Africa) region, and the expected return of the investment must be in line with private equity markets.” Amwal wins �Best Asset Manager’ in Qatar award I ndependent asset management firm Amwal has been awarded “Best Asset Manager” for the fourth consecutive year by Emea Finance in recognition of the company’s investment performance track record. Amwal CEO Fahmi Alghussein said, “I am delighted that our team was recognised for our disciplined and robust investment process once again. We take pride in being the only asset manager in Qatar whose fund has outperformed the index every calendar year since 2006.” He added, “Amwal’s Qatar Gate Fund over the past five years has successfully achieved gross returns of 57% above the benchmark Qatar Exchange Price Index and was ranked the No 1 equity fund in the Mena region for 2013.” In 2014, Amwal was appointed the manager for Al Hayer GCC fund. “We are confident that we will replicate our home market success in a wider GCC context using the same rigorous fundamental approach to investing”, Alghussein said. Amwal’s flagship products include the Qatar Gate Fund, in partnership with Ahli Bank as well as the Al Hayer GCC Fund, in association with Doha Bank. Both products aim to achieve sustainable long-term capital appreciation. “Over the past 16 years, Amwal’s performance and pioneering investment approach have earned the respect of investors and industry peers both in Qatar and the region. We are confident that this award further cements our strong positioning and market leadership and encourages us to continue offering innovative products and services that deliver maximum sustainable return on QNB lead sponsor of Euromoney Doha Conference 2014 Q NB has announced its lead sponsorship of the 2014 Euromoney Conference to be held in Doha today and tomorrow at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The conference, entitled “Global Finance: Re-launched,” is considered a “major event” in the financial world, bringing together industry leaders from around the world to discuss pressing global financial issues, especially those relating to Qatar and its economy. Held under the patronage of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, the conference will feature a host of prominent speakers, including HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi, HE the Governor of the Qatar Central Bank Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani, and Rodrigo de Rato, former managing director of the International Monetary Fund. “QNB’s sponsorship of the event is part of its commitment to promote financial excellence in Qatar and elsewhere and in nurturing financial knowledge and expertise in the country to pump new knowledge into the economy and achieve the 2030 national vision,’ said QNB Group acting CEO Ali Ahmed al-Kuwari, who will be among the main speakers at the event. Euromoney magazine was created in 1969 to cover the re-emergence of the international cross-border capital markets. The Euromarket, after which the magazine was named, was the predecessor to today’s mainstream global capital markets. The publication has championed the capital market and its growth to become “the prime magazine” of the wholesale financial world, its institutions, and its readers. QNB said it was proud to be a frequent recipient of the Euromoney awards, which the magazine bestows during an annual awarding ceremony to recognise industry leaders. The bank also said its recent award, “Best Bank in the Middle East,” has reflected QNB’s “excellent services” to clients across its network operating in more than 26 countries across three continents with a total of more than 14,000 employees in 610-plus locations. Page 16 investments,” Alghussein said. Established in 1998 by founder and chairperson Sheikha Hanadi bint Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani, Amwal was Qatar’s first independent asset management firm that supported the development of the financial services industry in Qatar. A leading asset management firm with a track record in managing equities, Amwal offers non-banking financial advice to Qatari investors and helps them realise wealth and asset management aspirations, according to a statement. QSE drops below 13,800 By Santhosh V Perumal Business Reporter T he Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday fell below the 13,800 level, mainly dragged down by telecom, consumer goods and banks. Local retail investors hurriedly squared off their positions, which led the 20-stock Qatar Index (based on price data) to fall 0.66% to 13,754.89 points as volumes also shrank. Large, mid and micro cap equities largely came under selling pressure in the market, which is, however, up 32.52% year-todate. The index that tracks Shariah-principled stock was seen melting faster than the other indices in the bourse, where realty and banks stocks together accounted for about 73% of the total trading volume. The Total Return Index shed 0.66% to 20,515.29 points, the All Share Index by 0.6% to 3,491.19 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 0.94% to 4,655.26 points. Market capitalisation shrank 0.63%, or about QR5bn, to QR745.92bn with large, mid, micro and small caps losing 0.94%, 0.5%, 0.48% and 0.16% respectively. Telecom stocks deflated 1.27%, followed by consumer goods (0.82%), banks and financial services (0.81%), industrials (0.52%), realty (0.22%), transport (0.12%) and insurance (0.08%). About 70% of the stocks were in the red with major losers being QNB, Industries Qatar, Ooredoo, Qatar Islamic Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Vodafone Qatar, Al Meera, Aamal Company and Barwa. However, Ezdan, Mazaya Group, Islamic Holding Group and Salam International Investment bucked the trend. Qatari retail investors’ net selling surged to QR42.68mn against QR18.21mn the previous trading day. However, non-Qatari individual investors turned net buyers to the tune of QR18.28mn compared with net sellers of QR20.05mn last Thursday. Foreign institutions’ net buying fell to QR14.39mn against QR18.85mn on November 20. Domestic institutions’ net buying was down to QR10.07mn compared to QR19.41mn the previous trading day. Total trade volume fell 34% to 7.92mn shares, value by 25% to QR599.59mn and transactions by 29% to 5,673. The telecom sector’s trade volume plummeted 81% to 0.15mn equities, value by 45% to QR10.63mn and deals by 42% to 167. The insurance sector saw its trade volume plunge 79% to 0.07mn stocks, value by 82% to QR3.78mn and transactions by 77% to 65. The consumer goods sector’s trade volume tanked 552% to 0.54mn shares, value by 45% to QR68.66mn and deals by 45% to 521. There was a 39% decline in the transport sector’s trade volume to 0.47mn equities, 43% in value to QR22.78mn and 30% in transactions to 271. The industrials sector’s trade volume fell 36% to 0.94mn stocks, value by 33% to QR107.14mn and deals by 35% to 1,325. The market witnessed a 35% decline in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 2.5mn shares, 38% in value to QR72.88mn and 29% in transactions to 950. The banks and financial services sector trade volume was down 8% to 3.25mn equities, value by less than 1% to QR313.62mn and deals by 12% to 2,374. In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and government bonds. Oil, global equities support Gulf markets A slight rebound in oil prices and a rally in global equities supported most stock markets in the Middle East yesterday, but profit-taking continued in Qatar. Brent crude climbed back above $80 a barrel and global stock markets also rose on Friday after China made a surprise interest rate cut and the European Central Bank indicated it would step up asset purchases. China is a major market for Gulf petrochemicals firms such as Saudi Basic Industries (Sabic), shares of which jumped 2.4% yesterday and helped Saudi Arabia’s index to a 1.1% gain. Most other stocks also rose, but Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) edged down 0.4% after the telecoms operator suspended chief executive Khalid al-Kaf after the company restated 18 months of previously announced earnings, wiping out $381mn of prior profit. Egypt’s index rose 0.2% as shares in Amer Group climbed by 5.5% after the company said it would split its core real estate business from its hospitality, retail, food and entertainment operations. “Given the lack of listed securities in retail, food and hospitality segment in Egypt, the non-real estate business could get a premium valuation from local as well as foreign investors,” Harshjit Oza, property and banking analyst at Cairo-based Naeem brokerage, said in a note. Dubai’s index gained 1.5% as most stocks rose. Emaar Properties, the emirate’s largest listed developer, was the main support with a 3.7% rise to 11.30 dirhams. Abu Dhabi’s index edged up 0.1% on the back of Aldar Properties’ 2.2% gain. Shares in National Bank of Ras Al Khaimah (RAKBank) rose 2.1% to 9.65 dirhams after breaking through resistance at 9.30 dirhams in the previous session. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Kuwait’s index inched up 0.1% to 6,995 points; Oman’s index rose 0.9% to 7,139 points, while Bahrain’s measure added 0.5% to 1,449 points. 4 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 BUSINESS Iran may propose 1mn bpd Opec cut in Saudi talks Bloomberg Dubai I ran may propose that Opec cuts its output target by as much as 1mn barrels a day to prop up prices when the country’s oil minister meets his Saudi counterpart as the group gathers this week, Mehr News reported. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh and Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi will confer on the sidelines of the meeting in Vienna of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to define a common view among its 12 members for supporting crude prices, state-run Mehr reported, without saying where it got the information. An official in Iran’s ministry didn’t immediately comment when contacted by phone. Opec, supplier of about 40% of the world’s oil, will meet November 27 in the Austrian capital to assess its collective output amid a supply glut and a 27% drop in prices this year. Half the analysts in a Bloomberg survey last week forecast that Opec would cut production to shore up prices, while the other half said they didn’t see it deviating from an official 30mn barrel-aday production target. “It would be supportive to the market,” Tom James, managing director of consultancy Navitas Resources, said by phone from Dubai, referring to a possible Opec cut. “I’m not sure it would be enough to really push up prices and to get them back into the $90s.” The drop in Brent crude, with the global benchmark trading at less than $80 a barrel last week, has prompted speculation of an Opec cut. Officials from oilproducing countries stepped up diplomatic visits before the group’s meeting, discussing how to react to the plunge in prices to a four-year low. James said he expects Opec will refrain from announcing any output reduction this week since he sees prices stabilising. Rather the group will monitor prices and demand into the first quarter next year to determine if a cut is warranted at that time, he said. Saudi Arabia, Opec’s biggest member, remains committed to seeking stable prices, Al-Naimi said November 12 in Mexico Rafael Ramirez, Venezuela’s Opec representative, visited Algeria, Qatar, Iran and Russia. Zanganeh traveled to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. Zanganeh may also meet with Alexander Novak, Russia’s energy minister, in Vienna this week, Mehr reported. Russia, while not an Opec member, said it will send Novak and Igor Sechin, head of state-controlled OAO Rosneft, the country’s largest crude producer, for meetings with Opec officials. Two-thirds of global oil production comes from non-Opec producers, Suhail Al Mazrouei, the UAE’s energy minister, said in comments on his Twitter account yesterday. Producers, par- ticularly those pumping crude from shale formations, “shall be concerned as we are in Opec” about stability in crude markets and about finding a sustainable balance between supply and demand, he said. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow November 21, and the countries said in a joint statement they’ll coordinate on “issues” affecting the energy and oil markets, without giving more detail. Saudi Arabia and Russia are the world’s two biggest oil exporters. International sanctions imposed on Iran over its nuclear programme are choking the Persian Gulf nation’s crude exports. The government in Tehran is negotiating with the US and five other world powers for an agreement to lift the curbs. The countries have set a November 24 deadline for final agreement, three days before Opec meets. Opec will meet on November 27 in the Austrian capital to assess its collective output amid a supply glut and a 27% drop in prices this year. Opec divided on output before crucial meeting AFP London T he Opec oil producers will hold one of its toughest and most significant meetings in recent years as, faced with sliding prices, its members must contemplate whether to cut output. Ahead of Thursday’s meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Vienna, home to the cartel’s headquarters, its dozen member countries are split on what direction to take after a 30% drop in crude prices since June has slashed revenues. Opec’s poorer members, led by Venezuela and Ecuador, have called publicly for a cut in output, while Iran has hinted at a need to reduce production. But the Opec’s Gulf members, led by Saudi Arabia, are rejecting calls to pump out less oil unless they are guaranteed market share in the highly competitive arena, according to analysts. Separately, Russia— which is not a member of Opec but is nevertheless a major crude producer— declared on Friday that it was considering cutting its oil production in a bid to revive falling prices. Opec produces about one third of global crude at more than 30mn barrels per day. According to the International Energy Agency, which advises on energy policy, Opec pumped out 30.6mn bpd in October— above its 30mn bpd target. “The next meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries... should be the most interesting since the change from individual quotas to a group target in early 2012,” said Tom Pugh, an analyst at Capital Economics research group. “The key driver (behind tumbling prices) has been increasing supply, although other triggers for Brent’s slump from $115 in June have included weak demand, particularly from Europe and China, and the strength of the US dollar. The decline has probably also been compounded by panic selling by producers and investors.” On Friday, the price of benchmark Brent North crude oil traded at $79.56 a barrel. Rather than cut its official output ceiling, Opec could decide to reduce the amount it is over-producing. “The minimum consensus that appears likely to be reached at Opec’s meeting is a commitment to better comply with the official production target of 30mn bpd,” Commerzbank analysts said in a note to clients. Ahead of the meeting, the world’s top oil producer Saudi Arabia has cut what it charges US customers, in a move seen aimed at maintaining its market share as it is faced with increasing competition from oil extracted from shale rock in the US. Pugh said that “any cut in the cartel’s production target will simply be as a response to lower demand for its oil, rather than a concerted attempt to push up prices”. Faced with surging US output—crude production in the world’s biggest economy is set to hit a 45year high of 9.5mn bpd in 2015 - Venezuela has called for a meeting of Opec and non-Opec countries to address the slide in oil prices. Amer Group to split into two companies Egyptian real estate company Amer Group plans to split into two companies in an attempt to create more opportunities for its development business and boost trading in its shares. The company, which owns hotels, restaurants and shopping malls, said in a statement that it would be divided into a development business called Amer Holding Group and a smaller company named Porto Holding. “The goal of the division is to obtain the true value of the company’s shares in the market by shedding light on all activities in a clear manner,” Chairman Mansour Amer told reporters. He said that Amer Holding Group would be responsible for all real estate and hotel investment services, along with its restaurants and commercial centres, while Porto Holding would include all of the company’s “Porto” projects, which include several resorts and spas in the Ain Sokhna area on the Red Sea. Investor relations director Riad Refaat had earlier told Reuters that growth in real estate activity in Egypt had prompted the split to maximise development opportunities and boost its liqudity on the stock exchange. The proposed reorganisation of the company is subject to shareholder approval, Amer said, and a division of assets, liabilities and equity would be made “at book value at the effective date of the split”. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 15 BUSINESS World’s drug bill will reach $1.3tn in 2018: Study Bloomberg New York Worldwide spending on medicines will reach almost $1.3tn by 2018, as new treatments for hepatitis C and cancer come to market and as people around the globe use rising incomes to buy pharmaceuticals. The new drugs, such as Gilead Sciences’s $1,000-per-pill hepatitis C treatment, will help drive the increase in spending up 30% from 2013 levels, according to a report published by the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the research arm of IMS Health Holdings, which tracks drug prescriptions and sells the data. As drug spending rises, health systems and nations will have to make decisions on how they allocate budgets, said Murray Aitken, IMS Institute’s executive director, in a telephone interview. “The focus now is, how do we get value from the trillion dollars we’re spending?” The US will remain the top spender per capita in 2018, and drug prices there are under increasing scrutiny by health insurers and lawmakers. IMS forecasts Americans will pay an average of $1,409 a person in 2018, up from $1,075 last year, a faster rate of growth than the expansion of the population. China, the world’s second-biggest pharmaceutical market, is forecast to spend $124 per capita in 2018, an increase from $72. While new, high-price medicines will drive spending in developed countries, population growth and rising incomes — and more access to healthcare — will raise spending in Africa, Asia and elsewhere, IMS found. Other types of health spending, such as on hospitals and doctor visits, won’t necessarily rise in proportion, said Aitken. In some cases, drugs can lower total spending by keeping patients out of the hospital or doctor’s office, he said. New hepatitis C drugs, including Gilead’s medicines Sovaldi and Harvoni, and Johnson & Johnson’s Olysio, are already pushing up spending this year, Aitken said. From 2014 to 2018, the world will spend $100bn on the new medicines. About 3.2mn Americans have the liver infection, and the new drugs do away with side-effect heavy injections while vastly improving chances of a cure. Cancer drugs will take an even bigger role in driving up spending in the US and worldwide in coming years. There are 120 oncology drugs in the final stage of testing before approval by regulators, and another 374 in the mid-stage trials. Global spend on cancer medicines will grow by 50% to more than $100bn in 2018, according to IMS. Only France and Spain will see spending on drugs decrease in the next five years, IMS found. This trend is due to strict cost controls implemented by the two countries after the global financial recession, said Aitken. Telecom firms call for change to BT’s broadband �monopoly’ Reuters London B ritain’s biggest telecoms service providers have filed a complaint to media regulator Ofcom demanding greater competition in the business broadband market, where they say BT has an effective monopoly. The UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA), said other companies should be allowed to lay their own cables in BT ducts and use their own equipment to control BT cables, saying it would improve service and encourage innovation. The group, which includes firms such as Sky, EE , TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Vodafone, also said many consumers did not know who was responsible for the network when services were disrupted. BT’s network business Openreach, which manages the national telecoms network, continues to dominate the business end of the market, 30 years after the company was privatised. A BT spokesman said in a statement that forcing Openreach to open up access to BT ducts would increase costs and that the company was voluntarily publishing its service performance to reflect its commitment to improving service. “The UK has a vibrant wholesale business connectivity market, with strong competition and innovation amongst a large number of providers,” he said. BT’s network business Openreach, which manages the national telecoms network, continues to dominate the business end of Britain’s broadband market. Swedish banker and industrialist Jacob Wallenberg speaks in this picture taken on May 6, 2014. Wallenberg, the 58-year-old head of one of Europe’s most enduring family dynasties, is trying to work out how the empire controlling much of Sweden’s economy could look with a woman or someone without the family name at the helm. Sweden’s Wallenberg dynasty prepares for sixth generation Roughly 30 members of the sixth generation, aged between 15 and 30, are contenders to see if they could one day run Wallenberg’s Investor holding company Reuters Stockholm J acob Wallenberg, the 58-year-old head of one of Europe’s most enduring family dynasties, is trying to work out how the empire controlling much of Sweden’s economy could look with a woman or someone without the family name at the helm. Roughly 30 members of the sixth generation, aged between 15 and 30, are contenders to see if they could one day run Wallenberg’s Investor holding company and several foundations with major stakes in Electrolux, Atlas Copco and Ericsson. There are no clear favourites and the job could also go to an outsider, but whoever is picked to lead an empire so famous a popular beef dish takes the family name, will have to decide if it should invest in new and faster growth companies beyond its financial and industrial roots. In egalitarian Sweden, the family is seen as a model of how to expand a company through generations without squabbles and the appointment will be made according to experience rather than assertions of birthright. Wallenberg, who has not indicated he plans to step down, organises seminars for some young family members at an old estate. “They have to get the experience, and then we’ll see what happens. And the sixth generation is in the middle of that right now,” said Jacob Wallenberg, sitting in his wood-panelled office five minutes’ walk from Stockholm’s Royal Palace. The empire began in 1856 when Andre Oscar Wallenberg founded Stockholms Enskilda Bank, now part of SEB. The family’s fame and influence grew with the company, helped by the construction of a wealthy Stockholm suburb and one scion who became a hero for saving Jews in Hungary in World War II. While many family empires implode in feuds or have the assets split by an ever growing number of descendents, the Wallenbergs have so far avoided this. They began channelling their wealth into non-profit foundations in 1917, which control over 50% of voting rights in Investor and other assets in an empire that is today largely run by Jacob and his cousin Marcus. “The Wallenbergs separated the money from the power,” said Gunnar Wetterberg, author of “Wallenberg — A family empire”. “The harmony that appears to exist today between the cousins is not at all a foregone conclusion.” The Wallenbergs are wealthy but not among the top 100 richest Swedes listed by magazine Veckans Affarer. Jacob Wallenberg earned some $320,000 last year in salaries from his chairmanship of Investor, according to the firm’s annual report. “It sort of boils down to that we are not personally owners of this. We cannot run into the squabble part,” Wallenberg said. “I have to go to a job and earn my living, like everyone else.” He gradually took over from his grandfather. He had worked at SEB after spending several years in the navy and getting an MBA in the US. History has made the family wary of the pressures of the job. Jacob’s uncle, Marc Wallenberg, slated to assume the helm of the empire, committed suicide in 1971, shocking Sweden. His daughter, Caroline Ankarcrona, made headlines when she became the first female family member to sit on the board of the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and Jacob Wallenberg said he would like to see more women coming through. Under Jacob and Marcus Wallenberg as well as CEO Borje Ekholm — a family outsider — Investor has moved into unlisted companies from medical services to schools. Unlisted firms have jumped to nearly a quarter of Investor’s holdings. Still with most holdings in a comfort zone of listed blue chips, some investors would like a more aggressive strategy. It is something the Wallenberg’s largely fend off, with a priority on long term planning rather than quarterly deadlines. Others say Investor has moved too slowly. It entered healthcare and champions R&D spending, but it shunned high growth consumer technology, in contrast to family-run Kinnevik. “I think he (Jacob) is a bit risk averse,” said an executive who has worked with Wallenberg for more than a decade. Some point to rival Swedish holding company Kinnevik and its bold bets on fast-growing online ventures such as Zalando, but for all that Investor shares are up 129% over the past three years versus an 82% gain in Kinnevik. “Over time I wouldn’t be surprised if you saw one or two more unlisted companies,” said Wallenberg. “But is it something where you see quick moves, significant moves? No. “We’re working on buying to hold rather than buying to sell.” Business relationships fostered over more than a century often give even existing holdings an edge when deals are struck in sectors familiar to the Wallenbergs, such as in Electrolux’ $3.3bn buy of General Electric’s appliances business. “I think when it comes to the long-term relationship between GE and Electrolux, it went through the Wallenbergs,” said Electrolux chairman Ronnie Leten. “When it comes to the CEOs of these big international companies, the Wallenbergs know these people.” Takeda ordered to pay $155,000 over destruction of Actos files Bloomberg Wilmington, Delaware T akeda Pharmaceutical Co was ordered by a jury to pay $155,000 over the destruction of documents about its Actos diabetes medicine after the panel concluded the missing files blocked a man from proving his claims the drug caused his cancer. Jurors in state court in Martinsburg, West Virginia, deliberated about three hours on Thursday before concluding Takeda officials intentionally destroyed files about the development and marketing of Actos, Michael Miller, the plaintiff ’s lawyer, said in an interview. The panel awarded compensatory damages to retired bakery worker Richard Myers, Miller said. Jurors found the systematic docu- ment destruction blocked Myers from having access to evidence that could have proved his claims that Takeda failed to adequately warn about the diabetes drug’s bladder-cancer risks, Miller said. The West Virginia verdict comes more than a month after a state court jury in Pennsylvania ordered Takeda to pay $2mn to a former Actos user over her bladder cancer and two weeks after a federal judge in Louisiana concluded a punitive damages against the drug maker were justified. “The verdict is the death knell for Takeda because it establishes once and for all that they intentionally destroyed evidence to bar bladder-cancer victims from proving the drug harmed them,” Miller said. Myers, 71, is the eighth Actos patient to take his suit to trial and the fifth to win a damages award from a jury, based Ex-Actos users contend in court filings Takeda researchers ignored or downplayed concerns about the drug’s cancer-causing potential before it went on sale in the US on data compiled by Bloomberg News. “We are considering our options, including an appeal” of the finding the company wilfully and intentionally destroyed Actos files, Kenneth Greisman, a US-based spokesman for Takeda, said in an e-mailed statement. More than 3,500 Actos suits have been consolidated before US District Judge Rebecca Doherty in Lafayette, Louisiana, for pretrial information exchanges, according to court dockets. The company faces another 4,500 cases in state courts in Illinois, West Virginia, California and Pennsylvania, according to court records. Sales of Actos peaked in March 2011 at $4.5bn for Takeda and accounted for 27% of the company’s revenue at the time, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Actos has generated more than $16bn in sales since its 1999 release, according to court filings. Takeda now faces generic competition from Ranbaxy Laboratories. Ex-Actos users contend in court filings Takeda researchers ignored or downplayed concerns about the drug’s cancer-causing potential before it went on sale in the US and misled US regulators and doctors about the medicine’s risks. In 2013, juries in California and Maryland ordered Takeda to pay a combined $8.2mn in damages over the company’s handling of the drug. Those verdicts later were thrown out by judges. The company also has won defense verdicts in two cases in state court in Las Vegas and one in state court in Illinois. Takeda faced its largest Actos verdict in April, when a federal court jury in Lafayette, Louisiana, ordered the drug maker and partner Eli Lilly & Co to pay a combined $9bn in punitive damages to a man who blamed the drug for his bladder cancer. A judge last month cut the award by more than 99% to $36.8mn and both companies have vowed to appeal the verdict. Myers’ lawyers argued during the West Virginia trial that over an eightyear period starting in 2002, Takeda officials waged an effort to destroy Actos-related files as part of its litigation strategy. Officials wiped computer hard drives, deleted e-mail files and destroyed paper records of executives who helped develop and market Actos, Miller alleged in court filings. Takeda’s lawyers countered the company didn’t destroy the Actos documents to hide them from plaintiffs and had proper document-retention policies in place. The company also said it already had produced “a host” of Actos-related files in the litigation. “Takeda didn’t destroy documents intentionally and has restored almost all of the documents and submitted them,” Kazumi Kobayashi, a Takeda spokesman, said in a phone interview. Monday, November 24, 2014 BUSINESS GULF TIMES BANKING ON KNOWLEDGE Qatar real estate driven by economic stability and infrastructure development By Dr R Seetharaman The US housing market remains fragile; however, home prices are rising at more than double the annual increase in wages. Affordability can become a serious issue unless there is a significant rebound in wages. Home builder confidence has since improved and US housing construction is starting to ramp up. The Commerce Department reported that construction of single-family homes rose 4.2% in October 2014, which is the third gain in the past four months. The Bank of England (BoE) had earlier taken series of steps this year to cool Britain’s housing market. However, housing market seems to be slowing faster than the BoE had been banking on. The British lenders have recently cut back on mortgages, which indicates that the rapid growth in Britain’s property market is slowing down. In Hong Kong, the price rise has been driven by interest in small flats. After home prices reached record highs from 2009, the market sagged this year as China tried to calm prices with controls such as lending restraints and limits on multiple purchases. In annual terms, prices fell 2.6% in October 2014. According to a recent study, Saudi Arabia needs 300,000 residential units every year over the next 15 years. In Riyadh, the lack of affordable homes is especially acute with a shortage of 225,000 residential units. Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) is issuing licences to allow leading banks to offer real estate financing there is with the expectation of a revival in demand in the residential and commercial property market. The UAE market is showing signs of stability. Abu Dhabi’s residential and commercial segments remained strong and healthy during the July-September quarter. Dubai real estate market during the third quarter was flat. During the summer, the market saw fewer transactions and in some locations the rentals slowed down as well. In Oman, the demand for free-hold properties is increasing more than ever as the demography is changing with people moving from rural areas to cities. The total value of real estate sales contracts in Oman by end of August 2014 stood at OMR765mn and surged by close to 70% since 2013. During the same period, the amount of fees collected on all property transactions reached OMR28.2mn, representing an increase of 65.9%. In Kuwait, total sales reached KD372mn, up 16% year-on-year till Sept 2014. Sales in the residential sector was down by 23% year-on-year. The underperformance of the sector could be attributed to the small number of available properties coming online. The investment sector continued to see strong growth in sales, as the sector offered relatively attractive returns. Sales reached up 73% year-onyear. Commercial sector sales remained subdued compared to average activity over the last year. House rents in Qatar rose 8.2% yearon-year in October, mainly due to the country’s surge in population, according to the Ministry of Development Planning Qatar top regional market, says Rolls-Royce Cars CEO R olls-Royce Motor Cars’ chief executive officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, visited Qatar recently to hold meetings with officials of RollsRoyce Motor Cars Doha, part of Alfardan Group and the sole authorised dealer of the ultraluxury marque in Qatar. The visit marks strong recognition by the pinnacle brand for the dealer’s impressive performance in recent years, in particular for its consistent ranking among the top-five performing regional dealers in terms of sales. “The excellent results achieved by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha year-on-year have helped contribute significantly to the brand’s exceptional sales in the Middle East, which in turn has helped fuel our growth globally,” said Müller-Ötvös during his visit to Qatar. “Qatar’s discerning customers, whose tastes and exacting requirements are met by our extraordinary cars, also demand a pinnacle dealership experience, which is perfectly delivered by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha. I want to therefore take this opportunity to thank the team in Qatar for its unwavering pursuit of excellence and commitment to our brand.” Qatar was the fastest-growing market for Rolls Royce Motor Cars in the Middle East last year, with its Doha dealer achieving a sales increase of 37% over 2012. This, Hussein Alfardan (third right) with Mohamed Kandeel, chief operating officer, Alfardan Group – Automotive Operations; Omar Alfardan; Brett Soso, regional director (Middle East, Africa and Latin America), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; Müller-Ötvös; and Richard Carter, director (Global Communications) Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in Doha. coupled with the recent announcement of a further 37% surge for the third quarter of this year, clearly demonstrates the success of the company’s business strategies and increasing strength of the ultra-luxury car market in Qatar. During the course of MüllerÖtvös’ visit, Omar Alfardan, president and CEO of Alfardan Group, discussed with the delegation the importance of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha’s ongoing focus on exceptional customer service, its premium facilities to cater for the brand’s ongoing growth, and future plans to ensure continued success. “Alfardan Group’s continuing pursuit of luxury, sophistication and excellence is clearly demonstrated in our partnership with Rolls-Royce; underlining the success of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Doha as one of the region’s top-performing distributors of premium automobiles. We are pleased with the visit of Müller-Ötvös, which emphasises the strength of our partnership though our shared passion towards luxury and excellence. I believe that our distinct business culture and leadership sta- tus within niche luxury markets are important factors that have contributed in offering an ownership experience at every step of the Rolls-Royce journey; recognised in the pursuit of excellence and quality through every aspect of this iconic brand, by offering the very best in craftsmanship, engineering, driveability and exclusivity,” Alfardan said. 3rd annual Euromoney Qatar conference to focus on realty The 3rd annual Euromoney Qatar conference that opens in Doha today is set to examine a full range of key topics impacting the national, regional and global economies, with the real estate sector set to be a particular area of focus. The two-day conference based on the theme “Global finance: re-launched,” will be held at the RitzCarlton Doha. Qatar’s fast-growing economy and rising population are creating significant opportunities for investors, as well as for local and international banks. Real estate prices hit record highs in June 2014, after rising 28.9% year-onyear, according to Qatar Central Bank’s Real Estate Price Index (REPI). Increasing real estate activity has delivered a knock-on effect on bank lending levels. According to Qatar Central Bank, loans to the real estate and contracting sectors were now worth more than 20% of all credit advanced by commercial banks in Qatar. A special panel on “Building the future: opportunities in the Qatari real estate sector,” will be held on the second day of the Euromoney Qatar conference. Panel speakers will include Jeremy Scott, senior associate — real estate, Al Tamimi & Company and Peter Bibby, director and Qatar country manager, Colliers International. Richard Banks, director, Euromoney Qatar Conference, said, “Population growth and increasing development are creating strong demand for housing and office space within Qatar, particularly as work on many of the country’s mega-projects picks up speed. This year’s Euromoney Qatar Conference will examine the changing regulatory climate that will make it easier for international financial organisations to play a bigger role in this dynamic and fast-changing market.” The Euromoney Qatar Conference, which is co-hosted by Qatar Central Bank, has become a financial industry must-attend event. Prominent figures from Qatar who are scheduled to speak include Ooredoo chairman HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud al-Thani, Amwal founder and chairperson Sheikha Hanadi Nasser bin Khaled al-Thani, and Aisha Mohammed Saad al-Nuaimi, investment director, General Retirement and Social Insurance Authority (GRSIA). Other panels include “Changes in the global regulatory environment and their impact on the GCC Eurozone outlook for 2015”, “Trading and issuance implications of post-crisis debt market’s liquidity”, and “The world in 2015: the macroeconomic outlook”. The Euromoney Qatar Conference 2013 brought together more than 600 people from 30 countries for a multiplatform — live and online — financial debate in Doha. This year’s Euromoney Qatar will bring together even more of the world’s leading players and thinkers in finance, with a cross section of Qatar’s financiers and international investors. and Statistics (MDPS). The real estate lending in Qatar was up by 3.5% YTD; however, real estate sector witnessed drop in foreign currency lending. Industrial land is scarce in Qatar. However, residential property demand is picking up. Office supply is in excess. The mall activities are expected to increase and give a boost to retail property. There is also growth in Qatar’s tourism activities, which result in expansion of hotels. The real estate sector in Qatar is expected to surge in the coming years on account of huge infrastructure development. The developments at Pearl-Qatar and Lusail City indicate the fast growth of real estate sector in Qatar. Qatar’s real estate will be driven by economic stability and infrastructure development. Dr R Seetharaman is Group CEO of Doha Bank. The views expressed are his own. QDB finances 25 SME projects for QR130mn in ’14 Q atar Development Bank has financed some 25 small and medium enterprises projects with a total value of QR130mn this year as QDB’s “indirect lending” programme named �Al Dhameen’ extended financial support to a total 120 projects of startups so far. Al Dhameen programme is an indirect loan facility that will guarantee commercial bank loans to private companies, in collaboration with other banks and financial institutions. By providing funds and financial guarantees for these projects, QDB said it “seeks to promote the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector and offer services that will facilitate the development, growth and diversity of the national economy.” QDB chief executive officer, Abdulaziz bin Nasser alKhalifa, said: “Success does not happen by chance; it is a choice. It is the result of hard work and the innovative policies that we have implemented to help SMEs overcome financial obstacles, sharing success and working together with our partner banks in Qatar, rather than competing with them. “ Al Khalifa said, “Al Dhameen has helped SMEs in Qatar overcome the challenges they face when seeking commercial financing. The programme has also helped banks overcome reservations about financing small and medium-sized companies due to the high-risk ratio of some in the sector. “QDB’s role, in collaboration with partner banks, is to work together to outline the needs of these companies and provide the best all-around support to small and medium-sized enterprises. After loan disbursement, the partner banks develop lasting partnerships with SMEs and follow their progress in the market. The purpose of Al Dhameen is to work with partner banks and not to compete with them, ensuring the success and development of the Qatar’s SME sector and the wider private sector.” Al Dhameen was launched in 2010 by QDB to encourage banks to finance SMEs that have a short credit history or have no collateral to support borrowing. The programme does not provide direct financing to SMEs, but rather offers business owners a facility to receive the required financing for a project from a partner bank, through issuing guarantees in favor of that bank. Under the guarantees, Al Dhameen vouches for 85% of the loan value not exceeding QR15mn. So far, Al Dhameen has provided guarantees worth nearly half a billion Qatari riyal to SMEs through nine Al Dhameen partner banks. QDB recently organised a training course for customer relations managers and credit officers at Al Dhameen partner banks in order to build their expertise and equip them with the best skills in the field of credit and project evaluation. QDB regularly hosts such trainings to help managers on the ground provide the right support for SMEs, explaining financing opportunities and mechanisms for reducing risks for the bank and, ultimately, helping their customers. The Qatar Development Bank building at Grand Hamad Street in Doha. QDB regularly hosts trainings to help managers provide the right support for SMEs World class Business school to operate from The Shard Denise Marray Gulf Times Correspondent London W arwick Business School (WBS), whose Executive MBA is ranked in the world’s top 20 by the Financial Times, has made The Shard its London base. From next year, the part-time Executive MBA, part-time MSc in Finance, part-time MSc in Human Resource Management and Executive Education courses will be available from the prestigious building. The WBS MBA has some impressive alumni, including David Smith the newly appointed chief financial officer of Rolls-Royce Holdings, and Bernardo Vieira Hees, CEO of H J Heinz Company. Professor Mark Taylor, dean and professor of Finance at Warwick Business School (WBS) at Warwick University, spoke to Gulf Times about why he sees The Shard as the ideal choice for WBS. “We chose to locate in The Shard for a number of reasons. The actual building itself is a bold statement. We like to think WBS is changing the way the world thinks about business and management. We try to bring a fresh perspective to our research and teaching. In a very symbolic sense, locating in The Shard seemed the right thing to do. It is a young, exciting building — it has such an innovative design by Renzo Piano — it fits in with our ethos of being young and dynamic,” he said. He explained that WBS, with its diverse range of business programmes, wanted a central location within easy access to the financial districts of The City of London and Canary Wharf. “We didn’t want to be located within The City itself because we want to do Taylor: The right thing to do. more things than purely finance. The Shard scores highly because it is located just across London Bridge from the City of London with strong and easy links to Canary Wharf. “Being right next door to London Bridge, the transport network couldn’t be better. It’s a fantastic location giving access to the whole of London. “The area around London Bridge is going through a renaissance. It is an increasingly important cultural and business district,” he said. He also values being part of a richly diverse business community. Neighbours in The Shard include includes intellectual property lawyers, a venture capitalist, a global media brand, a New York based investment bank, the world’s largest hospital group and an international energy business. Famous names including Al Jazeera, Foresight Group and Tiffany & Co are all located in the stunning building. The adjacent News Building has been let in its entirety to News UK, bringing some of the UK’s most illustrious me- dia brands to London Bridge Quarter, including Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal, The Times, The Sunday Times, Times Literary Supplement, The Sun, and one of the world’s leading book publishers, HarperCollins. Before becoming Dean of WBS in early 2010, Professor Taylor was a Managing Director at BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, where he ran the European arm of a large global macro investment fund. He has also been an Economist at the Bank of England, was for five years a senior economic advisor at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC, and began his career as a foreign exchange trader in the City of London. He has also held professorships at Cass Business School, at Oxford University and at Liverpool University, and was Visiting Professor of Finance at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Asked to comment on the impact of Qatari investment in the UK he said: “The Qatar Investment Authority has $170bn worth of assets. Their investments in the UK tend to be in long term, wealth creating opportunities. Their investments contribute to improving the infrastructure. The Shard, for example, is an amazing addition to London and, therefore, to the British economy.” He was also asked to give his view on London’s drive to become a leading centre for Islamic Finance. He responded: “Given the amount of money being invested from Islamic sources, it is only reasonable that principles of Islamic finance should be followed in some sense. London is still the world’s international financial capital and centre and, therefore, one would have thought that London would want to develop its Islamic finance expertise.” FOOTBALL | Page 4 FORMULA ONE | Page 5 Messi breaks La Liga scoring record Lewis hammers it home with win in Abu Dhabi finale Monday, November 24, 2014 Safar 2, 1436 AH BOXING GULF TIMES Super Manny nails Algieri to retain welterweight title SPORT Page 9 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Asadalla double puts Qatar in Gulf Cup final against Saudi Arabia Saudis advance to title match with thrilling 3-2 win over UAE Qatar’s Ali Asadalla (R) celebrates with Meshaal Abdulla after scoring against Oman during the semi-final of the 22nd Gulf Cup in Riyadh yesterday. At bottom, Qatar players show their joy after the match. Sports Reporter Riyadh Q atar raised their game a few notches just when it mattered to storm into the final of the Gulf Cup with a convincing 3-1 victory over Oman at the King Fahd International stadium yesterday. They will take on Saudi Arabia in the final on Wednesday after the hosts edged out the UAE 3-2 in the second semi-final. Having made the business end of the tournament on the back of three patchy draws in the group phase during which they clearly looked out of place, Qatar needed to summon as much positive intent as possible against Oman who had been shaping up well in their quest for their second Gulf Cup title. And yesterday, the Al Annabi did it in style, first a Hassan al-Haydos penalty cancelling out Oman’s lead in the 36th minute, and then Ali Asadalla providing them a comfortable cushion with two fine strikes in a span of 10 minutes in the second half. Qatar’s inability to find the net during the group phase – they scored only once in three matches – had been a major worry for coach Djamel Belmadi and the team management. But based on yesterday’s evidence they appear to have buried their goal jinx and looking ahead to their final against … on Wednesday. “It was only a matter of time we hit form,” Belmadi said during the postmatch press conference. “We were unlucky not to score many goals earlier in the tournament, but we knew it would surely come,” the Algerian added. However, it was now plain sailing for Qatar, especially during the first half as Oman, who had thrashed ten-time champions Kuwait 5-0 to top Group B, dominated the early exchanges and looked threatening. They finally found the mark in the in the 24th minute through Raed Ibrahim Saleh, who volleyed home powerfully from close after the ball fell in his path off the head of Qatar’s Meshaal Abdulla following a free kick. Qatar fell under pressure and would have suffered a morale-shattering blow just six minutes later had Ali al-Busaidi taken full advantage of a serious lapse in defence. But with the Qatar goalkeeper Qassim Burhan at his complete mercy having advanced forward, all al-Busaidi could do was lob the ball over the post, much to his team’s shock. With relief written large over their faces, Qatar stepped up their attacks and soon were rewarded in the form of a penalty when Meshaal’s goalward thrust was hacked down by Oman goalkeeper Ali alHabshi in the 36th minute. Al-Habshi received a yellow card for his tackle, the double whammy coming a few seconds later when alHaydos sent him the wrong way from the spot. Qatar came back with renewed determination in the second half and took charge of the proceedings. With better coordination and some crisp passing they pressured the Omani defence into making mistakes, with the result that a goal looked inevitable And sure enough, it came in the 59th minute. Meshaal had a great chance to score from close, but the ball hit the upright and Asadalla, who was lurking inside the box, slammed home the rebound. Eight minutes later, Asadalla scored in similar fashion. Meshaal once again missed an opportunity to register himself on the score sheet by crashing the ball into the woodwork, and Asadalla took full advantage of the situation by lobbing the rebound over goalkeeper al-Habshi who had advanced a few yards. “We made some silly errors in the defence and paid the penalty,” Oman coach Paul Le Guen said. “After taking the lead we should have never allowed the opposition to get back into the game, but we conceded a penalty and that gave Qatar the opportunity they were looking for.” Boycott not an option: German football boss DPA Berlin A World Cup boycott in protest over FIFA’s handling of the corruption probe into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is not a serious option, the head of the German Football Federation (DFB) says. “Threats receive attention but the scenario is not a serious option,” Wolfgang Niersbach said in an interview published yesterday. Niersbach said the DFB did not want to use threats but “give thought to how we can deal with this problem together.” The former English Football Association chairman David Bernstein said last week the FA should help force reforms from football’s world ruling body FIFA and join its European counterpart UEFA in a boycott of the next World Cup if there is no change. German Football League (DFL) president Reinhard Rauball has said UEFA, one of FIFA’s six continental federations, could consider leaving the world body unless it did not carry out meaningful reforms and make public an ethics report into the two next World Cups, which were awarded to Russia and Qatar respectively. In an interview Saturday, DFL chief executive Christian Seifert was highly critical of FIFA’s handling of the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. “You do not know whether to be surprised or ashamed any more,” he told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “As a respectable organisation you can no longer feel represented by FIFA, one no longer feels part of it.” Niersbach was critical of the results FIFA ethics committee report which he said was meant to clear up the unanswered questions over the World Cup awards but “turned out to be unfortunately rather a damp squid.” In his interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Niersbach said UEFA member countries could still find a candidate to run against Joseph Blatter for the role of FIFA president next year. “I do not rule out that before January 24 (the deadline for candidates) there will be a European candidate,” he said. “This possible option is currently being discussed inside UEFA,” he added. Niersbach also put forward January 2023 for discussion as a possible date for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. In August UEFA president Michel Platini ruled out standing against Blatter, who is aiming to win a fifth term as president when the election takes place on May 29. Blatter, who has been accused by the European associations of going back on his word not to stand again, currently faces competition only from former FIFA official Jerome Champagne, who is considered to have little chance of victory. Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the former president of the Chilean Football Association, is also considering whether to stand. In the discussion on moving the Qatar World Cup from the summer to winter months, Niersbach said one option for UEFA could be staging the tournament in January 2023. This would avoid a clash with the 2022 winter Olympics and allow a shorter preparatory period near to the Christmas period. FIFA has proposed January/February and November/December as possible dates. The European Club Association (ECA) has meanwhile said the tournament could be held from late April to the end of May. 2 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 FOOTBALL SERIEA SPOTLIGHT Cool-headed Cagliari hold Napoli in thriller Hodgson plans England get-togethers �We had the game under control, but gifted Cagliari too many chances’ AFP London E ngland manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that he hopes to re-unite his squad for mid-season get-togethers in a bid to bridge the gap until their next fixtures in March. England’s 3-1 victory over Scotland in a friendly last Tuesday saw them end the year with a run of six consecutive wins, which they last achieved in June 2006. But with four months due to elapse until they play Lithuania and Italy in March, Hodgson does not want his players to forget about their international commitments. “It would be nice if we could get them together on one or two occasions,” Hodgson told journalists earlier this week. “Either as a whole group, which would be perfect, or if that wasn’t possible, either in two groups—maybe a Manchester, northern group and a south group—and at least have an evening with them at one stage in the Premier League calendar where they don’t have three matches in a week. “I’d have to talk to the clubs about that, because I don’t have the right, but I would like to think, with my relationship with the managers, if I said, �Look, we’ve got a meeting between five o’clock and eight o’clock. Can you send us your players on a Thursday night, when there’s nothing going on for them?’, I would be very surprised if any of them said, �No, we don’t want to do it.’ “And I’ve already broached the subject with the players and they’re already on board.” Hodgson added: “It’ll be a continuation of maybe talking about what we’re trying to do, and then hopefully there’d be a dinner where we could ask them a few questions. You know, �How are things going?’” AFP Rome C ool-headed Cagliari fought back from a two-goal deficit to claim a precious 3-3 draw away to Napoli yesterday, which left Rafael Benitez’s men six points behind secondplaced Roma. Juventus had restored their three-point lead at the top of Serie A with a 3-0 rout of Lazio at the Olympic Stadium on Saturday, after Roma had momentarily drawn level thanks to a 2-1 win away to Atalanta. Napoli were hoping to make it three wins on the trot to maintain their title push but Benitez’s men blew a two-goal lead provided by Gonzalo Higuain and Gokhan Inler as tenacious Cagliari fought back to claim a share of the points. Benitez told Sky Sport after the game: “We had the game under control, but gifted Cagliari too many chances. “We started with the right attitude, but then we took our foot off the pedal and let our intensity drop.” Cagliari coach Zdenek Zeman said the secret to claiming an “important point”—the Sardians are now two above the drop zone—was adopting the correct mental approach. “If you have the right mentality, if you focus on playing football, the results will come,” said the wily veteran. “If you’re patient, sooner or later the goal-scoring opportunities come your way.” Higuain, who now has seven goals this season, struck for the fifth consecutive league game when he hit a curling shot from just inside the area past Alessio Cragno after 11 minutes. Inler doubled Napoli’s lead with a daisycutter from 30 yards that had Cragno clutching at thin air, but Napoli’s two-goal joy was short-lived. Cagliari centre-forward Victor Ibarbo pounced on a Napoli defensive blunder to fire past Rafael and reduce the arrears seven minutes before the interval. Brazilian forward Diego Farias levelled matters two minutes after the restart when he ran unhindered to the back post to meet Luca Rossettini’s header. Smiles were back on Napoli’s faces just after the hour when Jonathan De Guzman sent a fine angled header past the outstretched Cragno, but Farias levelled again six minutes later when he was picked out by Ibarbo’s pass at the back post. Elsewhere, Fiorentina grabbed a precious 2-1 win away to Verona thanks to Juan Cuadrado’s 62nd minute winner after Nico Lopez had levelled the visitors’ 16th-minute opener from Gonzalo Rodriguez just before the interval. Sampdoria, who are one point adrift in fourth, spurned �This is my team’ It is two and a half years since Hodgson succeeded Fabio Capello as manager and despite England’s abject display at the World Cup in Brazil, where they went out in the group phase, there have been signs of progress. Hodgson has successfully presented opportunities to Danny Welbeck and Raheem Sterling, who have become first-team stalwarts, and has also blooded young players such as Luke Shaw, Calum Chambers and Ross Barkley. Asked how close he felt he was to creating his own England team, he said: “I’ll put my hand up for this team here (that played against Scotland). “You’ve got to be careful of always looking for some sort of vision. You can only be the team that you are. “If we could play as well as that and do the things we’re doing, which I think are the right things to be doing, in game after game, I’ll settle for that now. “But the one thing I will profit by is the fact that in a year and a half’s time, this under-25 team will be an under-27 team. “Players at the moment who have played twice for England, like Nathaniel Clyne, or once, like Fraser Forster (actually three times), or seven or eight times, like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (actually 20), they might be up at 10, 15, 20 caps. “They might be up in good Premier League games and Champions League games, and that’s got to be to their advantage and to my advantage.” England are currently six points clear of second-place Slovenia in their Euro 2016 qualifying group. They host Lithuania in their next qualifier on March 27 before visiting Italy for a friendly on May 31. Myanmar hold Malaysia in Suzuki Cup clash Napoli’s Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain (L) vies with Cagliari’s Italian defender Luca Rossettini during the Italian Serie A match in Naples yesterday. (AFP) the chance to leapfrog Napoli into third after settling for a 1-1 draw away to struggling Cesena. The hosts opener the scoring through defender Stefano Lucchini on the hour mark but saw Constantin Nica turn the ball into his own net 13 minutes from time to hand Sinisa Mihajlovic’s visitors a share of the spoils. Antonio Di Natale scored his 200th Serie A goal on what was his 400th league appearance when he gave Udinese a 1-0 half-time lead against Chievo, who saw Ivan Radovanovic hit a 74th-minute leveller to grab a point. Parma’s woes continued, meanwhile, with Roberto Do- nadoni’s side succumbing 2-0 to promoted Empoli, leaving them rooted to the bottom with 10 defeats having leaked 30 goals in 12 games. In Sunday’s late match AC Milan host Inter Milan in the city derby in what will be Roberto Mancini’s first game in charge following his return as coach of the Nerazzurri. Milan sit in eighth place, 14 points adrift of Juventus with Inter, who sacked Walter Mazzarri nearly a fortnight ago, a point further adrift in eighth. Genoa, in fifth, host Palermo on Monday when a win for the hosts would push them up to fourth place. Underdogs Myanmar held 10-man Malaysia to a goalless draw in a bad-tempered opening Suzuki Cup Group B match which was delayed by more than hour by heavy rain and thunderstorms. Malaysia midfielder Gary Steven Robbat was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 34th minute as Myanmar controlled possession but could not find the goal which would have given them a first win in the biennial tournament for Southeast Asia sides since 2008. Malaysia, 2010 winners, had their own chances to grab a first win under new coach Dollah Salleh but a fifth-minute effort from forward Amri Yahyah was rightly ruled out for offside. Their threat diminished as the tetchy game played on the artificial turf at the Jalan Besar Stadium wore on with the Turkmenistan official dishing out a high number of yellow cards. Defending champions Singapore were hosting tournament favourites Thailand in the second Group B match on Sunday, with the top two from the group qualifying for the two-legged semi-finals. FOCUS Brisbane axe coach after poor A-League start Reuters Sydney B risbane Roar sacked coach Mike Mulvey yesterday after five defeats in the first six games of the new season left the A-League champions languishing in the lower reaches of the table. Just six months after he was named A-League coach of the season for leading Brisbane to their third title in four years in May, Mulvey was handed his notice in the wake of a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory. “Head coach Mike Mulvey met with Brisbane Roar FC management today. As a result, he will step down,” club managing director Sean Dobson said in a statement. “Brisbane Roar FC thanks Mike Mulvey for his contribution to the success of the club since his appointment as interim coach in December 2012 and as Brisbane Roar head coach in February 2013.” An own goal late in the second half from Jade North consigned the Roar to Saturday’s loss at the Docklands Stadium and added further impetus to Melbourne Victory’s title bid. Victory sit third in the standings three points behind pacesetters Perth Glory, who beat Wellington Phoenix 2-1 on Friday despite having Ruben Zadkovich sent off in the 61st minute for a dangerous tackle. Midfielder Zadkovich had only been on the pitch for 17 seconds as a substitute but Daniel De Silva’s scrappy second minute effort combined with Andy Keogh’s volley on the hour mark proved enough to give Glory a sixth win from seven matches. Adelaide United moved into second place on 17 points after a convincing 2-0 win in yesterday’s game at Central Coast Mariners courtesy of a firsthalf brace from Spanish forward Pablo Sanchez. Brisbane are not the only high flyers from last season struggling as Western Sydney Wanderers remained rooted to the bottom of the table after Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with Newcastle Jets. The Asian champions took an early lead through Tomi Juric’s thunderbolt of a volley but Argentine playmaker Marcos Flores equalised with a delicate flick in the 27th minute and the Jets held on for a point. Western Sydney’s bid for a first win of the season is now destined to continue until next weekend’s derby against Sydney FC, who won 2-1 at Melbourne City on Saturday thanks to two goals from Austrian marquee striker Marc Janko. Singapore backtracks on plan to limit players over 30 Organisers of Singapore’s domestic soccer league have completed an embarrassing U-turn on plans to limit the number of players aged over 30 from competing for clubs in the S.League after several complaints of ageism. S.League bosses announced earlier this month that the 10 clubs competing in next year’s campaign would only be allowed to register five players aged 30 and above with at least three required to be 25 or under in their 22-man squads. That move bought a wave of criticism from players at the end of their careers, who felt they were being unfairly punished as the S.League pushed to help give more playing opportunities to younger players. “Following discussions, the S.League and the club chairmen have decided not to implement the new rules. The decision was taken after careful consideration of the appeals made by some affected players,” the League said in a statement late on Saturday. “The S.League’s goal is to always improve the standard of football to make it more exciting and competitive. The clubs must also be able to compete at the regional level. “To achieve these goals, there will be a continued and greater emphasis on performance, a high level of fitness and the ability to play at a high intensity for all players in the S.League.” Players are already required to complete a bleep fitness test in order to compete in the S.League. The league is one of Asia’s weakest with organisers routinely trying new ploys to raise interest in a product which struggles to attract fans despite the country’s love for the sport. Thousands in the small Southeast Asian citystate routinely sit up till early hours to watch their favourite Europe-based stars, while local S.League clubs are only able to attract a couple of hundred to matches. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 3 FOOTBALL EPL SPOTLIGHT Liverpool lose but Spurs win against lesser lights �Obviously we concede poor goals, but we have no-one to blame but ourselves’ Crystal Palace’s Joe Ledley (2nd L) vies with Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling during the English Premier League match at Selhurst Park in south London yesterday. (AFP) AFP London L iverpool squandered an early lead and lost 3-1 at Crystal Palace while Tottenham Hotspur came from behind to beat Hull City 2-1 as two of the Premier League’s big boys experienced contrasting fortunes against the lesser lights yesterday. Spurs needed a 90th minute goal from Christian Eriksen to win at Hull, who took the lead through former Spurs midfielder Jake Livermore after nine minutes but lost their way after Gaston Ramires was sent off after 50 minutes. Spurs dominated from then on, equalising through Harry Kane after 61 minutes when he was first to react after an Eriksen free kick rebounded back off a post, before the Dane scored the winner in the dying minutes. Palace condemned Liverpool to a third straight league defeat beating them with goals from Dwight Gayle, Joe Ledley and a superb curling free kick from Mile Jedinak after Rickie Lambert scored his first goal for the club to put them ahead in the second minute. The results saw Palace move up from 19th to 15th while Spurs climbed from 12th to 10th. Liverpool slipped from 11th to 12th while Hull dropped a place from 5th to 16th. Rickie Lambert scored his first Liverpool goal to put the visitors ahead inside two minutes, but Dwight Gayle—who scored twice in the 3-3 draw—equalised 15 minutes later. With the visitors once again toiling in attack, Ledley and Jedinak scored twice in the last 12 minutes to condemn Liverpool to three consecutive league defeats for the first time since April 2012. “We’re low on confidence at the moment in terms of the results and I think that sort of tempo and intensity of our game has just dropped right off,” said Rodgers, whose side have lost their last four games in all competitions. “Obviously we concede poor goals, but we have no-one to blame but ourselves. As the manager, I take full responsibility for that.” Rodgers’s team, who finished second to Manchester City last season, now sit in 12th place, a huge 18 points below lead- Results & standings Crystal Palace.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Hull City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Standings Liverpool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Tottenham Hotspur. . 2 P W D Chelsea 12 Southampton 11 Manchester City12 Manchester Utd12 Newcastle Utd 12 West Ham Utd 12 Swansea City 12 Arsenal 12 Everton 12 Totten Hotspur 12 Stoke City 12 Liverpool 12 W Brom. Albion 12 Sunderland 12 Crystal Palace 12 Hull City 12 Aston Villa 11 Leicester City 12 Burnley 12 Qns P Rangers 12 10 8 7 5 5 5 5 4 4 5 4 4 3 2 3 2 3 2 2 2 L F A Pts 2 0 30 11 32 1 2 23 5 25 3 2 24 13 24 4 3 19 15 19 4 3 14 15 19 3 4 20 16 18 3 4 16 13 18 5 3 20 15 17 5 3 22 19 17 2 5 16 17 17 3 5 13 15 15 2 6 15 18 14 4 5 13 17 13 7 3 12 19 13 3 6 17 21 12 5 5 14 17 11 2 6 5 16 11 4 6 11 18 10 4 6 8 20 10 2 8 11 23 8 ers Chelsea, and face a crucial Champions League game away to Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday. It was a first win in six matches for Neil Warnock’s Palace, who leapt out of the relegation zone and up to 15th. “It’s massive. We needed that, big time,” Palace captain Jedinak told Sky Sports. “We knew it was going to be a diffi- cult game. We didn’t help ourselves by conceding so early on, but I think the reaction from the boys after that was first-class.” A groin injury to Mario Balotelli saw Lambert handed only his second league start for Liverpool and he quickly made his presence felt on a sodden afternoon. With barely 90 seconds on the clock, Adam Lallana hoisted a pass over the Palace defence to his former Southampton teammate, who ghosted in behind Liverpool old boy Martin Kelly before beating Julian Speroni. But just like last season, Palace refused to lie down, equalising in the 17th minute when Gayle followed up after Yannick Bolasie’s skidding low shot cannoned back into play off the left-hand upright. It took a last-ditch block from Javier Manquillo to prevent Bolasie from putting Palace ahead shortly before half-time, but with Liverpool toothless in attack, it was the hosts who eventually prevailed. Bolasie was again the creator for their second goal, in the 78th minute, brilliantly flicking the ball over Dejan Lovren wide on the Palace right and crossing for Ledley to slot a first-time shot between Simon Mignolet’s legs. Liverpool’s misery was complete three minutes later when Jedinak arced a glorious 25-yard free-kick into the top-right corner to end his side’s fivegame winless run in style. In the day’s other game, Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen scored a fine 90th-minute winner to earn Tottenham Hotspur a morale-boosting 2-1 win away to 10-man Hull City. Former Spurs midfielder Jake Livermore fired Hull ahead in the eighth minute, but the hosts lost Gaston Ramirez early in the second period after he was sent off for kicking out at Jan Vertonghen. Harry Kane equalised in the 61st minute, sweeping home after Eriksen’s free-kick hit the post, before the Dane drove in a late winner that left Mauricio Pochettino’s side in 10th place. Chelsea moved seven points clear at the summit by beating West Bromwich Albion 2-0 on Saturday, although secondplace Southampton can trim the gap back to four points by winning at Aston Villa today. Van Gaal backs United keeper De Gea to keep improving AFP London L ouis van Gaal is adamant David de Gea can still get better despite witnessing the Manchester United goalkeeper produce a superb performance in the 2-1 Premier League win against Arsenal. The Spanish number one kept the Gunners at bay with a manof-the-match display at the Emirates to propel United into the top four for the first time this season. De Gea made vital saves throughout to deny Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez before Olivier Giroud’s stoppage-time consolation in north London. Yet, although De Gea’s heroics combined with goals from Wayne Rooney and a Kieran Gibbs own goal gave United victory, Old Trafford boss van Gaal claims the best is all ahead of the 24-year-old stopper. “I think they were shots from outside the 60m. I have also played and when it is outside the 60m the goalkeeper has more benefit than the player,” said van Gaal. His quality is exactly on the line. I’m used to this quality. But he also has to improve in other aspects of the game. “When I say that then you think I am crazy. But I am not crazy, believe me.” Van Gaal was unimpressed by United’s performance, despite a first away win of the season, and highlighted the ease at which they conceded possession to Arsenal, particularly in the opening 20 minutes. The Dutchman, whose side now face winnable home games against Hull and Stoke, added: “I have to say the first 35 minutes we gave the ball away so easily that it’s not possible for a top team. Because of that, Arsenal created a lot of chances. “Fortunately we have a very good goalkeeper and after the first 35 minutes you saw that we are coming back in the game and created a few possibilities. “But I said at half-time. When we keep the ball, when we show confidence then we shall create many chances. “We created at least three big chances. (Angel) Di Maria could finish the game also. “But also twice the pass was easy to give to Di Maria and Wayne Rooney and the pass was not right. “That was not a difficult pass in my opinion so we have to improve that.” For Arsenal, the loss means they have made their worst start to a season in 32 years after dropping to eighth. Midfielder Jack Wilshere was fortunate to escape action from referee Mike Dean for an apparent headbutt on Marouane Fellaini. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claimed he did not get a clear view of the first half incident. “I haven’t seen it because it was on the other side and I haven’t seen what happened there well enough. Overall it was a fair game, physically committed but I didn’t see any bad things on the pitch,” he said. Yet Wenger was crystal clear on his opinion towards the Gunners defence, labelling their performance as “naive”. He added: “We were not efficient enough in the final third, defensively and we made a mistake at the back which they took advantage of. That’s the history of the game. We had plenty of chances. “You have to be efficient in top-level games and we were not efficient enough in our good periods, but there were a lot of positives in the game. “Even if we are very, very disappointed, we have to keep that and rectify. At the moment defensively we are a bit naive. The second goal was just after a corner and we were not cautious enough. “I don’t know why we had nobody at the back at all—you could see straight away that giving a two against one in your own half means you will be punished against these players.” DAVID DE GEA BUNDESLIGA Hamburg win 101st derby to escape bottom three AFP Berlin H amburg escaped the Bundesliga’s bottom three yesterday with a 2-0 win at home to 10-man Werder Bremen, which pushed Borussia Dortmund back into the relegation places. Latvia striker Artjoms Rudnevs was Hamburg’s hero as he netted his first goal of the season on 84 minutes after coming off the bench, before Bremen goalkeeper Raphael Wolf pushed the ball into his own net in the third minute of stoppage time. Bremen finished with 10 men after captain Clemens Fritz was sent off for a second yellow card on 90 minutes, while the result left Bremen 17th after the 101st north German derby. The victory, only Hamburg’s third of the season, lifts then up to 15th and drops last season’s runners-up Dortmund down into 16th following their 2-2 draw against Paderborn on Saturday after throwing away a two-goal lead. There was more bad news for Borussia yesterday when it was confirmed Germany winger Marco Reus, who scored their second at Paderborn, has been ruled out until January after tearing ligaments in his right ankle—his sixth ankle injury this year. Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich finish the weekend seven points clear after warming up for Tuesday’s Champions League clash at Manchester City with a 4-0 hammering of 10-man Hoffenheim. Pep Guardiola’s Bayern have RESULTS Hamburg.............2 Werder Bremen0 VfB Stuttgart.0 Augsburg.........................1 already claimed their last 16 place as group winners with two Champions League games to spare and have now opened an ominous gap in the German league. Mario Goetze and Robert Lewandowski scored first-half goals at Munich’s Allianz Arena as the hosts cruised into the lead. Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger made his first appearance of the season off the bench, 132 days after the World Cup final, as Bayern scored twice in the last 10 minutes through Arjen Robben and Sebastian Rode. Hoffenheim finished with 10 men after striker Adam Szalai was sent off on 90 minutes following a foul on Brazil defender Dante. Bayern’s iron grip on this season’s league title was tightened by results elsewhere as they extended their unbeaten run to 21 matches. Second-placed Wolfsburg had their eight-match winning streak ended at Schalke 04 while third-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach also lost ground with a 3-1 defeat at Eintracht Frankfurt to fall 10 points behind the Bavarians. Schalke boss Roberto di Matteo warmed up for Tuesday’s visit of his former club Chelsea, who sacked him in 2012 just six months after winning the Champions League, with a 3-2 victory over Wolfsburg as Cameroon striker Eric Choupo-Moting scored twice. Ten-man Borussia Moenchengladbach slumped to a second straight defeat despite Norway midfielder Havard Nordtveit giving them a sixthminute lead, only for Frankfurt to hit back and claim a 3-1 win. Hertha Berlin climbed up to 13th after their 2-1 victory at Cologne, thanks to Cameroon midfielder Marcel Ndjeng’s late winner. Bayer Leverkusen, who host Monaco as leaders of their Champions League group on Wednesday, warmed up with a 3-1 win at Hanover 96 to move up to fourth in the table, while Mainz are eighth after drawing 2-2 with Freiburg. Hamburg SV’s Artjoms Rudnevs (C) and his team mates celebrate after scoring during the Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen in Hamburg yesterday. (Reuters) 4 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT DEVELOPMENT Messi breaks Liga goalscoring record with hat-trick �When I scored this goal, I couldn’t imagine I could break any record’ Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (top) is thrown into the air by his teammates as they celebrate his new record after he scored during the Spanish league match against Sevilla FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. (AFP) Wigan chief Whelan threatens to quit over racism row Reuters London W igan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan says he will resign if the English FA find him guilty of racism over comments he made defending the appointment of controversial manager Malky Mackay. Whelan, who also owns the Championship (second-tier) club, was accused of antiSemitism and condoning racism when speaking to the Guardian newspaper last week. He later apologised for causing offence and said he had been misquoted as using the word “chink” to describe a Chinese person and saying that “Jewish people chase money more than everybody else”. The FA issued a statement saying it was “very concerned” about the remarks and had written to Whelan, giving him three days to respond before deciding what action to take. The 77-year-old now says he will quit if he is charged with racism. “Should they even suggest I’m guilty I would immediately resign,” Whelan told ITV News. “I’m absolutely antiracist, always have been, always will be”. The Wigan chairman had been speaking to the newspaper to defend his appointment of former Cardiff City boss Mackay, who is under FA investigation for sending allegedly sexist, racist and homophobic texts when in charge at the Welsh club. It is Mackay’s first job since leaving Cardiff under a cloud last year following a falling-out with club owner Vincent Tan. Malaysian businessman Tan has labelled both Whelan and Mackay as racists following the Wigan owner’s remarks, and said the club would regret hiring the manager. Moyes upbeat after Sociedad debut despite tepid dra AFP Barcelona L ionel Messi became the all-time top goalscorer in La Liga history with a hat-trick as Barcelona swept aside Sevilla 5-1 on Saturday to remain two points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid. Messi, 27, moved level with legendary Basque striker Telmo Zarra when he opened the scoring with a trademark free-kick to register his 251st goal in his 289th appearance in the Spanish top flight. A Jordi Alba own goal briefly brought Sevilla level early in the second-half, but Neymar swiftly restored Barca’s advantage before Ivan Rakitic made the game safe when he headed home Luis Suarez’s enticing cross against his old club. Messi then took over as he slid in to convert Neymar’s low cross to set the new record and extended it moments later with a precise low finish to round off a fine evening for Luis Enrique’s men against a side that started the evening just two points adrift of the Catalans. “When I scored this goal, I couldn’t imagine I could break any record, let alone this one previously held by the great Telmo Zarra,” wrote Messi on his Facebook page alongside his first Barca goal against Albacete in May, 2005. “I was only able to achieve this because of the support I have had from so many people during my time here and I would like to dedicate this achievement to you all.” Earlier, Real Madrid saw off Basque minnows Eibar’s dreams of a giant-killing thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double to register their 14th consecutive win in all competitions with a 4-0 victory. Champions Atletico Madrid remain four points off the top as they overcame Malaga 3-1 at the Vicente Calderon thanks to goals from Tiago, Antoine Griezmann and Diego Godin. At the other end of the table, Real Sociedad moved a point clear of the relegation zone in former Manchester United manager David Moyes’s bow as the Basques new coach as they drew 0-0 away to Deportivo la Coruna. Sevilla were expected to pose a serious threat to a Barca side that has struggled in recent La Liga outings. However, the hosts had complete control of the game in the first-half and could have been in front before Messi’s historic strike as the Argentine’s first effort of the match was smothered by Beto and the Portuguese �keeper then denied Luis Suarez from a narrow angle. Messi’s moment came midway through the first-half as his free-kick curled perfectly into Beto’s top right-hand corner to register his 12th goal of the season. Only some frantic defending kept the Andalusians in the game as Barca ended the half strongly as Nico Pareja slid in to prevent Suarez his first Barca goal after Alba had nutmegged Beto and the Portuguese �keeper showed smart reactions to deny Neymar from the resulting corner with an outstretched leg. Suarez frustrated All of Barca’s good work in the first 45 minutes was undone just over 60 seconds after the restart, though, as Vitolo eased past Gerard Pique down Sevilla’s left and his low cross was bundled into his own net by the unfortunate Alba. It took the hosts just two minutes to make amends, however, as Xavi’s free-kick was headed low into the far corner by Neymar. Suarez’s search for his first Barca goal will stretch into a fifth game, but the Uruguayan did provide his fourth assist in four outings with a great run and cross which left Rakitic with a simple task to make it 3-1. Neymar unselfishly squared for Messi to move out on his own ahead of Zarra when he tapped home the Brazilian’s low cross and he was then thrown into the air by his teammates in celebration. However, the four-time World Player of the Year wasn’t finished as he sealed his 27th Barcelona hat-trick from Neymar’s pass 13 minutes from time. Real Madrid also enjoyed a comfortable afternoon in unfamiliar surroundings on their first league visit at the 5,000 capacity Ipurua stadium in Eibar. The European champions had more than a touch of fortune in the first half as James Rodriguez headed home the opener despite Ronaldo and Karim Benzema appearing to be in an offside position in the build-up to the goal. Ronaldo then doubled the lead himself with a mishit shot that looped beyond Xabi Irureta just before the break. Benzema smashed home the third 20 minutes from time before Ronaldo rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot. “The objective is to continue with this run because the team is playing well and the players are motivated,” said Real boss Carlo Ancelotti. “But the season is very long and we need to continue with this type of attitude. David Moyes was disappointed with the second-half performance of his Real Sociedad players in Saturday’s drab 0-0 draw at Deportivo La Coruna but the Scot said he nonetheless enjoyed his La Liga coaching debut. Former Manchester United and Everton manager Moyes took over this month at San Sebastian-based Sociedad and the match at Depor’s Riazor stadium in rainy Galicia was his first taste of Spanish top-flight competition. Sociedad created some decent chances in the first half but Depor had the upper hand in the second and the visitors were ultimately fortunate to come away with a point. They are 14th after 12 matches with a mere 10 points and only two victories to their name. “I really enjoyed it, I was really looking forward to managing in La Liga,” Moyes said at a news conference. “I was disappointed with the second half,” he added. “I thought we had done enough in the first half to be in the lead but we started the second half slowly and we gave away possession far too easily and too many times. “They were the better team in the second half but I thought we were the better team in the first.” Moyes, who has only just started learning Spanish and was speaking through an interpreter, said it was going to take time for him to get to know the Sociedad players and begin to make his mark on the Basque club. “I don’t know the players well enough to give a comprehensive view on all of them yet,” he said. “It will take some time but hopefully we can see some quick results and some improvement in the team over the coming months. “Overall I was really pleased with how the players went about it, I thought their attitude was very good tonight. “I wasn’t happy with just a point, I want to win. But in the end maybe a draw was a fair result.” FOCUS Ronaldo well on the way to smashing La Liga mark Reuters Madrid W hile Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was busy breaking the all-time La Liga scoring record on Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo took a step closer to smashing the best for a single season of 50 goals also held by his Argentine rival. Ronaldo struck twice in a 4-0 win for leaders Real Madrid at Eibar and the Portugal forward has now scored an incredible 20 goals in 11 appearances in Spain’s top flight this term. If the World Player of the Year continues at his current pace, his tally for the season will be more than 60, comfortably surpassing Messi’s record set in 2011-12. The 29-year-old Ronaldo, who missed Real’s defeat at Real Sociedad in August due to injury, is the first player to reach 20 goals in the opening 12 rounds of La Liga. “A lot of people are envious about what he has achieved and about what he can accomplish,” Real’s Brazil fullback Marcelo told reporters. “Cristiano always works hard, he’s a top professional with a huge desire to learn and help the team.” Since he joined Real from Manchester United in 2009, Ronaldo has netted 197 La Liga goals, while Messi’s record set on Saturday with a hat-trick against Sevilla is 253. Real’s victory at tiny Eibar, who are appearing in Spain’s top flight for the first time, maintained their two-point lead over second-placed Barca at the top. The European champions are next in action on Wednesday when they play at FC Basel in the Champions League having already qualified for the last 16. Ronaldo has scored 70 goals in Europe’s elite club competition, one fewer than Messi and former Real and Schalke 04 forward Raul. CRISTIANO RONALDO Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 5 FORMULA 1 Lewis hammers it home with win in Abu Dhabi Hamilton races to his 11th win in 19 races to win the title by 67 points over Mercedes team-mate Rosberg Reuters Abu Dhabi Hamilton files Born: January 7, 1985, in Stevenage, England A tearful Lewis Hamilton joined the elite ranks of double Formula One world champions yesterday after a nerve-racking drive to victory in the floodlit season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In a race overshadowed by the everpresent spectre of mechanical failure after the Briton’s Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg suffered an early loss of power, Hamilton powered to his 11th win in 19 races. The 29-year-old, who took his first title with McLaren in 2008, became Britain’s first multiple champion since Jackie Stewart in 1971 and only the country’s fourth. “Lewis, thank you very much for not letting the British public down,” Britain’s Prince Harry told him over the radio from the pit wall as the chequered flag came down. “You are an absolute legend.” Hamilton, crying on the podium as the anthem sounded and with his voice cracking in later interviews, performed a slowing down lap with the British flag fluttering from the cockpit and the words �Hammer Time’ written on it. “World champion. Oh my God, I can’t believe it, thanks everyone,” he had shouted over the radio before parking up and embracing his father, pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger and family. The victory was a record 16th of the season for Mercedes, who had already collected the constructors’ crown, and for the first time the winner took 50 points in an unprecedented and controversial double points finale. “This has been just an incredible year. I can’t believe how amazing,” said Hamilton. “This is the greatest moment in my life. It feels very surreal. “(Winning in) 2008 was special but the feeling I have now is above and beyond. It’s the greatest feeling I’ve ever had. Thanks so much everyone.” Rosberg finished 14th after starting on pole position and 17 points adrift, the much-vaunted �duel in the desert’ becoming a nightmare after dark for the German son of Finland’s 1982 champion Keke. LOSING BRAKES He had suffered problems from the 25th of 55 laps, then complained about losing brakes as he fell down the order, still hoping against hope that a similar „ Hamilton was a winner in every category of karting, taking his first British title by the age of 10, and joined McLaren’s young driver programme in 1998. He was European Formula A kart champion in 2000, with current Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg runner-up. „ The Briton won the 2003 Formula Renault UK title with 10 race wins, the 2005 Formula Three Euro series with 15 wins and the 2006 GP2 championship, following on from Rosberg. „ Hamilton made a sensational F1 debut with McLaren in 2007, aged 22. In his opening race in Australia he finished third, was second in the next four races and then won the sixth and seventh races in Canada and the United States. Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the world title with his teammate Nico Rosberg and other team members in Abu Dhabi yesterday. (Below) Hamilton hugs his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger after winning the Abu Dhabi GP. (Reuters) misfortune might befall Hamilton and revive his chances. When the team asked him to pit and retire with only a handful of laps to go, Rosberg asked to stay out so he could at least end the season on track. “Sorry it didn’t work out but you drove like a champion,” said Mercedes technical head Paddy Lowe. “We come back next year to have another go.” Rosberg, who gallantly shook Hamilton’s hand afterwards, did not need to tell anyone that he was disappointed but he said it anyway. “All in all, Lewis deserved to win the championship. What happened to me had no impact, it did not change anything so there is no point focusing on that,” he said. “He did just a little bit better than me. The positive is I’ve been the better qualifier over the last two years and that gives me a good base. I came very close and it is a pity it did not work out.” Brazilian Felipe Massa finished second for Williams in the race, after looking like he could win it, with Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas third. “Not bad for an old man,” said a delighted Massa after his best result since 2012, when he was at Ferrari. Behind them, Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth for Red Bull with Hamilton’s former McLaren teammate Jenson Button fifth in what may have been his last race in Formula One. Force India duo Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez were sixth and seventh while outgoing four-times champion Sebastian Vettel was eighth in his last race for Red Bull before moving to Ferrari. The man he will replace at the Italian team, double world champion Fernando Alonso, was ninth and ahead of Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen. „ His run of 2007 podiums ended after nine in a row and he ended the season second overall with four wins, one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen. „ In 2008, Hamilton won the title, aged 23 years and 301 days. At the time he was the youngest ever world champion and he took the title in thrilling style with an overtaking move on the last corner of the last lap of the last race in Brazil. „ In 2009, Hamilton finished fifth overall. He was fourth in 2010, fifth in 2011 and fourth in 2012. He then moved to Mercedes for the 2013 season on a three-year contract. „ Hamilton won 11 races this season to Rosberg’s five, becoming the most successful British driver of all time in terms of race wins (33). ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX RESULTS 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 2. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) 4. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 5. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren) 6. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India) 7. Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India) 8. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 9. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 10. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 11. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/McLaren) 12. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso) 13. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus) 14. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 15. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Sauber) 16. Adrian Sutil (GER/Sauber) 17. Will Stevens (GBR/Caterham) 1 lap Drivers’ standings (top 10) 1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 384 pts 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) 317 3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 238 4. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 186 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 167 6. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 161 7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 134 8. Jenson Button (GBR) 126 9. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) 96 10. Sergio Perez (MEX) 59 1hr 39min 02.619sec +2.500 +28.800 +37.200 +1:00.300 +1:02.100 +1:11.000 +1:12.000 +1:25.800 +1:27.800 +1:30.300 +1:31.900 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap 1 lap Constructors’ standings 1. Mercedes 701 pts 2. Red Bull 405 3. Williams 320 4. Ferrari 216.0 5. McLaren 181.0 6. Force India 155.0 7. Toro Rosso 30.0 8. Lotus 10.0 9. Marussia 2 6 Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 GOLF SPOTLIGHT AUSTRALIAN MASTERS Stenson defends his title in Dubai Scott denied by masterful bunker shot from Cullen A final-round two-under 70 gave world number four a final tally of 16-under 272 Reuters Melbourne N ick Cullen nervelessly struck a sublime bunker shot for a tap-in par putt on the last hole to win the Australian Masters by a stroke in Melbourne and frustrate Adam Scott’s bid for a hat-trick of titles yesterday. Clinging to a one-stroke lead on the 18th, Cullen’s approach shot found a steep sandtrap left of the green, but the unheralded South Australian put his recovery within two feet of the hole to seal the biggest win of his career on a sundrenched afternoon at Metropolitan Golf Club. “I was trying to concentrate,” an ecstatic Cullen, wearing the winner’s �gold’ jacket, told reporters. “I knew Adam was one shot back. I didn’t really want to have to go into a playoff with him... I got lucky hitting a great bunker shot on the last and didn’t have a very long putt. I was glad it wasn’t any longer because I was nervous enough over that.” The bearded 30-year-old’s round of three-under 69 gave him a nine-under total of 279, one ahead of a trio of com- patriots in world number two Scott (68), James Nitties (70) and Josh Younger (69). After struggling with an opening round of 73 in searing northerly winds, Scott was forced to play catch-up all week and though he started yesterday four strokes adrift, the 34-year-old came agonisingly close to dragging Cullen into a playoff. Bidding for a record third successive win in the A$1 million ($867,000) tournament, Scott birdied the 12th, 14th and 17th holes to push to eight-under but his monster birdie putt on the par-four 18th lipped out to the groans of a packed gallery, giving Cullen, four groups behind, vital breathing space. “Today was definitely the best I’ve swung my club, putted and chipped and did everything well today,” Scott told reporters. “It’s just hard. Some of the pins were really tough today. I made a couple of errors like probably most everyone did, and probably from where I was I needed to make none.” American Boo Weekley shot a second successive 70 to finish five behind on tied 15th while former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy crashed to a threeover 75 to finish seven adrift. Henrik Stenson of Sweden poses with his trophy after winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai yesterday. (Reuters) AFP Dubai H enrik Stenson successfully defended his title at the $8 million DP World Tour Championship in dramatic fashion, making two birdies on the final two holes to win by two shots yesterday. A final-round two-under par 70 gave world number four Stenson a final tally of 16-under par 272, two better than his three Ryder Cup team-mates - world number one Rory McIlroy (68), number seven Justin Rose (69) and number 22 Victor Dubuisson (68). Ireland’s Shane Lowry (66) was alone in fifth place at 13-under par, while England’s 22-year-old Tyrell Hatton (70), Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (69) and South African Louis Oosthuizen (66) were tied for sixth on 12-under par. The Swede seemed to have put himself out of contention when he made a rare blunder on the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates, slicing his tee shot with an LEADING FINAL SCORES 272 - Henrik Stenson (SWE) 68-66-68-70 274 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 66-70-70-68, Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 71-68-67-68, Justin Rose (ENG) 71-66-68-69 275 - Shane Lowry (IRL) 66-71-72-66 276 - Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 69-71-70-66, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 71-68-68-69, Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 70-68-68-70 277 - Branden Grace (RSA) 72-67-68-70, Joost Luiten (NED) 70-69-68-70, Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 73-64-65-75 278 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 73-69-69-67, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 69-74-67-68, Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 72-70-67-69, Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 67-70-69-72 iron out of bounds for a double-bogey six on the par-four 11th hole. Stenson was tied with Spain’s Rafael Cabrera-Bello until then, but conceded two shots to his consistent playing partner. He then made a crucial 12-foot putt for par at the 12th, while Cabrera-Bello ended up with a bogey and the lead was down to one. Still leading by one shot after 15 holes, Cabrera-Bello’s chances met a watery grave on the par-four 16th, when he found the fairway bunker off the tee and ended up making a double-bogey after hitting his third shot into the water. The Spaniard was completely out of the race when he hit his tee shot into water on the par-three 17th for a second successive double-bogey. However, neither could take advantage of their tee shots on the par-five 18th, and were joined on 14-under par by Dubuisson, who picked up a shot on the last. Stenson, who finished second on the Race to Dubai, picked up a cheque of $2.13 million ($1.33mn for the victory and $800,000 as Race to Dubai bonus pool), said: “It feels great. I’m exhausted to say the least. Again, it was hot out there, and it was a tricky day. On the back nine the wind picked up and I didn’t play my best, and I had a shocking hole on 11 and that kind of put me back. But I didn’t give up. “I was hanging in there and made a couple of important par putts on 12 and 16. That kind of kept me in the ballgame and ROUND-UP Nick Cullen of Australia wearing the gold jacket holds the trophy after winning the Australian Masters at the Metropolitan golf club in Melbourne. (AFP) FOCUS Singapore’s Mamat marches to Manila Masters triumph Agencies Manila S ingaporean Mardan Mamat romped to an emotional six-shot win at the $1 million Manila Masters yesterday to preserve his playing privileges on the Asian Tour for another two years. The 47-year-old entered the week in danger of losing his card but a three-under-par 69 in the wind at the Jack Nicklaus designed Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club was more than enough to claim his fourth Asian Tour title and first since the 2012 Philippine Open. “It means a lot to me,” said Mamat, who fell to his knees and kissed the green after closing with a par at the last. “This is my last year of exemption and I needed to play well to keep my card. I wanted to win again to keep my exemption for the next few years.” Mamat entered the day with a four-shot lead and his steely focus resulted in five birdies and two bogeys which were enough for a fourth round in the 60s this week and a 20-under total of 268. His playing partner Kiradech Aphibarnrat struggled in the conditions on the way to a three-over 75, allowing Frenchman Lionel Weber to finish second after a closing 70. hit it to a foot on 17, and had a one-shot cushion up the last there and hit a lovely pitching wedge that secured it. “I’ve had a couple close calls this year to get my win and it wasn’t to be earlier. Eventually you get something if you stick around, and I surely did that today so I’m very pleased with that.” The new European number one McIlroy could not win the two trophies he was aiming for, but he said he would have been surprised if he had won the tournament the way he had been playing all week. “It could have been different. But at the same time, I never expected 14-under to have a remote chance of winning this golf tournament,” said McIlroy, who had already won the Race to Dubai before the start of the week. “It just seemed like no-one really took the tournament by the scruff of the neck and went with it. The two guys, Rafa and Henrik, were on 16 for quite a while, and sort of stayed there. I just didn’t play well enough to win this week, and if I had have won by playing like that, it would have been a bit of a surprise.” MATSUYAMA WINS IN PLAYOFF ON JAPAN RETURN Hideki Matsuyama won the Dunlop Phoenix tournament on his return to Japan after winning a playoff following a dramatic final round. Overnight leader Matsuyama, who cap- tured his maiden victory on the US PGA Tour earlier this season, won on the first extra hole after countryman Hiroshi Iwata had forced a playoff with a blazing round of 63 at the shoreline course in Miyazaki, on the western tip of Japan. Beginning the day with a two-shot lead, the 22-year-old Matsuyama closed with a one-under-par 70 after birdying the final two holes for a 15-under total of 269. Iwata self-destructed in the playoff, taking six shots to reach the green and leaving Matsuyama to complete formalities. American supernova Jordan Spieth, who finished joint runner-up to Bubba Watson at this year’s US Masters, finished in a tie for third on 14 under at the $1.7 million tournament after a round of 69. Matsuyama, who earned $340,000, joins an illustrious roll-call of former winners including Tiger Woods (2004-05), Tom Watson (1980, 1997) and Seve Ballesteros (1977, 1981). Australia’s Brendan Jones tied for third with Spieth after shooting a 68 while South Korea’s Hur In-Hoi claimed fifth on 12 under par after a 69. Japanese media darling Ryo Ishikawa, once dubbed the country’s answer to Tiger Woods, showed he was still struggling to rediscover his best form, finishing tied for 31st after a 71 gave him a one-under total of 283. Woods working with new swing teacher Como AFP Miami T iger Woods, who plans to return to competition in less than two weeks after a three-month absence, said on Saturday that he is working with a new coach, Chris Como, on his swing. Woods, who has been plagued by back issues and underwent back surgery in March, broke ties with swing coach Sean Foley in August. “Happy to have Chris Como consulting and working with me on my swing. I’m excited to be back competing,” Woods said on his Twitter account. The 14-times major winner is expected to tee it up at the Hero World Challenge, his annual tournament benefiting the Tiger Woods Foundation starting on Dec. 4 at Isleworth near Orlando, Florida. The Texas-based Como, 36, has also worked with South African former Masters champion Trevor Immelman, Australian Aaron Baddeley and American Jamie Lovemark. Woods said he was introduced to Como this summer by four- time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay, his friend and former college teammate at Stanford. “Subsequently we had several good conversations about the golf swing,” Woods said in a statement. “I’ve worked with him about a month since I started practicing. Chris will consult and work with me during the year.” After missing the cut at the PGA Championship following a back issue, Woods decided to shut down for several months and announced he was parting with Fo- ley, his coach of four years. Woods, 38, played just eight times worldwide in a winless 2014 and after surgery to alleviate a disk issue missed the Masters and the US Open and finished 69th at the British Open. The longtime former world number one, who held the top spot in May 2014, has slipped to 23 in the world rankings. Woods won eight events on the PGA Tour with Foley, but none were major championships. His last major victory came at the 2008 US Open. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 7 SPORT SPOTLIGHT BASEBALL James return fails to spark Cavaliers over Raptors Red Sox favourite to land Sandoval Agencies New York T he Boston Red Sox have the best shot at signing free agent third baseman Pablo Sandoval despite a better offer from the San Diego Padres, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Boston Globe reported Friday that the Red Sox offered Sandoval a five-year, $95 million contract. Sandoval was in Boston early in the week to meet with the Red Sox, who have been pursuing him since free agency began. Sandoval’s visit to Boston reportedly included dinner with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz �They’re No 1 in the East right now and they showed why tonight’ The Padres either offered Sandoval more than $100 million or a six-year deal. Sandoval reportedly is leaning toward Boston’s offer, but the San Francisco Giants have been asked to submit another bid to re-sign him. During spring training, the Giants offered Sandoval a threeyear, $40 million extension, which he rejected. Sandoval was in Boston early in the week to meet with the Red Sox, who have been pursuing him since free agency began. San- doval’s visit to Boston reportedly included dinner with Red Sox slugger David Ortiz. The Giants are interested in retaining Sandoval, who helped them win their third World Series title in five years in October. Sandoval, 28, batted .279 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. He is a career .294 hitter. zInfielder Josh Satin agreed to a minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Satin spent parts of the past four seasons with the New York Mets. In 2013, he batted .279 in 75 games with the Mets but spent the majority of the season in the minor leagues. zFree agent first baseman Adam LaRoche and the Chicago White Sox agreed on a two-year deal worth $25 million. The 35-year-old LaRoche hit 26 homers last season while a member of the Washington Nationals. NFL Louis Williams of the Toronto Raptors tries to drive around LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half of their NBA game at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on Saturday. Seahawks may use Sherman as wide receiver Agencies New York S DPA Los Angeles T he return of LeBron James was supposed to make the Cleveland Cavaliers the best team in the Eastern Conference. But on Saturday night, they lost their fourth straight game to the best team in the Eastern Conference. James and the Cavaliers continued to struggle, squandering an 18-point lead in a 110-93 home loss to the Toronto Raptors, who got a career-high 36 points from reserve Lou Williams. “They’re No 1 in the East right now and they showed why tonight,” Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving said. “They were playing team basketball and they won. They beat us tonight, fair and square.” The Cavaliers (5-7) fell to 2-4 at home. They scored the game’s first 12 points and held a 26-8 lead less than eight minutes into the contest but collapsed over the last three quarters as their problems on offense and defense continued. “We’re a very fragile team right now,” James admitted. “Any little adversity hits us, we just shell up. This is not even the lowest it can get for us.” James was held to 15 points for the second time this week and was on the bench for the last six minutes. The fourtime Most Valuable Player, reacquired by Cleveland after spending four successful seasons in Miami, has averaged just 18.5 points on just 41 percent shooting during the slide, well below his lofty standards. Williams led the comeback by the Raptors, sinking 11-of-19 shots and 15of-15 free throws. He sparked rallies in the second and third quarters, and Toronto pulled away in the second half. “He changed the game when he came into the game. We lost the tempo that we had,” James said. Williams came on late in the first quarter and scored 19 points in under eight minutes, helping Toronto close to 39-38. His three-pointer closed the half and gave the Raptors a 56-54 lead. “I just wanted to come in and play my style of basketball - to come in with a lot of energy and create a spark,” he said. Williams and Kyle Lowry combined to score Toronto’s last 11 points of the third quarter. DeMar DeRozan opened the final period with six straight points, opening a 91-73 lead for the Raptors. James scored just four points in the New York Knicks guard Pablo Prigioni (L) puts up a shot past Philadelphia 76ers guard Michael Carter-Williams in the second half of their NBA game at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday. second half and sat down for good with 6:20 to play. He made 6-of-12 shots and had 10 assists but also committed five of Cleveland’s 20 turnovers. “I’m very positive, more positive than I thought I’d be right now,” James said. “I can’t be negative at all. Once I crack, it trickles down to everybody else. I would never do that to these guys.” Lowry scored 23 points and DeRozan added 20 for the Raptors (11-2), who have won four in a row. Kevin Love scored 23 points and Kyrie Irving added 21 for the Cavaliers. “I haven’t had a losing record in my career and will not have one here,” Cleveland coach David Blatt said. Elsewhere: Houston Rockets 95, Dallas Mavericks 92: James Harden scored five of his 32 points in the final 30 seconds as the host Rockets - playing without injured star centre Dwight Howard - stopped the Mavericks’ six-game winning streak. German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki was held to 11 points on 4-of-18 shooting for Dallas. New Orleans Pelicans 106, Utah Jazz 94: Anthony Davis scored a career-high 43 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for the visiting Pelicans. Gordon Hayward scored 31 for the Jazz. New York Knicks 91, Philadelphia 76ers 83: Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points for the host Knicks, who handed the winless 76ers their 13th straight loss. Washington Wizards 111, Milwaukee Bucks 100: Paul Pierce scored 25 points and John Wall added 19 and nine assists for the visiting Wizards, who have won five of six. Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 20 points for the Bucks. San Antonio Spurs 99, Brooklyn Nets 87: Tony Parker scored 22 points and Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green added 21 each as the host Spurs handed the Nets their sixth loss in seven games. Miami Heat 99, Orlando Magic 92: Chris Bosh had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Mario Chalmers scored 24 points to offset 33 points and 17 boards by Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic to lift the visiting Heat. Phoenix Suns 106, Indiana Pacers 83: Former Pacer Gerald Green scored 23 points off the bench for the Suns, who improved to 4-1 on their six-game road trip. Indiana center Roy Hibbert sprained an ankle in the first quarter and did not return. Sacramento Kings 113, Minnesota Timberwolves 101: DeMarcus Cousins totaled 31 points and 18 rebounds as the visiting Kings overcame 29 points by Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins and handed Minnesota its seventh loss in eight games. eattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he has considered using cornerback Richard Sherman as a wide receiver. The Seahawks’ passing game is ranked 30th in the NFL as they average less than 192 yards per game. One idea that has emerged is using Sherman on offense. He played wide receiver at Stanford until a knee injury forced him to switch to cornerback. “He’s been very clear in that intent for a long time around here,” Carroll told Seattle radio station KIRO on Friday. “It’s always been a conversation that we’ve had, and if I need him I’m going to him and he knows that.” Sherman told the Seattle Times earlier in the week that he would like to play wide receiver. “I’d be pretty good,” he said. “Shoot, you can hardly touch (receivers). So if you could hardly touch me, I’d have a nice day.” The Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals in a key NFC West matchup on Sunday. zBuffalo Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes was fined $22,050 for unsportsmanlike conduct by the NFL. The NFL said that Hughes “directed abusive language towards an official” during the Bills’ Nov. 13 game against the Miami Dolphins. It is not clear what he said. Hughes said he told the officials that they missed a holding penalty against the Dolphins but got no explanation as to why no penalty was called. NHL Price stops 33 shots as Canadiens blank Bruins Agencies Washington M ontreal continued their mastery over Boston as Carey Price stopped 33 shots and the Canadiens beat the Bruins 2-0 for the ninth time in their last 10 regular-season meetings. The Canadiens, who have the best record in the NHL at 15-51, have also won all three games against the Bruins this season. Islanders 4, Penguins 1 Center Anders Lee scored one of New York’s three period goals as the Islanders beat Pittsburgh to move into a tie for first place in the Metropolitan Division in front of a raucous sellout crowd at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders, who won 5-4 in the shootout on Friday in Pittsburgh, have won three successive games and eight of nine to improve to 14-6-0. Flyers 4, Blue Jackets 2 Defenseman Braydon Coburn got his first goal and assist of the season, goaltender Steve Mason made 20 saves and Philadelphia snapped a four-game losing streak. Left winger Brayden Schenn, right winger Wayne Simmonds and defenseman Mark Streit also scored goals for the Flyers. Lightning 2, Wild 1 Captain Steven Stamkos scored his team-leading 14th goal of the season to help the Lightning capture their eighth victory at home. Stamkos is tied with Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin for the league scoring lead. Maple Leafs 4, Red Wings 1 Center Tyler Bozak scored two goals, including a short-handed goal early in the third period to snap a tie, and Toronto beat Detroit. Bozak also scored his ninth goal of the season into an empty net late in the third period. Flyers 4 Blue Jackets 2 Defenseman Braydon Coburn got his first goal and assist of the season, goaltender Steve Mason made 20 saves and the Flyers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Left winger Brayden Schenn, right winger Wayne Simmonds and defenseman Mark Streit also scored goals for the Flyers (8-92). Predators 3, Panthers 2 (SO) Goalkeeper Roberto Luongo did everything in his power to steal two points for the Florida Panthers with 48 saves but Nashville Predators center Filip Forsberg beat him on the fourth round of a shootout to give Nashville a 3-2 win. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 9 BOXING SPOTLIGHT Pacquiao beats Algieri to retain welterweight title Pacquiao drops Algieri to the canvas six times during the 12-round contest to win an overwhelming unanimous decision AFP Macau F ilipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao comprehensively dismantled American Chris Algieri to retain his World Boxing Organization welterweight title at the Cotai Arena in Macau yesterday. Pacquiao dropped Algieri to the canvas six times during the 12-round contest in the southern Chinese city to win an overwhelming unanimous decision, 119-103, 119-103, 120-102 on the judges’ cards. Algieri, the unbeaten WBO light welterweight champion, was outclassed from the start, with the eightdivision world champion Pacquiao knocking the Long Islander down in the second round, twice in both the sixth and ninth rounds, and finally again in the 10th. Pacquiao was landing punches at will as the quick Algieri tried to run, slip and hide from the onslaught. But the congressman from Sarangani province really turned it when he smashed Algieri to the canvas with a devastating straight left in the sixth. The American only just beat the count and dropped to one knee moments later as blows rained in from all angles. He somehow survived and was knocked down twice more in the ninth and then again in the 10th, with one left sending him sprawling across the ring and head over heels backwards into the corner. “I’m satisfied with the result,” said Pacquiao. “I did my best. I was trying for a knockout but he was fast and keeps moving.” “He’s perfected his style,” said Algieri. “He’s perfected the art of fighting like Manny Pacquiao. He hurt me once when he buzzed me with a left hook. But that was the only time.” Algieri holds a master’s degree and an ambition to become a doctor once his boxing days are over. All week in the build-up, his trainer Tim Lane had been declaring that he would destroy Pacquiao by “master boxing”. They proved hollow words and Pacquiao’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach mocked them afterwards. “The master boxer was given a master class by Professor Pacquiao,” said Roach. Roach raised a laugh when he told reporters he had resorted to an unusual tactic to try to get Pacquiao to finish Algieri with a knockout. “Eleventh round, I said �I want you to knock him out’,” said Roach. “He says �In Jesus’s name?’ I said, �If that’s what you want me to say?’ He said “yeah”. So I said �Knock him out— in Jesus’s name!’, he laughed. “Really I tried everything I could to get that knockout.” Pacquiao’s victory will inevitably heighten calls for him to face the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in what could be the first billion-dollar fight in history. “I really want the fight. The fans deserve it,” said Pacquiao afterwards, throwing down a challenge by imitating a new TV commercial in which he mocks Mayweather. It brought huge cheers from the sellout 13,202 crowd at the Venetian Macau venue, where the vast majority appeared to be Filipinos. Many hundreds more of Pacquiao’s compatriots were waiting patiently outside for just a glimpse of their national hero, having arrived at the venue in the early hours of Sunday to find all the tickets gone. Back in the Philippines, the nation stopped to watch en masse. “The Filipinos were united in celebrating the victory of our national fist, Congressman Manny Pacquiao in his fight against Chris Algieri in Macau,” said President Benigno Aquino’s spokesman Herminio Coloma in Manila. Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (right) lands a left hook over Chris Algieri of the US during their World Boxing Organization welterweight title bout at the Cotai Arena in Macau yesterday. (AFP) MAYWEATHER TOLD �NO EXCUSES’, FIGHT PACQUIAO Macau: Manny Pacquiao, his promoter and his trainer all threw down the gauntlet to Floyd Mayweather after the Filipino boxer comprehensively battered the latest challenger to his world welterweight crown into defeat yesterday. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been wanting this fight, it has to happen,” said the eight-weight world champion at the Venetian Macau after knocking down Chris Algieri six times on his way to a huge points victory. “The fans deserve it. It’s a good thing that we talk about that fight. It’s time to say yes,” added the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion. His promoter Bob Arum and trainer Freddie Roach were even more direct to lose in a fight against Pacquiao. He has a perfect 47-0 record and has won world titles at five different weights, but a defeat at the Filipino congressman’s hands could blot that streak. Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach claimed there would always be a question mark over the pair’s careers if they never met in the ring. “I think there will ... always be an asterisk on their records,” said Roach. “Let’s face it, the best should fight the best and they’ve been the best guys out there. This is something that will haunt them forever if it doesn’t happen.” Roach said as much he wanted Mayweather to come to the table, he also knew that it would be the toughest as- in calling out unbeaten light middleweight champion “Money” Mayweather, who competes with Pacquiao for the moniker “best pound-for-pound boxer in the world”. Mayweather and his promoters have previously found reasons to avoid the fight, but the 82-year-old Arum, who has been trying to secure the match for almost four years, said “enough is enough”. “No excuses. Manny knocked Algieri down six times in one fight. That’s twice as many knockdowns as Mayweather has had in all his fights in the last 12 years,” he taunted. “All they have to do to is pick up the telephone. I’ll be at the phone. Manny will be at his phone,” added Arum. Mayweather potentially has more signment of his glittering Hall of Fame training career to prepare Pacquiao for it. “He will be the best opponent that we’ve ever faced. I will really have to do my homework with Mayweather because he puts a lot of things together a lot better than most fighters.” However Roach was more confident that it would happen after Pacquiao’s latest demolition job on the WBO light welterweight champion Algieri. “Put it this way, I’m starting to watch tapes of Mayweather,” he revealed. Pacquiao mocks Mayweather in a new TV commercial for Footlocker which he mimicked in the post-fight press conference. “He’s going to fight me?! Yes! Yes!” squealed Pacquiao to huge laughter all round. FOCUS Vargas retains WBA super lightweight crown in Macau AFP Macau A merican Jessie Vargas outpointed his Mexican rival Antonio DeMarco yesterday to retain his World Boxing Association super lightweight title in a pulsating fight in Macau. The champion from Las Vegas, with legendary fighter Roy Jones Jr making his debut as a trainer in his corner, got the better of his valiant opponent in a fight which exploded into life from the fifth round onwards. Both men were heavily marked at the end of a toe-to-toe 12-round battle, in which the unbeaten Vargas (26-0) consistently landed the better shots to take a unanimous decision 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards. DeMarco (31-3-2) had many moments when he seemed to be getting on top, particularly in the ninth when he wobbled Vargas with a fierce straight left which sent him reeling back into DeMarco’s own corner. But Vargas showed enough craft to step it back up when he needed to with combinations of his own, even trying a Jones Jr-style wind-up right “bolo punch” and the verdict was never in doubt. It was the first big fight on the undercard of the Manny PacquiaoChris Algieri clash and Pacman’s trainer Freddie Roach was in DeMarco’s corner “DeMarco was just too patient,” Roach told reporters after the decision was announced. “Too many times he was just throwing one punch at a time. I begged him to get busy.” In the second world title fight, Ukraine’s double Olympic gold medallist Vasyl Lomachenko handed out a boxing lesson to the experienced Thai Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo. The man from Odessa easily retained his World Boxing Organization featherweight title, which he won in only his third professional fight earlier this year after one of the greatest amateur careers in history—one defeat in 397 bouts. Piriyapinyo had only lost once in his 52 fights before yesterday and was dropped to the canvas for the first time in his career in the fourth round, after a vicious series of half-a-dozen headsnapping punches culminated in a ring-shaking left hand. But the bell sounded before Lomachenko could finish the job and the tough Thai recovered enough to see out the contest to the full 12-round distance despite being picked off at will by the lightning quick Lomachenko. So hard were Lomachenko’s shots that he suffered a broken left hand in the 10th round. All three judges gave it to the Ukrainian by an overwhelming margin of 120-107. Lomachenko declared after that he has designs on becoming the undisputed featherweight champion. ZOU BATTERS “MINI-MANNY” TO EARN WORLD TITLE SHOT China’s double Olympic gold medalwinning flyweight Zou Shiming dismantled an experienced and durable Thai opponent over 12 rounds to earn a world title shot next year. In just his sixth fight the Chinese gave his best performance since turning pro after winning gold at London 2012. The unbeaten Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym by contrast was in his 28th pro bout and raised cheers among the huge Filipino contingent with his uncanny resemblance to Manny Pacquiao. Gulf Times Monday, November 24, 2014 11 SPORT TENNIS / DAVIS CUP SPOTLIGHT Joy and tears for Federer as Swiss win French Davis Cup dream lives on, says coach �It’s an enormous pleasure for me, I’ve waited 15 years for this’ AFP Lille F AFP Lille, France R oger Federer gave Switzerland its first Davis Cup title in yesterday in Lille by pounding Richard Gasquet of France in straight sets in the first of the final’s reverse singles. Federer romped to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win to hand the Swiss an unbeatable 3-1 lead after Stan Wawrinka had won the opening singles of the match and the world number two and four had teamed up to win the doubles on Saturday. It was one of the greatest sporting triumphs for Switzerland, the 14th nation to win the Davis Cup, and a huge personal milestone for Federer to go with his 17 Grand Slam titles, six Masters titles and Olympic doubles gold. It left him with just an Olympic singles gold to win in Rio in 2016 to become just the third man, after great rival Rafael Nadal and Andre Agassi, to win all four Grand Slam titles, the Olympic title and the Davis Cup. “It’s an enormous pleasure for me, I’ve waited 15 years for this,” Federer said. “This has been a perfect weekend in a crazy atmosphere and all the Swiss fans helped us enormously. But he refused to accept that finally winning the Davis Cup made him the greatest player of all-time. “That’s of no importance to me, what matters is that I enjoy playing tennis,” he added. Federer had expected to play JoWilfried Tsonga in the first of Sunday’s two rubbers, but the French number one, who lost to Wawrinka in four sets on Friday, was struggling with an arm injury and generally out of sorts. In came Gasquet with the monumental task of defeating Federer and opening the door for the possibility of the in-form Gael Monfils defeating Wawrinka in the decider. Another world record crowd of 27,488 roared their support for Gasquet as the two players came out into the red claycourt set down inside one half of a roofed over Lille football stadium. Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates after beating France’s Richard Gasquet in the fourth rubber of the Davis Cup final in Lille yesterday. (AFP) STRUGGLING The 33-year-old Swiss superstar executed an exquisite half-volley to bring up break point in the third game and sealed that with a superb backhand down the line. Gasquet could make no inroads at all on the Federer serve and he was struggling manfully each time to hold his own. Federer failed to convert two set points at 5-4 up, but another love service game did the trick in the following game. When Federer broke serve to open the second set, the heads visibly went down in the French camp, while the outnumbered Swiss supporters got to their feet. The merest point earned by Gasquet on the Federer serve brought an ear-splitting reaction from the French fans and the occasional rendition of �La Marseillaise’. But it was all to no avail as a calm-asyou-like Federer brought up three more break points and converted the second of those to pocket the second set. Gasquet put up some desperate late fight at the start of the second set, garnering a few points on the Federer serve, but he failed to earn a single break point. The pressure on his own serve was all the more acute and a tired-looking backhand, which sailed well wide, handed Federer the final break of serve he needed. Two games later it was all over, Federer falling to his knees in celebration after a final perfect backhand drop shot. He then shed some tears as he savoured a hugely emotional win The French team looked miserable on the closing ceremony podiums as they watched Federer get his hands on the Davis Cup for the first time after years of trying. “(Federer) was exceptional in every aspect of his play,” French captain Arnaud Clement said. “Richard (Gasquet) tried to be aggressive but Roger was just stunning. “It’s hard for us to take but on the day we have to say that the Swiss were the better team.” Swiss path to Davis Cup glory 1st round (Novi Sad, Serbia) Serbia 2 Switzerland 3 Straight-forward win for the Swiss pair with Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki all absent for a variety of reasons. Swiss take winning 3-0 lead and reverse singles wins for Serbs are meaningless. Quarter-finals (Geneva, Switzerland) Switzerland 3 Kazakhstan 2 Federer and Wawrinka expected to win easy, but a shock opening defeat for Wawrinka lets the Kazakhs into the match and then the Swiss pair lose the doubles. The reverse singles though save the Swiss. Semi-finals (Geneva, Switzerland) Switzerland 3 Italy 2 Straight set wins for Federer and Wawrinka set the Swiss up for a quick win, but then the Swiss pair again slump to doubles defeat. Federer though puts the tie away with a straight sets win over Fabio Fognini in the first of the reverse singles Final (Lille, France) France 1 Switzerland 3 Honours shared on the first day with Wawrinka defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils beating Federer. But the Swiss pair are superb in winning the doubles and Federer wins first of the reverse singles against Richard Gasquet. (From left) Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli, Roger Federer, captain Severin Luthi, Stan Wawrinka and Michael Lammer celebrate. (AFP) rench Davis Cup dreams were shattered once again in Lille yesterday, the loss to Switzerland being the third straight for them in the final of one of the oldest and most prestigious events in sport. In 2002, they lost 3-2 to Russia in Paris and in 2010 they also lost 3-2 to Serbia in Belgrade. That means that they are stuck on nine wins overall, level with Britain in third equal place, in the long history of a tournament which is held in the highest esteem in France. All the more galling it is because time is running out for a so-called golden generation of French players led by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gael Monfils, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon. For all their talent not one of them has won a Grand Slam title and the Davis Cup title remains as elusive as ever. Asked what had prevented his players from winning against the Swiss when everything seemed to be in their favour just a few days before the start of the final in Lille, captain Arnaud Clement said sheer quality had won through in the end. “Honestly from the tennis point of view the Swiss team was superior, better than we were,” he said. “Maybe we could have used some details in our favour to turn around some matches and the tie. But if you look at the tie as a whole, you can see that the Swiss players are at a higher level than us. “They’re top one (Federer is actually at two in the rankings) and top four of the world. We prepared for that as much as we could. But we knew that beating them would need an exceptional performance. “So what we are looking for is maybe big victories on a regular basis in major tournaments during the year so that our players can be at a higher level. “It’s a lot and a little at the same time.” There were excuses available for the French notably the right-arm injury that Tsonga aggravated at their training camp in Bordeaux. He was clearly not at his best in losing in four sets to Stan Wawrinka in the first singles and he then had to pull out of the doubles and the reverse singles. But the Swiss had their troubles too with Roger Federer’s back injury and the brief fallout involving him and Wawrinka the previous weekend in London. But throughout the week in Lille, the Swiss came over as more relaxed and better prepared than the French. According to France’s coaching technical director Arnaud di Pasquale, experience was key in Lille with Federer at 33 and Wawrinka at 29 having years of it behind them.The French still have some time left on their side, he believes. “They still have a few years to play. How old is Federer (33). He won the Davis Cup. That was the only trophy he didn’t have,” he said. “But our French players are younger and they still have very good years ahead of them. I am sure they really want to go and get this trophy. I don’t believe they will stop with this failure.” Al-Attiyah, Ippolito win FIM elections Appreciation for QMMF Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) president Nasser Khalifa al-Attiyah with Vito Ippolito after the two were re-elected as the vice president and president of the FIM respectively. While al-Attiyah was elected for his second straight term, Venezeulan Ippolito won his third presidential election. Kuwaiti co-driver Salem al-Thefiri (of Ahmed al-Qashmi) presents a memento to QMMF general secretary Mohamed Saad al-Morakhi as an appreciation for QMMF’s support to rallying in the GCC at Qatar National Rally on Saturday. Monday, November 24, 2014 SPORT GULF TIMES FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS (25M) Gold medals in Europe are in the past, says Stjepanovic �I would say as a Serbian, obviously Novak Djokovic is an inspiration’ T his year’s FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Doha is not only a highlight event in the global sporting calendar but is lining up to be the must-attend event in Qatar this year. Over five days, the world’s fastest swimmers will compete at Hamad Aquatic Centre for the ultimate prize – title of World Champion. In an interview ahead of the Championships, Serbian swimmer Velimir Stjepanovic said that he has already moved over his two gold medals at the European Championships (LC) in Berlin earlier this year, and what inspires him, among other things. Q. What are your targets and ambitions for the World Championships this year? As I always say, first I have to make finals and then anything can happen. The competition is pretty strong in my events but I’ll still be going to try and get the medal. Q. How do you feel about your European Championships medals and has it changed your approach or preparation for the World Championship in Doha? I’ve sort of tucked that away as the new season has started and focused on what’s next for me. It didn’t really change my team’s approach to training. We were always going to try and do all the World Cup races as practice for swimming under difficult conditions. That is new, so we will see how this approach affects me at the World Championship. Q. We all know diet is important in training and competing but for a swimmer what’s important and what can we learn from a swimmer’s diet? Swimmers in general have a high calorie intake; I try to eat as healthy as possible though. It’s important because the difference in the way you feel in a session can change based on what you ate. A lot of swimmers will have a ritual as to what they eat on competition days so they know they are fully prepared. Q. What keeps you motivated to stay as one of the leading swimmers in the world, and who inspires you? My top two reasons would be that I like winning and I hate losing. But I also love swimming and want to inspire children to participate in sport in general because the atmosphere in any sporting event is amazing. I would say as a Serbian, obviously Novak Djokovic is an inspiration; he is someone everyone looks up to. Q. You’re currently based in Dubai, but Serbian swimmer Velimir Stjepanovic train with Serbian strength and conditioning coach Marko Bukovic. Does it help to have Serbian training coaches around you while you’re living away from home? I was born in Abu Dhabi and have lived in Dubai my whole life, so I would say both UAE and Serbia are my homes. However, it really helps me keep my Serbian speaking level much higher as I spend more of my days talking in Serbian than English. Q. How has working with Marko changed how you feel in the water? Obviously Marko helped a lot when I had my QATAR BASKETBALL LEAGUE Jaish, Arabi post wins By Sports Reporter Doha Q. What is your main focus ahead of the Meet FINA World C’ships mascot Bahoor W ith just days to go until the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) begins in Doha on December 3, Bahoor, the Arabian seahorse and official mascot of the Championships, will be out and about in Doha to spread the excitement across the community. Bahoor will be at Virgin Megastore, Villaggio, on Thurs- Al Wakrah’s Adamu Saaka (left) in action against El Jaish during their Qatar Basketball League match at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. PICTURE: Othman al-Samaraee Summer Olympics in Rio? Will you be focusing on the Freestyle events like the 200m and 400m that you’ve had recent success in? I’m going to stick with my three events that I’ve done so far; trying to get A cuts for Rio in the 200m and 400m Freestyle, and the 200m Butterfly. BOTTOMLINE By Sports Reporter Doha D espite strong performances by Adamu Saaka and Calvin Cage, Al Wakrah could not begin their Qatar Basketball League campaign with a win. Saaka scored a match high 33 points, while Cage dunked 28 points, as Wakrah went down to El Jaish 89-111 at Al Gharafa Sports Club yesterday. For Jaish, Shawn Taggart was the leading scorer with 28 points. Taggart dunked 11 two-pointers and six free-throws, apart from snapping up 14 rebounds. Jaish consistently scored 26-29 points every quarter, with 28 points coming in the last quarter. Despite trailing throughout the game, Wakrah came close in the third quarter when they had managed to bring down the deficit to four at 61-65. However, their scoring dipped and they were only able to score 11 points in the last quarter. Jaish’s Vernon Macklin and Alioune Ndoye scored 20 points each while Fadi Abilmona and Kelvin Parker pitched in with 12 points apiece. Other players to get into double figures for Wakrah were Mohamed Ouiri (14) and Donald Rashad (10). Earlier yesterday, Kevin Rogers (22) and Mansour Elhadary (18) combined well for 40 points as Al Arabi beat Al Khor 70-59. Drago Pasalic scored 14 points for the eventual winners. For Khor, Shavon Coleman top-scored with 25 points, while Kevin Bridgewaters and Emanuel Willis pitched in with 16 and 15 points respectively. Khor went into the second quarter leading at 15-11, but then on could not do much to force a win. Tomorrow, Al Rayyan will take on Qatar Sports Club in the 5pm match, while Al Ahli will face off with Al Gharafa at 7pm. back problems. His training coupled with gym time has made me feel much stronger, especially when it comes to my legs and explosive power. This showed in my dives during the European Long Course events. day, November 27, at 5pm. Apart from posing for photos with fans, Bahoor will be giving away exclusive FINA World Swimming Championships merchandise to lucky fans who come wearing the national colours of their favourite swimmer. A perfect choice of mascot for the flagship event in Doha, the sea creature calls the crystal waters of Qatar’s coastline its home where it elegantly yet powerfully glides through the water. The 12th FINA World Swimming Championships will bring together the world’s best swimmers – Olympic legends, World Record holders and World Champions — to compete for glory over five days. To be held at Hamad Aquatic Centre from December 3-7, 2014, morning heats start at 9:30am and the finals will take place at 6pm. Fans can purchase tickets at Virgin Megastores or online at tickets.virginmegastore.qa starting at QR10. For more information, log on to www.wscdoha2014.com or follow @FINA2014Doha on Twitter.
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