SPORT | Page 1 BUSINESS | Page 1 INDEX QATAR 4 – 11, 30, 31 12 REGION ARAB WORLD 12, 13 INTERNATIONAL 14 – 27 COMMENT BUSINESS CLASSIFIED SPORTS 28, 29 1 – 11, 17 – 20 12 – 17 1 – 12 DOW JONES QE NYMEX 17,371.01 13,780.59 80.07 -19.51 -0.11% +157.26 +1.15% -0.47 -0.58% Latest Figures The new app gains significance given that more than 80% of road traffic accidents in Qatar have been caused by distracted driving, with mobile phone usage being the main cause Peter Alagos Business Reporter HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad a-Thani with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing yesterday. HH the Emir is on an official two-day visit to China. Qatar, China agree on �strategic partnership’ Q atar and China yesterday agreed to establish a “strategic partnership” that will “focus on the common interest of the two countries and the two people and serve their development and prosperity”. The agreement came during the official talks held between HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the People’s Palace in Beijing yesterday. HH the Emir is on a state visit to China. During the talks, attended by senior ministers and officials from both sides, views on bilateral relations and co-operation in various fields as well as on international and regional issues of mutual concern were exchanged. A joint communique, issued after the talks, said the two countries’ leaderships had agreed that since the establishment of diplomatic Business Page 20 ARAB WORLD | Conflict Peshmerga, rebels battle IS militants Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters and moderate Syrian rebels bombarded Islamic State (IS) positions in Kobane yesterday, but it was unclear if their arrival would turn the tide in the battle for the besieged Syrian border town. Kobane has become a symbolic test of the US-led coalition’s ability to halt the advance of Islamic State, which has poured weapons and fighters into its assault of the town that has lasted more than a month. Page 12 HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving a bouquet on arrival in Beijing yesterday. relations between the two countries on July 9, 1988, “co-operation in economic, trade, energy, human and cultural exchanges have achieved fruitful results”. “In line with the realistic needs for developing the Qatari-Chinese relations and the common desire of both sides to further develop bilateral relations to a new level, the two sides decided to establish a strategic partnership which will focus on the common interest of the two countries and their people and serve their development and prosperity,” the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) quoted the joint communique as saying. President Xi welcomed Qatar to participate in the building of the Silk Road economic belt and the 21st-century maritime Silk Road. “China is willing to establish a long-term stable energy partnership with Qatar and boost co-operation and investment in infrastructure, telecommunication and finance as well as joint investment in third countries,” President Xi said. Qatar and China signed a raft of agreements later yesterday. zHH the Emir has donated a grant of $10mn for setting up a Qatar Chair for Middle East studies at the Peking University. This was announced during a meeting between Qatar University president Dr Sheikha Abdullah al-Misnad and Peking University president Enge Wang yesterday. Page 31 Central banks sign $6bn currency swap deal Reuters Beijing C hina’s central bank has signed a 35bn yuan ($5.7bn) currency swap deal with its Qatari counterpart, in a step towards expanding use of the Chinese yuan in a region long dominated by the US dollar. The deal is expected to allow the two central banks to swap currencies if needed to ease trade and investment. Qatari investment institutions will now also get the right to invest up to 30bn yuan in main- in Vodafone Qatar, which made a “distributable profit” of QR120mn and reduced its net loss to QR81mn in six months up to September, expects to turn profitable in 2015, a senior company official has said. “We expect to make a profit at some point next year,” Vodafone Qatar chief financial officer Steve Walters said yesterday. He said the company achieved an EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of QR295mn for the period under review, up 41% year-on-year. Giving highlights of Vodafone Qatar’s six months financial performance at the Four Seasons yesterday, CEO Kyle Whitehill said the company made total revenue of QR1.14bn, up 24% on the same period last year. d Two die and 11 hurt in crashes Vodafone Qatar to turn profitable in 2015 he is A R 8 7 AT 19 Q since QATAR | Accidents BUSINESS | Results TUESDAY Vol. XXXV No. 9531 November 4, 2014 Moharram 11, 1436 AH www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Safety app to prevent distracted driving In brief Two persons died and 11 others injured in three road accidents in Doha on Sunday, Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday. The two deaths occurred when a Land Cruiser strayed from the Salwa Road and rammed into a workshop. In the accident that happened around 6.30am, the driver of the SUV, which was being driven towards Abu Samra, hit two workers who were in the workshop, killing one of them and grievously injuring the other. The Land Cruiser’s driver was also killed. The nationalities of the deceased and injured were not known. In another accident, four people were injured when two cars collided in Al Mamourah. The accident took place at 8.30pm near the Central market. The injured persons in the two cars were Palestinians and Pakistanis. In a third accident, six persons were injured when their vehicle fell into a pit off the D Ring Road in the Nuaija area. According to Arrayah, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to stray to the right side and end up in a deep pit, excavated for a building’s foundation. bl GULF TIMES pu Winter switch for the 2022 World Cup draws nearer Qatar eyes Asia, Africa downstream investments land Chinese securities, including stocks, bonds and bills, the People’s Bank of China said in a statement yesterday. The investment scheme, known as the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (RQFII), was created in 2011 to let financial investors place some of their yuan holdings in China. The United Arab Emirates signed a three-year currency swap arrangement with China in 2012 that was similar in size to Qatar’s. Bankers see it is a step towards long-term change. Beijing has been promoting its currency to interna- tional investors, aiming eventually to turn the “redback” into a global reserve currency in line with the country’s rising political and economic power. Gulf Arab countries have lagged many other parts of Asia in using the yuan because their energy exports to China are mainly denominated in dollars and most of their currencies are pegged to the dollar. HSBC estimated last year that while 10% of China’s international trade was conducted in yuan, the share was under 4% for Chinese trade with the UAE. The huge for- eign reserves of the Gulf states are mostly kept in dollars. However, economists believe there is room for that pattern to shift slowly in coming years as Gulf states gradually orient a greater share of their trade towards Asia. Qatar, which has some $43bn in net foreign currency reserves and an estimated $170bn in its sovereign wealth fund, is the biggest supplier of liquefied natural gas to China. In April this year, China’s central bank signed an agreement to help its Qatari counterpart invest in the Chinese interbank bond market. I n an initiative to reduce traffic accidents, the Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC) yesterday announced a mobile app called Salamtek, which means “your safety” in Arabic. The app, expected to be available via Google app store this month or the next, enables motorists to lock their mobile phones at a certain set speed so as to eliminate distractions while driving. The app gains significance given that “more than 80% of road traffic accidents in Qatar have been caused by distracted driving, with mobile phone usage being the main cause”, as revealed by Traffic Department director Brig Mohamed Saad al-Kharji on the sidelines of the announcement. The event was also highlighted by the announcement of Salamtek Consortium, composed of representatives from the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning (MMUP), Traffic Directorate of the Ministry of Interior, Ooredoo, Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), and Road Safety Studies Centre (RSSC) of Qatar University. “The app focuses on developing, de- ploying and promoting innovative solutions and applications that tackle incidents involving distracted driving as caused primarily by the use of mobile phones,” QMIC executive director Dr Adnan Abu-Dayya told Gulf Times. QMIC chairman Abdulla al-Talib observed that as mobile phones had become smartphones, the solutions should also be smarter. “We really need to introduce technology that is smart enough to help lessen road accidents and limit the danger that is coming from it,” he said. This was echoed by QMIC chief commercial officer Abdulaziz al-Khal who explained that Salamtek solutions and applications were focused on managing driver distraction using “a user-friendly interface that seamlessly changes a driver’s mobile phone behaviour”. Al-Khal said that the app was available in three segments: Salamtek Personal, Salamtek Enterprise and Salamtek Family. Salamtek Personal will be a free app. The app will automatically log all notifications and user activity while the phone is deactivated. Also, callers will receive an auto reply message after dialling the number of a Salamtek-activated mobile or smartphone. Companies and government entities can opt to use the Salamtek Enterprise which is available via mobile or web application to allow companies to enforce phone usage policies on their drivers. To Page 11 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4 , 2014 4 QATAR Official Al-Marri meets Swiss president Qatar-Moldova education ties discussed HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education and Secretary General of the Supreme Education Council Dr Mohamed bin Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi met the Moldovan Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education Igor Grosso, in Doha yesterday. They discussed co-operation between the two countries in the education sector. HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri meeting the President of the Swiss Confederation and UN Special Advocate for Stolen Assets Recovery Didier Burkhalter in Geneva yesterday. Dr al-Marri thanked the Swiss Confederation President for hosting of the 3rd Arab Forum on Asset Recovery (AFAR) and the support provided by Switzerland to this initiative. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on issues of mutual concern, particularly matters related to stolen assets. Chief of Staff meets Kuwaiti diplomat HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Major General Ghanim bin Shaheen al-Ghanim yesterday met the new military attache at the Kuwaiti embassy Lt Col Nasser Abdulaziz al-Samhan. Ashghal to take up 14 new road projects next year A shghal will take up 14 new road projects, worth approximately QR20.31bn next year as part of the Expressway programme, according to a statement in the authority’s annual report (2013-2014), released yesterday. A total of 12 projects worth QR18.21bn have been taken up so far. This year also saw the completion of four major roads. A total of 11 Expressway projects are currently under different phases of construction across Qatar. In a message, Ashghal president and senior engineer Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi, said there has been a steady progress on the Public Work Authority’s ongoing nationwide infrastructure programme and the remarkable hike in the allocation of funds this financial year compared to the previous year has accelerated the works. While the authority awarded works worth approximately QR12.9bn in 2012-13, the figure tripled to QR38.4bn in this financial year, said the president in his message. Among the notable achievements on the authority’s local roads and drainage programme, the president has singled out for praise the completion of the conversion into signalled intersections of 10 critical `roundabouts’ on the Corniche road. The ministry of finance said Ashghal president has approved a budget of QR16bn for Ashghal’s buildings, drainage and roads projects this year. Ashghal, he said, had spent nearly 84% of the allocated budget to support the delivery of world-class public infrastructure and buildings. Of the QR38.4bn contract awards for 2013-14, 33.8bn is for road projects and QR4.2bn is for buildings, the report said. There has been a QR276.5mn funding for drainage projects as well. The report also says that the work on the ambitious multi-billion Sharq Crossing project, which will have a length of over 10km across Doha Sea, is expected to start next year and completed hopefully in 2021. The project will link the Hamad International Airport (HIA) with Katara Cultural District through three iconic bridges. 6 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 QATAR Officials from Texas A&M University. Texas A&M sets up new energy research centre T he Texas A&M University has established a new home for innovation, research, learning and collaboration on its Qatar campus. Arching over two continents and several disciplines, the Qatar campus’s new Gas & Fuels Research Centre (GFRC) has the potential to become the definitive depository of knowledge as well as the leading cradle of new technologies related to the production, transport and processing of natural gas worldwide, the university said in a statement yesterday. The GFRC’s main objectives are to train highly-skilled engineers and technical staff and to provide both research and service to industry and government agencies seeking to learn about the potential and use of natural gas as a fast-rising source of cleaner energy. It is part of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, the engineering research agency of the state of Texas and a member of the Texas A&M University System. “The Gas & Fuels Research Centre has a unique opportunity to lead multidisciplinary innovative research activities in natural gas exploration, production, treatment and processing to support Qatar - the world capital of natural gas and the state of Texas - the world energy leader,” said Dr Nimir Elbashir, the centre’s director and associate professor in the chemical engineering programme. The GFRC will establish strong links with research institutions and industry and government agencies both in Qatar and the US. It will focus on several research areas immediately, including new gas exploration and production techniques, novel catalysts and materials for natural gas conversions, new processes related to hydrocarbon treatment and new materials and mathematical models for property prediction and process design, explained Dr Ioannis Economou, the centre’s co-director. “I am very confident that my colleagues involved in each of these areas and their research will have a tremendous impact in the local, regional and global oil and gas industrial community,” Dr Economou added. The centre will not have its own building but will use existing facilities in the Texas A&M engineering building in Doha and the chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and petroleum engineering buildings in College Station, Texas. The aim in the initial phase is to bring together stakeholders from across the energy universe to work on projects of mutual interest and make use of existing infrastructure. In the first stage, funding will be used to support researchers and upgrade research equipment. “Faculties on both campuses have been very supportive,” Economou said. The direct participation of 22 faculty members based on both the Col- lege Station and Qatar campuses will allow students to work alongside new colleagues and benefit from the infrastructure found on both campuses. The GFRC’s launch was envisioned during Texas A&M at Qatar’s Gas and Fuels Research Initiative and a two-day workshop on natural gas monetisation that took place in Montgomery, Texas, in March. The workshop was sponsored by the United States National Science Foundation, Texas A&M University at Qatar and global energy corporations Qatar Shell and Sasol. “Growth in the shale gas industry in the US will lead to investments exceeding $100bn over the next decade,” said Dr Mahmoud El-Halwagi, the centre’s managing director and McFerrin Professor in the department of chemical engineering at Texas A&M in College Station. “So, there is great advantage to have Texas A&M University both in Qatar and College Station provide leadership, research, education and outreach for the oil and gas industry at such a critical time.” Professor Peter Valko from the petroleum engineering department in College Station and a faculty member of the GFRC added, “The GFRC has the potential to become the definitive depository of knowledge and cradle of new technologies related to the production, transport and processing of natural gas.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 7 QATAR President of Gabon arrives President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba being received on arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Youth and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali and Gabon’s non-resident Ambassador to the State of Qatar Ismail Tama yesterday. PHCC breast cancer awareness drive stresses early detection P rimary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has concluded the activities of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, observed during the month of October. The campaign is based on the importance of early detection of the disease to save lives. PHCC’s participation included several activities on breast cancer awareness where risks and symptoms were explained and tips to prevent this type of cancer were provided. PHCC held awareness lectures at Umm Ayman Secondary Independent School for Girls, where Dr Seham Abdel Hamid, Family Medicine consultant from the Al Rayyan health centre (HC), advised on how to prevent breast cancer. “Early detection tests for breast cancer save thousands of lives each year and many more lives could be saved if more women and doctors as healthcare providers take advantage of the tests.” In addition, Dr Lena Abdullah, Family Medicine consultant from the Al Muntazah HC, delivered a lecture at Community College of Qatar (for girls) about what is breast cancer and the possible ways of treatment. Dr Abdullah said: “The techniques and methods of treatment vary depending on the age, health condition, time of detection and the tumour range. Treatment does not always require mastectomy, but lumpectomy surgery might be done. Also, radiation and chemotherapy can be applied to finish off the cancer cells.” As part of the breast cancer awareness campaign, PHCC organised a lecture for employees of Grand Hy- att Doha where the symptoms, risks factors and prevention of this type of cancer were explained. Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Awad, Family Medicine, Airport HC, highlighted the importance of early detection of this disease to save lives. “Protective factors are also aspects to consider when we talk about breast cancer. For example, breastfeeding for at least 16 months, having oophorectomy before the age of 35 and doing exercises reduce the risk of this type of cancer,” Dr alAwad explained. 8 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 QATAR Ecuador delegation at Lulu Wise summit set to begin today By Joseph Varghese Staff Reporter Members of a business delegation from Ecuador, who were in Qatar recently to explore the possibilities of business co-operation in connection with Qatar’s food security programme, are seen with Mohamed Althaf, director of Lulu Group International. A lmost 50% of the participants of the World Innovation Summit for Education 2014 (Wise) are from Qatar as Wise has had a significant impact on the education community in the country, the CEO of Wise said yesterday. The three-day Wise summit takes place at the Qatar National Convention Centre from today as more than 1,500 educators, opinion makers and thought leaders will take part in the deliberations which will come up with valuable recommendations for the global education community. Stavros N Yiannouk, CEO, Wise, said that Wise has significantly and positively influenced the education community in Qatar. Yiannouk explained that the effort was to embed Wise in the local education community. “Under the guidance of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, Wise has become a resource and inspiration for the local education community. Wise has launched a number of programmes such as Learner’s Voice Programme which has ensured the involvement of local talents. The Wise annual learning festival is done in collaboration with local institutions and organisations and promotes collaboration and innovation.” The official added: “Wise, in collaboration with the Supreme Educa- tion Council (SEC) hosts a two-day pre-Wise workshop for local principals and head teachers where we try to expose them to some of the best practices from around the world through the Wise programmes. Similarly there are collaborations with organisations such as Teach For Qatar, Qatar Museums among others.” He added that discussions are on to organise a leadership programme in collaboration with SEC. The CEO also stated that the programmes of the summit are themed on creativity with Wise’s theme: “Imagine - Create - Learn: Creativity at the Heart of Education”. He remarked: “Prevailing model of education is one that we had inherited from the Industrial Revo- lution era. Many of the thought leaders feel that the model is outdated and unable to produce learners with critical thinking collaborative skills and determination. Wise is trying to promote these skills and looks for a creative pedagogy.” Yiannouk pointed out that Education Above All (EAA), a global initiative of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser has become an integral part of the Wise programme. “The plenary session on the second day of the summit will be held by EAA and will discuss the post-2015 agenda for the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which are due to culminate in 2015. The plenary will discuss and deliberate the scenario after 2015 in education,” he added. EAA Village to host sessions on key issues E ducation Above All Foundation (EAA) will open its second EAA Village edition at the World Innovation Summit for Education (Wise) today. The EAA Village at Wise will see a number of sessions and events which will bring to the fore key issues in the education field as well as showcase EAA’s work around the world. The events will include a session moderated by EAA’s Al Fakhoora programme on the first day during which the importance of reconstruction of educational facilities in Gaza will be discussed. Nasser Faqih, from UNDP Palestine, Muneeb Abu-Ghazaleh from Islamic Relief Worldwide will be among the speakers. A session dedicated to the important role of education in the lives of explorers, athletes and adventurers will take place on the second day of the summit at the EAA Village. Qatari athletes will participate in this multi-generational panel, where the importance of volunteerism and social responsibility as tools to fight poverty will be emphasised. Other sessions will include discussions on the impact of armed conflict on education in sub-Saharian Africa, and in the Mena region, during which Dr Maryan Qasim, former minister of human development and public services, Somalia; Dr Tariq Cheema, president, World Congress of Muslim Philanthropists; and Dr Abla Amawi, country director, UNWOMEN Egypt; will participate. Films and documentaries will also be screened at the EAA Village. 10 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 QATAR Ikea launches �soft toys’ campaign to raise funds I kea Qatar yesterday announced the launch of its annual Soft Toys for Education campaign in the country in association with local partner Qatar Charity and Unicef, the global partner. “Beginning November 6 until January 3, 2015, for every soft toy sold in the Doha Festival City store, Ikea Foundation will donate QR5 to help support Unicef’s education programmes around the world,” James McGowan, regional brand communication manager, Ikea UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Oman, said. At a press conference at Qatar Charity headquarters, he said customers could also donate the soft toys they purchase from the Ikea Doha store by depositing them in a drop box kept after the checkout area. “All donated soft toys are to be distributed to the under-privileged children in Qatar, in association with Qatar Charity, with whom we are partnering for the second consecutive year,” McGowan said. Ibrahim bin Abdullah al-Mohannadi, executive director for local development, Qatar Charity, described the campaign as a remarkable one “that has touched the lives of millions of underprivileged children around the world including our own. We urge the community to think of the many children who need their support and to give wholeheartedly.” Dr Ibrahim El-Ziq, Gulf Area Representative, Unicef, recalled that in the past, the campaign has helped improve the lives of millions of children in 46 Unicef supported countries. “Ikea continues to be the largest corporate cash donor to Unicef, committing more than $180mn in both cash and in-kind donations,” he said while recalling that Ikea has been a key supporter of Unicef’s work for more than 10 years now. Ooredoo offer now permanent for Smart Pack users O Officials of Ikea, Qatar Charity and Unicef announcing the campaign yesterday in Doha. PICTURE: Thajudheen. The Unicef official said that Qatar, a regional as well as global player in education, has been instrumental in supporting Unesco over the years. “Under the stewardship of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Qatar has helped Unicef bring down the number of children, who are yet to receive education across the world, from 77mn to 66mn.” In a message, John Kersten, managing director, Ikea Qatar, UAE, Egypt and Oman said: “Ikea believes that education is one of the most effective ways to help children escape poverty and shape a better future for themselves. It has a direct impact on wellbeing, from better health to increased opportu- nities. The Soft Toys for Education campaign is therefore an extremely important initiative for Ikea, which continues to join hands with global partner Unicef to help underprivileged children across the world. I would like to urge our customers to help make this campaign a success.” Kersten said that the Ikea Foundation, based in the Netherlands, works tirelessly to help improve opportunities for children and young adults in some of the world’s less privileged communities. For more than 12 years, the Ikea Foundation has been a key partner and supporter of Unicef’s work to provide quality education to millions of children worldwide. Launched in 2003, the Soft Toys for Education campaign has so far benefited over 11mn children globally. It has supported over 99 projects in 46 countries worldwide. The campaign raised €67mn in total over the last 10 years and €10.1mn in 2013 alone. Funds raised during Ikea’s Soft Toys for Education campaign will support global efforts including improving school infrastructure, access to water and sanitation facilities, training teachers, and providing school benches, desks and educational supplies like books, pencils and writing pads for children and teachers. Ruhsen Gelgor, store manager, Ikea Qatar, was also present at the press conference Bank offers rewards for use of app Barwa Bank is offering customers the opportunity to win rewards by using the bank’s recently-released, revamped mobile banking application, the bank said. The rewards are divided into guaranteed prizes for all customers upon registration on the Barwa Bank mobile banking application and monthly prizes for the top 30 customers having the highest number of cumulative local and international fund transfers. Registration prizes include Barwa Bank loyalty points, which are redeemable for Qmiles, Nojoom points, or gift vouchers and can be used at any participating outlet while monthly prizes include the latest tablets and smartphones. The campaign runs until December 31. Hussain al-Abdullah, Barwa Bank general manager, Personal Banking & Wealth Management, said: “Barwa Bank launched its enhanced digital service earlier in July this year as part of our commitment to improve the banking experience for our customer base allowing them to manage important account information anytime, anywhere.” The state-of-the-art mobile banking application was designed by a digital banking team to provide customers with seamless connectivity to their accounts. The application allows customers to check their account balance, view transactions, transact credit card and utility payments, and transfer funds, among others. Barwa Banks mobile banking application process is straightforward and quick: Customers may download the application through the Apple Store, Google Play, Windows Phone, or Blackberry App World on their mobile devices. Embassy holiday The Indian embassy will remain closed on Thursday on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, the mission said yesterday. oredoo has announced that it would keep the price of Ooredooto-Ooredoo calls at 10 dirhams per minute permanently for Hala International Saver Key and Hala Smart Pack customers. The new pricing was originally a special offer, but its popularity has prompted Ooredoo to make it a permanent upgrade on Hala, the company said in a statement yesterday. According to its most recent financial results, Ooredoo now has more than 3mn customers in Qatar - an all-time record and Hala is the most popular service in the country, the statement said. Fatima Sultan al-Kuwari, director of Community & Public Relations at Ooredoo, said: “This has been one of Ooredoo’s best years ever in Qatar, driven by the support of our customers and a new range of datafocused services and incredible call offers. We’re continuing to offer new benefits with Hala to ensure that it remains Qatar’s most popular choice for communication and continues to offer the very best value on the market.” Since the launch of Smart Packs at the start of this year, the service has won new customers because of the choice in call minutes and data the packs provide, and continues to win back customers who previously switched to other services, the statement added. The call rate to any Ooredoo mobile or landline number is now QR0.10 per minute on Hala International Saver Key and Hala Smart Packs. Hala customers can subscribe to the Hala International Saver Key by sending the SMS �ISK’ to 121. With Hala International Saver Key, customers wishing to connect overseas can also benefit from the best international call rates to 121 countries. At QR1 per week, the Hala International Saver Key offers international call rates of QR0.45 per minute as well as the value price of QR0.10 per minute for local calls to Ooredoo mobile or landline. Hala Smart Pack customers receive a competitive weekly local calling and SMS allowance, as well as generous mobile Internet data bundle, depending on their chosen pack denomination (QR10, QR15, QR25 and QR40). With the new 10 dirhams per minute pricing, Hala Smart customers can talk for 50% less to Ooredoo numbers, according to the statement. Hala Smart Packs are automatically renewed and customers need to simply ensure that they have sufficient credit to continue receiving the benefits of the weekly packs. To activate the Hala Smart Pack, a customer needs to dial *121#. Sharp fall in temperature likely Temperatures are expected to fall significantly in Qatar from today, the weather office said yesterday. There are also chances of dust blowing across the country for the next 72 hours. The temperatures may fall between 4 and 7 degrees and the average minimum is expected to be between 18 and 22 degrees. The country is expected to be affected by the formation of a ridge of high pressure which according to the weather office will be extended from the northwest of the Saudi Arabian peninsula. The maximum temperature will be in the region of 27 to 30 degrees. The southern areas are expected to be cooler. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 11 QATAR Empower Declaration signed to promote health among youth H E Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani, chairperson of Reach Out to Asia (Rota), has signed the Empower Declaration 2014 to promote health and development among the youth. The proclamation comes as part of the sixth annual Youth Conference, Empower, organised by Rota, which is a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF). Titled “Sports for Youth Empowerment”, the declaration was launched by young Rota volunteers from Qatar and the Gulf region. They include Generation Amazing youth ambassadors from the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. In an attempt to impart the values needed for society today and in the future, the declaration highlights the importance of sport for youth development, promoting health, education and professional growth as well as peace locally and internationally. The initiative also calls for a variety of private and public organisations to come together to support the declaration through joint co-operation to achieve its goals, including youth and sport organisations, local and international development organisations, UN entities and government departments, and comprising schools, sports media and athletes alike. HE Sheikha al-Mayassa expressed delight at the signing, saying: “Today, we are reaping the rewards of five years of continued efforts to develop youth capacity in Qatar and the Gulf region through Reach Out to Asia activities. We celebrate this declaration launched by Empower volunteers themselves. “Through their own determination and sense of responsibility, they drafted its content with the intention of investing in younger generations. They are using sports as a platform to inspire the values that build a healthy and thoughtful society. Today, I am very happy to see our dreams come true at the hands of young volunteers.” Essa al-Mannai, executive director of Rota, added: “We have dedicated our work during the past five years through Empower to equip the young volunteers with the concepts of leadership, learning and global citizenship. Today, we see the translation of these concepts through this declaration, which is a guideline gift from today’s youth for tomorrow’s youth to pave the way for their future. It takes inspiring young people from a local to a global level in a way that reflects the basic concepts of Empower.” The declaration has been a prominent topic of admiration within UN organisations, conferences, NGOs, sports groups and government ministries, which have all recognised the impact sport has as a starting point towards positive change. Rota supports QF’s mission to provide world-class education and foster a progressive society by addressing immediate social needs. Members of the Rota Youth Advisory Board and youth ambassadors from the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy’s Generation Amazing programme meet with HE Sheikha al-Mayassa (centre). �Confluence: Photographic-based Work from the Contemporary Middle East’ show by VCUQatar Gallery Innovative safety app From Page 1 It manages phone usage while the drivers are on the road, eliminating driver distraction. Managers can have access to an online web application where they can monitor how their drivers are complying with the company’s set phone usage policies. The Salamtek Family, on the other hand, is optimised for parents. It is also a combination of mobile and web applications giving parents piece of mind once their children leave the house, by managing their phone usage while driving. The app is also useful for families with domestic drivers and can help eliminate any form of phone distraction while driving. In addition to Android-based solutions for all these segments, innovative iOS-based solutions will be introduced late in 2014 or early in 2015, QMIC said. Abu-Dayya said QMIC was now in discussions with research institutes and other ministries. He added that the next phase would be collaborations with companies for the conduct of “significant” pilot programmes using Salamtek technology. Members of the Salamtek Consortium, formed during the launching of a mobile app that will help curb road accidents. PICTURE: Jayan Orma Driven to distraction: mobile phone use causes over 80% of accidents M ore than 80% of road accidents in Qatar have been caused by distracted driving, with mobile phone usage being the main cause, a senior official of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) revealed yesterday. Brig Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, MoI’s director of Traffic Department, was speaking on the sidelines of the event in which Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre announced Salamtek, a new mobile app as well as a national consortium that addresses issues of distracted driving. Reacting to inquiries on how the MoI plans to lessen the percentage of road accidents, Brig al-Kharji said it is planned to deploy more personnel and highway patrols on major thoroughfares. The increased visibility of MoI personnel in the streets will help prevent and lessen road accidents, al-Kharji said. “Some of our personnel are still in training but they will be deployed soon. By enforcement, MoI could reduce the number of traffic accidents,” al-Kharji said, adding that the public can do its share by reporting reckless drivers or parking violations via Metrash 2. Winners of Commercial Bank’s corporate Internet banking receive their iPad Air prizes during an awarding ceremony. Commercial Bank Enterprise customers receive rewards for online banking E nterprise Banking, Commercial Bank’s dedicated unit for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has announced the winners of its latest campaign that encourages customers to use corporate Internet banking for all payment transactions at a prize-giving ceremony last week. Five lucky Enterprise Banking cus- tomers received an iPad Air at the ceremony following an independently-adjudicated prize draw. The participants had qualified to enter the competition by performing at least two local or international online transactions per month between May 15 and August 15, 2014. Dean Proctor, Commercial Bank’s EGM of Retail and Consumer Banking, said: “Commercial Bank is continually encouraging SME customers to switch their banking activities from branches to online. Corporate Internet banking offers many advantages compared to visiting a branch in person, including lower fees for local and international transfers, convenient 24/7 accessibility, and up-to-date security features for peace of mind.” Accident rate drops The percentage of road accident victims admitted to hospital has declined to 45%, Qatar’s traffic police chief said, citing hospital data. Qatar Traffic Department Director Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji said: “Hamad Medical Corp has informed us that the accident rate has dropped to 45%.” The Gallery at Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCUQatar) is presenting an exhibition, “Confluence: Photographic-based Work from the Contemporary Middle East”, from tomorrow until December 24. The exhibition brings together, for the first time in Qatar, the work of Atfal Ahdath, George Awde and Ali Cherri. An opening reception and panel discussion will be held at 6pm tomorrow at the Gallery, VCUQatar. The event is open to the public. The photograph is part of everyday life around the world and is used as a medium to preserve fleeting moments of the mundane, the personal and the intimate, as well as the monumental, the global and the public. This exhibition of contemporary photography and video installation from across the Middle East demonstrates this thematic diversity. Beyond this, it explores the medium itself – the richness of possibilities, directions and journeys that are open to the artist who uses photography in its broadest sense as a starting point or confluence in his/her work. “�Confluence’ has been a hugely exciting show to curate,” said Caitlin Doherty, exhibitions and speaker curator. “Each of the artists uses the medium in new and dynamic ways and explores themes that are relevant to them personally but also to society in a broader sense. In this way, they invite us to participate in conversations and prompt us to challenge previously held notions of what photography is and what it can be.” Awde, featured artist and assistant professor of photography at VCUQatar, said: “It’s an exciting time for photography in Doha and across the region. This exhibition is a great opportunity to challenge notions of the medium here at VCUQatar. It’s also about bringing the broader community into this conversation of the possibilities of photo-based practices across disciplines.” 12 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 REGION/ARAB WORLD Saudi seeks to counter lure of Syria militancy Reuters Riyadh A larmed by how militant veterans back home from Afghanistan and Iraq joined an Al Qaeda uprising a decade ago, Riyadh is now trying to halt recruitment of Saudis to the militant cause, even as it funds and arms rebels fighting the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria. The government and clerics are pushing their message in both the media and the mosque: Saudis who join radical groups such as Islamic State will get sucked into a militant experience that is ugly and futile. Local media have highlighted the case of Fahd al-Zaidi, a Saudi who said he was duped into joining a war against fellow Sunni Muslims instead of fighting for their freedom. “Anyone who dared to ques- tion the Islamic State would be put in isolation and prevented from contacting others,” he said in comments reported in the local Arab News and carried widely by other Saudi media. “We spent days and nights wondering how we allowed ourselves to be fooled by a bunch of conmen.” With the rebel groups often fighting each other rather than Assad’s forces, Riyadh believes the Syrian war should be left to Syrians. Informed by its previous experience, the kingdom is using an array of tools against militant recruitment apart from the media. A royal decree in February ordered long jail terms for people who went to fight overseas or helped others do so, or for those giving moral or material aid to groups including Islamic State and Al Qaeda’s official offshoot in Syria, Al Nusra Front. Several people have already been convicted. Top clerics including the Grand Mufti and members of the Senior Council of Scholars have repeatedly denounced militant groups in sermons and fatwas. While some senior government-appointed clerics have described the Syrian war as a jihad, they have made clear it is one that should be fought by Syrians, not by Saudis. Nevertheless, thousands of young men appear to have slipped through the net and joined Islamic State and other groups. The authorities say they are aware of 2,500 Saudis fighting overseas, but admit there may be more. Unlike in previous conflicts before militants learnt to use social media networks as recruitment tools, would-be militants no longer need extensive contact with facilitators inside Saudi Arabia. Some have simply flown to Turkey and headed for the Syrian or Iraqi border. Others used online contacts to get a mobile phone number for somebody who would help them once they arrived. Salman, whose brother followed the route via Turkey to fight alongside Islamic State and Al Nusra Front in Syria, said his sibling had been recruited online. But the brother, who is now on a government deradicalisation programme, found the promises of a pure jihad did not match a far messier reality. “His situation was very bad. He saw a lot of blood... there was a very big change in him when he came back. He blamed himself very much,” Salman said in a phone interview arranged by a psychologist working with the programme and conducted on condition of anonymity. Based in a secure facility in Riyadh, the programme uses clerics to argue against militancy, and provides art and sports classes where psychologists monitor inmates’ behaviour. It encourages family visits and has helped inmates - or “beneficiaries” as the authorities call them - to find jobs and even marriage partners to help reintegrate them into society. It has a recidivism rate of around one in 10, officials say. The US-led invasion of Iraq, which deposed the Sunni leadership of Saddam Hussain in 2003 and brought a Shia-led government to power, deepened a belief among many young Sunnis, including Saudis, that their branch of Islam faced persecution. “I saw on the television news that my brother Muslims needed help, so I thought I’d go and join them,” said Ayad al-Onazi, who spent four years fighting alongside Iraqi insurgents before his group fell apart after a battle with Al Qaeda. When he told his family he had arrived in Iraq in 2005, they begged him to return but, sure he was doing the right thing, he stayed until 2009. In August people in the small desert town of Tumair, about 160km north of Riyadh, tipped off the authorities that two mosque imams were recruiting jihadis. The clerics, identified in local media as Ali al-Salloum and Hamad al-Rais, were detained with six others in Tumair on suspicion of working to send people to Islamic State, the interior ministry later said without confirming their names. Ali al-Afnan, the psychologist working with the deradicalisation programme, said family ties were at the centre of its strategy to stop people going to war or entice back those who had already done so. What authorities now fear most, he said, is the ease with which militants can use YouTube and Twitter to encourage young men to go to Syria or Iraq. Riyadh has helped mothers of Hospitals in Yemen �shun HIV patients’ Iraq on �high alert’ amid IS attacks Authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel and allied militiamen to protect pilgrims, in a major test for the new government AFP Baghdad I raq boosted security yesterday amid fears of the Islamic State group launching major attacks on Shia pilgrims flocking to the shrine city of Karbala as further reports emerged of mass killings. The pilgrims are prime targets for the IS militants, who have carried out a series of mass executions in recent days, killing scores of members of a tribe in Iraq’s western Anbar province. The militants are reported to have slaughtered dozens of members of the Sunni Albu Nimr tribe, which took up arms against them in Anbar. Yesterday, tribal leader Naim al-Kuoud al-Nimrawi said that IS “executed 36 people, including four women and three children” on Sunday alone. Accounts have varied as to the number and timings of the executions, but sources have spoken of more than 200 people murdered in recent days. A police officer and an official gave figures of more than 200 to 258 people killed, while Iraq’s human rights ministry put the toll at 322 and a tribal leader said 381 were executed. The mass killings appear aimed at discouraging resistance from powerful local tribes in Anbar, where IS overran large areas in June as pro-government forces suffered a string of setbacks. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims are expected in Karbala for today’s peak of Ashura marking the death of Imam Hussein. At least 19 people were killed in bomb blasts targeting Shias in Baghdad on Sunday claimed by IS, and security forces were on alert for further attacks. Karbala deputy governor Jassem al-Fatlawi said “hundreds of thousands of Iraqi pilgrims” and 65,000 others from 20 different countries have thronged Karbala. Pilgrims have been targeted during Ashura before, but this year they face even greater danger after the IS lightning offensive in June. Authorities have deployed thousands of security personnel and allied militiamen to protect the pilgrims, in a major test for the new government headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. “The security plan is fully in effect and the security forces are on a state of high alert,” an Iraqi police colonel said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Police were deployed throughout Shia districts of Baghdad and security forces are guarding the 100km route from the capital to Karbala. More than 26,000 members of the security forces were deployed in Karbala itself, backed by helicopters providing air support and monitoring desert areas, army Staff Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanimi told reporters. Police used X-ray trucks to scan vehicles as sniffer dogs monitored arrivals and some 1,500 policewomen checked female pilgrims. The IS group has declared a “caliphate” in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria under its control, imposing its harsh interpretation of Islamic law and committing widespread atrocities. There are fears that Anbar province, stretching from Iraq’s borders with Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the western approach to Baghdad, could fall entirely. A US-led coalition of Western and Arab nations has carried out a wave of air strikes on IS positions in Iraq and Syria, with Canadian CF-18s conducting their first raids on Sunday around the Iraqi city of Fallujah. Singapore said yesterday it would provide military support including a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker for air-to-air refuelling. DPA Cairo P A soldier stands guard in Karbala yesterday. Peshmerga, Syria rebels pound IS targets Reuters Mursitpinar, Turkey I raqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters and moderate Syrian rebels bombarded Islamic State positions in Kobane yesterday, but it remained unclear if their arrival would definitively turn the tide in the battle for the besieged Syrian border town. Kobane has become a symbolic test of the US-led coalition’s ability to halt the advance of Islamic State, which has poured weapons and fighters into its bid to take the town in an assault that has lasted more than a month. The battle has also deflected attention from significant gains elsewhere in Syria by Islamic State, which has seized two gas fields within a week from President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the centre of the country. The arrival in Kobane of the peshmerga and additional Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters in recent days marks an escalation in efforts to defend the town af- Syrian refugees wait to cross the border to Turkey during fighting between Islamic State militants and Kurdish fighters near Kobane yesterday. ter weeks of US-led air strikes slowed but did not reverse the Islamists’ advance. White smoke billowed into the sky as peshmerga and FSA fighters appeared to combine forces, raining cannon and mortar fire down on Islamic State positions to the west of Kobane, a Reuters witness said. An estimated 150 Iraqi Kurdish fighters crossed into Kobane with arms and ammunition from Turkey late on Friday, the first time Ankara has allowed reinforcements to reach the town. “(Their) heavy weapons have been a key reinforcement for us. At the moment they’re mostly fighting on the western front, fighters in Syria to share their pain on television. In February a woman who called herself “Umm Mohamed” or “mother of Mohamed” appeared on a popular television show to castigate firebrand preachers for luring her 17-year-old son to Syria. The show’s host, Dawood alShirian, told Reuters that the government had been very receptive to his efforts to speak to such people and the son, Misfer, had eventually returned home after seeing his mother’s appeal. Misfer later appeared on the programme himself and said on it that he had decided to join the jihad after listening to sermons online by an influential Syrian preacher, the Saudi-controlled Al Arabiya news channel reported at the time. He travelled to Turkey alone and paid a smuggler to help him cross the border, but he grew disillusioned because some of the rebels in his group drank alcohol, he said. there’s also FSA there too,” said Meryem Kobane, a commander with the YPG, the main Syrian Kurdish armed group in Kobane. She said fierce fighting was also continuing in the eastern and southern parts of the city. The peshmerga - formally part of the Iraqi army - have deployed behind Syrian Kurdish forces and are supporting them with artillery and mortar fire, according to Ersin Caksu, a journalist inside Kobane. The fiercest fighting was taking place in the south and east, areas where the newly arrived reinforcements were not deployed, he said. Despite weeks of air strikes, Islamic State has continued to inflict heavy losses on Kobane’s defenders. The fight for Kobane within sight of the Turkish frontier has heaped pressure on Ankara, which has been reluctant to intervene, accusing the town’s defenders of links with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants, who have fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday decried what he called the “psychological war” being waged by the international media against Ankara, rebuffing criticism of its Syria policy. “Turkey is not a country that will bow either to domestic treason networks or to perception operations abroad,” the Hurryiet Daily News reported Erdogan as saying during a speech at an Istanbul university. A survey by pollster Metropoll appeared to show sympathy for Erdogan’s stance, with a majority of respondents saying the PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Europe and the United States, posed a greater threat to Turkey than Islamic State. A peace process aimed at disarming the PKK has appeared increasingly troubled in recent weeks, rocked by deadly Kurdish pro-Kobane protests, Turkish air strikes on PKK positions in northern Iraq and attacks on Turkish security forces. With the world’s attention on Kobane, Islamist forces have continued to gain ground elsewhere in Syria. The Islamic State seized a gas field in the central province of Homs, according to the SITE militant website monitoring service, the second gas field reported captured in a week from Assad’s forces. eople living with HIV are routinely denied treatment in Yemen’s healthcare system, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. The New York-based organisation detailed the ordeal of HIV patients who had been refused treatment in both government and private hospitals. Among them was a pregnant woman denied a caesarean delivery once doctors realised that she was HIV-positive. In another case, an unconscious stroke victim suffering seizures was thrown out of a hospital emergency department, health professionals told HRW. Her husband was then detained by the hospital’s security staff for 45 minutes before being released with a warning that he should “not cause any trouble in the future”. Other HIV patients reported being overcharged for health services in private facilities as medical staff took advantage of their inability to get treatment in public hospitals, the rights group said. HRW said a letter to Yemen’s health minister detailing the cases had received no response. “Kicking sick people out of the hospital because they have HIV is not just discriminatory, it’s cruel,” said Nadim Houry, HRW’s deputy Middle East director. “The health ministry should enforce Yemen’s law barring discrimination against people who are HIV-positive,” he added. According to the United Nations, there were some 6,000 people living with HIV in Yemen in 2013. Saudi-French arms deal for Lebanon �to be signed today’ Saudi Arabia and France are to finalise today a deal to provide Lebanon’s army with $3bn worth of French weapons, with Riyadh footing the bill, a Saudi daily and a French source said. A signing ceremony for the deal would be held this morning in Riyadh, the French source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The contract, which has gone through months of negotiations over the list of weapons to be supplied, would now “be rapidly implemented”, the French source said. Al Hayat, a Saudi-owned panArab daily, said the first arms shipment under the deal would be delivered to Lebanon “within a month”. The newspaper, quoting sources in Paris, said the arms deal would be signed by Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assad and Edouard Guillaud, the head of the ODAS organisation set up by France for the export of defence equipment. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 13 ARAB WORLD Hezbollah chief makes rare public appearance AFP Beirut H ezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah made a rare public appearance yesterday in the Lebanese capital’s southern suburbs, addressing thousands of his supporters ahead of the Shia Ashura commemorations. As he appeared on stage wearing a black robe and turban, the crowd seen in a live broadcast on Hezbollah’s Al Manar television began cheering wildly, as they apparently had not expected to see him. The head of the Shia militant group, whose forces are fighting in Syria alongside the troops of President Bashar al-Assad, usually addresses supporters via video link for fear of assassination by Israel. Nasrallah had not been seen in public since July, when he attended a rally to show support for the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip. But yesterday’s appearance in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a Hezbollah stronghold, was his sixth since his group fought Is- rael in a devastating and deadly war in 2006. Nasrallah has topped Israel’s most wanted list since even before that 34-day war, and his group has also made enemies with Sunni militants from Syria since its involvement in that country’s conflict. Hezbollah’s fighters clashed with militants in eastern Leba- non in October, and its strongholds have come under repeated bomb attacks over its involvement in the Syrian conflict. The Hezbollah leader called for a large turnout today, which sees the peak of Ashura. “Tomorrow we will prove that we are above any threat, any danger, any challenge,” Nasrallah said. Lebanese police were to close off the Shia-majority southern suburbs of Beirut for Ashura from midnight until the end of the commemorations. Hezbollah is planning to hold a massive rally in the southern suburbs of Beirut today, and Nasrallah is due to address the crowds again. The Hezbollah chief said his movement would back its main Christian ally, Michel Aoun, in Lebanon’s long-delayed presidential vote. The Lebanese parliament is tasked by the constitution to select a president, a decision that has already been put off 14 times as the war in Syria continues to divide rival political blocs. US Supreme Court split on Jerusalem passport case Reuters Washington T he US Supreme Court appeared closely divided yesterday as it considered whether Congress overstepped its authority in passing a law designed to allow American citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports. Congress passed the law in 2002 but the government has never enforced it. Seeking to remain neutral on the hotly contested issue of sovereignty over a city holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, the State Department allows passports to name Jerusalem as a place of birth, with no country name included. The parents of a Jerusalemborn 12-year-old boy, US citizen Menachem Zivotofsky, have waged a long court battle to have his passport state he was born in Israel. At issue is the long-standing US policy that the president, not Congress, has sole authority to provide American recognition of who controls Jerusalem, a city claimed both by Israelis and Palestinians. During a one-hour argument, the liberal justices on the ninemember court signalled support for the government. Conservative justices were more sympathetic to the parents, Ari and Naomi Zivotofsky. Justice Anthony Kennedy, often the court’s swing vote in close decisions, is likely to again find himself in that role. Kennedy signalled some support for the government, saying if the case rests on the determination that the law indicates recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem, the State Department “should be given deference”. However, he also indicated a possible compromise in which the law is enforced but the government adds disclaimers in passports saying the place of birth is not intended to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over Jerusalem. The State Department maintains the law violates the US Constitution’s separation of executive and legislative powers. It says a loss for the government in the case would be seen around the world as a reversal of US policy that could cause “irreversible damage” to America’s ability to influence the region’s peace process. That argument appeared to gain traction with the liberal justices, including the court’s three Jewish members: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan. Kagan said Jerusalem’s status is so contentious that any development, no matter how minor, “is a big deal” in the Middle East. Kagan likened the statute to a “very selective vanity plate law”, referring to customised car licence plates. She noted that Jerusalem-born US citizens of Palestinian heritage cannot ask for a passport stating they were born in Palestine. Of the conservative justices, Antonin Scalia seemed most supportive of the family, saying foreign policy concerns should not be taken into account when deciding whether Congress had authority to pass the law. “If it is within Congress’s power, what difference does it make whether it antagonises foreign countries?” Scalia said. While Israel calls Jerusalem its capital, few other countries accept that. Most, including the United States, maintain embassies in Tel Aviv. Palestinians want East Jerusalem, captured by Israel in a 1967 war, as capital of the state they aim to establish alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A ruling is due by the end of June. Palestinian Bedouins stand yesterday near furniture scattered on the ground after the Israeli army demolished a structure housing a family in the West Bank village of Khirbet Tana, located in the so-called Area C, a closed military zone where Israel exercises full control. Residents need permits to live in the area but these are often refused. Israel advances plans for 500 settler homes Peace Now, an Israeli antisettlement movement, has warned that moving forward with the plans could further inflame tensions in East Jerusalem Reuters Jerusalem A n Israeli government committee yesterday advanced plans for 500 settler homes in East Jerusalem, an official said, in the face of disapproval from the United States at construction on occupied Palestinian land. The interior ministry panel’s preliminary approval of the new homes for Ramat Shlomo, a neighbourhood built on West Bank territory captured in the 1967 war and annexed to Jerusalem in a move not recognised abroad, was kept low profile in an apparent bid to avoid friction with Washington. A week ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered plans for some 600 housing units for Ramat Shlomo and another 400 for Har Homa, another East Jerusalem neighbourhood, to be advanced. Palestinian officials have voiced alarm - echoed in the international community - over the settlements, viewing them as a main obstacle to founding the independent state they seek in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital. An interior ministry spokeswoman did not immediately confirm yesterday’s committee decision, details of which were relayed to Reuters by an Israeli official on condition of anonymity. The official said Israel hoped to avoid publicity around the move, one in a series of logisti- cal and legal stages before construction begins. The number of new homes planned for Ramat Shlomo had been reduced, the official said, due to environmental concerns. The United States said last week such construction is not conducive to “peace in the region and a two-state solution”. The European Union asked Israel for clarifications about Netanyahu’s promotion of the Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo projects. Netanyahu, whose relations with US President Barack Obama have long been strained, also drew criticism from the White House last month after some two dozen Jewish families moved into homes purchased in an Arab neighborhood of East Jerusalem where about 500 settlers already live. Peace Now, an Israeli anti-settlement movement, has warned that moving forward with the Rival PM calls for new polls in Libya AFP Tripoli T he head of Libya’s selfdeclared government, Omar al-Hassi, has called in an interview with AFP for new elections to pull the violencewracked nation back from chaos. Three years after veteran dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed in a Natobacked uprising, the oil-rich country has two rival governments and a host of armed militias sparring for influence. Hassi’s administration is jostling for power with the internationally backed government of Prime Minister Abdullah alThinni, formed after a parliamentary election in June. That government and parliament have taken refuge in the far eastern city of Tobruk since Islamist militias led by the powerful Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) coalition overran the capital in August. “We need new elections,” Has- si said, charging that the Tobrukbased parliament has “lost its legitimacy”. “This parliament is no longer accepted in Libya. It has lost its legitimacy. We need new elections,” the 55-year-old academic said. “The poll must take place under the supervision of (elected) local councils.” Hassi, who presents himself as an independent, says the unrest in Libya pitted “enemies of the revolution” against “revolutionaries”. “The revolution has been stolen. We are in the process of getting it back again,” he said. Hassi insisted that his administration can restore stability. “We have managed this in Tripoli. Since Fajr Libya took control of the capital, we have ended power cuts and fuel shortages and arrested dozens of criminals,” he said. “If we can do this in a city of over 2mn people, we can succeed in the whole country. “We urge the support of the international community in re- storing stability. We are reaching out to them and trying to establish contacts with several countries,” Hassi said. He also called for foreign companies and diplomats evacuated in the summer because of the violence in Tripoli to return. “Westerners are waiting to see who is victorious in the field, even in defiance of democratic choices, to build relationships with him, as happened in Egypt,” where then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July 2013, Hassi said. Libyan authorities have struggled to impose their will across a country awash with weapons and powerful militias who ousted and killed Gaddafi in October 2011. Militias now control large parts of the country. Hassi’s rivals say the conflict is purely political and that the Fajr Libya takeover of Tripoli was led by Islamists frustrated that they lost control of parliament in the election. Har Homa and Ramat Shlomo plans could further inflame tensions in East Jerusalem, the scene of daily confrontations between stone-throwing Palestinians and police in riot gear. Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its “indivisible and eternal” capital, a claim not recognised internationally, and says Jews have the right to live anywhere in the city. Some 500,000 Israelis have settled in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, among 2.4mn Palestinians. The World Court says settlements Israel has built there are illegal. Palestinians arrested in East Jerusalem Israeli police arrested at least 23 Palestinians in East Jerusalem overnight and yesterday, Palestinian officials said, in the latest crackdown after months of violent clashes in the Holy City. But a police spokeswoman confirmed only four arrests, without accounting for the number of people who might have been arrested by other security services. Those arrested were from Issawiya and Wadi Joz—Arab neighbourhoods in Israeliannexed East Jerusalem—as well as the Old City, the Palestinian Prisoners Club said in a statement. On Thursday, police shot dead a suspect in the attempted murder of a right-wing Jewish rabbi, sparking a day of clashes between stone-throwing Palestinians and security forces who responded with teargas and rubber bullets. Ship hit in heavy Benghazi fighting Reuters Benghazi A Hassi speaks during the interview in Tripoli on Sunday. Libyan navy ship was hit during heavy fighting with aircraft and tanks yesterday between the army and Islamist militants near the port of Benghazi, residents of the major city on Libya’s eastern Mediterranean coast said. The battle was part of a wider conflict in the North African state where former rebels who helped oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 are fighting for power and a share of Libya’s large oil revenues. Army special forces, backed by troops of an ex-general, launched an offensive in the Benghazi area two weeks ago against Islamist militants blamed by Washington for a 2012 assault on the former US consulate which killed the American ambassador. A hospital next to Benghazi’s port appealed to the Red Crescent to evacuate sick people trapped inside by the fighting while the army moved more tanks and artillery into the city. A Reuters reporter could see smoke rising from the port, an important conduit for food, wheat and fuel supplies to eastern Libya. A security source said the unidentified navy ship was sinking but this could not immediately be confirmed. Warplanes could be heard firing into the port area. Dozens of residents were leaving Benghazi, heeding a call by the army to evacuate the port area and main commercial district where military officials said Islamists were holed up. At least 238 people have been killed, eight of them yesterday, since the army started the offensive, medics said. The army took a Reuters multi-media team to its Benghazi headquarters after wresting it back last week from Islamists. Many buildings in the vast complex were destroyed or burned out. The situation in Benghazi and other parts of Libya has been fluid with government forces unable to control militias. 14 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 AFRICA Burkinabe army pledges �consensus’ government AFP Ouagadougou T he head of Burkina Faso’s military regime has promised a “consensus” leader in talks for a unity government in the west African nation after a violent crackdown on protesters. The army has stepped into a power vacuum left by Blaise Compaore, who was forced to resign the presidency last week in the wake of violent demonstrations at his attempt to extend his 27-year-rule. Having named LieutenantColonel Isaac Zida as interim head of state, the military has said that “power does not interest us”. But its takeover has sparked angry protests. The United Nations, the US and EU have joined African leaders in pressing the country’s military top brass to hand power back to civilians. Zida was locked in negotiations from 10am (1000 GMT) with diplomats at the foreign ministry, while senior opposition figures were to meet later with their parliamentary leader Zephirin Diabre. “The executive branch will be led by a transitional body within a constitutional framework ... this transitional body will be headed by a person appointed by the consensus of all actors in public life,” Zida told diplomats. Diplomat says no to Zimbabwe post He gave no timetable for the transition but said he wanted a new regime in place within the “shortest possible” period. “We’re not here to steal power,” he told reporters after the meeting. The talks built on meetings late on Sunday between Zida and the ambassadors of France, the US and the European Union. Traffic flowed normally in the streets of the capital Ouagadougou after the latest protests on Sunday, with the largest market ending a six-day shutdown and banks open, according to an AFP journalist. Troops on Sunday had cracked down sharply on several thousand protesters gathered at a rally against the military takeover in the city’s central square. Some protesters had headed to the national television station headquarters where two opposition leaders made separate attempts to go on air to declare themselves interim chief. Former defence minister Kouame Lougue – whose name was chanted by thousands in the streets following Compaore’s downfall – told AFP: “The people have nominated me. I came to answer their call.” But the TV technicians walked out, also foiling a bid by Saran Sereme, a former member of the ruling party, to make her claim as leader of the transition. One person was killed close to the television headquarters AU gives Burkinabe military two-week deadline A man looks at a newspaper bearing headlines on the situation in Burkina Faso and reading �Compaore out!’ yesterday in Abidjan. Compaore fled to Ivory Coast after he was ousted. when soldiers fired shots in the air to disperse protesters. The army said the victim was likely struck by a stray bullet. If the army refuses to hand power back, “the consequences are pretty clear”, said UN envoy for west Africa Mohamed Ibn Chambas. “We want to avoid having to impose sanctions on Burkina Faso.” Hundreds of thousands of protesters, furious at plans to prolong Compaore’s rule in the poor, landlocked country, massed on the streets of Ouagadougou on Thursday, some going on a rampage and setting the parliament and other public buildings ablaze. Under Burkina Faso’s constitution, the speaker of parliament was supposed to step in as interim head of state. But the army instead named Zida, the second-in-command of the presidential guard. Zida, 49, beat an earlier claim to the job by army chief Nabere Honore Traore, winning the military’s endorsement on Saturday. He said that he was appointed to ensure a “smooth democratic transition” and promised to consult with the opposition and civil leaders. Around 30 people were killed in the week of violent protests that forced Compaore out, op- The African Union (AU) has given Burkina Faso military authorities two weeks to return power to a civilian government or face sanctions, the head of the organisation’s Peace and Security Council said yesterday. The West African nation’s military took power after long-time president Blaise Compaore stepped down on Friday following two days of mass protests over his bid to extend his rule through a constitutional amendment. Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Zida was named the interim head of state. “The African Union is convinced the change has been against democracy. However, popular pressure led to the resignation of the president,” Simeon Oyono Esono told journalists via a translator in Addis Ababa. “So we have taken note of the origin of the popular revolt which led to the military getting power, so we determined the period of two weeks and after that period we are going apply sanctions.” The United Nations, the US and EU have also called for the country’s military top brass to hand power back to civilians. After the two week period, the AU will appoint a special envoy to the country and meet again “to examine the situation and see the steps to be followed”. position figures said. Hospital sources told AFP that there had been at least six deaths, including two by gunshot wounds. Burkina Faso is a former French colony that was known as Upper Volta before changing its name in 1984. Compaore was only 36 when he seized power in a 1987 coup in which his former friend and one of Africa’s most loved leaders, Thomas Sankara, was ousted and assassinated. He and his wife have taken refuge in neighbouring Ivory Coast where they are being put up in a luxury government mansion in the capital Yamoussoukro. Events in Ouagadougou are being keenly followed across sub-Saharan African, where several leaders are trying to tinker with constitutions in bids to cling to power. In deeply divided Mauritania, the opposition National Forum for Democracy and Unity called for President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to “learn the lessons of the very serious events taking place in Burkina Faso”. The 12-member coalition invited Abdel Aziz to seek “a consensual and peaceful solution” to the country’s own political crisis, with opposition groups frequently protesting against “despotic military rule”. Halting the fire A Malawian diplomat who once reportedly described Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as an “idiot” said yesterday that he had turned down a posting as his country’s top envoy to Harare. “I am sure there are other Malawians more amenable to serving at that particular post at this particular time,” Thoko Banda said in a statement. Banda’s scathing insult to neighbouring Zimbabwe’s long-serving head of state was recalled by social media last week, shortly after he was named as Malawi’s high commissioner (ambassador) to Zimbabwe. Banda was widely quoted as telling Germany’s The Foreigner magazine in 2006 that “Zimbabwe has an idiot – I am sorry, I know you are recording – but they have an idiot for president. “This guy Robert Mugabe, I hope that he lives a long time, so that one day he can go before an international tribunal. He is a horrible man.” Malawi’s Foreign Affairs Minister George Chaponda refused to comment, telling AFP: “Ask Mr Banda himself.” A teddy bear lies on the ground under a fire hose during a fire that devastated parts of Masiphumelele informal shack settlement in Cape Town. Several shacks were destroyed in the fire which quickly spread in the overpopulated and dense shack settlement. Residents complain of poor access roads for emergency personnel, who have difficulty getting fire and rescue support to the areas quickly. Inadequate housing and the growing number of informal settlements is one of the major issues facing the South African government. (Above, left) A Masiphumelele resident sprays water onto his burning shack, while another resident (left) flees the fire at the informal shack settlement in Cape Town. WHO says Mali has no Ebola cases so far Reuters Geneva T hirty-nine people who travelled on buses with a toddler who died from Ebola in Mali are still being sought for checks, although the country is believed to be free of the disease, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday. A WHO spokeswoman said 108 contacts were being followed up, including 33 health workers, but epidemiologists believe those who have not been traced are at low risk, as they are unlikely to have had physical contact with the two-year-old. The girl’s five-year-old sister had a fever but was suffering from malaria, not Ebola, tests showed. Other family members are under observation in the same hospital and doing well, with no fever or other symptoms, the WHO said. Last week an epidemiological presentation showed Mali had two suspected cases of the disease, which has killed at least 4,951 people, mostly in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea in the worst outbreak of the virus since it was identified in 1976. WHO experts say that the best way to tackle the disease is to stop it in its tracks before it can spread, and finding contacts of the initial patient is crucial. Ebola is contagious when a patient has symptoms, meaning the girl who died may have been infectious throughout her long and broken journey from Guinea, where controls are supposed to be in place to screen people for Ebola symptoms before they cross the border. If other travellers caught the disease, their onward journeys risk spreading it in the capital Bamako or deeper into Mali, which borders Niger, Algeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. None of them currently have Ebola cases. The toddler’s family – including her grandmother, uncle, great aunt and sister, will remain in quarantine for one more week before reaching the 21 days which is the maximum incubation period of the virus. Meanwhile, a Sierra Leone doctor died yesterday from Ebola, making him the fifth local doctor in the West African state to have succumbed to the haemorrhagic fever that has taken a heavy toll on the country’s medical personnel. Dr Godffrey George, a medical superintendent at the Kambia Government Hospital in the north of the country, died after he tested positive for Ebola on Saturday, according to Sierra Leone’s chief medical officer Brima Kargbo. Some 120 health workers – including nurses and other medical staff – have tested positive for the disease in Sierra Leone, with about 100 dead. Boko Haram suspected after suicide blast, prison break in Nigeria Reuters/AFP Kano/Yobe A suicide bomber killed at least 23 people in a procession of Shia Muslims marking the ritual of Ashura in northeast Nigeria’s Yobe state yesterday, witnesses said. In a separate incident overnight in central Kogi state, gunmen using explosives blew their way into a prison in the city of Lokoja, killing one person and freeing 144 inmates, Adams Omale, prisons co-ordinator for the state, told Reuters. In the suicide bombing in Potiskum in Yobe state, a territory at the heart of an insurgency by Sunni Muslim Boko Haram rebels, the attacker joined the line of Shias before setting off his device as they marched through a market in the town, resident Yusuf Abdullahi said. “I heard a very heavy explosion as if it happened in my room. It took place just 200 metres from my house,” he said. Another person carrying an explosive that did not go off was arrested, he said. Mohammed Gana, whose brother was killed in the attack, said he counted 23 bodies at the scene. Another Potiskum resident, Abubakar Saliu, said soldiers started shooting immediately after the explosion, but it was not clear who they fired at or if anyone was hit by the gunfire. “We lost 15 of our members in a suicide blast at the end of our Ashura procession,” the head of the city’s Shia community, Mustapha Lawan Nasidi, told AFP. Fifty people were also injured, he said, adding that several others died when troops who deployed to the scene opened fire. There was no immediate response from the military. Potiskum has seen repeated violence, including attacks on the Shia community who are hugely outnumbered by Sunnis in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north. Ashura marks the death in battle more than 1,300 years ago of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussein. Boko Haram’s five-year-old campaign for an Islamic state, which has killed thousands, is seen as the main security threat to Nigeria, Africa’s biggest econ- omy and leading oil producer. State prisons co-ordinator Omale said 26 of the Lokoja prison inmates freed in the Kogi raid had been recaptured. He did not comment on whether any of the escaped prisoners were Boko Haram members. Kogi is far south of Boko Haram’s main area of operations but the Islamists claimed a prison raid at the same facility in 2012 that freed more than 100 inmates. Many of the group’s fighters were thought to have been held at the targeted Koton Karfi prison. National police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said the raid was not linked to the five-year Islamist uprising, blaming it instead on “criminal activity”. Nevertheless, Boko Haram has been tied to several high-profile prison breaks since 2010 and listed a prisoner swap as a condition for the release of the schoolgirls who were seized from the northeast town of Chibok on April 14. Meanwhile in Adamawa state, also in northeast Nigeria, tens of thousands of people fled their homes to refugee camps after the militants seized control of the commercial hub of Mubi, the latest among more than two dozen towns and villages to have fallen into extremist hands. Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, who is running to be the opposition flag bearer in February polls and is from the northeast, voiced disbelief that “a handful of terrorists” had been able to capture such a huge stretch of land. “How is it possible that a great nation like Nigeria should find itself in a situation where a handful of terrorists can invade a town as large as Mubi?” Abubakar told reporters. He said that despite a reported increase in security spending, the military in Africa’s most populous country has proved “unable to cope and unable to defend” against a formerly small-scale insurgency. The three incidents underscored the worsening security crisis in Nigeria, and cast further doubt on government claims that a ceasefire was in place to end five years of Boko Haram violence. Nigeria’s government announced last month that a ceasefire had been agreed with Boko Haram and that talks were un- Jonathan: has faced rising criticism at home and abroad for failing to halt the Boko Haram insurgency. derway in neighbouring Chad for the release of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted in April by the Islamist rebels. But although mediator Chad has said the negotiations are still on, a spate of recent attacks across Nigeria’s northeast by suspected Boko Haram fighters has raised serious doubts about whether a lasting peace pact can be achieved. Prospects for this took another hit at the end of last week when a man claiming to be Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau said in a video recording the kidnapped girls were “married off ” to his fighters, contradicting Nigerian government statements that they would soon be freed. Nigeria’s military says it killed Shekau a year ago, and authorities said in September they had killed an impostor posing as him in videos. In Adamawa, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that they had recorded at least 10,496 internally displaced people in five camps in the state capital, Yola, after violence in Mubi. Thousands of residents from Mubi, which is Adamawa’s second-largest town, have fled in the past week after Boko Haram’s take-over last Wednesday. Mubi, which is 200km from Yola and has a population of 150,000, had been a safe haven for people fleeing Boko Haram offensives in surrounding areas. Nigerian soldiers reportedly fled to the town of Hong, 100km from Yola, according to residents who saw them en route. Some residents are trapped in Mubi, including Saleh Abdullahi, said Boko Haram “came with their women and children and are now in firm control”. “They move about in vehicles and on foot patrolling the streets and keep telling people we are now under the authority of an Islamic state,” Abdullahi said. President Goodluck Jonathan, who is seeking a second term in elections in February, has faced rising criticism at home and abroad for failing to halt the Boko Haram insurgency and obtain the release of the abducted schoolgirls. In a statement yesterday, Nigeria’s opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Jonathan’s government of misleading the public over the reported peace deal. “The president has failed in his most sacred duty, protecting the safety and well-being of Nigeria’s citizens,” the APC party said. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 15 AMERICAS PROBE HEALTH FUNERAL AUCTION WEATHER Key function of crashed spacecraft deployed early Ebola nurse and Maine settle quarantine suit Fashion world bids farewell to de la Renta Original Apple computer could fetch $600,000 Snowstorm hits eastern Canada, parts of Maine An investigation into the deadly crash of a Virgin Galactic spaceship has found that a function to help the craft descend into the atmosphere was deployed early, according to federal safety officials, adding pilot error could not be ruled out. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the investigation into what caused the spacecraft to crash in California’s Mojave Desert during a test flight on Friday, killing one pilot and badly injuring the other. SpaceShipTwo’s rotating tail boom, a key safety feature for re-entering the atmosphere, rotated early, Christopher Hart, acting chairman of the NTSB, said late on Sunday, though he said it was too early to say whether this had caused the crash. The state of Maine and a nurse who had treated victims of the Ebola virus in West Africa reached a settlement deal yesterday, allowing her to travel freely in public but requiring her to monitor her health closely and report any symptoms. The settlement, filed in nurse Kaci Hickox’s home town of Fort Kent, in Maine’s far north, where she returned after being briefly quarantined in New Jersey, keeps in effect through Nov. 10 the terms of an order issued by a Maine judge on Friday. Hickox returned to the US last month after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone and was quarantined in a tent outside a hospital for four days despite showing no symptoms. The fashion world mourned the loss of one of its greatest designers yesterday at the private funeral of Oscar de la Renta, who died of cancer last month at 82. The tall Dominican-born de la Renta dressed New York socialites, Hollywood stars and American first ladies during a career that spanned five decades. Young women in black dresses checked in guests at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Designers Valentino and Diane von Furstenberg were among the first to arrive, followed by director Mike Nichols and his journalist wife Diane Sawyer, designers Tommy Hilfiger and Donna Karan, Chelsea Clinton, journalist Barbara Walters and actor Hugh Jackman. A fully operational Apple computer that company co-founder Steve Jobs sold out of his parents’ garage in 1976 for $600 will hit the auction block in December, where it is expected to fetch $600,000, Christie’s said yesterday. The so-called Ricketts Apple-1 Personal Computer, named after its original owner Charles Ricketts and being sold on Dec. 11, is the only known surviving Apple-1 documented as having been sold directly by Jobs, then just 21, to an individual from the Los Altos, California family home, Christie’s said. “It all started with the Apple-1 and with this particular machine,” said Andrew McVinish, Christie’s director of decorative arts. The computer is being sold by Robert Luther, a Virginia collector. The first major snowstorm of the season hit easternmost Canada yesterday, knocking out power lines and forcing school closures along the Atlantic seaboard. Nearly 20in (50cm) of snow fell on parts of New Brunswick and Quebec provinces, accompanied by howling winds, and Environment Canada forecast up to another 9in (25cm) throughout the day. In New Brunswick, all schools in the northern part of the province were closed, while 12,000 homes were without electricity. About 2,500 residences in Quebec also lost power. Meanwhile, a rare early season snowstorm brought 50-mph (80kph) winds and record-breaking snowfall to parts of Maine overnight, leaving more than 140,000 homes and businesses without power yesterday. One World Trade Center welcomes its first tenants AFP New York O ne World Trade Center, America’s tallest building, yesterday welcomed its first tenants, publishing group Conde Nast, in a symbolic moment 13 years after the 9/11 attacks that brought down the original Twin Towers. About 175 executives of the group that publishes magazines like The New Yorker and Vanity Fair, filed through the doors of the building on Vesey Street, just steps from the memorial and museums erected at the site where the Twin Towers once stood. The iconic Manhattan landmark collapsed in fire and smoke on September 11, 2001 after being hit by hijacked airliners flown by Al Qaeda militants. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, which also targeted the Pentagon. The new tower is the centrepiece of a five tower complex. It stands 104 storeys and 1,776ft (540m) tall, a height representing the year the US declared its independence from Britain. “Some people are nervous, some people are just excited to move downtown and start a transformation for the company, to help revitalise lower Manhattan,” said John Duffy, director of policies and controls at Conde Nast. Duffy, who worked in the old World Trade Center in the 1980s, acknowledged that “some people are gonna be nervous, feeling they could be potential targets again.” But he said authorities have worked hard to make a new building that is “probably indestructible.” Conde Nast is expected to have a total of 3,400 employees in January spread across floors 20 to 44 of the building. Charles Townsend, CEO of publishing giant Conde Nast, arrives at One World Trade Center with Patricia Rockenwagner, senior vice president of Corporate Branding and Communications in New York, yesterday. The 104-storey skyscraper welcomed Conde Nast as its first tenant. One World Trade Center, designed by architect David Childs, has become a Big Apple landmark of its own, with simple lines, a needle-like spire and mirrored windows that shimmer brightly in the sunlight. Operated by the Durst Organisation, the building is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a governmental agency. Its other tenants include the China Center New York, Legends Hospital Group and the General Services Administration, which supports the basic functions of federal agencies. Durst Organisation spokesman Jordan Barowitz told AFP that 60% of the office space is already rented. For Vanity Fair publisher Chris Mitchell, the site’s reopening marked “a great day for New York and a great day for Conde Nast, an amazing experience for the company.” He spoke to reporters at a corner of the tower, with police keeping close watch on the area. The public will be able to access an observation deck on floors 100 to 102, which is to open in the spring. The new WTC complex includes five towers, a memorial and museum that opened in May, a center for the performing arts and about 55,000sq ft (5,100sq m) of retail space that connect to an extensive transportation network. Calling itself a “shining beacon for New York’s downtown,” the One World Trade Center has a sustainable design at its core that integrates renewable energy, interior daylighting, the reuse of rainwater and recycled construction materials. High-wire performer Nik Wallenda walks blindfolded on a wire between the Marina City towers apartment buildings in Chicago on Sunday. Daredevil completes Chicago skyscraper tightrope walk Agencies Chicago U S daredevil Nik Wallenda broke two world records on Sunday when he crossed the Chicago skyline on a tightrope suspended between three skyscrapers, without a safety harness. Wallenda, already the first person to cross the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls on a high wire, set records for the steepest tightrope incline and highest blindfolded walk as he stepped gingerly across the Windy City in mid-air. In the first half of the stunt Wallenda, 35, walked more than two city blocks and crossed the Chicago River with a tightrope set at an incline of 19 degrees, between the Marina City west tower and the Leo Burnett Building. Upon descending from the tightrope, Wallenda returned to Marina City west via the ground to complete his second and more dangerous feat: a tightrope walk to the east tower at more than 500ft (152m), blindfolded. He completed the first walk in just under seven minutes and the second in slightly more than a minute, despite gusts of wind. “It’s all about pushing myself to become better at what I do and hoping to inspire others to become better at what they do,” Wallenda told the Discovery Channel, which broadcast the stunt in more than 220 countries. “You guys watching think I’m crazy, but this is what I’m made for,” Wallenda was quoted as saying just after he began his first walk. The event was televised live, but with a delay of several seconds in case Wallenda fell. The Chicago Tribune said police estimated some 50,000 people turned out to watch Wallenda, a seventh generation member of the Flying Wallendas circus family. Wallenda’s German-born great-grandfather, Karl, fell to his death in 1978 during a tightrope performance between two buildings in Puerto Rico. Cancer patient who fought for right to die kills herself AFP Los Angeles A young American woman with terminal cancer has committed suicide, following promises to do so that had triggered shock and controversy over the right to die. Brittany Maynard, a 29-yearold brain cancer sufferer, made headlines earlier this month when a video of her making her suicide threat went viral and was seen by millions of web users. “Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me... but would have taken so much more,” she wrote in a message circulated widely on social media. “The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest giv- ers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type... Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!” Sean Crowley, spokesman for Compassion & Choices, an endof-life activist group that supported Maynard, said she died peacefully in her home on November 1. “Brittany has died, but her love of life and nature, her passion and spirit endure,” the organisation’s president, Barbara Coombs Lee, added. “In Brittany’s memory, do what matters most. And tell those you love how much they matter to you. We will work to carry on her legacy of bringing end-of-life choice to all Americans.” In January, Maynard was given six months to live and told her death would be painful because of the aggressive nature of her cancer. She had been trying for a first child with her husband Dan Diaz at the time, but gave up due to her disease. Maynard and her husband, who had just married when she began having severe headaches, moved from their home in California to Oregon, one of a handful of US states with a “right-todie” law. A doctor could therefore prescribe her the medication she needs to end her own life, surrounded by her family in the bedroom she shares with her husband. On Thursday, she had released a new video in which she said she might temporarily delay her appointment with a self-administered cocktail of potentially deadly drugs. But the delay was a short one. Her story has made headlines around the world, and she was featured on the cover of last week’s People magazine in the US. Maynard has in recent weeks and months been working to tick off items on a “bucket list” of what she wants to do before she dies - including travelling to the Grand Canyon last week. Nik Wallenda celebrates after successfully completing a tightrope walk between the two Marina Towers buildings while blindfolded on Sunday in Chicago. Democrats will keep Senate, predicts Biden Reuters Washington U This 2013 photo shows Brittany Maynard and her Great Dane puppy Charlie. The US woman with terminal cancer has committed suicide, following promises to do so. S Vice President Joe Biden predicted Democrats would retain control of the US Senate in today’s congressional elections but said that whatever happens, Republicans would have to work harder to make sure things get done in Washington. In an interview with CNN, Biden said he did not agree with forecasters who say Republicans are poised to capture the six seats they need to take over the Senate. They are also expected to expand their majority in the US House of Representatives. “I don’t agree with the odds-makers,” Biden said in the interview broadcast yesterday. “I predict we’re going to keep the Senate.” Biden denied the White House would have to change how it works to accommodate full Republican control of Congress. “Well, I don’t think it would change anything, in terms of what we’re about,” Biden said. “And, quite frankly, going into 2016, the Republicans have to make a decision whether they’re in control or not in control. “Are they going to begin to allow things to happen? Or are they going to continue to be obstructionists? And I think they’re going to choose to get things done.” Because, he added, “the message from the people, and I’m getting it all over the country, is they’re tired of Washington not being able to do anything.” Republicans have made US President Barack Obama’s unpopularity a top issue in the elections, and Obama has stayed out of the campaign spotlight in states that lean Republican. Biden said there was nothing unusual about that because for many of the Senate and governors’ races, the campaigns revolve around local issues, and each candidate has to determine whether the president’s involvement will help. 16 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 ASEAN Thai PM orders media to stop �presenting news’ on Thaksin AFP Bangkok T hailand’s junta leader yesterday threatened to tighten controls of the media unless they stop “presenting news” about former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, after photographs of the billionaire cuddling a panda went viral. Thaksin, who was ousted in a 2006 coup as prime minister and lives abroad to avoid jail for a corruption conviction, sits at the epicentre of Thailand’s near decade-long political rupture. His sister Yingluck was also booted out of office as premier by a controversial court ruling just before the military again seized power in May. Thaksin is loathed by the Bangkok elite and their royalist supporters in the army and judiciary. But the family are adored in their northern heartlands, who have elected Shinawatraled or aligned governments to power in every poll since 2001. “Do not present news (about Thaskin) as everyone knows that he has violated the law,” Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who also heads the military council in charge of Thailand, told reporters yesterday. “Please do not make us have to use laws, power or force,” added Prayut, who has already imposed martial law across the kingdom and sweeping curbs on political discussions in the media and society at large. His comments came after photographs emerged of Thaksin in China cuddling a baby panda, accompanied by his sister. Thai media widely used the images over the weekend and by yesterday they had garnered more than 280,000 “likes” on Yingluck’s Facebook page. After months retreating from the limelight, Yingluck — and Thaksin — have started to creep back into public life, with Thailand’s first female premier making appearances at high-profile funerals of key Shinawatra supporters, much to the consternation of the junta. Prayut has overseen the appointment of a military-stacked National Legislative Assembly and will this week rubber-stamp the membership of a panel tasked with crafting a new constitution which is meant carve a pathway to elections in late 2015. He says the army needed to take power to restore order after months of deadly protests against Yingluck’s government and is now trying to expunge the kingdom of corruption and money politics. But critics say the purpose of the coup and the new charter is to find legal ways to checkmate the Shinawatras and dull the political voice of their northern voter bloc. Supporters of Anwar accuser protest near court DPA Kuala Lumpur S upporters of the man who accused Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy were protesting yesterday outside the court where he was appealing against his conviction on the charge. About 50 supporters of Saiful Bukhari Azlan protested in front of the Federal Court compound in the administrative capital of Putrajaya and chanted: “Punish Anwar. Arrest the sodomiser.” On the fifth day of the appeal, a fivemember panel heard lead prosecutor Mohamed Shafee Abdullah counter earlier claims by Anwar’s lawyers that DNA sam- Supporters of Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former male personal aide to Malaysian Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim gather to show their support to Saiful outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya yesterday. Myanmar orders body of slain journo to be exhumed Reuters Yangon P olice in Myanmar have been ordered to exhume the body of a journalist who was shot dead by the Army last month, the victim’s wife said yesterday. The incident comes at a sensitive time for Myanmar as the government prepares to host US President Barack Obama at a regional summit later this month. The US State Department has called for a transparent investigation into the death of the journalist, Par Gyi, a former democracy activist who once worked as a bodyguard for Aung San Suu Kyi. His wife, Than Dar, said police had told her to go on Wednesday to her husband’s burial place at Shwewarchaung Village, in Mon state, but gave her no other details. She said she was unsure if she would be able to arrange for an independent autopsy. “I don’t know anything yet,” she said. “But I don’t think they will let me do that.” The police have said military representatives, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, and legal and medical personnel would witness the exhumation, along with police officials. President Thein Sein last week ordered Myanmar’s National Human Rights Commission to investigate the death, the government said in a statement published in state media. Par Gyi was detained by the Army on Sept 30 after photographing clashes between the military and the rebel Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) and was killed on Oct 4, the Myanmar-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) said. The AAPP has disputed a statement by the military that Par Gyi was shot when he tried to steal a gun from a soldier and escape after being detained because he was a member of an ethnic Karen rebel organisation. Than Dar, a prominent women’s activist, denies her husband was a member of any military organisation. She says she suspects he died while being tortured, leading the military to bury his body in secret. She urged the government to return the body to the family. “I sent a request letter to bring my husband’s body back to Yangon for a proper cremation,” she said. “But I don’t know yet when or if they’ll allow me to do this.” ples presented in the court were contaminated. The Court of Appeal had found Anwar guilty of sodomising Saiful in an upscale condominium on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur in 2008, and sentenced him to five years in prison. If the ruling goes against Anwar, the 67-year-old opposition legislator will go to prison and lose his seat in parliament. He will also be barred from running for any political position for five years after finishing his prison term, possibly putting an end to his attempts to become the leader of the South-East Asian country. Local and international human rights group believe that the case against Anwar was fabricated in a bid to silence him and weaken the opposition. Malaysian plane makes emergency landing AFP Kuala Lumpur A Malaysia-bound Malindo Air flight diverted to Thailand and made an emergency landing yesterday after the cabin started to depressurise, the airline said, adding that none of the 129 people aboard was hurt. The Malaysia-based carrier’s flight OD206 from Delhi had been due to arrive in Kuala Lumpur early yesterday but instead re-routed to Bangkok after the incident, which caused oxygen masks to deploy inside the plane. “A slow decompression was detected by the pilot,” said a Malindo spokesman, who suggested it may have been caused by oxygen leaking from the fuselage. “In our case, oxygen masks were deployed as a precautionary measure according to SOP (standard operating procedure).” The Boeing 737-900ER had 121 passengers and eight crew aboard. The incident was still being investigated. CRIME Alleged rapist cop freed after paying off family A Cambodian police officer has been released from custody after paying off the family of a teenager he allegedly raped, a media report said yesterday. A 36-year-old border police officer called Leng Sarann was charged in July after he allegedly locked his victim in a jail cell, raped and beat her, according to The Cambodia Daily. A court in the northern province of Oddar Meanchey ordered his release and he walked free on Friday, it quoted local police chief Ket Sothea as saying. POLICY Singapore to join coalition against IS AFP Singapore S ingapore said yesterday it would provide military support to the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group but would not take part in combat operations. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) would deploy officers to the US Central Command and the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters spearheading the campaign in Iraq and Syria. The SAF will also deploy a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker for air-to-air refuelling as well as an imagery analysis team. “There will be no combat troops in Iraq and Syria, instead SAF soldiers will operate from surrounding countries together with other coalition forces,” Ng said without providing the number being deployed. Singapore, which has one of Asia’s best-equipped armed forces, has long considered itself a prime target for militants, particularly those operating in Southeast Asia. The US military operates a post in the city-state that helps in logistics and exercises for its forces in Southeast Asia. Ng said that by joining the international coalition, “we are contributing directly to our own security”. He recalled that Al Qaedalinked militants from the Jemaah Islamiyah network had plotted to bomb the US embassy and other foreign targets in Singapore in 2002. The plot was foiled after police arrested several suspects. Singapore, a tiny islandnation of 5.5mn, is one of Asia’s leading financial and transportation hubs. It is host to thousands of multinational Corps and a large expatriate community. Ng said local authorities are concerned about the potential formation of a Southeast Asian branch of IS, with jihadists from the region returning home after fighting in Iraq and Syria. Govt promises peace �within a year’ in insurgency-hit south Reuters Bangkok T hailand’s military government vowed yesterday to bring peace to the Muslim-dominated south within a year, despite stalled peace talks aimed at ending an insurgency that has cost thousands of lives in the past decade. Sporadic violence has killed more than 5,700 people in Thailand’s Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia, where resistance to Buddhist rule has existed for decades and resurfaced violently in January 2004. In the latest violence last Friday, one woman was killed and at least two injured in separate bomb attacks launched by suspected militants at three restaurants in Pattani province, police said. “We are doing all that we can. We will try to bring peace within a year,” Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told reporters. He blamed the attacks on in- A soldier speaks with students at a school in Pattani province, south of Bangkok yesterday. surgents retaliating for recent arrests by the authorities. “The attacks happened because we managed to catch many people, including leaders, of groups involved in instigating acts of violence,” Prawit added. The violence comes as Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha seeks to present an image of greater effectiveness in containing the insurgency, based in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces in Thailand’s socalled “Deep South”. It has occasionally spilled into nearby Songkhla province, thronged by tourists from neighbouring Malaysia. The provinces were once part of a Malay Muslim sultanate until being annexed by Thailand in 1902. Successive governments have tried, with little success, to stem the violence. Responses to the insurgency have drawn criticism, including accusations of widespread rights violations against suspected militants and their supporters. The government of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra formally agreed to start peace talks with a militant group operating in the southern provinces in 2013. The talks were lauded by some rights groups and academics but stalled months before Yingluck’s government became embroiled late last year in a political crisis that climaxed with a court ordering Yingluck to step down on May 7. The army seized power weeks later in a coup on May 22. Prayuth, who took power after the coup, has promised investigations into allegations of rights abuses by some troops. Rights groups say he has failed to act on that promise. In August, a 14-year-old Muslim boy was shot dead by an army-trained volunteer unit in Narathiwat. A police investigation found a member of the unit planted a pistol in the boy’s hand after the shooting to make him appear to be an insurgent. Thailand mulls police conscription Thailand is mulling the re-introduction of police conscription, a spokesman said yesterday, as the much-maligned and poorly paid force looks to boost its ranks by several thousand each year. The kingdom’s police have come under intense scrutiny since a May army coup, with the military purging dozens of top officers seen as cosy with the elected former government of Yingluck Shinawatra, whose billionaire brother Thaksin is an ex-policeman. The police are unpopular with Thais who bemoan routine bribe-taking, while the recent murder of two British backpackers on a holiday island has opened the force to criticism that it is poorly trained in investigating crime. The cabinet has already agreed “in principle” to conscript 5-10,000 men — aged 21 — annually across the country, a National Police spokesman said. “Currently we are lacking police officers. (If approved) Police conscripts will work in areas across the country where there are high crime rates,” said Police Lieutenant General Prawut Thavornsiri, adding the order still needs full cabinet approval. If rubber-stamped by cabinet, the military will oversee the police draft, he said, adding recruits were likely to be paid $245-275 a month, slightly higher than the minimum wage of around $220. Thailand ended police conscription a decade ago and has around 230,000 officers across the country. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 17 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA VIRAL FEARS TRADING CHARGES HISTORIC FEUD PUSHING THE LINE China Ebola doctors face quarantine on return North Korea denies role in South smartphone hacking Xinhua pours cold water on idea of Xi-Abe talks These officials dead serious about cremation quota China will quarantine medical staff who work with Ebola patients in West Africa for 21 days after they return from duty, a senior health official said yesterday. Doctors returning to China will be subjected to a battery of tests before they enter the observation period, said He Qinghua, deputy director of the Ministry of Health’s Bureau for Disease Control and Prevention. “As these doctors are responsible for the testing of the virus, on their return to China they will be put under a 21 day quarantine period to be supervised by local community service centres,” He said at a press briefing in Beijing yesterday. North Korea’s state media yesterday blasted South Korea’s spy agency for alleging that Pyongyang hacked tens of thousands of smartphones in the South using malware disguised in mobile gaming apps. The South’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said last week that the North attempted to hack more than 20,000 South Korean smartphones between May and September. Pyongyang accused the NIS of fabricating the report to distract attention from a standoff over South Korean activists who send leaflets across the border by balloon. “It’s (the) usual tactic used by South Korean authorities to fan anti-Pyongyang sentiment whenever they face a political crisis,” it said. China’s official Xinhua news agency yesterday poured cold water on the idea that Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping could have formal talks on the sidelines of next week’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit. Abe had “spared no efforts” in seeking to meet with Xi, Xinhua said in an Englishlanguage commentary. “His wish will be fulfilled, since Beijing, the host of this forum, will undoubtedly receive the Japanese leader with etiquette and hospitality, despite chronic territorial rows and a historical feud with Tokyo,” it said. “However, that does not necessarily mean Abe’s long-sought formal talks with Xi during Apec would come true.” Two Chinese officials bought corpses from grave robbers to meet government cremation quotas, local media reported. The officials from Guangdong province bought the bodies from a man who stole more than 20 in night-time raids on graveyards, the official news agency Xinhua said, citing Chinese media. “Both were local officials in charge of funeral management reform,” said Xinhua, naming them He and Dong. Dong had paid 3,000 yuan ($484) each for 10 bodies, while He’s cost half the price for an unspecified number. “Pushed to meet their quota, the two officials sought to purchase the corpses and send them to funeral parlour for cremation,” Xinhua said. Anti-Occupy demo SELFIE-TIME! A group of women pose for a �selfie’ beneath the yellow leaves of autumnal trees inside grounds of the Gyeongbokgung Palace in central Seoul. China stresses party control over military AFP Beijing A Hong Kong chefs chant slogans as they take part in an anti-Occupy Central protest against the civil disobedience movement that has affected their livelihood. Thousands of protesters remain camped out in a sea of tents on a major highway close to government headquarters in Admiralty and in lesser numbers in the shopping and densely populated districts of Causeway Bay and Mong Kok. Chinese characters on the placard read �Give me back the road. Give me back my livelihood’. Banker charged over HK double murder AFP Hong Kong A British banker appeared yesterday in a Hong Kong court charged with the grisly murder of two women whose bodies were found in his upmarket apartment, one of them decomposing in a suitcase. Rurik Jutting, a 29-year-old securities trader who until recently worked at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, had called police to his home in Wanchai district on Saturday. Investigators found a naked woman with knife wounds to her neck and buttocks in the living room of the flat, on the 31st floor of a plush residential block. The corpse of the other woman was discovered decaying inside a suitcase on the balcony. Police reportedly believe the victims were sex workers. Court documents named one of the victims as Sumarti Ningsih, listing the other as an unknown female. At least one of the women was Indonesian, the government in Jakarta said. Jutting, a Cambridge graduate, showed no emotion as he listened to the charges against him at a magistrate’s court in Wanchai. He was taken to jail to await his next hearing on November 10. Heavily-built and bearded, he wore a black T-shirt and dark-rimmed glasses in court. He spoke only twice to confirm he understood the charges before police escorted him from the packed courtroom. Jutting was a pupil at the exclusive English boarding school Winchester College before studying history and law at Cambridge University, with former classmates saying he excelled academically. “He seemed like a normal guy, although he kept pretty much to himself,” said one former Cambridge acquaintance. “The thing that stood out about him was that he was academically extremely talented,” she added, describing him as “very, very ambitious”. Classmates also remembered him as intensely athletic, having been a member of the prestigious rowing club at Cambridge. “He was a tough guy. He had a rower mentality of pushing himself,” said one former Winchester pupil. “A classic banker, I guess.” Another Winchester classmate described him as “clever but socially awkward”. Police were scouring thousands of photographs stored on Jutting’s mobile phone, including some showing one of the corpses wrapped in a carpet inside a suitcase on the balcony, the South China Morning Post reported. Jutting recently left his job at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “We had an employee by that name but he recently left the firm,” a company spokesman told AFP, declining to say whether Jutting resigned or had been sacked. The banker posted on his Facebook page last week that he was embarking on a “new journey”. “Stepping down from the ledge. Burden lifted; new journey begins. Scared and anxious but also excited. The first step is always the hardest,” he wrote last Monday. “There’s a possibility that both victims are Indonesian,” Indonesia’s consulgeneral in Hong Kong, Chalief Akbar, told AFP. “We are still waiting for confirmation from the police.” Consulate officials said Ningsih, 25, had come to Hong Kong on September 1 and overstayed her one-month tourist visa. Wanchai is known for its late-night drinking holes popular with expatriate revellers, and is home to a thriving red Marathon dad! A man pushes a stroller carrying his 13-month-old twin babies as he runs in the Hangzhou International Marathon on Sunday. The father finished a 7km section while pushing the stroller, local media reported yesterday. light district where sex workers, many of them from Southeast Asia, ply their trade. The second victim, who has not been formally named, was known in local bars. “She used to come here as a customer, for drinks, for lunch,” said one waitress at Wanchai’s Queen Victoria pub. “She was a very nice girl.” Officers said earlier that maggots were found in the corpse hidden in a suitcase, which appeared to have been there for several days. “This body belonged to a person who has passed away for quite some time,” police assistant district commander Wan Siu-hung told reporters. A resident said a “disgusting” smell had been emanating from the building. “It was the smell of a dead body,” said the man, who lived on the 11th floor and refused to give his name. At yesterday’s brief 15-minute hearing, Jutting’s lawyer Martyn Richmond complained that his client was denied contact with British consular officials for 36 hours, as well as access to his preferred defence attorney. Jutting did not seek bail. Hong Kong, a city of 7mn, has low crime rates and only 14 cases of homicide were reported in the first half of the year. nyone calling for China’s People’s Liberation Army to be loyal to the state rather than the Communist party has a “very black heart”, military media said yesterday, after President Xi Jinping stressed: “The party commands the gun”. Xi vowed to maintain his anticorruption drive, days after military prosecutors said Xu Caihou, formerly the second-highest ranking officer in 2.3mn strong PLA, had confessed to bribery. Questions over whether the PLA should become an army of the country rather than an army of the party - so-called “nationalisation” - have mounted in recent years but Xi made clear the change was off the agenda. “We must face up to the outstanding issues which face us in building up the military, especially on our political thinking,” the official Xinhua news agency quoted him saying at a two-day meeting in a former revolutionary base in the southern province of Fujian. Xi urged troops to prioritise the Communist party, saying there were problems with party principles, revolutionary spirits and ideology in the PLA. “We must profoundly recognise the important role of political work in the army building and pass on to the following generations all the great traditions which were forged in blood by our ancestors,” Xi said, according to the Xinhua report. State-run media yesterday decried the concept of a state-controlled army, with an editorial in the official PLA Daily saying: “Those who spread the call for nationalisation of the military can be described as having a very black heart.” Other publications blamed the suggestion on foreigners intent on weakening the ruling party, with an editorial in the Global Times saying its backers had “obviously been influenced by the West”. The involvement of foreign forces in the argument “directly advocates depriving the Party’s leadership of the military and shaking the foundation of the Party’s power”, added the paper, which is close to the ruling party. Xi vowed to continue the fight against corruption in the military, part of his much-publicised wider campaign to root out the scourge that threatens to weaken the party’s 65-year grip on power. The PLA has come under intense scrutiny as part of the crackdown and Xu, formerly a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, is being prosecuted for taking bribes in exchange for granting promotions. A lack of discipline and faith still plague the military, Xi said according to Xinhua, adding that oversight of officers was “too lax”. The system that supervises senior military officials still had flaws, he said. Man parks plane at local pub A man who taxied his light plane down a street in Australia, and parked it at a pub while he went inside for a beer, was being questioned yesterday by police, who were not amused. Locals in Newman, Western Australia, were stunned when they saw the wingless Beechcraft two-seater aircraft chugging down the main drag of the mining town in the Pilbara region, before pulling up at the local watering hole. “On the way back through town... here’s a plane parked outside the Purple Pub,” Newman resident Beau Woolcock told ABC radio. “Even more special was seeing one of the local coppers poking his head in the door of the plane looking like he was asking for a licence.” While the incident quickly became the talk of the town, police did not see the funny side. “It was a pretty stupid thing to do,” Newman police sergeant Mark McKenzie told reporters, saying the propeller was running and it needed to be steered by foot pedals. It was not clear why it had no wings. “Kids were coming home from school. It could have been very ugly. All he needed was one gust of wind ... because without the wings, it’s not stable. “People think it was a bit of a laugh but it was very dangerous and we’re not very happy with it.” The West Australian newspaper said staff at the pub had dubbed the man a “legend” for his casual arrival. Police said they were investigating whether he had committed an offence, given the plane did not leave the ground or cause any traffic accidents and the man passed a breath-test at the scene. “I need to look at what the appropriate offence would be as it’s a bit of an unusual one,” said police officer Mark Garner. Australian sorry for �surfing’ on dead whale AFP Perth A n Australian who climbed onto a dead whale as it floated offshore, attracting the attention of large sharks, apologised yesterday for his “idiot” act. The man dived off a boat and climbed on the humpback, which appeared to have already been ravaged by sharks, south of Perth in Western Australia on Saturday. “(I was) out on the boat with the boys and one of my mates said it would be pretty funny if you go out surf the whale, so I did it,” the 26-year-old, who wanted to be known only by his first name of Harrison, told Channel 7. After hauling himself onto the floating carcass, Harrison could see it was being circled by sharks, as his friends realised the danger and called for him to come back. “They were too busy chomping on the whale so it wasn’t too bad,” he said of the sharks which included a great white. But he said he would definitely not perform such a stunt again, admitting he could have lost his life. “I’ve done it, I don’t need to do it again. Definitely it was a stupid act, didn’t mean to disrespect anyone,” he said. “Mum thinks I’m an idiot: dad’s not too proud either.” The whale has now washed up at Scarborough Beach, which has been closed because lifesavers spotted four large sharks in the area. Experts said the man’s behaviour could have had dire consequences for him and anyone who had gone to his assistance. “It is very risky to enter the water around that type of large food source because even if you can’t see sharks, it’s highly likely the carcass is attracting them from a long way away,” Tony Cappelluti from the Fisheries Department told The West Australian. “Irrespective of some type of adrenalin rush, or whatever you’re trying to get out of performing that type of act, it’s highly risky.” Experts say attacks by sharks, which are common in Australian waters, are increasing as water sports become more popular. Last month a young surfer lost parts of both arms in an attack off the south coast of Western Australia. The most recent fatality was in September when a man was killed in front of his wife while swimming at Byron Bay on the east coast. 18 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BRITAIN ROYALTY PHILANTHROPY PEOPLE HEALTH SCARE DATA William worked as an odd-job man: memoir London leads the way in £1mn gifts to good causes Cheryl’s husband sues magazine over story Two people test negative for Ebola E-cigarettes linked to 100 fires, figures reveal The duke of Cambridge learned what it was like to take orders as well as give them during a work experience stint as an odd-job man in an English stately home, news reports said yesterday. “He spent a week working around the estate and made sausage rolls and mince pies,” Chatsworth House head housekeeper Christine Robinson revealed in her memoir. “Then he spent a week at the house, dressed in overalls, drinking tea and eating fish and chips with the rest of the housemen and joiners.” It was intended that Prince William go incognito for his two weeks at the north of England mansion in 2005. But he did not deny his real identity when visitors did a double-take and approached him. A record 292 philanthropic donations of £1mn or more were made to British good causes last year, a new report revealed. The gifts from wealthy individuals, foundations and companies totalled £1.36bn. The record of £1.65bn was set in 200607. More than four out of 10 of the donations went to universities to fund research projects or scholarships, according to the Coutts Million Pound Donors Report. In total 33 universities received seven-figure donations. Oxford received 12 such gifts and Cambridge was given seven. London kept its status as the centre of UK philanthropy, producing the vast majority of million-pound donors, with 169 donations and 69% of the total. The husband of X Factor judge Cheryl FernandezVersini is demanding up to £100,000 in damages from a magazine over an article about the couple’s wedding. It is the second time Jean Bernard Fernandez-Versini has gone to court in as many months. According to papers filed at the High Court, he is suing Heat magazine for the alleged misuse of private information in a story headlined “Cheryl: Two wedding parties and a watertight marriage contract”. He is seeking damages and an account of all profits obtained by publisher Bauer from the article. He is taking action under the Data Protection Act, seeking court orders for Heat to destroy any private information it holds about him. Two people in England and Wales have tested negative for Ebola after fears they may have caught the deadly virus. A woman, who had a history of travel to West Africa, was admitted to St George’s Hospital in Tooting on Sunday after complaining of a fever. She was kept in isolation and closely monitored overnight, a spokesman for St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust said. Her test results for Ebola came back as negative yesterday. Meanwhile, a man who visited West Africa was also tested for the disease after he was admitted to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. Public Health Wales said it was investigating a “febrile illness” in a member of the public. Call for reading time in schools Autumn colours Teen jailed for 20 years over teacher murder Agencies London C hildren should spend a “peaceful” hour in school each day reading a book, a headteachers’ leader is suggesting. Spending time reading a novel would help youngsters to enjoy reading, and do more to improve their skills than “frantic coaching to the test”, according to Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT). In a new blog, he says there is no complete answer to what children should read, and argues for primary schools to publish their own lists of the books pupils will read by the time they leave at age 11. This would be more useful than lists of activities designed to promote British values. Hobby says that there is nothing more important than being able to read well, but adds that successive policies designed to teach children to read - such as the current promotion of phonics - which focuses on using sounds rather than recognising whole words - and the last government’s Literacy Hour - tend to drive towards learning the technical side of reading, and away from stories. There is evidence that phonics works for teaching the largest amount of children to decode words, he acknowledges, but it does not work for every child and decoding is not the only part of reading. “The official advocation of phonics has at times appeared to risk caricature when it neglects the development of vocabulary and the habits of storytelling,” Hobby argues. In the early years, when children are in nursery and infants school, there need to be a focus on speaking and listening, he says. “In the older years of primary school, I think the trouble is that children just don’t read enough. We should strip back the social engineering and the constant initiatives forced on schools and just spend time reading.” Guardian News and Media London A Guardsmen ride past autumn colours during the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony at Horseguard’s Parade in central London yesterday. London living wage rises 4% to £9.15 an hour London Evening Standard London T housands of workers earning the living wage in London will receive a four percent pay rise, Boris Johnson announced yesterday. The mayor said the London living wage would increase from £8.80 an hour to £9.15. He also revealed that the number of companies paying the voluntary rate had doubled over 12 months to exceed 400. But critics called for the wage to be mandatory, claiming nine out of 10 big businesses in London failed to pay it. A study yesterday also showed that the number of workers paid less than the living wage nationwide is increasing. Johnson said: “In excess of 400 businesses have made the commitment (in London), but we need even more converts, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors. I hope that even more organisations this year will decide to do the right thing.” By law all firms must pay the national minimum wage of £6.50 an hour, but they are urged to give employees the living wage, set at a level supposed to allow a more comfortable life. As well as the rise in London’s living wage, the rate outside the capital will increase from £7.65 to £7.85. Companies such as ITV, Nationwide and Google have all become accredited as London living wage employers over the last year. But Johnson admitted that more than one in five employed Londoners earned less than the new rate in 2013. Figures obtained by London Assembly Green member Jenny Jones from the GLA suggested that despite improvements, just one in 10 of London’s biggest firms was paying the rate. Out of almost 1,400 firms employing more than 250 workers in the capital, only 110 were signed up to the living wage. Baroness Jones said: “It’s horrible to think that nine in 10 big businesses are holding out and paying poverty wages, while many pay their top executives multi-million pound bonuses.” Research published by Queen Mary University estimates that moving London’s low paid workers onto the LLW would save the Treasury £823mn a year in tax revenue and reduced benefits. It also found people earning the living wage were more likely to feel loyal towards their employer. Yesterday was the start of Living Wage Week with campaigners pushing for more companies to take up the rate. Labour’s shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: “It is welcome that more businesses have signed up to become Living Wage employers this week, but we need to see faster progress.” A study from KPMG suggested that the number paid less than the living wage had increased by 147,000 in the past year with a “worrying trend” of rises among part-time, female and young workers. Federation of Small Businesses chair John Allan said the living wage should “remain an important aspirational goal” for firms to strive for. Electronic cigarettes have been linked to more than 100 fires, new figures reveal. Fire services in the UK are now attending at least one blaze involving the devices each week, statistics obtained by the Press Association suggest. They have attended dozens of incidents suspected to have been sparked by e-cigarettes or related equipment including chargers in less than three years. Data from 43 fire services show that since 2012 they have attended 113 calls to fires related to e-cigarettes. Several took place after users connected the devices to incompatible chargers. 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of a teacher who was stabbed to death in front of her class in Leeds. The boy had previously admitted murdering Ann Maguire, 61, in her classroom at Corpus Christi Catholic college on April 28. Her family were in Leeds crown court to hear his plea of guilty. The youngster was 15 and studying for his GCSEs at the time of the attack, court had heard. The minimum sentence for the crime is usually 12 years but the judge said he was increasing that because of seven aggravating features including the fact that it was premeditated, committed in public, in front of children and witnesses who were “traumatised, and that Maguire had died in “extreme pain”. He said the boy showed “a chilling lack of remorse”. Maguire’s daughter Emma had previously told the court: “Every morning I wake up hoping it’s all a bad dream. There’s a split second before reality sets in.” Maguire’s husband, Don, said: “There will be no closure. Balance will never return. There will be no level scales.” The court heard that Maguire was the boy’s Spanish teacher. The boy, whose parents had sat with him in the dock at Leeds crown court as he admitted the killing, was a model pupil in year 7, was “amicable, enthusiastic and conscientious” but changed after being diagnosed with diabetes. Edward in Australia The diabetes had a major impact on his mood and personality. His mother noticed evidence of self-harming. He was upset that his diabetes would prevent him from joining the army. He started to harbour a hatred for Ann Maguire, the court heard. The boy told other pupils he had been carrying a knife and wanted Maguire dead: on his mobile police discovered many images of knives. The attack took place at Maguire’s desk. The boy was in her Spanish lesson. He told a pupil of his plan and winked as he left to kill her. On Christmas eve 2013 the boy told a friend on Facebook he wanted to “brutally kill” Maguire and spend the rest of his life in jail. The boy told one friend he planned to kill two other teachers as well as Maguire – one was young and pregnant. On the day of the murder the boy took knives to school and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whisky in order to “celebrate afterwards”. The attack took place at Maguire’s desk. The boy was in her Spanish lesson. He told a pupil of his plan and winked as he left to kill her. He attacked Maguire from behind, the court heard. She was 5ft 2in: a foot shorter than her killer. He was expressionless as he stabbed her in the neck and back. Better HS2 payout for Londoners urged London Evening Standard London A Britain’s Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, is welcomed by New South Wales (NSW) Premier Mike Baird as he arrives at NSW Parliament, in Sydney, Australia, yesterday. The Earl of Wessex was a guest at a reception at NSW parliament to commemorate over 50 years of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in Australia. After stabbing Maguire and chasing her out of the classroom the boy calmly returned to his desk and, according to witnesses, said: “Pity she didn’t die.” The court then heard harrowing video testimony from pupils who witnessed the attack. “I was in absolute panic,” said one classmate. Susan Francis, a colleague of Maguire’s, heard screaming. She rushed into the corridor and was confronted by pupils running, screaming. Maguire was holding her neck and said “he’s stabbed me in the neck”. The boy followed her. The teacher pushed Maguire into another classroom. The other teacher held her foot against the door to stop the boy entering. She could see his “emotionless” face through the door window. Francis sat with Maguire comforting her and telling her she was loved. The boy returned to his seat after the murder and said “good times”, according to witnesses. He spoke of an adrenalin rush. One pupil said it appeared that he was pleased with what he had done. Two teachers entered the room and the boy put his hands in the air as if in surrender. He told them of “other naughty stuff” in his bag. When police arrived they were struck by his “calmness and air of normality”. He chatted with officers about their hobbies, the court heard. The boy told a psychiatrist that he had planned a triple homicide. He said he did not regret his actions and was pleased to have killed Maguire but “it didn’t live up to” his expectations. He later said: “I know the victim’s family will be upset but I don’t care. In my eyes, everything I’ve done is fine and dandy.” cross-party group of MPs and councils yesterday called on the government to deliver a “fair deal for London” on compensation for the HS2 rail line. They claim that people living in urban areas are not being treated as fairly as those in rural areas, where payouts are being offered to residents living up to 300 metres from the tracks. Camden council has said that 215 homes face demolition to allow Euston station to be rebuilt, while 250 properties are at risk of being uninhabitable. Owners of properties in “safeguarding areas” that are demolished will be paid the market rate and a bonus of up to £47,000, but the council said many people affected were tenants who wouldn’t qualify for pay-outs. Camden has been joined by Ealing and Hillingdon councils and six MPs - including Tories Nick Hurd and Angie Bray — in writing to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin for a “fair and tailored” compensation package for London. Camden council leader Sarah Hayward said the capital faced a “decade of disruption” and the Fair Deal for London Alliance wants replacement housing for those in homes rendered uninhabitable during construction. Hayward said: “Hundreds of residents and businesses are set to be left out of pocket due to the inadequate compensation package proposed. We urge the government to recognise that unique circumstances exist in London and bring forward a tailored compensation package for the capital’s residents and businesses.” The HS2 Bill is making its way through Parliament, with construction unlikely to begin until 2017. The first trains between London and Birmingham are due to start running in 2026. A department for transport spokeswoman said: “Some of the compensation and assistance measures are directed at rural areas only… However… we have gone beyond what is required by law in order to assist urban owner-occupiers.” Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 19 BRITAIN DECISION CONTROVERSY RECOMMENDATION HEALTH APPEAL New tax statements to be sent out from this week May apologises over abuse probe job Training college plan suffers blow Sir Alex backs lung cancer campaign London �needs powers to remain a super-city’ Millions of people will this week begin receiving their first annual tax statements setting out exactly how much they pay in to the exchequer and how their money is spent. Chancellor George Osborne - who first announced the scheme in his 2012 Budget - said that it was designed to make the tax system more transparent and easier to understand. The 16mn Paye taxpayers will receive their personalised summaries in the post over the course of the next seven weeks, while the 8mn who complete self-assessment returns will be able to access their statement online. Theresa May has apologised following the resignation last week of the second chairwoman of the inquiry into historical allegations of child sex abuse. The home secretary said the first meeting of the panel would be held next Wednesday but told MPs it was “very disappointing” the probe still does not have someone in the top job four months after being created. In a Commons statement following the dramatic resignation on Friday of Fiona Woolf, May told MPs that a report by NSPCC chief Peter Wanless, into the way the Home Office dealt with an investigation into child abuse allegations between 1979 and 1999, will be published next week. A proposed £157mn state-of-the-art police, fire and prison service training college should not proceed in the current constrained financial climate, the group behind the project has said. The assessment of the steering group, which is made up of Stormont officials and representatives of the emergency services, comes after it undertook a review of the envisaged development in Desertcreat, Co Tyrone. The Stormont Executive will make any final decision on the fate of the troubled Northern Ireland Community Safety College (NICSC) project. The planned new build has already been beset with years of delay and setbacks. Sir Alex Ferguson has urged Scots with a persistent cough to see their GP sooner rather than later as part of a bid to increase early detection rates for lung cancer. Sir Alex, who lost both his parents to the disease, stressed the importance of not ignoring a persistent cough which has not cleared after three weeks. A campaign featuring the former Manchester United manager has already resulted in more people saying they would be less likely to delay a visit to the GP if they were concerned about lung cancer. Health Secretary Alex Neil stressed: “ Lung cancer is much more treatable than it used to be, but early detection is key” London’s political and business elite yesterday warned the capital must have more control over its future to retain “city superpower” status. More than 30 leading figures, including academics and charity directors, called on the government to give London a full range of property tax powers. They also demanded the capital have control over health, childcare, schooling and the criminal justice system. Their request was made in an open letter published in the Standard on the eve of a major conference which will explore London’s future. The letter sets out the challenges faced by the capital including a housing shortage, growing congestion and high levels of worklessness and poverty. MPs wanted to make an example of me: MacShane London Evening Standard London D isgraced former MP Denis MacShane has launched a stunning attack on the judge who sent him to serve his sentence in a highsecurity prison. The former Labour MP claimed that justice Sweeney made mistakes in his case and only jailed him because “he was in love with prison sentences”. MacShane, one of several MPs jailed over the Commons expenses scandal, also attacked the top CPS lawyer-turned-Labourcandidate who led the CPS when he was prosecuted. While admitting that the expense claims he made were wrong, he lashed out at the prison service and “friends” in Parliament whom he claims pushed for him to be prosecuted just “to make an example” of him. “The judge, everybody, said I made no personal gain. But the way I did it was wrong and I’m not complaining about it” In an exclusive interview with Chris Blackhurst for London Live, to be screened today, he also spoke about his time in HMP Belmarsh. The former MP was jailed after pleading guilty to false accounting and claiming for “research and translation” services of nearly £13,000. On being asked why he was sent to the high-security Belmarsh, he said: “There was a judge who was notorious for being in love with prison sentences, who had already sent down political people. It was great publicity for him. I was number three or four on the news items that evening.” He said his expenses were for legitimate work, but because the system would not allow costs incurred outside the UK to be reimbursed, he orchestrated a “short cut” to get the money back. While he admitted it was “dumb, stupid (and) wrong”, he claimed he had made no personal gain. He attacked MPs from “a mixture” of parties, whom he said had pushed for him to be prosecuted despite the CPS having already taken a decision not to follow up his case. MacShane said: “The judge, everybody, said I made no personal gain. But the way I did it was wrong and I’m not complaining about it. The police investigated me for 20 months, the CPS investigated me, they decided no prosecution, it wasn’t serious enough. Then it got back into the Commons, and political �friends’, shall we say, decided they would make an example of me.” He then suggested that Keir Starmer, the former director of public prosecutions, who is standing as a Labour candidate for Parliament, was wrong to prosecute him, calling him “very political, very celebrity-focused”. Both the judiciary and Starmer declined to comment. The former MP also told how he spent Christmas behind bars, had his possessions taken from him on his first day and was strip-searched, but survived after being taken under the wing of a “serious criminal”. In a bizarre anecdote, he said he was wrongly registered as “Ian MacShane”, similar to the actor’s name, leading to visitors being told that there was no Denis MacShane at the prison. He also lashed out at the prison system, claiming it was “preposterous” that taxpayers had to spend £1,000 a week to lock him up. The Headline Interview with Denis MacShane is on London Live today at 1pm. Watch it on Freeview channel 8, stream it live, or catch up on londonlive. co.uk Film sparks Paddington Bear revival British actor Hugh Bonneville poses for a photograph with his “Journey of Marmalade” Paddington Bear statue displayed in front of Tower Bridge during a photo call ahead of the release of The Paddington Trail film in London yesterday. The movie Paddington has sparked a resurgence of interest in the bear from darkest Peru, with exhibitions, statues and a new book of his adventures coming out before the New Year. Fifty statues of the bear will be dotted out around London - each with a different celebrity-designed paint job. Govt shrugs off Merkel’s migration policy �disquiet’ Reuters London B ritain’s finance minister yesterday shrugged off a report which said German Chancellor Angela Merkel would abandon her attempts to keep Britain inside the European Union if it pressed ahead with plans to curb immigration from other EU states. “I think it’s a little bit thin,” George Osborne said of the report in Der Spiegel, saying his own contacts with the German government had shown Berlin MPs’ expenses records �destroyed’ Agencies London M Ps accused of abusing their parliamentary expenses under the old, unreformed system may escape investigation after Commons officials destroyed records relating to their claims, it has been reported. The Daily Telegraph reported that Commons Speaker John Bercow has been accused of presiding over a new cover-up following the destruction of paperwork relating to claims made before 2010 when a new system was introduced in the wake of the expenses scandal. The move came to light after members of the public wrote to the parliamentary standards watchdog Kathryn Hudson asking her to investigate claims made by their MP dating back to 2004. It means “cold case” investigations - like that which led to the resignation of culture secretary Maria Miller after she was found to have wrongly claimed tens of thousands of pounds in mortgage payments between 2005 and 2009 - may be far more difficult in future. The Telegraph said Hudson was contacted by three Tory activists in the Isle of Wight, asking her to investigate claims made by their local Conservative MP Andrew Turner between 2004 and 2010. Turner told the paper his claims had been audited and found to be in compliance with the rules at the time. But in a letter to one of the complainants, David Pugh, seen by the Telegraph, Hudson wrote: “All records relating to expenses claims before 2010 have now been destroyed. No unredacted information is now available here nor any notes of conversations or advice given to Turner which might establish the facts.” She added that half the period covered by their complaint fell outside the seven-year limit for investigation. A Commons spokesman told the Telegraph that under the House’s authorised records disposal practice (ARDP), records of MPs’ expenses claims were destroyed after three years in order to comply with data protection laws. “The retention period for general financial data, of which members’ expenses is a sub-set, is three years after the current financial year finishes. The longstanding policy on retention of MPs’ expenses records was originally agreed by the Members Estimate Committee (MEC),” the spokesman said. “In accordance with the ARDP, the disposal of records relating to members’ expenses claims pre2010 was carried out on a routine basis at various times each year up to 2014, four years after the House of Commons’ oversight of the MPs’ expenses arrangements finished.” Labour MP John Mann, expressed concern about the move and said he would be tabling a question asking Bercow to explain what had happened. “It sounds like MPs trying to protect MPs again. It will make the public very suspicious of what the motive is. The old gentlemen’s club is resurrecting itself,” he said. understood British public disquiet about unemployed EU migrants claiming welfare benefits. “The British public want this addressed. We are going to do this in a calm, rational way,” Osborne told BBC TV, referring to a promise by Prime Minister David Cameron to set out new ideas about how to tackle the issue before the end of the year. Under growing pressure from the anti-EU UK Independence Party (Ukip) ahead of a May 2015 national election and from many of his own lawmakers, Cameron has said he’d like to try to curb EU immigration if re-elected - a move Brussels says would infringe the right to free movement. German weekly news magazine Der Spiegel reported on Sunday that Merkel had warned Cameron that such a policy would be a “point of no return” that could sharply increase the risk of Britain leaving the EU. If re-elected, Cameron has pledged to renegotiate Britain’s EU ties before giving Britons a membership referendum in 2017 amid public disenchantment about the government’s failure to curb immigration because of the country’s EU membership. Royal visit A spokesman for Merkel said yesterday Germany wants Britain to remain an “active and engaged” member of the EU but will not cede on Cameron’s plans to curb immigration from other EU countries. Cameron has not yet set out what those plans are, but has made it clear he wants to find a way of respecting the EU’s rules which guarantee freedom of movement to work, while clamping down on what he has called “freedom to claim benefits.” Germany has expressed sympathy with such a position in the Jazz clarinettist Acker Bilk dies aged 85 Guardian News and Media London T Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are shown a photo album as they visit the Pasty Museum in Real del Monte in Hidalgo, Mexico. The royal couple are on a four-day visit to Mexico as part of a Royal tour to Colombia and Mexico. past and Merkel’s spokesman said there was “strong interest” in co-operating with Britain to tackle any abuse of the freedom of movement regime. Osborne said concerns about EU immigration were running so high in Britain that Cameron’s Conservatives were obliged to explain how they would address them if re-elected. “It was never envisaged that you would have such large numbers of people coming, who don’t have job offers, people who move on to our benefit system,” said Osborne. “And that causes a lot of public unhappiness.” he celebrated jazz clarinettist Acker Bilk has died aged 85. Bilk was perhaps best known for his 1961 song Stranger on the Shore and was one of the most important figures during the revival of traditional jazz in the middle of the last century. “He was vastly important to the jazz movement, he could play the clarinet like nobody else, he had a special tone and vibrato – other musicians would tell you that,” his manager Pamela Sutton said. Sutton, who worked with Bilk for 45 years, said that “his life was music and performing”. “He only gave it up because his age caught up with him and he couldn’t perform any more. “His last performance was in August 2013 at the Brecon Jazz festival in Wales. He was a charming person to be with and he was famous worldwide, especially in Australia. “He was a brilliant musician. He had a great sense of humour in every way. He just loved life.” She said that he died around 2pm with his wife Jean by his side. “I am very happy that so many people have called (since news of his death broke). As he was 85, age had just caught up with him. He was in some pain from different things that were going wrong.” Sutton said that Bilk also leaves two children Peter and Jenny. Bilk, who was made an MBE in the New Year honours list of 2001, had previously overcome throat cancer. Poet Ian McMillan tweeted: “Goodbye Acker Bilk, creator of one of the great earworms. That shore was strange, but memorable.” He was born Bernard Stanley Bilk and raised in Somerset and soon took the name Acker – a local expression meaning “friend” or “mate”. Bilk’s uniform of garish waistcoat and bowler hat set the tone for onstage outfits for anyone performing in that genre. He was 18 when he took up the clarinet while in the Royal Engineers during his national service. Posted to Egypt, he found himself with plenty of spare time in the desert and borrowed a marching clarinet, copying records. 20 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 EUROPE Ukraine crisis deepens after separatist votes Reuters Donetsk P ro-Russian separatists in Ukraine named a leader of a breakaway republic yesterday after weekend elections which were denounced by Kiev and the West and further deepened a stand-off with Russia over the future of the former Soviet state. Organisers of the vote said that Alexander Zakharchenko, a 38-year-old former mining electrician, had easily won election as head of the “Donetsk People’s Republic”, an entity proclaimed by armed rebels in the days after they seized key buildings in cities of Ukraine’s Russian-speaking east last April. A rebel representative said Igor Plotnisky had won a majority in a similar election in Luhansk, a smaller self-proclaimed pro-Russian entity further east. The rogue votes, which Kiev says Russia encouraged, could create a new “frozen conflict” in post-Soviet Europe and further threaten the territorial unity of Ukraine, which lost control of its Crimean peninsula in March when it was annexed by Russia. Kiev and the West will now be looking to see if Russian President Vladimir Putin will formally recognise the validity of the vote, despite their entreaties to him not to do so. A Russian deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, made no mention of formal recognition but said the newly elected leadership in eastern Ukraine now had a mandate to negotiate with Kiev. Up to now, Kiev’s leaders have refused to hold direct talks with the separatists, whom they refer to as “terrorists” and “bandits”. If Moscow were to recognise the votes, it would narrow options too for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. He has ruled out trying to take back the region by force after big battlefield losses in August. But after a parliamentary election on October 26, he is now supported by a pro-Western power structure, determined to stop the break-up of Ukraine, and he could come under pressure to take a firmer line. Putin’s first word on the weekend election could come today when he is due to appear at a Red Square ceremony in Moscow marking National Unity day. “The central election commission deems Alexander Zakharchenko to be the elected head of the Donetsk People’s Republic,” an election official, Roman Lyagin, told journalists in Donetsk, the separatists’ stronghold. Numbers of ballots cast for him appeared to show he had won 79% of the vote. “Plotnitsky got the majority of the votes in the Luhansk People’s Republic elections,” a spokesman said. The elections were the latest twist in a geopolitical crisis that began with the popular overthrow of Ukraine’s Moscowbacked leader, Viktor Yanukovych last February. Russia denounced Yanukovych’s ousting as a coup by a “fascist junta” and the following month annexed Crimea and subsequently backed the separatist rebellions that sprang up in the east. Kiev says that only direct intervention by Russian troops stopped Ukrainian government forces routing the separatists, though Russia, despite what the West says is incontrovertible proof, denies sending troops across the border. More than 4,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which has led to US and European Union sanctions against Russia. Kiev and Western governments, including the United States, say the election violated a bedrock agreement reached on September 5 in the Belarussian capital, Minsk, which was also been signed by Russia. Kiev says this provided for elections to be held under Reuters Berlin T An elderly woman pulls a cart with firewood yesterday near the ruins of what was the Donetsk airport. EU foreign policy chiefs have blasted Moscow’s backing of separatist elections in Ukraine, saying that the polls, which sought to put a legal veneer on the bloody pro-Russian rebellion, violated a peace agreement. Ukrainian law which would appoint purely local officials. The rebels’ vote to elect leaders and institutions in a breakaway territory violated the agreement, it says. Speaking on Sunday, Poroshenko reiterated Kiev’s view and denounced the ballot as a “farce (conducted) under the barrels of tanks and machine guns”. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said yesterday that Germany found it incomprehensible that “official Russian voices” were talking of recognising the election in eastern Ukraine. Current developments in east Ukraine ruled out any premature lifting of EU economic sanctions against Russia and if the situation worsened, further sanctions may be necessary, spokesman Steffen Seibert said. Italy does not recognise the voting, Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said, adding: “There is no alternative to a political solution to the crisis.” The September 5 ceasefire has brought an end to full-scale clashes between government forces and the Russian-backed separatists, though sporadic shelling particularly in the airport area of Donetsk, continues to exert pressure on the truce. Though the city was generally quiet early yesterday, artil- lery fire from the direction of the airport began to pick up later in the day. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said that one of its four drones which are operating on observation missions in the southeast had been fired on by separatists using an anti-aircraft gun near the port of Mariupol on Sunday. It was not hit and returned to base intact. The OSCE also said the GPS system of a second drone was electronically jammed by separatists operating from the ground in roughly the same area near Mariupol. Zakharchenko, the current rebel prime minister whose campaign advertisements are plastered across Donetsk, was always certain to win the vote in his region. In electioneering, he has compared the Donbass region’s coal deposits to the oil reserves in the United Arab Emirates and has promised pensioners a stipend that will allow them to go on safari in Australia. His and Plotnitsky’s election though will mean little by way of change for the region, which is increasingly dependent on Russia for support financially and politically as it faces a humanitarian crisis which will only worsen in winter. PM Ponta wins first round of presidential poll Reuters Bucharest P rime Minister Victor Ponta won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, a step towards a victory that would consolidate his leftist party’s hold on power but would also raise questions about judicial independence. With nearly all ballots counted, Ponta, leader of the Social Democrats and a former prosecutor and amateur rally driver who became prime minister two years ago, had won 40.3% of the vote in Sunday’s election. That compared with 30.4% for his nearest challenger, Klaus Iohannis, an ethnic German mayor backed by two centreright parties. The results make Ponta, who has consistently led opinion polls over Iohannis, favourite to win a run-off vote on November 16. A Ponta presidency could bring more stability to the Black Sea country of 20mn, which endured a painful recession and spending cuts during the global slowdown and has made mixed progress in implementing reforms under an International Monetary Fund (IMF)-led aid deal. As prime minister, Ponta often feuded with his bitter rival, outgoing President Traian Basescu – who served as president for a decade – often slowing policymaking. However, without the check on power hitherto provided by Basescu, Ponta’s rise has raised concerns that he might tighten political control over the judiciary and anti-corruption prosecutors. Ponta rebuffed European Union criticism in 2012 that he did not appear to respect the rule of law and democratic institutions, denying allegations that Ponta gestures during a news conference at the foreign ministry in Bucharest. Ponta led the first round of Romania’s presidential election, a step towards a victory that would consolidate his leftist party’s hold on power but would also raise questions about judicial independence. A woman holds a notice reading �We don’t leave until they vote’ during a protest in front of the foreign ministry headquarters in Bucharest. Hundreds gathered to protest against Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean and Ponta as Romanians from abroad were unable to vote due to poor organisation of the election process. he had put pressure on judges. Ponta promised after his win on Sunday that if he secures the presidency his government would stick to the economic programme he set as prime minister, which includes easing austerity measures and a pledge to increase the state pension next year. “We will make sure that the governing programme that Romanians voted for in 2012 will be enforced until the end of 2016,” Ponta told reporters late on Sunday. A senior official in the ruling Social Democrat party said, on condition of anonymity, that potential candidates to become prime minister in a Ponta presidency include the head of Ro- More rail strikes loom in Germany after talks collapse mania’s secret service, George Maior, who is also Ponta’s godfather and a former Social Democrat lawmaker, and former prime minister Calin Tariceanu of the Liberal Reforming Party. Tariceanu, a Harley Davidson-riding businessman, is a Ponta ally who also ran for president but came third in Sunday’s first round. As premier from 2004-2008, Tariceanu oversaw sharp increases in pensions and ran double-digit current account deficits, despite warnings from the IMF and ratings agencies to maintain fiscal discipline. As well as loosening fiscal policy, a new Ponta-appointed government could end the deal with the IMF when the current €4bn agreement expires next year. The deal has bolstered Romania’s credibility with investors and nudged successive governments to reform. “After the IMF agreement expires there will be two questions. Will it be further extended?” Greg Konieczny, the manager of Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea, said in a recent interview. “But that will be a decision for the new government. And second, if it is not extended, then will the government keep behaving in a responsible way?” Flagging Tariceanu as a possible prime minister could help Ponta scoop up votes in the runoff that Tariceanu received in the first round. Choosing someone from outside his own party could also head off any possible infighting in the Social Democrats. Run-off opponent Iohannis, who is credited with transforming the Transylvanian city of Sibiu, has the support of opposition Liberals and DemocratLiberals. He has pledged to support anti-corruption prosecutors, boost EU fund absorption and raise the healthcare budget, while supporting the IMF deal and aiming to eventually lower value-added tax. Romania joined the EU in 2007 but remains its second poorest and also one of its most corrupt states, driving millions abroad in search of better pay and living standards. It has struggled to absorb EU development funds. Tax evasion is rife and nearly half of all households lack an indoor bathroom. “I am fed up with politicians and their corruption,” said Marin Tudose, a 48-year-old tool maker. “When will we start to live better? Because so far it hasn’t happened for me.” The Social Democrats, heirs to the Communists whose singleparty rule was toppled in a 1989 revolution, have courted voters by increasing pensions and wages for state workers cut under Ponta’s predecessor. Ponta has also cut an employment tax. Economic growth however is set to slow to 2.2% this year, from 3.5% in 2013, analysts forecast. Analysts said his election campaign was also helped by a government ordinance approved in August that allowed local mayors to join a party other than the one from which they were elected in office without losing their seat. That prompted around 400 mayors to switch to the ruling leftists. But Ponta’s campaign faced setbacks as well. Basescu accused him of spying for the foreign intelligence service in the 1990s, a charge Ponta’s camp rejected as a political smear. Ponta’s father-in-law and other ruling party politicians were also hit by graft allegations in the last weeks of the campaign. alks between German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and the GDL train drivers’ union on pay and negotiation rights collapsed in acrimony yesterday, raising the threat of further strikes that could damage Europe’s biggest economy. Ulrich Weber, head of personnel at Deutsche Bahn, criticised the union for being an “unreliable negotiating partner” after it unexpectedly broke off talks just when it appeared that an agreement was within reach. The GDL union, which represents just 20,000 of the railways’ 196,000 workers, said that state-owned Deutsche Bahn provoked the crisis by refusing to grant it the right to negotiate on behalf of 17,000 train stewards. It said more strikes were likely but did not say when, adding notice would be given in advance. Earlier yesterday, Bild newspaper reported that GDL, which seeks a 5% pay rise for its train drivers and a shortened work week of 37 hours instead of 39, is considering going out on a strike that would last for nearly four days – the longest stoppage on record to hit Deutsche Bahn. The Cologne Institute for Economic Research (IW) estimates that a train strike longer than three days could damage the economy by up to €100mn per day if companies were forced to halt their assembly lines. In mid-October the union went out on a 60-hour strike over a weekend, halting two thirds of long-distance trains. Nearly one-fifth of Germany’s freight traffic is transported by rail, with roughly two-thirds of that handled by Deutsche Bahn. Strikes in Germany are rare with employers and the mostly larger unions both eager to resolve their differences at the negotiating table before it comes to actual work stoppages. Activists steal Berlin Wall crosses Pro-refugee activists in Germany have stolen seven memorial crosses for people killed at the Berlin Wall and moved them to spots on the EU’s borders, they and police said yesterday. The action was meant to protest the “murderous exterior walls” of the EU which had claimed many thousands of lives, said a spokesman for the activist art collective “Centre for Political Beauty”. The white, cross-shaped signs bore the names and death dates of people killed while trying to flee communist East Germany, a regime which collapsed after the fall of the Berlin Wall 25 years ago on Sunday. The seven signs were unscrewed from their frames set in a metal fence on the south bank of Berlin’s Spree River near the site of the Reichstag building housing the lower house of parliament. “We have moved the crosses to safety,” said the group’s Philipp Ruch, adding that some had been taken to EU borders in Bulgaria and others to the Spanish exclave of Melilla in North Africa. Three shot dead in family tragedy Three people were found dead yesterday after a shooting incident involving a family in the Swiss town of Wilderswil, police said. While investigators did not provide further details, Swiss media reported that a man shot dead his ex-wife and her new partner at the couple’s home in rural central Switzerland. The suspect killed himself, according to the reports. The alleged killer and the woman had three children aged between seven and 18 years. One daughter managed to close the front door of the home, avoiding possible further bloodshed, the daily newspaper Tages-Anzeiger reported. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 21 EUROPE Erdogan �has man fined’ for smoking AFP Istanbul W hen he became Turkey’s head of state in August after over a decade as prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised to be an active president. But few could have imagined this would extend to personally policing Turkey’s anti-smoking legislation on a busy Istanbul street. Erdogan noticed a man smoking a cigarette on the balcony of a cafe as he visited a pedestrian street in Istanbul’s working-class Esenler district after a speech on Sunday. All seemed to be going well as Erdogan waved to well-wishers and chatted with his entourage. But then he spotted the man smoking on a covered balcony on the second floor of a cafe, footage posted online showed. Erdogan stopped and from the street wagged his finger at the man, telling the offender that he was violating the law. “There is a penalty for that,” Erdogan told the smoker, who was not shown in the footage. Erdogan beckoned over the mayor of Esenler, asking: “Where are the police?” The mayor smiled, before realising the president was deeply serious. “You know it, but this is wrong,” Erdogan said. “He blatantly behaved rudely. This shameless guy is sitting there and keeps smoking even after the president tells him not to do so.” “It’s the month of Muharram, for 21 killed as boat sinks off Istanbul DPA/Reuters Istanbul A t least 21 people were killed after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of northern Istanbul yesterday, the Coast Guard reported. The small boat was overcrowded and had an estimated 40 people on board, Transportation Minister Lutfi Elvan revealed. He added that six people were rescued. Many children were on board and operations continue to try to find the remaining passen- gers, the Dogan news agency reported. The Coast Guard had initially confirmed 24 people dead, but later revised the figure downwards without explanation. The boat sank three nautical miles north of the northern entrance to the Bosphorus, one of the busiest shipping thoroughfares in the world. They had set off earlier from Bakirkoy, an Istanbul suburb on the Sea of Marmara side of the Bosphorus. Turkish media said at least one of those who died could have been a crew member or a smuggler guiding them. Some reports said Syrians and Turkmen could also have been on board as well as Afghans. Television pictures showed survivors draped in blankets and sobbing as rescue workers offered them soup. The official Anatolia news agency said that rescuers, who had been alerted to the accident by fishermen, found the vessel was already semi-submerged on arrival. It was not immediately clear what had caused the boat to sink with media citing overloading, bad weather conditions or even a collision with another vessel in the busy shipping lane as possibilities. Anatolia said prosecutors be- God’s sake!” he said, referring to an Islamic holy month. Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas sought to ease tensions by suggesting that the man could promise not to smoke again, but Erdogan refused to calm down and ordered the police to fine the man on the spot. Police fined the man 90 Turkish liras ($40 or €30) after Erdogan left. In 2009, the Islamic-rooted government introduced a law imposing a smoking ban in all public buildings, cafes, bars and restaurants, including some covered outdoor spaces. Erdogan has long been under fire for what critics say are efforts to interfere in people’s lifestyles and imposing a creeping Islamisation on the officially secular country. He once declared that the threat smoking poses is “even greater than the threat of terrorism”. In a similar episode in July, Erdogan berated a Turkish national team youth footballer for having a tattoo on his arm, warning it could have health risks. Erdogan: refused to calm down and ordered the police to fine the smoker on the spot. Siemens offers empty offices for refugees AFP Berlin A Turkish Coastal Safety boat tries to reach the wreckage of the capsized boat off Rumeli Feneri, in the Black Sea coast of Istanbul. At least 21 people were killed after the boat carrying migrants capsized. lieved the vessel could have had leaks. Istanbul prosecutors have opened an investigation into the catastrophe. “There were many children on board. The wind is having a bad effect on the rescue efforts. The boat was very, very small, not enough for 40 people,” a captain involved in the rescue efforts, Ali Saruhan, told CNN-Turk television. Emre Can Kolcu, a member of a fishing crew, told NTV that after the accident “bags, shoes, coats and discarded life jackets covered the sea”. He said it was likely that the children on board had been given adult life jackets that were too big and they had simply slipped out of them once in the water. The stricken boat “was not a fishing boat, it was a tour boat for seven to eight people, not for 40”, he added. Turkey has become a hub for illegal immigrants who aspire to reach Europe in the search for a better life. NTV television said that the migrants had paid people smugglers €7,000 ($8,750) each to transport them towards Romania and then onwards to wealthier western European countries. But the journey is perilous, and hundreds of immigrants have drowned en route to Europe in recent years. The accident has come amid strong debate within the EU about whether to continue migrant rescue missions, on the grounds that such operations encourage the migrants to make the hazardous voyages in the first place. Britain said last week it will not support planned EU search and rescue operations to save migrants from drowning in the Mediterranean Sea as they try to reach Europe. Meanwhile, Italy on Friday confirmed the end of its search and rescue operation “Mare Nostrum”, which has saved the lives of tens of thousands of boat migrants in the Mediterranean. Costa Concordia’s last missing victim found DPA Rome T In this 2012 file picture, Kevin Rebello shows a picture of his brother Russel Rebello. he remains of Russel Rebello, the last missing victim of the Costa Concordia shipwreck, have been found, his brother said yesterday. Thirty-two of the 4,229 people who were on board died in the January 13, 2012 accident off the Italian island of Giglio. “The body of my younger brother Russel Rebello has finally been found inside a cabin on dock 8 of the Concordia wreck, which kept it for more than 1,025 days,” Kevin Rebello, an Indian national, wrote on his Facebook page. He said he was informed of the discovery by Italy’s civil protection agency and by Costa Crociere, an Italian subsidiary Retired army generals say they knew of no coup plot Reuters Istanbul T wo retired generals who led Turkey’s armed forces at the time of an alleged 2003 coup plot told a retrial of hundreds of officers yesterday that they knew of no plans to topple then-prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The officers were convicted in 2012 for plotting a coup against Erdogan, now president. The constitutional court quashed their convictions in June, ruling the case against them flawed. The 2010-2012 “Sledgehammer” trial was a high point in Erdogan’s drive to tame an army that for decades had dominated politics. Critics accused him at the time of using the courts to pursue a “witchhunt” against the generals. In sending senior officers to jail, the case eroded the authority and power of Nato’s second biggest army at a time of tensions on the borders with Syria and Iraq. The retrial is seen as an opportunity for the military to repair its image. General Hilmi Ozkok, head of the armed forces in 2002-2006, told the courtroom that he had heard coup plot rumours during his term in office from the media and anonymous letters, but Gulen: denies any involvement in the investigations. these were not substantiated. “I did not receive information that a coup plan was made. There were some rumours but they were not serious enough for a case to be opened or investigation launched against anyone,” said Ozkok, 74, wearing a dark suit and glasses. Erdogan, long viewed with suspicion by the army for his roots in political Islam, pressed reforms safeguarding democracy against military interference in the years after his AK Party’s election in 2002. More recently he has been ac- cused by opponents of authoritarian tendencies and intolerance of dissent. The two retired generals were giving evidence for the first time. The failure of the initial trial to hear their testimonies was among the reasons cited for overturning the convictions. Aytac Yalman, also 64, ground forces commander at the time of a 2003 military seminar which was central to the prosecution case, told the court: “I have neither heard of nor tried to prevent, as claimed, such a coup plan. The seminar was held under my orders, but I could not attend.” Yalman said he and most other high-ranking commanders at the time were busy dealing with plans regarding involvement in the war in Iraq in 2003, when Turkey’s parliament ultimately rejected a US request to use Turkish territory to invade Iraq. Turkey’s armed forces were long seen as ultimate guardians of the secular republic established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, carrying out three coups between 1960 and 1980 and pushing an Islamist-led government from power in 1997. The alleged plot dates back to months after Erdogan first came to power, and was said to include plans to bomb mosques and trigger a conflict with Greece by shooting down one of Turkey’s own warplanes to trigger a military takeover. Among the 236 defendants at the hearing were chief suspect Cetin Dogan, former head of the prestigious First Army, two retired force commanders and a former general who is now a member of parliament with a nationalist party. Families of the accused and their lawyers were packed into the 500-seat capacity courthouse with the defendants on the Asian side of Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city. The constitutional court has ruled unanimously that the mishandling of digital evidence had also violated the convicted officers’ rights. Erdogan, his primacy over the army established, said early this year that he was open to the idea of a retrial. Officials had suggested evidence had been manipulated by an Islamic cleric who had been using his influence in the police and judiciary to help Erdogan break the army’s power. Cleric Fethullah Gulen, a former ally of Erdogan turned bitter rival, denies any involvement in Sledgehammer investigations. In March, a court ordered the release of a former military chief and other defendants accused of a separate “Ergenekon” plot to topple the government. of the US-based Carnival Group which owned the Concordia. Rebello said the remains of his brother would be submitted to DNA testing for final confirmation of his identity before being repatriated to India. The victim worked on the Concordia as a waiter. The cruise ship is currently being dismantled in the port of Genoa, in northwest Italy. The ANSA news agency re- ported that Rebello’s remains were in a part of the ship that was crushed in the shipwreck and had been inaccessible until recently. The Concordia was towed from Giglio to Genoa in July, after complicated and dangerous operations to refloat the wreck. In February, a Spanish diver working on the salvage died during an underwater inspection. G erman engineering giant Siemens said yesterday that it had offered its empty offices in Munich to accommodate refugees, as the country grapples with a rise in asylum-seekers, especially from Syria. “We’ve proposed to the city authorities ... to make our former branch in Munich available for refugees,” a Siemens spokesman told AFP, confirming an article in Spiegel news weekly. Siemens makes products ranging from power stations to high-speed trains and medical imaging equipment. The roughly 30,000sq m premises in the Bavarian city had until now housed Siemens commercial department for southern Germany which recently moved to new offices. City and local authority officials visited the site last Friday, the spokesman said. A decision was expected in coming days on when and how many refugees can be accommodated there, he added. Germany this year expects some 200,000 asylum seekers to cross its borders – nearly 60% more than in 2013 when numbers had already soared by almost two-thirds. The leading country of origin is Syria, mostly to Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Across Germany, former army barracks have been requisitioned, and tents and mobile homes set up in order to house refugees. �Arbeit macht frei’ gate stolen Reuters Berlin T hieves have stolen the iron gate to Dachau concentration camp bearing the Nazi slogan “Arbeit macht frei” (work sets you free), the director of the memorial site in southern Germany and local police said yesterday. The cast iron gate measures 190cm by 95cm and police said the thieves probably used a vehicle to flee with it on Saturday night. “It is the central symbol of the prisoners’ suffering at Dachau concentration camp and therefore has hit the memorial at its heart,” said Gabriele Hammermann, director of the memorial. Prisoners passed it everyday, she said. The Nazis set up the camp in Dachau, near Munich, in 1933, only weeks after Adolf Hitler took power. Initially meant to detain political rivals, it became the prototype for a network of concentration camps where 6mn Jews were killed, as well as Roma, Russians, A man walks through the gate, part of which, bearing the Nazi slogan �Arbeit macht frei’, was stolen from the former concentration camp in Dachau. Poles and homosexuals. More than 200,000 people had been detained in the camp by the time US troops liberated it in 1945. Television images showing piles of bodies and starved inmates of the camp were among the first scenes the world saw of the Holocaust. In December 2009 the “Arbeit macht frei” sign was stolen from the entry gate of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz in Poland, by a Swedish man with farright ties. He was sentenced a year later by a Polish court to nearly three years for masterminding the theft, while two Poles were jailed for up to 2-1/2 years for snatching it and cutting it into pieces to fit into their car. German cities to remember victims of neo-Nazi group Ten German cities plan to remember the victims of a neo-Nazi cell, three years after its deadly shooting spree ended with the murder-suicide of its leaders. Events are planned for today in Berlin, Bremen, Goettingen, Kassel, Wuppertal, Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Munich, Jena und Cologne, including the symbolic renaming of streets for the victims of the National Socialist Underground (NSU), the group organising the initiative said. Street signs are to be covered temporarily with the victims’ names on the day in 2011 when Uwe Boehnhardt and Uwe Mundlos took their own lives after a botched bank heist, the group Keupstrasse Is Everywhere said. The group is named after a street in Cologne where a bombing blamed on the NSU occurred in 2004 outside a Turkish hairdresser’s shop. Eight Turkish shopkeepers, a Greek and a policewoman were killed in attacks blamed on the NSU in multiple cities from 2000 to 2007. 22 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 INDIA THREAT INITIATIVE POLITICS CONFERENCE TRAGEDY Not scared, will speak for BJP, Modi: Hussain Govt to establish centre for zoo sciences Expelled legislators challenge decision NRK global meet to be held in Kerala Soldier commits suicide in Hyderabad Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shahnawaz Hussain yesterday said he was not scared after getting death threats for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I don’t care for the threat and am hardly bothered about it. I will continue to speak for BJP and Modi,” Hussain said in response to threat calls from a phone number from Dubai asking him to stop praising Modi. The BJP spokesman said the person who threatened him was antinational and a coward. “I never get tense over such threats because I have to work for the party and the country,” he said. Hussain received two calls on his mobile phone on Saturday night. The government plans to set up a centre for zoo sciences to streamline the functioning of zoos in the country, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said yesterday. The purpose of establishing such an institution would also be to infuse scientific and technical culture in the present system and make the zoos more visitor friendly, Javadekar said. The proposed institution would act as a technical adviser to the Central Zoo Authority and provide expert help to states and Union Territories in conservation breeding of endangered species, and organise training courses for in-service zoo personnel and stakeholders in India and South Asian countries. Two days after they were expelled from the state assembly, four rebel legislators of the Janata Dal (United) yesterday filed a petition in the Patna High Court challenging the decision of Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary. “We have filed a petition,” Gayanendra Singh Gayanu, one of the four legislators, said. Ravinder Rai, another legislator, said: “In our petition, we have sought court intervention against the speaker’s decision.” The other two legislators are Rahul Sharma and Neeraj Bablu. A day after their assembly membership termination, they were expelled from the party too. It was the first such action taken against rebel legislators who have been challenging the party leadership since April-May. The Kerala government will organise a NonResident Keralites (NRK) Global Meet in Kochi on January 16 and 17, an official said yesterday. The event will be held at Le-Meridian Hotel. The last such event was held after the Oommen Chandy government assumed office in 2011. A state government official said over 1,000 delegates from home and abroad are expected to attend the event. “The online registration will begin soon and the focus is to get maximum participants from the European countries. There will be separate registration fees for participants from India and abroad,” the official said. The Centre For Development Studies last month said the number of Kerala emigrants was 2.3mn in 2014. A soldier suspected to be involved in burning alive an 11-year-old boy allegedly committed suicide in Hyderabad early yesterday, police said. Appala Raju shot himself with his service rifle in Army Garrison in Mehdipatnam area in the heart of the city. Police said no suicide note was found. Army authorities are investigating. The soldier was reportedly grilled by a Special Investigating Team (SIT) in connection with the October 9 incident in which a boy was burnt alive allegedly by armymen. The boy was found with serious burn injuries near the main gate of the garrison. He told a magistrate in his dying declaration that some armymen poured kerosene and set him ablaze. Bhopal gas leak survivors demand more compensation IANS Bhopal R epresentatives of the Bhopal gas victims yesterday said they would launch an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi from November 10 demanding compensation. Leaders of five organisations of survivors of the 1984 disaster said the fast would be held near the Jantar Mantar monument. They said five women survivors who will take part in the protest will not even drink water, demanding additional compensation for all survivors of the disaster. Toxic gas leaked from the pesticide plant in Bhopal of Union Carbide on the night of Dec 2, 1984, killing more than 3,000 people instantly and thousands more over the years. The world’s worst industrial disaster is again in focus following the death last week of then Carbide chief, Warren Anderson, who was declared a fugitive by an Indian court following the disaster. The protesters said they want the figures of dead and survivors corrected in the curative petition filed in the Supreme Court by the central government. Rashida Bi, president of a group of women survivors, said the ex-gratia compensation of Rs100,000 was given to only 33,672 survivors from among the 569,081 people exposed to the toxic gas. “There is no scientific or legal basis to deny additional compensation to 93% of the victims,” she said. “Our protest at Jantar Mantar is for additional compensation of Rs1 lakh for all gas victims,” Bi said. “The figures of dead and the extent of injury caused by Union Carbide in the curative petition are far lower than the findings of the Indian Council of Medical Research and other scientific agencies,” she added. “The government is downplaying the damage caused by Union Carbide even when it is seeking additional compensation,” said Nawab Khan, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha. Said Balkrishna Namdeo, who heads another group: “The government is seeking only $1.2bn as additional compensation in the curative petition whereas it should be asking for at least $8.1bn.” Rachna Dhingra of the Bhopal Group for Information and Action said: “The denial of proper compensation to the victims is a direct result of successive governments in New Delhi so far siding with Union Carbide. We will see whose side our new prime minister is on.” Union Carbide came to a settlement in 1989 by paying $470mn to the Indian government. Critics have maintained that the amount is too low, and must be hiked. Indian authorities blamed the leak on design and maintenance problems but Union Carbide attributed it to employee sabotage. Tarun Thomas, a manager with Chingari Trust which helps Bhopal children disabled by the disaster, said that three generations had been affected by the accident. “Even three decades after the disaster, children are coming to us with disabilities that are a result of that one event,” he said. Japan to honour former PM The Japanese government yesterday announced that former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh would be conferred the Imperial Decoration for his “significant contribution” towards boosting bilateral ties. Singh is among the 57 foreign recipients who will be honoured with the 2014 Autumn Imperial Decorations. The former prime minister is the first Indian to be conferred the “Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers”, the Japanese embassy said in a statement. It said Singh will be conferred the honour “in recognition of his significant contributions to the enhancement of relations and the promotion of friendship between Japan and India for about 35 years.” Former federal minister Vasan gestures as he addresses a press conference to announce his split from Congress, in Chennai yesterday. TN Congress splits, Vasan forms new party The former minister says the new party’s name and flag will be made public at a conference in Trichy later this month IANS Chennai T he Congress Party in Tamil Nadu split yesterday with senior leader G K Vasan announcing his decision to float a new party. The split comes barely six months after the party was routed in the Lok Sabha election. “The people are looking for an alternative. We want to give an alternative in Tamil Nadu,” Vasan said, ending his long association with the Congress. The son of the late G K Moopanar, a veteran Congress leader, Vasan said the new party’s name and flag would be made public at a conference in Trichy later this month. “Steps will be taken to register the party with the Election Commission,” he said. Several leaders of the Congress in Tamil Nadu, including Peter Alphonse and B S Gnanadesikan, have joined Vasan, a former federal minister. Vasan said the Congress leadership did not act as per “our expectations” and so a Congress government could not be formed in the state. The Congress has been out of power in Tamil Nadu since 1967. For years, it allied with either the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam but is now widely seen as an also ran in the state. “We will give preference to the problems faced by the state,” Vasan said, indicating his party would have a regional focus. The new party would follow the path laid down by Moopanar and the late Congress leader K Kamaraj, a former Tamil Nadu chief minister whose name is synonymous with good governance in the southern state. The Congress said Vasan’s departure was of no consequence. Tamil Nadu Congress chief E V K S Elangovan told reporters that the party will not be affected by Vasan’s exit. His departure was being speculated about even prior to the Lok Sabha polls in May. Vasan reportedly became disenchanted after his supporters were sidelined in the party. The former shipping minister’s decision not to contest the Lok Sabha election was not taken kindly by the party leadership. The Congress was routed in all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu - and in the lone Puducherry seat. The break-up was firmed up after another party leader, Gnanadesikan, resigned his post on October 30 after accusing the high command of not consulting the state unit on key issues. Gnanadesikan also said that former finance minister P Chidambaram had not vis- Mom turns �traffic cop’ after losing daughter in crash Veteran Bollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar dies IANS Mumbai B ollywood actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar, who won two Filmfare awards for his captivating performances in Ardh Satya and Sadak, died early yesterday following a lung infection, his daughter said. Amrapurkar died at at the Kokilaben Dhirubai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. “He passed away at 2.45 (am),” Rima Amrapurkar said. “His cremation will take place in his hometown Ahmednagar tomorrow. Today his body will be kept at the Bhaidas Auditorium for people to pay their last respect,” his daughter said. Amrapurkar, 64, is survived by his wife and three daughters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the actor’s death. “We will remember Sadashiv Amrapurkar as a versatile actor, popular across generations. RIP. My deepest condolences to his family,” Modi tweeted. Amrapurkar won the first Filmfare award in 1984 for the best supporting actor in Ardh Satya. The second award came in 1991 for his portrayal of a ruthless eunuch in Sadak. The actor is also known for his scintillating performances in Mr India, Aankhen, Ishq, Coolie No1 and Gupt: The Hidden Truth among others. Bollywood celebrities said his role in Sadak and his genuine personality are trademarks that Amrapurkar will always be remembered for. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and veteran actor Anupam Kher were among the popular personalities to express grief over death of the versatile talent. “Waking up in Kolkata to the sad news of the passing away of Sadasiv Amrapurkar...a colleague and a gifted talent... prayers! When a colleague suddenly passes away there is a sudden vacuum, of times spent together, of acknowledgement of their work,” Bachchan tweeted. Kher described Amrapurkar as a fine human being and a wonderful actor. ited the party office for three months and had held meetings with some party colleagues on his own. Vasan expressed his support for Gnanadesikan. Moopanar broke away from the Congress in 1996 to form the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC). The party merged with the Congress in 2002 after Vasan had taken over its leadership. The Congress was considered an untouchable in the state by all other parties during the Lok Sabha battle over the Congressled federal government’s refusal to halt the military campaign in Sri Lanka against the Tamil Tigers. The situation is not expected to change even in the 2016 assembly polls. Friends and relatives pay their last respects to veteran actor Sadashiv Amarpurkar, who died in Mumbai yesterday. A woman who lost her daughter in a road crash has taken to regulating traffic at the accident site to prevent further loss of life, a newspaper reported yesterday. Dorris Francis controls traffic at the accident-prone junction in Ghaziabad near New Delhi where her 17-year-old daughter Niki was killed six years ago after a speeding car hit their autorickshaw, the Times of India reported. The grieving mother took up her “post” several years ago to ensure no one else suffered Niki’s fate. She is not working for the traffic police and has no powers to penalise violations but manages traffic every morning, wielding a wooden stick and stern demeanour. She says there has only been one fatal accident since she took charge. “Till I have life within me, I will continue with the work,” she said. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 23 INDIA Congress leader says sorry over Vadra’s behaviour Party leaders meet Jung, Delhi heads for election Fresh poll likely by February next year IANS New Delhi D elhi was set for a fresh electoral battle after leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party yesterday told Lt Governor Najeeb Jung that they wanted elections to end months of political uncertainty. Leaders of the three political parties told Jung that fresh balloting was needed as no party was in a position to form a government in the hung 70-member assembly. A Raj Bhavan statement said Jung would write to President Pranab Mukherjee giving his recommendations. He is most likely to suggest fresh election - the second since December last year. That election threw up a fractured mandate, with the BJP refusing to form the government despite winning 31 seats. The AAP came a close second with 28 seats, an electoral performance that stunned the nation, and formed a minority gov- ernment with Congress backing. But the government collapsed after 49 days as chief minister and AAP founder leader Arvind Kejriwal resigned after failing to pass a Jan Lokpal Bill. Kejriwal, who later lost the Lok Sabha election in Varanasi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said at the time that he erred by quitting. A BJP delegation led by its Delhi president Satish Upadhyay was the first to meet Jung yesterday. The BJP made no public statement after the meeting. But party sources said the BJP told Jung it wanted a fresh election in Delhi, which has been under President’s rule since February. The sources said they expect the election by February next year. Congress legislator Haroon Yusuf also told Jung that his party wanted the Delhi assembly dissolved, followed by fresh elections. “We will contest the election under the guidance of (party president) Sonia Gandhi and (vice president) Rahul Gandhi, and development will be our main agenda,” he said. The AAP, which has repeatedly accused the BJP of trying to poach its legislators to form the government in Delhi, reiterated that it wanted a new election. AAP leader Manish Sisodia said after meeting Jung along with Kejriwal: “Our stand is what it was eight months ago. We want the Delhi assembly to be dissolved.” Sisodia also took a dig at the BJP. “If they wanted fresh elections, why did they create all this suspense for all these months?” he asked. The December 2013 election, for the first time, led to a threeway battle in Delhi, with the Congress - which had ruled the capital for 15 long years – getting mauled and left with just eight of the 70 seats. The BJP won all the seven Lok Sabha seats in May this year but the AAP overcame great odds to finish second everywhere, relegating the Congress to the third spot in six places and to the fourth in one constituency. The Lok Sabha election, however, brought down the BJP’s strength in the assembly from 31 to 28 as three legislators were elected to parliament. The AAP now has 27 legislators after one revolted early on. IANS Panaji A Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal arrives to meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in New Delhi yesterday. Google launches Hindi website, aims to add 300mn new users AFP New Delhi S earch giant Google announced yesterday the creation of a new Hindi-language website in an ambitious bid to add 300mn Indian Internet users by 2017 and bridge the country’s linguistic digital divide. The website, www.hindiweb.com, new Hindi-language voice-search and Hindi keyboard are part of Google’s push to incorporate more Indian languages into content in the next few years. Google said nearly all of India’s 198mn English speakers are already online. Now Google is targeting the around 1bn people who do not speak English, starting with Hindi, listed by 41% of the 1.2bn population as their mother tongue, according to census data. “To reach our goal of 500mn Internet users by 2017 (from 200mn currently), we need to make the Internet accessible to those who don’t speak English,” Google India managing director Rajan Anandan told reporters. The announcement chimes with the goal of the new government of Narendra Modi which has embarked on what it calls a “digital revolution” to bring more Indians online to access government, education and health services and transact more business. “The web holds great potential to empower many Indians economically and socially, and thanks to the smartphone revolution, many millions of Indians will be coming online for the first time in the next few years,” Anandan said. The Internet initially was mainly the preserve of India’s affluent, urban, English-speaking middle-class. Tens of millions of increasingly affordable smartphones are being sold each year in India, and are becoming the new route for Indians to get online, but they lack content in their own languages. “We must build content in people’s own languages - otherwise we’ll miss the boat,” Anandan said. “The net will not be very useful for them,” he said. Offering local languages would boost India’s already exponentially growing online shopping market, for instance, as well as advertising markets, Google executives said. Hindi and English are both offi- cial languages for federal government business while India’s constitution recognises 22 official languages. The government sees greater use of Internet technology as a means to spur growth in Asia’s third-largesteconomy where more than 700mn people live on less than $2 a day, according to the World Bank. Google said it was setting up an Indian Language Internet Alliance - made up of newspaper, television, web content companies and other players - to promote growth of locallanguage content. Google said it aimed to offer web services in at least eight major Indian languages, including Bengali, Telegu, Marathi and Tamil, but declined to give a timeline. The company’s Indian-born search architect Amit Singhal, who is based at its California headquarters, said the Hindi website would make the Internet “more accessible for people like my mom.” Singhal, who has steered development of Google’s global search engine, said his mother understands English but would be much more comfortable using her native Hindi to access the Internet. Sena yet to decide on joining govt IANS Mumbai T he Shiv Sena yesterday remained undecided on joining the Maharashtra administration four days after a new Bharatiya Janata Party government, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was sworn in. The Sena said talks were on with the BJP but a final decision may be taken only before the assembly’s inaugural three-day special session opens on November 10. Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member Anil Desai said: “Talks with the BJP are underway and moving in the right direction. We shall take a final decision before the vote of confidence. (Party chief) Uddhav Thackeray will be the deciding authority.” The mood in the BJP appears veering towards accepting the Sena participation in the new government as Fadnavis did not assign the key home portfolio to any of his cabinet colleagues. In the past two decades of four al- liance governments in the state, the home ministry and some other major ministries have usually been given to the second partner. “I am in no hurry to join the government, nor are the Shiv Sainiks... Give us a few days to decide” In the Shiv Sena-BJP coalition in 1995-1999, the late Gopinath Munde, who was the BJP’s deputy chief minister held the portfolio. In the subsequent three Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) governments between 1999 and 2014, it was with the NCP. However, Thackeray indicated in Kolhapur yesterday that neither the Sena nor its workers were in any “hur- ry” to join the government. “We have yet to work out the power-sharing formula... I only hope everything works out in the best interests of the common man. I am in no hurry to join the government, nor are the Shiv Sainiks... Give us a few days to decide,” Thackeray said. In a last-minute turnaround from his hard position on October 31, Thackeray attended the swearing-in ceremony of Fadnavis, and sparked speculation about the revival of a possible coalition between the two erstwhile allies of 25 years. Meanwhile, preparations are on for the assembly session starting on November 10 in which the first two days will be devoted to swearing in of the 287 new legislators in the 288-member house, as one BJP legislator from Nanded died last week. The minority government headed by Fadnavis will seek a vote of confidence on November 12. The BJP now has an effective strength of 121, plus one pre-poll ally. The NCP with 41 legislators has said it will abstain during the vote, thus ensuring smooth sailing for Fadnavis. Congress leader from Goa has offered apologies on “behalf” of his party after party chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-inlaw snapped at a TV reporter for being questioned over land deals. Congress organising secretary Durgadas Kamat said on Sunday night that since no party leader has apologised for Robert Vadra’s angry reaction to a TV reporter he had taken to Twitter to say sorry. Vadra also ordered his Special Protection Group guards to delete the footage of the incident. “I apologise for whatever has happened. Let’s put the matter to rest. Cannot see the party’s image going for a toss,” Kamat said, even as other Congress leaders have defended Vadra’s reaction and criticised the media for encroaching on his personal space. A couple of weeks back, Kamat was replaced as a Goa Congress spokesman by newly appointed state president Luizinho Faleiro. Kamat has also been issued a show cause notice subsequently by the Goa unit of the Congress for making public comments after the party’s rout in Maharashtra and Haryana assembly polls and denouncing family raj. On Saturday, Vadra snapped at a TV reporter when he was asked about his controversial land deals in Haryana. Vadra thrice asked the reporter “Are you serious?” and once “Are you nuts?” before pushing away the journalist’s microphone and calling him an “idiot”. He then walked away followed by his guards. 24 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 LATIN AMERICA PEOPLE CORPORATE OFFBEAT LITERATURE WEATHER Argentina’s president admitted to hospital P&G accused of fraud by tax authority 10 hospitalised after killer bee attack Haiti’s Lahens scoops French literary award Vance becomes category two hurricane Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner was admitted to hospital late Sunday suffering from fever, her office said. The 61-year-old president began feeling unwell in the afternoon. She was admitted for tests and monitoring at the Otamendi Clinic in Buenos Aires, the statement signed by doctors Marcelo Ballesteros and Ricardo Solla said. She had resumed her normal work schedule on October 21 after resting for 48 hours on doctors’ orders due to pharyngitis. In July, Kirchner also had to rest for two days due to sore throat and laryngitis. Her recovery time then had to be extended to a week and she cancelled her work schedule and a trip to Paraguay. Argentina’s tax office has stripped US multinational company Procter & Gamble of its registration, for alleged fraud, the office announced. The federal tax collection office, known as AFIP, has alleged P&G evaded paying duties on imports from Brazil, billing through a Swiss subsidiary, in what it called potentially “aggravated contraband.” P&G did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The company will be able to resume operations in Argentina once it has paid its tax bill and fines. “We have got to put an end to multinationals using harmfully plotted out tax manoeuvres” that hurt national governments, said tax office chief Ricardo Echegaray. Ten people were hospitalised in Nicaragua after being attacked by a swarm of killer bees disturbed during cemetery cleaning ahead of the Day of the Dead festival, firefighters said on Sunday. Officials said the 10 people were treated for allergic reactions after the aggressive Africanized bees attacked when people sprucing up tombstones at a cemetery in Esteli on Saturday attempted to destroy their nests. Africanized honey bees, or killer bees, are a highly aggressive hybrid bee which have taken root throughout the Americas since being introduced in Brazil during the 1950s. An all-woman jury awarded France’s prestigious Femina Prize to Haiti’s Yanick Lahens yesterday for Bain de lune, a family epic interwoven with the challenges facing her home country. Israel’s Zeruya Shalev scooped the best foreign-language novel section of the prize for The Remains of Love. “I’m really happy,” Lahens said. “This book and this prize are proof that Haitian culture is very strong and the novel shows how much we in Haiti can always recover from ordeals.” Lahens was born in Port-au-Prince in 1953 and has since become a prominent figure in Haitian literature who is also actively engaged in the social and cultural development of the country. Hurricane Vance strengthened to a category two storm as it swirled in the eastern Pacific but remained far from land, US forecasters said. Vance was packing maximum sustained winds of 165kms per hour early yesterday after it strengthened to a category two storm overnight, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said. The storm was located some 505 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, and was headed northwest at 14 miles per hour. Vance is the 20th named storm in the Pacific of the season which ends in November. In September, Hurricane Odile killed six people and caused $1bn in damage when it hit Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. Argentina sees �better possibility’ of debt deal in ’15 Reuters Buenos Aires C hances of a deal to end Argentina’s feud with holdout bond investors will improve in January when current restructuring rules expire, the economy minister said in comments published yesterday, raising some hopes for the country’s stagnant economy. The government is in a legal tussle with holders of defaulted debt who spurned two debt swaps and sued for full repayment. The dispute, along with heavy trade controls and high inflation, has hammered business confidence in Latin America’s No. 3 economy as it staggers toward recession. “At the end of this year, when the instruments that the vulture funds have used for extortion disappear, there will be a better possibility of dialogue with creditors” When it swapped 93% of its global bonds for new paper offering about 30 cents on the dollar in 2005 and 2010, Argentina included a clause saying no one would be offered a better restructuring deal. The clause expires in January. “At the end of this year, when the instruments that the vulture funds have used for extortion disappear, there will be a better possibility of dialogue with creditors who opted to stay out of the restructurings,” Economy Minister Axel Kicillof said in an interview with Mexico’s leftleaning La Jornada newspaper. Kicillof, one of President Cristina Fernandez’s closest advisors, often calls the holdouts “vultures” and accuses them of trying to damage Argentina’s economy in their pursuit of astronomical profits. The debt saga started in 2002 when the country defaulted on about $100bn in bonds, part of a financial crisis that threw millions of middle class Argentines into poverty. The holdout hedge funds won US court rulings saying Argentina must pay them at the same time it makes payments to the holders of its restructured bonds. Argentina refused, so the US federal judge hearing the case blocked its payments to restructured bondholders. This led to a default on one bond series in July and another last month. The US has jurisdiction because many of Argentina’s original bond contracts were drawn up under US law. The holdout creditors, led by NML Capital. and Aurelius Capital Management, are suing for 100% of face value plus interest even though they had purchased most of their bonds for pennies on the dollar after the 2002 default. Analysts from investment bank Credit Suisse recently met with government and opposition figures. “We found generalised optimism that the government is likely to negotiate with holdout creditors in early 2015,” the bank said in a note to clients. A deal would help Argentina regain access to much-needed global bond financing, lack of which has helped pound central bank reserves 17% lower over the last 12 month to a scant $28bn while inflation zooms at an estimated 40%. Farmers in the grain powerhouse nation have taken to hoarding soybean and corn as a hedge against the wobbly peso currency. Floods in Argentina A man pushes his vehicle through a flooded street after heavy rains in Valentin Alsina, south of Buenos Aires, Argentina, yesterday. At least one person died in the heavy rains. Nearly 1,000 people were evacuated during the last two days due to heavy rains and strong winds said the mayor of San Fernando Luis Andreotti. Santos hails �important step’ by Farc rebels Agencies Bogota C olombian President Jose Manuel Santos yesterday hailed the decision by the Farc rebel group to acknowledge for the first time that it had hurt civilians, calling it “an important step”. During peace talks in Cuba with the Colombian government on Thursday, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia said it had never targeted civilians but admitted they had been harmed through the excessive use of force or mistakes during 50 years of insurgency. “We explicitly recognise that our actions have affected civil- Police flounder in search for missing students AFP Mexico City M exican authorities have found no trace of 43 college students since their disappearance more than a month ago, laying bare a series of missteps in a case that has infuriated the country. In the first days after the students vanished following a police attack in the town of Iguala on September 26, Guerrero state authorities initially said the students were maybe just hiding. Meanwhile, Iguala’s mayor Jose Luis Abarca had ample time to escape, skipping town two days after the assault along with his wife and the municipal police chief. The mayor is now accused of ordering the gang-linked local police force to round up the students out of fear they would interrupt a speech by his wife. Authorities say the corrupt officers handed the 43 students to their allies in the Guerreros Unidos drug gang. It took nine days after the attack for the attorney general’s office to take over the case from state prosecutors. The mass disappearance has belied President Enrique Pena Nieto’s assurances that violence was down in Mexico thanks to better co-ordination between police agencies. “There was a delay, an initial negligence by the federal government,” Alejandro Hope, a security expert and former Mexican intelligence officer, said. “In a scientific investigation, anybody knows that the first 48 hours after a disappearance are crucial.” In the first week after the disappearance, relatives conducted their own searches with troops accompanying them for security. Since then, federal authorities have ramped up the search, deploying more than 2,000 soldiers and police around Iguala to find the young men, all teacher’s college students. Helicopters, horse-mounted police and rescue dogs have combed the hills. Divers have searched the depths for lakes and rivers. A dozen unmarked graves with 38 bodies have been unearthed, but so far authorities say they have not found the students among the remains. “They’re playing detective, searching anywhere, without any sort of clarity about what happened. The search is turning into a problem for the government because it is creating a perception of incompetence,” Hope said. Authorities have detained 56 suspects, including 36 officers from Iguala and the neighbouring town of Cocula along with several Guerreros Unidos members. Their testimony has been questionable. Two gang hitmen said they had killed 17 of the 43 students and dumped their bodies in a hillside pit, according to state prosecutors. But attorney general Jesus Murillo Karam declared on October 14 that the first 28 bodies that were found did not match DNA of any of the students. Murillo, however, later backtracked, saying the results have yet to be confirmed by independent forensic experts from Argentina who were called in at the request of relatives, who distrust the authorities. ians at different times and circumstances during the war,” the Farc said. The admission from the 8,000-strong Farc comes as both sides discuss victim reparations following two years of peace talks in Cuba with Santos’s centre-right government. “It seems to me to be an important step and gesture. When the sides begin to assume responsibility that means that the talks are serious,” Santos told Spanish news radio Cadena Ser in Madrid, where he is on an official visit. Colombia’s internal conflict has left 220,000 dead and displaced 5.3mn people, according to official figures. The Colombian government has for a long time demanded Farc explicitly acknowledge their impact on civilians and has sought their commitment to provide reparations for the victims. Santos is in Spain as part of a lightning tour of Europe where he will lobby for the creation of a European fund for the postconflict period should his government clinch a historic deal with the Farc. He heads to Belgium today and will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin tomorrow. He will visit Portugal on Thursday and wrap up his European tour on Friday with stops in Paris and London. Meanwhile Colombia’s chief Havana fair negotiator to the talks, Humberto de la Calle, disclosed that the rebels are willing to lay down, but not surrender their arms. De la Calle has, however, insisted the rebels cannot keep their weapons. De la Calle, a former vice president, was speaking to press at the end of the 30th round of talks that began in November 2012 and has so far resulted in preliminary agreements on rural reform, political participation and drug trafficking. “The basic premise of this whole process is that once we sign a final agreement, the Farc will have to initiate the process of ceasing to have weapons in its power,” De la Calle said. Dutch killer stabbed in jail, claims lawyer Reuters Lima T European cars are displayed at the 32nd Havana International Fair (FIHAV). About 2,000 businessmen from 60 countries are participating in this edition of the major commercial fair of the island, which will ends on November 8. “Colombians can be sure that the Farc won’t keep their weapons if we arrive at an agreement. The laying down of arms is an imperative that must lead to a peace that is not armed,” the government peace negotiator added. De la Calle also responded to the Farc statements that suggested that they would expect the state to lay down its weapons in “doing politics.” “Government forces, by constitutional mandate, is instituted to protect the Colombian population and holds the legal monopoly on arms and the legitimate use of force. That is why it will not lay down its arms as a result of the transition,” the negotiator said. he lawyer of convicted killer Joran van der Sloot yesterday said that the Dutch citizen had been stabbed repeatedly in a Peruvian prison in recent days, but local penitentiary authorities deny the attacks took place. Van der Sloot, the main suspect in the 2005 disappearance of US teenager Natalee Holloway, was stabbed three times on October 27 and then again in his kidney on Sunday in the Challapalca prison, his lawyer Maximo Altez told Reuters by telephone, without giving further details. But the head of Peru’s penitentiary system, INPE, dismissed the charge as false and said the prisoner’s wife, who made the allegations, fabricated the story, according to local media. “Absolutely nothing has happened to him, that woman is lying,” INPE head Jose Luis Perez was quoted as saying in the local newspaper, La Republica. A spokeswoman for INPE confirmed to Reuters that authorities are denying the claims. Van der Sloot was given a 28-year sentence after he confessed to strangling, beating and suffocating 21-year-old Peruvian business student Stephany Flores after meeting her in a casino in 2010. He was sentenced in early 2012. He is also suspected of killing Holloway, who vanished during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in 2005 and was last seen with him and another man. The body of the Alabama student, who was aged 18 at the time of her disappearance, has never been found. Van der Sloot has denied involvement. Peru has said it will extradite van der Sloot to the US for questioning about the Holloway case, but only after he finishes his jail term. Van der Sloot married Peruvian citizen Leidy Figueroa, with whom he has a child, at a prison in July. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 25 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Maximum security for Sikh pilgrims Internews Lahore P A Pakistan Rangers soldier and an Indian Border Security Force soldier shakes hand at the start of the flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pakistan checkpost at Attari-Wagah border yesterday. Above: Pakistani spectators attend the flag-lowering ceremony yesterday, a day after the suicide bombing. A Taliban suicide bomber blew himself up on 2 November near the venue of the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Pakistani border with India, killing 55 people and injuring more than 100 in the worse attack in months, police said. Wagah border ceremony goes ahead despite bomb carnage One day after a suicide bomb attack at Wagah border in Lahore, Pakistan Rangers and Indian Border Security Force performed the flag-lowering ceremony at the post AFP/Reuters Wagah, Pakistan P akistan and India went ahead yesterday with a colourful military ceremony at a major border post, defying a suicide attack on the event a day earlier that killed 55 people. The bomber struck at the Wagah border crossing near the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday, causing carnage among crowds leaving the daily “flag-lowering” event that marks the closing of the frontier for the day. The explosion, which wounded more than 120, was the deadliest to hit Pakistan in more than a year, but an official claimed there was no security lapse — despite admitting having received warning of an attack. The strike came with Pakistan on high alert for the mourning days of Ashura, a flashpoint for sectarian violence in recent years. A security source told AFP two alerts had been issued to Punjab provincial officials, including one about a possible attack at Wagah. However, a spokesman for the Rangers paramilitary force, which guards the border post, said the attack took place some distance from the parade. “We had received an alert but the incident occurred in the commercial area, where people were gathered around food shops, the parade lane is quite a distance from the location of the blast,” he told said. “It’s not a security lapse.” At least two different factions of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed the attack, the first major strike since the army launched an offensive against militant strongholds in the tribal northwest in June. Despite the bloodshed, the ceremony went ahead yesterday, complete with Pakistani spectators in the stands. The Punjab army corps commander Lieutenant General Naveed Zaman said the turnout “proved that terrorists can’t break the morale and zeal of the nation”. Indian forces also took part on their side of the frontier but Indian spectators were barred. India’s home ministry had earlier said the daily flag-lowering ceremony would be suspended as a mark of respect for the dead - the first time the parade would have been called off since the two countries went to war in 1971. But later Pakistani officials changed their mind, deciding to go ahead with the ritual to send a message to the militants. Just before dusk, at least 2,000 women, men and children gathered at the parade ground on the border crossing, some chanting “Death to terrorists” and “Long Pakistani Rangers (in black) and Indian Border Security Force soldiers (in khaki) perform the flag-lowering ceremony, a day after the suicide bombing at the Pakistan-India border crossing at Wagah. live Pakistan”. On the Indian side, there were only a handful of spectators. The colourful show, where border guards in elaborate uniforms goose-step, shake hands brusquely across the borderline and scowl aggressively at each other, proceeded as usual amid heightened security. Like many Pakistanis who attend the event, eyewitness Nawaz Khan had gone on Sunday with family members, visiting from the northwestern city of Peshawar. “There were 14 of us. After the parade I came out of the gate and my brother told me to go back and bring the children,” Khan said. As he returned with the children, he said, he saw a “young boy” running towards the gate, who was stopped by a Ranger. “Then there was a huge bang and I saw my brother flying in the air. There were screams all around and the place was filled with the smell of burnt human flesh and blood,” he said. “I had lost the children and I was screaming for them and then I saw the body of my brother lying on the ground with other bodies,” said Khan, whose children were found unhurt. A senior officer with India’s Border Security Force, Ashok Kumar, told AFP security would be strengthened as a result of the attack, but said he expected hundreds of Sikhs to go ahead with a planned pilgrimage to Lahore this week. Security forces across Pakistan were on high alert yesterday for possible attacks as Shia mark Ashura, with mourning processions. Around 10,000 police and paramilitary Rangers have been deployed in Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi, officials said. Security analyst Hasan Askari said the security forces’ focus on the Ashura threat may have made them take their eye off the ball at Wagah. “There was a lot of security for the Muharram processions so this place was the easiest target,” he said. “Security forces have taken a lot of precautions: they (militants) are now looking for soft targets.” An editorial in Dawn newspaper speculated about a possible link to the ongoing anti-militant army operation in North Waziristan. People watching the ceremony may have been “deliberately targeted because of their per- ceived support for the security forces”, Dawn said. The attack so close to the Indian border comes at a delicate point in relations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “shocking” attack, describing it as a “dastardly act of terrorism”. But, given Pakistan’s frosty relations with India, with which it has fought three wars, some commentators suggested the attack might have been plotted by elements trying to sabotage relations between the arch-rivals or hurt India. The flag-lowering ceremony is extremely popular on both sides, with crowds every day packing out bleachers set up on either side of the gates adorned with large, facing portraits of their founding fathers, Mahatma Gandhi on the Indian side and Mohamed Ali Jinnah on the Pakistani side. The attack rattled people’s nerves in a region already beset by violence and insurgencies but despite reports that police had found more explosives in the area many people came with their families to see the first flaglowering since the attack. Anwar Shaikh, 45, a Lahore resident, came with his wife and two children. “I came here yesterday after the tragedy,” he said. “Today, I came with my family to express solidarity with my country and the martyrs. We can give our lives to our country but would not surrender to terrorists.” akistan’s Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Siddiqul Farooq has said he will personally ensure safety and security of over 2,000 Sikh pilgrims, who are scheduled to arrive in the city via Wagah Railway Station today for the three-day birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. “[The suicide attack at Wagah] looks like a security lapse and I will ensure this does not happen again, particularly when over 2,000 Sikh pilgrims arrive at Wagah Railway Station. I have also telephoned Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique to get the trains checked, which will bring all the pilgrims here,” he told reporters at the border. While expressing grief over the incident and condemning it, Farooq said it was possible that the target was the main ceremony area where a large crowd had gathered. “The suicide bomber was stopped at the second of two checkposts leading to the ceremony area where he blew himself up,” he explained. He said the incident could be a reaction to the army’s Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan. The ETPB chairman said he would soon talk to Indian authorities regarding security arrangements for the Sikh pilgrims arriving today. “I don’t believe that the incident may result in cancellation of the Sikh celebrations. I would contact Indian authorities and assure them of best security and logistic arrangements for the pilgrims during their stay in Pakistan,” he added. He further said the pilgrims would visit Nankana Sahib, Hassan Abdal and other cities to pay visits to temples of their religious and spiritual leaders. Afghanistan cracks down on �immoral’ ads Afghanistan yesterday launched a drive against female models being used “as decoration” in advertising campaigns, saying some commercials spread immorality among young people in the conservative Muslim nation. Billboards and television advertisements selling everything from mobile phones to insurance have sprung up since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 as the country opened up to international trade and modern marketing. Pakistani, Indian spy agencies averted more deaths Reuters Wagah, India/Lahore, Pakistan I ndian and Pakistani intelligence agencies both picked up plans for an imminent strike on their Wagah land border ahead of a suicide blast that killed 57 people on Sunday, and heightened security possibly averted a more devastating attack. Pakistani police yesterday said they had recovered a “huge” cache of weapons and explosives near the border, where thousands of Indians and Pakistanis gather at dusk every day to watch a flamboyant ritual parade by their security forces. Pakistani police spokeswoman Nabeela Ghazanfar said the latest death toll was 57 after the bomber detonated explosives in a car park 500 metres from the border gates and parade ground, just as hundreds of spectators were returning from the ceremony. Pakistani and Indian agents, who are arch-rivals and do not share intelligence, gave con- flicting accounts of whether the bomber’s true intention was to cause casualties on the Indian side of the border and stir up tensions between the nucleararmed nations. “It appears the bomber wanted to target ground zero where Pakistan and India border officials stand together to perform the flag ceremony but he could not enter due to tight security on the last gate,” a Pakistani intelligence official said. “Had he managed to reach the place, there would have been the worst scenario at both sides.” If successful, such an attack would likely have severely tested ties between India and Pakistan, already frayed after weeks of shelling further along the border killed 17 people in October. Another source said a second suicide vest had been found in a field near the explosion site, suggesting there might have been another bomber. “The target - the border facility that symbolises trade and interaction between India and Pakistan - is a tempting one for extremist Pakistani groups that want conflict with India and oppose any detente or co-operation with New Delhi,” said Bruce Riedel of the Brookings Institution, a former adviser on South Asia to US presidents. An official from India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing, said the blast at the border was squarely aimed at Pakistan’s security forces, a version in line with several Pakistani Taliban splinter groups that claimed the attack as revenge for an army offensive against militants near the Afghanistan border. “It is reprisal attacks against the establishment there. It’s been a long time coming, ever since the TTP (the Pakistan Taliban) has been under pressure,” he said. He said the attack may have been an attempt by Al Qaeda’s new Indian Subcontinent wing to demonstrate its potential at a time when the network has been overshadowed by Islamic State, which anecdotal evidence suggests is gathering support in South Asia. “They have tried to focus on large casualties and a sensational incident,” he said. An Indian official said the home ministry received two intelligence warnings in mid-October of possible attacks along the border or at the Golden Temple in the nearby city of Amritsar, the most sacred site for Sikhs. “Based on these reports the BSF was ordered to upgrade security and a red alert was also issued,” said a senior home ministry official, who declined to be named because he was not authorised to speak to media. “Warnings from intelligence departments are a regular feature but this time we had a clear input that the retreat and Golden Temple could be prime targets. This message was conveyed to the local police.” Jagdeep Singh, a superintendent of police in Amritsar who is involved with security around the Wagah border, told Reuters he had installed checkpoints at two spots 3km away from the flag ceremony venue after the warnings in October. A Pakistani paramilitary soldier searches a passenger bus at Wagah border yesterday. 26 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 PHILIPPINES US Navy cancels port calls amid anger Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose has said the visits of three US ships to Subic this month had been cancelled AFP Manila T he US Navy has cancelled visits to the Philippine port of Subic amid public anger over accusations that a US Marine killed a Filipino on the city’s outskirts, officials said yesterday. Foreign Department spokesman Charles Jose said the visits of three US ships to Subic this month had been cancelled, while the head of the Subic freeport said nine such visits scheduled for this year had been called off. “The DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) was informed through normal diplomatic channels of the cancellation of the visits to Subic of three ships for operational reasons,” he said. Jose told reporters he did not believe the cancellations were linked to anger stirred by the investigation of a US Marine for the killing of a Filipino transgender in Olongapo City last month. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Robert Garcia said nine US ships due to dock at Subic this year had cancelled their visits. He said that two US Navy ships were still scheduled to make port calls in Subic for “emergency repairs” but their crews would not be allowed to disembark. Normally, two or three US Navy ships make routine port calls every month for resupply in Subic, a former US naval base about an hour’s drive from Manila, said Garcia. He said the authority had been informed of the cancellations by the Subic chamber of commerce, which includes the company that services US ships. However Garcia could not say why the visits were cancelled. US embassy officials declined to comment. Jennifer Laude, a 26-yearold transgender Filipina, was found dead on October 12 in a cheap hotel near Subic with marks of strangulation on her neck. US Marine Private First Class Joseph Scott Pemberton, who had just finished taking part in US-Philippine military exercises in Subic, had checked into the hotel with Laude and was the last person seen with her, police said. Pemberton is now detained at Philippine military headquarters while prosecutors consider charging him. Activist groups have seized on the incident to attack the defence ties between the US and its former colony. Frequent street protests have been staged against the US forces. President Benigno Aquino tours the Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines Canlubang Plant during the inauguration ceremony at the Silangan Industrial Estate in Calamba City yesterday. Aquino hopes to find love at end of term By Catherine S Valente Manila Times T he country’s bachelor president is still loveless but is hopeful that he will find a partner when he steps down in 2016. During the inauguration of a Coca-Cola plant expansion project in Calamba City, Laguna, President Benigno Aquino, 54, once again compared his love life to sugar-free cola, saying it is “still zero.” “I will pre-empt the question and say, for the record: Yes, my love life is still like Coke Zero,” President says Binay free to leave government By Fernan Marasign & Catherine S Valente Manila Times A pparently stung by criticisms made by the country’s second highest official, President Benigno Aquino yesterday said Vice President Jejomar Binay is free to leave the Cabinet if he is unhappy with the administration’s policies. Binay, however, was quick to say he is not quitting and will continue to be part of the president’s team. When asked by reporters if he feels that “it’s time for the vice president to leave (his) Cabinet,” Aquino cited reports that Binay has been critical of his administration. “If the vice president did say those things, then there are two things we need to remember: Number one, if he thinks we aren’t doing enough, he is a member of the Cabinet, then he should advice us, how can we improve the system?,” the president said. “That’s not a choice, that’s his obligation, he is a member of the Cabinet. And if he thinks our direction is wrong, then he is also free to no longer join our movement,” he added. Aquino noted that during Cabinet meetings, he has not heard Binay offer solutions to the problems he cited. “At the minimum, he is the vice president of the land. He has criticism… to be constructive he has to have solutions and if he has some, I have not heard these solutions in these Cabinet meetings. So if he has solutions, he should have shared them. The question is: Why has he not shared them?” he asked. “Let me just reiterate: If you think the government is doing something wrong, you’re a member of the government, you are the second highest official in the land, you have an obligation to share your knowledge on sustainable solutions if you feel you have any,” he added. When also asked if he still had trust and confidence in the vice president, Aquino said that Binay’s “questionable wealth” was acquired before he was elected to his position at present. he said in his speech. “I hope that when I step down from the presidency, it will at least go back to being like Coke Light,” he added. In 2011, the president compared his love life to soda variants, saying it has gone from Coke regular to zero. Since taking office last year, Aquino has broken up with several women, often blaming journalists’ prying eyes for his ruined romantic life. His last reported love interest was a lawyer from the Department of Interior and Local Government. The president’s high profile dates have also included South Korean TV personality Grace Lee, celebrity stylist Liz Uy, stockbroker Len Lopez and Valenzuela City (Metro Manila) councillor Shalani Soledad. Soledad has since married Pasig City (Metro Manila) Rep. Roman Romulo, son of former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. Army urged to crush rebels By Joel M Sy Egco Manila Times P resident Benigno Aquino wants the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other law enforcement agencies to continue operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) until it is wiped out. The president yesterday said the government has “sufficient forces” to do the job. “My instruction to those concerned is to continue their operations without let-up until they (ASG) are all crushed, meaning arrested and brought to court, all members of the Abu Sayyaf,” Aquino said in an interview. He was reacting to Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Mujiv Hataman’s recommendation for an all-out military offensive against the ASG after the killing of six soldiers in an ambush staged by the group in Basilan province over the weekend. “Just picture this imagery, you confine them in one camp because of your relentless pursuit until they all get tired of running and get caught,” Aquino said. He added that the AFP and the Philippine National Police leaderships had assured him that their forces are sufficient to “wipe out these criminal elements.” The president said there are only about 200 ASG members and the group has at least 200 sympathisers. “So you’re talking about 400,” he noted. According to him, military operations include “depriving” the ASG of its “safe havens” by sending out a number of battalions of troops in areas where the ASG is known to keep bases. Typhoon widow grateful for cruel consolation AFP San Agustin A tiny store selling lollies, coffee and shampoo may seem a cruel consolation for Philippine typhoon widow Jennifer Pulga, but it keeps her with her children and for that she is deeply grateful. Jennifer’s husband, Richard, was among the more than 7,350 people who perished when super typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, razed dozens of farming and fishing communities in the central Philippines. The couple lived in an isolated farming village and Richard, 27, was badly injured after winds exceeding 300 kilometres an hour tore down a coconut tree, crashing it into their bamboo house and on top of him. Jennifer took six days to get him to a hospital but the facility was badly damaged and had no electricity, so medics could only amputate a damaged leg and give her a hand pump to manually inflate his collapsed lungs. Jennifer pumped Richard’s lungs for six hours, hoping for a miracle. Then he died, leaving her with a baby daughter and six-yearold son but no way to support them. Jennifer did not want to return to the farm and could not have Philippine typhoon widow Jennifer Pulga sweeps in front of her small store in San Agustin, Leyte. Right: Jennifer shops for items to be sold at her small store. done so if she did, with their home and all the coconut trees that had given them a meagre income destroyed in the storm. Three months after the disaster, Jennifer was living with her elderly mother-in-law, herself a widow, in a tiny mountain village close to where she had lived with Richard. The mother-in-law’s house was made of solid concrete bricks, but the roof was badly damaged in the typhoon and still in need of repair. With no income, the four of them survived on aid from local and international charity groups. But the aid in such a remote village was much less than in more heavily populated areas impacted by the typhoon, and it was about to run out. “I was going to have to leave my children and work as a maid somewhere,” Jennifer, 28, said on a recent visit. “But I needed to stay with my children. I needed to protect them. There is just the three of us now, so they mean so much to me.” She had grown up poor in the countryside and her only previous work experience outside of the farm was a short stint as a maid in the nations’ capital, Manila. Finally, with that prospect looming, Jennifer’s luck changed. A Filipino living in the US read an article about Jennifer and sent her 21,000 pesos ($470) to set up a small store outside her mother-in-law’s home. “I prayed to God that somebody would give us help,” said Jennifer, who like most Filipinos is a devout Catholic. “If we didn’t have any help, we wouldn’t have anything. So this is really an answered prayer.” The store is barely bigger than a dog kennel, with the roof just a tarpaulin sheet donated nearly a year ago from an international aid group. The products on offer are fewer and with less variety than others in the village. But Jennifer earns an average of about 50 pesos ($1.2) a day from the store, selling lollies to children and sachets of coffee, shampoo and other household items to her neighbours. “This means so much to me because I can support my children, we are earning enough for our daily expenses,” Jennifer said. The store has not been a panacea for grief. “Every night I dream of Richard, and I am so sad. I lie in bed and cry,” Jennifer said, with tears in her eyes and her 14-month-old daughter, Irish, on her knee. “Sometimes I feel I am going crazy.” The tragedy has also tested her faith, with gratitude for the stall occasionally turning to anger and pity. “Sometimes I talk to God. I tell Him: �Maybe you don’t love me, because you took Richard away from us’,” she said. “And sometimes I ask myself why it has happened to us. We who are already so poor. But it is not only me who has suffered. There are so many others.” Yet looking after the store helps to distract her from these dark moments, particularly the half-hour weekly trek to the nearest town to buy supplies. “I’m enjoying being a businesswoman,” Jennifer said, a rare smile emerging. More good news arrived last month when a French aid group, which similarly read about Jennifer’s story on the Internet, sent the equivalent of $1,000 (45,000 pesos) to fix her mother-inlaw’s house. The combined donations are extraordinary in a region where hundreds of thousands of typhoon survivors are enduring similar poverty without any financial aid. Still the money offers no longterm financial miracles and her shop is the most fragile of lifelines. “I don’t know what we would do without it,” she said. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 27 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Court upholds Bangladesh leader’s death sentence AFP Dhaka V iolence broke out in Bangladesh yesterday after the country’s highest court upheld the death sentence of an Islamist party leader convicted of committing war crimes, including mass murder, during the 1971 independence conflict. The Supreme Court’s rejection of Mohammad Kamaruzzaman’s appeal means that he will now be hanged within months, unless the case is reviewed again or he is granted clemency by the country’s president. The 62-year-old assistant secretary general of the Jamaate-Islami will be the second senior Islamist to hang for crimes committed during the war which saw the former East Pakistan secede from Islamabad. The decision triggered sporadic violence across Bangladesh. Islamist protesters set off more than a dozen crude improvised bombs, torched and damaged cars and pelted police with rocks, who responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas. Jamaat called a nationwide 48-hour strike from tomorrow morning to protest against the court’s decision. The ruling came after another senior Jamaat official, Abdul Quader Molla, was executed in December after being convicted on similar charges. In the last week, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal — a domestic court — has sentenced Jamaat’s supreme leader Motiur Rahman Nizami and key financier Mir Quasem Ali to death. The convictions of some of Nizami’s top lieutenants last year triggered the country’s deadliest political violence since independence. Tens of thousands of Jaamat activists clashed with police in protests that left some 500 people dead. Critics say the latest flurry of judgements are designed to intimidate the opposition, which has been stepping up protests against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. In recent weeks Jamaat and the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party have held a series of giant rallies to demand fresh polls after Hasina was controversially re-elected in January in a contest boycotted by the opposition. Rights groups have said the trials have fallen short of international standards and lack any foreign oversight. Hasina’s government maintains the trials are needed to heal the wounds of the conflict, which it says left 3mn people dead. Independent researchers estimate that between 300,000 and 500,000 people died in the 1971 war. Kamaruzzaman was found guilty in May 2013 of mass murder, torture and abductions. The prosecution was centred around a mass killing at the border town of Sohagpur, which has become known as the “Village of Widows”, after at least 120 unarmed farmers were lined up and slaughtered in paddy fields. Three of the widows testified AFP Kathmandu A Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, right, sitting next to a police officer as he leaves court in Dhaka. against him during his trial. “My mother did not live to see this day. I am sure this verdict would have lessened her pain,” said Jalal Uddin, whose father, a brother and five other relatives were shot dead in the carnage. “Thirty-one widows are still alive. They are happy,” said Uddin who heads the Sohagpur widows’ welfare committee. Prosecutors said Kamaruz- Chinese submarine docks at Lanka port Reuters Colombo S ri Lanka has allowed a Chinese submarine and a warship to dock at its port in the capital Colombo, officials said, despite concerns raised by India about China’s warming relations with the Indian Ocean island nation. Submarine Changzheng-2 and warship Chang Xing Dao arrived at the port on Friday, seven weeks after another Chinese submarine, a long-range deployment patrol, had called at the same port ahead of a visit to South Asia by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “A submarine and a warship have docked at Colombo harbour. They called on October 31 and will be here for five days for refuelling and crew refreshment,” Sri Lankan navy spokesman Ko- sala Warnakulasuriya said. “This is nothing unusual. Since 2010, 230 warships have called at Colombo port from various countries on goodwill visits and for refuelling and crew refreshment.” However, the frequency of Chinese visits has become a concern for New Delhi, Indian officials have told Reuters. “India has raised concerns over this but not aggressively,” an Indian official familiar with diplomatic discussions between the neighbours told Reuters. China has invested heavily in Sri Lanka in recent years, funding airports, roads, railways and ports, a development that has unsettled India, traditionally the closest economic partner of the island nation of 21mn people. India has already raised concerns over an aircraft maintenance facility following speculation it could be built in the eastern port city of Trincomalee, which India considers a strategic location in national security terms. R Hariharan, a retired colonel from the Indian army and an associate at the Chennai Centre for China Studies, said India was concerned about the latest docking of a Chinese submarine at a Sri Lankan port for many reasons. “For the first time, Chinese submarines are being made part of the PLA (the People’s Liberation Army) in the Indian Ocean region fleet operation in the Gulf of Aden on antipiracy, which is not a common practice,” he said. A 1987 accord between India and Sri Lanka provides that respective territories - including Trincomalee - will not be used for activities prejudicial to each other’s unity, integrity and security. zaman was also an organiser of the notorious Al Badr militia accused of killing top professors, writers and doctors in one of the most brutal chapters of the nine-month conflict. Defence lawyers rejected the charges as “baseless”. “We are extremely disappointed,” defence lawyer Tajul Islam said after yesterday’s judgement, adding they would seek a review as the death sentence was upheld I n a bid to boost people-topeople contact and tourism in the region, Nepal and India have finalised a new agreement that envisages bus services from Kathmandu and Pokhara to New Delhi and Varanasi. The Motor Vehicle Agreement will be signed during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Himalayan nation to attend the Saarc summit slated for November 26-27. The agreement proposes regular bus services on three routes - Kathmandu to New Delhi via Gorakhpur and Lucknow; Kathmandu to Varanasi via Azamgarh; and Pokhara to New Delhi via Gorakhpur and Lucknow, the Indian embassy in Kathmandu said. “The governments of Nepal and India held talks in Kathmandu on October 30 to finalise the Motor Vehicle Agreement and other matters related to road transport and infrastructure” The agreement also intends to simplify the movement of private vehicles across the border. The proposed India-Nepal Friendship Car Rally on the route Puri-Kathmandu-Delhi will also get assistance from both governments. “The governments of Nepal and India held talks in Kathmandu on October 30 to finalise the Motor Vehicle Agreement and other matters related to road transport and infrastructure,” the Indian embassy statement said. A Nepali official said that the new bus services will be launched on November 25, the day Modi arrives in Kathmandu. The Nepal delegation was led by Tulasi Prasad Situala, secretary in the physical infrastructure and transport ministry, while the Indian side was led by Vijay Chibber, secretary in In- by a majority decision. However, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said a review was unlikely and Kamaruzzaman could be hanged as soon as the verdict reached the jail authorities. Security was tight in the capital ahead of the verdict, with heavily-armed police and paramilitary border guards patrolling the streets. “We are alert against any bid to create anarchy,” Dhaka police officer Saifur Rahman said. A three-day strike called by Jamaat to protest against Nizami’s sentencing was to conclude yesterday after forcing schools, businesses and bus services to shut down and triggering sporadic violence. Five small bombs exploded in the capital late on Sunday, but no one was injured, Rahman said. 26-year-old Nepalese guide died and two Swiss climbers were injured when an avalanche hit a Himalayan peak in eastern Nepal yesterday, police said. They were attempting a summit of the 6,812m (22,349ft) Ama Dablam peak in the Everest region when the avalanche struck early yesterday, less than a fortnight after a German and a US climber died on the same mountain in separate incidents. “A helicopter was deployed to rescue the two climbers and they have been brought to Kathmandu,” said police official Khagendra Bahadur Khadka. The 42-year-old man broke his back while the 35-year-old woman suffered minor injuries, Khadka said. Last week, a German climber lost consciousness and died after summiting the peak, while a US climber fell to his death a week earlier. Rescuers also brought back Monday the body of a 59-yearold Italian climber who died of altitude sickness the previous day while climbing the 6,186m (20,295ft) Kyajo Ri mountain in the Everest region. In April, 16 guides were killed on Mount Everest in the deadliest avalanche to hit the 8,848m mountain, sparking an unprecedented shutdown of the world’s highest peak and highlighting the risks taken by local guides on behalf of foreign clients. Yesterday’s avalanche comes less than three weeks after a snowstorm in central Nepal killed 43 hikers, porters and guides during the peak trekking season. Performing traditional dance Artists in traditional attire performing during the Kartik Naach festival in the ancient courtyard of Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur, near Kathmandu. The festival is held annually as storytelling through dance believed to be introduced in 17th century. Nepal, India finalise road transport agreement IANS Kathmandu Avalanche kills guide, injures two climbers dia’s road transport and highways ministry. The Nepali side appreciated the offer from India to impart technical training to Nepal’s highway engineers at the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers. India also shared its experience in construction of roads through the public private partnership (PPP) and engineering procurement and construction (EPC) models. Both sides also decided to prepare a feasibility report for three motorable bridges on the Mahakali river at Mahendra Nagar, Jhulaghat and Darchula and a suspension bridge at Shirsha in Dadeldhura district of Nepal. Kofi Annan urges Hasina not to lower marriage age of girls By Mizan Rahman Dhaka F ormer UN secretary general Kofi Annan has urged the Bangladesh prime minister to maintain the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years. Kofi Annan, currently chair of The Elders, a group of independent leaders working together for peace and human rights across the globe, made the call in an open letter sent to Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister’s Office said. On behalf of The Elders, Annan said they were concerned to learn that the cabinet has recently approved language in the draft Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014 to lower the minimum age of marriage from 18 to 16 years for girls. Kofi Annan Warning of the dangers of lowering the age, he said: “Such a change in legislation would undermine efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of girls and women across Bangladesh. “We urge you to maintain the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years of age,” the letter said. Annan praised Hasina’s government for committing to end child marriage. However, he warned that lowering the age of marriage for girls would be “a step in the wrong direction” that would “undermine efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of girls and women across Bangladesh”, with particularly harmful effects for maternal and child health. “Girls who are married and out of school do not contribute to Bangladesh’s economic development and prosperity, perpetuating cycles of poverty,” he added. Bangladesh has made impressive progress in improving maternal and child health over the past decade, however this progress will be hindered if the proposal to reduce the age of marriage goes forward, he said. Kofi Annan termed child marriage a major violation of human rights. 28 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 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 Misbah critics have no place to hide after UAE heroics Pakistani cricket fans can’t thank Misbah-ulHaq enough after the 40-year-old led his country to its first Test series win over Australia in 20 years yesterday. A 2-0 sweep over the mighty Aussies is a result any team would accept with both hands, but what stood out was the manner in which victory was achieved – Pakistan winning the second Test by 356 runs, the biggest in its history. Seldom has Australia suffered so much at the hands of any opposition, with Misbah hitting the fastest half-century in Tests and equalling the one and only Vivian Richards’ 56-ball ton mark set in 1986 – both in a matter of one innings. And mind you, he also hit a century in Pakistan’s first innings, which was overshadowed by the heroics of Younis Khan, who scored a double ton, thereby laying the foundations for Pakistan’s historic triumph. Even the most ardent admirer of the Pakistani captain wouldn’t have dared dreaming about Misbah’s and Richards’ names being mentioned in the same breath one day. Misbah, after all, is known more for wearing down rival bowlers with patience and application rather than for going ballistic after them like, say, a Virender Sehwag or Shahid Afridi. But on Sunday a new aspect of his personality emerged that would give his detractors in the Pakistani establishment – not to mention a whole lot of past players who spare no chance to berate him publicly over issues of age, fitness and adaptability – plenty to chew over. It’s no secret that Misbah was never a favourite with certain powerful individuals in his country, but the fact also cannot be disputed that it was this unassuming Pathan who was responsible for keeping Pakistani cricket alive and kicking throughout the turbulent past few years. Ever since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2008, Pakistan has been a no-go area as far as international cricket is concerned, with the team forced to play their �home’ matches in the United Arab Emirates in front of a few dozen spectators. With his unflappable temperament and tremendous capacity to ignore demoralising barbs, Misbah has stood like a rock and in the process become one of Pakistan’s most successful captains. “It has been an incredible series for me and a big turnaround,” Misbah told reporters after the match in Abu Dhabi yesterday. “The series win for me is of more value than my hundreds.” It was typical Misbah – modest to a fault, phlegmatic and somewhat atypical for a Pakistan captain. Pakistani cricket would be better served if it can unearth more characters like him. Gaza closure leaves patients and foreigners stranded More than two months after Gaza’s truce with Israel, the impoverished coastal enclave has once again been closed off to the outside world By Ofira Koopmans, Saud Abu Ramadan and Alexandra Rojkov Gaza City/DPA A fter October’s donors conference in Cairo, in which the international community pledged $5.4bn in reconstruction aid following the 50-day war with Israel, the 1.8mn people living in the Gaza Strip had reason for optimism. Israel and Egypt had both started to ease their crippling blockade of Gaza, with a first shipment of much-needed construction material entering Gaza on October 14. It has taken just a few days for pessimism to return. Egypt has closed the Rafah crossing following an October 24 suicide attack in the Sinai peninsula that killed some 30 Egyptian policemen, while Israel did the same with its two main border crossings at the weekend after an anonymous group launched a mortar shell at Israel on Friday - the second since the August 27 truce. The result is that the Gaza Strip has now been sealed off again, leaving residents, foreigners and sick people isolated. According to the Gaza interior ministry, a total of 18,000 people among them Gazan patients in need of medical care and Palestinian students and businessmen who study abroad - are currently stranded inside the 360-square-kilometre strip. “We’re sitting here on packed suitcases, but we can’t get out. “Gaza had turned into a big prison and now it will turn into a huge graveyard” “I have no idea when we can leave,” says Nabel El Shorafa, a 46-year-old visitor from Germany. Following up on a promise he had made during the Gaza war to visit his ageing parents and four siblings as soon as possible, he arrived in the strip on October 17 with his two teenage sons. But with Rafah closed he missed his flight back to Germany from Cairo. The Erez crossing with Israel was then closed as well, meaning he cannot leave by boarding a flight in Tel Aviv either. “Yes, there is a travel warning for Gaza. But if I had not gone to Gaza, I wouldn’t have been able to see my family at all,” says El Shorafa, who has been living in Germany since the age of 17. “My smaller son is happy that he doesn’t have to go to school,” but “the oldest has to prepare for his final exams. That is important. He cannot afford to miss anything”. Mohamed Darweesh, a 54-year-old Palestinian now living and working in Oman, is in a similar situation. “I’m afraid that if the Rafah crossing remains closed for a long time, I won’t be able to renew my work permit in Oman on time and I will lose my job,” he says. Gazans, meanwhile, fear a return to the old pattern of Israel and Egypt closing their borders with Gaza after each security incident. Adding to their concerns, Egypt has put its mediation efforts between Israel and the Palestinians on hold. Fatima Hassan, a 56-year-old breast cancer patient who lives in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, is particularly worried, not just about herself, but also about scores of others requiring medical attention. “The situation is getting worse and worse. There are hundreds of patients who need to travel to Egypt, to Israel or to the West Bank for medical treatment.” When it closes its crossings with Gaza, Israel usually allows patients to travel to its hospitals. But those permits only apply to “urgent cases” in need of immediate treatment. And Hassan may need ongoing treatment, but she is not on the urgent list. “Gaza had turned into a big prison and now it will turn into a huge graveyard,” she argues. Meanwhile, the first heavy rains have started to fall in Gaza. Winter is fast approaching and, with the next shipments of cement still not in, large-scale reconstruction has yet to start. Tens of thousands of Palestinians remain homeless, staying with relatives, in subsidised rented apartments or in UN schools. Only some have been able to partially fix their damaged homes, for example by using nylon to cover broken windows. “Right after the war people had high hopes that after the ceasefire agreement, crossings would be opened,” says a Gaza City resident. But Egypt’s decision to close Rafah following the Sinai attack and Israel’s decision to close its crossings following Friday’s mortar shell have “dramatically brought people’s moods down”, he says. Asked when things might change, the official in charge of the Israeli border crossings, Hadar Horen, can only answer with a shrug. “It depends on the security situation,” she says. Seldom has Australia suffered so much at the hands of any opposition To Advertise [email protected] Display Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Classified Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Subscription [email protected] 2014 Gulf Times. All rights reserved A Palestinian man walking in the rain next to the rubble of buildings destroyed during the 50 days of conflict between Israel and Hamas last summer, in the Shejaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City yesterday. Ukraine has options left – all bad By Sebastian Smith Kiev/AFP U kraine’s government still has options after separatist elections showed its helplessness against a Russian-backed rebellion. The problem: they’re all bad. Analysts and officials paint a grim scenario facing Ukraine’s pro-Western government as it ponders how to respond to the separatists’ tightening grip on the industrial south-eastern Donbass region. Sunday’s leadership elections approved by Moscow despite intense Western pressure - were only the latest addition to a growing sense that rebel areas have slipped near permanently from Kiev’s control. Recapturing rebel-held cities in Donbass like Donetsk and Lugansk is widely accepted to be beyond the small Ukrainian military’s capabilities. The rebels are no rag-tag force, boasting units that resemble a heavily armed, regular army - even if Moscow denies Western allegations that those units are in fact Russian soldiers. Another region, Crimea, was annexed by Russia in March and is home to large contingents of Russian troops, making it even harder to recover for Ukraine. Not many Ukrainians are ready for all-out war, says Glib Vyshlinsky, deputy director of GfK Ukraine marketing company in Kiev. “If you’re talking about fighting, with thousands of casualties being lost in order to win back these regions, then there is not support,” he said. The opposite, radical approach would be for Ukraine to wash its hands entirely of the pro-Russian territories. It’s an option heard in private and aired online, such as on political analyst Yuriy Romanenko’s Facebook page under a hashtag that translates as “stop feeding Donbass”. “We cannot give up Donbass” The idea would be that the communist-leaning eastern region should be allowed to join Russia, as the rebels say they want to eventually. Ukraine would then be freed from the huge costs associated with the warravaged region and be left to pursue its other main challenge of instituting pro-Western economic and legal reforms. “No worries,” comments Tatyana Filatova under Romanenko’s latest post about the separatist elections. “Now we can go to Europe.” Only a “narrow segment of society” favours simply turning its back on the problem, Vyshlinksy said. A GfK poll in September showed that 31% support a “bad peace”, including giving up some territory to Russia, and 54% were for fighting on. One concrete sign that Ukraine’s government is preparing to sever at least some ties with the east is the suggestion from top ranking officials in recent days that gas supplies may be ended to rebel territories - which would turn to Russia for help. “Those announcements are trial balloons to test Russia,” said Taras Berezovets, head of Berta Communications in Kiev. “Russia doesn’t want to have to pay for Donbass.” “We cannot give up Donbass,” a top security official, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP. “We will do everything we can to restore our sovereignty on this territory, but for now we can’t do it.” Put like that, it appears that Ukraine could be looking at another of the socalled “frozen conflicts” plaguing this geopolitical neighbourhood. Russian-supported rebels control Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia, while other Moscow-backed separatists rule Moldova’s territory of Transdniestr. Those countries’ experience shows that the only positive side of freezing a conflict is that fighting dies down to a minimum. But in both cases, the conflicts have become drags on attempts to enact reforms required for getting into the European Union and other Western institutions. And even after more than a decade, there is no sign of the rebel territories returning to their original owners. “Kiev has lost control over Donbass for a minimum of five years,” Berezovets, the analyst, said. “The authorities have long ago realised this. They have no illusions. But to admit this de jure would be political suicide. Everyone understands what a painful subject this is for people,” he said. Ukrainians’ worst fear, though, is that the separatists and their Russian backers may want a hot, not frozen war. Rebel leaders talk openly of planning to extend their territory to the Black Sea port of Mariupol. Ukrainian security officials and soldiers believe Russia - or its proxies - could ultimately seize control of the whole coastline in order to establish a land link with its newly conquered region of Crimea. Without that land link, Crimeans face a long, cold winter relying on sea routes from Russia for supplies, unless, that is, the estranged government in Ukraine comes to their aid. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 29 COMMENT Bats may be heroes as well as villains The danger of contracting Ebola lies in exposure to infected blood in the killing and preparation of animals By Ben Hirschler London/Reuters B ats are living up to their frightening reputation in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak as prime suspects for spreading the deadly virus to humans, but scientists believe they may also shed valuable light on fighting infection. Bats can carry more than 100 different viruses, including Ebola, rabies and severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars), without becoming sick themselves. While that makes them a fearsome reservoir of disease, especially in the forests of Africa where they migrate vast distances, it also opens the intriguing possibility that scientists might learn their trick in keeping killers like Ebola at bay. “If we can understand how they do it then that could lead to better ways to treat infections that are highly lethal in people and other mammals,” said Olivier Restif, a researcher at the University of Cambridge in Britain. Clues are starting to emerge following gene analysis, which suggest bats’ capacity to evade Ebola could be linked with their other stand-out ability - the power of flight. Flying requires the bat metabolism to run at a very high rate, causing stress and potential cell damage, and experts think bats may have developed a mechanism to limit this damage by having parts of their immune system permanently switched on. The threat to humans from bats Fruit bats for sale at a food market in Brazzavile, Republic of Congo. Bats are living up to their frightening reputation in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak as prime suspects for spreading the deadly virus to humans, but scientists believe they may also shed valuable light on fighting infection. comes en route to the dinner plate. Bushmeat - from bats to antelopes, squirrels, porcupines and monkeys - has long held pride of place on menus in West and Central Africa. The danger of contracting Ebola lies in exposure to infected blood in the killing and preparation of animals. Scientists studying Ebola since its discovery in 1976 in Democratic Republic of Congo, then Zaire, have long suspected fruit bats as being the natural hosts, though the link to humans is sometimes indirect as fruit dropped by infected bats can easily be picked up by other species, spreading the virus to animals such as monkeys. This nexus of infection in wildlife leads to sporadic Ebola outbreaks following human contact with blood or other infected animal fluids. This no doubt happened in the current outbreak, although the scale of the crisis now gripping Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, which has killed around 5,000 people, reflects subsequent public health failures. “What is happening now is a public health disaster rather than a problem of wildlife management,” said Marcus Rowcliffe at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which runs London Zoo. Bats’ role in spreading Ebola is probably a function both of their huge numbers, where they rank second only to rodents among mammals in the world, as well as their unusual immune system, according to Michelle Baker of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science agency. Baker, who is intrigued by bats’ ability to live in “equilibrium” with viruses, published a paper with colleagues in the journal Science last year looking at bat genomes. They found an unexpected concentration of genes for repairing DNA damage, hinting at a link between flying and immunity. Weather report Letters The best of treatment Way beyond my expectations Dear Sir, Dear Sir, In reference to the letter, “Diagnosis shock” (Gulf Times, November 2), I would like to point out that I have had only excellent experience both at children’s and women’s Emergency centres of the Hamad Medical Corporation. I thank the Qatar government and its magnificent leaders for the attention they pay to the state’s healthcare sector. They show the same concern to all other expatriate issues. I am a father of three children; one of them was born in Qatar. We have been living in Qatar for the last seven years, enjoying the peaceful life here. My wife received the best of treatment at the hospital during her pregnancy and childbirth. Whenever we visited the children’s emergency, we never faced any problem at all. But I would like to remind all parents that doctors are also humans and if they are not entirely happy with the diagnosis of their sick children, they should always take a second opinion. The healthcare service provided by Qatar to expatriates is highly appreciated. I had to undergo a medical procedure at the Hamad Hospital recently and the treatment and the care I received were way beyond my expectations. I would like to use this opportunity to thank Dr Muneera al-Mohannadi and her highly-efficient and kind staff at Hamad Hospital’s Gastroentology Department. Their service was excellent. Syed Aslam (e-mail address supplied) “(This) raises the interesting possibility that flight-induced adaptations have had inadvertent effects on bat immune function and possibly also life expectancy,” they wrote. As well as tolerating viruses, bats are also amazingly long-lived. The tiny Brandt’s bat, a resident of Europe and Asia, has been recorded living for more than 40 years, even though it is barely the size of a mouse. Bats also rarely get cancer. “We are just at the beginning,” Baker said in an interview. “But if we can understand how bats are dealing with these viruses and if we can redirect the immune system of other species to react in the same way, then that could be a potential therapeutic approach.” It won’t be easy. Turning on components of the immune system can bring its own health problems, but the idea - which has yet to get beyond the basic research stage - is to turn up certain elements to achieve a better balance. One reason why Ebola is so deadly to people is that the virus attacks the immune system and when the system finally comes back it goes into overdrive, causing extra damage. Ebola works in part by blocking interferon, an anti-virus molecule, which Baker has found to be “upregulated”, meaning it is found in higher levels, in bats. The bat immune system may or may not lead to new drugs one day. Still, experts argue there are plenty of other reasons to cherish bats, which also play a vital role in pollination and controlling insect pests. They are also a traditional source of protein in West Africa, often served in a spicy stew, and restrictions on bushmeat consumption are now contributing to food shortages in parts of West Africa, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute. Hunting and butchering bats may be risky but cooking is thought to make them safe. The World Health Organization advises animals should be handled with “gloves and other appropriate protective clothing” and meat should be “thoroughly cooked”. “In the long run it would be sensible to see people moving away from hunting bats but in the short term they provide an important source of food,” said Rowcliffe of ZSL. “Essentially, wild meat is a good, healthy product. People in Britain eat venison and rabbit, and in many ways it’s no different to that.” NM (Full name and address supplied) Staff must show dedication Dear Sir, Further to the letters in Gulf Times on the service at public health centres, I would like to narrate my experience. I have been visiting the Al Wakrah Health Centre for last three years. And I strongly feel that the attitude of doctors and other staff in this clinic towards non-Arabic speaking patients needs to be improved. Some doctors, it seems, are not very keen to physically examine patients. The doctors prescribe medicines based on the patients’ comments and visual observation. This is not a good practice always. Qatar’s benevolent government has set up the clinic with highlysophisticated equipment and pay handsome salaries and huge benefits to the staff for the benefit of both citizens and residents. So it is expected that all the staff working their show dedication and honesty and be polite to patients irrespective of their nationality. Last month I visited a dentist at the Al Wakrah clinic after suffering from toothache. He told me to come on another day for tooth extraction. When I asked him if there was any possibility to save my tooth, he told me to go to a private clinic for second opinion. But now without any medication and treatment, my toothache is gone. Thus I have saved my tooth from a doctor who apparently didn’t like to take X-ray to check its real condition. Everyone highly appreciates the Qatar government for the great service it provides to all people living in the state. I would like to request the Three-day forecast Ministry of Health to monitor the dayto-day operations of each and every health centre in the state to facilitate good medical services not only to Arabic-speaking people but also to non-Arabic speaking ones. 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Abu Dhabi Baghdad Dubai Kuwait City Manama Muscat Riyadh Tehran Weather today Clear P Cloudy Clear P Cloudy P Cloudy Clear Clear Rain Max/min 32/24 20/10 32/23 28/13 32/26 35/25 34/18 11/04 Weather tomorrow Clear Clear Clear Clear P Cloudy Clear Clear C Rain Max/min 33/25 19/09 34/26 24/11 29/23 37/26 28/16 07/-1 Weather tomorrow P Cloudy Clear C Storms M Cloudy M Cloudy P Cloudy T Storms Clear Clear Clear P Cloudy P Cloudy P Cloudy C Storms P Cloudy Clear C Rain P Cloudy Rain M Cloudy C Storms C Storms Clear Max/min 18/16 22/16 32/25 14/08 24/17 23/15 29/26 31/21 26/23 16/09 35/25 31/23 10/03 30/23 05/01 30/18 19/11 12/04 21/16 18/07 31/27 29/15 20/12 Live issues How to parent a 20-something couch potato By Cheryl Stritzel Mccarthy Chicago Tribune/MCT G ot a high school or college kid who zones out with video games or TV instead of tackling his schoolwork or pursuing a career? You might be unwittingly contributing to the problem, says Adam Price, a psychologist with offices in New York and New Jersey whose practice is tailored to young adults. “We can de-motivate our kids when we rescue them from consequences,” says Price, the father of two collegestudent children, ages 19 and 21. “We learn when we make choices and face consequences. When parents soften the blow, we’re not helping our kids learn.” Examples include typing their student’s homework, or calling their child in sick at school because he played in a big game over the weekend. Failing to enforce parental decisions doesn’t help, either. Parents might tell their young adult, if you fail any classes, you won’t play soccer. The kid fails a class but parents let her play, rationalising their failure by telling themselves the sport is better for their child. Plus, maybe parents don’t want to sacrifice their own time. “Parents have told me, �I grounded my son on Friday night, but we had to go out, and then he snuck out’. No. The parent has to stay home!” Price says. Here are more suggestions on what parents can (and can’t) do, from Price and research psychologist Jeffrey Jensen Arnett, co-author of Getting to 30: A Parent’s Guide to the 20-Something Years (Workman): “We learn when we make choices and face consequences” Set reasonable limits and hold kids accountable. For high-schoolers, that means expecting B’s. If the student wants A’s, that’s his choice, not the parent’s. If your high-schooler isn’t earning B’s, Price says, cut down his digital and social life until grades improve. Manage your expectations. Understand your child’s limits. With college-age kids, if consequences continually aren’t working, look at their history. Your child may have a learning disability, be suffering from substance abuse, or simply has average academic abilities. With highschoolers, Price notes, keep in mind neurocognitive development. “Adolescent brains are going through reorganisation,” Price says, referring to the prefrontal cortex that manages foresight and judgment. “Some kids just aren’t there yet. No matter how much we push or prod, the teen brain needs time to grow.” Open lines of communication. Engage in productive dialogue so they know you’re on their side. With high school and college-age kids, “be an asker, not a talker”, Price says. “Listen for answers, long before you give opinions. The more they say, and the less you lecture, the better. You don’t have to agree for them to know you hear them.” Be patient. Young adults today take longer than their parents did to find their life partner and settle into a career, says Arnett, of Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. “Give your children time to find out what they want to do,” Arnett says. “It’s not something you can give them. If you substitute something you want, it won’t work because they won’t be motivated.” Money matters: The idea that this age group wants to sponge off parents as long as possible isn’t based in reality, says Arnett, who researched a broad cross-section of emerging adults in the USfor the book, not just the troubled or college-educated. Arnett’s research shows 74% of 18to 29-year-olds in the US prefer to live independently of their parents even if it means living on a tight budget. Among 18- to 21-year-olds, 28% receive regular support toward living expenses. Among 26- to 29-year-olds, 6% receive support toward expenses. Also, consider the reasons they need money. A young adult who needs financial support due to substance abuse is managed differently than a young adult who needs support because he’s doing an unpaid internship, or going to school full-time. Accept your limits: Even if your emerging adult isn’t making progress, there may not be much you can do. “Accept that your power as a parent is limited,” Arnett says. “You don’t have the authority you did when they were 3 or 13. At ages 19 or 23 or 28, it’s a mistake to try to take over their decisions. “You can decide whether to support them financially, and whether to let them live in your household while they figure things out.” 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 Clear C Showers T Storms P Cloudy P Cloudy C Rain T Storms P Cloudy P Cloudy Clear C Storms Clear C Rain C Storms P Cloudy Clear P Cloudy M Cloudy T Storms Clear C Storms P Cloudy Clear Max/min 17/12 21/15 29/24 16/07 24/16 20/14 28/23 31/22 24/22 16/09 34/26 31/23 11/03 30/24 06/01 31/19 17/11 12/06 28/21 17/08 31/26 26/16 18/11 30 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 QATAR Duration of hospital stay for stroke patients declining: director T he Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has been actively working to improve the care for stroke patients in Qatar. The opening of a Stroke Ward at Hamad General Hospital has played a key role in these improvements. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of stroke neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, stroke nurses, allied health professionals, stroke co-ordinators and clinical nurse specialists has also been formed to provide specialist care, said Hanan al-Kuwari, managing director, HMC. HMC’s stroke team organised a symposium to mark World Stroke Day on October 29. More than 300 delegates attended the event. Speakers at the forum explained that stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and the number one cause of chronic disability in the world. The incidence of stroke is high in Qatar due to the high prevalence of risk factors for stroke including diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension and inactivity. “Fast and specialised medical intervention is the key to successful treatment for stroke patients. The sooner treatment is given to the patient, the better the chance that brain cells can be protected. We have worked hard as a team to develop the specialist Stroke Ward and to ensure patients are treated as quickly and effectively as possible. The processes we have implemented to date have already led to significant improvements in the care of stroke patients,” said Dr Naveed Akhtar, director, Stroke Ward. The average length of stay (LOS) for stroke patients has been continuously declining this year. In January the average LOS was 12 days, a figure that has fallen to just eight days. The shorter LOS demonstrates the effective nature of the care being given. Patients benefit greatly from being discharged as early as possible, when clinically appropriate, to continue their recovery at home with ongoing support from the care teams. The percentage of patients receiving Thrombolysis treatment has doubled since 2013. Thrombolysis is a very effective treatment that can greatly increase a stroke patient’s chances of making a full recovery, but this must be given within the 4.5 hour timeframe. Prof Ashfaq Shuaib, director, Neurosciences Institute, said: “HMC’s Ambulance Service has played a vital role in delivering pre-hospital care to patients and ensuring they arrive as quickly as possible at the hospital. For stroke patients �time is brain’, meaning the faster treatment can be given following a stroke, the better the chances of a full recovery.” “Our radiology teams utilise state-of-the-art imaging technology to capture high qual- ity scans, ensuring advanced diagnosis, while our specialised nursing and allied healthcare services provide high standards of care to maximise patient outcomes. Additionally, our rehabilitation teams provide specialist care for stroke patients while they recover.” Prof Ashfaq highlighted the need for stroke patients to get to hospital as quickly as possible. “If you suspect that you, or someone around you, have suffered a stroke, call 999 immediately so our care teams can respond. The sooner you act from the onset of symptoms, the better the chance that medical intervention can protect you.” HE Dr Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi with Abdul Aziz Hashim, Qatar Steel representative. Organ Donation Centre honours Qatar Steel for support Q atar Steel, among other sponsors, has been honoured by the Organ Donation Centre (Hiba) of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in recognition of and appreciation for their support and contributions to the organ donation programme in Qatar. About 56 living organ donors and their families were also awarded for their contribution to the health of the nation and the organ donation programme. The honouring ceremony was held recently in Doha under the patronage of HE the Minister of Public Health Abdullah bin Khalid al-Qahtani. The event was organised under the theme “Celebration of life” and attended by HE the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Dr Abdullah Saleh Mubarak al-Khulaifi and HMC managing director Dr Hanan al-Kuwari. Other officials from Prof Ashfaq Shuaib speaking at the event. HMC also attended the event, in addition to high-ranking dignitaries from the public and private sectors. The organ donation programme has seen remarkable success in the past few years and through awareness initiatives, especially the Ramadan awareness campaign, has managed to bring about a large shift in public understanding and perspective of this important topic, according to a statement. This has resulted in a steady increase of registered organ donors and, since the launch of the donor registry in 2012, more than 43,000 people have signed as organ donors. On behalf of HMC, Dr Riadh Fadhil, director of the Qatar Organ Donation Centre, thanked Qatar Steel for its continued support to the organ donation campaign, which contributed to its progress and success. HMC hosts emergency medicine symposium T he evolving role of emergency medicine in Qatar was emphasised during the second annual Emergency Medicine Symposium, hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) recently. The daylong symposium, built around lectures, oral presentations and focused panels, served as a dynamic setting for healthcare professionals to share their experiences and discuss emerging ideas and technologies in the field of emergency medicine. With more than 300 participants, comprising emergency physicians, paramedics, nurses, residents, fellows, researchers and other allied healthcare professionals, this year’s symposium highlighted the transformation of emergency services in Qatar. The event also presented in- creased educational and research opportunities for healthcare professionals in the area of emergency medicine. Professor Peter Cameron, chairman of the Emergency Department at Hamad General Hospital (HGH), said: “Emergency medicine is the gateway to the hospital as well as the organisation. It plays a significant role in ensuring that we provide the best possible care to those who seek our services in times of emergency.” He said HMC is developing a well-integrated emergency system in the country to ensure that people are able to access the right service at the right time and as quickly as possible. “In recent years, to address the rising emergency needs in the country, HMC has established emergency departments in Al Khor, Al Wakrah and at the Cuban Hospital in Dukhan. In addition, we now offer specialist emergency care at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Heart Hospital and also in the Ambulance Service.” During the conference, healthcare professionals gained insights on topics such as management of patients with extreme cardiac arrest, incidence of snake bites and scorpion stings, existence of poisonous plants and toxins in the region and leading causes of trauma admission as well as occupational injuries from falling objects. The competence and high reliability of HMC’s Ambulance Service, and the role and management of heat-related emergencies in Saudi Arabia, were also highlighted. Young physi- Infiniti becomes �fastest growing premium car brand in Middle East’ I nfiniti has become the fastest growing premium car brand in the Middle East, the company has said in a statement. For the first half of fiscal year 2014 (April-September), sales grew by 30%, culminating in a 6.25% market share in September. Sales have been boosted with the arrival of the all-new Q50, substantial gains in some GCC countries and Infiniti’s popular and strong SUV line-up, it is observed. The statement points out that the all-new Q50 has made a strong contribution, demand for the QX60, QX70 and QX80 has remained buoyant and the QX70S Elite Sport has brought fresh appeal to the QX70 range. It also notes that Infiniti sales are up by 30% in a market that is growing by 14.6%. “Infiniti recognises the Middle East as a key strategic market and we are demonstrating our commitment to the region through expansion of the network and product range,” said Juergen Schmitz, managing director, Infiniti Middle East. In the next five years, Infiniti’s expansion plan is set to increase its global model range by 60% and more than double the number of its powertrains Prof Cameron speaking at the conference. Some of the participants and organisers at the symposium held in HMC. cians and nurses at the symposium also had the opportunity to present original research and receive feedback from senior emergency practitioners. Dr Saleem Farook, vice-chairman for Emergency Education at HMC, said: “We are not only fo- cused on providing ongoing professional learning to the senior consultants but are also dedicated to creating quality educational and research opportunities for our young physicians. “This is evident from the initial accreditation of the Emer- gency Medicine Residency Training Programme by the prestigious Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International as well as the launch of the Emergency Medicine Fellowship programme, which is already in its second year. “These programmes aim to foster a new generation of experts in emergency care, who will specialise in a number of areas such as trauma and clinical care, paediatric emergency and emergency ultrasound, among others. These are being developed in conjunction with new clinical services such as the toxicology service. Moreover, nursing education has also been one of our top priorities and, as part of the symposium, nurses will receive training in emergency care by educators from Australia’s Monash University.” ibq wins �Best Loyalty Programme’ award I Juergen Schmitz, managing director, Infiniti Middle East. with the promise to cater to a wider audience of discerning customers. The arrival of the Infiniti Q50 2.0L turbocharged engine and QX70S Elite Sport this year has generated substantial interest, the statement adds. nternational Bank of Qatar (ibq) has won the “Best Loyalty Programme in the Middle East and Africa” award for its innovative rewards programme “thanq” at the MasterCard Innovation Forum 2014 held recently in Singapore. thanq is a rewarding and innovative rewards programme offered by ibq where customers get the chance to accumulate points by using the bank’s wide range of products. These points can be redeemed for holiday destinations or business travels with more than 800 airlines, 160,000 hotels, and car rental services worldwide. Andrew Ball, head of retail banking, ibq, said: “thanq is a real example of an immensely successful, customer-centric, and market-defining product innovation in Qatar. This recognition from MasterCard at a high-profile and internationally-renowned industry forum reflects and underlines at the highest level ibq’s ability to be at the forefront of creating value for our customers and the bank.” Raghav Prasad, general manager for Gulf Countries at MasterCard, said: “Our innovation ibq officials receiving the award at a ceremony held recently in Singapore. awards are intended to recognise our partners, who have demonstrated a profound understanding of consumer needs in our industry and delivered meaningful payment solutions across the region.” He added: “As Qatar’s leading loyalty programme, ibq’s �thanq’ is an example of how consumer-centric programmes play an integral role in chang- ing the landscape of reward programmes.” The MasterCard Innovation Forum brought together more than 350 card issuers, acquirers, and MasterCard partners from Southeast Asia, Middle East, and Africa to share and experience the future of payment solutions, as well as to network and discuss innovations in the field of payments industry. The Innovation Awards are intended to highlight the best examples of partners who have demonstrated a deep understanding of consumer needs and delivered highly-impactful and innovative payment solutions, which have driven business results. A total of 41 awards were presented to winners across 16 different categories. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 31 QATAR Qatar, China sign wide-ranging pacts QNA Beijing Q atar and China signed a raft of agreements here yesterday with a view to further strengthening bilateral relations. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the following agreements and memorandums of understanding: 1. A memorandum of understanding on promoting the Qatari-Chinese co-operation in the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road. The MoU was signed between the Qatari Foreign Ministry and China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The project aims to link Asia and Europe. 2. The first executive programme in the education field for the Educational and Cultural Co-operation Agreement between governments of Qatar and China was also signed. 3. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Qatar Central Bank and the People’s Bank of China on the promotion of co-operation in the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese President Xi Jinping witness the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding between Qatar and China in Beijing yesterday. financial service between Qatar and China in order to set up the necessary action framework for establishing a special centre for clearing and settlement of the Chinese yuan in Doha. 4. An agreement between Qatar Central Bank and the People’s Bank of China on the swap of the Chinese currency to create a two-way line of currency swap worth 35bn Chinese yuan over three years was also signed. The two-way line of currency swap will facilitate trade and investment activities in yuan and will provide the necessary liquidity and support for financial stability. 5. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding between Qatar Central Bank and the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) aiming at facilitating the upgrading the representative offices of Emir grants $10mn for Qatar Chair at Peking University HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has donated a grant of $10mn for setting up Qatar Chair for Middle East Studies at the Peking University. This was announced during a meeting between Qatari delegation headed by Dr Sheikha Abdullah al-Misnad, president of Qatar University, and president of Peking University Enge Wang yesterday. The Qatar University delegation included Dr Iman mustafawi, Dean Faculty of Arts, Dr Fatima al-Suwaidi, assistance Dean Faculty of Arts, and Abdullah Ba’aboud, head of the Gulf Studies Centre. The Qatar Chair for Middle East Studies at the University of Peking will focus on language, literature, culture, religion, history, politics, economy and international relations disciplines, in addition to regional issues. The Chair, under the supervision of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the University of Qatar, aims to promote joint research between international research centres on Middle East studies. The Chair supports all scientific research for the Middle East and the specialised literature. The meeting also discussed aspects of cooperation and exchange of expertise in the field of higher education and ways of developing them. Qatari banks in China into full branches. 6. A memorandum of understanding in the field of sports between the Ministry of Youth and Sports in the State of Qatar and the State General Administration of Sports in the People’s Republic of China. Earlier on arrival at Beijing International Airport on a twoday official visit, HH the Emir was accorded an official reception by a Chinese delegation headed by China’s Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Hangsheng and a number of ranking Chinese officials. Qatar’s ambassador to China Sultan bin Salmeen Almansouri and a number of Arab ambassadors accredited by China were also present at the reception. HH the Emir gave the following statement upon his arrival: “At the start of my visit to the People’s Republic of China, I have the pleasure to extend on behalf of the people of the State of Qatar and my own behalf, our warm greetings to His Excellency President Xi Jinping, and His Excellency the Prime Minister Li Keqiang and to their esteemed government and people, coupled with our best wishes of continued prosperity and progress to their friendly country. “I take this opportunity to commend the strong ties of friendship and co-operation between Qatar and the People’s Republic of China, and reiterate our concern to further develop and strengthen them in various fields. “While I am looking forward to meeting His Excellency the President, and His Excellency the Prime Minister and other high ranking officials to exchange views on issues of common interest, I am confident that this visit would contribute to expanding the scope of cooperation between our two countries for the good and benefit of our two peoples.” Strategic partnership marks new chapter in Sino-Qatari relations QNA Beijing H HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, accompanied by Chinese President Xi Jinping, inspects a guard of honour in Beijing yesterday. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese President Xi Jinping are greeted by children. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting Chinese officials yesterday. H the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad alThani and Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over a session of official talks held at the People’s Palace here yesterday. During the session the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and co-operation in various fields as well as international and regional issues of mutual concern. The two sides reached a wide ranging agreement. They agreed to issue a joint communique on the establishment of strategic partnership relations between the two countries. The communique said the two countries’ leaderships unanimously agreed that, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on 9 July 1988, relations have made good progress as mutual political trust has been enhanced continuously and co-operation in economic, trade, energy, human and cultural exchanges has achieved fruitful results. In line with the realistic needs for developing the Qatari-Chinese relations and the common desire of both sides to further develop bilateral relations to a new level, the two sides decided to establish a strategic partnership relations, which will focus on common interests of the two countries and the two peoples, and serve their development and prosperity. Within this framework, both sides feel the need to give priority to co-operation in the following areas: 1. Enhancement of the ongoing high-level consultation between the leaderships of the two countries to maintain contacts on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern, in order to continue the expansion of the common denominators and strengthen and deepen mutual political trust. 2. Provision of support to the other side on issues concerning independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries. The State of Qatar reiterates its firm commitment to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Chinese President Xi Jinping presiding over a session of official talks held at the People’s Palace in Beijing yesterday. the One-China policy, while the People’s Republic of China supports the sovereignty of Qatar. The two sides stress the need for commitment to the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs, and express high appreciation of the position of the other side. 3. The full exploitation of the advantages of economic and trade integration between the two countries in order to develop economic and trade relations, boost mutual investments and expand co-operation in the fields of basic infrastructure, industries and advanced technology, foremost of which being transport, roads and bridges, railways, communications, national companies and facilitation of the transfer of advanced technology. 4. Establishment of a longterm and comprehensive strategic co-operation relations in the field of energy and alternative energy and the promotion of co-operation between the two countries in the field of production and processing of oil and natural gas, including the liquefied natural gas and petrochemicals sector and encouragement of competent government bodies and concerned institutions in the two countries to sign and implement co-operation agreements in the area of energy supplies and investment in relevant projects. 5. Expansion of co-operation between the two countries in the areas of finance, foremost of which being banks and financial markets, encouraging the two countries’ banks to open branches in the other side, strengthening of co-ordination and co-operation on regulating the banking and financial markets sectors and contacts among personnel in this field and their training. 6. Strengthening of contacts and co-operation between the two countries in the fields of law enforcement, security and fight against terrorism, establishment of a long-term security co-operation mechanism to strengthen the exchange of intelligence and information, technical co-operation and personnel training. Both sides condemn and reject terrorism in all its forms, reject double standards and the linking of terrorism to a certain country, race or religion. 7.Continuation of the strengthening of military co-operation in the fields of defence industry and trade, technology, equipment, training, as well as maintaining contacts between military institutes and colleges of the two sides. 8. Work on human and cultural contacts in a variety of forms and promotion of co-operation between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, health, scientific research, tourism, media, youth, sport, and social development to promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples. The two sides support activities and events under the cultural year Qatar – China 2016. The State of Qatar also supports China’s hosting of the 2022 Winter Olympics . 9. The two sides stressed the importance of strengthening collective co-operation, emphasising that the rapid establishment of a free trade zone between China and the Gulf Co-operation Council under the current circumstances benefits the common interests of the two sides, and the two sides are willing to make joint efforts to resume negotiations on a free trade zone and reach an agreement to achieve mutual gains as soon as possible so as to enhance relations between China and GCC states. 10. The two sides stress the importance of the establishment of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road in the 21st century. The Chinese side welcomes the effective participation of the State of Qatar in building the Belt with the Road for mutual benefit and common gains. 11. The two sides support the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The State of Qatar, as a founding member, will participate effectively in the Bank’s establishment. The two sides pledge to intensify co-operation and make joint efforts with other parties concerned to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. 12. Strengthening of consultation and co-ordination on the situation in West Asia and North Africa, and support of the States and peoples of the region to explore developmental ways that suit their national conditions on their own free will and to resolve issues in the region through dialogue, negotiations and peaceful means. The State of Qatar values China’s positions and its important role in the region’s affairs. The Chinese side supports the positive role played by the State of Qatar in the region’s affairs. The session was attended by members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir. On the Chinese side, the session was attended by ministers and ranking officials. Earlier, HH the Emir was accorded an official welcome ceremony upon arrival at the People’s Palace. ASIA AIRLINES | Page 8 FOREX PROBE | Page 18 Buffett right as 60% of IPOs lose money Banks set aside up to $7bn as UK deal looms Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Moharram 11, 1436 AH GULF TIMES CUSTOMER BASE GAIN: Page 20 Vodafone Qatar expects to ring in profit in 2015 BUSINESS Qatar eyes SE Asia, Africa downstream investments By Santhosh V Perumal Business Reporter Q atar, which is fast expanding its refineries and seeks to reach 23mn tonnes per annum of chemical and petrochemical production by 2020, is keen to enter South East Asian and African downstream sectors. Despite falling oil prices, Qatar Petroleum International (QPI) is actively pursuing opportunities that will help it enhance portfolio diversification, leverage partnership with international oil companies and enter foreign markets. “Qatar’s upcoming expansions in the oil and gas sector include the startup of the Barzan Gas Project in early 2015, which will play a significant role in meeting the country’s rising domestic gas demand,” HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada told an international conference in a speech read out by QPI vice chairman Nasser al-Jaidah at the 18th Condensate and Naphtha Forum, organised by Tasweeq. The $10.3bn Barzan project will produce around 1.4bn standard cu ft a day of sales gas. It will also produce about 22,000 bpd of field condensate, 6,000 bpd of plant condensate, 34,000 bpd of ethane, 10,500 bpd of propane and 7,500 bpd of butane. Additionally, Qatar struck recently a new offshore discovery, the Al-Radeef field, in the Block 4 North; where as much as 2.5tn cu ft of natural gas has been discovered after four years of intensive exploration activities. This is Qatar’s first new discovery in 42 years, alSada said. The Laffan Refinery expansion, which will process an additional 146,000 bpd of condensate, is expected to be completed in 2016, he said, adding some of this demand is driven by Qatar’s large-scale expansion of the petro- chemicals sector, which supports the diversification and growth of the Qatari economy. It is estimated that Qatar will raise its annual chemical and petrochemical output to 23mn tonnes by 2020. Al-Karaana, in addition to Qatar Petrochemical Company’s ethylene production expansion project, will increase the installed ethylene production capacity from the existing 800,000 MTPA to approximately 1.2mn tonnes per annum by 2016. On QPI - which has upstream presence in Canada, Congo and Brazil - al-Sada said it is continuously studying South East Asia and recently Africa. QPI is involved in three important terminals South Hook (UK), Adriatic (Italy) and Golden Pass (USA). This is in addition to QPI being actively pursuing the Golden Pass Project in USA, which will deem to be one of the biggest projects QPI has ever participated in to date. Al-Jaidah: Actively pursuing opportunities. Tasweeq plans to renew UAE condensate deal for 2015: CEO Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Co (Tasweeq) plans to renew its contract to supply condensate to the UAE for 2015, the company’s chief executive said yesterday. Under the current 2014 contact, Tasweeq supplies three cargoes a month to the UAE, two to Dhabi’s Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) and one to Abu Dhabi’s National Oil company (Adnoc), Saad al-Kuwari told reporters on the sidelines of an industry event in Doha. Each cargo has 500,000 tonnes of condensate, he said. “The ENOC contract expires soon and we plan to renew it. We will supply (ENOC) with same volumes and any extra demand will depend on availability,” said al-Kuwari. Last year, ENOC said it had started importing condensate from Qatar to replace sanctioned Iranian oil. ENOC was the biggest buyer of Iranian condensate in 2012 when its imports rose to an average of 127,000 bpd, up from 106,000 bpd in 2011, despite US pressure to stop the trade. Asked if Qatar would discount its condensate to compete with Iran, al-Kuwari said there were no plans to do so. “The price is market driven and the outlook for demand is positive for next year. We have no plans to discount because we have a different quality of products and long-term contracts,” he said. Qatar expects a drop in its condensate exports to 350,000 tonnes per annum in 2017, compared with the current half a million tonnes a year, as the phase two of the Ras Laffan refinery will come online by the end of 2016. - Reuters 4 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS Nigeria phone tower firm IHS raises $2.6bn Reuters Dubai Nigerian phone tower group IHS has raised $2bn in equity and $600mn in debt in what it says is the biggest equity fund raising by an African company this decade. IHS, the continent’s largest tower company, will use the money to finance infrastructure spending and recently agreed acquisitions, according to a company statement yesterday. It said the equity funding was from new and existing shareholders, but did not provide further details. The loan facility is split into two parts: a seven-year tranche of $500mn denominated in US dollars and an eight-year tranche of $100mn in Nigerian naira. Ecobank, Standard Chartered, Standard Bank, Investec and the World Bank’s International Finance Corp (IFC) participated in the loan, IHS chief executive Issam Darwish told Reuters. “This is the largest equity raising by a private entity for the past 7-8 years in Africa—you’ve had mining, banks and now telecom infrastructure as a standalone sector is commanding this much interest from the international markets,” said Darwish. “This sends the right signal, it’s saying the international investor community believes in Africa and they’re putting a substantial amount of money behind that.” Building and maintaining mobile communications towers in Africa is typically more expensive than in other regions because of security costs and electricity shortages, while revenue per user is often lower. That has prompted many mobile opera- tors to sell or lease towers to specialist companies such as IHS, which can reduce building and maintenance costs by hosting multiple tenants—mobile operators and Internet providers—on the same towers. In September, South Africa’s MTN agreed to sell 9,151 mobile towers in Nigeria to a new joint venture with IHS in a deal MTN said would cut its costs and boost its call and data capacity in Africa’s most populous country. That was MTN’s fifth tie-up with IHS following deals in Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Rwanda and Zambia. IHS in August agreed to buy and lease back 2,136 towers from Etisalat Nigeria, a unit of Abu Dhabi’s Etisalat. Darwish said a “substantial part” of the money IHS has raised would go towards paying for its recent acquisitions, with the remainder spent on boosting its infrastructure in the five countries it operates in. Daman planning Dubai listing in Q1 Reuters Dubai D aman Investments, a UAE-based investment management firm, said yesterday it planned to list on the Dubai Financial Market during the first quarter of 2015 to expand its business and fund new opportunities at home and the wider region. The company is the latest in the Gulf Arab state to announce plans to go public, joining a wave of firms eyeing a stock market listing after a long fallow period for flotations. Dubai-based Daman will sell new shares equivalent to 55% of the firm to the public, a statement said. Chairman Shehab Gargash told Reuters Daman had a number of potential plans for the cash, including launching a fund, investing in a private equity venture and upgrading its internal infrastructure. The price at which shares would be sold was being discussed with the regulator and figures on the company’s recent revenue and profit would be published once the talks concluded, Gargash said. Daman - founded in 1998 - is backed by investors from the UAE and the wider Gulf region. Existing shareholders will be diluted to 45%, although they could boost their holdings by investing in the offering. Retail-focused investment firm Marka and Emaar Malls Group listed within a week of each other after hugely oversubscribed initial public offerings, while Amanat Holdings’ flotation is already covered by investor orders ahead of its closing today. The listing has been a long-stated goal of the company, having announced as early as 2009 that it hoped to go public on either the Dubai or Abu Dhabi stock market - at the time identifying by 2012 as its target window. However, like many firms, Daman’s plans were put on hold by the steep slump in regional equity markets following the global financial crisis, which saw stock markets slump and investor confidence in new issues drain - to the extent that there were no flotations on the Dubai bourse for around five years until Marka listed earlier this year. Daman sold a 22.7% stake to private investors via a place- Dubai repays $1.93bn sukuk Dubai said yesterday it has repaid $1.93bn raised from Islamic bonds known as “sukuk” and renewed its commitment to pay back billions of dollars worth of debt on time. Dubai repaid 2.5bn dirhams ($68mn) in dirham sukuks and $1.25bn in dollar sukuks, the official WAM news agency reported, citing a government statement. It said both sukuks matured yesterday. Dubai has repaid or restructured billions of dollars of debt, as the emirate’s economy recovers from its 2009 debt emergency in the midst of the global financial crisis. In August, the emirate’s real estate giant Nakheel repaid all of its $2.15bn bank debt almost four years ahead of schedule. Dubai in March managed to delay for another five years the repayment of $20bn worth of debt it received from neighbouring Abu Dhabi that was due to mature this year. The International Monetary Fund estimates that Dubai and its governmentlinked entities face a total maturing debt of around $80bn. Abdulrahman al-Saleh, director general of its finance department, said the Nakheel repayment demonstrated Dubai’s commitment to honour its financial obligations on time. The emirate sent shockwaves through markets worldwide in 2009 when it encountered problems servicing its debt mountain. Dubai had by then piled up some $113bn worth of debt. The economy contracted 2.4% in 2009, but it grew 3.4% in 2011 and exceeded 4% growth last year. A view of the Burj Khalifa from downtown Dubai. Dubai-based Daman will sell new shares equivalent to 55% of the firm to the public and list on the Dubai Financial Market during the first quarter of 2015, a statement said. ment of shares in June 2012, which valued the company at 440mn dirhams ($119.8mn), although a previous fundraising round had valued Daman at around double that figure - showing the impact of the global financial crisis on UAE investment firms. Emirates Investment Bank has been appointed financial adviser and lead manager of the offer, with law firm White & Case acting as legal adviser, the statement added. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 5 BUSINESS Qatar shares extend gains, eye 13,800 level By Santhosh V Perumal Business Reporter T he Qatar Stock Exchange yesterday inched near the 13,800 level, gaining for the second straight session, aided by foreign institutions’ substantial buying interests. Increased net buying pressure from local retail and institutions notwithstanding, the 20-stock Qatar Index (based on price data) gained 1.15% to 13,780.59 points. Non-Qatari individual investors were also strongly into profit-booking in the market, which is up 32.77% year-todate. The index that tracks Shariah-principled stock was seen gaining slower than the other indices in the bourse, where trading volume was largely skewed towards realty, banking and telecom stocks. The Total Return Index rose 1.15% to 20,553.62 points, the All Share Index by 0.94% to 3,475.37 points and the Al Rayan Islamic Index by 0.45% to 4,584.69 points. Market capitalisation expanded 1.15%, or more than QR8bn, to QR743.04bn. Industrials stocks surged 2.45%, followed by banks and financial services (0.98%), transport (0.58%), telecom (0.22%) and consumer goods (0.12%), whereas insurance and realty fell 0.6% and 0.56% respectively. Major movers included Industries Qatar, QNB, Gulf International Services, Qatari Investors Group, Commercial Bank, Masraf Al Rayan, Vodafone Qatar and Milaha. However, Barwa, Untied Development Company and Gulf Warehousing were seen bucking the trend. Foreign institutions’ net buying strengthened to QR125.57mn against QR11.84mn on Sunday. Domestic institutions’ net profit-booking rose to QR19.1mn compared to QR12.73mn on November 2. Qatari retail investors’ net selling surged to QR56.52mn against QR15.42mn the previous day. Non-Qatari individual investors turned net sellers to the extent of QR49.95mn compared with net buyers of QR16.31mn on Sunday. Total trade volume shrank 17% to 12.12mn shares and value by 4% to QR663.36mn; while transactions rose 4% to 6,414. The insurance sector’s trade volume plummeted 68% to 0.51mn equities, value by 63% to QR27.59mn and deals by 50% to 263. The market witnessed a 35% plunge in the real estate sector’s trade volume to 3.5mn stocks, 48% in value to QR87.3mn and 34% in transactions to 1,074. The transport sector’s trade volume tanked 18% to 0.84mn shares, value by 29% to QR39.71mn and deals by 15% to 420. The consumer goods sector saw its trade volume lose 2% to 1.22mn equities, value by 53% to QR35.52mn and transactions by 38% to 382. The telecom sector’s trade volume was down less than 1% to 2.06mn stocks but value rose 22% to QR62.7mn and deals by 48% to 625. However, the industrials sector’s trade volume surged 52% to 1.46mn stocks and value more than doubled to QR174.74mn on 67% expansion in transactions to 1,664. The banks and financial services sector reported a 7% rise in trade volume to 2.53mn equities, 30% in value to QR235.79mn and 32% in deals to 1,986. In the debt market, there was no trading of treasury bills and government bonds. Gulf stocks outperform as IPO boosts Saudi bourse Reuters Dubai M The 20-stock Qatar Index yesterday gained 1.15% to close at 13,780.59 points. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil ost Middle Eastern stock markets rose yesterday, outperforming weak Asian and European bourses, as hopes for a bigger weighting in MSCI’s indexes buoyed Qatar and a successful initial public offer supported Saudi Arabia. MSCI is to announce the results of the review on Thursday evening and some analysts think Qatar’s weighting is likely to be raised, which could attract some $200mn of fresh, passive funds to the market. As a leading blue chip, Industries Qatar would be a major beneficiary. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s index gained 0.4% after news that the retail portion of the 22.5bn riyal ($6bn) initial share sale by National Commercial Bank was 16 times subscribed late on the final day of the offer. As of eight o’clock on Sunday evening Saudi time, 1.17mn subscribers had put up a total of 215.8bn riyals for the 300mn shares offered to retail investors, which were priced at 45 riyals each. The fact that the market did not drop too steeply over the past week despite this huge drain of funds was positive, and as excess money is returned to IPO subscribers later this week, the rest of the market may benefit. The market may be dampened today, however, by news that Saudi Arabia’s second biggest telecommunications operator Mobily had restated a year and a half of earnings due to accounting errors and posted a shock plunge in profit; the market regulator has begun an investigation to determine whether the company violated bourse rules. The stock was suspended yesterday and is to resume trading today. In Dubai, the main index fell 0.8% on profit-taking in property-related and construction stocks, after it outperformed the Gulf on Sunday with a 1.6% gain. Egypt’s market climbed 1.4% as two stocks continued to lead it up. Palm Hills Development, which jumped 6.9% on Sunday, added a further 2.9% while Upper Egypt Construction, which rose 3.5% on Sunday as it declared a dividend of 0.1 Egyptian pound a share, gained an additional 3.0%. Bisco Misr, one of Egypt’s main producers of cakes and biscuits, tumbled 9.8% to 72Egyptian pounds after the market regulator said Abraaj Investment Management had made a formal offer of 850mn pounds ($118.9mn) for the company, at a price of 73.91 pounds per share. Tunisia’s stock index rose 1.3% to 4,969 points on optimism over the political situation, after the secular party Nidaa Tounes won 85 seats in the new 217-member parliament in the October 26 election. With no outright majority, Nidaa Tounes still needs to form a coalition with partners in difficult negotiations that could last weeks before a new government is set up; the Islamist Ennahda has called for a national unity government. The index has gained about 8% in the last six trading days, breaking major technical resistance on its February and August peaks as well as its June 2012 low of 4,947 points. That points up in the medium term to the July 2012 peak of 5,292 points. Elsewhere in the Gulf, Abu Dhabi’s index rose 0.5% to 4,950 points; Kuwait’s index fell 0.6% to 7,319 points; Oman’s measure edged up 0.05% to 7,031 points, while Bahrain’s index rose 0.2% to 1,446 points. Qafco, Belgian university sign deal to study urea as poultry feed additive Q Yousef: Strong financial support. Mannai HED, QNB join hands to finance heavy equipment buys M annai HED and QNB have partnered to provide finance solutions to heavy equipment customers. Support is available for companies seeking to bolster their existing operations with new heavy equipment across a range of sectors. Customers benefit from the full breadth of brands available through Mannai HED. “Our clients are often building their heavy equipment portfolio to meet specific contractual needs. Strong financial support is an important aspect of being able to deliver to the satisfaction of their partners,” Khalid Yousef, general manager, Mannai HED said. Financing requires a 20% down payment with repayment over one to three years through monthly instalments. Competitive financing rates are available with minimal conditions imposed relating to third party insurance and a service package that is provided by Mannai HED. “QNB supports the equipment sector through strategic partnerships. We launched our support for this sector with Mannai HED who, as an exclusive agent for premium brands such as JCB, serve the needs of the earth moving industry,” according to Hamad al-Jamali, acting AGM, SME (small and medium enterprises), QNB. atar Fertiliser Company (Qafco) and the Belgian University of Liege signed an agreement for a “joint co-operation on a research programme” to use urea as poultry feed additive to prevent use of antibiotics in agriculture and livestock. The research will also look at the use of urea to improve nutrient capacities of cassava root – one of the largest food carbohydrates source in Africa and Asia. The agreement was signed by Qafco chairman and CEO Khalifa Abdulla alSowaidi and Professor Pascal Leory, dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Liege University. The signing ceremony was attended by Paul Magnette, president, Belgian Walloon Government. The signing ceremony, which took place at the Head Office of Walloonia Government in Belgium recently was attended by officials from both sides. Magnette highlighted the “great importance” of the co-operation between Qafco and the University of Liege for the development of natural solutions to daily diet-especially for baby food-free from residue of food additives or antibiotics that weaken their resistance to diseases. He also pointed out to the depth and unique relationship between Belgium and Qatar and noted the role of Qatar in the international stage. Magnette said Belgium, a chemical industry major in Europe, is seeking an even stronger partnership with Qatar. Al-Sowaidi expressed his delight at signing the agreement, which he said was in line with Qafco’s desire to “build bridges of co-operation” with universities and scientific research institutions. “This agreement is part of our global role as a supporter of efforts at alleviation of global hunger and to provide an alternative to the harmful yet prevalent global food production processes,” he said. Speaking on industry-academia cooperation, he said, “We have always be- Al-Sowaidi and Professor Leory among others at the agreement signing for a research programme on using urea as poultry feed additive to prevent use of antibiotics in agriculture and livestock. lieved that the future of business lies in research labs, as the ideas of today are the industries of tomorrow.” Al-Sowaidi expressed deep gratitude to HH the Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for his continued support and encouragement to the development of Qatar’s relations with the European countries and that the agreement with Liege University was a practical translation of this. Leroy said, “The co-operation be- tween researchers of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Liege University and Qafco aims to use urea as a feedstock through bacterial fermentation district will produce natural ingredients added to foods that promote animal health.” 6 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS Zain Q3 profit falls on Iraq, forex losses Mobily’s surprise move - it cut its 2013 profit by 740mn riyals ($197.28mn) and profit for the first-half of 2014 by 688mn riyals due to what it said were accounting errors - may give potential foreign investors pause for thought and rile existing shareholders. Saudi regulator investigates Mobily after earnings errors Firm restates 2013 profit as 5.94bn riyals; this is down from 6.68bn riyals previously; Mobily also restates Q1 and Q2 2014 profits; due to error in booking revenue from promotional campaign; Q3 net profit 472mn riyals vs 1.63bn a year earlier Reuters Dubai S audi Arabia’s bourse regulator launched an investigation into Mobily yesterday after the telecoms firm restated a year and a half of its earnings, months before the kingdom is due to open its stock market to direct foreign investment. The No 2 operator, also called Etihad Etisalat, and 28% owned by the UAE’ Etisalat, had been expected to report its third-quarter earnings last week, but asked for its shares to be suspended on Thursday, seeking more time to review unspeci- fied “significant matters” in its accounts. “The regulator has started investigations to determine any violations by the company towards the bourse rules,” the Capital Market Authority (CMA) said in a statement, adding that trading in Mobily’s shares would resume today. Saudi Arabia ranked highest among the five main Middle East exchanges for full and accurate disclosure of corporate information, according to a Reuters survey of a dozen international fund managers early this year and second highest for enforcement of rules against illicit trade. Mobily’s surprise move - it cut its 2013 profit by 740mn riyals ($197.28mn) and profit for the firsthalf of 2014 by 688mn riyals due to what it said were accounting errors - may give potential foreign investors pause for thought as well as riling existing shareholders. “This may be a temporary glitch as Mobily has actively engaged analysts and the investor community in the past,” said Asim Bukhtiar, head of research at Riyad Capital. “It might take a couple of quarters to shake off this misstep and the company may need to do some damage control. Foreign investor sentiment may be affected depending on the root cause for restatement and emergence of more details on the quarterly results.” Mobily had reported surging profit after it ended Saudi Telecom Co’s (STC) monopoly in 2005. A record annual profit last year - now amended to be below that of 2012 - helped Mobily’s shares reach an eight-year high of 98.25 riyals in May, but investors became jittery last week after the company failed to report its third-quarter earnings. Its shares fell 8% in three days to a 16-month low of 79.95 riyals before the company asked for the trading halt. Mobily yesterday reported a net profit of 472mn riyals in the three months to September 30, down from 1.63bn riyals in the prior-year period. Analysts polled by Reuters had on average forecast Mobily, which competes with STC and Zain Saudi, would make a quarterly profit of 1.67bn riyals. Mobily said the profit drop was because its third-quarter earnings in 2013 were boosted by non-recurring wholesale revenue that was not repeated in the same period of 2014. Also, depreciation, sales, marketing and general expenses rose yearon-year. These included extra provisions of 207mn riyals for bad debts, slow-moving inventory and goodwill impairments on its investments. Mobily restated its 2013 net profit as 5.94bn riyals, down from 6.68bn riyals previously, due to an error in the timing of booking revenue from a promotional campaign. This mistake also required Mobily to restate its net profits for the first two quarters of 2014. It raised its first-quarter profit to 1.61bn riyals from 1.4bn riyals previously, but second-quarter profit fell to 412mn riyals from 1.31bn riyals. Riyad Capital’s Bukhtiar said Mobily had hired third-party wholesalers to distribute its mobile top-up cards and would book the revenue from these cards on delivery to the wholesaler even though these had not necessarily yet been bought by customers. “Investors were wondering when Mobily’s growth would slow down but quarter after quarter the numbers remained very good,” he added. The CMA said in July it would open the kingdom’s market, the biggest in the Arab world, in the first half of 2015, sparking a stock surge. Currently, foreigners other than residents of Saudi Arabia and citizens of neighbouring Gulf states can only invest in the market in indirect ways, such as through swaps and exchange-traded funds. Zain, Kuwait’s No 1 telecoms firm by subscribers, posted a 13% fall in third-quarter profit yesterday, missing analysts’ estimates due to foreign exchange losses and Iraq’s civil war disrupting its operations in the country. The former monopoly, which operates in eight countries in the Middle East and Africa, made a net profit of 46mn dinars ($158mn) in the three months to September 30 versus 53mn dinars in the prior-year period, it said in a statement. Analysts polled by Reuters on average forecast Zain would make a quarterly profit of 60.1mn dinars. The firm had posted falling profits in six of the preceding eight quarters as tougher competition at home, service interruptions in war-torn Iraq and a steep drop in the value of Sudan’s currency weighed on the bottom line. Zain suffered foreign exchange losses of $52.4mn in the third quarter versus foreign exchange losses of $21.4mn in the prior-year period. The company’s nine-month net profit fell 2% to 161mn dinars, while revenue was flat at 921mn dinars. Iraq is Zain’s most important unit, accounting for 30% of the company’s customers and 38% of revenue in the first nine months of 2014. The Iraqi unit’s nine-month net profit fell 14% to $224mn, outpacing a 4% drop in revenue to $1.24bn, as it suffered from temporary network shutdowns and higher network operating costs due to the civil war engulfing much of the country. Zain’s nine-month domestic profit rose 4% to $289mn as data income climbed 14% year-on-year to account for nearly a third of revenue, which totalled $935mn. In Kuwait, Zain competes with Wataniya, a unit of Qatar’s Ooredoo, and Viva, an affiliate of Saudi Telecom Co (STC). Third-quarter revenue was 294mn dinars. This compares with 313mn dinars a year ago. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, the emirate’s largest Shariah-compliant bank, posted a 20.6% increase in its third-quarter net profit yesterday, ahead of analyst expectations, as its earnings were boosted by higher lending. The profit growth is in line with other banks in the UAE, who have posted strong results for the reporting period as they benefit from a positive domestic economic backdrop and improving asset quality since a downturn at the start of the decade. ADIB, which completed in September the purchase of Barclays’ retail banking assets in the UAE, made a net profit of 476.8mn dirhams ($129.8mn) in the three months to September 30, up from 395.5mn dirhams in the prior-year period, it said in a statement. The earnings were ahead of forecasts by analysts at Beltone Financial and EFG Hermes, who expected net profit for the period of 471mn dirhams and 459mn dirhams respectively. Net customer financing, how loans are described by Islamic banks, totalled 71.6bn dirhams at the end of September, up 16% from the start of the year. The growth experienced in the third quarter of the year was mainly attributed to its wholesale banking division, the bank said. Net revenue for funding, equivalent to net interest income, for the third quarter was boosted as a result, jumping 19.7% year on year. Income from fees and commission, which grew 24.1% year on year in the third quarter, helped to offset declines in income from investments and foreign exchange. Foreign businesses NCB’s $6bn IPO lures $58bn in Thailand scared bids despite controversy by investment A restriction plans Bloomberg Riyadh By Arno Maierbrugger Gulf Times Correspondent Bangkok I n a move that has been met with astonishment by foreign businesses and investors in Thailand, the Thai government is seemingly planning new restrictions on foreign ownership of Thai companies. Citing an internal document that has been circulating among foreign embassies, there are massive concerns in the foreign business community about planned amendments to the Foreign Business Act that would “close loopholes” for foreigners controlling more than 49% of a company incorporated in Thailand, the Bangkok Post reported on Sunday. While, technically, the current regulation in fact says that Thai nationals must hold more than 50% of a local company, there has been no prohibition that foreigners hold the majority of the board members or effectively control the company through shares with stronger voting rights. Many foreign investors are making use of these rights to run their company, with Thai shareholders appearing just on paper. However, the amendment of the Foreign Business Act could limit this de-facto control of foreign investors in their businesses in which they mostly are the sole investors. The proposed changes also come at a time where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) is moving towards a more open and liberalised economy with the Asean Economic Community set to be launched by end-2015. It is understood that the amended law is meant to benefit local Thai companies by reducing foreign competition. The foreign business community commented on the possible amendments in harsh words. If foreign ownership and control of Thai firms would be limited that way, it “will scare the hell out of both existing investors and those contemplating investing in this country”, said David Lyman, founder of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand. “It is contrasting the statement of the Thai government to rebuild confidence in the country,” he added. The law could be passed as early as next year, according to the document. The Commerce Ministry seems to be aware of a possible negative impact on foreign investment and stated that it would have to offer special incentives such as tax breaks to keep investors happy. Interestingly, just a few months ago the militarybacked government in Thailand said it is eager to establish an “open economy” to strengthen investor confidence in the country, and that it welcomes foreign investors “with open arms.” The proposed amendment to the Foreign Business Act comes at a time when the World Bank says that Thailand will be the slowest growing economy in Southeast Asia at least until 2016. The country’s Finance Ministry just had to cut its forecast for this year’s economic growth rate from 2% to 1.4%. Exports growth is flat, foreign as well as domestic investments have been weak since the military coup took place in May this year, and tourism numbers were continuously dropping. Adding to this, regional peers such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia are increasing competition in core economic sectors such as rice and garment exports, electronics and car manufacturing. Economists doubt the Thai Finance Ministry’s forecast of a “back-to-normal” growth rate of above 4% in 2015 as long as the current government keeps lacking policies to bolster economic expansion. fatwa against National Commercial Bank’s initial public offering could not derail the biggest-ever share sale in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia’s largest bank said in a statement on Sunday it attracted 215.8bn riyals ($58bn) of bids from about 1.2mn investors as of 8pm in Riyadh. While that pales by comparison with the almost 9mn who subscribed for Alinma Bank’s IPO in 2008, NCB’s offering to sell 300mn shares was almost 16-times oversubscribed, signalling investors pitched for larger blocs of shares. Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh said on television last month the IPO is un-Islamic, as criticism deepened over the bank’s non Shariahcompliant assets. To mitigate the controversy, NCB pledged to divest about $38bn of assets to become fully Shariah-compliant in five years. The bank’s IPO is this year’s biggest globally after Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s September offering. “It’s an attractive IPO and it was bound to get covered,” Mohammed Alsuwayed, a Riyadh-based financial analyst and partner at SPT Investors, a market-analytics company, said by telephone on Saturday. The fatwa has had an impact on the average Saudi, “but major investors are usually the ones that take on such a big IPO,” he said. NCB sold 500mn shares, or a 25% stake, at 45 riyals apiece, raising $6bn and valuing the lender at about $24bn. The bank allocated 200mn shares to the kingdom’s Public Pension Fund. The sale, only open to Saudi nationals, overtakes the $5bn raised by Dubai’s DP World Ltd in 2007. Prior to NCB’s share sale, Alinma’s was the kingdom’s largest banking IPO. Saudi Arabia is removing barriers to one of the world’s most restricted financial NCB sold 500mn shares, or a 25% stake, at 45 riyals apiece, raising $6bn and valuing the lender at about $24bn markets next year, where foreigners are barred from directly buying and selling domestic assets. The kingdom’s benchmark index has climbed 19% this year to close at 10,141.67 today. “If NCB was an Islamic IPO, the number of subscribers would have definitely been very high,” Alsuwayed said. “Clients in the region prefer Islamic services. It’s a big deal for the region, especially Saudis.” NCB’s Shariah committee said on October 16 that 67% of the bank’s assets complied with the Shariah ban on interest as of the end of June. NCB’s shares are currently valued at as much as 65 riyals, Mohammed al-Omran, a financial analyst and president of the Gulf Center for Financial Consultancy in Riyadh, said by phone on Sunday. “If the market breaks 11,000 points and optimism is high, there might be a chance it goes over 100 riyals,” he said. Orders sputtered for the first 11 days of the subscription period, with bids covering 50% of the IPO. They jumped to 210% at the end of the following day. “The IPO is very attractive to high-networth individuals,” Alsuwayed said. “The reason why investors waited until the last minute to subscribe is that they had to take on loans and I believe most of them are planning to liquidate once the stock is listed.” The sale offers an investment opportunity irrespective of restrictions and the controversy over Shariah compliance, according to Al Masah Capital Ltd. “The valuation for NCB is quite attractive when compared to the Saudi banking sector,” Shailesh Dash, chief executive officer of the Dubai-based company, said by e-mail on Sunday. There was “a good turnout considering the size of the IPO, the participation restrictions in Saudi IPOs by foreigners and the recent selloff in the market due to the oil-price decline,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 7 BUSINESS Deserted by China, Taiwanese solar cell makers eye new markets Reuters Taipei C aught in a trade war between China and the United States, Taiwan’s solar companies are scrambling to find new customers in a sharp reversal of fortunes for an industry flooded with orders just a year ago. Solar cell makers such as Neo Solar Power Corp, Motech Industries Inc and Gintech Energy Corp are chasing contracts in Japan, Europe and emerging solar markets to offset a steep decline in sales to China. “We’re all quite panicked and look- ing to international markets for growth,” Gordon Chen, president of the Taiwan Photovoltaic Industry Association, told Reuters. Taiwanese solar cells were in high demand as a means for Chinese panel makers to sidestep US anti-dumping tariffs. Since Washington extended the duties to Taiwan in July, however, Chinese buyers have shifted back to cheaper, home-made cells for use in the panels they ship to the United States. This has left Taiwanese solar cell makers with a 1 gigawatt-sized hole in their order books at a time when they have added extra capacity to meet Chinese demand that is no longer there. And while Taiwanese companies could skirt US tariffs by moving production overseas, their margins would take a hit as they would have to price cells cheaper to compete with China. “Taiwanese solar companies will have to be cost-competitive to survive,” said Edward Guinness, co-portfolio manager at Guinness Atkinson Asset Management, which owns Chinese solar stocks including Trina Solar Ltd and JA Solar Holdings Co. Taiwanese domestic demand for solar cells is about 200 megawatts, a fraction of the nearly 10 gigawatts of production capacity that the country is expected to have by the end of year, according to renewable energy consultancy firm GTM Research. This is also 24% more than capacity at the end of 2013. The loss of Chinese business is already evident in monthly sales figures. Neo Solar reported September sales of TWD1.96bn ($64.4mn), 13% lower than a year ago, while Gintech Energy’s sales for the same period dropped by nearly a quarter. Neo Solar’s shares have fallen about 18% since July 25, when the United States set anti-dumping duties on Taiwan. Shares of Motech and Gintech Energy shares have each fallen more than 20% over the same period. In October, Taiwanese cells were priced at about 33 cents per watt, mar- ginally more expensive than Chinese cells at 32 cents, but Taiwanese firms have little room to cut prices, said GTM Research analyst Jade Jones. Solar cell prices depend both on the price of the wafers that go into them and the panels in which they are used, making it difficult for cell makers to alter rates. While moving production or contract manufacturing to countries such as Turkey and India is an option, some Taiwanese companies are concerned that U.S. sanctions could follow them to new production centres, industry executives said. The United States has set preliminary anti-dumping duties of 26% to 165% on imports of Chinese and Taiwanese solar products. A final decision is due in December, which may prompt Taiwanese companies to firm up their plans. A foolproof way to avoid new tariffs would, of course, be to move to the United States, but the high cost of production would make such a move unsustainable, executives said. “We are evaluating moving manufacturing overseas ... looking in particular at Thailand, Mexico and Malaysia,” Gintech Energy Chief Financial Officer Lay Lay Pan told Reuters. Similarly, Solartech Energy Corp is in talks with a Malaysian firm to begin cell production there. Another company, Tainergy Tech Co, started making panels in Vietnam in October. Indonesia inflation edges up as fuel price hike looms Daimler opens R&D centre for Mercedes-Benz in China AFP Jakarta Reuters Beijing I D ndonesia’s inflation accelerated faster than expected in October, official data showed yesterday, as prices of some goods were hiked in anticipation of the new government raising the fuel price. Inflation rose to 4.83% onyear in October from 4.53% the previous month as the cost of everyday items such as cigarettes and cooking gas increased, the statistics agency said. It was slightly higher than economists had forecast. “Prices have gone up now because the market has anticipated the fuel price hike,” said Destry Damayanti, chief economist from Indonesia’s Bank Mandiri. A hike pushes up the price of everyday goods due to increased transportation costs. New President Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, is expected to announce a large increase in the price of petrol and diesel in the coming weeks to cut government subsidies that are a drain on Southeast Asia’s biggest economy. Economists say Widodo has no choice but to reduce the crippling payouts that eat up around a fifth of the annual budget, and are blamed for a large current account deficit that has spooked investors. However, hiking the price is unpopular and has in the past sparked violent protests. The central bank governor has warned that if fuel prices are increased by nearly half, as expected, inflation could reach more than nine per cent this year. September’s trade deficit narrowed slightly to $270mn from around $320mn the previous month, official data showed. It was still larger than economists had forecast, however, with exports to Indonesia’s top trade partner China slowing. Manufacturing activity contracted in October, with HSBC’s purchasing managers index dipping to 49.2 following a modest rebound in September. A reading above 50 indicates expansion, while below signals contraction. aimler AG has opened a research and development (R&D) centre in Beijing tasked with further tuning its Mercedes-Benz brand to wealthy Chinese tastes and closing the sales gap with Audi AG and BMW. The German auto maker’s move demonstrates a desire to “embed us more deeply in China, to make cars best suited to China,” Hubertus Troska, Daimler’s China head, told Reuters. Daimler is expanding its MercedesBenz brand in China at a time when an investigation into anti-competitive practices in the auto industry is prompting car makers to lower prices. Mercedes-Benz itself has previously said it was co-operating with an investigation into unspecified matters. The new R&D centre nevertheless signals commitment to a market Troska said would become Mercedes-Benz’s largest in as early as one or two years. With that in mind, the automaker plans to raise the number of Mercedes-Benz engineers and other specialists in Beijing to 500 by the end of next year from 350. “It is a logical step to better understand the market and make sure Chinese requirements are properly regarded early in the process when we develop a next generation of cars,” Troska said in an interview last week. The R&D centre caps a series of moves Troska has made since becoming China head in 2012, including reforming marketing and sales and raising dealer numbers. Its focus on Chinese tastes should help Mercedes-Benz catch up in the local luxury car segment with Volkswagen AG’s Audi and BMW, he said. Researcher LMC Automotive projects Mercedes-Benz to sell 291,000 vehicles in China this year, compared with 581,000 for luxury market-leader Audi and 448,000 for second-placed BMW. Troska said new models such as the GLA compact SUV should help Mercedes-Benz sell “significantly more than 300,000 units next year.” LMC Automotive puts Mercedes-Benz’s 2015 sales at 386,000 vehicles. Daimler has invested about €110mn ($138.30mn) over recent months in the new R&D centre and in another centre it recently opened in Beijing with local partner BAIC Motor Corp. Such investments are more than appropriate, Troska said, given the “growth potential in China is unique.” Automobile sales growth in China has Employees work at Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz research and development centre in Beijing. slowed in recent months in tandem with a slowdown in the overall economy. But automakers estimate overall annual demand will be as many as 35mn vehicles by 2020, from 22mn vehicles last year. Among the R&D centre’s more immediate tasks is better tuning MercedesBenz in with its Chinese customer base. The average age of the brand’s customers in China is 38 compared with Germany where the age is about 20 years older, a company spokesman said. High on the wish list of these younger buyers is in-car Internet access, Troska said. Other features popular with wealthy Chinese include spacious back seats, advanced entertainment systems and climate control, because many customers have chauffeurs and drive themselves only at weekends. Also as part of the China focus, Troska said Mercedes-Benz is considering a new super premium car built particularly with the Chinese consumer in mind. “The (flagship) S-class is uniquely positioned and has a tradition also in China as being a top-of-the-line boss’ car. Is there an opportunity to position even the S-class slightly higher? I think there is,” Troska said. “You will very soon hear about it,” he added, declining to elaborate. Daimler has also moved MercedesBenz’s Beijing design studio to within the new R&D centre and expanded it with staff from a studio the automaker closed near Tokyo - reflecting a general industry shift towards making more design decisions in China. Roughly 40 designers will work on the shapes of cars destined for market in 10 to 15 years’ time under the studio’s new design chief Hubert Lee, formerly head of Mercedes-Benz’s Advanced Design Studio in Carlsbad, California. Promise of �Captain America’ fading for Asia’s LNG buyers Reuters Singapore North American liquefied natural gas projects, once believed to be the panacea that would save Asia from paying top dollar for the super chilled fuel, are proving to be less of a game changer than originally expected. High costs, gruelling regulatory processes and mounting social opposition have slowed the development of new capacity in Canada and the United States, tempering early hopes that a flood of cheap western gas would drive down prices. A sudden rise in demand for LNG after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011 created a tight market for the commodity, pushing Asian prices to new highs and sending buyers scrambling to make deals with fledgling producers in North America. Three years later, the majority of projected US and Canadian volumes are still as much as a decade from first shipment, making it difficult for them to spare Asia from LNG prices that have been up to twice as expensive as natural gas in European markets this year. “A few years ago, there was a kind of enthusiasm that US LNG would solve everything, that is the �Captain America’ story,” Ken Koyama, chief economist at Japan’s Institute of Energy Economics, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Singapore International Energy Week conference. “As we gain a better understanding of the US’s possible role in LNG in Asia, we are still very much interested in it, but we are not so excited.” North America’s first LNG export terminal, Cheniere Energy Inc’s Sabine Pass, is currently under construction, with initial LNG cargoes expected by late 2015. Shovels hit the ground last month on a second US Gulf Coast terminal, Sempra Energy’s Cameron LNG project, with two further projects approved by US regulators for non-free trade exports, and numerous more under review. In Canada, Malaysia’s Petronas is expected to make a final investment decision on its Pacific NorthWest LNG project by mid-December and could potentially start building the US neighbour’s first ever LNG export terminal in 2015. But last month state-owned Petronas threatened to delay that project by up to 15 years unless a favourable tax deal was reached, and last week BG Group pushed back an investment decision on its Canadian project by a year to 2017. While the promise of North American LNG exports has had an effect on Asian markets, helping drive a shift to new hybrid price contracts and flexible delivery models, the slow rate of development has muted the overall impact. “There’s a lot of gas reserves in Canada and the US,” said Hoe-Wai Cheong, Executive Vice President at Black & Veatch Corp. “But if you look at the pace by which that’s coming out and the amount of gas that will ultimately be exported, I don’t believe it will have a significant impact on the global LNG pricing.” Demand for LNG is expected to increase by 40% through 2025 to roughly 350mn tonnes per annum, according to data from GDF Suez. Driving that growth are new markets in China, India and Southeast Asia. At the same time, dozens of projects have been proposed for Canada and the United States, as energy companies look to tap into cheap North American gas to feed rising Asian demand. But experts say the vast majority of those export terminals will never be built, with just a handful expected to proceed on either side of the border. And while initial volumes from the Gulf Coast of the United States are expected next year, there are questions around how much will actually end up in Asian markets. “It’s probably a misconception that US LNG is all going to Asia,” said Nicholas Browne, an analyst with Wood Mackenzie. “If you look at the companies involved in certain projects, such as Corpus Christi, it’s predominantly European utilities.” Cheniere has signed sales contracts with Asian buyers like Indonesia’s Pertamina and South Korea’s Kogas, but concerns remain on the ultimate cost of shipping that gas through the Panama Canal, especially as the spot prices for LNG deliveries into Asia have fluctuated in a broad range this year. LNG spot prices dropped from a multi-year peak at $20.50/mmBtu in February to a post-Fukushima low at $10.60/mmBtu in August, as demand growth slowed and as a run-off in global oil benchmarks pulled energy values lower. Canada, on the other hand, benefits from far shorter shipping distances to Asia, though the cost of building new pipeline and liquefaction infrastructure is high, making it hard to justify the initial investment if prices stay low. Adding to that risk is a slow regulatory process, difficult negotiations with Aboriginal communities and new taxes. In some cases, sales margins are proving to be razor thin, putting the ultimate feasibility of projects at risk. “If the fundamental economics do not work, these projects will not happen,” Aaron Engen, Managing Director at BMO Capital Markets, told an industry audience at the conference. Despite the challenges, Canada is attractive to integrated trading companies who want exposure to more of the value chain, said Nick Kouvaritakis, a lawyer with Herbert Smith Freehills. By taking stakes in both upstream developments and export terminals, proponents can hedge themselves against fluctuations in the North American gas price. “I think that’s really the fundamental advantage of the Canadian projects,” he said, adding that if risks are managed, there is potential for a significant upside. With much of the new capacity in North America now expected to come online in the 2020s, that supply could prove to be attractive to emerging buyers like China and India, rather than traditional markets in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Still, competition from other emerging regions like East Africa will be fierce – particularly from frontier fields in Mozambique – and North American projects could be hindered by political and regulatory constraints. “Gas exports in U.S. are still in a grey zone. Not forbidden, but not encouraged,” said Chen Wei Dong, Senior Economist with CNOOC Energy Economics Institute. “In Canada, there’s a lot of waiting ... it’s slow, no hurry like China.” 8 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS Yen’s worst yet to come in options after Kuroda shocks Bloomberg Tokyoa The worst is yet to come for the yen after Japan’s two-pronged attack on deflation sent the currency tumbling to its weakest level in almost seven years. Option prices show traders see a 65 percent chance the yen, which has already slumped 6.8% this year, will drop an additional 1.8% to 115 per dollar in the next three months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s up from 18% on October 30, the day before authorities surprised investors by saying the government pension fund will invest more of its money overseas and Bank of Japan Governor Sensex flat; rupee depreciates IANS Mumbai A benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended yesterday’s trade flat – marginally down by 5.45 points or 0.02% – after touching a record high of 27,969.82 points in the early morning trade session. In the early morning trade session the benchmark index had surpassed its previous high of 27,894.32 points it hit on Friday. This was the third consecutive time that the Sensex hit a record high. Subsequently it lost the early gains and traded in the red. Healthy buying was observed in banks, realty, healthcare and capital goods. While selling pressure was sustained in auto, consumer durables and oil and gas stocks. The 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the S&P Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 27,943.04 points, closed trade at 27,860.38 points, down 5.45 points or 0.02% from the previous day’s close at 27,865.83 points. The Sensex touched a high of 27,969.82 points and a low of 27,785.40 points in the intratrade. The S&P bank index gained 90.18 points, realty index was up 56.02 points, followed by the healthcare sector which was higher by 53 points and capital goods index which increased by 46.05 points. However, auto index dropped by 163.65 points, followed by consumer durables index which was down 146.43 points and oil and gas index which lost 23.37 points. The wider 50-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade in the positive territory. It gained 1.95 points or 0.02% up at 8,324.15 points. Meanwhile, the Indian rupee yesterday depreciated by four paise to close at 61.40 against the Greenback on moderate dollar demand from importers, amid some hesitancy in equities. A better dollar overseas also weighed on the rupee while sustained capital inflows restricted the rupee fall. At the Interbank Foreign Exchange ( Forex) market, the rupee commenced lower at 61.50 a dollar from its previous close of 61.36. It moved in a range of 61.3750 and 61.5550 before concluding at 61.40, a fall of 4 paise or 0.07%. Haruhiko Kuroda will expand currency depreciating stimulus. “The BoJ has dropped another stimulus bombshell,” Daisaku Ueno, the chief currency strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. in Tokyo, said by phone on October 31. “It’s quite possible the yen will drop to 112 or 113 per dollar by the end of the year, or even 115.” That level – last reached in November 2007 – is already starting to become the consensus. Companies from Nomura Holdings Inc., Japan’s biggest brokerage, to JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their year-end forecast to 115 per dollar on Friday, while Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said the day’s announcements made its estimate for the yen to reach that level in 12 months suddenly seem “conservative.” The yen tumbled to 112.99 per dollar today, the weakest level since December 2007, before trading at 112.98 at 10:11 am in London. The currency has slumped 3.9% in the past three months against a basket of its major peers tracked by Bloomberg Correlation-Weighted Indexes, the biggest decline of the 10 currencies in the group. While a weaker currency would help the BoJ combat persistent deflation and aid exporters, it risks squeezing companies and consumers by raising costs for fuel and energy that are largely imported. Bankruptcies due to the weak yen more than doubled to 214 in the first nine months of 2014 compared with the year- ago period, Shoko Research Ltd. said. A survey released by the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry in September showed the majority of respondents viewed an exchange rate of 95-105 yen per dollar to be ideal. Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Akio Mimura said last month a “pleasing” level for the yen would be 100 per dollar, Kyodo reported. Kuroda said last month a lower exchange rate can depress the nonmanufacturing sector and real incomes, though three days before the new stimulus was announced he said the yen’s decline was positive overall for the economy. Traders were rocked by Friday’s surprise announcements. The ¥127.3tn ($1.1tn) Government Pension Investment Fund set allocation targets of 25% each for Japanese and overseas equities, up from 12% each. It will reduce domestic bonds to 35% of assets from 60%. Analysts surveyed by Bloomberg anticipated levels of 24% for local stocks, 15% for global shares and 40% for Japanese bonds. On the same day, the BoJ said it was increasing its annual target for enlarging the monetary base, achieved mostly by buying assets including bonds, to ¥80tn yen, from ¥60tn-¥70tn previously. Kuroda said policy makers are determined to end Japan’s “deflationary mindset.” “It is quite a coordinated action, whether consciously or unconsciously,” Takatoshi Ito, who led a government pension advisory panel last year, said in a phone interview from Bangkok. “It was beautifully timed.” The chances of the yen sliding to 115 by the end of the first quarter of next year rose to 72%, from 29% on October 30, according to Bloomberg’s currency probability calculator, which is based on options prices. The currency has an 81% probability of reaching that level in 12 months, up from 50% before the BoJ’s announcement. “The timing was a surprise to us, and the market,” Robin Brooks, Goldman Sachs’s chief currency strategist, said by phone from New York on October 31. “If additional easing is needed, they’ll do it. There’s probably scope for dollar-yen to move higher.” Buffett is right again as 60% of Asian airline IPOs lose money Bloomberg Singapore W arren Buffett said a decade ago he’s sworn off putting money in airline stocks since his $358mn “mistake” in US Airways Group Inc. Investors in Asian carriers would do well to heed his advice. Six of the 10 initial public offerings by airlines in Asia during the past five years are trading below their sale prices, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Today, Bangkok Airways, which raised $494mn last month in Asia’s latest airline IPO, fell 12% on its trading debut to join the list. Asia’s airlines have failed to capitalise on a surge in passenger numbers as the start of a dozen new carriers in the past decade has pushed the industry toward overcapacity. The 10 airlines have fallen an average 12% from their offer levels even as the region’s publicly traded carriers racked up a combined $1.8bn in losses last year. “There’s too much competition in the airline industry,” said Alan Richardson, an investment manager at Samsung Asset Management Co in Hong Kong who previously lost money buying shares in Thailand’s Nok Airlines Pcl. He didn’t invest in the Bangkok Air IPO. “Until you get a shift in the demandsupply, you won’t get any meaningful leverage in these asset-heavy companies.” Asia’s increasing urbanization and growing middle class are fuelling a surge in travel demand. New airlines have popped up all over the continent, from Vanilla Air Inc and Peach Aviation Ltd in Japan to budget carriers in India started by a property tycoon, cookie maker and owner of a travel agency. That contrasts with the mature markets of the US and Europe, where overcapacity has led to consolidation and fewer carriers for planemakers to sell to. Close to half the world’s air-traffic growth will involve Asian routes over the next 20 years, according to Boeing Co marketing chief Randy Tinseth. Carriers from the region will require 12,820 more aircraft, or 36% of the global total, Tinseth said in February. Competitor Airbus Group NV puts the figure at 11,000 planes. “Airlines are not good investments,” said Shukor Yusof, founder of industry consultant Endau Analytics. “It never was even at the best of times. That’s why Warren Buffett has stayed away from it. It’s a very cyclical industry.” Trying to take advantage of the upcycle in traffic is Bangkok Air, Ground staff walk beside a Bangkok Airways Airbus SAS A319 aircraft at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline, which raised $494mn last month in Asia’s latest airline IPO, fell 12% on its trading debut yesterday. Thailand’s oldest private carrier. The company received orders for more than 1.5 times the amount of stock it offered in its IPO. The airline set the sale price at 25 baht, the midpoint of the marketed range of 23 to 27 baht per share. The stock fell to 22 baht at the close of trading in Bangkok today, the worst debut performance in the country this year, with over 114mn shares changing hands, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The country’s benchmark index declined 0.3%. Bangkok Air plans to use the money to buy 18 new planes, mounting competition for regional rivals like Thai Airways International Pcl and Singapore Airlines Ltd. Competition is also hurting Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia’s biggest carrier, which is taking measures such as cutting its planes’ weight to return to profit. The last airline share sale in Thailand lost money for investors. Nok Air, a budget carrier controlled by Thai Airways, is trading 45% lower than its offer price of 26 baht last year. “There’s always risks investing in airlines,” said Richardson of Samsung Asset. He bought the carrier’s shares, which he said ended up being “a value trap” and “a mistake.” Richardson didn’t participate in the Bangkok Air IPO as “I can probably buy cheaper six months later when all the euphoria would have faded,” he said. Buffett, the billionaire chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, said in March 2001 that he’s off investing in airline stocks after the “mistake” in US Airways. “Now if I get the urge to invest in airlines, I call an 800 number, and I say: �Hello, my name is Warren, and I’m an air-o-holic,’” he said then. “Sometimes, it takes them 10 minutes to talk me out of it, sometimes more.” Buffett: Staying away from investing in airline stocks. Asian bourses take breather after last week’s surge AFP Tokyo A Traders monitor stock transactions at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. The bourse yesterday ended 82.09 points lower at 23,915.97. sian markets were mixed yesterday as traders took a breather after last week’s rally, but Shanghai hit a 21-month high on hopes of Chinese stimulus measures after a weak manufacturing report. Wall Street on Friday had provided a healthy lead, with the Dow and S&P 500 reaching new highs after Japan’s central bank said it would ramp up its own stimulus programme to kickstart growth. The dollar held on to Friday’s gains against the yen, sitting at seven-year highs. Friday’s news came days after the US Federal Reserve ended its own stimulus. Sydney eased 0.36%, or 19.7 points, to 5,506.9, while Seoul dropped 0.58%, or 11.46 points, to close at 1,952.97. Hong Kong ended 0.34% lower, dipping 82.09 points to 23,915.97. But Shanghai closed 0.41% higher, adding 9.85 points to 2,430.03, its highest since February last year. Tokyo was shut for a public holiday. Global markets and the dollar surged on Friday after the Bank of Japan said it would widen its asset-purchasing scheme to boost lending and try to avoid a recession. After a jump in Asian shares, including a near-five per cent rise in Tokyo, Wall Street powered ahead. China at the weekend released an index of manufacturing activity that showed growth slowed in October, the latest data indicating the world’s second-largest economy slowing down. The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 50.8 last month, the National Bureau of Statistics said, lower than 51.1 in September. Readings above 50 indicate growth while anything below points to contraction. PMI tracks activity in China’s factories and workshops and is a closely-watched indicator of the health of the economy. Yesterday a separate report by HSBC came in a 50.4, the strongest result since July. “Overall, the manufacturing sector continued to stabilise in October, however the sequential momentum likely weakened,” said HSBC. “The economy still shows clear signs of insufficient effective demand.” The figures have raised hopes that Beijing will introduce new economy-boosting measures, with some analysts suggesting officials will cut the amount of cash banks must keep in reserve in order to boosting lending. “More new infrastructure projects and continuous monetary easing might improve manufacturing for the coming months,” Haitong Securities said, according to Dow Jones Newswires. On currency markets the dollar bought 112.76 yen – its highest since December 2007 – against 112.25 yen Friday in New York. The euro was at $1.2489 and 140.85 yen compared with $1.2525 and 140.71 yen. Oil prices were mixed. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 39 cents to $80.15, while Brent crude was down 53 cents at $85.33. The price of gold fell to $1,172.85 an ounce from $1,173.87 late Friday. In other markets, Taipei rose 0.34%, or 30.10 points, to 9,004.86; Wellington climbed 0.56 percent, or 30.39 points, to 5,418.22; Manila ended 1.35 percent higher, adding 97.12 points to 7,312.85; Jakarta closed flat, edging down 4.04 points to 5085.51; Kuala Lumpur ended flat at 1,853.34; Singapore closed 0.51%, or 16.59 points, higher at 3,290.84 and Bangkok closed down 0.31 percent, or 4.98 points, to 1,579.18. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 9 BUSINESS Chinese wait for gold price to drop further Reuters Singapore E ven with gold prices dropping to near 4-year lows, buyers in China – the world’s leading market – aren’t tempted, suggesting prices have further to fall. When gold prices are in a slump, Chinese buyers, eyeing a bargain, traditionally move in and stop the rot. But that doesn’t seem to be happening this time around. The current market decline has seen the price of gold lose more than a third of its value in two years, to around $1,173 an ounce. Unusually, prices on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the world’s biggest platform for physical trade, are at a discount of around $1 an ounce to the global benchmark, slipping from premiums of $1-$2 an ounce last week. Since all physical gold trade in China goes through the exchange, it is seen as a reliable barometer of Chinese demand. World gold prices are at their lowest since 2010 and slid $25 an ounce on Friday as the dollar strengthened, but Chinese buyers still aren’t biting, predicting prices have further to drop. There is little sign of increased demand, dealers at importing banks in China and traders told Reuters yesterday, recalling how China led a rush to buy jewellery and gold bars and coins when prices slumped about $200 an ounce in two days last year. “We’ve not seen any significant physical demand on the back of this (price drop),” said Victor Thianpiriya, an analyst at ANZ in Singapore. “That’s a worrying sign for prices as Chinese buying was really the only thing supporting the market on self-offs last year.” China overtook India as the biggest gold buyer last year, with consumers and investors buying record amounts of the precious metal as prices tumbled 28% after a 12-year rally. That splurge, along with uncertainty over gold prices and a crackdown on corruption, have dented China’s appetite this year. Demand has dropped by more than a fifth in the first nine months of the year, according to the China Gold Association. Hyundai, Kia fined $300mn for overstating fuel efficiency Under the civil accord, which involved the sale of 1.2mn cars and SUVs, the companies will also spend around $50mn to prevent future violations, and forfeit emissions credits estimated to be worth more than $200mn Dow Jones Seoul/Washington K orean auto makers Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors agreed to pay a combined penalty of $300mn for overstating fuel-economy claims, the largest such punishment ever, in a settlement that could create a pricey precedent for other car companies. Hyundai and Kia, affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group, will pay a combined $100mn in civil fines and forfeit regulatory credits valued at $200mn to settle a two-year long probe by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department, the agencies said. Ford Motor is among other auto makers facing potential fines for similar practices. In November 2012, Hyundai admitted after an audit of its mileage claims by the EPA that it had overstated the fuel efficiency for about 1.2mn vehicles, or about a quarter of its 2011-2013 model vehicles sold in the US. The vehicles involved included popular models such as the Accent and Elantra compact cars, the sporty Veloster coupe and the Santa Fe sport utility. Kia admitted overstating mileage claims for its Rio and Soul models. The EPA said the overstatements ranged from between 1 and 6 miles per gallon. During fuel-economy tests, Hyundai and Kia engineers “allegedly chose favourable results rather than average results from a large number of tests,” the EPA said in a statement. At the time, Hyundai and Kia said the overstatements were the result of mistakes by engineers running mileage tests; the companies then lowered the mileage claims and offered compensation to owners of the affected cars. The actions undermined claims that several of its best-selling models were rated at 40 miles per gallon in highway driving, a cornerstone of Hyundai’s US marketing efforts at the time. “Hyundai has acted transparently, reimbursed affected customers and fully co-operated with the EPA throughout the course of its investigation, “ David Zuchowski, chief executive of the Hyundai brand in the US, said in a statement. “We are pleased to put this behind us, and gratified that even with our adjusted fuel economy ratings, Hyundai From left: Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Sam Hirsch, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, speak at a press conference to announce the settlement between the US government and Hyundai and Kia, at the Justice Department headquarters in Washington yesterday. continues to lead the automotive industry in fuel efficiency and environmental performance.” Under the agreement with US regulators, Hyundai and Kia will surrender 4.75mn of the greenhouse gas credits they built up under the US corporate average fuel-economy system for 2012 and 2013 models. These are effectively bonus points that allow the companies to sell larger, less efficient but usually more profitable models such as sport-utility vehicles or luxury cars. The EPA valued these credits at more than $200 million. Hyundai-Kia also agreed to set up an independent certification group to oversee fuel-economy testing and audit their 2015 and 2016 fleet mileage claims as part of a $50mn commitment to avoid future violations. The EPA and Justice Department pursuit of Hyundai fits into a broader push by the Obama administration to show toughness toward corporations that flout federal laws. The administration is under fire from both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill for moving too slowly to force auto makers to launch safety recalls. In March, the Justice Department and the Transportation Department got a $1.2bn payment from Toyota Motor to settle a criminal investigation related to delayed recalls. The Transportation Department fined General Motors $35mn in May for failing to properly disclose its knowledge of defective ignition switches. GM still faces a criminal investigation by Justice Department. “Businesses that play by the rules shouldn’t have to compete with those breaking the law,” EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said in a statement. The settlement is subject to a court review. The California Air Resources Board joined the federal agencies as a plaintiff in the civil action and will get $6.3mn of the fines, the EPA and Justice Department said. The settlement with Hyundai could set a template for other enforcement actions involving overstatement of fuel economy claims. Following Hyundai’s 2012 restatement, the EPA stepped up audits of auto makers’ mileage claims. Ford Motor, Daimler AG’s MercedesBenz unit and BMW AG’s Mini brand have subsequently reduced mileage claims for various models after EPA audits. Ford in June admitted to overstating mileage claims for six 2013 and 2014 models, and agreed to pay owners of those vehicles as much as $1,050 to repay them for the gap between the claimed fuel savings and the actual mileage. Ford had previously admitted that it had overstated the mileage claim for its C-Max hybrid, which was advertised with a combined fuel efficiency rating of 47 miles per gallon at the time of its launch in 2013. After two revisions, the C-Max is now advertised at 40 miles per gallon. Ford officials said the overstatements were the result of mistakes, not a deliberate effort to gain a marketing edge. The Hyundai case also exposed weaknesses in the US system for regulating fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. While the EPA tests some vehicles at its own laboratory in Ann Arbor, Mich., most of the mileage claims consumers rely on when choosing a vehicle are derived from tests run by the manufacturers. Mileage claims for new vehicles are certified through a complex series of laboratory tests designed to mimic city and highway driving. The EPA in 2008 and in 2011 overhauled the test procedures in an effort to bring adver- BoJ’s Kuroda walking on tightrope Dow Jones Tokyo The Bank of Japan’s surprise move to flood the economy with more money boosted stock prices and gave a lift to its fight against deflation, but a rare split vote over the decision means further action will be difficult for governor Haruhiko Kuroda. Those with knowledge of the manoeuverings behind Friday’s 5-4 decision point to growing skepticism among the BoJ’s nine policy board members toward the radical policy rolled out by Kuroda a year-and-a-half ago. Some sceptics of easing say it is a mistake to drive down the yen, as Friday’s actions did, because they hurt Japanese companies that rely on imported fuel or materials. Others more broadly question Kuroda’s fundamental goal of achieving 2% inflation, saying it would be better to focus on deregulation and structural changes to Japan’s economy such as making it easier to hire and fire workers. “Opposition within the BoJ looks likely to continue,” said a former board member who has close ties to some present members. Another person familiar with the board’s views said the gap between Kuroda and other members was growing and represented the “biggest problem” for the central-bank chief. The BoJ said it would aim to purchase €80tn ($712bn) in Japanese government bonds annually, up from ¥60tn to ¥70tn currently. It also said it would triple its purchases of stock funds to ¥3tn annually, among other steps. Kuroda’s trouble in winning over his own board contrasts with the exuberant reaction of global markets. After the Nikkei Stock Average rose nearly 5% to a seven-year high on the news, the Dow Jones Industrial Average followed suit by reaching a record high. In effect, the markets endorsed Kuroda’s view that extraordinary steps were needed to lift inflation expectations. He Kuroda: Facing tough times. has said Japan needs steady price rises to drive down real interest rates, the rates borrowers pay after accounting for inflation, and encourage investing in riskier assets. That, he says, will produce a virtuous cycle of higher spending, wages and growth. Failure to take additional easing steps “could cause a significant delay in our attempts to change the deflationary mind-set, despite the progress we have made,” Kuroda said on Friday. He took a gamble that his proposal could get the required majority of the BoJ’s policy board and barely made it, presiding over the first split vote on his main policy framework since he took the helm of the central bank in April 2013. It was only the second time that so many board members cast no votes since 1998, when a revision in the law governing the bank gave it independence from the government. Of the four dissenters, two are former private-sector economists and the other two are former business executives. The economists have been sceptical about Kuroda’s inflation target, and one of them, Takahide Kiuchi, has regularly proposed at board meetings to water it down. According to minutes of a BoJ board meeting in September, one member said “additional measures to stimulate demand carry the risk of growing financial imbalances or weakening the public’s recognition of the need for structural reform.” The member wasn’t identified. Critics have said the BoJ’s dominant role buying government debt has distorted financial markets, pointing to negative interest rates on some shortterm debt. What came as a surprise were the no votes cast by the two members from the business community. Both Yoshihisa Morimoto, a former power-company executive, and former Sumitomo Bank executive Koji Ishida have generally voted with the majority, and BoJ officials have said Kuroda respects their hands-on experience. The two didn’t explain their votes, but Japan’s leading business lobby, Keidanren, has warned recently against an overly weak yen. Business leaders have said a weak currency may discourage consumption because people have to pay more for imported goods. Although economic theory says a falling yen should make Japanese goods more competitive overseas and boost exports, that didn’t happen after the sharp drop of the yen triggered by Kuroda’s initial monetary “bazooka” last year. On Saturday, the head of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan said the BoJ’s latest action would hurt average Japanese. “It should not do things that hurt the value of the yen,” Banri Kaieda told a gathering. The road ahead for Kuroda could get rockier because one of his backers on the board, academic Ryuzo Miyao, finishes his term in March. Advisers to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who picked Kuroda for the top post, already are discussing Miyao’s replacement, government officials said. The dynamics on the board could prove crucial next year if Kuroda still appears to be falling short of achieving his 2% inflation goal. The BoJ’s official median forecast, released Friday, calls for 1.7% inflation in the year that ends March 2016, tised fuel-efficiency figures closer to the mileage consumers were getting in real-world driving. In the wake of the 2008 spike in oil prices, vehicle mileage became a top concern for many consumers. Auto makers touted claims of superior mileage, particularly for gaselectric hybrids, in an effort to persuade consumers that savings at the pump would pay back the extra cost of new technology under the hood. That challenge has gotten tougher as fuel prices in the US have eased below $3 a gallon in many parts of the country, and more consumers have opted for sport-utility vehicles and pickup trucks. The EPA’s latest survey of industry fuel-economy trends found that the average fuel efficiency of 2013 models had improved to a record 24.1 miles per gallon, but that the pace of improvement would likely slow in the coming year. Hyundai also has faced accusations in its home country of exaggerating mileage claims and in August agreed to pay the equivalent of $54.3mn to settle a lawsuit brought by a consumer group seeking compensation for overstated fuel efficiency. Japan minister calls for fiscal stimulus if Q3 GDP data weak Reuters Tokyo J apanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said yesterday that the government should deploy fresh fiscal stimulus to prop up the economy if third-quarter preliminary gross domestic data due on November 17 turns out weak, public broadcaster NHK reported. Amari also said the stimulus steps should be taken regardless of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s decision by year-end on whether to proceed with a second sales tax increase planned for next year aimed at reining in massive public debt. The comments came days after a shock move by the Bank of Japan to expand its massive monetary stimulus raised speculation that Abe would go ahead with the next tax hike in October, if it were followed by promises of added fiscal steps to offset a tax pain. Amari said additional fiscal stimulus should be aimed at stimulating private consumption, particularly low-income groups and families with children, hit hard by April’s tax hike to 8% from 5%. The government plans to raise the levy to 10% in October next year. But April’s tax hike triggered the deepest economic slump since the 2009 global financial crisis, when the economy contracted an annualised 7.1% in the second quarter, and a weak recovery in the following quarter cast doubt about the next tax hike. Amari, speaking at a seminar, noted some private-sector economic forecasts for July-September are said to be short of an annualised 2%, compared with an initial projection of above 4% growth, according to NHK. Analysts polled by Reuters expect an annualised 2.9% bounce in July-September. “If figures turn out to be bad, (government) support would be needed. Consumption has fallen a lot among low-income groups and child-rearing generations, and it would likely be that steps should be taken by pinpointing” the target, Amari said. Speaking to reporters after the seminar, Amari added: “It should not be mistaken that “support” (for the economy) means support for the sales tax hike. I think the prime minister will think of the two as separate matters.” Abe is expected to make a final decision on the tax hike after revised July-September GDP data is published on December 8. 10 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS SAUDI ARABIA Company Name QATAR Company Name Zad Holding Co Widam Food Co Vodafone Qatar United Development Co Salam International Investme Qatar & Oman Investment Co Qatar Navigation Qatar National Cement Co Qatar National Bank Qatar Islamic Insurance Qatar Industrial Manufactur Qatar International Islamic Qatari Investors Group Qatar Islamic Bank Qatar Gas Transport(Nakilat) Qatar General Insurance & Re Qatar German Co For Medical Qatar Fuel Co Qatar Electricity & Water Co Qatar Cinema & Film Distrib Qatar Insurance Co Ooredoo Qsc National Leasing Mazaya Qatar Real Estate Dev Mesaieed Petrochemical Holdi Al Meera Consumer Goods Co Medicare Group Mannai Corporation Qsc Masraf Al Rayan Al Khalij Commercial Bank Industries Qatar Islamic Holding Group Gulf Warehousing Company Gulf International Services Ezdan Holding Group Doha Insurance Co Doha Bank Qsc Dlala Holding Commercial Bank Of Qatar Qsc Barwa Real Estate Co Al Khaleej Takaful Group Aamal Co Lt Price 87.50 62.70 21.37 26.40 17.70 17.10 99.70 132.20 222.00 87.00 46.55 87.40 50.40 112.00 24.20 45.30 12.09 218.00 188.90 43.50 97.80 123.00 25.85 24.15 31.75 189.00 126.10 112.40 51.70 21.80 196.10 160.40 55.60 125.10 19.84 34.00 59.00 59.60 74.40 43.85 48.25 14.76 % Chg 0.00 0.00 0.80 -0.75 0.28 0.59 1.84 -0.45 2.07 -1.69 1.20 -0.23 1.82 0.00 0.41 0.67 -0.08 0.23 2.11 0.69 -0.41 0.00 0.58 -0.08 0.00 0.00 -0.32 0.36 0.78 -0.46 3.21 2.82 -3.30 4.42 -0.30 -3.41 0.17 1.88 0.95 -1.24 -1.03 0.07 Volume 75,369 1,873,584 445,941 1,048,133 36,867 178,761 11,505 356,846 49,028 5,028 135,855 243,267 102,588 483,444 1,014 25,885 23,025 150,386 2,700 19,735 183,802 28,615 441,644 187,610 25,853 15,532 19,284 1,000,694 45,387 420,194 270,939 182,107 335,770 2,085,663 6,579 177,709 68,426 306,569 530,183 434,721 84,958 SAUDI ARABIA Company Name Saudi Hollandi Bank Al-Ahsa Development Co. Al-Baha Development & Invest Ace Arabia Cooperative Insur Allied Cooperative Insurance Arriyadh Development Company Fitaihi Holding Group Arabia Insurance Cooperative Al Abdullatif Industrial Inv Al-Ahlia Cooperative Insuran Al Alamiya Cooperative Insur Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Dev Al Babtain Power & Telecommu Bank Albilad Alujain Corporation (Alco) Aldrees Petroleum And Transp Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair & C Alinma Bank Alinma Tokio Marine Al Khaleej Training And Educ Abdullah A.M. Al-Khodari Son Allianz Saudi Fransi Coopera Almarai Co Saudi Integrated Telecom Co Alsorayai Group Al Tayyar Amana Cooperative Insurance Anaam International Holding Abdullah Al Othaim Markets Arabian Pipes Co Advanced Petrochemicals Co Al Rajhi Co For Co-Operative Arabian Cement Arab National Bank Ash-Sharqiyah Development Co United Wire Factories Compan Astra Industrial Group Alahli Takaful Co Aseer Axa Cooperative Insurance Basic Chemical Industries Bishah Agriculture Bank Al-Jazira Banque Saudi Fransi United International Transpo Bupa Arabia For Cooperative Buruj Cooperative Insurance Saudi Airlines Catering Co Methanol Chemicals Co City Cement Co Eastern Cement Etihad Atheeb Telecommunicat Etihad Etisalat Co Emaar Economic City Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insu United Electronics Co Falcom Saudi Equity Etf Filing & Packing Materials M Wafrah For Industry And Deve Falcom Petrochemical Etf Gulf General Cooperative Ins Jazan Development Co Gulf Union Cooperative Insur Halwani Bros Co Hail Cement Herfy Food Services Co Al Jouf Agriculture Developm Jarir Marketing Co Jabal Omar Development Co Al Jouf Cement Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co Knowledge Economic City Kingdom Holding Co Saudi Arabian Mining Co Malath Cooperative & Reinsur Makkah Construction & Devepl Mediterranean & Gulf Insuran Middle East Specialized Cabl Mohammad Al Mojil Group Co Al Mouwasat Medical Services The National Agriculture Dev Najran Cement Co Nama Chemicals Co National Gypsum National Gas & Industrializa National Industrialization C Maadaniyah National Shipping Co Of/The National Petrochemical Co Rabigh Refining And Petroche Al Qassim Agricultural Co Qassim Cement/The Red Sea Housing Services Co Saudi Research And Marketing Riyad Bank Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Arabian Amiantit Co Lt Price 50.03 17.31 13.50 69.40 26.01 22.81 23.46 23.45 42.82 19.04 117.35 12.85 41.63 57.00 25.41 56.08 116.75 24.33 59.67 66.15 75.04 55.92 79.24 24.30 21.99 137.39 27.24 36.28 109.62 26.14 55.00 52.08 83.34 31.80 108.05 44.44 45.20 62.30 30.20 49.82 42.73 69.75 31.98 36.90 73.78 160.07 50.39 188.00 16.05 27.43 61.29 9.80 79.95 17.60 38.08 110.00 34.70 62.54 51.64 33.50 42.20 19.07 25.07 80.00 26.68 104.25 50.76 192.03 52.24 23.09 14.70 21.09 21.22 38.30 24.96 81.75 74.61 18.12 12.55 134.63 40.19 33.17 14.36 34.03 33.50 31.05 49.20 33.91 33.26 28.66 15.17 97.00 54.81 19.30 19.90 66.47 16.47 % Chg 1.65 2.43 0.00 -0.34 2.20 0.62 2.00 9.94 2.76 0.47 -1.98 -0.31 -1.47 4.64 1.97 2.39 -0.92 1.38 0.37 0.70 2.40 -1.84 -0.85 0.00 1.38 0.49 0.00 3.33 -0.49 5.28 0.84 2.02 2.88 0.79 6.24 1.05 2.45 1.47 0.90 -0.08 -2.02 0.00 1.17 0.00 -0.58 -0.40 0.08 0.50 0.31 -3.14 0.16 -0.51 0.00 0.40 0.26 0.74 0.00 3.12 1.33 0.00 0.36 3.03 0.08 -0.47 0.91 -0.11 -0.47 -0.04 0.66 0.65 0.34 0.62 -2.97 -1.01 0.77 0.31 0.42 2.49 0.00 0.91 0.50 -0.69 0.42 1.19 0.18 0.23 2.35 -0.18 -0.72 0.17 0.20 1.31 3.42 0.21 0.45 1.14 0.43 Volume 95,665 2,600,464 53,763 533,231 650,677 486,151 1,669,677 433,146 891,518 88,159 12,749,001 564,066 1,140,409 383,161 572,441 752,837 29,352,497 92,617 112,421 2,903,312 332,753 468,271 773,581 153,725 786,427 71,223 1,737,683 580,087 411,516 255,285 1,206,451 2,887,076 187,940 312,044 537,084 778,610 771,726 2,870,431 1,821,572 115,251 470,160 146,307 489,061 39,793 450,762 964,373 122,148 1,683,668 1,322,266 745,974 31,369 694,537 915,323 382,460 1,695,519 558,147 30,001 174,797 21,659 74,860 31,025 407,078 1,134,834 4,554,715 953,737 839,019 2,368,388 995,506 11,792 874,246 2,217,019 49,540 421,735 109,099 676,872 590,613 99,006 2,436,726 2,919,297 911,452 830,822 578,272 1,441,399 55,147 775,384 102,102 720,044 2,711,123 923,938 Saudi British Bank Sabb Takaful Saudi Basic Industries Corp Saudi Cement Sasco Saudi Dairy & Foodstuff Co Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co Al Sagr Co-Operative Insuran Saudi Advanced Industries Saudi Arabian Coop Ins Co Salama Cooperative Insurance Samba Financial Group Sanad Cooperative Insurance Saudi Public Transport Co Saudi Arabia Refineries Co Hsbc Amanah Saudi 20 Etf Saudi Re For Cooperative Rei Savola Saudi Cable Co Saudi Chemical Company Saudi Ceramic Saudi Electricity Co Saudi Fisheries Al-Hassan G.I. Shaker Co Saudi Hotels & Resort Arabian Shield Cooperative Saudi Investment Bank/The Saudi Industrial Development Saudi Industrial Export Co KUWAIT Lt Price 57.90 43.44 112.22 110.75 29.20 123.25 160.00 41.52 25.12 54.55 35.83 47.18 15.23 33.19 72.81 34.00 11.92 85.75 11.73 67.50 138.05 17.05 32.54 86.29 36.51 47.55 29.00 20.22 60.14 % Chg -1.90 0.00 0.63 0.00 0.65 0.08 -0.28 -0.14 -0.16 -1.66 0.76 0.94 0.00 0.33 0.79 0.00 0.59 0.09 0.26 1.60 -1.07 0.06 1.62 -0.25 0.41 -0.13 -0.41 0.10 1.93 Volume 299,759 649,866 3,413,007 33,718 460,030 11,692 84,445 184,095 824,971 611,888 505,839 720,058 345,587 304,074 5,487,431 110,446 577,890 200,829 90,543 1,275,288 1,600,800 212,293 122,479 127,385 297,981 886,931 694,753 KUWAIT Company Name Securities Group Co Sultan Center Food Products Kuwait Foundry Co Kuwait Financial Centre Ajial Real Estate Entmt Gulf Glass Manuf Co -Kscc Kuwait Finance & Investment National Industries Co Kuwait Real Estate Holding C Securities House/The Boubyan Petrochemicals Co Al Ahli Bank Of Kuwait Ahli United Bank (Almutahed) National Bank Of Kuwait Commercial Bank Of Kuwait Kuwait International Bank Gulf Bank Al-Massaleh Real Estate Co Al Arabiya Real Estate Co Kuwait Remal Real Estate Co Alkout Industrial Projects C A’ayan Real Estate Co Investors Holding Group Co.K Markaz Real Estate Fund Al-Mazaya Holding Co Al-Madar Finance & Invt Co Gulf Petroleum Investment Mabanee Co Sakc City Group Inovest Co Bsc Kuwait Gypsum Manufacturing Al-Deera Holding Co Alshamel International Hold United Industries Co Mena Real Estate Co National Slaughter House Amar Finance & Leasing Co United Projects Group Kscc National Consumer Holding Co Amwal International Investme Jeeran Holdings Equipment Holding Co K.S.C.C Nafais Holding Safwan Trading & Contracting Arkan Al Kuwait Real Estate Gulf Finance House Ec Energy House Holding Co Kscc Kuwait Slaughter House Co Kuwait Co For Process Plant Al Maidan Dental Clinic Co K National Ranges Company Kuwait Pipes Indus & Oil Ser Al-Themar Real International Al-Ahleia Insurance Co Wethaq Takaful Insurance Co Salbookh Trading Co K.S.C.C Aqar Real Estate Investments Hayat Communications Kuwait Packing Materials Mfg Soor Fuel Marketing Co Ksc Alargan International Real Burgan Co For Well Drilling Kuwait Resorts Co Kscc Oula Fuel Marketing Co Palms Agro Production Co Ikarus Petroleum Industries Mubarrad Transport Co Al Mowasat Health Care Co Shuaiba Industrial Co Kuwait Invest Co Holding Hits Telecom Holding First Takaful Insurance Co Kuwaiti Syrian Holding Co National Cleaning Company Eyas For High & Technical Ed United Real Estate Company Agility Kuwait & Middle East Fin Inv Fujairah Cement Industries Livestock Transport & Tradng International Resorts Co National Industries Grp Hold Marine Services Co Pearl Of Kuwait Real Estate Warba Insurance Co Kuwait United Poultry Co First Dubai Real Estate Deve Al Arabi Group Holding Co Kuwait Hotels Co Mobile Telecommunications Co Al Safat Real Estate Co Tamdeen Real Estate Co Kscc Al Mudon Intl Real Estate Co Kuwait Cement Co Ksc Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Kuwait Portland Cement Co Educational Holding Group Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Kuwait China Investment Co Kuwait Investment Co Burgan Bank Kuwait Projects Co Holdings Al Madina For Finance And In Kuwait Insurance Co Al Masaken Intl Real Estate Intl Financial Advisors First Investment Co Kscc Al Mal Investment Company Bayan Investment Co Kscc Egypt Kuwait Holding Co Sae Coast Investment Development Privatization Holding Compan Kuwait Medical Services Co Injazzat Real State Company Kuwait Cable Vision Sak Sanam Real Estate Co Kscc Ithmaar Bank Bsc Aviation Lease And Finance C Arzan Financial Group For Fi Ajwan Gulf Real Estate Co Manafae Investment Co Kuwait Business Town Real Es Future Kid Entertainment And Specialities Group Holding C Abyaar Real Eastate Developm Lt Price 110.00 106.00 330.00 142.00 228.00 690.00 72.00 214.00 36.50 88.00 730.00 440.00 650.00 980.00 670.00 310.00 335.00 71.00 52.00 80.00 520.00 99.00 0.00 1.52 132.00 46.00 90.00 1,040.00 435.00 73.00 0.00 20.50 0.00 108.00 41.50 160.00 63.00 780.00 81.00 45.00 72.00 128.00 90.00 405.00 112.00 31.00 98.00 0.00 265.00 0.00 45.00 0.00 95.00 470.00 63.00 86.00 81.00 87.00 630.00 150.00 176.00 0.00 104.00 154.00 124.00 176.00 85.00 0.00 242.00 0.00 45.50 0.00 26.00 98.00 305.00 102.00 880.00 51.00 85.00 186.00 52.00 214.00 130.00 13.50 124.00 180.00 93.00 166.00 110.00 640.00 32.00 445.00 92.00 430.00 96.00 1,380.00 168.00 0.00 60.00 154.00 530.00 700.00 37.00 310.00 70.00 56.00 108.00 51.00 85.00 260.00 77.00 61.00 0.00 75.00 48.00 62.00 52.00 248.00 62.00 70.00 0.00 46.00 106.00 158.00 43.00 % Chg -5.17 0.00 -5.71 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.41 0.00 4.29 -1.12 0.00 0.00 -1.52 0.00 -1.47 0.00 -1.47 0.00 -1.89 -1.23 1.96 -1.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.23 0.00 4.82 -1.35 0.00 -2.38 0.00 0.00 -1.19 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -3.03 0.00 0.00 -6.67 -1.59 1.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.41 -1.14 0.00 1.35 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.22 0.00 0.00 -2.42 0.00 0.00 0.00 -8.77 -1.01 0.00 0.00 1.15 -3.77 0.00 -2.11 -3.70 0.00 -2.99 -10.00 -4.62 0.00 -4.12 -1.19 0.00 1.59 -1.54 4.71 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.53 -1.85 0.00 1.37 0.00 1.45 -3.45 -1.82 -1.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.89 -0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.10 0.00 5.33 -1.15 Volume 20,039 521,846 105,689 9,000 7,142 1 6,600 20,000 68,194 1,109,615 169,849 23,984 31,000 2,446,663 727,750 790,991 239,388 27,500 837,661 338,500 1,000 1,013,650 262,000 71,256 1,251,092 313,207 3,000 367,000 1,465,372 41,087 171,319 5,000 100 5,000 580 142,150 27 180,242 12,500 1 17,107 14,367,893 1,220,732 10,400 1,368,713 1,054 98,634 109,730 1,655,300 5,666 9,100 910 16,541 15,000 914,500 20,829 600 144,667 2,018,835 10,000 534,000 3,644,491 133,470 5,000 7,865 1,705,665 24,071 474,321 25,120 254,000 572,500 9,841 5,490 965 1,000 242,593 7,875 39,613 1,968,021 1,536,179 275,500 553,199 98,933 20,100 20,508 20 191,546 953,928 3,164,551 110,000 757,350 16,025 63,000 808,193 239,288 6,691,726 1,841,057 86 3,149,409 866,666 100,400 500 1,500 3,746,400 51,500 146,100 100 959,400 15,100 152,000 1,666,425 Company Name Dar Al Thuraya Real Estate C Al-Dar National Real Estate Kgl Logistics Company Kscc Combined Group Contracting Zima Holding Co Ksc Qurain Holding Co Boubyan Intl Industries Hold Gulf Investment House Boubyan Bank K.S.C Ahli United Bank B.S.C Al-Safat Tec Holding Co Al-Eid Food Co Al-Qurain Petrochemicals Co Advanced Technology Co Ekttitab Holding Co S.A.K.C Kout Food Group Real Estate Trade Centers Co Acico Industries Co Kscc Kipco Asset Management Co National Petroleum Services Alimtiaz Investment Co Kscc Ras Al Khaimah Co Kuwait Reinsurance Co Ksc Kuwait & Gulf Link Transport Human Soft Holding Co Automated Systems Co Metal & Recycling Co Gulf Franchising Holding Co Al-Enma’a Real Estate Co National Mobile Telecommuni Al Bareeq Holding Co Kscc Union Real Estate Co Housing Finance Co Sak Al Salam Group Holding Co United Foodstuff Industries Al Aman Investment Company Mashaer Holdings Manazel Holding Mushrif Trading & Contractin Tijara And Real Estate Inves Kuwait Building Materials Jazeera Airways Commercial Real Estate Co Future Communications Co National International Co Taameer Real Estate Invest C Gulf Cement Co Heavy Engineering And Ship B Refrigeration Industries & S National Real Estate Co Al Safat Energy Holding Comp Kuwait National Cinema Co Danah Alsafat Foodstuff Co Independent Petroleum Group Kuwait Real Estate Co Salhia Real Estate Co Ksc Gulf Cable & Electrical Ind Al-Nawadi Holding Co K.S.C Kuwait Finance House OMAN Lt Price 146.00 30.00 120.00 810.00 168.00 36.50 85.00 73.00 510.00 232.00 65.00 0.00 220.00 0.00 47.50 880.00 49.50 325.00 112.00 590.00 71.00 130.00 188.00 76.00 360.00 400.00 100.00 70.00 81.00 1,540.00 0.00 150.00 22.50 87.00 0.00 85.00 160.00 60.00 84.00 66.00 445.00 430.00 97.00 128.00 65.00 43.00 110.00 152.00 340.00 162.00 28.50 1,040.00 83.00 470.00 81.00 370.00 770.00 148.00 780.00 % Chg 0.00 0.00 -1.64 0.00 0.00 1.39 -1.16 0.00 0.00 -1.69 -1.52 0.00 0.92 0.00 1.06 0.00 0.00 1.56 0.00 0.00 1.43 0.00 0.00 -1.30 -6.49 0.00 0.00 -6.67 -2.41 0.00 0.00 0.00 -2.17 -1.14 0.00 -2.30 -2.44 0.00 0.00 -1.49 0.00 -1.15 -1.02 0.00 -1.52 0.00 0.00 1.33 0.00 -2.41 -1.72 0.00 -4.60 0.00 1.25 -2.63 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 10 4,875,582 25,080 18,000 2 14,286 74,142 1,101,025 67,826 451,000 15,000 57,451 99,367 10,000 20,760 12,451 80,000 1 350,100 250,602 310 27,242 2,944 7 10,000 912 518,976 1,767 15,162 1,163,250 633,360 180,500 34,900 6,959,601 34,685 489,083 200 25,278 20,485 70,205 200,102 265,750 20,000 30,005 454 2,584,332 2,774,809 1 3,872,314 1,000 2,463,327 10,000 1,000 100 647,212 OMAN Company Name Voltamp Energy Saog United Finance Co United Power Co United Power/Energy Co- Pref Al Madina Investment Co Taageer Finance Salalah Port Services A’saffa Foods Saog Sohar Poultry Shell Oman Marketing Shell Oman Marketing - Pref Smn Power Holding Saog Al Shurooq Inv Ser Al Sharqiya Invest Holding Sohar Power Co Salalah Beach Resort Saog Salalah Mills Co Sahara Hospitality Renaissance Services Saog Raysut Cement Co Port Service Corporation Packaging Co Ltd Oman United Insurance Co Oman Textile Holding Co Saog Oman Telecommunications Co Sweets Of Oman Oman Orix Leasing Co. Oman Refreshment Co Oman Packaging Oman Oil Marketing Company 0Man Oil Marketing Co-Pref Oman National Investment Co Oman National Engineering An Oman National Dairy Products Ominvest Oman Medical Projects Oman Ceramic Com Oman Intl Marketing Oman Investment & Finance Hsbc Bank Oman Oman Hotels & Tourism Co Oman Holding International Oman Fiber Optics Oman Flour Mills Oman Filters Industry Oman Fisheries Co Oman Education & Training In Oman & Emirates Inv(Om)50% Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% Oman Europe Foods Industries Oman Cement Co Oman Chlorine Oman Chromite Oman Cables Industry Oman Agricultural Dev Omani Qatari Telecommunicati National Securities Oman Foods International Soa National Pharmaceutical-Rts National Pharmaceutical National Packaging Fac National Mineral Water National Hospitality Institu National Gas Co National Finance Co National Detergents/The National Carpet Factory National Bank Of Oman Saog National Biscuit Industries National Real Estate Develop Natl Aluminium Products Muscat Thread Mills Co Muscat Insurance Company Modern Poultry Farms Muscat National Holding Musandam Marketing & Invest Al Maha Petroleum Products M Muscat Gases Company Saog Majan Glass Company Muscat Finance Al Kamil Power Co Interior Hotels Hotels Management Co Interna Al-Hassan Engineering Co Gulf Stone Gulf Mushroom Company Gulf Invest. Serv. Pref-Shar Gulf Investments Services Gulf International Chemicals Gulf Hotels (Oman) Co Ltd Global Fin Investment Galfar Engineering&Contract Galfar Engineering -Prefer Financial Services Co. Flexible Ind Packages Lt Price 0.43 0.14 1.61 1.00 0.00 0.15 0.65 0.91 0.21 2.03 1.05 0.66 1.04 0.19 0.37 1.38 1.45 2.45 0.60 2.10 0.40 0.48 0.42 0.29 1.68 1.30 0.15 2.45 0.26 2.25 0.25 0.39 0.31 0.00 0.44 0.00 0.45 0.52 0.22 0.00 0.23 0.00 5.01 0.63 0.02 0.08 0.13 0.19 0.00 1.00 0.72 0.56 3.64 2.44 1.45 0.66 0.16 0.52 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.07 2.05 0.64 0.15 0.70 0.00 0.37 3.75 0.00 0.29 0.16 0.00 0.00 1.65 0.00 2.45 0.85 0.29 0.15 0.31 0.00 1.25 0.14 0.08 0.42 0.15 0.21 0.21 10.50 0.13 0.16 0.43 0.16 0.06 % Chg 1.40 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.52 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.96 0.24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.33 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.82 0.00 0.00 -7.98 1.44 0.00 0.00 1.61 -1.20 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 42,828 200 20,000 36,460 1,060 473,692 202,782 3,100 321,735 74,208 1,026,367 46 72,500 920,920 217,704 44,487 62,000 5,000 51,268 18,045 130,425 205,000 218,000 134,186 199,426 - Company Name Financial Corp/The Dhofar Tourism Dhofar Poultry Aloula Co Dhofar Intl Development Dhofar Insurance Dhofar University Dhofar Power Co Dhofar Power Co-Pfd Dhofar Fisheries & Food Indu Dhofar Cattlefeed Al Batinah Dev & Inv Dhofar Beverages Co Computer Stationery Inds Construction Materials Ind Cement & Gypsum Pro Marine Bander Al-Rowdha Bank Sohar Bankmuscat Saog Bank Dhofar Saog Al Batinah Hotels Majan College Areej Vegetable Oils Al Jazeera Steel Products Co Al Sallan Food Industry Acwa Power Barka Saog Al-Omaniya Financial Service Taghleef Industries Saog Gulf Plastic Industries Co Al Jazeera Services Al Jazerah Services -Pfd Al-Fajar Al-Alamia Co Ahli Bank Abrasives Manufacturing Co S Al-Batinah Intl Saog Lt Price 0.13 1.00 0.18 0.53 0.53 0.20 1.47 0.00 0.00 1.28 0.19 0.18 0.26 0.25 0.05 0.00 0.00 0.22 0.71 0.36 1.13 0.50 5.50 0.46 0.00 0.74 0.33 0.00 0.39 0.39 0.55 0.75 0.22 0.05 0.00 % Chg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -1.12 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.14 0.00 0.00 -1.89 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.56 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.11 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 17,050 23,245 5,000 10,360 5,500 120,122 821,651 23,308 5,000 120,498 48,322 - UAE Company Name National Takaful Company Waha Capital Pjsc Union Insurance Co Union National Bank/Abu Dhab United Insurance Company Union Cement Co United Arab Bank Abu Dhabi National Takaful C Abu Dhabi National Energy Co Sudan Telecommunications Co$ Sorouh Real Estate Company Sharjah Insurance Company Sharjah Cement & Indus Devel Ras Al Khaima Poultry Ras Al Khaimah Co Rak Properties Ras Al-Khaimah National Insu Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics Ras Al Khaimah Cement Co National Bank Of Ras Al-Khai Ooredoo Qsc Umm Al Qaiwain Cement Indust Oman & Emirates Inv(Emir)50% National Marine Dredging Co National Corp Tourism & Hote Sharjah Islamic Bank National Bank Of Umm Al Qaiw National Bank Of Fujairah National Bank Of Abu Dhabi Methaq Takaful Insurance #N/A Invalid Security Gulf Pharmaceutical Ind-Julp Investbank Insurance House Gulf Medical Projects Gulf Livestock Co Green Crescent Insurance Co Gulf Cement Co Foodco Holding Finance House First Gulf Bank Fujairah Cement Industries Fujairah Building Industries Emirates Telecom Corporation Eshraq Properties Co Pjsc Emirates Insurance Co. (Psc) Emirates Driving Company Al Dhafra Insurance Co. P.S. Dana Gas Commercial Bank Internationa Bank Of Sharjah Abu Dhabi Natl Co For Buildi Al Wathba National Insurance Intl Fish Farming Co-Asmak Arkan Building Materials Co Aldar Properties Pjsc Al Ain Ahlia Ins. Co. Al Khazna Insurance Co Agthia Group Pjsc Al Fujairah National Insuran Abu Dhabi Ship Building Co Abu Dhabi National Insurance Abu Dhabi National Hotels Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank Abu Dhabi Aviation Lt Price 0.97 2.77 1.08 6.89 2.00 1.35 7.00 5.85 1.00 0.93 0.00 3.90 1.13 1.40 1.84 0.81 3.80 3.35 1.01 8.70 135.00 1.20 1.28 7.65 6.50 1.90 3.35 4.25 13.80 0.96 0.00 3.10 2.77 1.20 2.54 3.00 0.87 1.41 3.99 3.90 18.90 1.50 1.45 11.55 1.06 7.11 4.50 7.70 0.62 1.75 1.80 0.95 5.35 6.55 1.41 3.32 44.55 0.65 6.57 300.00 2.41 6.90 3.50 6.64 7.97 3.50 % Chg -9.35 -1.42 0.00 0.15 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 -8.87 0.00 0.00 -1.22 0.00 0.60 -5.61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.53 0.00 0.00 1.85 -3.03 0.00 0.00 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 10.83 -7.14 0.80 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 3.33 0.00 1.12 -4.04 0.00 0.00 -4.08 0.91 0.00 0.00 0.31 0.00 -1.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 3.55 Volume 19,399 560,402 1,474,209 200,000 12,254 60,000 3,445,467 142,460 64,000 501,320 200 100,000 437,835 261,452 54,666 7,500,000 60,000 2,676,033 1,530,583 21,130,993 5,602,735 3,000 110,000 30,000 310,876 9,339,760 60,717 14,652 163,551 1,578,571 10,000 BAHRAIN Company Name United Paper Industries Bsc United Gulf Investment Corp United Gulf Bank United Finance Co Trafco Group Bsc Takaful International Co Taib Bank -$Us Securities & Investment Co Seef Properties Sudan Telecommunications Co$ Al-Salam Bank Delmon Poultry Co National Hotels Co National Bank Of Bahrain Nass Corp Bsc Khaleeji Commercial Bank Ithmaar Bank Bsc Investcorp Bank -$Us Inovest Co Bsc Intl Investment Group-Kuwait Gulf Monetary Group Global Investment House Kscc Gulf Finance House Ec Bahrain Family Leisure Co Esterad Investment Co B.S.C. Bahrain Duty Free Complex Bahrain Car Park Co Bahrain Cinema Co Bahrain Tourism Co Bahraini Saudi Bank/The Bahrain National Holding Bankmuscat Saog Bmmi Bsc Bmb Investment Bank Bahrain Kuwait Insurance Bahrain Islamic Bank Gulf Hotel Group B.S.C Bahrain Flour Mills Co Bahrain Commercial Facilitie Bbk Bsc Bahrain Telecom Co Bahrain Ship Repair & Engin Albaraka Banking Group Banader Hotels Co Ahli United Bank B.S.C Lt Price 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.21 0.00 0.19 0.32 0.30 0.86 0.18 0.05 0.18 501.75 0.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.23 0.85 ` 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.82 0.00 0.66 0.16 0.88 0.00 0.68 0.46 0.34 2.20 0.83 0.06 0.82 % Chg 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.95 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.18 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.43 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Volume 14,345 175,000 13,700 12,600 5,000 2,300 79,900 276,718 26,700 500 62,970 45,090 40,000 15,000 43,000 23,226 22,009 4,500 5,000 5,000 14,000 1,965 24,825,837 201,223 71,800 LATEST MARKET CLOSING FIGURES Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 11 BUSINESS DJIA WORLD INDICES Company Name Exxon Mobil Corp Microsoft Corp Johnson & Johnson General Electric Co Wal-Mart Stores Inc Procter & Gamble Co/The Chevron Corp Jpmorgan Chase & Co Verizon Communications Inc Pfizer Inc Coca-Cola Co/The At&T Inc Merck & Co. Inc. Intel Corp Intl Business Machines Corp Walt Disney Co/The Visa Inc-Class A Shares Home Depot Inc Cisco Systems Inc 3M Co United Technologies Corp American Express Co Unitedhealth Group Inc Mcdonald’s Corp Boeing Co/The Goldman Sachs Group Inc Nike Inc -Cl B Du Pont (E.I.) De Nemours Caterpillar Inc Travelers Cos Inc/The Lt Price 96.31 47.20 107.10 25.75 75.86 86.83 118.85 60.75 50.09 30.02 41.65 34.72 57.91 34.22 163.53 91.71 242.18 96.08 24.54 153.67 106.48 90.88 94.64 93.23 125.62 190.80 93.20 68.72 100.63 100.34 % Chg -0.41 0.52 -0.63 -0.23 -0.54 -0.50 -0.92 0.45 -0.32 0.24 -0.55 -0.34 -0.05 0.62 -0.53 0.36 0.31 -1.48 0.27 -0.07 -0.49 1.03 -0.39 -0.53 0.57 0.42 0.25 -0.62 -0.77 -0.46 3,104,481 9,149,515 2,648,726 16,551,158 2,228,765 3,276,167 2,853,598 4,700,487 4,291,144 6,492,096 5,561,043 8,356,401 2,380,506 12,063,219 1,614,486 1,779,768 1,504,475 2,532,443 4,935,399 712,991 1,910,549 1,321,801 1,193,841 1,340,899 1,317,984 780,238 955,656 1,391,850 1,293,272 847,667 FTSE 100 Company Name Wpp Plc Wolseley Plc Wm Morrison Supermarkets Whitbread Plc Weir Group Plc/The Vodafone Group Plc United Utilities Group Plc Unilever Plc Tullow Oil Plc Tui Travel Plc Travis Perkins Plc Tesco Plc Standard Life Plc Standard Chartered Plc St James’s Place Plc Sse Plc Sports Direct International Smiths Group Plc Smith & Nephew Plc Shire Plc Severn Trent Plc Schroders Plc Sainsbury (J) Plc Sage Group Plc/The Sabmiller Plc Rsa Insurance Group Plc Royal Mail Plc Royal Dutch Shell Plc-B Shs Royal Dutch Shell Plc-A Shs Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc Rio Tinto Plc Reed Elsevier Plc Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc Randgold Resources Ltd Prudential Plc Petrofac Ltd Persimmon Plc Pearson Plc Old Mutual Plc Next Plc National Grid Plc Mondi Plc Meggitt Plc Marks & Spencer Group Plc London Stock Exchange Group Lloyds Banking Group Plc Legal & General Group Plc Land Securities Group Plc Kingfisher Plc Johnson Matthey Plc Itv Plc Intu Properties Plc Intl Consolidated Airline-Di Intertek Group Plc Intercontinental Hotels Grou Imperial Tobacco Group Plc Imi Plc Hsbc Holdings Plc Hargreaves Lansdown Plc Hammerson Plc Glencore Plc Glaxosmithkline Plc Gkn Plc G4s Plc Friends Life Group Ltd Fresnillo Plc Experian Plc Easyjet Plc Dixons Carphone Plc Direct Line Insurance Group Diageo Plc Crh Plc Compass Group Plc Coca-Cola Hbc Ag-Cdi Centrica Plc Carnival Plc Capita Plc Burberry Group Plc Bunzl Plc Bt Group Plc British Sky Broadcasting Gro British Land Co Plc British American Tobacco Plc Bp Plc Bhp Billiton Plc Bg Group Plc Barclays Plc Bae Systems Plc Babcock Intl Group Plc Aviva Plc Astrazeneca Plc Associated British Foods Plc Ashtead Group Plc Arm Holdings Plc Antofagasta Plc Anglo American Plc Aggreko Plc Admiral Group Plc Aberdeen Asset Mgmt Plc 3I Group Plc #N/A Invalid Security Lt Price 1,231.00 3,298.00 155.20 4,380.00 2,240.00 205.90 837.50 2,476.00 482.50 405.50 1,627.00 173.35 384.70 941.70 744.50 1,568.00 640.50 1,160.00 1,047.00 4,116.00 1,964.00 2,392.00 244.60 374.60 3,486.00 475.80 436.90 2,280.50 2,196.00 379.60 834.00 2,968.00 1,029.00 5,185.00 3,700.00 1,423.00 1,078.00 1,456.00 1,160.00 191.70 6,435.00 915.50 1,044.00 447.30 403.40 2,012.00 76.69 231.10 1,104.00 295.00 2,974.00 204.50 337.60 414.10 2,730.00 2,404.00 2,666.00 1,209.00 627.10 1,000.00 605.50 315.10 1,413.00 315.70 252.30 322.40 695.00 931.00 1,540.00 387.90 274.20 1,812.00 1,384.00 1,007.00 1,359.00 295.30 2,514.00 1,078.00 1,507.00 1,675.00 366.60 885.50 720.00 3,504.50 443.00 1,609.00 1,036.00 236.95 457.10 1,099.00 517.00 4,513.00 2,672.00 1,033.00 880.50 695.00 1,315.00 1,518.00 1,337.00 430.40 390.60 0.00 % Chg 1.07 -0.57 0.26 0.37 -1.88 -0.68 -1.99 -1.51 -0.68 1.73 -1.51 -0.14 -2.29 0.22 -0.07 -1.94 -0.62 -0.43 -0.95 -1.13 -1.60 -0.79 -0.37 -0.82 -1.11 -1.55 -0.97 -1.38 -1.77 -2.16 -1.07 -0.12 0.19 -1.24 0.60 -1.35 1.70 -0.48 -0.85 -0.93 -0.16 -1.13 -0.85 -0.84 -0.81 -0.15 -0.57 0.04 -0.27 -2.48 0.00 0.74 -0.82 1.20 0.29 1.48 -1.66 -1.06 -1.94 0.65 -1.22 -1.50 -0.32 -0.72 -1.25 -0.31 -0.36 -0.80 2.67 -1.85 -0.65 -1.41 -0.14 0.10 0.00 -2.38 1.05 -1.73 -1.57 -1.18 -0.24 -0.06 -1.17 -1.20 -1.34 -0.09 -0.38 -1.60 -0.35 0.37 -0.77 -0.67 -2.98 -1.05 0.63 -1.07 -0.11 -0.26 0.15 -0.83 -1.59 0.00 Volume 3,344,206 812,371 5,775,038 283,418 543,191 33,332,518 867,322 3,076,853 2,653,345 2,006,324 340,159 18,014,948 3,327,471 7,503,552 1,593,700 1,475,874 468,685 690,787 2,236,439 1,083,892 360,884 200,048 6,255,250 1,667,853 1,366,540 1,514,109 2,130,167 2,313,330 3,653,764 13,120,487 4,632,899 2,579,686 2,498,048 697,432 740,660 2,325,216 2,233,489 897,925 1,107,868 7,688,139 235,140 4,835,903 653,257 1,299,310 5,183,211 369,123 117,088,327 7,173,786 1,104,481 6,039,407 385,611 6,499,707 1,882,034 9,113,027 179,571 627,760 1,278,992 559,529 27,300,625 794,686 876,978 27,308,489 5,738,147 2,614,820 2,071,315 2,369,929 1,539,747 2,025,556 2,481,454 3,138,646 4,826,693 2,976,856 1,343,196 1,689,106 274,894 9,494,214 620,861 2,097,948 816,768 369,382 10,031,346 1,712,225 1,971,788 2,016,238 21,113,029 5,664,224 6,043,864 63,274,923 3,849,374 917,356 4,479,928 1,578,402 956,425 1,580,283 3,627,454 1,860,791 4,413,300 396,777 1,170,626 1,734,320 1,045,567 - TOKYO Company Name Inpex Corp Daiwa House Industry Co Ltd Sekisui House Ltd Kirin Holdings Co Ltd Japan Tobacco Inc Seven & I Holdings Co Ltd Toray Industries Inc Asahi Kasei Corp Sumitomo Chemical Co Ltd Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Kao Corp Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd Astellas Pharma Inc Eisai Co Ltd Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd Fujifilm Holdings Corp Shiseido Co Ltd Jx Holdings Inc Lt Price 1,403.00 2,083.50 1,362.00 1,428.00 3,766.00 4,281.00 738.70 901.90 378.00 7,044.00 545.40 4,304.50 4,804.50 1,699.00 4,301.00 1,656.50 3,687.00 1,834.50 475.20 % Chg 3.24 5.20 4.01 2.00 4.06 3.56 2.90 3.15 2.72 5.42 2.73 3.66 3.16 3.76 1.73 2.67 1.43 5.86 3.53 Indices Volume Volume 7,028,200 5,204,200 10,233,600 9,450,700 8,262,800 4,609,200 13,548,000 8,002,000 15,553,000 2,875,300 8,193,200 4,228,600 5,947,300 13,280,100 2,853,200 7,352,500 10,851,000 5,820,800 17,517,200 Lt Price Change Dow Jones Indus. Avg S&P 500 Index Nasdaq Composite Index S&P/Tsx Composite Index Mexico Bolsa Index Brazil Bovespa Stock Idx Ftse 100 Index Cac 40 Index Dax Index Ibex 35 Tr 17,370.83 2,018.56 4,647.58 14,543.90 45,033.04 53,344.24 6,484.19 4,193.01 9,253.65 10,372.70 -19.69 +0.51 +16.84 -69.42 +5.52 -1,284.36 -62.28 -40.08 -73.22 -105.10 Nikkei 225 Japan Topix Hang Seng Index All Ordinaries Indx Nzx All Index Bse Sensex 30 Index Nse S&P Cnx Nifty Index Straits Times Index Karachi All Share Index Jakarta Composite Index 16,413.76 1,333.64 23,915.97 5,485.04 1,095.59 27,860.38 8,324.15 3,290.84 22,269.40 5,085.51 +755.56 +54.74 -82.09 -19.98 +6.81 -5.45 +1.95 +16.59 +110.54 -4.04 TOKYO Company Name Bridgestone Corp Asahi Glass Co Ltd Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Meta Sumitomo Metal Industries Kobe Steel Ltd Jfe Holdings Inc Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd Sumitomo Electric Industries Smc Corp Komatsu Ltd Kubota Corp Daikin Industries Ltd Hitachi Ltd Toshiba Corp Mitsubishi Electric Corp Nidec Corp Nec Corp Fujitsu Ltd Panasonic Corp Sharp Corp Sony Corp Tdk Corp Keyence Corp Denso Corp Fanuc Corp Rohm Co Ltd Kyocera Corp Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd Nitto Denko Corp Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nissan Motor Co Ltd Toyota Motor Corp Honda Motor Co Ltd Suzuki Motor Corp Nikon Corp Hoya Corp Canon Inc Ricoh Co Ltd Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd Nintendo Co Ltd Itochu Corp Marubeni Corp Mitsui & Co Ltd Tokyo Electron Ltd Sumitomo Corp Mitsubishi Corp Aeon Co Ltd Mitsubishi Ufj Financial Gro Resona Holdings Inc Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdin Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Gr Bank Of Yokohama Ltd/The Mizuho Financial Group Inc Orix Corp Daiwa Securities Group Inc Nomura Holdings Inc Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdin Ms&Ad Insurance Group Holdin Dai-Ichi Life Insurance Tokio Marine Holdings Inc T&D Holdings Inc Mitsui Fudosan Co Ltd Mitsubishi Estate Co Ltd Sumitomo Realty & Developmen East Japan Railway Co West Japan Railway Co Central Japan Railway Co Ana Holdings Inc Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Kddi Corp Ntt Docomo Inc Tokyo Electric Power Co Inc Chubu Electric Power Co Inc Kansai Electric Power Co Inc Tohoku Electric Power Co Inc Kyushu Electric Power Co Inc Tokyo Gas Co Ltd Secom Co Ltd Yamada Denki Co Ltd Fast Retailing Co Ltd Softbank Corp Lt Price 3,651.50 576.00 290.00 0.00 175.00 2,176.00 1,514.00 1,480.50 31,070.00 2,609.50 1,737.50 6,814.00 859.10 483.60 1,396.50 7,222.00 386.00 664.40 1,305.00 274.00 2,072.00 6,160.00 52,480.00 5,009.00 19,120.00 6,670.00 5,045.00 12,205.00 5,953.00 683.60 997.90 6,498.00 3,479.00 3,653.50 1,502.00 3,907.50 3,389.00 1,148.00 1,082.00 11,910.00 1,336.50 708.00 1,573.00 6,950.00 1,176.00 2,163.50 1,094.50 609.10 628.40 444.00 4,399.50 637.30 200.00 1,508.50 861.00 674.90 2,749.00 2,357.50 1,650.00 3,513.00 1,407.00 3,507.50 2,795.50 4,094.50 8,645.00 5,295.00 16,505.00 257.40 6,892.00 7,225.00 1,862.00 397.00 1,321.50 1,089.50 1,373.00 1,195.00 635.80 6,751.00 353.00 40,365.00 7,939.00 % Chg 3.59 3.50 5.26 0.00 1.74 2.71 3.91 3.28 6.11 2.72 5.24 3.29 4.69 4.47 3.79 3.78 3.76 -3.72 7.94 2.62 0.83 4.41 4.21 0.47 7.48 2.77 8.37 2.69 2.89 4.83 5.03 3.80 4.69 6.36 5.22 8.44 4.60 2.91 4.39 6.01 1.98 3.18 -2.48 3.76 2.57 3.74 3.74 0.18 2.93 6.25 7.16 6.50 2.56 12.03 8.17 6.75 5.33 5.76 6.28 5.70 5.83 8.88 15.59 12.27 4.76 3.93 7.07 0.23 7.27 4.71 4.81 1.79 2.09 1.49 6.93 2.31 3.37 6.30 1.73 7.13 2.57 Volume 5,758,700 6,947,000 68,188,000 46,889,000 5,523,500 5,308,000 9,669,600 373,900 9,472,300 9,730,000 2,996,900 45,644,000 49,254,000 13,391,000 2,227,600 34,830,000 44,974,000 16,845,000 65,333,000 19,141,500 1,961,300 519,100 5,418,000 3,276,600 960,100 4,992,000 1,571,800 1,728,200 31,322,000 24,703,900 19,581,200 10,932,500 5,853,100 6,174,400 4,693,300 13,696,300 7,973,400 3,467,000 1,864,000 12,682,200 15,076,700 14,105,200 1,813,400 10,480,100 8,720,500 5,990,600 114,802,500 26,927,200 48,003,000 18,317,400 12,800,000 320,899,300 26,650,200 28,235,000 60,313,900 2,666,200 3,587,300 12,473,400 5,034,300 4,901,700 16,831,000 20,789,000 10,005,000 3,174,800 1,747,400 1,117,100 36,877,000 4,699,100 5,075,900 10,863,800 33,596,900 4,785,500 5,590,400 5,422,400 2,967,400 15,221,000 2,197,300 9,637,600 1,881,900 23,370,100 SENSEX Company Name Zee Entertainment Enterprise Wipro Ltd Ultratech Cement Ltd Tech Mahindra Ltd Tata Steel Ltd Tata Power Co Ltd Tata Motors Ltd Tata Consultancy Svcs Ltd Sun Pharmaceutical Indus State Bank Of India Sesa Sterlite Ltd Reliance Industries Ltd Punjab National Bank Power Grid Corp Of India Ltd Oil & Natural Gas Corp Ltd Ntpc Ltd Nmdc Ltd Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Lupin Ltd Larsen & Toubro Ltd Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd Jindal Steel & Power Ltd Itc Ltd Infosys Ltd Indusind Bank Ltd Idfc Ltd Icici Bank Ltd Housing Development Finance Hindustan Unilever Ltd Hindalco Industries Ltd Hero Motocorp Ltd Hdfc Bank Limited Hcl Technologies Ltd Grasim Industries Ltd Gail India Ltd Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Dlf Ltd Coal India Ltd Cipla Ltd Cairn India Ltd Bharti Airtel Ltd Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd Bharat Heavy Electricals Bank Of Baroda Bajaj Auto Ltd Axis Bank Ltd Asian Paints Ltd Ambuja Cements Ltd Acc Ltd Lt Price 350.20 564.90 2,559.95 2,580.35 489.15 93.35 531.40 2,590.35 853.25 2,723.45 262.25 1,002.35 949.65 144.85 404.55 147.70 165.90 3,286.85 1,267.55 1,359.35 1,657.80 1,110.45 170.15 355.45 4,085.90 708.10 154.85 1,645.70 1,120.50 739.85 163.55 3,010.95 910.70 1,570.80 3,530.55 499.35 3,181.30 128.55 359.20 663.10 290.80 395.75 724.05 253.35 950.05 2,574.25 445.25 653.60 227.85 1,491.20 % Chg 1.73 0.21 0.45 2.49 -0.17 -0.53 -0.83 -0.67 0.93 0.76 2.46 0.18 2.02 -0.65 -0.15 -1.60 -2.93 -1.51 -2.96 -0.71 0.14 -0.70 5.16 0.07 0.86 -1.67 -0.93 1.17 1.32 0.20 -0.09 -1.74 -0.13 -2.34 0.64 -5.57 0.41 3.05 -3.06 -0.52 1.98 -0.79 -0.10 -1.31 2.21 -1.41 1.33 -0.52 0.09 -0.54 Volume 1,336,194 3,417,401 477,924 956,613 4,360,151 4,661,967 3,039,047 1,407,393 1,243,491 2,060,535 4,431,671 3,141,717 1,148,105 7,933,540 4,123,063 3,871,795 5,957,596 487,768 1,478,512 561,359 1,876,393 763,138 9,565,708 7,246,821 1,135,024 880,966 10,447,511 2,521,709 2,102,422 798,571 7,640,027 697,709 2,043,230 1,174,443 99,137 5,693,887 330,909 21,529,885 3,603,418 895,279 2,352,297 5,434,045 1,074,684 3,734,034 1,120,157 266,472 4,274,725 1,290,064 1,308,850 259,586 The euro yesterday tumbled to $1.2440 in Asian deals, touching the lowest level since August 2012 on expectations of rising US interest rates. Europe stocks rally runs out of steam AFP London E uropean equities pulled back yesterday, shedding some of last week’s bumper gains as investors took profits and digested weakerthan-expected data, dealers said. The euro also tumbled to $1.2440 in Asian deals, touching the lowest level since August 2012 on expectations of rising US interest rates. London’s benchmark FTSE 100 index gave up 0.89% to end the day at 6,487.97 points, while in Paris the CAC 40 fell 0.92% to 4,194.03 points and in Frankfurt the DAX 30 index shed 0.81% to 9,251.70 points. Milan tumbled 2.1% after shares in Italy’s third-largest bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, had to be suspended for excessive losses after announcing it was considering a capital hike. “Stocks traded lower in Europe thanks to disappointing manufacturing data that reminded investors that despite global central bank stimulus, the European economy is still struggling to recover from the eurozone crisis,” said analyst Jasper Lawler at CMC Markets UK. Activity in the eurozone’s manufacturing sector nudged higher in October as businesses cut prices, data showed yesterday, but the gain was less than originally estimated. The headline measure from data firm Markit’s monthly survey of purchasing managers at manufacturers rose to 50.6 from 50.3 in September. However, the final measure was slightly below the preliminary estimate of 50.7 released in October. A reading above 50.0 for the Purchasing Managers Index indicates an expansion in activity, while a reading below that level signals a contraction. Over the weekend, China’s official PMI came in at 50.8 in October compared with 51.1 in September, the government said on Saturday, raising concerns about slowing growth in the world’s second-largest economy and top energy consumer. “Sentiment has taken a knock from the weaker PMI figures out of China and the eurozone,” Forex.com analyst Fawad Razaqzada said Monday. Global equities had surged on Friday as the Bank of Japan’s surprise stimulus sent investors on a buying spree. Markets from Asia to Europe ended last week on a positive note, as the BoJ’s decision countered the gloom caused by the end of the Federal Reserve’s massive monetary easing programme. However, Asian markets diverged yesterday as traders took a breather after last week’s rally, but Shanghai hit a 21-month high on hopes of Chinese HONG KONG HONG KONG Company Name Aluminum Corp Of China Ltd-H Bank Of East Asia Bank Of China Ltd-H Bank Of Communications Co-H Belle International Holdings Boc Hong Kong Holdings Ltd Cathay Pacific Airways Cheung Kong Holdings Ltd China Coal Energy Co-H China Construction Bank-H China Life Insurance Co-H China Merchants Hldgs Intl China Mobile Ltd China Overseas Land & Invest China Petroleum & Chemical-H China Resources Enterprise China Resources Land Ltd China Resources Power Holdin China Shenhua Energy Co-H China Unicom Hong Kong Ltd Citic Ltd Clp Holdings Ltd Cnooc Ltd Cosco Pacific Ltd Esprit Holdings Ltd Fih Mobile Ltd Hang Lung Properties Ltd Hang Seng Bank Ltd Henderson Land Development stimulus measures after weak manufacturing data. US stocks were hesitant, with even a rebound in the US manufacturing sector last month failing to give a positive direction to trading. In midday trading the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 0.17% at 17,360.93 points. The broad-based S&P 500 added 0.10% to 2,020.06, while the techrich Nasdaq Composite rose 0.35% to 4,647.05. In company news, Publicis shares sank 2.3% to €54.02 in Paris, after the French advertising agency snapped up US digital marketing specialists Sapient in a $3.7bn deal. In London, HSBC shares sank 1.8% to 627.90 pence after the bank set aside $378mn for a potential fine in Britain to settle allegations of foreign exchange market rigging. In foreign exchange deals, the euro later stood at $1.2491, down from $1.2525 in New York late on Friday. The euro fell to 78.19 British pence from 78.29 pence. The British pound eased to $1.5973 from $1.5997 on Friday. On the London Bullion Market, gold prices rose to $1,167.75 an ounce, from $1,164.25 an ounce on Friday. The precious metal had slumped on Friday to a four-year low of $1,661.16 the lowest level since July 2010 - on the back of the weak dollar. Lt Price 3.46 32.10 3.70 5.75 9.77 25.65 14.60 137.80 4.69 5.74 23.00 24.80 96.35 22.75 6.66 18.40 18.74 22.00 21.30 11.46 13.56 66.50 12.18 10.36 9.77 4.13 24.15 130.60 52.35 % Chg 0.58 -0.93 -0.27 -1.03 -1.01 -0.58 0.41 0.15 -1.26 -0.69 -0.86 1.22 -0.16 1.11 -0.89 -0.22 1.63 -2.44 -2.52 -1.72 -0.15 -0.37 0.00 1.57 0.62 0.00 -0.21 -0.61 0.00 Volume 15,598,172 709,432 297,935,517 13,069,553 20,956,000 6,689,970 3,723,015 2,667,208 11,265,206 185,924,276 20,100,811 2,782,497 11,935,399 24,669,523 58,137,287 2,207,400 13,710,948 5,629,518 15,334,800 27,049,201 7,093,993 1,214,472 60,247,466 2,392,038 4,020,361 5,687,529 2,399,928 478,360 1,867,607 Company Name Hong Kong & China Gas Hong Kong Exchanges & Clear Hsbc Holdings Plc Hutchison Whampoa Ltd Ind & Comm Bk Of China-H Li & Fung Ltd Mtr Corp New World Development Petrochina Co Ltd-H Ping An Insurance Group Co-H Power Assets Holdings Ltd Sino Land Co Sun Hung Kai Properties Swire Pacific Ltd-A Tencent Holdings Ltd Wharf Holdings Ltd Lt Price 18.18 171.10 78.65 97.80 5.09 9.40 31.30 9.76 9.56 62.80 74.15 12.74 115.60 102.30 123.80 56.35 % Chg 0.44 -0.47 -0.25 -0.51 -0.78 -0.53 -0.95 0.21 -1.54 -0.87 -0.94 -0.62 0.00 0.59 0.16 -1.66 Volume 7,845,782 3,775,204 8,105,908 3,003,270 266,423,475 12,966,395 1,653,320 10,665,635 84,991,784 9,074,093 1,493,398 2,928,030 2,175,088 504,627 13,474,480 3,828,460 GCC INDICES Indices Doha Securities Market Saudi Tadawul Kuwait Stocks Exchange Bahrain Stock Exchage Oman Stock Market Abudhabi Stock Market Dubai Financial Market Lt Price 13,780.59 10,141.67 7,318.99 1,446.28 7,031.31 4,950.26 4,577.39 Change +157.26 +42.40 -40.92 +2.15 +3.53 +22.83 -38.73 “Information contained herein is believed to be reliable and had been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. The accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This publication is for providing information only and is not intended as an offer or solicitation for a purchase or sale of any of the financial instruments mentioned. Gulf Times and Doha Bank or any of their employees shall not be held accountable and will not accept any losses or liabilities for actions based on this data.” CURRENCIES DOLLAR QATAR RIYAL SAUDI RIYAL UAE DIRHAMS BAHRAINI DINAR KUWAITI DINAR Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 17 BUSINESS Publicis to buy US digital ad firm Sapient for $3.7bn Reuters Paris P ublicis, the world’s third-largest advertising agency, is to buy USbased digital ad specialist Sapient for $3.7bn in cash as it seeks to accelerate growth after a botched merger earlier this year. The French group is hoping rapid growth in both North American and Internet advertising, which are far outpacing European and traditional ad formats, will help it catch up with sales gains at rivals such as WPP and Interpublic. Chief executive Maurice Levy has blamed Publicis’ recent poor performance on a failed merger with world No 2 ad agency Omnicom, announced in August 2013 and abandoned in May over control and cultural clashes. But some analysts said Publicis’ offer of $25 per share, a 44% premium to Sapient’s closing price on Friday, was a hefty price for a company whose growth may have peaked, and that the deal could also dash hopes among the French company’s shareholders that cash might be distributed to them. Publicis shares fell as much as 5% in early yesterday’s trade. They were down 2.6% at 1128 GMT, the biggest fall on France’s blue-chip CAC 40 index. “A good asset at a steep price,” said Exane BNP Paribas analyst Charles Bedouelle of the deal, adding it would “likely push back (Publicis’) cash return story by two years.” UBS analyst Tamsin Garrity said Publicis had been under pressure from investors to return cash, and was expected to announced share buybacks at a strategy day on Friday. “The acquisition of Sapient makes such returns unlikely,” she added. Garrity has a neutral rating on Publicis shares. Maurice Levy, chairman and chief executive officer of Publicis Groupe, attends the company’s 2013 annual results presentation in Paris on February 13 this year. Levy has blamed Publicis’ recent poor performance on a failed merger with world No 2 ad agency Omnicom, announced in August 2013 and abandoned in May over control and cultural clashes. Levy defended the decision, saying the company would generate more value in the long term by buying Sapient rather than buying back its own shares. He pledged to update investors on his approach to dividends and buybacks sometime in November. “This operation is extremely important for securing the future of Publi- cis,” Levy said. “It is far better to invest and deliver a higher growth and higher profits ... which will lead to a re-rating, rather than simply buy back our own shares.” “The deal will create a foundation for accelerated growth” by giving Publicis access to new markets and revenues, he added. Publicis said the deal would be financed through existing cash and new debt, and would not affect Publicis’ credit rating. It did not say when it would add to group profits but forecast €50mn ($63mn) in annual cost savings. Sapient’s sales grew 14.1% to €1.1bn last year, far outstripping Publicis’ sales growth of 1.2%, though the French company had a higher operating profit margin. The US-based group earned 63% of its 2013 sales in North America and has 13,000 employees, 8,500 of which are in India. “The risk that growth slows at Sapient is one of the transaction’s more important considerations,” said Pivotal Research Group analyst Brian Wieser. He noted the deal gave Sapient an enterprise value (equity plus debt) of around 12 times its forecast earnings before interest tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for 2015, far above Publicis’ current multiple of about 8 times. Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of Publicis’ rival WPP, was even harsher, telling financial blog Business Insider that Publicis had rushed into the Sapient deal to compensate for its botched marriage with Omnicom. “It looks like the behaviour of a jilted lover,” he said. Buying Sapient will speed Publicis’ roughly seven year-old effort to earn more revenue from digital advertising, which includes everything from online marketing to brand building on social networks and automatic ad buying for major customers. Last year, 38.4% of Publicis’ sales came from digital, and it had been aiming to reach 50% by 2018, something that the Sapient deal will make happen immediately. According to Zenith Optimedia, the digital ad market is expected to grow 17.1% this year, driving total ad market growth of 5.3%. Sapient’s main SapientNitro unit is a digital agency on a par with Publicis’ Razorfish and WPP’s AKQA with customers including carmaker Fiat, retailer Marks & Spencer, and consumer goods group Unilever. Sapient also has a technology consulting business serving government and banks, which brings in a third of revenues but is less profitable than the ad business. Chrysler US sales up 22% on pickup truck demand Reuters Detroit Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US October sales rose 22% on strong pickup truck demand, the company said yesterday. The Ram pickup truck brand, anchored by the Ram 1500, reported sales of 39,834 vehicles, a 36% increase from a year ago. Chrysler Group and its Ram brand took advantage as Ford Motor Co has lowered production of its top-selling F-150 pickup truck in recent months. Ford is transitioning to a new aluminum-bodied version that will begin sales late this year. Major automakers in the US market are expected to show a rise of about 6% from a year earlier. A poll by Thomson Reuters of 29 economists forecast a seasonally adjusted annualised sales rate of 16.5mn vehicles. Each month, auto sales are an early snapshot of US consumer spending. It was the best October for Chrysler sales since 2001, and the company’s 55th consecutive month of yearover-year sales gains. Chrysler’s 22% sales gain matched expectations of analysts polled by Reuters. Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co each reported strong crossover model sales and record October US sales for their core brands. Nissan Motor sales rose 13.3% to 103,117 vehicles, beating expectations of an 11% rise. Nissan brand sales rose 15%, while the Infiniti luxury brand’s sales fell 1.2%. Sales of the Nissan Rogue crossover increased 14% to nearly 14,700 vehicles. Sales of the Sentra small car jumped 56% to 13,129. Honda Motor sales rose 5.8%, missing expectations of an 8% rise. 18 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS BUSINESS ECB skips celebration for day one of new role as supervisor Bloomberg Frankfurt The European Central Bank is about to achieve its biggest expansion of powers since the start of the euro. No celebrations are planned. As the Single Supervisory Mechanism takes charge of the euro area’s 120 biggest institutions today, officials aren’t in the mood for fanfare. Instead, staff at the ECB’s new overseer are preparing to monitor capital issuance by banks, and processing the results of a year-long asset review that revealed a stash of soured loans in the bloc now amounts to almost €900bn ($1.1tn). Led by France’s Daniele Nouy, the SSM in Frankfurt will immediately set about trying to blend 18 sets of national supervisory habits into pan-European consistency, and prod banks to take more precautions against crises. While the ECB will have the status of a new heavyweight among global regulators, that role carries with it the burden of restoring confidence in a battered banking system vulnerable to renewed economic shocks. “They have an awful lot on their plate from day one,” said Guntram Wolff, Director of the Bruegel institute in Brussels. “There’s a very big pile of bad loans, profitability in this environment is going to be difficult, and the banking system itself probably needs to be restructured. The question is how the new supervisor can address that.” Nouy, chair of the SSM, may face such queries as soon as today when she speaks in the European Parliament at 3pm in Brussels, her first such testimony since the ECB published its Comprehensive Assessment of lenders on October 26. Twenty-five banks failed stress tests in that health check, based on end-2013 balance sheets. While most have made enough progress on capital-raising plans to satisfy the ECB, markets are punishing the rest. Italy’s Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena was up 3% at 1:14pm in Milan yesterday, paring losses since the ECB published its test results to 37.3%. Monte Paschi plans to raise capital to plug its entire €2.1bn shortfall identified during the review. The firm, bailed out twice since 2009, isn’t considering seeking further state aid or converting the securities already sold to the government into stock, Monte Paschi said on Sunday. In addition to selling new shares to investors, it also may dispose of financial assets to boost capital buffers. By November 10, banks including Monte Paschi must have submitted plans for raising more funds. Restructuring Plans An ECB spokesman declined to specify how many banks have yet to submit capital-raising plans. While the ECB found an overall shortfall of €9.47bn, that becomes €6.35bn when discounting five failing lenders that have agreed restructuring plans or are in resolution. The outstanding sum “doesn’t seem insurmountable,” Mathias Dewatripont, a Belgian member of the new SSM board, said last week in Berlin. “I would still be happier if we had more capital in the system.” Soon to be in charge of that system is a new corps of almost 1,000 bank supervisors drawn from all over Europe, including existing authorities and the private sector. Notables among senior management include Stefan Walter, a former official of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York who will lead oversight of the biggest lenders including Deutsche Bank, and Finland’s Jukka Vesala, who oversaw the Comprehensive Assessment. Unpaid Debt They inherit a banking industry loaded with unpaid debt. While the ECB says credit standards eased for a second quarter in the three months through September, an extra €136bn in bad loans identified by the Comprehensive Assessment could hamper a return to growth. The path towards managing that legacy will be trodden by both the ECB’s new cadres and 5,000 national supervisors who remain in charge of the thousands of smaller banks in the euro region. The Frankfurt hub will make its presence felt by having its say on everything from bank licensing to merger approval, imposing fines and influencing international regulation. “Slightly fewer than 900 staff have been recruited and have joined the ECB out of the approximate total of 1,000 positions budgeted for in the five SSM business areas as well as the related shared services,” the ECB said today in its quarterly report on the implementation of the Supervisory Mechanism Regulation. One of the ECB’s first tasks will be to address the complexity of the financial system, according to Elke Koenig, head of Germany’s regulator and a member of the SSM board. Even in the definition of what constitutes capital, Europe’s interpretation of rules known as Basel III allows for significant national variation. That flexibility benefited banks by about €126bn in the Comprehensive Assessment, with the biggest leeway allowed in Germany, Spain and Italy. Officials will have “a lot of supervisory discretion” to address that, Koenig said at an October 30 event in Berlin. Much of the power to do so will be in the hands of what the ECB calls Joint Supervisory Teams: Multinational groups overseeing Banks set aside up to $7bn as UK currency settlement looms Reuters London Central bank largesse buoys eurozone govt bonds Reuters London M M ajor banks have set aside almost $7bn for potential settlements with regulators investigating allegations of collusion and manipulation in foreign exchange markets, the first of which could come in Britain later this month. Europe’s largest bank HSBC yesterday was the latest bank to make provisions in its most recent earnings report, putting aside $378mn specifically for a potential settlement with Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). HSBC is the last of six banks in talks with the FCA over a group FX settlement to report their results. The other five also set aside substantial sums for litigation provisions. British banks Royal Bank of Scotland and Barclays last week set aside $640mn and $800mn, respectively, specifically for settlements related to the global FX probe which has been running for a year. This means the three British banks have made almost $1.8bn provisions in their latest earnings reports specifically for FX-related issues. The near $7bn from eight banks, also including Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse, isn’t entirely for currency-related issues, although that’s where the lion’s share of the total is likely to be spent, analysts say. Banks’ provisions are cash earmarked to pay for costs or losses that are anticipated to occur in the future and the final amount may be more or less than the sum set aside. However, with potential settlements still to come with the US Department of Justice (DoJ) — which has shown it has the power and willingness to levy multi-billion dollar fines on banks for financial misconduct — the final bill could be much higher. Around ten other regulators around the world are also investigating. The FCA’s talks with six banks are at an advanced stage and a settlement for between 1.5 and £2bn ($2.4-$3.2bn) could come later this month. The six are RBS, Barclays, HSBC, Switzerland’s UBS, and US titans JP Morgan and Citi. Despite its position as the second biggest currency market bank in the world, Deutsche isn’t part of these collective talks. This settlement is likely to be based a single institution or a group of smaller banks. “The Joint Supervisory Teams (JSTs) are operational and ready to start the day-to-day supervision of significant banks,” the ECB said. The ECB has promised that each JST co-ordinator will come from a different country to the bank they oversee, to ensure national protectionism no longer plays a role in supervision. Still, the ECB won’t publish the names of those supervisors. Their first task will be to approve banks’ capital-raising plans and supervise the process. Lenders that displayed gaps after the stress test have up to nine months to raise the funds. “The JSTs and the national supervisors, which will be from different backgrounds and supervisory cultures, have to somehow work together, to bring the thing to life,” said Dirk Jaeger, managing director for banking supervision at the Association of German Banks in Berlin. “They have to do that in such a way as they can understand what it is the banks are doing. That won’t happen overnight.” The UK headquarters of HSBC at Canary Wharf in London. HSBC yesterday was the latest bank to make provisions in its most recent earnings report, putting aside $378mn specifically for a potential settlement with Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority. on banks acknowledging lax internal compliance, oversight failures and market conduct breaches by individual employees, but not deliberate manipulation of the $5tn-a-day market. On Monday, HSBC said its “detailed” talks with the FCA centre on systems and controls relating to one part of its spot FX trading business in London. UBS ring-fenced the most of any single bank in the third quarter, its $1.9bn almost double the provisions made by the next in line Deutsche Bank with $1.1bn and JP Morgan with $1bn. All three declined to reveal in their recent earnings reports how much of these provisions were specifically for foreign exchange. Citi added a further $600mn for legal costs, while Credit Suisse said $400mn would be kept back for future litigation. No bank has been accused of wrongdoing, but several are cooperating with UK, US and other authorities around the world in their investigations into the allegations of collusion and price manipulation. Settlements with US regulators are expected to be much more costly. Earlier this year, French bank BNP Paribas paid the DoJ a record $8.9bn fine for violating US sanctions on Su- dan, Libya and Cuba between 2002 and 2012. Estimates on how much banks will be fined in total for FX vary wildly. Earlier this year, banking research firm Autonomous put the worldwide total at around $35bn. This would dwarf the $6bn paid so far by 10 financial firms to settle the international investigation into the manipulation of Libor interest rates. ost eurozone government bond yields edged lower yesterday, buoyed by the Bank of Japan’s latest stimulus measures and hopes for further monetary easing from the European Central Bank. Japan’s Central Bank on Friday announced an expansion of its massive stimulus programme, a bold move that has raised hopes the ECB — which meets on Thursday — will eventually expand its asset-purchase programme into government bonds. Disappointing economic data and the threat of imported deflation from a weakening yen has raised expectations that ECB President Mario Draghi will strike a very dovish tone this week even if he doesn’t announce any new measures. German 10-year bond yields — the eurozone benchmark — dipped 2 bps to 0.83%, while Greece and Spain were the only two member states to see yields rise. Since the BoJ announced its new measures, the euro has risen to a six-month high versus the yen, a move that strategists say could import deflation into an already weak eurozone economy. “You’ve seen the BoJ act, and at the margins that increases the chances that the ECB will have to act,” said Lyn Graham Taylor, rates strategist at Rabobank. “I wouldn’t say we have been in a currency war situation, but I guess we have been implicitly over the last few years and the ECB are always behind the curve on it.” The weak global growth outlook is also upping the ante for ECB action. An unexpected dip in China’s factory activity underlined the uncertain outlook for the world’s second-biggest economy, while a final reading of the health of the eurozone manufacturing sector in October was also revised lower. Italy, the largest economy in the bloc’s southern periphery, is expected to record its third straight year of recession in 2014, national statistics office ISTAT forecast yesterday, with a tentative return to growth expected in 2015. Altice offers to buy Portugal Telecom’s home business for $8.8bn Reuters Lisbon T elecoms group Altice has made a bid worth €7.03bn ($8.8bn) for the Portuguese operations of Brazil’s Oi as Oi unwinds its troubled merger with Portugal Telecom. Altice, controlled by Franco-Israeli billionaire telecoms entrepreneur Patrick Drahi, already owns two small cable companies in Portugal and buying the former state-owned monopoly would vault it into prime position to compete with Vodafone and Optimus. Drahi said in September that Altice was looking at acquisition targets in countries where it was already present, such as Portugal and Belgium, even though its majoritycontrolled French cable firm Numericable Group is still in the throes of completing its landmark purchase from Vivendi of France’s second largest mobile operator, SFR. Oi’s new interim chief executive, Bayard Gontijo, said last month that the company could sell Portuguese assets acquired with its takeover of Portugal Telecom (PT) in order to pay down mounting debts of over $18bn. Oi’s merger with PT soured this summer after the Rioforte holding company of the Espirito Santo banking family, ultimately a shareholder in PT, defaulted on nearly €900mn ($1.14bn) of debt owed to PT, a debt which Oi said it had not been aware of before their merger deal. As a result PT’s shareholding in Oi was sharply reduced in a revision of the merger terms, leaving PT with only 25.6% of Oi instead of the 38% previously agreed. It also led to the resignation last month of Zeinal Bava, the chief executive of the new company and former chief executive of PT. Altice said the bid for the PT assets was for “the existing business of Portugal Telecom outside of Africa and excludes Portugal Telecom’s Rio Forte debt securities, Oi treasury shares and Portugal Telecom financing vehicles.” The offer, it said, values the assets at an enterprise value of €7.025bn on a cash and debt-free basis and includes a €400mn earn-out related to the future revenue generation of Portugal Telecom and a €400mn earn-out related to future operating free cash flow. Altice said it would finance the acquisition with a mix of new debt and existing cash. Meanwhile Oi needs the sale to strengthen its position in the consolidation of the Brazilian telecoms market. Local rivals Oi, America Movil and Telefonica Brasil have just agreed to place a joint bid worth around 32bn reais ($13bn) for TIM Participações, the second-biggest of Brazil’s four mobile network operators and majority-owned by Telecom Italia, sources told Reuters on Friday. “In the face of intense press speculation over the last few weeks, this bid was expected and fits Oi’s goal of selling assets to participate in Brazilian mobile consolidation, which is the company’s ultimate goal at this stage,” said analysts at BES Investimento in a research report. Analyst Giles Thorne at Jefferies also said the sale made sense for Oi. “In our view, the primary driver for the Portuguese investment is to improve financial flexibility in advance of launching an Oi-led bid for TIM Brazil,” Thorne said in a research report. Shares in Portugal Telecom rose 5.36% to €1.3770 a share yesterday after hitting a record low of 0.8700 in mid-October. They are down 58% year-to-date. Analysts say Altice could face competition for the Portugal Telecom assets and the Financial Times said last month private equity groups including Apax Partners and Bain Capital could be interested. Drahi: Looking at acquisition targets. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 19 BUSINESS World factory activity expands slowly; stimulus still needed China official manufacturing PMI at 5-month low; Eurozone factory growth sluggish as prices fall; US manufacturing PMI readings mixed Reuters London/Sydney/New York G lobal manufacturing activity increased last month at the same modest pace as in September, suggesting the need for continued economic policy stimulus, especially in Europe. JPMorgan’s Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, produced with Markit, held steady at 52.2 in October. But it was one of the lowest readings this year, suggesting factory activity is expanding slowly. “The global PMI continues to signal 3-4% annualised gains in manufacturing output as we head toward year-end,” said David Hensley, a director at JPMorgan. The index combines survey data from countries including the US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia. Regional manufacturing surveys from Asia were littered with unwelcome landmarks, including a five-month low for activity in China, a four-month trough for South Korea and a 14-month low for Indonesia. Chinese factory activity unexpectedly fell to a five-month low in October, reinforcing views that the country’s economic growth is slowing. The official Chinese Purchasing Managers’ Index eased to 50.8 in October from Septem- ber’s 51.1, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Saturday. A private Chinese factory survey by HSBC/Markit yesterday showed its manufacturing PMI edged up to 50.4 in October, from September’s reading of 50.2. Though overall growth picked up slightly, growth in new orders and new export orders, proxies for domestic and foreign demand, fell to their lowest in four to five months. “There remains downward pressure on the economy, and monetary policy will remain easy,” economists at China International Capital Corp said in a note to clients after the data. It has been a tough year for China’s economy. Growth fell to 7.3% in the third quarter, its lowest level since the 2008 global financial crisis, as the housing market sagged and domestic demand and investment flagged. The cooldown is expected to be China’s worst in 24 years this year, according to a Reuters poll. To encourage more growth, China has cut taxes, quickened some investment projects, lent short-term loans to banks, instructed local governments to spend their budgets and reduced the level of deposits some banks hold as reserves to spur lending. “Sentiment has slightly deteriorated on the back of the Chinese PMI. Overall, the data is disappointing,” Credit Agricole economists said in a note to clients. A rare bright spot was India, where the HSBC PMI rose to 51.6 in October, from 51.0 in September, extending its run above 50 to a full year. Readings on Japanese activity were delayed by a holiday but will likely be overshadowed by the Bank of Japan’s decision on Friday to further expand its massive bond buying program to stimulate the economy. Eurozone manufacturing activity expanded at a slightly faster pace in October, but only tepid expansion in Germany and contractions in France and Italy will be disconcerting for the Eu- ropean Central Bank as it battles to prevent deflation. Some form of quantitative easing, or buying of government or corporate bonds, is one of the last policy options the ECB has left to fight deflation risks and rekindle economic growth in the monetary union. Markit’s final October manufacturing PMI for the eurozone was 50.6, beating September’s 50.3 but shy of an earlier flash estimate of 50.7. “The performance of eurozone manufacturing remained broadly flat at the start of the final quarter,” said Rob Dobson, senior economist at Markit. “Manufacturing is therefore unlikely to provide any meaningful boost to the currency union’s anemic GDP growth.” Germany’smanufacturing industry returned to modest growth last month but new business fell slightly for a second month as Russian sanctions and a general economic slowdown weighed on demand. Adding to the gloom, the surveys showed French factory activity contracted more quickly than in September, while Italian manufacturing slowed at the sharpest rate in 17 months. Outside the eurozone, British factories reported activity expanded at the fastest rate in three months in October. But weak demand from the eurozone, its main trading partner, sent export orders tumbling at the fastest pace since January 2013. Across the Atlantic, the manufacturing picture was also mixed in October, with US factory activity slowing in the Markit PMI survey but expanding at its fastest growth rate in three and a half years, according to the Institute for Supply Management. Private data vendor Markit said its final US October PMI fell to 55.9 from 57.5 in September. “The latest figures indicate that the recovery has lost some intensity at the start of the fourth quarter, reflecting subdued export demand from the euro area and key emerging markets,” said Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit. However, ISM said its index of US factory activity rose to 59 in October from 56.6 in September, bringing the index back to the same level it recorded in August, which was the highest since March 2011. “The overall growth outlook remains very resilient as the underlying strength in domestic demand clearly outweighs po- tential external headwinds,” said Harm Bandholz, chief US economist at UniCredit Research. Manufacturing sectors in Canada and Mexico, whose economies are linked to the US market, both did well in October. The RBC/Markit Canadian PMI rose to a seasonally adjusted 55.3 last month from 53.5 in September, the highest reading since November 2013. “We saw a strong uptick in Canada’s manufacturing business conditions in October driven by new order growth,” said Craig Wright, senior vicepresident and chief economist at RBC. Mexico’s HSBC/Markit PMI rose to 53.3 in October, after adjusting for seasonal variation, from 52.6 in September, a ninemonth high. Mexico exports mostly manufactured goods and sends nearly 80% of its exports to the US. Analysts expect the economy to expand by about 2.5% this year, with growth picking up after a weak start to the year. However, activity in Brazil’s manufacturing sector declined for a second straight month in October. The HSBC/Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index for Brazil’s manufacturing sector dropped to 49.1 in October from 49.3 in September in seasonally adjusted terms. It was the sixth decline in the past seven months. Brazilian manufacturers have struggled for years with high interest rates, scarce labor and burdensome taxes. Ahead of the re-election of President Dilma Rousseff in October, the country endured a mild economic recession in the first half of the year. CORPORATE RESULTS HSBC sets aside $1.8bn for forex probe, misconduct HSBC’s profits fell short of expectations in the third quarter after the bank set aside $1.8bn for misconduct settlements and compensation for customers, including a potential fine for rigging currency markets. The provision and a jump in HSBC’s everyday compliance costs show the impact of regulators’ increasing efforts to clamp down on bad behaviour in the global banking industry that contributed to the financial crisis. HSBC said yesterday it had spent $700mn more this year on compliance and risk than a year ago, and that level of expense looked set to stay, meaning it would miss one of its main cost targets. “The cost base of a global bank like ourselves is higher than it was before, because ... it includes a significantly higher compliance and regulatory cost than historically the banks had invested in,” chief executive Stuart Gulliver said. “It reflects the fact that standards, foreign policy etc, all evolve in a world that is a lot less certain than it was 10, 15 years ago.” HSBC’s third-quarter underlying earnings fell 12% from a year ago to $4.4bn, after operating expenses jumped 15% on the year. That included a $378mn provision for the forex investigation, $589mn to compensate British customers who were mis-sold payment protection insurance products and a $550mn settlement in the US for mis-selling mortgage-backed securities. Gulliver said the bank was likely to miss a target set out 18 months ago to get costs down to about 55% of revenues by 2016. He said it was more likely to be in the high 50s or near 60%. It was 62.5% so far this year. HSBC added 1,400 more compliance staff in the third quarter and now had 24,800 staff in risk and compliance, or one in 10 of its employees. HSBC said its forex investigation provision covered “detailed” talks with Britain’s financial regulator about alleged manipulation in the $5.3tn-a-day forex market. The talks were in relation to systems and controls in one part of its spot forex business in London, it said. Last month HSBC fired two traders in London, sources said. It is one of six banks in talks with the regulator to pay about £1.5bn ($2.4bn) in a coordinated settlement, sources have said. HSBC said the increase in its provision to compensate British customers for payment protection insurance mis-selling — which takes its bill for this to almost $4bn — was due to a “very significant step up” in claims made by claims management companies in August and September. The bank’s adjusted third-quarter revenues were flat at $15.6bn, aided by a rise in income at its investment bank, corporate bank and an increase in lending, notably in corporate loans in Hong Kong and Britain, its two “home” markets. Gulliver said protests in Hong Kong did not change HSBC’s view on its business there. “This does not for us represent any moment of reconsideration of our commitment to Hong Kong.” Unlike Asian-focused rival Standard Chartered, which reported a surge in its bad debts in the third quarter, largely due to weak commodity markets, HSBC’s loan impairment charges more than halved to $760mn compared to the same period a year ago. Audi Audi’s profitability slipped during the third quarter as spending on plants and models outweighed gains from record sales of luxury car sales. Q3 operating profit was up 5.5% to €1.16bn. Audi, part of the Volkswagen group, is spending over €1bn ($1.3bn) on new plants in Mexico and Brazil, and may for the first time build more cars outside Germany than within its home country in 2014. Volkswagen’s flagship division and source of about 40% of its profits, Audi overtook Mercedes-Benz in 2011 to become the world’s second biggest premium automaker behind BMW. Profit as a proportion of sales at Audi eased to 9.2% in the third quarter, from 9.4% a year ago, the car maker said yesterday. Audi also raised its revenue guidance, predicting a “moderate” increase in revenue which totalled €49.9bn last year. The brand had previously forecast a “slight” gain in 2014 revenue. Europe’s luxury car makers avoided the worst of the downturn in their home region, thanks in part to strong demand from the US and emerging markets. Still, some €22bn of planned spending on models, plants and technology through 2018 means Audi’s operating margin may return to its 8-10% target range from 10.1% in 2013 and 11% in 2012, Audi said. While quarterly sales were up 7.2% to 429,295 cars on demand for sport utility vehicles (SUV) such as the Q5 and higher-priced models including the A6 saloon, Audi has seen its overall 2014 sales lead over Mercedes shrink to 103,494 cars after nine months, from 118,110 a year ago. Some of Audi’s models have peaked and the brand has pushed planned overhauls of its top-selling A4 model and the Q7 SUV into 2015. After running over 90 extra shifts at its two main Germany-based assembly plants this year, Audi in September raised its delivery target to over 1.7mn autos from a record 1.58mn in 2013, relying on demand from China and Europe where it leads the premium segment. Ryanair Ryanair raised its annual profit forecast almost 20% yesterday thanks to a surge in winter bookings as the budget airline pioneer said improvements to its much criticised customer service were paying off. The Irish airline built its business on the back of low fares combined with austere service but shifted strategy when it became apparent that its growth had stalled as customers were tiring of its charmless approach. Since a pledge last year by outspoken chief executive Michael O’Leary to stop “unnecessarily pissing people off,” Ryanair has slashed penalty charges, overhauled its web site, tripled its marketing budget and launched business class fares. That has helped the airline to boost ticket fares by 5% in the six months to September and is set to help it sell 2mn more seats than originally planned in the six months to March, O’Leary said. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, forecast its profit after tax would be between €750mn and €770mn in the year to March 2015. That was up from a previous forecast of €620mn to €650mn and well ahead of an average forecast of €694mn ($867mn) in a company poll of analysts. In addition to improved service, Ryanair plans to use its sheer scale to gain market share during the traditionally weak winter season. The airline bumped up its forecast for winter passenger growth by 2.2mn, to increase its full-year passenger numbers to 89mn, up 8.5% on last year. It will cut fares by up to 5% in the last three months of the year and by up to 10% in the three months to March to build momentum on new routes. A new business class fare unveiled over the summer, which gives passengers a number of perks for an extra €50, should help boost winter demand and make the business less dependent on summer holidaymakers, O’Leary said. Fleet expansion is focused on high frequency flights to primary airports used by business travellers rather than the cheaper regional airports that dominated Ryanair’s network in the past. Profit after tax for the six months to September, the first half of Ryanair’s financial year, was up 32% to €795mn, just below an average forecast of €799mn in a company poll. A significant factor in the improvement was a change of policy to sell more tickets earlier, a policy which has reduced the number of empty seats on planes and increased last minute fares, O’Leary said. The airline said it had attempted to lock in recent falls in the price of oil, hedging 90% of its fuel needs for the year to March 2016 at around $93 per barrel and would try to extend that further in the coming months. Holcim Switzerland’s Holcim has received more than 60 bids for assets it must sell to win regulatory approval for a merger with Lafarge, the cement company said as it reported third-quarter results that missed expectations. Sales and profit were hurt by a weaker than expected recovery in Europe, illustrating the need for the planned merger with Lafarge to increase their pair’s access to faster-growing emerging markets where infrastructure spending is on the rise. The mooted merger will create the world’s top cement group with $44bn in annual sales, helping to reduce costs and better cope with the overcapacity and sluggish demand that have dogged the sector since the 2008 economic crisis. To steer the deal past antitrust regulators, the pair have drawn up a list of assets they plan to sell, representing about 12% of combined sales. Holcim’s chief financial officer Thomas Aebischer told reporters that the company had received more than 60 bids by the October 20th deadline to submit non-binding offers. He said the two groups want to finish the due diligence process by the end of November or the start of December, with the aim of reaching agreement with the winning bidder or bidders by the end of this year or the start of next year. “We prefer only one bidder, the one with the highest bid,” Aebischer told reporters, adding that offers had come from a mixture of sector rivals and private equity players, without identifying any interested parties. German rival HeidelbergCement said yesterday that it does not intend to bid, preferring to concentrate on cutting debt and advancing its own growth projects. Mexico’s Cemex has also ruled out a bid. Several private equity groupings have been formed to pursue a deal for the assets, which could be valued at anywhere between €4bn ($5bn) and €7bn, according to sources familiar with the matter. Holcim was giving details on the progress of the sales process as it reported a 2.1% fall in third-quarter revenue to 5.18bn Swiss francs ($5.4bn), falling short of the average forecast of 5.27bn francs in a Reuters poll. Adverse foreign-exchange moves, including a fall in emerging market currencies against the Swiss franc, have also weighed on results this year and wiped 1.05bn francs off revenue in the first nine months. Net income attributable to shareholders fell 4.7% to 447mn francs in the third quarter, also shy of the poll estimate for 459mn francs. Sky Deutschland German pay-TV company Sky Deutschland reported its first quarterly net profit since 2007 yesterday as it prepares to be absorbed into a European media giant being formed by Britain’s BSkyB. Sky Deutschland, currently controlled by Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment group 21st Century Fox, booked a net profit of €12.3mn ($15.4mn) in the three months to September 30, the first quarter of its fiscal year. Chief executive Brian Sullivan warned that Sky Deutschland will have some loss-making quarters before posting annual net profit. “The reality is that we will go in and out of net income for the next quarters before posting annual net profit,” Sullivan told reporters in a conference call. Sky Deutschland is in the process of being combined with other parts of Murdoch’s European pay-TV empire in Britain and Italy. BSkyB, itself 39% owned by Fox, agreed in June to pay $9bn for Rupert Murdoch’s 57% stake in Sky Deutschland and all of Sky Italia to create a media powerhouse with 20mn customers. BSkyB has made a €6.75-offer for Sky Deutschland which is to expire at midnight German time (2300 GMT) yesterday. BSkyB has said it will acquire at least 68.8% of Sky Deutschland shares based on the 21st Century Fox stake and other commitments it has received. Sky Deutschland’s net subscriber numbers increased by 96,000 during the first quarter of the 2014/15 fiscal year. Like its British counterpart, Sky Deutschland has been using sports rights to help build its business. The broadcaster said it set a new record for live viewing of domestic Bundesliga soccer after the German national team won the World Cup. In the first weekend of matches, played in August, more than 4mn viewers tuned in to the live matches, which Sky said was its best season opening ever. Westpac Bank Australian banking giant Westpac yesterday posted a 12% jump in full-year net profit to A$7.56bn (US$6.60bn), driven by growth in lending volumes and customer deposits. The result in the 12 months to September 30 compared to A$6.82bn the previous year, with chief executive Gail Kelly hailing it as “high quality” at a time of slower global growth. Cash earnings — the measure more closely watched by analysts, which strips out volatile items — were up eight% at A$7.63bn, slightly above expectations. The result follows a bumper annual net profit last week for ANZ Bank, up 15% to A$7.3bn, although National Australia Bank’s yearly profit shrunk 1.1% to A$5.3bn due to hefty UK write-downs. With the nation’s biggest lender, Commonwealth Bank, posting a 13% jump in full-year net profit to a record A$8.63bn in August, their collective profits soared to some A$28bn for 2014, despite a slowing economy. Revenue jumped 7% on the previous year to A$19.94bn. The company announced a final dividend of 92¢, taking its annual payout to shareholders to A$1.82 per share, joining the other big banks in boosting rewards for investors. Investors though were disappointed, with the share price sliding 0.66% to close at A$34.55. Westpac, the country’s oldest bank and second largest by market capitalisation, said all divisions performed well over the year. PostNL Dutch mail company PostNL reported increased profit and revenue in the third quarter as price hikes, cost cutting and growth in its parcels business compensated for falling volume in its core Dutch mail business. PostNL said underlying cash operating income doubled to €34mn ($42.5mn) from the year before, on revenue of €988mn, up from €969mn a year earlier. It stuck to its second-quarter guidance that it would earn full-year profit of between €260mn and €290mn. “Our addressed mail volumes in Mail in the Netherlands declined by 11.1%. Reduction of our cost level remains necessary to compensate for the ongoing volume decline in Mail in the Netherlands,” said PostNL chief executive Hema Verhagen in a statement yesterday. Tuesday, November 4, 2014 BUSINESS GULF TIMES Sheikh Dr Khalid: Success in postpaid services. Right: Kyle Whitehill (left) and Steve Walters giving details of Vodafone Qatar’s six months performance until September at a press conference in Doha yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Vodafone Qatar expects to turn profitable in 2015 By Pratap John Chief Business Reporter V odafone Qatar, which made a “distributable profit” of QR120mn and reduced its net loss to QR81mn in six months up to September, expects to turn profitable in 2015, a senior company official has said. “We expect to make a profit at some point next year,” Vodafone Qatar chief financial officer Steve Walters said yesterday. He said the company achieved an EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of QR295mn for the period under review, up 41% year-on-year. Giving highlights of Vodafone Qatar’s six months financial performance at the Four Seasons yesterday, CEO Kyle Whitehill said the company made total revenue of QR1.14bn, up 24% on the same period last year. He said the company’s customer base jumped 16% to 1.372mn in September this year. This shows an addition of 184,000 customers. The mobile average revenue per user (ARPU) increased to QR128 in September, which shows a 3% year-on-year growth. “We have achieved strong results in a competitive environment. I see good signs for future,” Whitehill said. The CEO said by the net loss of only QR81mn in the six month period meant there was an “underlying improvement” of 49% compared to the same period last year. The net loss has dropped to QR81mn in September this year from QR312mn in September 2010. Vodafone Qatar achieved an EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of QR295mn for the period under review, up 41% year-on-year The loss per share was Dh10 in September compared with Dh19 in the same period last year, Vodafone Qatar said. Vodafone Qatar chairman Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani al-Thani said, “Voda- fone Qatar’s revenue for the half-year grew by 24%, driven by a combination of continued customer growth and ARPU performance, which resulted in a 41% EBITDA improvement over the same period last year.” “During the first half of the year we launched a number of new products into the market, which have been positively received, particularly amongst our Qatari customers. We continue to see success in our postpaid services, which contributed to a 3% ARPU improvement. “We continue to invest heavily in our network, building new indoor and outdoor sites and upgrading sites in key locations. In areas that are densely populated, we are increasing network capacity to ensure we deliver a great experience to our customers. “4G coverage expansion is ongoing; we have introduced 4G in Wakrah, Hamad International Airport and also increased our coverage in the desert area — so customers can enjoy Vodafone 4G services whilst they are camping. We have also launched 4G roaming so our customers can enjoy their 4G services when they travel abroad to Saudi Arabia, Spain, Romania and Netherlands.” Sheikh Dr Khalid said, “We are now focused on our ability to lay a state of the art fibre optic infrastructure in Qatar which is a key enabler to the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the drive for Qatar to become a knowledge-based economy. Vodafone’s commitment to build a world class converged network in Qatar underpins our desire to offer customers greater choice, greater product innovation and meet the burgeoning demand for data services.” Capex to reach nearly QR500mn by year-end Vodafone’s capital expenditure (Capex) will reach nearly QR500mn by the year-end, the company said yesterday. In the second half of the year, the focus would be on increasing the “network footprint”, long term evolution (LTE) and improving the overall customer experience, said CEO Kyle Whitehill. On the proposed Vodafone deal to buy the Qatar National Broadband Network (Qnbn) Whitehill said, “It is still in the early stages.” Vodafone Qatar earlier said it did not presently own any shares in Qnbn and on successful completion of the deal it would own 100%. The combination of Vodafone Qatar and Qnbn will enable Vodafone Qatar to deliver the benefits of choice to customers in the fixed line market in Qatar. Vodafone Qatar said it believes that the transaction will be a major contributor towards the achievement of the policy objectives laid down in the National Broadband Plan and underlines its commitment to delivering world class telecommunications services to Qatar. CRICKET | Page 5 NBA | Page 6 Pakistan crush sorry Australia for 2-0 series win Miami Heat beat Toronto Raptors for 16th straight time Tuesday, November 4, 2014 Moharram 11, 1436 AH TENNIS GULF TIMES Djokovic ready for London year-end test SPORT Page 8 FOCUS Winter switch for Qatar World Cup draws nearer DPA Berlin T he prospect of switching the dates for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar so that it is played in winter is increasing, a leading FIFA official said yesterday. “We are getting closer to narrowing the dates to two options - January and February 2022 or November and December 2022,” said FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke (pictured). “But FIFA has also been asked to consider May 2022.” Valcke was speaking after a FIFA meeting in Zurich in which the European Clubs Association (ECA) had proposed the tournament be held from late April to May. “We believe it is the best option,” ECA president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of Bayern Munich, said last week. The World Cup being played in April and May would mean less disruption to domestic seasons than it taking place in November and December. However, some leagues would then have to stage domestic cup finals in June. And Valcke pointed out the month-long period of Ramadan would begin April 2, 2022, which could have an impact on the preparation of some players. The EPFL body, representing the European football leagues, proposed a May-June tournament, only slightly earlier than the usual slot of June-July. A January-February timeframe for the competition could be problematic due to a potential clash with the 2022 Winter Olympics which are traditionally held in February. Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi insisted that his country could deliver a summer World Cup, as promised in its winning bid, if desired, but that a winter solution was preferred. “The objective of today’s meeting was to receive feedback from all parties and to work on narrowing the options,” said Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, who chaired the meeting. “We are pleased with the level of detail provided by the participants and with the productive discussions that took place today. “We now have a greater understanding of where each of the stakeholders is coming from and we will carefully consider these opinions as we move forward towards defining the international match calendar.” The next meeting discussing the dates of the 2022 World Cup will be in early 2015. DOHA GOALS �Even Parkinson’s will find it difficult to lay Ali down’ Former world heavyweight champion Foreman still remembers �Rumble in the Jungle’ vividly By Satya Rath Doha F orty years ago, almost on this day, in a little-known city in Africa, was staged what’s perhaps the greatest bout ever in the history of professional boxing. The �Rumble in the Jungle’, as that big fight was christened, was between an underdog and an all-conquering phenomenon. Punches flew thick and fast, mostly from one end, with the challenger taking most of the blows on his body while leaning back on the ropes. The trend continued till the seventh round, before the hunted turned the hunter in the eighth, one thunderous blow on the jaw ending the reign of George Edward Foreman. It was the American’s only defeat by knockout in his professional career. No prizes for guessing the name of his conqueror on that fateful October 30, 1974, night in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. Yes, the great Mohamed Ali. Foreman, currently in the Qatari capital as one of the keynote speakers in the third edition of Doha GOALS Forum, still has vivid memories of that fight. “It may sound surprising, but I always felt afraid going into any bout. The only time I wasn’t afraid was when I faced Ali. I was not just confident, I was overconfident. I was told most of Ali’s knockout wins happened within four rounds. I wanted to knock him out in three rounds! “But that night he was really focused, he was really dedicated to stand on his feet. He was ready for my punishment, he was ready for my blows, he was ready to bear the pain, and he was ready to wait. I kept hitting, he kept ducking. He was more experienced, he judged me out,” Foreman recalls. Standing at 6 feet 3.5 inches, Foreman was always a fearsome presence in the ring. His raw power took him through his first 37 professional fights undefeated that helped him earn a shot at Joe Frazier in 1973, the reigning world heavyweight champion. Foreman was, like Ali in their fight, considered the underdog against Frazier, but he knocked him down six times to claim the heavyweight crown that January 22 night in Kingston, Jamaica. Next was the legendary �Rumble in the Jungle’ bout. Ali employed what is now become known as �rope-a-dope’ technique --leaning back against the ropes to deflect Foreman’s thunderous punches, before turning aggressor when his opponent tired. “I have no qualms admitting that Ali just beat me fair and square that night,” Foreman adds. “I was always the aggressor. I was always considered a genuine puncher; I believed whenever I lay my hands on someone, I would knock him out. Till that night, no one ever stood up to me like that. He was prepared. He was ready to play the waiting game. He was Former world heavyweight champion George Foreman at Doha GOALS Forum 2014 yesterday; (right) HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani speaks after inaugurating the Doha GOALS Forum yesterday. the rope that night, I became the dope.” Despite the on-ring rivalry, Foreman and Ali were great friends off it. “He’s the most fun guy I have ever met. He loves life. He’s not in the best of shape now, but even Parkinson’s will find it difficult to lay him down. He’s a fighter, and he’ll fight.” He tried a shot at another title three years later, but suffered a shock loss at the hands of a littleknown boxer called Jimmy Young. He retired soon after, became a non-denominational Christian minister and founded the George Foreman Youth and Community Center in Houston. But community service and philanthropy soon exhausted his earnings, and 10 years later, at the age of 38, Foreman decided to make a comeback. “I suddenly realized I had no money. I was almost broke. Boxing was the only thing I knew, so it was only natural that was where I had to return,” he says. The return was not as memorable. He lost more bouts than he won, but kept trudg- ing along. Then, on November 5, 1994, clad in the same red trunks he wore during his bout against Ali, a 45-year-old Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer to become the oldest heavyweight champ in history. He retired a second and final time in 1997, with a professional record of 76 wins (68 knockouts) and five losses. Despite being considered as one of the hardest punchers of all time, Foreman thinks it was John Henry Lewis who owned the best punches ever. “His was the best. He was lightening quick, he had the hardest punch,” he says. For the participants and delegates at Doha GOALS, Foreman has a simple message: “I don’t want to be known as someone who left behind a big fortune, I would rather be known as someone who believed in sharing his fortune. That’s my philosophy in life. You don’t need to be rich or famous. Just look next door, be responsible to the person next to you. That will do.” >> More on Page 10 2 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FOCUS German giants, Real close to qualification Real Madrid, on a club record of 11 straight wins in all competitions, host Liverpool T he three teams with 100 percent records in this season’s Champions League can secure their places in the knockout stage this week with two games to spare. German heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund—who contested the 2013 final—plus holders Real Madrid have all been in imperious form in the competition and will be confident of making it four wins from four games as they take on opponents they beat away from home a fortnight ago. Real Madrid, now top of La Liga, are on a club record of 11 straight wins in all competitions as they host five-times European champions Liverpool in Group B, having beaten them 3-0 at Anfield on matchday three. The main interest in that group appears to be who finishes second, with three teams all on three points. Basle and Ludogorets play their return game in Switzerland today after the Bulgarians won 1-0 at home. “We’re still very much in the group to qualify, which is the objective,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said ahead of a daunting trip to the Spanish capital. “It’s a big ask playing against arguably the best team in the world at the moment. But we’ll go into it with confidence.” Bayern host AS Roma in Group E tomorrow after an astonishing 7-1 away victory against them in Italy, and will be confident of taking another three points. Roma’s defeat offered new hope to winless Manchester City, who let a 2-0 lead slip away to CSKA Moscow and now need to win the return in England and hope the Italians lose again. Dortmund are having a strange season in which they struggle domestically while brushing aside all opposition in Group D. Beaten by Bayern in the Bundesliga on Saturday, they have dropped into the relegation places, but play at home to Galatasaray today looking for a repeat of their 4-0 success in Turkey. If Juergen Klopp’s team and Arsenal, who are at home to Anderlecht, both win, they will each have qualified with two games to spare. The four German repre- TODAY’S FIXTURES Juventus v Olympiakos, Malmö v Atletico Madrid, FC Basel v Ludo Razgd, Real Madrid v Liverpool, Zenit St Pietersburg v Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica v Monaco, Arsenal v Anderlecht, Borussia Dortmund v Galatasaray sentatives have lost only one game out of 12 between them so far, which was Bayer Leverkusen’s 1-0 defeat to Monaco on matchday one. They still top Group C, but a second loss, away to Zenit St Petersburg on Tuesday, would put the Russians ahead of them. Second-placed Monaco, away to Benfica, have yet to concede a goal and are also very much in contention. The fourth German and English teams, Chelsea and Schalke, hold the top two spots in Group G ahead of tomorrow’s matches. Chelsea visit Slovenia to play Maribor, who they thrashed 6-0 in London, while second-placed Schalke know Sporting Lisbon have a poor record against German opposition, Reuters Madrid R Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (right) heads the ball next to Gareth Bale during a training session at Valdebebas sports ground in Madrid yesterday. (Reuters) Reuters London Bale back for Real for Liverpool visit, says Ancelotti despite only having beaten them 4-3 in Gelsenkirchen with the help of a lastminute penalty. Barcelona will want to bounce back from Saturday’s shock defeat at home to Celta Vigo when they visit Ajax in Group F, in which they trail Paris St Germain by a point. Four points ahead of Ajax, they would be well-placed to qualify with another win, as would PSG if they win as expected at home to APOEL. Manager Laurent Blanc has said they must do that without talismanic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who suffered a heel injury in September and has not played since. He is due to return in the middle of this month. Group A remains the closest, so much so that two home wins on Tuesday would bring all four teams level on six points. Juventus and Malmo are those home teams, facing Olympiakos and last season’s finalists Atletico Madrid respectively. In tomorrow’s other matches Group H leaders Porto travel to Athletic Bilbao and Shakhtar Donetsk host BATE Borisov, who they humiliated 7-0 in Belarus when Luiz Adriano scored five times. eal Madrid’s Wales winger Gareth Bale has recovered from a muscle injury and should be available for today’s Champions League Group B match at home to Liverpool, coach Carlo Ancelotti said yesterday. Bale, who scored one goal in nine appearances against Liverpool when he was at Tottenham Hotspur, last played for Real in the 5-0 La Liga win over Athletic Bilbao on Oct. 5 but Ancelotti said he was “fine”. “The question is whether to deploy a player who is coming back from injury from the start,” Ancelotti told a news conference previewing the match at the Bernabeu. “I will decide tomorrow.” Holders Real top the group with nine points from three matches and will secure a place in the knockout round with another victory over Liverpool, whom they outclassed 3-0 at Anfield last month. Saturday’s 4-0 romp at Granada in La Liga was Real’s 11th consecutive win in all competitions and lifted them to the top of the standings after 10 matches. Cristiano Ronaldo netted his 17th La Liga goal of the campaign and will have another chance today to equal or surpass Raul’s Champions League scoring record of 71 goals. Portugal forward Ronaldo, who set a scoring record for a single season of Europe’s elite club competition of 17 goals in 2013-14, is currently one behind his former Real team mate on 70. “He (Ronaldo) is not thinking about Raul’s record, he is thinking about the team,” Ancelotti said. “He could beat it tomorrow Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti (left) and midfielder James Rodriguez share a laugh during a training session. (AFP) SPOTLIGHT Pirlo peaking as Juve eye Olympiakos victory AFP Rome I talian midfield star Andrea Pirlo appears to be hitting peak form in time for a crucial clash against Olympiakos today that could prove decisive for Juventus’s hopes of qualifying from Group A in the Champions League. The Turin giants’ last-16 chances are hanging in the balance after dropping to third in the group, three points adrift of Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos, following respective away defeats to the pair in the past month. With a tricky away trip to Swedish champions Malmo and a home clash against Atletico still to come, Massimiliano Allegri’s men realistically need a win in Turin today if they are to keep their knockout phase hopes alive. But if Pirlo’s form is any indicator, Juventus fans could be forgiven for believing they are about to finally turn the corner following a nightmare month of October that saw them held by Sassuolo and lose to Genoa in Serie A. The 35-year-old has been steadily rebuilding form since returning from a long injury lay-off in time for a badtempered 3-2 win over Roma on October 5, and broke his league drought with the opener in a a 2-0 win over Empoli on Saturday. “I’m improving, doing well during Juventus’ midfielder Andrea Pirlo’s form has been steadily rebuilding since returning from a long injury lay-off. (AFP) the week and I feel better with every game I play. I hope to be back in peak condition as soon as possible,” said Pirlo. But the joy of restoring a three-point lead over Roma, who lost 2-0 to Napoli earlier in the day, has been eclipsed by the more pressing matter of beating Michel’s Greek champions. “Every match is a final for us, not just this one, but Olympiakos will be a crucial encounter,” Juve midfielder Arturo Vidal, who underlined the need or an early goal today, told Sky Sport Italia. Olympiakos’s 1-0 win in Piraeus a fortnight ago was down to Pajtim Kasami’s clinical 36th-minute finish, although much of the credit after the game went to Spanish goalkeeper Roberto for repelling a second-half onslaught from the visitors. but it won’t be his last Champions League appearance,” added the Italian. “I always have to talk about Cristiano and I already said that it’s tough to find new words. He is a fantastic player.” Ancelotti, who helped end Real’s 12-year wait for a record-extending 10th European crown last season in his first term in charge, was asked about reports in Spain that he is poised to agree an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of the 2015-16 campaign. “If the club is happy with me I want to carry on,” he said. Ancelotti also felt the criticism of underfire Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli following their poor start to the season has been over the top. Balotelli is yet to score a Premier League goal for the Reds since making a £16 million ($25.6 million, 20.4 million euros) move from AC Milan in August and was widely lambasted for swapping shirts with Madrid defender Pepe with his side trailing 3-0 at half-time two weeks ago before being substituted at the break. However, Ancelotti insisted Liverpool’s problems were not solely down to his Italian compatriot and that he had no problems with his players swapping shirts at half-time. “There is a lot of talk about Balotelli, maybe too much,” said Ancelotti. “He has quality, but he has come to a team going through a difficult time after losing some important players like (Luis) Suarez. The manager needs to find another solution, but it is the same with all the new players. I don’t think all of Liverpool’s problems are down to Balotelli. “The exchanging of shirts at half-time is very common. If one of my players did it tomorrow I wouldn’t take them off.” The Chilean international added: “They played their game in our first meeting, scoring from one of the two moves they strung together. This time we need to score quickly and put in a really good performance.” Pirlo said Juve’s weekend win was “an important sign - mainly for ourselves - that enables us to prepare as best we can for Tuesday’s game”. He added: “It’s like a final for us. We have to play well because only one result will do.” The victory came at little cost. Allegri’s usual strike pair of Carlos Tevez, who made a cameo appearance after 68 minutes, and Fernando Llorente were both rested as Alvaro Morata partnered Sebastian Giovinco for the first time. Paul Pogba also spent the entire match on the bench, underlining the French midfielder’s importance to Allegri for a match that Juve are desperate to win. “Now we need to think about the next game, which is a must-win for us,” said Morata, who saw several attempts saved by Roberto in their away trip to Olympiakos but who hit his second goal of the season on Saturday. While Juve moved three points clear at the top of Italy’s top flight, Olympiakos struggled to a scoreless draw away to 10-man Asteras Tripolis at the weekend. The result saw the Greek champions close the gap on leaders PAOK Salonika to two points although they have played a game more. Meyiwa’s death was robbery �gone wrong’ Johannesburg: The murder of a South African football captain last week was a “robbery gone horribly wrong”, investigators said yesterday, adding they were searching for other suspects involved in the crime. Thirteen people have been questioned and one person has been arrested for the killing of Senzo Meyiwa, a 27-year-old goalkeeper who played for Bafana Bafana and top flight team Orlando Pirates. Lieutenant-General Vineshkumar Moonoo told journalists they were confident that “the person we have charged was involved in the incident.” Twenty-five-year-old Zenokuhle Mbatha was arrested in Vosloorus, south of Johannesburg, the same township where Meyiwa was gunned down by intruders while visiting his pop-star girlfriend. Mbatha will make a second court appearance on November 11. Moonoo added that there were “two people who were directly involved in the accident.” The suspects made off with a cell phone. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 3 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT SERIE A Milan stunned by Palermo Van Gaal says beaten United getting closer AFP Milan A �I have seen the willpower of team, but we have only 13 points out of 10 games and that is not much’ Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal signs autographs for Manchester City fans before the English Premier League match on Sunday. City won 1-0. (EPA) AFP Manchester M anchester United manager Louis van Gaal feels his side are getting closer to the Premier League’s leading teams despite having made their worst start to a season since 1986. After drawing 1-1 with league leaders Chelsea the previous weekend, United lost 1-0 at derby rivals Manchester City on Sunday, with Sergio Aguero scoring the winning goal after United defender Chris Smalling was sent off. United also lost Argentine centreback Marcos Rojo to a dislocated shoulder, but although the result left the 20-time champions 13 points adrift of Chelsea, Van Gaal believes they are making progress. “In spite of all the injuries, we were very close with Chelsea last week and also this week we were very close, but not close enough, and we have to make steps still to improve,” he said. Aguero struck in the 63rd minute after Smalling was shown two yellow cards in the first half for attempting to block a clearance by Joe Hart and then sliding in on James Milner, but United finished the match strongly. “Of course as a coach or as a manager you can be proud of the last 20 minutes because they showed unbelievable will power and we could have scored at that moment,” said Van Gaal, who described Smalling’s dismissal as “stupid”. “I have seen the willpower of this team that I said to the players is fantastic, but we have still only 13 points out Italy’s Cannavaro to replace Lippi in China: reports Beijing: Italy’s World Cup winning captain Fabio Cannavaro was being hotly tipped yesterday to replace his former national coach Marcello Lippi as boss of Guangzhou Evergrande after the 66-year-old announced he was stepping aside. Lippi announced his move after Guangzhou clinched their fourth successive Chinese Super League title on the final day of the season Sunday with a 1-1 draw at Shandong Luneng. “It is my last match as a head coach for the club,” said Lippi, who led the Guangdong club to AFC Champions League glory in 2013. “I will be 67 years old in the near future, and I do not want to be the head coach any more,” he added, according to Xinhua news agency. Lippi will become the team’s chief technical officer, Xinhua said, possibly the last stop in an incredible career in which he won five Italian Serie A titles, a UEFA Champions League and the World Cup with the Italian national team in 2006. Cannavaro, his talismanic captain during the Azzurris’ fourth World Cup victory, will be unveiled as Guangzhou’s new coach next week, according to Chinese media reports. “It is understood that, if all goes smoothly, Cannavaro will arrive in Guangzhou next week when the club will hold a press conference to formally launch the new coach to the outside world,” the sports.163.com website said. Meanwhile, the U Sports news portal said Liu Zhuo, vice president of Evergrande Real Estate Group, which owns the club, had confirmed Cannavaro’s appointment. The former centre-back is currently being investigated by authorities in his home city of Naples on suspicion of illegally sidestepping one million euros ($1.27 million) in tax. The 41-year-old had a glittering career at Parma, Juventus and Real Madrid and won the world player of the year award in 2006. He is currently on the coaching staff at Al-Ahli in UAE. Guangzhou lost four games over the 30-game season, three more than last year. The club, widely regarded as Asia’s richest, has former Italian internationals Alessandro Diamanti and Alberto Gilardino on its books. It also has a large proportion of the Chinese national team and star Brazilians Muriqui and Elkeson, the latter scoring 28 goals in 28 league games. Lippi is one of the world’s highest-paid managers, earning an estimated $11 million in the 2012-13 season, France Football magazine said. of 10 games and that is not so much.” Van Gaal’s assessment of United’s display was echoed by his captain Wayne Rooney, who played as a deeplying number 10 on his return to the team after a three-match suspension. “We have to focus on ourselves. You can see every week we are getting better,” the England striker told Sky Sports. “We are not far away from being back up there and being a very good side. We came here for a result and leave with no points, so we are disappointed.” City’s victory brought them four consecutive league successes over United for the first time since 1970 and ended a damaging run of three matches without a win in all competitions. The English champions face a key Champions League fixture at home to CSKA Moscow tomorrow and City cap- tain Vincent Kompany said the victory over United would allow his team to approach the game with confidence. “The derby win is massive. For a minute, the league doesn’t matter,” said the Belgium centre-back. “It is a boost for us and we will do our job again in the Champions League on Wednesday.” City manager Manuel Pellegrini said that French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala should be fit to face CSKA Moscow after sitting out Sunday’s game with a thigh problem, but Aleksandar Kolarov is unlikely to play after injuring his calf in the warm-up. City had three strong penalty appeals waved away before Aguero turned in Gael Clichy’s cutback to claim his 10th goal of the season, but Pellegrini refused to criticise match official Michael Oliver, saying: “It is very difficult to be a referee.” United finished the game with midfielder Michael Carrick and 19-year-old Paddy McNair at centre-back, while an injury to Rafael da Silva meant that winger Antonio Valencia started the game at right-back. With Phil Jones and Jonny Evans currently sidelined, Van Gaal has a defensive headache ahead of United’s next game at home to Crystal Palace, but he believes there is sufficient depth in his squad to compensate. “We have a lot of injuries in defence, as you know, but you have also seen how Michael Carrick has come in and Paddy McNair has come in,” said the Dutchman. “We have still 11 players to play and also very good players, so I don’t cry for that. It is sometimes difficult to select the best team, but I think I can manage that.” C Milan’s six-match unbeaten run in Serie A came to an end in spectacular fashion as promoted Palermo ran out deserved 2-0 winners at a stunned San Siro on Sunday. Following two consecutive draws, Filippo Inzaghi’s men had been looking for the win that would have hoisted them up to joint third place alongside Sampdoria. But they were stunned by two goals in the space of three firsthalf minutes and, despite battling for the equaliser, were left with a second defeat of the season which kept them in seventh place. Milan are nine points behind leaders Juventus but only three points off the last Champions League qualifying spot now occupied by Sinisa Mihajlovic’s high-flying Samp. “Hats off to Palermo,” Inzaghi told Sky Sport. “I take full responsibility for the defeat. We’re still growing and so there can always be bumps along the way but maybe we deceived ourselves.” Milan welcomed �keeper Diego Lopez back to the starting line-up following several weeks on the sidelines and midfielder Riccardo Saponara returned after a six-month injury absence. But Lopez found himself beaten when defender Cristian Zapata, who replaced Alex due to an injury after just three minutes, turned the ball into his own net from a corner on 23 minutes. An already enterprising Palermo grew in confidence and moments later Lopez did well to stop a shot from striker Paolo Dybala with a trailing leg. However the �keeper was left clutching at thin air when the diminutive Argentinian muscled his way past Zapata on the left and fired a fine left-footed strike inside the far post on 26 minutes. Milan saw several chances go amiss, notably when Andrea Poli’s attempted chip trailed wide of the target after Stefano Sorrentino came rushing out of goal, while Fernando Torres saw a glancing header skim the post. The Spaniard also saw a diving header go wide but the hosts quickly ran out of ideas as Palermo hung on to record a famous win that had coach Giuseppe Iachini purring. “Tonight we played a great game against a great side. We played with personality and aggression and deserved the win,” said Iachini. Earlier, Sampdoria reclaimed third spot thanks to a 3-1 home win over Fiorentina, while city rivals Genoa fought back to claim a precious 4-2 away win at Udinese. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Wenger impressed by Arsenal improvement AFP London A rsene Wenger believes Arsenal are finally showing signs of developing the killer instinct required to succeed in the Champions League. Wenger’s side will aim to stay in the race to finish top of Group D when they host Anderlecht today and the Gunners boss knows it will be a night when patience and predatory finishing will be essential qualities. Arsenal are three points behind group leaders Borussia Dortmund in second place and a win over Anderlecht, combined with a victory for the Germans against Galatasaray, would guarantee the north Londoners a place in the last 16, while keeping them in with a chance of finishing in first place and potentially earning an easier draw in the knockout stages. The Gunners snatched a 2-1 win against Anderlecht in the reverse fixture two weeks ago despite being outplayed for long periods, but Wenger doesn’t expect the Belgian side to be so adventurous at the Emirates Stadium. With that in mind, Wenger has told his players to display the kind of patient approach that eventually broke down Burnley after 70 minutes of their 3-0 Premier League victory on Saturday. Chile forward Alexis Sanchez took his tally to 10 goals with a double strike to end Burnley’s stubborn resistence and Wenger believes the way his team con- Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger (third right) talks to his team during a training session at the London Colney, North London. (AFP) tinued to stay positive despite the frustrations of seeing Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton pull off a string of saves has them moving in the right direction. “In the recent games at home we were not patient and we have learned. We look a bit more balanced between offence and defence,” Wenger said. Key to Arsenal’s resurgence has been the impressive form of Sanchez, a preseason buy from Barcelona, who Wenger has deployed in a more central attacking role following injury to Germany playmaker Mesut Ozil. Wenger is confident Sanchez can handle the additional responsibility, having compared him and the Uruguayan former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez to tough South American “street footballers” in the build-up to Saturday’s match. “I was ready to give him time if he needed it, but he has settled in much quicker than expected,” Wenger said. “Now I play him through the middle and he has shown he can find the ball, he can dribble and he can go at you. “There are similarities with (Luis) Suarez a little bit by going at you, by being where you do not expect him to be in the box, and by having that huge desire to be at the end of things.” With the return of England winger Theo Walcott, who made a late cameo appearance against Burnley after 10 months out with a serious knee injury, Wenger will soon have increased attacking options. France forward Olivier Giroud is also set to be in contention following the next international break after recovering earlier than expected from a broken foot. “For Theo it must be great as well to see that everybody wants him to come on,” said Wenger, who could also have England midfielder Jack Wilshere available today after a minor knee problem forced him to miss the Burnley match. Anderlecht have taken only one point from their first three group matches and a defeat would eliminate them from the competition. 4 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 FOOTBALL FOCUS LIGUE 1 Marseille on track ahead of PSG clash Thauvin secures the points against Lens with his third league goal of the season AFP Marseille M POINTS TABLE Marseille Paris SG Lyon Bordeaux Saint-Etienne Nantes Monaco Metz Montpellier Nice Rennes Lille Reims Toulouse Caen Guingamp Lens Lorient Bastia Evian 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 9 6 7 6 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 3 2 3 1 6 2 3 3 5 3 3 2 2 4 4 3 2 3 0 2 1 4 1 2 0 3 3 3 2 4 4 5 5 4 4 5 6 6 8 7 8 6 8 27 23 24 18 12 11 14 13 11 17 14 9 12 14 14 9 11 10 9 11 10 8 10 14 11 8 13 12 11 18 14 10 21 17 15 21 15 16 17 22 28 24 23 21 21 20 18 18 17 17 16 16 15 14 12 12 11 10 10 10 Olympique Marseille’s Florian Thauvin celebrates after scoring against RC Lens during their French Ligue 1 match at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille on Sunday. (Reuters) divisions in the squad. “Am I worried before the �Clasico’? The match against Lyon was the best we have played this season, and tonight was not good,” said Bielsa. “I know what mistakes we made but I also know perfectly well the qualities of my team and what we are capable of doing.” Bielsa, who handed rare starts to Rod Fanni and Mario Lemina, saw his side strike early, as they have done on numerous occasions already this season. The game was only 10 minutes old when a corner from the right was inadvertently helped on at the near post by Lens captain Jerome Le Moigne for Nkoulou to dive and head in. Marseille had won every Ligue 1 game this season in which they had opened the scoring and few at that point anticipated a Lens comeback. However, Antoine Kombouare’s side, featuring six players aged 22 or under, including four teenagers, were not cowed and Benjamin Bourigeaud missed a chance to equalise before Guillaume did restore parity with a strike from inside the area after good work by Pablo Chavarria. Indeed, Lens could have gone in front early in the second period, with Wylan Cyprien blazing over and Chavarria having an effort disallowed for offside. But Marseille regained the initiative when a superb Dimitri Payet pass found Gignac, and Ligue 1’s leading scorer turned provider as he cut the ball back for Thauvin to side-foot a shot into the roof of the net. The dismissal of Romao left OM to play out the final 14 minutes of the game with 10 men and meant that Bielsa will have to do without him as well as Andre Ayew and Jeremy Morel against PSG. But at least they held on to win the match, with goalkeeper Steve Mandan- SPOTLIGHT da making a crucial save to deny Yoann Touzghar in the fifth minute of added time. Despite the defeat, Lens coach Kombouare said: “I never had any doubts about the quality of my players, about what they were capable of doing. “We are disappointed, frustrated, but we have to congratulate Marseille for holding on.” Champions PSG came from behind to win 2-1 at Lorient on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign while Lyon went clear in third with a 3-1 victory at Nice. Elsewhere on Sunday, Bordeaux moved back up to fourth by beating local rivals Toulouse 2-1 for their first win in four league outings, Marc Planus and Diego Rolan scoring for Willy Sagnol’s side. Meanwhile, Nantes made it seven league games unbeaten as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Rennes in the Breton derby. orocco have been given until the weekend to decide whether they want to host next year’s African Nations Cup finals after the Confederation of African Football refused to consider a postponement of its showpiece tournament over Ebola virus fears. Morocco must make clear its position by Saturday, said African football’s governing body (CAF) after a meeting in Rabat yesterday between prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane and a delegation led by CAF president Issa Hayatou. Morocco want the tournament postponed to June next year or January 2016 because of fears of the possible spread of the Ebola virus, which has caused almost 5,000 deaths in West Africa. But CAF stood firm on its determination not to change the schedule dates of Jan. 17Feb. 8 despite the fact it now runs the risk of having no host for the 2015 finals. But it did open the door for any other country interested in stepping in as emergency hosts, saying they also had until Saturday to decide. There have been no public expressions of interest from the small handful of African countries with the requisite infra- structure and organisational ability to step in at the last minute. CAF set out its argument against a change of dates, effectively accusing Morocco of alarmism following last month’s request from its sports ministry for a postponement on the back of advice from its health ministry that there was a risk the tournament could bring the deadly virus into the north African kingdom. CAF rejected the notion in a lengthy statement yesterday, setting out reasons why it felt the tournament could go ahead in Morocco as planned. “Of the three countries where the epidemic is prevalent, only Guinea retains a chance of qualifying for the final tournament. “In addition, Guinea hosts its home games in Casablanca Morocco want the tournament postponed to June next year or January 2016 because of fears of the possible spread of the Ebola virus, which has caused almost 5,000 deaths in West Africa. But CAF stood firm on its determination not to change the schedule dates of Jan. 17-Feb. 8 despite the fact it now runs the risk of having no host for the 2015 finals and has adhered to a strict health protocol implemented by Morocco that has so far showed no flaws,” CAF pointed out. “Morocco, a country where no cases of Ebola have been identified, welcomes in the coming weeks and a few days before the (Nations Cup), the Club World Cup where there will be participants from a country where a case of the Ebola virus has been identified (Spain). “The number of foreign fans expected in the stadiums for the Club World Cup 2014 is much higher than the ones expected for the Nations Cup. “Indeed, almost all of the fans attending the Nations Cup are residents of Morocco, and considering the average purchasing power in most African countries, it is unrealistic to expect more than 1,000 supporters from the rest of continent to attend the (tournament), except for those who benefit from a geographic proximity within the Maghreb region. “CAF considers that the current health system in place in Morocco, and whose effectiveness has been proven, is more than able to cope with the very limited flow of people for the Nations Cup,” its statement added. CAF also said it had strictly adhered to World Health Organization directives, banning three countries from hosting preliminary matches, and that no transmission of the Ebola virus had been reported “in connection with a football match”. It also said an expansive schedule did not permit it to change dates. Morocco last held the tournament in 1988 and won it in 1976 when it was staged in Ethiopia. ROUND-UP Rise of the Wanderers makes coach Popovic a prime target Reuters Sydney T he ascent of Western Sydney Wanderers to the very pinnacle of Asian football means they may now struggle to hold on to coach Tony Popovic, whose inspirational leadership has been the driving force behind the young club’s success. Just 900 days after the former Socceroos defender took over an expansion club with no strip, no playing staff and no facilities, he led Wanderers to the Asian Champions League (ACL) triumph in Riyadh at the weekend. The 0-0 draw against twice Asian champions Al-Hilal in front of 65,000 fans in the Saudi capital on Saturday was enough to secure the coveted prize after a 1-0 first leg victory at home in Parramatta. It was also a microcosm of Wanderers’ entire maiden ACL campaign, defying huge odds in hostile environments to overcome Asian powerhouses with budgets far in excess of their own. The 2012 Asian champions Ulsan Hyundai, JLeague champions Sanfrecce Honda, China’s defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande and last year’s los- Reuters Cape Town M arseille restored their fourpoint lead at the top of Ligue 1 yesterday, beating Lens 2-1 at the Stade Velodrome despite a less than convincing display against their struggling visitors. Nicolas Nkoulou headed Marcelo Bielsa’s side into an early lead, but Lens drew level courtesy of Baptiste Guillaume and had chances to go in front themselves. However, Florian Thauvin secured the points with his third league goal of the season on the hour-mark as Marseille got back to winning ways after suffering consecutive defeats in league and cup, holding on despite the late sending-off of Alaixys Romao. With 28 points, OM are four clear of second-placed Paris Saint-Germain before they face their great rivals at the Parc des Princes in the biggest fixture in French football next Sunday. A positive result in the capital against the defending champions would set them up for a sustained title challenge, but Bielsa will accept that his side need to play far better than they did against Lens if they are to take anything from PSG. Nevertheless, the win meant it was a good finish to a difficult week for the south-coast club, who fell short of a club record ninth consecutive league win by losing at Lyon last weekend and were then eliminated from the League Cup at Rennes before a reported bust-up between Andre-Pierre Gignac and Brice Dja Djedje at the club’s training ground hinted at Read as: Played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points CAF rejects Nations date change, warns Morocco Western Sydney Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley (left) and coach Tony Popovic on their arrival in Sydney. (Reuters) ing finalists FC Seoul all succumbed to the Australians on their path to the final. “We don’t have the resources or the funds that some of these other teams have,” Popovic told reporters in the flush of the triumph on Saturday. “But we have something that money can’t buy, the desire to win, the resilience to play for each other and do anything they can to win. “No money can buy that and that’s what these players have in abundance.” It was a typical Popovic comment. Like all good leaders, he is quick to deflect any praise onto his players when the team is winning, while doing his utmost to take the flak in defeat. Undoubtedly an important man-management tool, it has perhaps served to distract from his own achievement in masterminding the rise of the Wanderers. Getting the club to the ALeague championship final in their first two seasons of existence was extraordinary, even if they lost both. Winning the biggest club prize in Asia at the first attempt almost defies superlatives, even before considering it was done mostly while the club was in pre-season training having turned over about a third of the squad in May. Being able to foster such belief and resilience in a side is sure to make Popovic attractive to clubs with a lot more cash than Wanderers, who were sold to their current owners for A$12 million ($10.46 million) earlier this year. A coaching assistant at Crystal Palace before he took the job with the Wanderers, Popovic has experience of playing at the top club level in England and Japan as well as on the international level in 58 matches for Australia. The 41-year-old has already turned down offers from other clubs, however, and the attachment to the club he helped create in the same western Sydney suburbs where he was born, raised and started his career is clearly strong. “You always strive to get better. You’re always looking to improve and I want to be the best I can be and I’m very ambitious,” he said. Makelele sacked by Bastia Agencies Paris F ormer France midfielder Claude Makelele’s first coaching stint was brought to a premature end yesterday when he was sacked by Ligue 1 strugglers SC Bastia. “The board of directors of SCB inform their supporters and partners that as of today Claude Makelele is no longer the coach of Sporting Club of Bastia,” read a statement on the club’s website. Makelele, 41, was appointed in the summer but lasted just 12 Ligue 1 games in charge of the Corsicans, winning two. The final straw was Saturday’s 1-0 defeat away to Guingamp which left Bastia second from bottom in the top flight. One of the best players in his position in the last decade during a career that notably took in Real Madrid and Chelsea, Makelele was the captain of Paris Saint-Germain before moving into a role as assistant coach at the club. He left his position as number two to Laurent Blanc in the summer to join Bastia and oversaw a massive overhaul of the playing staff. ARRASATE SACKED BY REAL SOCIEDAD La Liga strugglers Real Sociedad have sacked coach Jagoba Arrasate after a disappointing start to the campaign which has left the Basque side in the relegation zone. Former Manchester United Claude Makelele speaks after being sacked by Bastia. (AFP) boss David Moyes and Alejandro Sabella, who led Argentina to the World Cup final, are reported to be among the candidates to replace the 36-year-old. Arrasate was handed his first senior coaching post at the start of last season, but after a promising start as they qualified for the Champions League group stage he failed to live up to expectations as they crashed out of Europe and finished seventh in La Liga. An embarrassing early Europa League exit to Russian side FK Krasnodar followed in August and the final straw for the came in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by Malaga which left them with just one win from their 10 league games. NIGERIA ESCAPE FIFA SUSPENSION African Nations Cup champions Nigeria have escaped suspension from international football for the second time in two months. Football’s governing body FIFA said yesterday the threat was lifted after a court case against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections held on Sept. 30 was withdrawn. The dropping of the case paved the way for FIFA-backed NFF president Amaju Pinnick and his executive to resume their duties after they were ousted by an interim ruling last Thursday by Justice Ambrose Allagoa who placed Chris Giwa in charge. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 5 CRICKET PAK VS AUS / DAY 5, 2ND TEST BAN VS ZIM / DAY 1, 2ND TEST Pakistan crush sorry Australia for 2-0 series win �We were not good enough against the very good and experienced Pakistan team’ Tamim and Mahmudullah resist Zimbabwe in second Test AFP Khulna, Bangladesh T amim Iqbal and Mohamed Mahmudullah hit sedate half-centuries to take Bangladesh to 193-3 on the opening day of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Khulna yesterday. Left-hander Tamim was unbeaten on 74 after Mahmudullah made 56. Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim had won the toss and elected to bat. At stumps, Shakib Al Hasan was keeping Tamim company on 13. The usually aggressive Tamim played a dour innings and took 169 deliveries to reach 50, the slowest of his 17 Test half-centuries. He has so far hit six boundaries during his 250-ball knock, which was marked by a 95-run stand for the third wicket with Mahmudullah. Mahmudullah was equally cautious, reaching his 50 off 140 balls before he was trapped leg- before by Tinashe Panyangara. Panyangara, who had earlier taken a return catch to dismiss Mominul Haque (35), ended the day with two for 29 from 19 overs. Tamim and Mominul put on 72 for the second wicket after Zimbabwe removed opener Shamsur Rahman, leg-before to Elton Chigumbura, for two in the eighth over. Shamsur was initially declared not out, but Zimbabwe used the Decision Review System to get the verdict in their favour. Bangladesh lead the threematch series after a three-wicket victory in the first Test in Dhaka last week. The hosts recalled seamer Rubel Hossain in place of Al-Amin Hossain, who opted out of the game to take his university exams. Zimbabwe handed Test caps to batsman Brian Chari and legspinner Natsai M’shangwe. The third Test will be played in Chittagong from November 12-16. Zimbabwe’s tour will also feature five one-day internationals. Pakistan’s Zulfiqar Babar (centre) took five wickets in the second innings to help his team win against Australia in the second Test in Abu Dhabi. (AFP) Reuters Abu Dhabi A defiant Steve Smith tried to delay the inevitable before Pakistan crushed Australia by 356 runs in the second and final Test to complete a 2-0 series victory in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Having set the visitors an improbable 603-run victory target, Pakistan claimed the remaining six wickets in a little over a session on the final day to secure their first Test series victory against Australia in 20 years. The win also saw them leapfrog England, Sri Lanka and India to rise to number three in Test rankings, behind South Africa and Australia. Smith (97) added 107 runs with Mitchell Marsh in a rare display of Australian resistance in the two-match series before his post-lunch dismissal triggered a collapse with the visitors losing their last five wickets for only eight runs to be all out for 246. “I think Misbah-ul-Haq and his team played some outstanding cricket in both Test matches and we’ve certainly been outplayed,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said at the presentation ceremony. “In all three facets—batting, bowling and fielding—we probably let ourselves down. We were not good enough against the very good and experienced Pakistan team.” Zulfiqar Babar (5-120) and Yasir Shah (3-44) once again laid bare Australia’s spin frailties even though Pakistan were without their main spinner Saeed Ajmal who has been banned for an illegal action. Pakistan captain Misbah was adjudged man-of-the-match for his twin centuries in the match, the second of which equalled Viv Richards’ record for the fastest Test century in 56 balls. Run-machine Younus Khan, who hit two centuries and a double hundred in his four innings, was the obvious choice for the man-of-the-series award. Resuming on 143-4, Smith and Marsh (47) frustrated the Pakistani bowlers with a century stand, showing the stomach for fight which was missing in their teammates. Marsh, playing only his second Test, proved the perfect foil for Smith, whose decisive footwork against the spinners and positive intent stood out in an otherwise Australian batting capitulation. Marsh was looking set for his second fifty of the match when the 23-year-old walked into a leg-slip trap, flicking offspinner Mohammad Hafeez straight into the hands of Asad Shafiq. Smith hit Babar for successive boundaries to bring up his eighth Test half-century and meted out the same treatment to the spinner in the final over before lunch to cruise into the 90s. Yasir denied the 25-year-old Smith his fifth Test century, trapping him leg before with the second delivery after lunch, which opened the flood gates and Australia collapsed in a heap. “It’s a really special series for me, because every individual performed,” said Misbah. “That’s a sign of a good team and I’m really happy.” Smith hit 12 fours in his 204-ball knock that proved there were no real demons in the dry and dusty pitch at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Comprehensively beaten in the first Test in Dubai, nothing went right for Australia in the second Test either. Not a single Australian managed a century in the Test while Misbah and Azhar Ali got hundreds in both innings and Younus struck 213 in the first innings. Australia’s bowling limitations were also exposed as they could not bowl out their opponents even once, managing nine wickets in the match bleeding 863 runs. Scorecard Pakistan 1st innings 570-6 dec Australia 1st innings 261 Pakistan 2nd innings 293-3 dec Australia 2nd innings C. Rogers c Shafiq b Babar 2 D. Warner c Shah b Hafeez 58 G. Maxwell lbw b Babar 4 M. Clarke b Babar 5 S. Smith b Shah 97 M. Marsh c Shafiq b Hafeez 47 B. Haddin b Babar 13 M. Johnson b Shah 0 P. Siddle not out 4 M. Starc b Shah 2 N. Lyon c Ali b Shah 0 Extras (b5, lb1, nb3, pen5) 14 Total (all out; 88.3 overs) 246 Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Rogers), 2-31 (Maxwell), 3-43 (Clarke), 4-101 (Warner), 5-208 (Marsh), 6-238 (Smith), 7-238 (Haddin), 8-238 (Johnson), 9-245 (Starc) Bowling: Rahat 8-6-3-0, Khan 8-129-0, Hafeez 17-4-38-2, Babar 32.32-120-5 (1nb), Shah 22-4-44-3 (1nb), Ali 1-0-1-0 Tendulkar hits out at �ringmaster’ Chappell S achin Tendulkar has launched a scathing criticism of Greg Chappell’s conduct as India’s cricket coach, saying the former Australian great tried to disrupt the team by having senior players thrown out. In his autobiography �Playing It My Way’ which is to be released on Thursday, Tendulkar describes Chappell as a “ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not”. During Chappell’s controversial tenure as coach from 2005 to 2007, Sourav Ganguly was sacked as captain before the coach was himself shown the door after India’s shock first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup. In extracts from the book released by the Press Trust of India yesterday, Tendulkar says Chappell offered him the captaincy a few months before the showpiece tournament in the Caribbean to replace the incumbent Rahul Dravid. “Just months before the (2007) World Cup, Chappell had come to see me at Tendulkar said that he had suggested to the Board of Control for Cricket in India to not send the then coach Greg Chappell with the team to the 2007 World Cup. home and, to my dismay, suggested that I should take over the captaincy from Rahul Dravid,” Tendulkar writes. “Anjali (Tendulkar’s wife), who was sitting with me was equally shocked to hear him say that �together, we could control Indian cricket for years’, and that he would help me in taking over the reins of the side. “I was surprised to hear the coach not showing the slightest amount of respect for the captain, with cricket’s biggest SPOTLIGHT IPL probe panel submits report to India court AFP New Delhi T BOTTOMLINE AFP Mumbai Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal in action against Zimbabwe on day one of the second Test in Khulna, Bangladesh, yesterday. (AFP) tournament just months away. He stayed for a couple of hours, trying to convince me, before finally leaving.” Tendulkar says that he then suggested to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that Chappell should not be sent with the team to the World Cup, but it was turned down. “I don’t think I would be far off the mark if I said that most of us felt that Indian cricket was going nowhere under Chappell,” he wrote. Tendulkar said several senior players were relieved to see Chappell go, “which was hardly surprising because, for reasons hard to comprehend, he had not treated them fairly”. Tendulkar, who retired last year as the world’s leading run-getter in both Test and one-day cricket, said that after getting Ganguly sacked as captain in 2005, Chappell wanted other senior players also to go. “Chappell seemed intent on dropping all the older players and in the process damaged the harmony of the side,” the master batsman wrote. “I later found out that Greg had spoken to the BCCI about the need to remove the senior players, no doubt hoping to refresh the team.” he Mudgal committee investigating spot-fixing allegations in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament submitted its final report to the Supreme Court yesterday, lawyers said. The top court will deliberate on the findings on November 10 that could determine if world cricket chief N Srinivasan (pictured) can seek re-election as president of the Indian board. “We have submitted the report in a sealed envelope to the court,” Raju Ramachandran, lawyer for the panel, told AFP, without elaborating. The panel, headed by former judge Mukul Mudgal and including ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly, in February presented a sealed envelope to the court containing names of 13 individuals who needed to be investigated further. “We have submitted our report... I am absolutely sure that the honourable Supreme Court will do full justice to all parties,” Mudgal told NDTV news network, while refusing to reveal details of the panel report. The court disclosed that Srinivasan was one of the names on the list and ordered the panel to investigate him and the 12 other unidentified people. The panel’s preliminary report had concluded that Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyap- pan—who was the team principal of the Chennai Super Kings franchise—might be guilty of illegal betting on IPL games. The Super Kings are owned by India Cements, whose managing director is Srinivasan. The team are captained by India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The court barred Srinivasan from carrying out his duties as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) until it delivered its final verdict, but did not stop him from heading the International Cricket Council. The sixth IPL season last year was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several IPL officials and cricketers, including former Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing. The IPL, which began in 2008, features the world’s top players signed up for huge fees by companies and high-profile individuals in a glitzy mix of sport and entertainment. 6 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 SPORT NBA NFL Brady outshines Manning in chilly Foxborough Brady throws four touchdowns in rout of Broncos; Romo a late withdrawal Heat beat Raptors for 16th straight time DPA Los Angeles T New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws over the outstretched arm of Denver Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe (95) during their NFL game on Sunday. Reuters New York T om Brady continued his success against Peyton Manning by throwing four touchdowns to lead New England to a 43-21 win over the Denver Broncos in chilly conditions in Massachusetts on Sunday. The Patriots jumped out to a 27-7 halftime lead and went on to seize the top spot in the AFC from the Broncos. Brady had 333 yards passing and improved his head to head record to 11-5 against Manning, who threw for 438 yards and had two TDs and two interceptions. In San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick fumbled the ball at the St. Louis one-yard line to give the Rams a 13-10 victory. The 49ers were in position to win the game in the final seconds, but Kaepernick lost the ball lunging at the goal line to end their hopes and drop San Francisco to 4-4. In Seattle, running back Marshawn Lynch shrugged off trade rumors to score two touchdowns and spark the Seahawks in a 30-24 triumph over Oakland. Lynch was mentioned as a possible trade target amid talk of locker room dysfunction prior to last week’s deadline, but he instead produced 143 total yards in the win. The Raiders fell to 0-8. In earlier games, the Arizona Cardinals stayed atop the NFC, Robert Griffin III’s return to the Washington Redskins lineup was spoiled by a Minnesota rally and the Philadelphia Eagles overcame starter Nick Foles’ injury.With quarterback Tony Romo scratched from the Dallas lineup due to a back injury suffered last week, the Cardinals scored 28 consecutive points to erase a 10-point, first-quarter deficit en route to their fourth consecutive win. Carson Palmer tossed three touchdowns and the Cardinals had a pair of interceptions off Dallas backup Brandon Weeden, who threw for just 183 yards in place of Romo. In Houston, Philadelphia survived the loss of quarterback Foles and rallied past the Texans for a 31-21 victory. Foles left the game in the first quarter with an apparent shoulder injury after enduring his second sack of the day with the game 7-7. Backup Mark Sanchez threw for 202 yards and a pair of touch- RESULTS Arizona ...................... 28 Philadelphia............31 Kansas City ............24 Minnesota .............. 29 Cleveland .................22 Cincinnati .................33 Miami ...........................37 Dallas ..................................... 17 Houston.............................. 21 N.Y. Jets............................... 10 Washington .................. 26 Tampa Bay ...................... 17 Jacksonville ...................23 San Diego .......................... 0 downs as the Eagles (6-2) remained atop the NFC East. Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy rushed for game-high 117 yards while Jeremy Maclin had 158 receiving yards and two scores. In Minnesota, Redskins signal caller Griffin had his return to action spoiled as rookie Teddy Bridgewater led the Vikings to a 29-26 victory. Griffin led the Redskins on a fourthquarter drive that put his team ahead 26-21 with nine minutes to play but Bridgewater engineered a 73-yard drive to set up the winning score with about three minutes left.Griffin, who had been out since suffering an ankle injury in the second week, threw for 251 yards and one touchdown but his final drive stalled at Washington 43-yard line. In Miami, the Dolphins blasted San Diego in a surprising 37-0 rout of the the Chargers.San Diego’s Philip Rivers, who has been mentioned as an MVP candidate this season, managed just 138 yards and had three interceptions as the Chargers (5-4) lost their third straight. Ryan Tannehill fired three touchdowns for Miami (5-3). In Kansas City, Alex Smith tossed two touchdowns and the Chiefs enjoyed a routine 24-10 win over the spiraling New York Jets for their third straight victory. Jets quarterback Michael Vick got the start instead of Geno Smith but could not keep the Jets from losing an eighth straight game. The Chiefs improved to 5-3. In Cincinnati, wide receiver A.J. Green returned to the field with a touchdown catch to help the Bengals take care of the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars 33-23. Green was out the previous three games because of a toe injury and caught three passes. Cincinnati (5-2) running back Jeremy Hill filled in for injured starter Giovani Bernard with 154 rushing yards and two touchdowns. he Miami Heat has the Toronto Raptors’ number. Chris Bosh had 21 points with 11 rebounds, Dwyane Wade netted 19 along with 11 boards and seven assists, and the unbeaten Heat continued its mastery over the visiting Raptors with a 107102 victory on Sunday. The defending Eastern Conference champions improved to 3-0 for just the fifth time in its 27-year existence, with its 16th consecutive victory over Toronto since March 2010, matching the NBA’s longest active streak against a single opponent. “This is a very good team we beat,” Wade said. “They’ve got a lot of weapons.” The Heat has relied on its stellar defence in the past but it’s taken a backseat to the offence and sharing the ball to start the season. “We’re three games into this so it could quickly go the other way if guys start to feel comfortable and try to do it on their own and that’s not the makeup of this group,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s not at all a referendum on our personnel. “It’s the power of working together that will make us more successful.” Luol Deng and Shawne Williams netted 18 and 16 points, respectively for Miami, the only unbeaten team left in the East. “It’s very early and you try to win every game but there are 79 games left,” said Deng, an off-season pickup. “We have to keep focused on what we have to do and keep trying to get better.” DeMar DeRozan had 30 points, while Kyle Lowry finished with 22 for the Raptors (21) who left American Airlines Arena with its 10 straight loss in the series after missing 15 free throws and getting dominated on the boards, 43-28. “At the defensive end, it’s from start to finish,” Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. “You don’t just guard for 23 seconds. You guard for 24 and then come up with the rebound. We’re not doing that right now.” Miami extended a 10-point halftime lead to 83-67 after Wade banked in rare 3-pointer at the 4 minute 53 second mark of the third quarter but carried an 87-77 advantage into the final frame. Toronto pulled to within 106-102 on two free throws and a layup by Lowry around a free throw by Bosh at the other end with 21 seconds left. But Deng made 1-of-2 from the stripe to seal the win. “We had a chance to put them away but we got stagnant,” Bosh said. “Hopefully, we can learn from our mistakes. But the most important thing is we got the win and contributions from a lot of guys.” z Klay Thompson hit the go-ahead runner across the lane with 8.7 seconds left to cap a 29-point effort, and the visiting Warriors moved to 3-0 after edging the Trail Blazers. Stephen Curry added 21 points, including four free throws in the final seconds, to give Golden State and new coach Steve Kerr its best start since opening the 1994-95 season at 5-0. z DeMarcus Cousins powered for 34 points with 17 rebounds, Rudy Gay netted 25 points, including the goahead layup midway through the final frame, and the visiting Kings (2-1) sent the Clippers to their first loss of the season. Blake Griffin and Spencer Hawes scored 17 points apiece while Chris Paul had 16 with 11 assists to pace the Clippers (2-1), outscored 28-18 in the fourth quarter. z Carmelo Anthony celebrated an NBA milestone by becoming the 40th member of the 20,000-point club with 28, including the go-ahead jumper late in the game, and the Knicks escaped the visiting Hornets. Anthony’s 15-footer put the Knicks ahead for good, 95-93 with one minute 23 seconds. Kemba Walker (16 points) had a shot to tie the game three seconds left but missed a jumper and Anthony’s free throw sealed it. Amar’e Stoudemire scored 17 points off the bench for the Knicks, (2-1) who led by 15 in the second quarter. Al Jefferson topped Charlotte (1-2) with 21 points, Gary Neal added 17, while Lance Stephenson finished with 14, nine boards and eight assists. Hornets’ Michael KiddGilchrist left the game in the opening quarter with a rib contusion and is listed as dayto-day. NHL Sabres edge Wings in shootout Agencies New York C enter Zemgus Girgensons scored the deciding goal in the shootout to lead the Buffalo Sabres to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Girgensons beat Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard with a quick wrist shot high to the blocker side. Center Tyler Ennis also scored in the shootout for Buffalo. After Detroit right winger Gustav Nyquist evened the shootout at 1-1, left winger Henrik Zetterberg came up short with his forehand attempt. Center Brian Flynn and right winger Chris Stewart scored in regulation for the Sabres while goalie Michal Neuvirth made 36 saves.Center Pavel Datsyuk and left winger Thomas Tatar scored in regulation for the Red Wings. Howard made 19 saves in defeat. z Center Victor Rask’s first NHL goal set the tone and goalie Cam Ward helped back it up with another strong game as Carolina defeated Los Angeles. Left winger Chris Terry and center Elias Lindholm also scored for Carolina.Center Mike Richards and defenseman Alec Martinez scored the Los Angeles goals. z Rookie right winger Josh Jooris scored twice to lead Calgary to a decisive win over Montreal at the Bell Centre. Center Markus Granlund, left wingers Curtis Glencross and Lance Bouma and defenseman Mark Giordano also scored for Calgary while goaltender Jonas Hiller made 18 saves. Left wingers Max Pacioretty and Rene Bourque scored for Montreal while goalie Carey Price stopped 29 shots. z Arizona earned a comefrom-behind victory over Washington at the Verizon Center. After falling behind 3-1, Arizona scored five unanswered goals—two by right winger Shane Doan and one each by defenseman Michael Stone, center Sam Gagner, and rookie center Tobias Rieder. Center Antoine Vermette also scored a goal and picked up two assists. Washington’s goals came from right winger Tom Wilson, defenseman John Carlson, left winger Alex Ovechkin and right wingers Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer. z Jason LaBarbera made 16 saves while defensemen Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler scored less than two minutes apart as Anaheim beat Colorado. Right winger Corey Perry also had a goal and center Ryan Getzlaf had two assists for Anaheim. Center Nathan MacKinnon had his fourth goal in the last three games and right winger Dennis Everberg also scored for Colorado while goaltender Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves. New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) works against Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the first half of their game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 7 RUGBY NOVEMBER TESTS SPOTLIGHT Top nations look to lay down World Cup marker England, All Blacks have injury concerns Both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have already had a hit-out E Reuters London ngland and New Zealand head into their highly anticipated showdown at Twickenham next Saturday having to reshuffle their plans with both sides ruling players out of the match with injuries. England’s lock Joe Launchbury, considered a first choice under coach Stuart Lancaster, will miss all his side’s November tests, while All Blacks winger Cory Jane and hooker Nathan Harris are being sent home from the United States. Launchbury, who has started England’s last 20 tests, has been told to rest a nagging nerve problem in his neck and not to play again for eight weeks, the RFU said in a statement on Sunday. “It’s obviously disappointing but it’s important for Joe ... that he has the appropriate rest and recovery period and we are confident that he will be back in the New Year,” Lancaster said. Uncapped Leicester lock Graham Kitchener has replaced Launchbury in the England squad, who have already had Luther Burrell and Stephen Myler ruled out of the game that many are considering to be a pointer to a potential World Cup final showdown in less than 12 months. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has also had to rejig his squad with Jane and Harris being sent on a flight back to New Zealand rather than to London after they suffered injuries in their side’s 74-6 demolition of the U.S. in Chicago. Veteran winger Jane limped off with a hamstring strain against the Eagles, while rookie Harris twisted his ankle. Hansen told reporters in Chicago Jane’s injury would keep him out for just two weeks but there was a high possibility he could re-injure the hamstring if he played against Wales in the final match of the team’s northern hemisphere tour. “If we look after him right then it will settle down and it will be fine,” Hansen added of their approach to ensuring Jane was fit again for Super Rugby next year. “We know he’s a world class player and he’s shown us that through the season at times. “It is just a matter of him coming back and playing a good Super season and he will be a pretty hard man to leave out of the squad. “Nathan Harris has also woken up sore and it looks like he may have torn the medial off his ankle which is a six week injury as well so he’s going home.” Replacements would not be named until the team arrived in London, he added. Harris’ injury creates greater problems for Hansen, who does not have much depth at hooker behind Dane Coles and Keven Mealamu with Harris considered a development project all season before he made his test debut off the bench against Argentina. Singapore seals IRB Sevens hosting rights France’s rugby union national team players take part in an indoor training session in Marcoussis, south of Paris, yesterday. They are preparing for the November Test matches against Fiji, Australia and Argentina. AFP London E urope will again become the centre of attention for international rugby union as top southern hemisphere countries arrive for this month’s end-of-year Tests. This latest round of November internationals has additional significance as the matches will take place less than a year before the start of the 2015 World Cup in England.Reigning world champions New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia will all face England at Twickenham, the venue for next year’s World Cup final. Meanwhile the �big three’ of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia will also play Wales in Cardiff this month. Both the All Blacks and the Wallabies have already had a hit-out, with New Zealand thrashing the United States 74-6 in Chicago on Saturday, hours after Australia were pushed all the way before seeing off the invitational Barbarians 40-36 at Twickenham. One benefit of the match in Chicago was that it allowed All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter to make a return from his latest leg injury. “Absolutely stoked to get back on the field,” Carter said after starring at Soldier Field. “It was important for us. We have an important game against England next week. We worked on a couple things for that match.” England produced one of their greatest performances of all time to beat New Zealand 38-21 at Twickenham two years ago. However, since then they’ve lost their last four Tests against the All Blacks and another reverse this coming Saturday would raise questions about whether they can win a second World Cup title to set alongside their 2003 triumph. But England fly-half Owen Farrell, who played in the team that beat New Zealand in 2012, dismissed all talk of �scarring’ should New Zealand win on November 8. “I can’t imagine walking onto a pitch not believing England were going to win,” the 23-year-old Saracens star told Britain’s Sunday Times. “When it comes to the 2015 World Cup, we will have unbelievable belief.” Injuries to key personnel, the latest seeing powerful second row Joe Launchbury ruled out of the whole November campaign with a neck problem on Sunday, while—with the possible exceptions of full-back Mike Brown and Farrell—it appears England coach Stuart Lancaster has still to decide on his first-choice back division. The furore surrounding the fall-out from the Kurtley Beale text pic scandal that led to the resignation of former Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has overshadowed the fact they lost by just one point to New Zealand in their previous Test last month. Australia have a back-line the envy of many a country, although both England and Wales—two of the Wallabies’ opponents in the World Cup will look to exploit any hint of the scrum weakness that has been a feature of the green-and-golds recent World Cup campaigns. Michael Cheika’s reign as Australia coach began with a win over the Barbarians but he expects a much sterner contest in Cardiff on Saturday. “Wales will lift the physicality and aggression side of things considerably,” he said. “That’s when the real physical business will start in earnest.” And yet Wales, for all they have won three Six Nations titles and reached a World Cup semi-final during coach Warren Gatland’s six years at the helm, have a dire recent record against the �Big Three’. Singapore has clinched a four-year deal to host a leg of the IRB Sevens World Series at its state-of-the-art new National Stadium starting next year, a media report said Monday. The Straits Times said the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) signed a Host Union Agreement with the International Rugby Board last week. It will join Vancouver and Paris as new entrants to the nine-nation, eight-month global campaign, with Tokyo, Las Vegas and Glasgow making way, the report said, without naming a source. A source told AFP an official announcement was expected later this week. SRU officials declined comment. The deal is a shot in the arm for the SRU, after the citystate in October lost out to Japan as the preferred host nation for Super Rugby’s 18th team. The tournament will be held at the 55,000-seater National Stadium, which opened in June this year. With a domed roof, retractable roof and innovative cooling system, the arena is the centrepiece of a $1 billion Singapore Sports Hub complex which also includes a new aquatic centre and an existing 13,000-capacity indoor stadium.The complex already has the rights to host tennis’s season-ending WTA World Tour Finals for the next four years. The 2014/15 World Seven Series began in Australia’s Gold Coast last month and will see the 16 participating teams travel to Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Hong Kong, Japan, Scotland and England. BOTTOMLINE �Honey badger’ Cummins hoping for a crack at World Cup Reuters Sydney P opular Australian winger Nick �Honey badger’ Cummins is still hoping for a shot at playing in the World Cup next year after scoring a try against the Wallabies for the Barbarians at the weekend. The rangy 27-year-old, who has cult status back home for his creative use of Australian slang and shaggy blond hair, left Australia for Japanese club CocaCola West Red Sparks at the end of the last Super Rugby season.Released early from his contract at the Western Force on “compassionate grounds” so he could make more money for his family, his departure put an end to his international career after 15 tests. Scoring a try—or �bagging a meat pie’ in his own parlance—during a fine performance in the Barbarians’ 40-36 loss to Australia at Twickenham on Saturday clearly whetted his appetite for more top class rugby, however. Under Australian Rugby Union (ARU) rules, Cummins would have to play in Super Rugby next season to feature for the Wallabies at the World Cup in England and he is hoping a deal might be struck with his Japanese club for a temporary release. “Just have a yarn to the Japanese and get me on the burst, I’m in,” Cummins told the Sydney Morning Herald in London. “There was one point in the lineout where it was (Australia’s) ball and I moved forward, I was looking at the jersey. “That sort of feeling holds pretty deep with you and I would have loved to be back in the mix there. You can’t change what’s going to happen, I’ve signed for two years with the Japanese club and I’m a man of my word, I’ll go through with that. “But if there’s a chance we can work something out, I’ll be stoked.” Cummins made the decision to sign a lucrative deal with the Japanese club after his father—who was named Queensland’s Father of the Year in 2012 for raising eight children, two with cystic fibrosis—was diagnosed with prostate cancer. TRAGEDY Former Bok Linee succumbs to motor neuron disease Reuters Cape Town F ormer South Africa and Western Province centre Tinus Linee has died after losing his battle with motor neuron disease (MND) yesterday, his union have confirmed. Linee, 45, played 112 matches for Western Province between 1992 and 2001 and made his Springbok debut in 1993 at the age of 23, going on to feature in nine tour matches in Australia, Wales, Scotland and Ireland without ever playing a test. Former Bok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen, now confined to a wheelchair because of incurable MND, tweeted his condolences. “Sad day for rugby in SA. Just received news of the passing of a rugby legend and MND Warrior Tinus Linee. RIP my friend,” he said. The Western Province Rugby Union also confirmed that Linee, who was diagnosed with MND last year, had died in a statement on Monday. He is survived by his wife Diana, her two sons and a daughter from his first marriage. 8 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 SPORT SPOTLIGHT Wozniacki beats goal to complete NYC Marathon AFP New York C aroline Wozniacki says she’s pleased she beat her goal in the New York City Marathon, especially since her training routine included late nights and attending a sporting event on the eve of the run. “I’ve done everything you are not supposed to do before a marathon,” said the 24-year old Wozniacki. “I had a Halloween party three days ago and came back at like 4:00 in the morning. “I’ve been really busy. Last night, I actually didn’t have much of a dinner because I went Nishikori carries four billion Asian hopes on modest shoulders His mere presence causes hysteria and pandemonium in the Land of the Rising Sun and he has no tennis equal in a continent heaving with 4.427bn inhabitants, yet selfeffacing Kei Nishikori thinks he is simply “one” of the best players in Japan. One of the best? More like �the best’. For a continent that has failed to produce a single male grand slam champion in decades of trying, Nishikori now finds himself as the torch bearer of Asian tennis. A debut appearance for an Asian man in a grand slam final—at the US Open in September—has only served to whet his appetite for glory rather than satisfy it. Following his remarkable run to the Flushing Meadows showpiece, he is the first Asian to make it into the elite eight-man season finale that will be staged on the banks of London’s River Thames. “I might get nervous first time but I’ll try to play my best tennis and try not to think too much of it being the Tour Finals,” Nishikori told Reuters in an interview in the run up to the O2 spectacular. “Beating Novak (Djokovic) at the US Open, it was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence. So for sure I know I have a chance to beat the top players, so if I can play good, I have some chance to win some matches.” While tennis has produced some brash and loud characters over the years, Nishikori prefers to create a racket with his racquet. Never had the hullabaloo been louder than at the US Open when he beat fifth seed Milos Raonic in a five-set stamina-busting thriller. Surely he would have nothing left to give in his quarterfinal against Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka? Five lung-burning sets later, Wawrinka was the one left out of puff. Surely Djokovic would swiftly bring him back down to earth in the semi-finals? Nishikori was floating on cloud nine after four gripping sets against the world number one. While Marin Cilic finally silenced Nishikori in the title match, it was not long before the man tagged as �Project 45’ at the start of his career had now turned his focus on completing �Project Grand Slam’. “I was really disappointed I couldn’t play good tennis in the final because I was playing really well for two weeks and then in the last match I couldn’t,” said Nishikori, who had been given the goal of surpassing Japan’s previous high of 46 in the men’s rankings when he moved to the Nick Bolletieri academy in Florida as a teenager. “But I got a little bit tight in the final. “To win a slam I need a little bit more of everything. I need a little bit more experience, you have to be ready mentally to play seven best-of-five-set matches, that’s not easy. My body has to be a little more stronger to try and play couple of five sets in two weeks.” to the (New York) Rangers game. You are supposed to load up on carbs, but I didn’t have too much time for that.” The WTA Tour tennis star finished her first marathon Sunday in just under three hours, 27 minutes, saying she even had enough left in the tank to sprint the final few metres to the finish line. “It was incredible,” said Wozniacki, who set a goal of three hours, 30 minutes. “I’m so happy to have done this. I’m so proud. Now I have this medal. I can say that I’ve done the New York City Marathon. I’ve even done it at a cool time. So I’m really, really happy. “I’ve never tried anything this hard. This is like toughest physi- Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, celebrates at the finish line after completing the 2014 New York City Marathon in New York, USA, on Sunday. cal test ever. It was so hard. You have to keep going.” The former world number one from Denmark said she would wait a few years before attempting a second marathon. She qualified for the Boston Marathon with her time Sunday. “Right now I don’t think I’m going to do one for a few years, but probably at some point I’m going to do another one.” Asked to compare running a marathon to a five-hour tennis match, Wozniacki said running 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) is much more difficult. “This is completely different,” she said. “I had no idea what to expect when I went out there. “Every time I go on the ten- nis court, I know exactly what to expect. I know what to do out there. Here I just knew I had to put one foot in front of the other until you see something saying finish.” Wozniacki was met at the finish line by fellow women’s tennis star Serena Williams. Williams tweeted about the experience. “Is it normal to cry when someone finishes a marathon? So proud of you caro @CaroWozniacki #nymarathon,” said Williams. Wozniacki raised over $80,000 for Team for Kids, which provides money for youth running programmes. She said Williams donated “a lot” to the charity but declined to say how much. TENNIS Djokovic ready for London year-end test �I’ll try to stay determined to what I need to do and play well in London’ Djokovic to face Cilic, Murray to meet Federer Agencies London N ovak Djokovic can see the finishing line of a long and successful season as the Serb prepares to defend his world number one status against an expected surge from Roger Federer when the World Tour Finals begin on Sunday in London. Djokovic solidified his position at the top of the ATP ranking with his 6-2, 6-3 defeat of Milos Raonic at the weekend to win a third title at the Paris Masters. The victory capped a comeback week for Djokovic, who was competing for the first time since the birth of his son last month. With Federer losing in the quarter-finals in the French capital, Djokovic increased his lead over his main rival this season, with the top ranking still in play but with odds of keeping it leaning in Djokovic’s favour. “It helps that I won the title in Bercy, that I’m playing well, and that I’m feeling good about myself on the court playing indoors,” said Djokovic, who has now won five different Masters 1000 events at least three times each: Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Canada and Rome. “I’m encouraged, but I cannot affect (Federer’s London) matches, I can affect only what I can do in my own matches. “I’ll try to stay determined to what I need to do and play well in London. Every match that I play and win, gets me closer to holding number one at the end of the year.” Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after his victory against Canada’s Milos Raonic during the final match at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 indoor tennis tournament on Sunday at the Bercy Palais-Omnisport (POPB) in Paris. Djokovic has won the last two editions of the elite eight-man year end event and goes into the weekend round-robin start of play as a title tip. “It definitely encourages me SKIING W orld and Olympic cross country ski champion Petter Northug of Norway is set to race in the World Cup as part of preparations for next year’s world championships, his coach said yesterday. Northug’s season opener is due November 21 at Beitostolen, Norway, when he is entered for the 15-kilometre classic event. “Races are the best training. Petter has trained hundreds of hours to race,” coach Stig Rune Kveen told public broadcaster NRK. Kveen’s remarks were made in the wake of the weekend an- fortable playing, returning, serving in these conditions.” Djokovic takes the confidence edge into the O2 arena as the long ATP season finally wraps up. “Two successive titles in London gives me reason to believe that I can do well. I have (this) week off to recharge my batteries, recover a little bit, spend some time with family, and get on the court.” OLYMPICS Northug agrees deal to compete at world championships DPA Oslo that I have played so well this week. Outdoor hard court was my most successful, most preferable surface, and now I guess it’s an indoor court,” said the 27-year-old. “I feel very com- Three-times champion and world number one Novak Djokovic has been drawn in a group with US Open champion Marin Cilic in next week’s seasonending ATP World Tour Finals in London. Defending champion Djokovic, who retained his Paris Masters title on Sunday after beating Milos Raonic, will also face Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka and hardhitting Czech Tomas Berdych in Group A of the elite event staged at London’s o2 Arena. Cilic is making his debut at the eight-man event. Second seed Roger Federer, who has won the year-ending tournament six times and who still has hopes of replacing Djokovic on top of the rankings before the end of the year, faces a clash in Group B with home favourite Andy Murray. Debutants Raonic and Japan’s Kei Nishikori, the first Asianborn man to qualify for the showpiece event, complete the group. Former Wimbledon champion Murray, who won three titles in the past six weeks to secure a place at the tournament after slipping down the rankings, missed last year’s tournament because of back surgery. Draw: Group A: Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland), Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep), Marin Cilic (Croatia) Group B: Roger Federer (Switzerland), Kei Nishikori (Japan), Andy Murray (Britain), Milos Raonic (Canada) nouncement that the 28-yearold skier and the Norwegian Ski Federation signed a representation deal, allowing him to compete at the world championships in Falun, Sweden. The agreement - signed just minutes before a deadline expired at midnight Saturday, after months of negotiations was a pre-requisite for Northug to be allowed to compete at the worlds in February. The terms mean that Northug is not allowed to advertise his own sponsor from November 24 to April l7. Northug, his coach and the ski federation welcomed the fact the skier could now focus on his training and skiing. Organizers in Falun also welcomed the deal as Northug is expected to be one of the big draws. IOC hails UN resolution on sport autonomy Reuters Berlin T he International Olympic Committee has hailed a UN resolution recognising the autonomy of sport as an important tool that will help foster political neutrality as well as lead to less boycotts and discrimination. The resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly states it supported the independence and autonomy of sport as well as the mission of the IOC in leading the Olympic Movement. “We highly welcome this resolution as a historic milestone in the relations between sport IOC President Thomas Bach and politics,” IOC President Thomas Bach said in a statement yesterday. “We must form partner- ships with political organisations based on this recognition of the autonomy of sport,” said Bach, who has spent a considerable amount of his 13 months in charge forging stronger ties with global politicians. “The excellent relations between the UN and the IOC can in this respect serve as an example for relations on the national level between National Olympic Committees and national governments. This relationship with governments requires that sport always remains politically neutral,” he added. The IOC is eager to have selfgovernance reinforced to avoid any interference with national Olympic bodies over which the authority has and wants to maintain sole control. Past political disputes have spilled over into the Olympics, most famously leading to the US and then Soviet Union boycotts at Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles four years later. The IOC has also banned nations from competing at the Olympics over what it saw as government interference in those countries’ sports system. The UN resolution also said any form of discrimination was incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement. The IOC, which came under fire over a Russian anti-gay propaganda law in the run-up to this year’s Sochi Winter Olympics, has also included an anti-discrimination clause in its host contract for future candidate cities. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 9 SPORT HORSE RACING Dunlop, Godolphin seek elusive Melbourne Cup win AFP Melbourne E nglish trainer Ed Dunlop and the wealthy global Godolphin stable have diverging backgrounds but have the same target heading into Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington. Both Dunlop and Godolphin are searching for their first win in Australia’s famous two-mile (3200m) race after multiple attempts. Newmarket trainer Dunlop is saddling up nine-year-old Red Cadeaux for a fourth crack at the Hamilton set for title but spectre of double points haunts F1 Lewis Hamilton’s US Grand Prix victory means the Briton can now secure his second Formula One title without having to win again but there could still be a sting in the tail. The spectre of double points, a novelty introduced for the first time for the final race in Abu Dhabi, hangs over the championship and is causing some trepidation at Mercedes. Whatever happens in Brazil next weekend, Sunday’s result means the championship cannot now be decided until the race at Yas Marina on Nov. 23. “I don’t have a fear, but I think the last race with the double points has the potential to overshadow the season,” said Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff after Hamilton chalked up his 10th win of the season and fifth in succession. Mercedes are sure of both titles now with Hamilton and team mate Nico Rosberg the only drivers still in championship contention with two races remaining, but a controversial finish could take the gloss off the team’s achievements. It would be a travesty if Hamilton did not prevail, with Rosberg only winning four of the 17 races so far, but the two are only 24 points apart. That means Hamilton could triumph in Brazil next weekend and still ultimately lose out, even if Rosberg draws a blank at Interlagos, if he suffers a retirement in Abu Dhabi and the German wins. On a more positive note for the Briton, two second places would be ample to secure the title even with double points. “We know why the double points came, and it made sense in the world to make it spectacular for the audience, the fans and the viewers,” said Wolff. “But now we are in a situation where it could change the outcome.” The rule change, championed by commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone, was designed primarily to ensure after four years of domination by Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel the title battle went to the wire. In that it has succeeded, even if there is now the risk of leaving fans—many of whom dislike what they see as a gimmick—facing an unprecedented situation and feeling cheated of a deserving winner. Melbourne Cup after finishing runner-up twice. Godolphin Racing, owned by United Arab Emirates Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum and with training establishments in Dubai, Newmarket and Sydney, has been coming to Melbourne without luck since 1998. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor has prepared 19 runners in the Cup for Godolphin over 16 years, finishing second twice and third three times. Godolphin’s chances in this year’s Aus$6.2mn ($5.4mn) race rest with Cavalryman and Willing Foe. Red Cadeaux is the sentimental favourite with punters as he attempts to breakthrough at the fourth attempt. The English galloper came within what was described as a “pixel margin” when beaten by a nose by French stayer Dunaden three years ago. “It made me laugh, but that’s racing isn’t it, they don’t want a dead-heat,” Dunlop said of the exactness of modern technology. Dunlop points out that bringing a horse to the other side of the world and back home again is expensive—in the order of Aus$120,000 to Aus$150,000 ($105,000 to $130,000) - and beyond the means of many owners. “It means a huge amount to Ron Arculli,” Dunlop said of the former chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, who first had a runner in the Melbourne Cup 20 years ago. “It was his (Arculli’s) dream to win the Melbourne Cup with Red Cadeaux, and he’s kindly paid and done it four times. “We just hope he gets a good passage, and that it’s a truly run race, not a trot and a sprint.” Win, lose or draw, Red Cadeaux will become the most prolific international Cup runner—Shadow King ran in six Cups in the 1930s. Cavalryman, a French Group One winner, will be making his second appearance at the Melbourne Cup after finishing 12th in 2012, returning in tremendous form following a superb campaign in Britain and Dubai. He finished a close fourth on his latest start in the Group Two Lonsdale Cup over two miles at York in England on August 22. “He travelled out here well and he has been doing some very good work and I am happy with him,” Bin Suroor said. “Two miles is no problem for him and he has won on both firm and soft ground. Everything has been good so far. I think he has improved with age—he is doing very well for an eight-year-old.” Godolphin’s other runner, Willing Foe, was fourth on his Group One debut in the Irish St Leger over a mile and three quarters (2800m) at the Curragh, Ireland, on September 14. “Willing Foe has been a different horse since he has arrived in Australia,” Bin Suroor said. “I really like him a lot and he is doing really well. We have had to be very patient with him in the past because he has had a few setbacks. “We have finished second in the Melbourne Cup three times before. It is a great race and we have been trying to win it for years. We hope that we have a better chance this time.” Topweight Admire Rakti is favourite as he bids to become only the second Japanese stayer to win the Melbourne Cup. The seven-year-old stallion is the pre-post 4-1 bookies’ choice after his storming to victory in the lead-up Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago. The Tomoyuki Umedatrained galloper will be trying to emulate Delta Blues’ win over Pop Rock in an historic Japanese one-two finish in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. FORMULA ONE Five-in-row Hamilton eyes title after US victory �I have an incredible team and an incredible car and I had a great opponent today’ AFP Austin, Texas L ewis Hamilton increased his lead in the drivers world championship to 24 points on Sunday when he swept to his fifth consecutive victory and 10th of the season by winning the US Grand Prix. The 29-year-old Briton, who started second behind his pole sitting Mercedes team-mate and nearest rival Nico Rosberg, took the lead with a bold move after 24 laps on his way to a perfectly-measured triumph ahead of the German by 4.314 seconds. It was the 32nd win of Hamilton’s career, a landmark statistic that lifted him one victory clear of Nigel Mansell as the British driver with most career successes in Formula One. Hamilton now has 316 points to Rosberg’s 292 following the Englishman’s dominant success earned by clever tyre preservation tactics with two races remaining, including the final race in Abu Dhabi where double points are scored. After thanking his team on the radio, Hamilton was equally generous and effusive from the victors’ podium. “I have an incredible team and an incredible car and I had a great opponent today,” he said. “It is such a privilege to represent my country and to be top of the drivers’ standings. The car was great today.” The result left the two Mercedes men as the only drivers now capable of winning the title contest which will go down to the wire in Abu Dhabi on November 23, no matter the result in Brazil next weekend. Sunday’s triumph was also the Mercedes team’s 10th onetwo triumph of the year. “It kind of sucks for me today,” said Rosberg. “It took too long for me to find my rhythm. Once Hamilton got by I found my rhythm, but it was too late.” Australian Daniel Ricciardo finished third to deliver his eighth podium for Red Bull this Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (second from right) celebrates on the podium with second place Nico Rosberg of Germany (left) and third place Infiniti Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo of Australia after winning the United States Formula One Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas on Sunday. year ahead of the two Williams of fourth-placed Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. “We are doing what we can,” said Ricciardo. “I’m really happy with third place. You can overtake here. I got Magnussen and then Alonso on the restart so it wasn’t too boring out there for me.” Two time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was sixth for Ferrari after a series of battles to finish ahead of four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, Kevin Magnussen of McLaren and Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso. Pastor Maldonado came home 10th for Lotus to score his first points of the season. Pass under braking On another clear day of blue skies and an air temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, with a track temperature of 33 degrees, Rosberg’s start was as flawless as the weather. As the lights went out, he pulled clear with Hamilton behind him while a slow start from Bottas allowed Massa through to third. The first lap was interrupted, however, when Sergio Perez crashed his Force India into the Sauber of luckless Adrian Sutil and a Safety Car was deployed. “So disappointing and so unnecessary,” said Sutil, who had qualified in the top ten for the first time this year. To compound his team’s misery, Nico Hulkenberg retired with an engine failure after 18 laps. After a rash of early pit-stops, racing resumed on lap four with Hamilton sticking close to Rosberg’s car as they pulled away from the pack, but never close enough to consider an attacking move. Rosberg was the first to pit after 15 laps, switching to the harder medium compound tyres. Rosberg, however, was less dominant on his second set of tyres and was unable to open a clear gap ahead of Hamilton who closed steadily before seizing his chance to pass him on lap 24. Hamilton had sized him up for several laps before moving into Rosberg’s slipstream on the back straight and, with the aid of DRS, drew alongside before passing on the inside under braking at turn 12. Rosberg glanced askance and considered defending, but was too late to stop the move as he was eased slightly off line, and circuit, by Hamilton’s act of decision. Within a lap, the Briton led by 1.3 seconds. Behind the leaders, there was a notable battle between Alonso and Button before, in response to Ricciardo’s rapid Red Bull, he made a second pit stop. That gave Rosberg the lead for a lap again, before they resumed with Hamilton ahead again after 35 laps. Rosberg cut the advantage to 2.6 seconds with a fastest lap on lap 36, setting up a 20-lap dash for glory that saw Hamilton respond with his own fastest lap as he kept his lead at 2.3sec or better to the delight of the Texan crowd. DRAG RACING Qatar Al-Anabi advance to Las Vegas quarters Agencies Las Vegas, Nevada T here was a glimmer of Championship hope in Las Vegas for the Qatar Al-Anabi Racing Top Fuel Team, the three-time and defending World Championship team owned by HE Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad al-Thani. After the first round of elimination, reigning World Champion Shawn Langdon had an opportunity to climb back into championship contention at Sunday’s 14th annual Toyota NHRA Nationals, the 23rd of 24 races that make up America’s 2014 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing season and the fifth of six races that comprise the Countdown to the Championship NHRA Playoffs. Langdon defeated Steve Torrence in the first round of eliminations, but prior to Langdon’s win, points leader Tony Schumacher and second-place Doug Kalitta both lost in the first round. So if Langdon could win the Toyota NHRA Nationals, he would move to within 74 markers of Schumacher’s points lead with one race remaining in the season. Reigning World Champion Shawn Langdon races to his first-round victory over Steve Torrence in front of a packed grandstand at Sunday’s Toyota NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada. PICTURE: Ron Lewis In the second round, Langdon faced Schumacher’s teammate, Spencer Massey. The Al-Anabi driver needed a round win to keep his slim championship hopes alive, but it was not to be. Massey marched to the finish line and advanced to the semifinals ending Langdon’s hopes of repeating as World Champion – it is still mathematically possible but extremely unlikely. “We had a chance,” Langdon said. “It was a great feeling to know that with Tony and Doug going out in the first round, we had a chance to make up a lot of ground in the point standings, but we couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. We’ve had one of those years. It’s been tough fighting through the tune-up bugs this season, but we continue to just try to get our car running well again.” Langdon remains fourth in the NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel point standings. He trails thirdplace J.R. Todd by 22 points and leads fifth-place Doug Kalitta by one point. The second through sixth place positions in the point standings are separated by just 26 points with one race remaining in the season. Khalid al-Balooshi and his gold Al-Anabi team made six excellent runs in Las Vegas – the team made four excellent qualifying runs improving each time, and on race day, al-Balooshi opened the day with the team’s best run of the weekend. His 3.775-second effort moved him past Larry Dixon and into a second-round matchup with J.R. Todd. Al-Balooshi ran a brilliant 3.781-second pass in the quarterfinals, but Todd was a tick better at 3.777, and al-Balooshi was eliminated. “We have been taking it step by step by step, and our Al-Anabi team is doing a good job,” alBalooshi said. 10 Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 SPORT SPOTLIGHT Goalkeeping is all about the anticipation, says King Kahn �It’s difficult to compare Manuel Neur with goalkeepers of the past because it’s difficult to compare different generations, but at the moment he is the best in the world’ President of the Qatar Football Association Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani (right) was present yesterday. German goalkeeping legend, Oliver Kahn (left) during the Doha GOALS 2014 forum yesterday. By Yash Mudgal Doha O liver Kahn believes anticipation is the key to success for a goalkeeper and in his opinion German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the best in the world right now. “I think anticipation comes with experience. It comes automatically to you and without it you cannot become a good goalkeeper,” Kahn said while speaking at the Doha GOALS 2014 forum yesterday. “One of the characteristics of great goalkeepers is that they never appear hurried but you have to rely on your anticipation. The game has become faster and faster with the improvement in technology and as a goalkeeper you can’t rely on the waiting game. “It is really difficult to wait for the reaction of the opponent. You have to anticipate the different situations to save a goal,” the 45-year-old German said. Kahn who is familiar with the travails of being a goal-keeper said, “A goalkeeper’s plight is that there is a tendency to remember the occasional mistake at the expense of a brilliant work earlier. Kahn’s performances in goal for Die Mannschaft at the 2002 World Cup finals HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (centre) was present at the Doha GOALS 2014 forum yesterday. in South Korea-Japan virtually dragged his country single-handedly into the final, where they lost to Brazil. “I played six games without any fault in the World Cup, but normally in a World Cup you have to play seven games without any fault and I made a small mistake in the seventh games and it proved costly in the end. That’s the destiny of a goalkeeper,” he said. Although Kahn made history, as he became the first and only keeper to be named player of the tournament when he won the Golden Ball. Kahn has no hesitation in naming his fellow German Neuer as by far the best goalkeeper in the world right now. “I think Neuer changed the game of goalkeeping in the World Cup,” said Kahn, who won 86 caps for Germany between 1994 and 2006. “It’s difficult to compare him with goalkeepers of the past because it’s difficult to compare different generations, but at the moment he is the best goalkeeper in the world. “He has all the range of a goalkeeper and is the best in everything he does. He’s not a goalkeeper, more of a field player, and that’s the most difference to the other goalkeepers,” he said. The 28-year-old German has played a key part in Germany’s successful run at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil by dominating his penalty area and pulling off a string of key saves. Kahn, who was an absolute colossus between the sticks for both Bayern Munich and Germany and probably the best keeper when confronted with a one-on-one situation with an opposition player, feels the France’s Zidane is the best player against whom he had played. “In my time Zidane was the best. I rate him as one of the best field player,” he said, Talking about all-time best player in his opinion, the former German captain has no second though as he named Diego Maradona. “He was simply the best, but it was my luck that I didn’t have to play against him,” he said. BOTTOMLINE Khalifa Mohamed al-Mahmoud and Mohamed Abdulla al-Mohannadi win boys’ doubles title Doha GOALS Forum 2014 kicks off with a grand inauguration QNA Doha U nder the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad alThani, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani inaugurated yesterday evening the Doha GOALS Forum 2014. The opening ceremony was attended by President of Gabon Ali Bongo Ondimba, a number of their excellencies Sheikhs and Ministers, members of diplomatic corps accredited to Qatar and guests. HE the Prime Minister delivered a speech in which he welcomed the attendees of the forum to Doha, capital of sports and athletes, and conveyed the greetings of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness’s wishes of successful efforts for the forum’s participants. In his opening remarks, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani commended the efforts of Aspire Academy, and its recent achievement when the youth team, who graduated from this Academy, won AFC U-19 Championship. “The Academy is now hosting this diverse crowd of global leaders and decision-makers who believe in sports as a tool to achieve social progress and, economic development,” His Excellency added. “Over a short period of time, the Doha GOALS Foundation succeeded in becoming a global organization, and this makes us proud of our strategic national vision, which sport is one of its pillars,” HE the Prime Minister said, pointing to investment undertaken by Qatar in all that can ensure a suitable environment for fair competitions, safe and healthy living and unique hospitality. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister pointed out that remarkable participation by their excellencies leaders in this forum reflected the importance attached by countries of the world to initiatives put forward by sport and to successful stories by sport legends, hoping that Qatar succeeds in choosing sport as a tool for the convergence of the views of political opponents and racial-ethnic adversaries. Concluding his remarks, HE the Prime Minister wished the participants good stay in Qatar and appreciated their valuable efforts to make the forum a success. The opening set was a curtain raiser to what was in store in the next one hour of breathtaking tennis. After a wonderful tournament so far, that the final would be nerve-racking was a given, but what was unleashed was an unbelievable game of tennis at this level. The pair of Khalifa Mohamed al-Mahmoud and Mohamed Abdulla al-Mohannadi engaged in a keen contest against an equally motivated team of Joud Alazmeh and Siddharth Ramesh but were able to the claim the first set 7-6. The second set saw the pair of Alazmeh and Ramesh up their ante, take the set 3-6 and level the match. That probably was the shot in the arm that al-Mahmoud and al-Mohannadi wanted when they fought tooth nail to provide the spectators with an exciting brand of tennis. They rallied, the spectators applauded, they missed, the crowd sighed and after all that the scoreboard read 10-8 in favour of al-Mahmoud and alMohannadi. They had just won the probably the best game of the tournament so far. In other matches, Cesarito Du- madaug Diong will play Robert El Hayek in the finals of Men’s veterans qualifying. Meanwhile, last year’s finalist Amir El Bayoumy played a close game to beat Anass Lamrani in the Men’s singles main (semis). He will now meet Eleftherios Christou in the final, who overcame a stiff resistance from Reynaldo Amazona. In the men’s double’s qualifying (semifinals) Simon Kusmartono & Zulmuchlis Wahidin beat Rawad Mouneer Ajib & Alfred Paul S Casareo while George Raymundo & Jasper Gappi defeated Obay Elsettawy & Waeil Elsadig. The 25th QAFCO Open will come to a close on November 7 with the men’s doubles finals being scheduled then. Gulf Times Tuesday, November 4, 2014 POSTER FEMI Ogunode Qatar sprinter | Four-time Asian Games gold medallist and Asian record holder in 100 and 200m | Threat to Usain Bolt 11 Tuesday, November 4, 2014 GULF TIMES SPOTLIGHT HIGHLIGHT QREC all set to host WAHO Conference Cape Verde and ICSS embark on new journey to safeguard sport �It is unique for WAHO to have two successive conferences in the same country and it is due to unavoidable cancellation of Brazil 2013 that QREC has stepped in’ Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS President By Our Correspondent Cape Verde F QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (second from right), QREC deputy general manager Tariq Abdulhameed al-Siddiqie (right), QREC Finance Manager Latifa Ahmed al-Amri (second from left) and WAHO Conference Co-ordinator Hannie Maasdijk address the media at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim By Sports Reporter Doha Q atar Racing and Equestrian Club is all set to host the conference of the World Arabian Horse Organisation (WAHO) for a second time following a successful WAHO conference in 2011. Over 250 delegates are expected to take part in the 10-day event which will commence on November 8 and conclude on November 18 at the Ritz-Carlton. Staged under the patronage of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, special adviser to HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the conference will feature top class guest speakers dwelling on interesting topics. The registered members and guests have a full programme of supplementary activities celebrating the cultural heritage of the Arabian horse which includes visits to some of Qatar’s major stud farms. WAHO has held a conference every two years since 1970, but the 2013 meeting in São Paulo, Brazil was cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances. Qatar which is in the forefront in the development of the Pure Arabian breed was glad to step in and host the event for the second time. QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani said, “It is a unique event for WAHO to have two successive Conferences in the same country and it is due to the unavoidable cancellation of Brazil 2013 that QREC has stepped in again.” “Arabian horses are a very important part of the cultural heritage of Qatar, WAHO Conference Co-ordinators Hannie Maasdijk (right) and Elise Yue where their history is intertwined with that of the Qatari people for centuries and we are delighted once again to have the opportunity to invite delegates from all over the world to celebrate this rich heritage.” Qatar became a full member of WAHO in 1990, and since then there has been spectacular progress in the development of the Arabian horse in Qatar, home to some 2,000 Arabians from all bloodlines and with approximately 250 new foals born each year. Qatar also offers many and varied activities for Arabian horses and their owners, including world class racing, endurance and international horse shows. The Conference Registration desk will be opened on November 8 at the Ritz-Carlton, which will be followed by the official opening of the “Champions of the Sand” an exhibition by the Qatar Photographic Society at Katara on November 9 at 7pm. The WAHO Conference will be officially opened on November 12 by QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani. This will be followed by various meetings and presentations by renowned speakers. The Qatar Foundation and the Qatar National Research Fund are supporting two presentations to be delivered by Prof Tadeusz Majda and Dr Doug Antczak attending from Poland and the USA respectively, who will be joined by speakers from France and the United Kingdom. The ten-day event will incorporate racing at Al Rayyan Racecourse, where the race programme on November 12 will feature the WAHO Conference Qatar Cup, a 1800 metres contest for Purebred Arabian Maidens, and the inaugural running of the Jay Stream Cup, a memorial race named in tribute to the first WAHO President widely acknowledged as the most influential figure, regarding the de- velopment of worldwide agreement on the registration and record keeping of the Arabian Purebred horse. Speaking at the press conference QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain said. “It is with great pleasure that we will be hosting the WAHO Conference once again in Qatar. We are keen to maintain the integrity of the Pure Arabian breed and WAHO has been in the forefront in doing that. The 2011 Conference was the best ever and we will ensure that this edition will be better than the previous one. We are looking forward to welcoming our guests and WAHO members for this conference which I am sure will be a huge success.” The creation of WAHO aroused a resurgence of international interest in the Arabian breed. WAHO now holds the responsibility of ensuring that standards acceptable to all its Registering Authority Members are established and maintained in the matters of registration and production of Stud Books. Since 1997, WAHO has grown to a total of 64 Members and Applying Member Nations with 14 additional countries. Among the Member countries are the all important original homelands of the Arabian horse, where there has been a huge resurgence of interest in the traditional breed of the region. WAHO is proud to count these countries among the Membership. To this day, more than 2,000 people who share an interest in Arabian horses have joined as individual Associate Members at conferences held around the world. ollowing on from the support received from leading Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) Sport Ministers earlier this year, the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has just signed a wide-ranging partnership agreement with the Government of Cape Verde. As part of the ICSS’s commitment to drive awareness at a government level about the importance of safeguarding sport, the agreement will see both parties work together to enhance sport safety, security and integrity, as well as youth sports development throughout Cape Verde, CPLP members and other Lusophone countries. The ICSS and Cape Verde’s General Directorate for Sport (DGD) will also implement a range of programmes that will contribute to international efforts to protect sport, including the development and enhancing of a National Plan of Sports Ethics (PNED) which will draw upon the ICSS’s global programmes on good governance, sporting and financial integrity, as well as consider the overall strategy developed by the Government of Cape Verde to protect the integrity of its sporting events and their young athletes. Recognising the growing trend of integrity cases involving young athletes, the ICSS and DGD will also jointly organise a range of events, including conferences, seminars and workshops that will focus on protecting young athletes in sport, which will be supported by the ICSS’s forthcoming Charter on Sports Youth Development, a pioneering initiative aimed at promoting and implementation throughout the world best practice in terms of recruitment, training, education and protection of young athletes. Speaking on the agreement, Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS President, said: “This partnership with the General-Directorate of Sports (DGD) of Cape Verde is a historic moment for the ICSS and marks the first time that the ICSS has joined forces with African country to safeguard sport. “Here at the ICSS, we believe that governments must take a lead and be at the forefront of the fight to protect sport and we are committed to developing a more international approach to tack- ling issues that affect its safety, security and integrity. “I would like to thank Cape Verde for being the first African country to partner with the ICSS and look forward to building a safer future for young athletes and fans around the world.” Dr Gerson Sena de Melo, Director-General of Sports of Cape Verde, said: “This partnership that we proudly establish with the ICSS will enable us to develop a common agenda on sports governance and strengthen our capacity to safeguard the future generations in our country. This will be carried out through the implementation of the best practice and key recommendations contained in the ICSS Charter on Recruitment, Training, Education and Protection of Young Athletes. “Thanks to the ICSS, we will be better equipped to deal with the critical challenges facing sport in our country and preserve its ethics and financial integrity, as well as to promote the most adequate youth development policies, involving the Olympic Committee, the sports federations, clubs athletes and of course the youngsters. “This memorandum of understanding, signed during the opening session of our second National Sports Conference, happens in a decisive time and represents an important and ambitious landmark for Cape Verde and our sport.” Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, Chief Executive of the ICSS Europe, said: “The ICSS and the Government of Cape Verde are both passionate about safeguarding sport for a new generation of young fans and athletes, and I am proud to be leading this initiative on behalf of the ICSS. “As an important member of the CPLP, the Minister of Education and Sport of Cape Verde and the DGD will play an important role in promoting the importance of sport security and integrity within the vast community of Portuguese-language countries, as well as introducing crucial measures that will protect young athletes and fans, not just in Cape Verde, but across wider CPLP and Lusophone countries” “With many threats now facing the sporting and financial integrity of sport, as part of my role as CEO of ICSS Europe, I am committed to supporting the ICSS’s work in the area around the globe and engaging with key countries and partners across Europe, Latin America and beyond.” BOTTOMLINE One month to go: World’s best swimmers get ready for glorious return to Doha in December By Sports Reporter Doha W ith just one month to go until swimming’s showpiece event athletes are eagerly awaiting the chance to compete in Qatar again – this time for World Championship glory. Having started the season in Doha in August at the FINA Mastbank Swimming World Cup, the world’s best swimmers have now completed their World Cup campaigns at the final meet of the seven-part series in Singapore. They will return to Qatar once again to battle it out at the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) from December 3-7. Topping the World Cup points table this year and retaining their titles in the process are South Africa’s Chad Le Clos and Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who powered away with big leads early on in Doha; Hosszu taking seven golds Le Clos, three. Rounding out the overall women’s winners table are Inge Dekker (Netherlands) in second and Alia Atkinson (Jamaica) in third place and in the men’s competition, Le Clos was followed by Daniel Gyurta (Hungary) in second place and Tom Shields (USA) in third overall. Sports fans in Doha were treated to thrilling performances from all six of those swimmers at the August World Cup and they are already looking forward to a return to the water in Qatar. Jamaica’s two-time Olympian, Alia Atkinson, has had a stunning racing season so far clinching gold in the 50m Breaststroke in Doha and finishing third overall in the World Cup series. She commented: “I’m really looking forward to being back in Doha for the World Championships in December. I’m hoping to go even faster than I did at the World Cup.” Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic medalist and former World Record holder, George Bovell said: Alia Atinkson, FINA World Cup Doha 2014. “It’s great to have already raced in Doha earlier on in the year at the World Cup. I feel really prepared going to the World Championships back in the same pool.” This year marks the first in FINA history that the same city will host both a World Cup and a World Champion- ships, showcasing the country’s growing commitment to swimming and further cementing Qatar’s reputation as host to major international sporting events. Commenting on preparations for the upcoming FINA Swimming World Championships after the finals Khaleel al-Jabir, Qatar Swimming Association President said: “With one month to go until the championships, people in our community are already showing their excitement and counting down until their swimming heroes return to the region. After such a successful event in August, we know these elite athletes are expecting great things not only from themselves but from our city as we prepare to deliver another world class event.” Directly ahead of the World Championships, Doha will host the 3rd FINA Aquatics Convention putting itself at the centre of the sport’s development. The convention will run from November 29 – December 1 and provides a platform for industry leaders and decision makers to facilitate and support sustainable growth of aquatic sports throughout the world. Doha is also showing its commitment to the future of swimming through the Youth Programme, a five day event where 400 elite young swimmers and their coaches will be given the opportunity to experience the FINA Swimming World Championships first hand. Organised by Qatar Olympic Committee and FINA, the Youth Programme will bring together the swimmers of tomorrow with the talent and coaches of today. The 12th FINA World Swimming Championships will be held over five days with morning heats starting at 9:30am and the fast-action finals takings place at 6:00pm. Fans can purchase their tickets at Virgin Megastores or online at tickets.virginmegastores. me starting at QR10. Find out more at www.wscdoha2014.com and follow us @FINA2014Doha on Twitter.
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