www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS | 13 SPORT | 22 Lagarde to run for Messi fit as Barca second term at the seek to regain head of IMF top spot SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 • 13 Rabia II 1437 • Volume 20 • Number 6684 thepeninsulaqatar @peninsulaqatar @peninsula_qatar Festival plan to Spring Festival opens at Souq Waqif promote organic vegetables Saturday. The honey festival was held for two days a week — of those three Ministry’s plans days when the farmers’ markets are follow successful open — in Umm Salal, Al Wakrah and Al Khor/Al Dhakheera — one by one. conclusion of festival The first festival was held in Al of locally-produced Mazrooa, then Al Wakrah and yester- day, it ended in Al Khor-Al Dhakheera. honey at three A total of 278kg of Qatari honey farmers’ markets was sold here in two days. Abdul Rahman Al Sulaiti, Super- visor of the farmers’ markets at the ministry, said plans are afoot to hold The Peninsula a festival of locally-grown organic vegetables. He said the honey fes- tival was very successful and so the organic vegetables’ festival would DOHA: After successful conclusion of also be a hit with consumers. Also a festival of locally-produced honey, on the cards is a festival of regular Stilt walkers move around Souq Waqif after the opening of the annual Spring Festival yesterday. → See also page 2 the Agricultural Affairs Department at vegetables produced in local farms Pic Kammuty / The Peninsula the Ministry of Environment is plan- and greenhouses. On a pilot basis the ning to promote organic vegetables. ministry has converted one farm into The ministry has plans to hold a an organic facility and plans to open festival of organic vegetables at the five more such farms. three farmers’ markets where the Organic vegetable production is honey festival ended yesterday. growing at a rapid pace worldwide Qatar Airways chief rejects Gulf consolidation The honey festival aimed to due to increasing demand in view encourage local honey producers. of health benefits. In Qatar, organic Some 50 honeybee farms are vegetables produced by local farms getting financial and technical sup- are available in limited quantities so Reuters Emirates and Etihad with their three he said during a panel at Bahrain Air- aviation summit in Amsterdam that port from the government through the idea is to increase its production. big hub airport operations, all within show, pointing to US carriers as an Czech airlines shouldn’t necessarily the ministry. Organic farming relies on tradi- a small geographic location. example. survive just for the sake of it. It all began in 2013 when the min- tional methods such as crop rotation, In other aviation markets, like the In Europe, there has been consol- “It was part of national pride every istry decided to support 30 honeybee usage of green manures and compost. MANAMA: Qatar Airways (QA) Group US, the number of airlines has shrunk idation, with the five largest airline country needs to have a national car- farms and honey production peaked Biological pest control methods are Chief Executive Akbar Al Baker yes- as carriers have consolidated, help- groups controlling around half of the rier. My feeling is that Europe is too at 6.1 tonnes. The following year, 50 also used. The government also pro- terday said he was not in favour of ing them become more profitable, so journeys made by air passengers in the small for so many national carriers,” farms were brought within the state vides technical help to honey and other regional consolidation, rejecting any much so that US airlines account for region. But there are often calls from he said. support network while there are plans farms. Technicians visit the facilities need for the Gulf to join in the trend over half of global earnings in the air- aviation industry executives for more Al Baker also took a swipe at legacy to add 50 more farms by Septem- regularly and workers are provided for mergers which has raised airline line industry. consolidation among Europe’s smaller European carriers, saying they were ber 2016. with training. profitability elsewhere in the world. But Al Baker said consolidation carriers, many of which struggle to disadvantaged by their inefficiencies, The farmers’ markets are open Al Sulaiti said recently a fair of Some industry experts are scep- could be bad for consumers. “I don’t post a sustainable profit. not by the growth of Gulf carriers. only in the winter months and three flowers was also held at the farm- tical as to whether the Gulf needs agree with consolidation, always done Dan Tok, Minister of Transport for days a week from Thursday through ers’ markets. fast-growing QA and rival carriers to extract capacity and jack up prices,” the Czech Republic, said during an EU → Continued on page 2 Syria opposition: Qatar down North Korea to reach semis 45 migrants drown as Turkey No talks unless vows to stop voyages to Europe Russian raids end AFP into trouble off the Aegean islands of Reuters Farmakonisi and Kalolimnos in the early hours. But the toll could rise as rescuers were scouring the waters ATHENS: Forty-five people drowned for people missing from the boat that BEIRUT: The Saudi-backed Syrian when three refugee boats sank yester- capsized off Kalolimnos. opposition ruled out even indirect day off Greece, as German Chancellor The Turkish coastguard also found negotiations with Damascus before Angela Merkel obtained a pledge from the bodies of three children after a steps, including a halt to Russian air Turkey to “do everything” to stop third boat sank near the seaside resort strikes, contradicting US Secretary record numbers of migrants head- of Didim. of State John Kerry’s insistence that ing to Europe. Germany and Turkey have talks will begin next week. Thousands fleeing war and mis- emerged as crucial players in the crisis, With the five-year Syrian war ery are embarking on the dangerous and Merkel, who hosted Prime Min- showing no signs of ending, it looks journey across the Mediterranean to ister Ahmet Davutoglu for talks, said uncertain that peace talks will begin seek a better life in Europe. both sides signed an agreement to “do as planned on Monday in Geneva, Greek and Turkish coastguards everything to reduce the number of partly because of a dispute over recovered the bodies of 44 migrants — refugees” crossing into the EU. the composition of the opposition including 20 children — whose boats In exchange, Ankara can count on delegation. Qatar’s Ahmed Alaa (right) in action against a North Korean player during the AFC U23 Championship capsized on their way to Greece, offi- German support in easing by Octo- George Sabra, a senior official of quarter-finals in Doha yesterday. Qatar won the match 2-1. Pic: Syed Omer → See also page 23 cials said. Greek rescuers pulled 74 ber EU visa requirements for Turkish opposition council, the High Nego- people to safety after two boats ran citizens visiting the Schengen area. tiations Committee, said obstacles to the talks were there, reiterating demands for the lifting of block- ades on populated areas and the release of detainees, measures Tunisia protests ‘under control’ after nation-wide night curfew set out in a December 18 Security Council resolution that endorsed the peace process. “There must be a halt to the AFP Anger erupted over last week’s decision risks prosecution, apart from and a bank branch were ransacked on 42 security personnel wounded, the bombardment of civilians by Rus- death of an unemployed young man medical emergencies and those work- the neighbourhood’s main street and ministry said. sian planes,” said Sabra, who was who was electrocuted when he climbed ing at night,” it said. a police post burnt. In central Tunisia, The new spike in unrest prompted this week named a senior member an electricity pole while demonstrat- Authorities called for calm after security forces clashed with protesters Prime Minister Habib Essid to cut short of the opposition delegation to any TUNIS: Tunisia yesterday declared a ing in central Tunisia. 16 people were arrested on vandalism in several towns, including Kasserine a European tour. Essid said protests had talks. “The form of the talks does nighttime curfew across the country The interior ministry said the 8pm charges in a suburb of Tunis. National where the unrest started, using tear been “brought under control”. “The not concern us, but the conditions to try to calm the most serious out- to 5am curfew was necessary to pre- Guard units clashed with individu- gas against them. situation is calm... ,” Essid said after a must be appropriate for the nego- break of social unrest since the 2011 vent damage to property and ensure als in balaclavas until early morning. At least three police stations were meeting with French President Fran- tiations,” he added. revolution. public safety. “Anyone disobeying this Two household appliance stores attacked over the past 24 hours and cois Hollande in Paris. 02 SATURDAY 23 JANUARY 2016 HOME Annual Spring Festival begins at Souq Waqif as part of the 15-day festival. of people curious to see what was being 15-day cultural The alleys were filled with visi- shown inside. Four short international tors taking videos and photos of the 360-degree movies were screened for and entertainment stilt walkers and performers passing free from 4pm to 8pm at the dome. bonanza for visitors by in regular intervals. The Giant Fountain Circus show, the Another set of stiltwalkers enter- main attraction at the festival which of all walks of life tained visitors at the new Souq Waqif is staged twice nightly, was also a big Park above the underground parking draw.