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The SEC launched Shareholders of Qatar Qatar Total Open ‘Qatar-e-Nature’ Islamic Bank gave the begins today. Defending contest to raise nod to the bank to raise champion Simona environment awareness up to QR5bn through a Halep of Romania among schoolchildren. capital boosting Sukuk. withdraws due to injury.

MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 • 4 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6350 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Qatar Sports Park in Japan Turkish troops Qatar Chamber enter Syria to free soldiers urges govt to ANKARA: Turkish forces swept into Syria overnight to rescue about 40 soldiers who had been surrounded for months by Islamic State militants while check rents guarding the tomb of a revered Turkish figure. The Syrian government Rents taking toll on small businesses described the operation as an act of “flagrant aggression” and said DOHA: The Qatar Chamber that the state is building a logistics it would hold Ankara responsible has called on the government to zone, which is a welcome move. But for its repercussions. The action, urgently intervene and check spi- the most effective way the govern- which involved tanks, drones and ralling commercial rents. ment can help the private sector reconnaissance planes as well as The Chamber has warned that grapple with the challenges it is fac- several hundred ground troops, commercial rents are spinning out ing due to rising commercial rents was the first incursion by Turkish of control and taking a serious toll is provide them land. troops into Syria since the start on small businesses. The businesses “That’s the only way we can of the civil war there nearly four are passing on the burden to the check the spiralling commercial years ago. REUTERS end-user so the ultimate sufferer rents,” said Al Obaidly. And reduced is the hapless consumer. commercial rents would mean The rents are now ruling at falling inflation rate which would back-breaking levels of QR400 to eventually benefit society at large— Cold and dusty QR500 ($137.3) per square metre. limited-income expatriate families These were the rates at which as well as nationals. H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the site of the Qatar Sports Park in wind to continue properties were actually available Talking about the central mar- Shirakawa City, one of the most affected regions in the earthquake and floods that hit Japan in 2011. See also page 2 for sale in Doha before the onset of kets, he said new central markets DOHA: The cold, dusty and the current economic boom. (one for vegetables and fruits, the windy weather is forecast to “Rents of QR400/QR500 per sqm other for fish and seafood and the continue today, although the mean that to take a 100-metre com- third for meat and livestock), should dust hanging in the air might mercial space on rent one must pay be made after careful studies. The settle a bit as the night falls. a monthly rent of QR50,000. This new markets should be established Yemen’s Hadi ‘resumes’ duties The night is forecast to be quite is mind-boggling,” said a director of out of the city limits of Doha. The cold today with mercury levels the Chamber. fish market should be opened in the ADEN: Yemeni President Houthis, have installed a “presi- “His priority is to normalise the falling to 9 to 13 degrees C at Mohamed bin Ahmed Al Obaidly coastal area, while the meat and Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi led dential” council aimed at replac- security situation in Aden in order places after midnight. said the Ministry of Economy and livestock market should be set up a meeting of governors in the ing Hadi, who after his escape to receive foreign delegates who Day temperatures were likely Commerce, which boasts a con- near the New Doha Port. southern city of Aden yesterday declared all their measures “null have requested appointments to to be up to 18 to 22 degrees C, sumer rights watchdog, has set up Similarly, the vegetable mar- as he resumed some of his duties and illegitimate”. meet him,” he said. with Al Ruwais and Dukhan wit- a committee that monitors the cen- ket should be opened in an area after escaping house arrest in Yesterday, he received the gov- As the meeting began, sources nessing a colder day (18 degrees tral markets. The watchdog — the closer to farmlands. He lauded Sana’a. ernors of various southern Yemeni close to Hadi said that one of his C). In Doha, the maximum tem- Consumer Protection Department the Ministry and said it is closely The Western-backed leader fled provinces, Aden governor Abdulaziz relatives, Nasser Ahmed Mansour perature forecast is 22 degrees C, (CPD) —must also track commer- interacting with the private sector to Aden on Saturday after sneaking bin Habtoor said. Hadi, was abducted by Houthis on while the minimum 13 degrees. cial rents and make sure they are and taking their views on issues out of his residence in the capital, “The president will keep up his Saturday as he tried to leave Sana’a Abu Samra is expected to have within justifiable limits. related to industry. The idea is to where he was being held by a Shia political efforts to lead from Aden,” to join his uncle. Aden is jointly con- the coldest night of the current Al Obaidly told reporters after a help widen the role of the private militia group that has seized control bin Habtoor told reporters after the trolled by troops loyal to Hadi and chilly spell. The minimum tem- meeting of the agricultural commit- sector in the national economy, said of the city. meeting, which was also attended an allied local militia known as the perature forecast for the place is tee of the Chamber which he heads, Al Obaidly. THE PENINSULA The militiamen, known as by army and security chiefs. Popular Committees. AFP 9 degrees C. THE PENINSULA HBKU launches 24,000 scrap vehicles Juris Doctor law programme to be dismantled soon DOHA: The waste man- He told Al Sharq that the BY FAZEENA SALEEM agement department of the ministry is setting up a fully Ministry of Municipality and automated recycling plant near DOHA: A new Law school at Urban Planning has awarded Al Khor, and plans are afoot to Qatar Foundation’s Hamad bin contracts to local companies expand the recycling capacity of Khalifa University (HBKU) yes- to dismantle 24,000 scrap the plant to 5,500 tonnes per day terday announced the launch of automobiles and provide the from the present 2,300 tonnes Juris Doctor (JD) postgradu- metals thus extracted to local due to rising population. ate degree programme, which steel-maker. He said the new plant would will be the research university’s These were abandoned vehi- be operational by the end of inaugural law programme and cles that were lying in the junk 2016. first of its kind in the region. yards of the ministry, according According to the head of The three-year programme, to a senior official. the Ministry’s waste recycling being launched through a partner- Similarly, some 15 companies plant., construction waste is ship with Northwestern University had been contracted to cut into also recycled at his plant and School of Law in the US, will enrol small pieces at least two million the quality residues (after the 20 students this year, officials said scarp automotive tyres and the recycling) are used as landfill during a press conference held at pieces have been exported. materials. the Education City yesterday. “Other companies also have He said the plant generates Students are required to hold opportunities in this area if 30 megawatt of electricity using an undergraduate degree in any they wish to bag contracts,” said the waste, of which 6 megawatt discipline with a strong academic Safar Mubarak Al Shafi, head is used by the plant and the record for admission. of the Ministry of Municipality remaining 24 megawatt is given Continued on page 2 and Urban Planning’s waste to the state. THE PENINSULA recycling plant. THE PENINSULA

Qatari defies blindness, unveils website

BY MOHAMMED OSMAN advantage of the online advertising newspapers. It was really hard in market which is growing world- the beginning. I started with sim- DOHA: A Qatari youth has chal- wide in general and in the GCC ple designs and simple online pro- lenged his blindness to launch his states in particular,” Al Kuwari grammes,” Said Al Kuwari. own website through hard work told this daily yesterday. Hard work and dedication paid and self-determination. He said developing a website was dividends. “Now I feel comfortable Saleh Al Kuwari, a secondary not an easy task for him, with no and I am able to manage the por- school graduate, is now manag- formal training in this field. tal,” he added. ing the al-jaras.net dedicated for Using Braille Sense, an elec- The website has three main sec- online advertisement for selling tronic note taker specially designed tions — one for vehicles, one for and buying of cars and real estate for the blind and visually impaired, real estate properties and an addi- properties. The portal offers buy- he managed to access and read sev- tional section for advertising job ers and sellers free advertisement eral websites and newspapers. vacancies. for properties on sale or for hire. “I worked two years searching Continued on page 6 “I launched the website to take different websites and reading THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Leaders greet FM unveils sports park in Japan Greek president on his election SHIRAKAWA-SHI, JAPAN: 150,000 people, including aspiring and Japanese people are aware centre for families seeking shel- of Shirakawa Marathon. Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid athletes and students. of the importance of sports in ter from the disaster at the The centre also hosted last DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yes- The project will comprise a maintaining physical and mental nearby Fukushima Daiichi power December Japanese football stars Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani terday inaugurated Qatar complex, a sports centre, gymna- health and stressed that the park station. who trained about 200 students. yesterday sent a cable of con- Sports Park in Shirakawa-shi sium and stadium and will pro- represents the will of residents The centre includes a sports The outstanding students who gratulations to Prokopis City, one of the most affected vide a safe and modern facility and their passion for sport and facility named Al Enabi Plaza participated in football activities Pavlopoulos on his election regions in the aftermath of the for the community with extended community development. in reference to the colour of the were honoured in the presence of as President of Greece, wish- earthquake and floods that hit health benefits and serve as a He hoped the project would Qatari flag and the name given the Qatari Ambassador and QFF ing him success and the Greek eastern Japan in 2011. venue for local competitions and contribute to the development to Qatar national sports teams. Goodwill Ambassador Tetsuya people further progress and The park is part of new activities. and reconstruction of the region It includes an interactive lounge Bessho. prosperity. projects announced by Qatar Dr Al Attiyah said the earth- through the rehabilitation of characterised by safe environ- Shirakawa City Mayor Kazuo Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Friendship Fund (QFF) which quake was a setback in the lives people and wished young ath- ment to meet the needs of young Suzuki praised QFF’s efforts in Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani was launched at an initiative of of millions of people, specially in letes will participate in activities children and families. the reconstruction of the city also sent a cable of greetings to Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Fukushima. The park reflects of FIFA World Cup 2022 to be At the beginning of last year, and the park. Bessho hailed his- Pavlopoulos. Hamad Al Thani to support the depth of partnership and hosted by Qatar. the city celebrated the rebuild toric relations between Qatar Prime Minister and Interior rehabilitation efforts. friendship between the peoples He reiterated Qatar’s commit- of outside courts with an athlet- and Japan and said the projects Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin It is also part of efforts to of Qatar and Japan and mutual ment to support the Japanese ics event for about 200 students implemented by QFF would fur- Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent further strengthen cooperation trust and cooperation, embodied people and maintain the 40 years from preparatory and secondary ther strengthen ties in all areas, a similar cable to Pavlopoulos. between Qatar and Japan. by the projects implemented by of friendship. schools. including education, culture, QFF provided about $5.8m for QFF, he said. The local gymnasium in The track in the centre was development and trade exchange. Nepal FM invited the park which will benefit about Dr Al Attiyah said Qatari Shirakawa was used as a refuge used in September 2014 as part QNA to UN congress

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Foreign Minister Mahendra QU signs agreements with Bahadur Pandey has received a written message from Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. The message related to rela- three Japan organisations tions and included an invita- tion to the 13th United Nations DOHA: Qatar University (QU) Institute for Energy Economics scheme, and host student interns Congress on Crime Prevention signed agreements with three (IEEJ) were signed in the and/or research assistants. and Criminal Justice to be held Japanese organisations at the presence of Japanese Prime They will also hold and partic- in Doha from April 12 to 19. recent Qatar-Japan Economic Minister, Shinzo Abe, Minister ipate in joint academic activities, Qatari Ambassador Ahmad Forum during the visit of of Economy and Commerce exchange academic information Jassim Al Hamar presented Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin H E Sheikh Ahmed bin and materials, facilitate and pro- the message yesterday. Pandey Hamad Al Thani to Japan. Jassim Al Thani, and Japanese mote joint research projects and thanked Dr Al Attiyah for the The Emir was accompanied Minister of Economy, Trade and publish output, and supervise invite and stressed the impor- by a QU delegation compris- Industry Yoichi Miyazawa, OU graduate students. tance of relations between both ing President, Prof Sheikha President, Dr Toshio Hirano, Five places will be reserved countries. Abdulla Al Misnad, Associate and Executive Vice-President annually for OU students to pur- Vice-President, Research Yasuyuki Okamura, IDE-JETRO sue courses at CAS Arabic for Minister meets Operations, and Director, President, Dr Takashi Shiraishi, Non-Native Speakers’ Centre. Social and Economic Survey and IEEJ Chairman and CEO, The deal with IDE-JETRO Afghan official Research Institute, Dr Darwish Masakazu Toyoda. will support research at GSC Abdulrahman Al Emadi, College The deals will promote uni- and contribute to demonstrating DOHA: Assistant Foreign of Arts & Sciences (CAS)Dean, versity-wide joint academic, how economic development in Prof Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, President, Qatar University, signs one of Minister for International Dr Eiman Mustafawi, and research and cultural exchanges the Gulf can be achieved in the the agreements. Cooperation Affairs H E Sheikh Associate Dean, Research Dr and activities in general and context of reliance on revenue Prof Al Misnad said: “In part- value to their academic and Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Mohammed Ahmedna. CAS Gulf Studies Centre (GSC) from hydrocarbon exports. nering with OU, IDE-JETRO research goals. bin Jassim Al Thani yesterday The agreements with Osaka in particular. The CAS-IEEJ agreement will and IEEJ, we are bringing “The agreements will fur- met Afghan National Security University (OU), Institute of Both sides will organise sum- facilitate joint research activi- together students, faculty and ther enhance the spirit of good- Adviser Mohammad Hanif Developing Economies, Japan mer school programmes, develop ties in the Gulf and include aca- researchers from these organi- will Qatar and Japan have long Atmar. Talks dealt with rela- External Trade Organisation a student exchange programme, demic exchanges, among other sations to exchange experiences shared.” tions and matters of mutual (IDE-JETRO) and Japan establish a visiting professor areas of cooperation. and knowledge that will add THE PENINSULA interest. QNA QNB sponsors MENA Universities Summit DOHA: QNB has sponsored innovation, business and gov- QNB offers programmes and the inaugural two-day MENA ernment institutions and global scholarships for Qataris in most Universities Summit which industry leaders, investors and of these universities to graduate a begin today under the patron- entrepreneurs. qualified Qatari workforce. age of Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Education is one of the six The summit will feature con- Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani. fields of focus for QNB’s CSR sultations on the creation of an The event, organised by Qatar activities. QNB provides care and addition in the (THE) rankings University (QU) in partnership support for the education sector portfolio: the MENA University with Times Higher Education in Qatar and offers assistance to Rankings taking into considera- (THE) magazine, will be attended educational events abroad. tion the region’s challenges. It will by over 200 delegates, including Qatar hosts some of the also feature sessions on university university and research lead- world’s most prestigious univer- leadership, international research ers from around the world, rep- sities through Qatar Foundation and industry-university collabo- resentatives and policymakers for Education, Science and rations and teaching excellence. from high education, research, Community Development. THE PENINSULA

Admissions open for Juris Doctor course

Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, Deputy Counsel, Qatar Foundation, Daniel Rodriguez, Dean, Northwestern University School of Law, Ahmad M Hasnah, Executive Vice-President and Provost, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Professor Clinton Francis, Founding Dean, HBKU Law School, at the launch of HBKU Juris Doctor Programme held at Education City yesterday. BAHER AMIN

Continued from page 1 Hasnah, Executive Vice-President University and HBKU is strong Applications are open online on and Provost, HBKU, Daniel B and we are delighted to be enter- HBKU’s website. Rodriguez, Dean, Northwestern ing into this strategic partner- JD will cover three areas of School of Law, were present. ship to deliver an exceptional legal education in depth — con- “JD is designed to serve indi- programme. ceptual theory, function of law, viduals looking to enhance legal “Students in the programme and application of law. The cur- knowledge, or dealing with will benefit from developing ana- riculum will cover sectors such legal issues in their professional lytical skills necessary for attain- as energy, infrastructure develop- careers, with analytical and ing a high level of understanding ment, finance and global devel- critical thinking skills developed of complex legal concepts. Qatar’s opment, healthcare, cultural during the programme,” said Al society will benefit from having endowment and media. Kuwari. such a highly trained group of “JD is designed to deliver spe- The programme is delivered strategic thinkers in its workforce cialised legal knowledge integral by faculty based in Doha and in the years to come.” to the needs of Qatar, the region, visiting faculty from around the HBKU is working with the and the global community without world, including Northwestern Ministry of Justice, Attorney the need for additional domestic University School of Law in General’s Office, industry and or foreign legal degrees,” said Chicago. Selected adjunct pro- other stakeholders to ensure rec- Professor Clinton W Francis, fessors from Qatar and the ognition of the degree in Qatar. Founding Dean, Law School, region will provide students with Though often recognised as HBKU. insights into the legal practice in primarily for the US market, Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, various sectors. JD is also offered in Australia, Deputy Counsel, Qatar Rodriguez said, “The rela- China, Japan, the Philippines and Foundation, Dr Ahmad M tionship between Northwestern Singapore. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Second ‘Qatar-e-Nature’ contest launched for schools

DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) yes- terday announced the launch of ‘Qatar-e-Nature’ contest to raise environment awareness among schoolchildren. The contest based on ‘Qatar e-Nature’ mobile application, now in its second year, is held in collaboration with Sasol, an international integrated energy and chemical company, and Friends of the Environment Centre (FEC). This year new questions are added about the content of the app, which has been updated www.swiss-belhotel.com to include mammals and rep- Tel tiles in addition to the existing plants, birds, and insects. Fax The SEC will promote the use of the app in schools and Officials at the press conference yesterday. encourage students’ participa- tion in the contest. The SEC the app content. Students can useful to engage all groups of environment and the need to Tel has supported the app due to also enter a photo of nature in society and this is what encour- protect it. The user-friendly app Fax its value in educating children Qatar for the chance to win. aged us to support the use of is available free for download on on nature in Qatar. Prizes will be awarded in a the app in all schools through Apple App Store, Google Play The contest is open to all ceremony at the end of May to yearly contests that will enrich Store for Android, Windows students until May 5. The ques- winners in each grade and the students’ knowledge of the Phone Store, and BlackBerry tions can be accessed via the top five schools with highest environment around them App World. A web version of the Tel app on a smartphone or tablet participation. The grand prize and improve their academic app (www.enature.qa) is avail- Fax or web browser at contest.ena- will be a trip to South Africa achievements.” able for desktop access. Latest ture.qa. and other prizes include latest She thanked Sasol and FEC developments and more infor- Participants can find the cor- iPads and iPhones. for their efforts to develop mation can be found on Qatar rect answers to the questions on Rima Abu Khadija, Director, the app, which sheds light on e-Nature pages on Facebook, Tel + 974 44298888 mammals, reptiles, birds, plants Office of Curricula Standards, Qatar’s diverse nature and Twitter, and Instagram. and insects by browsing through Education Institute, said: “It is promotes understanding of the THE PENINSULA Fax

Tel Fax

Oscar 2015 nominee Timbuktu to Tel be shown at Qumra next month Fax Tel DOHA: Oscar 2015 nominee Fax Timbuktu by Mauritanian director Abderrahmane www.doha.hilton.com Sissako will be screened at the inaugural Qumra to be Tel 44233333 974+ held from March 6 to 11 at Katara, Doha Film Institute Fax 44233000 974+ (DFI) said yesterday. Timbuktu, which won seven Cesar Awards, including Best Film and Best Director, in France during the weekend, is one of the featured films in public screening programme for Qumra Masters, a group of actors and directors. Screenings also include Pablo Tel Larrain’s No, starring Qumra Fax Master Gael García Bernal; A scene from the film Timbuktu. Tales From the Golden Age, a compendium of five short Screenings will also feature Rais and The Wall by Odette of development. films written and produced by new voices, selected from films Makhlouf Mouarkech. Qumra Projects participants Romanian New Wave master supported by DFI’s grants and Fatma Al Remaihi, CEO, will be connected with indus- Tel Cristian Mungiu and directed co-financing programmes. DFI, said: “We are excited to try mentors to assist them in Fax by him and four others; Dariush The new voices strand will share this outstanding collec- advancing their work to the Mehrju’i’s Leila featuring a present two narrative feature tion of films during Qumra. The next stage and will attend breakthrough performance by films, one documentary fea- collection of films by Qumra classes presented by Qumra Qumra Master Leila Hatami; ture film and a programme of Masters alongside compel- Masters. Tel and An Episode in the Life of an short films supported by DFI’s ling new voices in cinema will About 100 delegates from Fax Iron Picker by Danis Tanovi, funding programmes. They are: provide Doha audiences with the film and media industry winner of the Jury Grand Memories on Stone by Shawkat a window into some of the in Qatar will also participate Prix and the Silver Bear for Amin Korki; My Love Awaits me most creative, innovative and in selected components of the Best Actor at the 63rd Berlin by the Sea by Mais Darwazah; inspired films in recent years.” industry programme. International Film Festival. The Narrow Frame of Midnight Screenings are the public Tickets are on sale online Tel Each screening will be by Tala Hadid; and short films component of the event which from today at 10am and from Fax accompanied by a question- The Forgotten by Ehab Tarabieh, also includes an intensive tomorrow at 2pm at DFI and-answer session with the Maqloubeh by Nicolas Damuni, industry programme for direc- Katara Drama Theatre Ticket filmmaker or Qumra Master Old Airport Road by Abdullah tors and producers behind 30 Outlet. presenting the film. Al Mulla, Survival Visa by Nadia film projects at various stages THE PENINSULA Tel Fax

Over 400 to take Traffic diversion on Al Khor street Tel Fax part in Halal DOHA: The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has announced a traffic diver- Qatar Festival sion on Al Khor Commercial DOHA: More than 400 peo- Street until the first quarter ple will take part in the fourth of next year. annual Halal Qatar Festival to Parts of one lane of the street be held from February 28 to have been closed at the sector March 9 at the southern part of between the old Coffee Pot Tel Katara. Roundabout towards Nassir Fax Registration which ended on bin Abdullah Al Missned Street Thursday saw 90 participants for (Commercial Street), passing Hadayer barn activities, 50 for Al Khor Health Centre. Al Mazad public auction, 70 for Traffic has been diverted to Tel livestock owners and breeders’ a temporary parallel road in Fax forum and more than 200 for Al addition to the open lane of Mazayen competition. the road. The diversion is for Among the GCC countries, works on roads and infrastruc- www.marriottmarquisdoha.com Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have ture for Al Khor Commercial the most participants, according Street project. Tel + 974 44195000 to organisers. The project will improve Fax + 974 44195100 Other activities on the side- road alignment and road cross lines, including a traditional sections within right-of-way handicraft market, local cuisine corridors ranging between 16 and traditional games as well as metres and 40 metres, enhanc- pony and camel rides for children, ing smooth traffic, Ashghal said construction of signal control- commercial and residential are also expected to draw crowds. yesterday. led junctions, service roads access. THE PENINSULA It will also include the and parking bays to improve THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME QRC opens nutrition centre in Somalia QR500,000 facility to help 7,500 kids at refugee camp

DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent in the capital, accommodating lacks health services. (QRC) has opened a thera- more than 4,000 families dis- “I urge Islamic and interna- peutic nutrition centre at the placed from the southern parts tional organisations to follow suit Badbaado refugee camp in of the country due to the drought and help the displaced people by Dharkenley District, south- and clashes. launching health and develop- western Mogadishu, Somalia. Adam Mohamed Omar, ment projects for them,” said Costing about QR500,000, the Mayor, Dharkenley District, Omar. project will provide medical and opened the centre in the pres- QRC’s health activities in therapeutic nutrition services ence of Ali Sheikh, representa- Somalia include Afgooye Public for malnourished patients, par- tive, Somali Red Crescent Society, Hospital, the specialist centre ticularly children, and treat dif- Elias Mohamed Al Sheikh for tropical diseases, Mareerey ferent types of malnutrition in from Organisation of Islamic and Awdheegle health centres in accordance with international Cooperation Office in Somalia, Lower Shabelle and Balad Health standards and the World Health Mohamed Shafie Al Badawi, Centre in Central Shabelle. Organisation (WHO) guidelines. Director, Physicians Across The QRC Office in Somalia is It comprises a clinic and a Continents Office in Somalia, preparing to open another ther- kitchen to serve nutritious meals representatives of the Ministry apeutic nutrition centre in the to malnourished children and of Health and community leaders Banaadir region in the southeast their mothers. and members. to control the increasing inci- It is expected to help around “The project will benefit dis- dence of malnutrition at refugee 7,500 children at the refugee placed people at Badbaado camp camps. Adam Mohamed Omar, Mayor, Dharkenley District, inaugurates the therapeutic nutrition centre. camp, which is one of the largest which suffers bad conditions and THE PENINSULA

Al Asmakh International Symposium of Art begins

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA beauty the country has to offer. “After the success of Al Asmakh DOHA: Fifty artists from 26 International Symposium of Arts countries are participating in 2013 and 2014 we have found that the third annual Al Asmakh the event has raised interest in International Symposium of arts in Qatari society. We are Art, the biggest edition organ- proud of holding it as art char- ised by Regency Art, which acterises a great fragment in our began yesterday. group strategy,” Hassan Ibrahim “The artists will spend six Al Asmakh, Vice-President, days in Sealine to create 120 to Regency Group Holding, said in 150 paintings which will be dis- a statement. He thanked spon- played at the end of the event,” sors, including Qatar Islamic Mohammed Atiq, General Mohammed Atiq (right), General Manager, Regency Art, and General Bank, Sano, Hyundai Elevators, Manager, Regency Art, told a Coordinator of the symposium, and Ayman Lotfy, Cluster General Manager, Qatar Airways, Regency Group, The training session in progress. press conference at Wyndham Wyndham Grand Regency Doha & Ramada Encore Doha, at the press Wyndham Grand Regency Doha Grand Regency Doha Hotel. conference yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Hotel, Al Asmakh Facilities The paintings, he said, will be Management, Regency Halls, part of Regency Art’s permanent each other and sharing experi- German artist and curator Eventos, Regency Fleets, ROTA completes Training collection to be displayed at the ences, culture and art. They are Dorothea Fleiss said, “I hope the Regency Holidays 101 Qatar and museum which will be built as here, joining in the journey which symposium will not just be a plat- The Luxury Network Qatar for part of Regency Art’s plan. is a reward in itself,” he said. form for creativity but also for support. of Trainers programme “The paintings are price- All artists were present at intercultural exchange.” The paintings will be unveiled less,” said Ayman Lotfy, Cluster the press conference and wel- Fleiss said she hoped to forge at a reception under the patron- DOHA: Over 120 volunteers campus universities, Ashghal and General Manager, Wyndham come event, including Qataris partnerships with Qatar-based age of Minister of Culture, Arts recently completed Reach Out ROTA helped low-income work- Grand Regency Doha & Ramada Ali Al Kuwari, Masoud Rashid and foreign artists and invite and Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin To Asia’s (Rota) second Training ers improve their English lan- Encore Doha, adding the artworks M Al Bulushi and Muna Khalid them to her country. Abdulaziz AI Kuwari on March of Trainers programme (ToT) guage skills. are set to contribute to enhancing Bujassoum. The symposium will also see 3 at 7pm at Wyndham Grand responsible for providing train- Rota Executive Director, Essa Qatar’s art landscape as some of “I would like to welcome you all the artists engage in lectures and Regency Doha’s Al Qasr ballroom. ing for 250 low-income workers Al Mannai, said: “The RAEL pro- them may be used in major events. to Qatar. I’m happy you are here visits around Qatar, including The exhibition will be open to as part of ROTA’s Adult English gramme has proved to be a very “The artists will benefit from so we can share this wonderful Museum of Islamic Art, to under- the public on March 4 from 10am Literacy Programme (RAEL). effective way of supporting low- this beautiful journey of meeting journey together,” said Al Kuwari. stand the history, culture and to 8pm. THE PENINSULA Sponsored by Qatar Petroleum income workers and empowering (QP), RAEL programme provides them to achieve their aspira- an educational opportunity for tions and goals. We are pleased workers who may have had lim- to resume the initiative and build ited schooling in their countries, capacities of such a big number and a learning opportunity for of volunteers who dedicated their UN delegation visits dispute resolution centre students and volunteers who gain time and effort to the initiative. new teaching skills, along with an It makes us proud to know we understanding of communities have so many people dedicated to DOHA: Qatar International and their needs. improving and empowering oth- Court and Dispute Resolution The course delivered to volun- ers’ well-being. Centre hosted a United Nations teers covered topics to support “We are thankful to our spon- Office of Drugs and Crime student volunteers in becoming sor Qatar Petroleum which shares (UNODC) delegation that vis- full-fledged literacy trainers. our belief of supporting workers ited Qatar to learn about the Topics included teaching and through RAEL.” country’s experience in com- learning, communication and RAEL was launched in col- bating corruption and economic understanding the overall context laboration with Georgetown crimes. of global migration. University in Qatar, Weill The team listened to a RAEL started last year over 16 Cornell Medical College in Qatar, detailed explanation about weeks, split into two terms — the Northwestern University in Qatar, QFC Regulatory Tribunal and first in September and the second Carnegie Mellon University in QFC Civil and Commercial this month. Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth Court, which are part of Qatar In the first term, 120 volunteers University in Qatar and Ashghal. International Court, as well as from Qatar Foundation’s branch THE PENINSULA procedures followed in the areas Officials at the centre.

of corruption and economic electronic services the centre and courtroom proceedings. crime. provides to guarantee quick and The delegation was accom- The delegation toured the cen- effective decisions on conflicts panied by representatives from tre’s courtroom facilities where and issues it hears, followed by a Public Prosecutor’s Office. they were briefed on advanced discussion on registration of cases THE PENINSULA

Zooming out for landmarks

An expatriate taking snapshots of a friend near wall photos depicting Doha’s landmarks in the underground tunnel linking Souq Waqif to the Corniche. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 500 attend QU forum on English language DOHA: Over 500 delegates from Qatar, GCC, Indonesia, the UK, the US and Canada attended the Qatar TESOL 2015 Conference hosted by Qatar University’s College of Education and Foundation Program and organised by Qatar Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The two-day forum ‘Excellence in English language teaching for the workplace: bridging the gap between the academia and the job market’ also featured guest speakers. It was funded by a grant from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) to promote profession- Participants look at books at one of the stands and attend a session. alism among English language practitioners in Qatar, the GCC Qatar, Virginia Commonwealth increased importance of English Plato’s Academy to Jobs’ Empire: pleased to partner in this forum secondary levels, the products and beyond. University in Qatar, and Higher language as a tool for commerce Connecting the Academy to the with TESOL and Foundation of tertiary institutions would It was also an opportunity Colleges of Technology and pri- and social advancement. World of Work’, Prof Emeritus at Programme to advance the be more than ready for the job for current and prospective mary and KG English teachers The opening ceremony was University of Southampton, Ros dialogue on new trends and market and to compete globally.” English language teachers at from Independent and private attended by QU Vice-President Mitchell, on ‘Language Teacher practices. The conference included a Department of Educational schools in Qatar. and Chief Academic Officer, Professionalism: Developing “The conference will benefit job fair, a pre-conference insti- Sciences at the college to be Participants shared research Dr Mazen Hasna, Associate Students’ Employability in a current and prospective teach- tute on ‘Personality Dimensions oriented on recent trends and findings and teaching tips and Dean, Academic Affairs at the Mobile Age’ and educational ers and will be an opportunity Basic Training’, a Community issues in TESOL and English as attended workshops on topics college, Prof Yahya Al Nakeeb, consultant Prof Donna Brinton for them to share experiences of Practice initiative, and a a second language. such as technology and language and QU Core Curriculum and on ‘Professionalising the in topics of mutual interest and roundtable ‘Preparing English The forum saw 80 presenters learning, motivation, task-based Foundation Program Director, profession’. network and develop collabora- language learners for the GCC of from institutions in Qatar and teaching, preparing language Dr Maha Al Hendawi, and QU Dr Ali Al Rabai, Director, tive activities with colleagues in the future’ conducted by Dr Kate the GCC, including QU, Carnegie learners for the workplace, and and TESOL officials. Department of Educational Qatar and beyond”. Reynolds, Dr Dudley Reynolds, Mellon University in Qatar, writing and reading strategies. Keynote speakers, president- Sciences at the college said: “As Okon Effiong, President, Dr Christine Coombe, Dr Lydia Community College Qatar, Students from the college also elect, TESOL International the sole entity that develops TESOL, said: “By providing a Kuniholm, Sheikha Al Remaihi Supreme Education Council, took part in activities and were Association, Prof Andy Curtis and prepares teachers for class- solid English language foun- and Dr Mohamed Mahgoub. QNRF, College of North Atlantic engaged in the subject on the discussed ‘Transition from rooms in Qatar, the college is dation at the primary and THE PENINSULA ALF, INJAZ sign deal to run Destination Imagination DOHA: AlFaisal Without outside Qatar. It guarantees that foster creativity, innovation, self- Borders Foundation (ALF) and the DI programme is rolled out confidence and teamwork based Jordan’s non-profit educational in Jordan while protecting ALF’s on specific standards. organisation, INJAZ, have intellectual property rights as Challenges are addressed by signed a memorandum of under- DI’s exclusive representative in teams and groups which can be standing to run the interna- the Middle East. built for each challenge, helping tional educational programme, Offering financial support, develop innovation and commu- Officials sign the memorandum of understanding. Destination Imagination (DI) in guidance and advanced training nication skills and consolidate Jordan. to volunteers and programme collaboration and bonding among Signed by ALF Executive workers, ALF will oversee and students. Director, Ali Talal Mar’e, and support implementation of DI in DI aims to help participants INJAZ CEO, Deema Bibi, in the line with standards and regula- develop life skills needed in school presence of Abdullatif Ali Al tions agreed with the DI organi- and professional lives. The global Yafei, ALF General Manager, sation in the US. DI finals are held annually in and Dr Amjad Al Aryan, INJAZ The programme targets stu- the US with over 30 countries Chairman, the deal reflects what dents from kindergarten to uni- participating. ALF seeks to accomplish in and versity through challenges that THE PENINSULA ROTA volunteers train school students in Cambodia

Students take training in a classroom.

DOHA: Reach Out To Asia Such trips aim to expose volun- the importance of education in (ROTA) has completed a trip to teers to realities faced by ROTA creating dynamic and advanced Cambodia where 26 volunteers, beneficiaries in countries to raise societies. We extend our gratitude students and teachers from awareness about education as a to Vodafone Qatar for continu- Independent schools for girls tool for change. ous support to ROTA efforts to conducted training for schools. These trips further develop ensure equal educational oppor- Volunteers visited capital city volunteers’ psychosocial skills, tunities for all.” Phnom Penh and held workshops showcase international volunteer- The trip was part of ROTA for teachers and staff of Hun Sen ing experience and inspire more International Outreach Rota School and other schools. youth to take part in Qatar-based Programme, funded by Vodafone Amna Bint Wahab Secondary volunteering activities. Qatar. School for Girls, Al Bayan School Essa Al Manaai, ROTA Dana Haidan, Head, Corporate for Girls, Al Sailiyah Secondary Executive Director, said: “We Social Responsibility, Vodafone School for Girls and Qatar give attention to volunteers Qatar, said: “We have a fantastic Independent Secondary School and training trips to the most partnership with ROTA as part for Girls participated in the trip. affected areas. The Independent of ‘Vodafone Better World’ CSR A total of 400 people attended girls’ schools activity cements programme. We aim to support workshops on skills development the importance of collaboration ROTA in its mission to promote and cultural exchange, sports, between all members of the local community service and interna- hygiene, environment and teach- community to work as volun- tional volunteering among Qatari ing techniques. teers to raise awareness about students.” THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Al Kuwari: Online classified ads becoming popular School students attend WCMQ Continued from page 1 It also offers free advertise- ments for furniture, decoration Medical Explorer Programme and interior design services, among others. DOHA: High school stu- “Online classified advertise- dents spent two weeks at Weil ments are becoming popular Cornell Medical College-Qatar because they are accessible any (WCMQ) discovering what time from any location. They are life as a medical student is like competing with used car agencies in the annual Winter Qatar and newspaper advertisements,” Medical Explorer Programme. said Al Kuwari (pictured). Twenty-five students from nine He said he wanted to meet the schools were invited to hear lec- needs of people on one platform tures from senior faculty mem- through the website. “I will make bers, take part in workshops, all services in the website avail- newspaper though he has no quiz medical students about their able in English and Arabic soon. experience in the field. “I am look- experiences and conduct experi- A large section of our population ing for an opportunity to get some ments in laboratories. uses languages other than Arabic training in journalism,” he said. The programme targeted high but these two languages are the He said his website is in early school students in grades 10, 11 most common in use,” said Al stage and to compete with com- and 12 to introduce them to col- Kuwari. mercial portals he needed support lege life and the study of medi- He believes that disability does from big companies in the local cine and provide an idea of career not necessarily hinder someone market. “Without support from paths a medical degree can offer. from doing things. “The impor- some shareholding companies it Following an introduc- tant thing is that the person will not be easy to continue and tory session with Noha Saleh, should have the determination compete with other established Director, Student Recruitment to do something and depend advertising websites.” and Outreach, and Syed Ahmed on his creativity and abilities. He said he was happy and proud Hasnain, Programmes Manager, People should try and nothing is to become a model for people with students explored almost every impossible.” disabilities. “But to achieve this, area of the college and its Buoyed by the success of his I need to prove my capability to curriculum. experiment, Al Kuwari is think- compete and succeed.” They were given introductions ing about launching an online THE PENINSULA to biology, chemistry and physics, Some of the students attend a session. in lectures and in labs, and vis- ited Clinical Skills Center to learn Professor of English, gave ses- Students received guidance the college, our curriculum and how to work with standardised sions on understanding poetry on how to write effective per- exciting possibilities presented by patients and discover more about and narratives. sonal statements and techniques a career in medicine. Qatar to attend Global Law Summit the heart with Harvey, the cen- Students were also introduced to succeed in college admission “They go to classes, interact DOHA: Qatar will attend the three-day Global Law Summit in tre’s lifelike mechanical dummy. to the college’s eLibrary. interviews. with faculty and current stu- London from today. A delegation will be led by Minister of Justice Dr Rachid Bendriss, Assistant The programme also included Saleh explained the program dents and are expected to con- H E Dr Hassan bin Lahdan Al Mohannadi. Dean, Student Recruitment, sessions on careers in medicine, presents opportunity for students duct themselves in a professional The conference will discuss issues, including the supremacy of law, Outreach and Foundation adolescent health, pharmacology, considering a career in medicine. manner by practising good time- maintaining and protecting its principles, money laundering and ter- Programmes, spoke about read- medical ethics and a visit to Qatar “The programme, part of our keeping and meeting deadlines for ror financing, legal measures to combat the phenomenon and the role ing strategies for college, while Robotic Surgery Centre at Qatar Cornell Enrichment series, gives assignments, just as our students of the law in attaining justice and sustainable development. Dr Rodney Sharkey, Associate Science & Technology Park. students the chance to explore are.” THE PENINSULA It will also discuss commercial and social issues and the role of law in solving challenges facing global economic development. QNA

Speciality Indian Night at Mövenpick Aspetar reference centre for ‘Exercise is Medicine’ DOHA: Aspetar, Orthopaedic launched by American College of improve their exercise regimens. to allow physicians to motivate and Sports Medicine Hospital, Sports Medicine and American As the first sports medicine patients to do physical activity through its Healthy Lifestyle Medical Association, calls for hospital in the region to be and refer them to community- Programme has become a physical activity and exercise to adopted as a reference centre by based resources which can help regional reference centre for be standard parts of disease pre- the initiative, Aspetar is expected them continue that motivation ‘Exercise is Medicine’ initiative. vention and medical treatment, to introduce lifestyle medicine and provide them with opportu- The recognition was announced urging healthcare providers to and specific physical activity nity to do that because physicians during the signing of a memoran- assess patients’ physical activity into the general medical practice are a such a trusted source for dum of understanding between programmes at every visit, with to help people in the GCC have patients.” Aspetar and the initiative, in office visits that conclude exercise healthier lifestyle and prevent Dr Hutber added: “Aspetar is the presence of Chief Operating clearance and a prescription or chronic diseases. one of the leading healthcare sys- Officer, Ibrahim Aldarwish, rep- referral to a qualified health/fit- Dr Mohamed Ghaith Al tems in the region and a leader resenting the Director-General of ness professional. Kuwari, Director, Healthy and role model and is the perfect Aspetar, and Dr Adrian Hutber, Patients are encouraged to Lifestyle Programme, Aspetar, partner for us to be able to benefit Vice-President, ‘Exercise is begin conversation with their said, “Aspetar is positioned to from its expertise and influence in Medicine’. doctor about physical activity link the world of healthcare with the region. The non-profit initiative, and learn how to best continue or the world of physical activity THE PENINSULA Ooredoo official sponsor of 2015 Qatar Total Open Mövenpick Tower & Suites Doha in West Bay is organising Speciality DOHA: Continuing its tradition of Qatar Total Open, launched in 2001, title and $731,000 prize. Mustafa Al Qatami, Indian Night every Thursday evening at ForKnife restaurant. Chefs have supporting all sports in Qatar, Ooredoo is an annual women’s tennis tourna- Last year, the tournament Director, Branding prepared a special menu, topped with live music and entertainment. was yesterday named the official spon- ment that attracts top players from saw a record number of and Corporate sor of 2015 Qatar Total Open. around the world to compete for the fans visit the tournament, Communications, Ooredoo, with superstars, includ- said: “Supporting sports ing Venus Williams and and especially sports for Agnieszka Radwanska, women is a major initiative taking to centre court. of Ooredoo. We believe in This year, the tourna- championing women and ment will host 32 players are pleased to be able to in singles and 16 doubles give the young women of teams over six days. It will Qatar the opportunity to feature five players ranked watch and be inspired by in the top 10 and 14 in the some of the most talented top 20, and four current players in the world.” or former Grand Slam Ooredoo will provide winners. telecom infrastructure Defending champion and at Khalifa International world No. 3 Simona Halep Tennis and Squash of Romania heads the field Complex to ensure media with current Wimbledon companies from around champion Petra Kvitova the world can seamlessly set to be the second seed at report on the event, and No. 4 in the world. Former visitors can access 3G and No. 1 Venus will return to 4G services on Ooredoo’s Qatar after reaching a dis- bigger and faster network. appointing second round in The tournament will be last year’s tournament. held from February 23 to Saad Al Mohannadi, 28. Tournament Director, Tickets are available at said: “QTF is pleased with City Center, Landmark, the players entered for the Lagoona, Villaggio, Khalifa tournament. It is a quality International Tennis & field and we are happy to Squash Complex and on have our defending cham- www.qatartennis.org pion Halep returning.” THE PENINSULA Man arrested over Internet advertisement for narcotics DOHA: The Drugs Enforcement Administration of the Ministry of Interior arrested a man after he placed an advertisement on the Internet to promote narcotic substances. The man said he had posted some photos for adver- tising, that he got through search engines and provided contact details along with the advertisement. The ministry said yesterday that legal actions had been taken against him. It urged people not to get involved in such dealings even by carelessness or lack of understand- ing, which could invite legal action. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 IS militants bomb Iran envoy’s home in Tripoli Militants claim rocket attack on Labraq airport

TRIPOLI: Militants claim- The group has stepped up second device exploding some 30 ing loyalty to Islamic State (IS) attacks since Egypt launched minutes after the first. Minor said they were behind yesterday’s air strikes on suspected militant damage could be seen at the gate. twin bomb attacks on the resi- targets in the eastern Libyan city “Soldiers of the IS caliphate dence of the Iranian ambassador of Derna on Monday, a day after targeted the Iranian embassy in in the Libyan capital and a rocket IS released a video showing the Tripoli,” the group said in a state- strike on the eastern Labraq air- execution of a group of Egyptian ment posted with pictures of a port, a group statement. Coptic Christians. flame on Twitter. The attack on the ambassador’s Yesterday, two bombs exploded The militants also claimed residence came two days after the at the gate of the Iranian ambas- responsibility for a Grad rocket group claimed responsibility for a sador’s residence in central attack on Labraq airport, double suicide bombing that killed Tripoli. Iran’s official Irna news announced by officials on Saturday. more than 40 people in the eastern agency confirmed the blasts and No one was hurt. The airport is the town of Qubbah, one of the worst said there had been no casual- main gateway into eastern Libya attacks on civilians since a 2011 ties, adding Iran had already sus- and Bayda, seat of the internation- uprising toppled Muammar Gaddafi. pended operations there. ally recognised prime minister, Western powers are concerned “Two devices were laid, one Abdullah Al Thinni. that Libya is emerging as a thriv- exploded first and then the His government and the House ing battleground for militants other. The point of the second of Representatives, elected in A view of the damage caused by a bomb blast at the Iranian ambassador’s residence in Tripoli yesterday. loyal to IS, which controls large bomb was to create confusion,” June, have been working out of areas of Iraq and Syria. Islamist Colonel Jumaa Al Mashri from the east since a faction called rival administration. killing five foreigners and at least in Sirte, a central city and birth- fighters have exploited instability the National Security Agency told Libya Dawn seized Tripoli in Last month, militants claim- four Libyans. Supporters of the place of Gaddafi, according to as two rival governments fight for Tripoli-based Al Nabaa television. August, reinstating the previ- ing affiliation with IS stormed the group have also taken over gov- residents. control of territory. A reporter at the scene saw the ous assembly and setting up a Corinthia luxury hotel in Tripoli, ernment and university buildings REUTERS Embattled Libyan govt loses grip as general expands power

BAYDA, LIBYA: In a hotel lit by a The internationally recognised prime around Thinni, the parliament, and a fed- Gaddafi to power in 1969 but fell out with of a decree signed by the parliamentary generator in the eastern Libyan town minister, Abdullah Al Thinni, and his eralist movement demanding autonomy him after a disastrous defeat suffered by speaker recalling Haftar to official duty. of Bayda, Economy Minister Munir Ali government sit in Bayda, while a rival for the east. Critics say Haftar, who did troops he was commanding during Libya’s But there is no doubt that he is domi- Asr outlines optimistic plans to attract faction, Libya Dawn, has set up its own not respond to a request for an inter- war with Chad in the 1980s. He was res- nating politics in the east. Haftar’s top air investment to a country ravaged by government in Tripoli, 1,200km away, view, sees himself as Libya’s version of cued with the help of the United States force officer, Saqer Al Joroushi, has been war and political chaos. after taking over the capital last summer. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and lived there until he joined the uprising put in command of the regular air force Outside, Bayda lies in darkness after “I am tired of politicians just talking a former military man. against Gaddafi in 2011. with the support of his son, a member another power cut. Hundreds of residents and talking,” said Raed, an oil service Certainly, Haftar misses no opportu- In 2013, the grey-haired army veteran of the eastern parliament. The regular wait outside petrol stations that have manager who has been demonstrating nity to praise Sisi. His war planes joined ordered parliament dismissed although army is now calling itself the “Libyan closed as a result of a debilitating power in front of Thinni’s office. “Thinni is too Egyptian jets bombing suspected Islamic nothing happened. He has since given a National Army”, a name already in use struggle between two rival governments weak to end this mess. We need a mili- State targets in Libya this week after series of televised speeches announcing by Haftar’s troops. Military sources say that has wrecked basic services. tary council headed by Haftar.” the group released a video showing the such things as the establishment of a mil- regular army commanders in Benghazi Growing frustration over the reality Haftar, who has merged his own troops beheading of Egyptian Coptic Christians. itary council, the imminent “liberation” feel sidelined as Haftar’s officers say they of life in eastern Libya, which contrasts with regular army forces to fight Islamist “Haftar wants to dominate. But if you of Benghazi, and his retirement plans. speak for the government. In an apparent with the promises of politicians, is feed- militants, is styling himself as a would- want to build a state nobody should be Officials in Bayda struggle to explain power play, Haftar’s forces tried to stop ing support for a former army general, be strongman in the east. But while his above accountability,” said a minister in their relationship with Haftar. They need Thinni from visiting Benghazi. Thinni Khalifa Haftar, who has set himself up fighters have won back some territory Thinni’s cabinet, asking not to be named. his forces but prefer not to talk about it. is in a weak position, even in his seat at as a warrior against militancy and who from Islamists in Benghazi, Haftar is Haftar tends to pop up whenever there Lawmakers have several times con- Bayda, a town in the Green Mountains some also see as their saviour. proving a divisive figure among those is upheaval in Libya. He helped Muammar firmed and then denied the existence of eastern Libya. REUTERS

US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter (left) with Kuwait’s Defence Minister Sheikh Khalid Al Jarrah Al Sabah at the airport in Kuwait City yesterday. US defence chief convenes anti-IS war council in Kuwait

KUWAIT CITY: New campaign on both the military Allen, President Barack Obama’s Pentagon chief Ashton Carter and diplomatic front, including envoy to the anti-IS coalition as will hold talks today in Kuwait the Iraqi government’s efforts well as the US special envoy to with top US commanders and to recruit Sunnis into the fight Syria, Daniel Rubinstein, he said. diplomats to discuss the war against the IS extremists, the Washington’s ambassadors to effort against the Islamic State official said. Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi jihadist group, officials said. The talks also will examine how Arabia and the United Arab Carter flew to Kuwait City to counter the IS group across the Emirates will also attend the from Afghanistan on Sunday to region. meeting. chair the extraordinary meet- Carter likely will raise ques- Senior intelligence officials also ing that will see more than two tions about “what it means will be on hand for talks that are dozen senior military officers when we have groups swearing meant to transcend bureaucratic and ambassadors gather at the allegiance to ISIL in Libya, in divisions and information “stove- sprawling US Army base of Camp Egypt, in Afghanistan,” said the pipes,” officials said. Arifjan, officials said. official using another acronym Carter told reporters before Carter, an experienced for IS and “how are we think- arriving in Kuwait City that he Pentagon technocrat who took ing about the next few years of had called the meeting because office last week, “wants it to be the counter-terrorism fight,” the he was “trying to assess the situa- an open conversation regardless official said. tion in Iraq, Syria, and the region of rank,” a senior US defence offi- The meeting will include the more generally”. The IS threat cial told reporters. commander running the anti-IS was “a regional issue”, Carter The meeting was not intended campaign, Lieutenant General said, “and I wanted to have all of to produce a new strategy but James Terry, as well as the heads that expertise represented”. to allow Carter to better under- of US Central Command, Africa On his first trip abroad as stand the challenge posed by the Command, European command, defence secretary after being jihadists and the range of efforts Special Operations Command sworn in last Tuesday, Carter aimed at defeating them, said the and Joint Special Operations came to Kuwait after a two-day official, who spoke on condition of Command, said Pentagon spokes- visit to Afghanistan, consulting anonymity. man Rear Admiral John Kirby. commanders about the pace of a Carter will be looking for Diplomats and civilian officials US troop withdrawal. an update on all facets of the due to take part include John AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Scholar urges education Iran parliament Pro-Hadi demonstration agrees bill to tax reform to curb extremism religious groups MAKKAH: The head of Al Azhar, Kassasbeh dying in a cage engulfed TEHRAN: Iran’s parliament has Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat in flames, Tayib said the jihadists approved an article in the 2015- of learning, called yesterday for edu- deserved to be killed or crucified. He 2016 draft budget to tax religious cation reform in Muslim countries made no mention of IS but denounced foundations and army-linked firms in an effort to contain the spread of “terrorist groups... who have opted for that could generate trillions of dol- extremism. savage and barbaric practices”. lars. The vote, reported by the state Speaking at counter-terrorism He blamed unrest in the region on news agency Irna, could help boost forum in the Saudi holy city of a conspiracy by what he called “new state coffers in the Islamic republic Makkah, Al Azhar grand imam Ahmed global colonialism allied to world which has long depended on rev- Al Tayib linked extremism to “bad Zionism”. enues from oil. interpretations of the Quran and the Tayib said that this plot has exploited But since the plunge in interna- Sunnah”, the teachings of the Prophet “confessional tension” in conflict-hit tional oil prices, the government has Mohammed (peace be upon him). Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya. The sought to tighten spending and raise “There has been a historical accu- opening day of the conference also taxes to offset the negative hit on state mulation of excessive trends” that heard a speech from Custodian of the finances. Revenues raised by taxing have led some people to embrace a Two Holy Mosques King Salman who religious foundations and army-linked misguided form of Islam, he told the called for “an efficient strategy to com- firms that control large parts of the gathering. bat terrorism”. economy could amount to 10 trillion “The only hope for the Muslim “Terrorism is a scourge which is rials (more than $350m), budget com- nation to recover unity is to tackle the product of extremist ideology,” the mittee member Mousalreza Servati in our schools and universities this monarch’s speech, read by the governor had said in December. tendency to accuse Muslims of being of Makkah, said. The taxes would be raised from unbelievers,” he said. “It is a threat to our Muslim nation religious foundations and army- Tayib’s comments come days after and to the entire world.” linked firms that control large parts he expressed outrage at the Islamic The three-day conference, organised of the economy and would be made State group for burning to death a by the Muslim World League group of to pay from the start of the fiscal captured Jordanian pilot who took non-government organisations, is being year in March. The article approved part in US-led air strikes against the attended by senior clerics from across by parliament still has to be rati- jihadists in Syria. On February 4, after the Muslim world to discuss how Islam fied by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali IS released a video showing Maaz Al can combat extremism. AFP Khamenei. AFP A protester shouts slogans during a demonstration to show support to Yemen’s ousted president Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi in the southwestern city of Taiz yesterday. Al Sisi vows to free wrongly jailed youths President tries to reassure Egyptians despite challenges

CAIRO: President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi promised yesterday to 215 Brotherhood members referred release young people who may have been wrongly jailed dur- to court for forming ‘militant group’ ing Egypt’s crackdown on the opposition since he overthrew CAIRO: Egypt’s public prosecutor said yesterday he had referred his Islamist predecessor in 2013. 215 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to trial on In an almost 40-minute tel- charges of forming a militant group, the latest move in a sus- evised address, Sisi also said the tained crackdown by authorities on Islamists. militant targets that his country’s Egypt has mounted one of the biggest crackdowns in its mod- air force struck in neighbouring ern history on the Brotherhood following the army’s overthrow of Libya last week had been carefully Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, the country’s first freely-elected chosen to avoid civilian casualties. president, in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. Sisi has come under increas- The 215 defendants were charged with forming a militant group ing criticism for a deadly crack- called “Helwan Brigades”, Hesham Barakat, the public prosecutor, down on Islamists that has also said in a statement. Helwan is a district in southern Cairo. ensnared secular dissidents. The prosecution’s investigation said that the group was responsi- US Secretary of State John Kerry goes for a stroll with his assistant and security along the promenade of Lake He said journalists had com- ble for killing at least six policemen and wounding several civilians Geneva upon his arrival yesterday. plained that there were innocent and policemen in separate attacks in Cairo. The group also had people in jail, so he told them to possessed weapons and ammunition. Of the group, 125 members draw up a list. “I told them I don’t are in detention, and Barakat ordered the arrest of those at large. deny there might be innocent Thousands of Brotherhood supporters have been arrested and put Kerry, Zarif meet for nuclear youths” in prison, Sisi said. on mass trials in a campaign which human rights groups say shows “Over the next few days the the government is systematically repressing opponents. first group of our youths in deten- President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, who as army chief toppled Mursi, tion will be released,” he added. describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat. But the move- talks as deadline looms Rights groups say that more ment says it is committed to peaceful activism. than 20,000 people, mostly REUTERS GENEVA: US Secretary of Javad Zarif, but was delayed in urgency as the clock ticks down Islamists, have been jailed in the State John Kerry arrived in London. towards a March 31 deadline to crackdown since the then army Geneva yesterday for fresh talks He finally arrived around 4:00 agree on a political framework for chief toppled Islamist president in neighbouring Libya—blood- financial patrons United Arab with his Iranian counterpart on pm (1500 GMT), and took a quick the deal. Kerry warned in London Mohamed Mursi in July 2013. shed that provoked Egyptian Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Tehran’s nuclear programme, stroll in the blistering cold along on Saturday that “there are still Al Sisi sought to reassure airstrikes—and one of the worst Kuwait, who backed his toppling after warning “significant gaps” the shores of Lake Geneva before significant gaps, there is still a Egyptians that he is in control attacks on security forces in the of Islamist president Mohamed remain ahead of a key deadline. sitting down for a briefing with distance to travel.” But, he added: and steering the country on the Sinai in months. “The strike hit 13 Mursi in 2013 after mass protests World powers are trying to the US negotiating team. “President (Barack) Obama has right path in the face of Islamist targets that had been studied accu- against him. Sisi said ties with strike a deal with Iran that would He was scheduled to meet Zarif no inclination whatsoever to militancy in neighbouring Libya rately,” said Sisi, adding that the those countries were still strong prevent Tehran from developing in the evening. US and Iranian extend these talks beyond the and the Sinai and economic chal- Egyptian army was not an aggres- despite attempts by unnamed a nuclear bomb in return for an diplomats have been meeting in period that has been set out.” lenges. Sisi’s speech was broadcast sor and the attack was necessary. parties to divide the allies, a ref- easing of punishing international Geneva since Friday, and senior Akbar Velayati, the diplomatic on prime time television and was Sisi said Jordan and the United erence to a leaked audio recording economic sanctions. negotiators from the so-called adviser to Iran’s supreme leader interspersed with clips of him Arab Emirates, part of the US-led that purported to show him and Iran denies its nuclear pro- P5+1 group of Britain, China, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, shot greeting leaders of wealthy Gulf coalition fighting IS in Iraq and senior aides being derisive of rich gramme has military objectives. France, Russia, the United States back yesterday that “if American Arab states, Western powers and Syria, had offered military sup- Gulf donors. “This support was Kerry had been set to arrive in and Germany were also expected leaders don’t want to negotiate, Egyptian army officers. port to Cairo following the kill- the main reason why Egypt was the Swiss city Sunday morning to meet on Sunday to help drive it’s up to them, but they were the His comments came after ing of Egyptians in Libya. The able to persevere against all of the for two days of talks with Iranian the talks forward. ones who were after negotiations.” Islamic State militants beheaded former army chief dedicated a challenges and difficulties,” said Foreign Minister Mohammad There is a heightened sense of AFP up to 21 Egyptian Christians major portion of his speech to Sisi. REUTERS Kuwait jails opposition Israel to buy 14 F-35 stealth fighters from US leader for insulting ruler JERUSALEM: Israel is to millions of shekels into the local guidance of Hezbollah’s actions Israel neither confirmed nor purchase 14 F-35 stealth fight- economy, the ministry said. The in the north and Hamas’s in the denied responsibility, but it has KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s appeals court sentenced prominent ers from US aerospace giant first batch of aircraft are expected south, Iran is trying also to develop carried out several such strikes opposition leader Mussallam Al Barrak to two years in jail yester- Lockheed Martin at a cost of to arrive in Israel by the end of a third front on the Golan Heights over the past two years, stress- day on charges of insulting the Gulf state’s ruler, his group said. around $110m each, the defence 2016. via the thousands of Hezbollah ing its policy of preventing arms The charges relate to a speech he gave to tens of thousands of dem- ministry said yesterday. When the initial agreement fighters who are in southern Syria transfers to militant groups and onstrators in October 2012 protesting changes to the electoral law “The defence ministry will pur- was announced in 2010, the and over which Iran holds direct potential attacks. which he said would allow the ruling Al Sabah family to manipulate the chase an additional 14 F-35s for defence ministry said a key part command,” he said. Netanyahu said that Tehran’s outcome of elections. Barrak was a member of parliament at the time around $3bn, each plane costing of the deal was an agreement to Speaking at the start of ongoing “murderous terrorism” but his nationalist Popular Action Movement boycotted December 2012 an average of $110m,” a ministry allow Israeli industries to get the weekly cabinet meeting, has “not prevented the inter- and July 2013 polls held under the new electoral law. “The appeals court statement said. The $2.82bn deal, involved in the assembly of the Netanyahu said his ministers national community from con- passed a two-year sentence on Barrak,” PAM said on its Twitter account. which includes other technologi- plane and the manufacture of were to be briefed on “the security tinuing to talk with Iran about a It quoted its leader as vowing that the campaign for reform in the cal and training elements, was spare parts. challenges developing around us, nuclear agreement that will allow oil-rich emirate would go on. “You can jail my body but not my ideas signed at the weekend after being Meanwhile, Prime Minister first and foremost Iran’s attempt it to build the industrial capacity and will,” he said. The appeals court tried Barrak after quashing a approved by a ministerial com- Benjamin Netanyahu said yes- to increase its foothold on Israel’s to develop nuclear weapons.” five-year jail term handed down by a lower court in April 2013 on the mittee in November. terday that Iran was seeking to borders even as it works to arm World powers are trying to same charges of insulting Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. It includes the purchase of 14 open a “third front” against Israel itself with nuclear weapons.” strike a deal with Iran that would That judgement sparked angry protests by opposition activists, sev- stealth fighters as well as the using Hezbollah fighters on the An Israeli air strike inside the prevent Tehran from developing eral of whom were wounded when police responded with tear gas and option to buy another 17. It is Syrian Golan Heights, Syrian-controlled sector of the a nuclear bomb in return for an stun grenades. In July last year, there were further demonstrations the continuation of an agree- Netanyahu said Tehran’s Golan Heights on January 18 easing of punishing international when Barrak was detained for five days on separate charges of insult- ment signed in 2010 to purchase attempts to entrench itself along killed six members of Hezbollah, economic sanctions. Israel has ing the judiciary. Since the mass protests of 2012, Kuwaiti authorities 19 F-35 planes. The deal will see Israel’s borders was one of the which is backed by Iran and allied repeatedly warned that Iran’s have cracked down on the opposition, handing down heavy jail terms Israeli weapons and aviation sys- biggest emerging security threats with Syrian President Bashar Al nuclear programme has military and even revoking the citizenship of PAM spokesman Saad Al Ajmi tems integrated into the aircraft facing the Jewish state. Assad, as well as a general from objectives, a claim Tehran denies. last September. AFP in a move which will inject tens of “Alongside Iran’s direct Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards. AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Conservatives Rebels order weapons pull-back overtake Labour Ukraine says armoured columns crossed from Russia ahead of polls LONDON: British Prime NIZHNYAYA KRYNKA: Pro- Minister David Cameron’s Moscow rebels said they would Warring sides swap prisoners Conservative Party has over- start to withdraw heavy weap- taken the opposition Labour ons from the front line in eastern ZHOLOBOK: Ukrainian forces and rebel separatists traded Party in a poll on voters’ inten- Ukraine yesterday but the gov- dozens of prisoners in a frontline eastern town, the first clear tions for an election on May 7. ernment in Kiev said armoured sign of progress for an otherwise shaky truce signed a week ago. The Opinium poll for the columns had crossed the border The rare glint of optimism came on the heels of a pro-Russian Observer newspaper published from Russia to reinforce the rebel offensive in the east, capturing a major town from loyalists yesterday put the Conservatives separatists. and drawing threats of new sanctions against Moscow from US on 35 percent compared to 33 per- The Ukrainian military said Secretary of State John Kerry. According to reprts, 139 Ukrainian cent for Labour — the first time the rebels were pressing on with soldiers traded for 52 separatist fighters late Saturday, in rare Cameron’s party has overtaken attacks on government forces near compliance with the otherwise much-violated agreement which Labour in that polling series since Mariupol, a port in government came into effect on February 15. March 2012. hands that is seen as the rebels’ Some of the released soldiers were wounded. A few had to walk on It follows a Guardian/ICM poll next major target. crutches for many miles through countryside scarred and cratered which put the Conservatives at Spokesman Andriy Lysenko by months of fighting. AFP their highest level in that series said a military train carrying since May 2012. 60 armored vehicles including was thrown from a car into a crowd by the rebel capture on Wednesday Most other opinion polls since tanks had arrived in the town attending a peace rally, a Ukrainian of the town of Debaltseve, forcing the start of the year have had of Amvrosiivka from Russia on regional prosecutor said. The blast, thousands of Ukrainian troops to Labour narrowly ahead or level Saturday. A convoy of military which police called a terrorist act, retreat. with the Conservatives before equipment had later crossed the occurred near a metro station as a But moves towards pulling back what is shaping up to be one of border near Novoazovsk, east of crowd of participants in the rally heavy weapons, together with the the most unpredictable elections Mariupol on the Sea of Azov. passed by. exchange of dozens of prisoners in modern British history. He said fighting was in progress A pro-Russian rebel commander with Ukrainian government forces Yesterday, Labour leader at the village of Shyrokyne, east said the separatists were due to on Saturday, could indicate the Ed Miliband, whose party of Mariupol. “The fight continues. begin pulling back heavy weap- rebels intend to observe the truce faces a threat from a surge in Our soldiers are holding their posi- ons from the frontline in eastern more fully, having achieved a mili- popularity for the Green Party tions,” Lysenko said, adding that Ukraine on Sunday, a sign that tary objective by seizing Debaltseve. as well as strong support from there had been a total of 44 attacks the rebels may be prepared to halt “The plan was signed last night the Scottish National Party, by separatists across the conflict their advance as part of an interna- ... Starting from today there are said he was appointing former zone in the past 24 hours. tionally brokered peace deal. two weeks to withdraw heavy German President Joachim Gauck (centre), European Council President Labour deputy prime minister In the city of Kharkiv, three Fighting has eased in many areas weapons,” Interfax news agency Donald Tusk (right) and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski light candles John Prescott as an adviser on people were killed and 10 wounded since a ceasefire came into effect a quoted rebel commander Eduard as they attend a public prayer during the ‘March of Dignity’ in Kiev yesterday. climate change. yesterday when an explosive device week ago, but the truce was shaken Basurin as saying. REUTERS REUTERS

Inmates to be UK worries how to stop teenage girls travelling to Syria transferred LONDON: Britain debated Yard insists there was “nothing to with the Special Branch of police Some 550 women from across in the coming months includ- yesterday how to stop teenage suggest at the time that the girls that her social media contact is Europe have travelled to Iraq and ing exit checks on passports and girls joining the Islamic State themselves were at risk”. regularly checked and regularly Syria, where they often marry enhanced screening at airports. after unrest at group in Syria after three high- Others question whether warn- monitored,” Aamer Anwar, law- fighters and help to recruit oth- Turkish Airlines, with whom achieving youngsters became ing signs were missed and more yer for the Mahmood family, told ers, according to a study from the the girls flew to Istanbul, said its Texas prison the latest to run away from should have been done to stop the BBC Sunday. “The fact that Institute of Strategic Dialogue responsibility was checking pas- home. them travelling. she is now engaging with other think-tank last month. sengers’ visas and pre-flight secu- TEXAS: Thousands of inmates Close schoolfriends Kadiza Someone using a Twitter young people and trying to recruit Opinions vary on what can be rity issues were the “responsibility at a federal prison in south Sultana, 17, and 15-year-olds account in Begum’s name last them, they’re saying ‘what exactly done to stop it. of official airport authorities.” Texas will be moved to other Shamima Begum and Amira Sunday seems to have contacted is the security services doing in Under a new law which came Cameron said Saturday that facilities after an uprising by Abase left their east London Aqsa Mahmood, a woman from this country?’” in this month, the passports of the case highlighted that “the angry prisoners left the prison homes on Tuesday and flew to Glasgow, Scotland who report- The debate reflects an issue of Britons suspected of travelling to fight against Islamist extremist damaged and “uninhabitable,” Istanbul, raising concerns they edly travelled to Syria last year growing concern in Britain. Syria or Iraq can be seized before terror is not just one that we can according to officials quoted in would travel on to Syria to join to marry an IS group fighter. Counter-terrorism experts esti- travel — although the girls in wage by the police and border local press reports. IS jihadists. Mahmood’s family, who strongly mate that around 50 women have this case were not suspected in control”. The disturbance began All three were spoken to in condemn her actions, have ques- travelled from the UK to Syria advance. Calling the situation “deeply early on Friday at the Willacy December by police investigat- tioned why more was not done to to join the IS group, while tales Prime Minister David concerning”, he urged schools, County Correctional Center in ing the disappearance of a friend take action in the wake of this. of “jihadi brides” have become a Cameron’s government also plans universities and colleges to rec- Raymondville, Texas, which pri- who went to Syria but Scotland “We are aware from contacts staple of Britain’s tabloid press. to introduce additional measures ognise their roles. AFP marily holds individuals who have entered the United States ille- gally. The prison, which is run by Chinese New Year Parade in London the private company Management & Training Corp, is located about 64km from the Mexican border. The unrest began when prison- US shoppers warned ers refused to come to breakfast or report for work in a bid to protest problems with medical services after threat on malls at the facility, the Express-News newspaper and local broadcaster WASHINGTON: US home- killed at least 67 people. KGBT-TV reported. land security chief Jeh Johnson In a video posted on the The inmates broke out of their urged shoppers to be on their Internet, the group ran a doc- housing structures and converged guard yesterday after an umentary-style account of the in the recreation yard, setting fire Islamic militant group posted Westgate Mall attack, followed to several kevlar domes, or tents, a video calling for attacks on by an appearance by a masked that serve as prison housing, the western malls, including the fighter who suggested similar paper said. Mall of America. attacks could be carried out on By Saturday evening, the dis- “I would say that if anyone other malls in the United States, turbance was largely under con- is planning to go to the Mall of Canada and Britain. trol, but the prison had suffered America today, they’ve got to be “If just a handful of mujahideen sufficient damage that as many particularly careful,” Johnson said fighters could bring Kenya to a as 2,800 inmates will be trans- on CNN’s “State of the Union.” complete stand-still for nearly a ferred, according to a statement The mall, located in Minnesota week, just imagine what the dedi- from U.S. Bureau of Prisons pub- and reputedly the world’s largest cated mujahideen could do in the lished by KGBT. The process of with 40 million visitors a year, West to American or Jewish shop- moving the inmates is expected said it had taken extra secu- ping centers across the world,” to continue into next week, the rity measures in response to the the militant said. “What if such statement said. threat by the Shebab, a Somalia- an attack were to occur in the The facility “is now uninhab- based insurgent group. Mall of America in Minnesota? itable due to damage caused by Spectators attend a dragon march provided by performers in Chinatown during the Chinese New Year Parade Shebab carried out a bloody Or the West Edmonton Mall in the inmate population,” the state- in London yesterday. Thousands of people turned out to celebrate the Year of the Goat. attack and takeover of a mall in Canada? Or in London’s Oxford ment said. REUTERS Nairobi in September 2013 that Street?” he said. AFP New Jersey’s Christie to step up presidential plans WASHINGTON: Republican Christie donors to Bush, the But whether Christie can the reality that this isn’t quite Chris Christie is facing pres- former Florida governor, and hang on that long is an open what he thought it would be,” sure to step up the pace in others. “I think you’ve got to question. During trips to Iowa, said a Republican strategist forming a likely presidential make sure you have the right which holds the first nominat- familiar with the workings of campaign and to slow the national staff, and I’m not sure ing contest early next year, the Christie camp. “It isn’t as defection of financial donors he’s done that yet,” Kean said Christie has received credit for easy as he thought it would be.” to rivals like Jeb Bush in order in a telephone interview. “If you showing up. But many of the The Christie camp is making to keep alive his 2016 White haven’t been around this track state’s conservatives harbour the case that the governor has House dream. before it’s treacherous. ... He’s doubts because he has governed substantial support in the donor The New Jersey governor’s been slow putting that kind of from the middle in Democratic- community. struggle to cope with problems team together.” leaning New Jersey. Officials at Christie’s political at home and his slow start on Christie’s challenge is to get Christie ranks in the mid- action committee, pushing back the campaign trail have raised past this rocky period and hang dle of the pack in polls of against the idea his financial questions about his viability at on until later this year when the Republican voters in Iowa and support was eroding, released a a time when other potential candidate debates begin. The New Hampshire, which holds lengthy list of donors and event Republican candidates are busy debates would allow Christie to the second nominating contest hosts who are sticking with him. raising money and hiring staff. use his natural speaking prow- and where Christie needs to Ray Washburne, finance Former New Jersey Governor ess to his advantage. do well to outlast other likely chair for Christie’s Leadership Thomas Kean, an early Christie “He may well win those big-name contenders like Bush, Matters for America PAC, said mentor, diagnosed Christie’s debates. He’s just very, very Wisconsin Governor Scott Bush’s early exploration of a problem on Friday after The able, regardless of the record, Walker, Senator Marco Rubio of presidential campaign gave him Washington Post and The New regardless of what you think Florida and Senator Rand Paul an advantage, but there is still York Times published sto- of him, regardless of anything of Kentucky. plenty of time for Christie and ries detailing the defection of else,” Kean said. “I think he’s waking up to others to organise. REUTERS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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OLITICIANS feel tempted to make grandiose Racist fans are everyone’s promises during campaigning and once they get elected, the same promises begin to haunt them. The Pnew prime minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras of the Syriza party, is facing a similar dilemma. Tsipras was elected problem – not just football’s after promising people that he would end Greece’s submission to the humiliating fiscal terms imposed by the European BY MARINA HYDE coverage without the catnip of its foot- acknowledge that that has been the case Union to overcome its financial crisis, which he would achieve ball angle? Possibly. But the most signifi- with their club. But this hasn’t been the by keeping Greece in the eurozone. But his ride has been HAT is football doing to cant difference, I can only hope, would case with all clubs – and anyway, let’s tough. Weeks after assuming power, the leftist-led coalition keep its hooligans out be the reaction, which would ideally be not get diverted by turf wars. There leader has admitted that things are difficult, and they are of society?” demanded far more universally soul-searching than are plenty of perfectly understandable Margaret Thatcher of an the one that has played out since the film reasons for these ignoble traditions, not learning on the job. A debt deal reached with the European W FA executive in 1985. “On the contrary,” from the Paris Métro emerged. least the fact that such things are self- Union two days ago showed that the honeymoon is over for came the reply, “what is society doing to I don’t imagine that even David perpetuating, tribalism being in part a the new government. keep its hooligans out of football?” Cameron, Zen master of the facile search for what we might describe – With bailout funds expiring on 28 February, keeping Once you’ve got over the shock of a soundbite, would have felt quite so with absurd daintiness, in the circum- Greece afloat and in the single currency was the biggest 1980s sporting administrator actually tempted to comment on something less stances – as one’s spiritual brethren. You putting his finger on something, let us easy to compartmentalise, as the prime seek out your own. challenge of the new government. And the government had spool forward to this week. minister did on the clip of the Chelsea And the overwhelmingly vast majority few options, which finally forced Athens to extend a bailout Imagine for a moment that the men supporters, describing it as “very, very of supporters have absolutely nothing to programme on terms its government was just elected to filmed singing racist chants after push- serious”. do with it, and actively despise it, as is get out of. The 10 days it took to strike a deal with the EU ing a black passenger off a Paris Métro It’s not that Cameron doesn’t know perhaps evidenced by the rush by other saw many U-turns, leaked drafts and personal insults while train had not been on their way to a these things go on; and occasionally they Chelsea fans to assist their club in efforts panicked Greeks withdrew money from banks pushing them football match, in this case Chelsea’s may even seem like his problem. After to identify the men they will regard as Champions League tie with PSG. all, one of his own MPs, Aidan Burley, having brought shame on them. close to failure. Tsipras and his team must have realized that Imagine they had was found to have attended a stag week- But ought that vicarious sense of making promises during election is one thing, and fulfilling been a party of end in France four years ago for which shame really to be limited to other them quite another. British men on a the member for Cannock Chase jointly Chelsea fans – or even other football The new government now has stag weekend, or procured the Nazi costumes, and at fans? One or two days a week, people like After the difficult task of working on The spectacle of of course British which there was also chanting “Hitler! those in the video are football’s respon- the very reforms it had hated. women on a hen Hitler! Himmler! Himmler!”, the reports sibility; and even then, arguably, only backbreaking the Chelsea fans weekend, occa- said. truly for the hours in which they are It is expected to put together on the Paris Métro sions that share But we know that anything connected within a stadium. talks with a schedule of reforms, to be some of the char- to football serves as the bat-signal to But what of the rest of the week? presented today, and discussed says more than acteristics of the politicians keen to get their soundbites They’re not kept in some orc pen, the EU, the over the week. In some areas, we wish to know European foot- on the airwaves. Last week, the living released baying for blood at midday on the Greek and EU objectives are ball jolly: alcohol- wage was expediently commuted down Saturday. For the rest of the week, they new Greek about the Britain fuelled packs of to a Premier League problem; this week, walk among us – and obviously the atti- the same: Athens has pledged to people abroad exported racism has become football’s tudes that underpin behaviour such as government control tax evasion, to remodel we all live in. for a short time, problem, or even Chelsea’s. that on the Paris Métro remain precisely the civil service, streamline which they may Thank God for the football angle, the same. They are members of society. has realised business regulations, etc. But be keen to “make the most of”, with because we know exactly how to go They are everyone’s problem. that fulfilling the Germans, who are holding whatever elastic definition we wish to through these motions. It’s now a mat- That is a more complicated feeling the keys, want detail, not talk. ascribe to that. ter of banning orders, calls for some than many would like to give way to. election I assume no one could be so naive FA taskforce or other, and the gradual How much more preferable to insulate Their relations with the new as to think similar chanting would be diminuendo of phone-ins allowing call- ourselves against uncomfortable truths promises is government are at a low, which unthinkable on plenty of such occasions. ers to debate whose fans are more racist about our society if we compartmental- make negotiations difficult, and But then, perhaps there are those who than theirs. ise the behaviour of some British men on not as easy as they can be expected to send any still nurse delusions that the image of And yet, unpalatable though it may a Paris Métro as solely the problem of reforms plans back for more work the Englishman abroad is embodied in be to people to whom racist behaviour Chelsea football club, or of one football- making them. if they lack substance. the exquisite figure of David Niven. In is total anathema, it ought to be bigger ing authority or another. which case, I do envy them their travel than that. The actions of those men on Certainly, these latter entities should Since the worst of the financial arrangements. the Paris Métro said something about be doing as much as they can to deal with crisis is behind Greece, the new government must not If you’ve managed to avoid the spec- the society in which all British peo- such problems – and Chelsea’s clearly precipitate a situation that would lead to their exit from euro. tacle of Brits behaving in a manner we ple have a stake. Making it football’s mortified leap to action in this week’s The country’s economy has been growing and recovering, might tactfully describe as un-Nivenish, problem is a cop-out. Football has the case may be contrasted favourably with, and most importantly, the unemployment is going down. A then you’re lucky. There are some late- power to influence society, we know, but for example, Uefa’s serial uselessness on night budget airline flights I will never more often it reflects it – and while it issues of racism. But I am not sure that little more patience and the willingness to reform would take be able to unsee, and chanting easily as undoubtedly left football with a head- football is really responsible for what the country back to its halcyon days. Tsipras doesn’t have to vile as that indulged in by the Chelsea ache, the spectacle on the Paris Métro happened in that Métro station. hurry. Opinion polls show most Greeks prefer an “honourable supporters that I won’t be able to said far more about a Britain in which Still, it’s certainly easier to make it compromise” over a further clash with Europe or abandoning unhear, drifting across squares in vari- we all live than the deficiencies of the so. The timeworn pattern of this latest the euro. They said they are prepared to give Tsipras time. ous European city centres of a Saturday Kick It Out campaign. story serves as yet another reminder of The EU and Germany too must shed their hostile attitude to night. Certain clubs have drawn more than how often we look the wrong way in this Would a video of a British stag party their fair share of horrors, and any country. Think of it as the other English the new government. behaving like this have got the same clear-eyed Chelsea supporter would disease. THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of The cost of negligence the day HE failure of successive out in rural Bihar. As other studies percentage of them prescribed drugs to nothing to train and equip health- governments in India, especially have shown, what is true for Bihar will without any ORS. The record was only care providers to diagnose and treat those in States that have be largely valid for other States as well. slightly better in the case of pneumonia. children. Bangladesh has not seen any Tthe highest mortality rates That the 340 health-care providers The quality of diagnosis also left much drop in the incidence of acute diarrhoeal among children younger than five studied seldom practised what little they to be desired. disease, but has reduced its under-5 years, to address the critical issue knew about treating children suffering These findings explain why Bihar mortality rate by 75 per cent between IS threat is a of training health-care providers in from the two heath complications is has the country’s highest infant mor- 1980 and 2011, largely by reducing rural areas to correctly diagnose and a poignant reminder of the state of tality rate of 55 per 1,000 live births. mortality from the two diseases by regional issue and treat children suffering from diarrhoea the health-care system in rural India. In 2010, the under-5 mortality in India means of better case management and pneumonia, has had tragic Only 3.5 per cent of the practitioners from diarrhoea and pneumonia was even in rural areas. In 2006-2007, as I wanted to have consequences. These ailments account prescribed the correct treatment over 600,000, the highest in the world in much as 76 per cent of children with all of that expertise for the maximum number of under-5 using life-saving oral rehydration salts terms of absolute numbers. In the same diarrhoea in rural Bangladesh received mortality incidence in the country. That (ORS) alone for children with simple, year, India was one of the five countries ORS, a 2013 paper in The Lancet says. represented in (the the poor management of sick children uncomplicated diarrhoea. Instead, that accounted for nearly 50 per cent of India has indeed done well in reducing by health care providers is a major nearly 69 per cent of them prescribed the deaths globally from diarrhoea and under-5 mortality numbers from 2.5 mil- meeting). causal factor for under-5 mortality has potentially dangerous drugs, including pneumonia in this age group. Hence, lion in 2001 to 1.5 million in 2011. Ashton Carter been brought out by a study carried antibiotics, along with ORS; an equal it is hard to fathom why India did next THE HINDU US Secretary of Defence MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Afghan-Taliban dialogue could begin soon As political pressure intensifies, the Taliban are also expected to launch a vicious spring offensive once the snowmelt on the mountainous border gives Pakistan-based militants access to Afghan targets. The insurgents are expected to test the capabilities of Afghanistan’s forces, who are fighting for the first time without international military backup.

BY LYNNE O’DONNELL Speaking at a joint press reliability of Ghani’s government, conference Saturday with vis- compared with that of his pred- fter more than a dec- iting US Defence Secretary ecessor Hamid Karzai. ade of warfare, nego- Ash Carter, Ghani said: “Our If the schedule for US troop tiations between the approach is productive. We are withdrawal does indeed change, Afghan government hopeful. The direction is positive it is unclear just how that would and the Taliban are but we cannot make premature affect Ghani’s fragile negotia- Aset to begin, officials, diplomats announcements.” tion plans with the Taliban; so and experts said as President The Taliban, whose leadership far Taliban representatives have Ashraf Ghani declared that peace is based in the Pakistani cities of not commented publicly on the is closer now than at any time Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar, upcoming talks. since the war began following the declined to comment on the pros- “The less noise there is from September 11, 2001 attacks on the pect of peace negotiations, repeat- the Taliban, the more it may United States. ing their long-held position that mean; silence will speak volumes,” On Saturday, Ghani said that all foreign troops must first leave said Michael Keating, a senior “the grounds for peace have never the country. consulting fellow at London’s been better in the last 36 years” of The US and Nato have around Royal Institute of International An Afghan soldier stands guard at the site of a suicide attack by the Taliban in Kabul. The Afghan government is continuous Afghan wars, includ- 13,000 troops in Afghanistan Affairs and a former deputy spe- set to open a dialogue with Taliban insurgents it has been fighting for more than a decade. ing 13 years of conflict with the training Afghan security forces cial representative of the UN in Taliban. and conducting counter-ter- Afghanistan. 2001 US-led invasion. Without said Kabul and Islamabad, which military and intelligence agen- Since taking office in rorism operations against the Drawing China, Saudi Arabia Pakistan’s unconditional support, is battling its own Taliban insur- cies. Meetings between the two September, Ghani has rolled out a Taliban and Al Qaeda. President and the United Arab Emirates the Taliban could be forced into gency, had put decades of mutual neighbors are often attended by complex strategy aimed at forcing Barack Obama’s current plan is into pressuring Pakistan to end dialogue with Ghani’s government hostility aside to cooperate on US and Nato military leaders. the Taliban leadership to accept to halve the 10,000 Americans by its support for the insurgents if it is to achieve its goal of regain- ending the violence. Amid the cautious opti- that their cause — replacing his the end of this year, and cut that appeared to be a deliberate strat- ing a political foothold in Kabul, Two recent horrific incidents — mism, few logistical details have government with an Islamist number to near zero by the end egy by Ghani, he said, “not just academics and officials said. one each side of the border — gal- emerged. The Taliban have an emirate — is hopeless. He has of 2016. At the peak of the war for peace but for the economic “Pakistan’s bottom line is vanised “the determination and office in Qatar’s capital Doha, enlisted the support of regional in 2009-10 there were 140,000 US prospects of the country.” strong political representation struggle of both countries against where a Taliban source and a countries believed to protect, fund and Nato troops in Afghanistan. China, which has ties to the in the Kabul government,” said terrorism and extremism,” Ghani Western diplomat said at least and arm the Taliban, including But Carter on Saturday hinted Taliban dating back to the 1990s Antonio Giustozzi, an expert on said. “We welcome the recent one meeting between the insur- Pakistan which is pressuring the that the current withdrawal when the extremists held power, the Taliban. “There is also a con- position Pakistan has taken in gents and American officials had insurgents to open a channel for timeline might be up for review, has close relations with Pakistan. cern for the long-term solidity pronouncing Afghanistan’s enemy taken place to discuss issues likely peace negotiations, officials and at Ghani’s request. Carter did Beijing’s Foreign Ministry of this representation — maybe as Pakistan’s enemy.” to arise if and when peace negoti- diplomats said. not say Obama was considering recently reiterated support for embedding some form of per- In December at least 45 peo- ations do begin. The issues include A senior Afghan official, who keeping US troops in Afghanistan Afghan peace efforts. Chinese manent power for clerics in the ple were killed in Afghanistan’s the release of Taliban prison- spoke on condition he not be iden- beyond 2016, only that the presi- interests are pragmatic, based constitution or some de facto Paktika province, bordering ers from Guantanamo Bay, the tified as he was not authorised to dent was rethinking the pace of on concerns about the radicaliza- Taliban-controlled paramilitary Pakistan, when a suicide bomber removal of Taliban names from discuss the issue, said hopes are troop withdrawals for 2015 and tion of its own Muslim population, force,” he said. detonated explosives at a volley- lists of known terrorists, and free- high that a dialogue, as a precur- 2016 and was “rethinking the dominant in the Xinjiang region As political pressure intensifies, ball match. The attack bore the dom of travel for Taliban mem- sor to full-scale peace negotia- details” of the US counter-ter- bordering northern Afghanistan, the Taliban are also expected to hallmarks of the Taliban-affiliated bers, the diplomat said. tions, will begin soon. rorism mission in Afghanistan. and its long-term goal of develop- launch a vicious spring offensive Haqqani network though no “These are issues that only the Other sources said contact No decisions have been made, ing Afghanistan’s petrochemical once the snowmelt on the moun- group claimed responsibility. A Americans can give assurances between the two sides could but Obama will discuss a range of and mining sectors. tainous border gives Pakistan- month later, a Taliban attack on on,” he said, speaking anony- begin as early as March. There options for slowing the US mili- Pakistan has in the past used based militants access to Afghan a school in Peshawar killed 150 mously because of the sensitivity is currently no dialogue between tary withdrawal when Ghani vis- the Taliban as a proxy to intimi- targets. The insurgents are people, mostly children. of the matter. “If they get past the Afghan government and the its the White House next month, date the Afghan government expected to test the capabilities The Peshawar attack sparked these issues, it makes things a lit- Taliban, the sources said, speak- Carter said. He added that the as it developed relations with of Afghanistan’s forces, who are intense shuttle diplomacy tle easier for the Afghan govern- ing on condition of anonymity willingness of Washington to Washington and Islamabad’s fighting for the first time without between Kabul and Islamabad, ment and the Taliban to proceed because they were not authorised reconsider its withdrawal plans arch-rival India after the international military backup. leading to unprecedented toward talks.” to officially brief the media. is a sign of increased faith in the Taliban’s overthrow in the Ahead of Carter’s visit, Ghani cooperation between their AP

Train across Nigeria shows Jonathan’s mixed rule Yemen’s Hadi strikes

BY CHRIS KAY the grid and the cost of power? No, not as yet,” Mhango of newly defiant pose t’s Friday evening and a group An almost 50 percent crash in Renaissance Capital said by phone of Nigerian train staff scream from Johannesburg. BY BRIAN ROHAN president Ali Abdullah Saleh, Iat each other as they battle to oil prices last year exposed the A petroleum industry bill has a Machiavellian autocrat who get power working on a revived languished in parliament for six irtually powerless for deftly manipulated and managed cross-country service from Lagos nation’s crude-dependent finances years, deterring investment in the months, Yemen’s embat- the fractured country’s tribal to Kano, the nation’s two largest oil and gas industry of Africa’s Vtled President Abed Rabbo and regional rivalries during his cities. biggest crude producer. Mansour Hadi looked ready to three-decade rule. Rolling out of Nigeria’s south- and sent the naira tumbling 18 While the PDP has the power leave the country after fleeing After Yemen’s 2011 Arab Spring ern commercial hub more than of the incumbency, patronage Shia rebels who seized the capital revolt, Saleh reluctantly handed eight hours late, plain-clothed percent against the dollar in the networks and state apparatus, in September and held him cap- power to Hadi the following year policemen cock their AK-47 Jonathan’s “overall popularity has tive in his own home for weeks. in a deal brokered by Yemen’s assault rifles as they try to push waned given what many believe But the soft-spoken technocrat powerful Gulf neighbours and back young men launching them- past six months. is an inadequate response to the who has long avoided the lime- backed by the United States. Saleh selves onto the carriages to hitch threat posed by Boko Haram and light stepped straight into it on received immunity from prosecu- illegal rides as the train chugs militant group Boko Haram in southern city of Osogbo, waiting his general inability to tackle wide- Saturday, renouncing his own tion and remained in Yemen. through Lagos’ shantytowns. the northeast. for a new engine being sent up spread corruption,” RBC Capital resignation and challenging the Hadi soon found himself atop It breaks down repeatedly, and The opposition All Progressives from Ibadan after a breakdown, strategists, led by Helima Croft in Shiite Houthi rebels who hold a government with many hidden power to the air-conditioned sec- Congress led by Muhammadu Bashir Raji Itopa, a 26-year-old New York, wrote in a February 4 large parts of the country. enemies and few true allies. He tions cuts out permanently a third Buhari, a 72-year-old Muslim economics student heading to report. Hadi’s sudden resurgence after faced a protracted struggle with of the way through the 42-hour northerner and former military Minna in second class, said he’s Even as Jonathan’s party said years of quiet rule raises fears that militants from Al Qaeda in the trip, leaving everyone sweaty and ruler, has sought to capital- concerned about the worsening it would run an issues-based Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest Arabian Peninsula, considered coated in dust and grime. ise on the perceived corruption conflict. campaign, it’s sought to portray country, only united in the 1990s, by Washington to be the world’s “It’s not fixed — this is Nigeria,” and security shortcomings of He quit studying in the north- Buhari as an Islamist extremist will fracture into mini-states, com- most dangerous branch of the said Mohammad Khalled, a Jonathan, a member of the eth- eastern city of Maiduguri because and has questioned the authentic- plicating American efforts to combat terror group due to its failed 21-year-old student heading to nic Ijaw minority from the oil- of Boko Haram’s attacks in the ity of his secondary school cer- Al Qaeda’s powerful local franchise. attacks on the American home- the central city of Minna, on rich south. region. The Islamist group, which tificate, allegations the opposition “He’s usually very passive and land. Hadi also faced a simmering his first train ride as a safer and An almost 50 percent crash in has declared a caliphate the size leader has denied. placid, so such a strong statement separatist movement in the south cheaper alternative to the badly oil prices last year exposed the of Belgium in Nigeria’s north- During elections, politicians took a lot of people by surprise and increasingly aggressive Shia maintained road network. nation’s crude-dependent finances east, killed at least 1,600 people in whip up regional and religious — Hadi basically drew the battle Houthi rebels in the north. Restarting the train service and sent the naira tumbling 18 January, Bath, Britain-based risk sentiments in a country that has lines,” said Yemeni political ana- “He lacked a strong power base, in December 2012 after more percent against the dollar in the consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, as many as 250 ethnic groups and lyst Hisham Al Omeisy. “A lot of having left the south long ago, than a decade of inconsistent past six months. Nigeria’s bench- said in a February 11 report. is almost evenly split between a people are actually doubting the and had little influence with the service along the 1,126km track mark stock index has dropped 27 More than 4,700 people died last largely Christian south and a pre- statement, saying it’s too strong northern tribes that are histori- traversing the length of Africa’s percent this year in dollar terms. year in militant raids, double the dominately Muslim north. for the Hadi we know, and want cally the most potent force in the most populous nation is one Jonathan’s campaign posters number in 2013, according to the Buhari, who ruled between 1983 to see him read it on TV before country, militarily and politically,” of the achievements touted by urge Nigerians to vote for con- consultancy. to 1985 after instigating a coup and they believe it,” he added. said Washington-based Yemen President Goodluck Jonathan’s tinuity and to “move forward” In his 2011 campaign, Jonathan, is running in his fourth presiden- Before Saturday, the 69-year- analyst Michael Horton. People’s Democratic Party before under the PDP, which has gov- 57, who has a PhD in zoology, tial campaign, is wooing voters old Hadi largely kept to himself, But Hadi quickly proved a will- elections next month. Other erned since the return to civilian vowed to bring electricity to in the south outside his northern running the country of 24 million ing ally to the US in its campaign gains include the sale of power rule in 1999. Buhari’s campaign Nigerians, the vast majority of power base. His backers say his people while making few public of drone strikes on the country’s utilities to private investors and uses the APC party symbol of a whom live without regular access earlier stint in power before he was comments or speeches. Hadi stud- local Al Qaeda branch, which fertilizer subsidy reform. Many of broom to promise change from to grid power. toppled by another military putsch ied at a string of military institutes claimed responsibility for last these reforms, like the train line, corruption and insecurity. After selling state-owned gen- showed him to be uncompromising in the now-defunct South Yemen, month’s attack on Charlie Hebdo. haven’t gone smoothly. Buhari has pledged to end the eration plants, the government on corruption and security. which had been the Arab world’s After Hadi came to power in The elections themselves war against Boko Haram, which had to intervene with a $1.3bn “If elected I will focus on tack- only Marxist country in the years 2012, the number of suspected US were delayed from February 14 Yvonne Mhango, a sub-Saharan industry bailout in September, ling the persistent insecurity after Britain withdrew in 1967. strikes nearly quadrupled, with 56 to March 28 after Jonathan’s Africa economist at Renaissance while demand still far outstrips affecting the northeast,” Buhari After a ruinous civil war with in 2012 alone, according to the New security adviser said the mili- Capital, called “a stain on supply. said at a rally in Maiduguri. “It is the north, Hadi rose to the rank America Foundation’s International tary couldn’t ensure a safe vote Jonathan’s record that wasn’t “Has it been meaningful for not easy, as the damage has been of major general in the unified Security Programme, which tracks because it was planning an resolved and escalated.” the average person in terms of done.” Yemeni army. In 1994, he was the American campaign. offensive against the Islamist As the train sat stuck in the an increase in power supply to WP-BLOOMBERG appointed vice president under AP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA

Bangladesh 41 dead as Bangladesh ferry sinks raids militant 50 rescued, search on for missing training camp

PATURIA, Bangladesh: An leaving them scrambling to find in Chittagong overcrowded ferry sank in a their loved ones when the tragedy Bangladesh river yesterday struck. DHAKA: Bangladesh special leaving at least 41 people includ- “I was holding my mother’s forces raided a training camp ing 11 children dead as rescuers hand when the cargo boat hit our in the southeastern Chittagong searched for missing passen- ferry from behind,” an 18-year-old district operated by an Islamist gers, officials said. who gave his name as Al Amin militant network that was The ferry collided with a cargo said at the terminal. planning to carry out attacks vessel and sank within minutes “Within two minutes the ferry in the country, senior officials on the Padma river, the second was sunk. Before I realised I was said. deadly boat accident in a fortnight washed away to the middle of the In their raid on the camp in the country, which has a his- river. in Banshkhali, a remote, hilly tory of ferry tragedies. “I swam and a ferry rescued area covered in forest, the elite “Divers have recovered 41 bod- me. But I don’t know what hap- Rapid Action Battalion arrested ies. The dead included 11 children pened to my mom.” five people and found firearms, and seven women,” local police Police chief Zaman said some ammunition and other train- chief Rakibuz Zaman said, updat- 50 people “swam ashore or were ing material, Lieutenant Colonel ing an earlier toll of 38. rescued by other vessels”. Miftah Uddin said. Officials said they did not know Bangladeshi ferries do not The operation to raid the camp the exact number of people miss- normally keep passenger lists, was launched after police arrested ing, but said search and rescue making it difficult to establish 25 students on February 19 at efforts would continue through how many are missing after an their madrasa, a school teaching the night, with the aid of flood- accident. Islamic theology and law, in the lights from other ferries on the An official said a salvage vessel town of Hathazari in Chittagong, river. was on its way to raise the sunken he said. Rescuers were unloading bodies ferry, adding that the master of Uddin said the detained stu- from small boats some 70km from the cargo ship and two other crew dents had given information on the capital Dhaka at the Paturia had been arrested. the camp during their interroga- ferry terminal in the country’s The Padma river is one of the tion and that people from across northwest, where grieving rela- largest in the delta nation, and Bangladesh went there to receive tives have gathered to identify boats are the main form of travel Bangladesh relatives of ferry accident victims cry at Manikganj some 30kms west of Dhaka yesterday. arms training. them. in many of Bangladesh’s remote Among the weapons and other “We found one body but five rural areas, especially in the south and fell into the river. Those who maintained vessels, flaws in design killed in August last year when items recovered were three AK are still missing. We were return- and northeast. were on the deck were able to and overcrowding for most of the a crowded ferry sank in rough 22 semi-automatic rifles, seven ing home after the opening of a Local newspaper Prothom come out but none of the pas- tragedies. weather in the Munshiganj pistols, more than 750 rounds of temple,” Hindu holy man Kumud Alo quoted one survivor, Hafizur sengers inside could get out,” This month, at least five peo- district. ammunitions, boxing gloves and Ranjan Goswami said of his Rahman, as saying the cargo Rahman told the paper. ple including a minor were killed Naval officials have said more ropes. colleagues. ship hit the boat 15 minutes Boat capsizes are common in when an overloaded ferry carry- than 95 percent of Bangladesh’s “All arrested persons hailed Survivors said the MV Mostofa after departure — causing it to Bangladesh, one of Asia’s poorest ing some 200 passengers capsized hundreds of thousands of small from different parts of the was overcrowded with about overturn and trapping many nations, which is criss-crossed by in an estuary in the south of the and medium-sized boats do not country, were engaged there as 70-150 passengers crammed passengers. more than 230 rivers. country. meet minimum safety regulations. trainers and conducted train- into the upper and lower decks, “I was on the deck of the ferry Experts blame poorly About 50 people were also AFP ing of fire arms handling, bomb manufacturing and militants attack to selected militants,” Uddin said. Lieutenant Colonel A K Australians on Azad, the director of RAB’s Maldives arrests former president; clashes erupt headquarters, said the mili- tants operated a “strong net- death row ask work” and had a plan to attack MALE: Police in Maldives terrorism relating to the same election in 2013, imposed emer- hoped some members of par- Bangladesh, but he did not Widodo to arrested former president incident of the arrest of the judge gency rule. liament would switch from the name the group. Mohamed Nasheed yesterday four years ago. The first hearing An opposition alliance government to the opposition at Last month, Bangladeshi after a court said he might flee will be today. between the MDP and the next parliamentary session police arrested four suspected let them live the country to avoid hearings Police used teargas to dis- Jumhooree Party, which broke on March 3. members of Islamic State in on terrorism charges, leading to perse protesters from Nasheed’s away from Yameen’s ruling The MDP said in a statement the capital, Dhaka, includ- DENPASAR: Two Australians clashes between his supporters Maldivian Democratic Party coalition, has held a series of it now feared the actions by ing a regional coordinator for on death row appealed to and authorities. (MDP) as he was taken from his street demonstrations in recent the Maldives government may the militant group who told Indonesian President Joko Nasheed, Maldives’ first demo- home. weeks accusing the government “lead to uncontrollable scenes of police they had been trained in Widodo yesterday to let them cratically elected president, had “I call on the public to do all of breaching the constitution a unrest and confrontations on the Pakistan. live so they can continue help- been facing criminal charges that is necessary to stop the number of times. streets”. “The trainers showed video ing fellow prisoners in a reha- over his order to arrest a top harassment meted out to me Earlier this month Defence Presidential spokesman films on militancy and encour- bilitation programme, their judge in January 2011. Nasheed and other politicians to save Minister Mohamed Nazim was Ibrahim Muaz Ali, however, aged the new militants with brothers said. stepped down in early 2012, say- Maldives,” Nasheed told report- arrested on terrorism charges tweeted: lectures and books,” Azad said. The kin of drug smugglers ing he had been overthrown in ers in Male while being taken to while MDP’s chairperson Ali “I fully assure you this govern- Young men from poor families Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew a coup. a detention centre on a separate Waheed was taken into police ment won’t arrest or detain any and madrasa students had been Chan made a statement to the Last week the prosecutor- island. custody yesterday. citizen unlawfully.” exploited by the network, he media after visiting the pair in general withdrew the original Last week Nasheed asked Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, MDP’s Maldives is a group of more said. Kerobokan prison on Bali island. charges against Nasheed, but India to intervene in case international spokesman, told than 1,000 coral islands southwest The camp was established “We see and hear many pris- issued an arrest warrant on President Abdulla Yameen, to Reuters they were planning a of India. under the veil of a cattle farm. oners doing courses go on to jobs Sunday under new charges of whom Nasheed lost the last big protest on February 27 and REUTERS REUTERS and better lives. Our brothers’ great wishes for the president is to allow them to continue this Lesotho poll dance help, to rebuild the lives of many more Indonesians for many more years to come,” Michael Chan told Girl suicide bomber reporters outside the prison. The statement comes after Indonesia authorities delayed their execution by up to a month, kills five in Nigeria backtracking on an earlier pledge to put the two men before the fir- KANO: A young girl suicide to be as young as seven-years-old ing squad by the end of February. bomber blew herself up and killed and was the latest in a string of “Our brothers are very grate- five others yesterday in an attack child suicide bombers in Nigeria. ful for the support and kindness on a market in the northeastern Previous such attacks have been shown to them by so many peo- Nigerian city of Potiskum, wit- blamed on Islamist extremist ple, and we are amazed at their nesses and a hospital source said. group Boko Haram. strength and resilience during Nineteen others who sustained The attack again highlighted this stressful time,” Michael Chan various degrees of injury were the severe security challenges said. taken to hospital after the blast facing Nigeria in the run up to “As they reflect on their past in Potiskum, Yobe state’s com- March 28 presidential and par- they are also thankful to the mercial capital, a local vigilante liamentary elections. Indonesian government, the leader said. “So far, five people President Goodluck Jonathan is prison officials and many volun- were killed with the girl while 19 in a tough re-election bid against teers that have allowed them to others have been taken to hospital ex-military ruler Muhammadu create a holistic rehabilitation for injuries,” Buba Lawan said. Buhari in the vote, initially sched- programme that is now the envy A hospital source speaking uled for February 14. of most prisons worldwide,” he on condition of anonymity con- The military pushed for the six- added. firmed the toll of the dead and the week delay eventually granted by the wounded. The attack occurred at electoral commission to give it time to French president around 1.30pm during peak hours secure the country even though the Singers of the traditional Basotho music dance during the last campaign rally of Lesotho’s All Basotho Convention of business, traders said. insurgency has raged for six years. Witnesses said she appeared AFP to visit Manila in Maseru, ahead of general elections Saturday. The elections are being held more than two years early in a bid on Thursday to restore stability following a coup attempt last August.

MANILA: French President Francois Hollande will discuss international terrorism when he Sydney siege report signals tighter immigration curbs meets his Philippine counter- part Benigno Aquino this week, a spokesman said yesterday. PERTH: Australian Prime and bring Australia’s largest city allowed into the country. He ex-wife. He was killed by heav- He was the subject of counter The French leader’s state visit on Minister Tony Abbott foreshad- to a standstill. shouldn’t have been out on bail. ily armed police who stormed the terrorism discussions several Thursday-Friday will focus on cli- owed tighter immigration con- The joint federal and state He shouldn’t have been with a cafe after he killed a hostage. times between 2008 and 2014, the mate change but the recent attacks trols yesterday when he released government report found that gun and he shouldn’t have become The New South Wales govern- report showed. in Paris have also brought secu- the first report into a siege last all decisions authorities made in radicalised.” ment adopted new bail laws after It also showed members of the rity to the forefront, said Aquino December in Sydney’s Lindt relation to Monis were reason- Monis, who sought asylum in the siege. The review wants these public made 18 phone calls in the spokesman Herminio Coloma. cafe, in which two hostages and able under current laws, though Australia within a month of arriv- laws stiffened to take into account week before the siege to a national “The two leaders will also the gunman were killed. it recommended changes to condi- ing on a business visa in 1996, an accused person’s links to ter- security hotline over his Facebook exchange views on global and The legal system “had let the tions for immigration, citizenship later received citizenship. rorist outfits or violent extremism. posts, but the threat assessment regional issues like terrorism such country down,” Abbott said, and bail. At the time of the siege, the Monis, convicted in 2012 of did not change. Agencies following as what happened involving Charlie almost ten weeks after Iranian “Plainly, this monster should self-styled sheikh, who tried to sending hate mail to the fami- up the calls found Monis was not Hebdo in Paris that claimed the refugee Man Haron Monis walked not have been in our community,” align himself with the Islamic lies of Australian soldiers killed an imminent threat and missed a lives of 20 people,” he told reporters. into the cafe to hold 18 hostages Abbott said in Sydney. State group, was on bail on a in Afghanistan, was well-known threshold for prosecution. AGENCIES at gunpoint during a 17-hour siege “He shouldn’t have been charge over the murder of his to police and security authorities. REUTERS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Court moved Senior Taliban against monument for negotiator visits school victims

PESHAWAR: The PHC Bar Association yesterday moved Islamabad the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against the construction of a monument in the memory of the Army Public School mas- Carter meets troops in Kandahar sacre victims by the school administration using the dona- ISLAMABAD: A senior who requested anonymity as the tion money for the purpose. Afghan Taliban negotiator who Taliban do not want to comment The bar association requested had led the group’s delegation on-the-record until things mature. the high court to direct the APS to Beijing is touring Pakistan Beijing wants a proactive role in management to use the money for for consultations amid reports Afghanistan’s political process and the better treatment of the injured that the ultraorthodox militia is Chinese Foreign Minister Wang students and for their welfare. willing to join the intra-Afghan Yi said last week that Beijing wass The PHC Bar Association peace dialogue. ready to support reconciliation through its president Muhammad A Taliban official, who did not efforts between the Afghan gov- Essa Khan filed the writ petition want to be identified, confirmed ernment and the Taliban. to seek direction from the court the visit of Qari Din Muhammad, “Afghanistan’s stability depends not to allow the management of the a member of the Taliban team at on an inclusive national reconcili- APS to construct the monument the Qatar-based ‘political office’. ation, which needs international or a block of building by using the The trip came amid growing support,” Wang had said during money collected through donations. speculation about possible peace his visit to Islamabad. The Senate chairman, National talks in Qatar between represent- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Assembly speaker, Interior atives of the Taliban and Afghan Mujahid said on Sunday that no US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter (centre) greets military personnel after holding a question-and-answer Ministry secretary, Khyber government. contact has been established with session at Kandahar Airfield in the Afghan city of Kandahar yesterday. Pakhtunkhwa Assembly speaker, Qari Din Muhammad, who has Afghan government officials in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home been involved in talks with sev- Qatar. people’s sight, but it needs a Saturday, Carter made clear that poured into Kandahar and and Tribal Affairs department eral countries including China, “There are no talks either with transparent process with involve- President Barack Obama’s admin- Helmand province to try to turn secretary, Station Commander was scheduled to hold ‘follow-up the US or the Kabul administra- ment of the entire nation,” a istration was considering slowing the tide in the war against the Peshawar and APS principal were discussions’ with Chinese officials, tion. However, we are in contact presidential palace statement down a planned timetable for a Taliban, which was toppled from made respondents in the petition. the Taliban official said. When with countries, independent sides quoted Ghani as telling a series troop pullout. power after a US-led invasion in The militants aligned with the approached, an official at the and organisations with whom we of separate meetings with rep- The current plan would reduce 2001. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chinese Embassy in Islamabad need to maintain relations,” the resentatives of political parties, the existing force of more than Carter flew to Kandahar amid killed almost 150 people, includ- refused to comment. Taliban spokesman said when tribal elders, prominent figures, 10,000 to about 5,500 by the end intense fighting in neighboring ing 135 schoolchildren, in a brazen Earlier, in November 2014, a asked about reports about the and civil society activists. of the year, and then pull out all Helmand, where the Taliban have attack on the army-run school in Taliban delegation visited the initial contacts with Afghan gov- Meanwhile, Pentagon chief troops in two years’ time — when sought to regain ground lost dur- Peshawar on December 16 last Chinese capital on Beijing’s invi- ernment. Mujahid also dispelled Ashton Carter headed to southern Obama’s term ends. ing the US-led surge of forces in year. In the petition, the court was tation to discuss the possible role the impression that there was any Afghanistan yesterday to review Under that blueprint, US recent years. requested to direct the government of China in the Afghan peace foreign pressure on the dialogue plans to withdraw US forces in a forces would have to withdraw Afghan security forces have to extend all possible financial help process. issue. volatile area that has long preoc- from Kandahar airfield this year, launched a major counter-offen- to the injured APS students to The trip was in response to a Afghan President Ashraf cupied American commanders. but Carter suggested the timing sive near Sangin in the past two enable them to avail medical care. visit undertaken by a Chinese del- Ghani, meanwhile, continued con- In his first visit abroad days of base closures and troop with- weeks in Helmand, involving “The APS administration egation to Doha. sultations in Kabul to win backing after he took over as US defence drawals could be reviewed. troops from three army corps and should be directed not to waste the “Now we have a better under- for possible talks with the Taliban secretary, Carter met senior offic- Kandahar base serves as a helicopters, US officers said. money collected through donations standing and contacts with China and said his government would ers and troops at Kandahar air- jumping off point for special oper- The offensive featured about on the construction of unnecessary on many issues. We trust China not hold secret talks but would field, a key base that hosts US ations forces targeting Al Qaeda 2,000 Afghan troops and Russian- and uncalled for monument inside more than any other country as keep the Afghan people in the special forces and advisers as well and Taliban figures, as well as for made helicopters launching air or outside the school. The money Chinese leaders sincerely want an loop. as helicopters and other aircraft. drones and surveillance aircraft. strikes in support of ground should be spent on the welfare of end to the war in Afghanistan,” “Peace cannot be established After talks in Kabul with During a surge of troops in forces, officers said. students,” the petition stated. said another Taliban official, in the dark and away from the President Ashraf Ghani on 2010, thousands of US forces AGENCIES INTERNEWS

Preservation of Pakistan regional Pakistan raising special force for Chinese experts’ security languages urged ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s concerned about security of its Army to provide fool-proof in this special security force as and the Pakistani government Federal Minister for Planning experts in Pakistan, then it is security cover to the Chinese personnel were either inducted wants to remove every kind of ISLAMABAD: People have and Development Ahsan Iqbal quite a normal practice because experts that would work under through police department or doubts about their security to stopped using their mother lan- yesterday said that a high- every country in the world never the Pakistan-China Economic selected from the serving police ensure Pakistan-China Economic gu a ge s just to g ive a n i mpre s sion profile security force is being compromises on security of its Corridor project. force. Corridor programme gets along that they are more educated. prepared to provide security to citizens. “The Pakistani officials The sources said the Chinese well in the coming years,” the But they have to respect their the Chinese experts working in To another question, he said informed Chinese Foreign government has been highly con- sources said. mother languages if they want Pakistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Minister Wang Yi during his cerned about Pakistan-China The sources said it was the to preserve and protect them. The minister said he would nei- gave the approval to prepare a recent visit to Islamabad that Economic Corridor programme security concerns that forced This was observed by promi- ther disclose how many personnel special security force and funds the security force would com- and security threats to its experts both Pakistan and China to nent intellectual Attaul Haq were being trained by Pakistan for training of its personnel are plete its training session till that was why the government first start construction on Qasmi at an event held at Army nor talk about when they being provided by the federal August after which it would put decided to raise a special secu- Eastern route of Pakistan- Pakistan Academy of Letter would complete their training government. its foot on the ground to provide rity force to remove any doubts China Economic Corridor that (PAL) in connection with the because it was a secret affair and Earlier, the sources said that protection to the Chinese tech- in this respect. would run from Khunjarab via Mother Language Day yesterday. would remain secret as part of the the government is secretly nical experts in Pakistan,” the “Some 5,000 Chinese experts Mansehra, Rawalpindi, Lahore, It may be mentioned that on bigger security plan. raising a high-profile force sources said. are likely to work in differ- Multan, Sukkur, Turbat to February 21, 1952, students of Dhaka To a question, he said if comprising some 1,000 person- They said no official advertise- ent areas of Pakistan including Gwadar. University held a protest demanding the Chinese government was nel with the help of Pakistan ment was given for recruitment Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan INTERNEWS the government to declare ‘Bangla’ as the national language because 56 per cent of the population spoke it. The police opened fire on the pro- Blast near border testers leaving five students dead. A few years later, Unesco declared Senate’s farewell session February 21 as international day of mother languages. Qasmi said a large number of people had stopped speaking their may start on Friday mother tongue and preferred Urdu or English. ISLAMABAD: The last ses- were sent to the upper house by “So many times proposals were sion of Pakistan Senate is likely the National Assembly. given to introduce mother lan- to commence on February 27 The Senate’s Standing guages at school level but every and will continue till the retire- Committee on Law and Justice, time a debate was started that stu- ment of half of its members on in a meeting last week, approved dents of each class spoke different March 11. drafts of three important bills, languages so which language they Sources in the government including the one seeking ban should be taught. We have to find a and the opposition said that the on holding of dual nationality by solution to the issue,” he said. senators had been informally judges, armed forces’ personnel Federal Information Minister intimated about the government and government officials. Pervez Rashid said mother lan- plan to convene the session, which The chairman of the commit- guages were the basic source of would be the farewell session for tee, Mohammad Kazim Khan of information. “Knowledge has those retiring next month after the opposition PPP, who is also always been transferred from completing their six-year term. among the senators retiring on person to person in regional lan- Polling to elect new senators March 11, is expected to present guages. In this region, Persian was in the national and provincial the last report of the committee used as an official language before assemblies is scheduled to be held in the coming session. English replaced it,” he said. on March 5. The committee has also INTERNEWS A member of the Pakistani security services stands guard at the scene of a bomb blast near the Afghan border Thus, the Senate session will approved a strong “Anti- in Chaman, Pakistan, yesterday. One boy was killed and eight persons injured in the explo sion. provide an opportunity to mem- Rape Laws (Criminal Laws bers to discuss the election proc- Amendment) Bill 2014” seeking ess and its likely outcome. to ensure speedy justice to rape During the 12th parliamentary victims and suggesting strict pun- year, which began on March 12 ishment for the culprits, including 2.7m Afghan refugees to be repatriated from Sindh last year, the Senate passed 10 police officials and government bills, including the controversial officials, if the crime is commit- amendment which paved the way ted while the victim is in custody. KARACHI: The Sindh govern- These decisions were made at a reporters that the provincial unlawfully obtained properties in for the creation of military courts. The bill was moved by PPP’s ment decided yesterday that a meeting of the subsidiary execu- government had set the date of the province. The data obtained from the Sughra Imam, who is also retir- campaign would be launched to tion committee of the provincial December 31 this year to repat- Quoting reports, Kazi said Senate Secretariat shows that ing next month. A source in the repatriate 2.7 million Afghan apex committee formed under riate illegal and unregistered around 2.7 million Afghan refu- last year passed 10 resolutions party said she would request the refugees by the end of this year. the National Action Plan (NAP) Afghan refugees back to their gees were living in Sindh of which were passed by the members on house for the passage of the bill It also decided that the Home to counter terrorism. Home country. 67,000 had registered themselves national and international issues. during the forthcoming sitting Department’s permission would Secretary Abdul Kabir Kazi pre- He added that the authorities with the government while 85,000 The house witnessed introduc- as it would be her last session as be necessary to set up new sided over the meeting. would take strict action against were living in refugee camps. tion of 12 bills, including eight senator. Madaris. Later, the home secretary told the illegal immigrants who had INTERNEWS private members’ bills. Five bills INTERNEWS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Haryana doctors Indian aid at odds over swine flu

GURGAON: A section of private worker freed doctors in Haryana has accused the state health department of discouraging laboratory tests for swine flu with a view to reduc- ing the burden on government in Afghanistan labs and downplay the number of swine flu cases in the state. The doctors say that without a proper test, diagnosis or treat- Priest Alexix released after 8 months ment of flu patient as H1N1 virus- affected was not only unscientific NEW DELHI: A n Ind ia n priest school in Sohadat village. but also dangerous for the patient. has been freed in Afghanistan He was working in the strife- The state health department eight months after he was kid- torn neighbouring country as recently issued a public advisory napped by unidentified gunmen, director of international edu- and special guidelines to doctors Prime Minister Narendra Modi cational charity Jesuit Refugee in a meeting with the Indian said yesterday. Service. An official at the Indian Medical Association (IMA). India has “secured the release” embassy in Kabul, speaking on The government categorised of aid worker Alexis Prem condition of anonymity, said swine flu in three stages while Kumar who was snatched in Kumar was “in good health, and suggesting that there was no Afghanistan’s western province in good condition”. requirement of test on stage one of Herat last June while visiting India’s foreign ministry, mean- or two for patients. Only seri- a school, Modi said in a series of while, said Kumar “is now back ous patients reaching stage three tweets. in the safety of his homeland and needed to be tested for H1N1, as “Delighted at securing the arrangements are being made for per the advisory. The department, release of Indian Jesuit priest him to rejoin his family”. however, asked that Tamiflu, an Father Alexis Prem Kumar from “The matter of his release has anti-viral drug, be provided to all captivity in Afghanistan,” Modi been pursued by our leadership, Indian priest Father Alexis Prem Kumar (centre) waves as he leaves Indira Gandhi International Airport in New suspected patients without tests. said. including at the highest levels the Delhi yesterday, following his release from captivity in Afghanistan. The doctors pointed out that Modi said he has informed Prime Minister,” the ministry said the symptoms in category B Kumar’s family of the priest’s in a statement. brother John Joseph told the Press Nine civilians, including seven before its ousting in the wake of of swine flu may be similar to “safe return” after being held Kumar’s family said they were Trust of India news agency. children, were killed in August the September 11 attacks on New other kinds of flu as well. But in for eight months, without giving overjoyed and relieved after hear- The kidnapping last year came 2013 when suicide bombers tar- York and Washington. such cases, prescribing Tamiflu details of the release or whether ing the news. soon after an attack on the Indian geted the Indian consulate in Pakistan was the Taliban’s main without test may lead to people a ransom had been paid. “We do not have words to consulate in Herat in May by four the main eastern Afghan city of ally, and there have been accu- developing resistance towards Kumar, whose family comes express our joy. We have been heavily armed gunmen, who were Jalalabad, detonating an explo- sations in India that Pakistani the medicine, which is the only from India’s southern state of praying for the last eight months repelled by security forces. sives-packed car. security forces were complicit in weapon against swine flu. Tamil Nadu, had been working in for his release. It is a very good The consulate assault was the India was one of the chief previous attacks on its missions The department recently Afghanistan for some four years moment. Our prayers have been latest in a series of attacks on enemies of the hardline Taliban in Afghanistan. delisted the respected Dr Lal before his abduction from the answered,”Kumar’s younger Indian targets in Afghanistan. regime which ruled Afghanistan AFP Path Labs that was earlier rec- ognised by the government for swine flu tests. Army rescues Nitish Kumar returns as Bihar CM four Kashmiris trapped in snow PATNA: Nitish Kumar yes- Nitish Kumar had resigned as meet Modi soon,” Tyagi told Ansari. Several of the new min- terday returned as Bihar chief chief minister last year after the media persons ahead of the oath- isters touched Nitish Kumar’s feet JAMMU: The army yesterday minister, nine months after he JD-U’s rout in the Lok Sabha taking ceremony. after they took oath. said it has rescued four people resigned following his party polls. Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was JD-U state president Vashisht Former prime minister H D from a snow-hit area in Jammu JD-U’s massive defeat in the made chief minister in May 2014, Narain Singh told IANS: “There Deve Gowda, JD-U president and Kashmir’s Ramban district. 2014 general elections. Party resigned Feb 20 after a political is a need for more cooperation Sharad Yadav, Uttar Pradesh “Personnel of the Delta Force leaders said he will meet Prime row in the state. from the central government for Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, rescued four stranded civilians yes- Minister Narendra Modi to JD-U leaders said Nitish the state’s development. Nitish West Bengal Chief Minister terday night when they got trapped seek more funds to speed up Kumar will seek a meeting with Kumar will meet Modi soon.” Mamata Banerjee, Assam Chief in a snow-bound area in Kawalu UN climate development work in the state. Modi in the first week of March Those who were inducted Minister Tarun Gogoi, former of Khari tehsil,” army spokesman The 66-year-old Janata Dal- to request more funds for the into his cabinet were Vijay Bihar chief minister Manjhi and Colonel Manish Mehta said. The chief to miss United leader was administered state’s economic development. Kumar Choudhary, Bijendra senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar trapped people were local residents the oath of office as the 24th chief “Governor K N Tripathi, who Yadav, Ramai Ram, Ramlashan Modi attended the swearing-in and had gone out for hunting late session after minister of Bihar by Governor administered oath to Nitish Ram Raman, Damodar Rawat, function. in the evening. While returning to Keshri Nath Tripathi. Kumar and his ministers, directed P.K. Shahi, Shyam Razak, Lesi Nitish Kumar had last year their village, they got trapped in harassment case Along with Nitish Kumar, 22 the new government to seek a Singh, Dular Chandra Goswami, snapped ties with long-time ally the snow. ministers also took oath at a sim- confidence vote in the assembly Awadesh Narain Kushwaha, Lalan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) The Delta Force troops, on NEW DELHI: The United ple ceremony at Raj Bhavan here. in March,” officials said. Singh, Sharvan Kumar, Ramdhani after Narendra Modi was named receiving information, immedi- Nations’ top climate change Most of the ministers were in his The party’s national general Singh, Jai Kumar Singh, Baidnath the party’s prime ministerial can- ately rushed to the site and res- official will not chair a key earlier cabinet and are considered secretary K C Tyagi said Nitish Shahni, Bima Bharti, Ranju Gita, didate. This proved counter-pro- cued the people to safety. First aid meeting in Kenya next week loyal and trusted. Kumar will meet Modi for the Narendra Narain Yadav, Naushad ductive and resulted in the JD-U’s was also administered to the peo- as Indian police investigate This will be Nitish Kumar’s sake of Bihar’s development. Alam, Ninod Yadav, Manoj Singh rout in the Lok Sabha polls. ple who suffered minor injuries. a sexual harassment com- fourth time as chief minister. “Nitish Kumar will certainly Kushwaha, and Jawed Iqbal IANS IANS plaint against him, officials said yesterday. Rajendra Pachauri (pictured), chair- man of the Nobel-Prize win- Precaution ning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), pulled out due to “issues CPM’s final call for demanding his attention”, the UN body said. His cancellation comes after Delhi police said Pachauri, 74, Achuthanandan to was accused of sexually har- assing a 29-year-old female researcher from his Delhi-based thinktank The Energy and attend conference Resources Institute (TERI). “A lady had lodged an FIR ALAPPUZHA: In what opposition in Kerala assembly in (first information report) appears to be the last and Thiruvananthapuram, which is against Pachauri for sexual har- final call to veteran leader V around 130km from Alappuzha. assment... about a week ago and S Achuthanandan who has Balakrishnan said that as the matter is under investiga- walked out of the ongoing party a responsible party veteran, tion now,” Delhi police spokes- conference, the Communist Achuthanandan by no way can man Rajan Bhagat said. Party of India-Marxist (CPM) stay away from the conference The female employee has asked him to return to the and he was assured that all what accused Pachauri of repeated ongoing party meet for its last he wants to say can be said in the inappropriate behaviour, A Kashmiri girl walks to play cricket as she wears a mask to protect herself from swine flu, on the banks of River day today. conference. including through emails, Jhelum in Srinagar, yesterday. Addressing reporters at the “Each and every party member text and WhatsApp messages, conference venue in Alappuzha, has to abide by the party constitu- according to police. Pachauri politburo member Kodiyeri tion and none is above the party. has denied all charges, saying Balakrishnan last night said Achuthanandan should come and his emails and mobile phone that what Achuthanandan did attend the conference tomorrow were hacked. Govt reaches out to opposition on Saturday by walking out was (Monday) and can correct himself Another police official said wrong. “The politburo members by taking part,” he said. that Pachauri will “most likely who are here met today and was Balakrishnan also noted out appeal for anticipatory bail ahead of budget session unanimous that what he did was that utmost patience has been tomorrow at a lower court”, wrong. The same feelings was shown by the party and they did after the Delhi High Court last NEW DELHI: The NDA gov- conveyed their concern on the land Rahul Gandhi is also expected to echoed when the state secretar- not want to loose anyone from week granted him “interim ernment yesterday reached ordinance. Though the government lead a protest on the issue. iat also met. Our party general our party. “We are all optimistic,” protection” from arrest until out to the opposition ahead has not spoken of making changes The rail budget will be pre- secretary Prakash Karat was he said to a query if he expects today. of the budget session with in it so far, there now appears to sented on February 26, Economic asked by the meeting to speak Achuthanandan to return. Before “He needs to be in Delhi to Parliamentary Affairs Minister be a rethink on the issue. Survey on February 27 and gen- to Achuthanandan and to ask the conference Monday, a new seek bail,” the police official M Venkaiah Naidu meet- Home Minister Rajnath Singh, eral budget on February 28. him to return and attend the party state secretary will be elected said on condition of anonym- ing Congress president Sonia who on Saturday met some farm- While 10 new bills are slated to meeting tomorrow (Monday),” to replace Pinarayi Vijayan who ity. Pachauri’s office did not Gandhi over its agenda that ers’ representatives on the issue, be introduced, the agenda includes said Balakrishnan, who had on has finished his tenure and also an immediately respond to calls for includes the contentious ordi- was told by them that the govern- passing of three bills pending Saturday denied the former chief 80 member state committee. comment. The IPCC said that nance on land acquisition. ment had brought the measure in the Lok Sabha and seven in minister had walked out. Since his return to his official Pachauri had informed them The government agenda for the without proper consultations, said the Rajya Sabha. Those pend- The 21st CPIM conference residence, Achuthanandan was “that he will be unable to chair session beginning today includes sources. ing in the Lok Sabha include the that began on Friday plunged closeted with four of his closest the plenary session of the IPCC 44 items of financial, legislative The Bharatiya Janata Party is Constitution (122nd Amendment) into a crisis when 91-year- aides and sources in the know of in Nairobi next week because of and non-legislative business. apparently concerned about activ- bill relating to introduction of GST, old Achuthanandan walked things have revealed that he is issues demanding his attention Naidu met Sonia Gandhi in the ist Anna Hazare’s protest against and the Lokpal and Lok Ayukta out of the meeting on the sec- unlikely to return for the confer- in India”, in a statement late on morning and later met leaders of the ordinance and any perception bill. The second part of budget ses- ond day morning in Alappuzha ence and either today or tomor- Saturday. AFP opposition parties over lunch to of the party being viewed as anti- sion will commence on April 20 and returned back to his offi- row, he might even quit as leader seek their cooperation, but they all farmer. Congress vice president and conclude on May 8. IANS cial residence as leader of of opposition. IANS DOHA JEWELLERY &

MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 WATCHES EXHIBITION Al Majed Jewellery brings Patek Philippe masterpieces to Qatar

ince the company was founded joined side-by-side and neither parts of the the center and hour wheels that carry the in 1839, Patek Philippe has been setting nor the white gold of the case and minute and hour hands. The two baton-style safeguarding all the artistic skills bracelet can shine through between them, hands and the applied Roman numerals at needed to make the precious inner the lapidary must grind a narrow groove into XII and IV in 18K rose gold are typical design life of its timepieces visible from the facet on the underside of each diamond features of Patek Philippe’s iconic Twenty~4 Sthe outside, transforming them into the most baguette. The counterpart of each groove is ladies’ watch collection. beautiful and rarest treasures. One stunning a delicate gold clip raised out of the bracelet example: the remarkable Twenty~4 Haute and case which clamps the precious stone and “Rare Handcrafts” and Patek Philippe Joaillerie (Ref. 4909/110), a ladies’ watch that secures it in its place. The positions of the When Antoine-Norbert de Patek estab- has its debut at Baselworld 2014. It illustrates countless clips and of the delicate grooves in lished the Patek Philippe manufacture 175 that Patek Philippe’s ateliers need not shun the diamonds must correspond to fractions of years ago, he clearly formulated his objective: the comparison with the world’s most emi- a millimeter to assure that in the end, the set “to build the world’s best and most beautiful nent jewellery houses. Excellence permeates stones are perfectly adjacent to one another. watches”. This credo explicitly defines a watch the creativity of the designs, the quality and Each of the blue fishes fashioned from rich- as the totality of its mechanical inner life and orchestration of the precious stones, the blue sapphires is then applied on this sea of the facets of its external appearance. It is an fixation of the gems in traditional bead and diamonds. The smaller ones are navette-cut aspiration that has remained unchanged and closed settings or gridless pavé and the sapphire solitaires with a closed rose-gold set- is expressed in writing in the Directives of extremely complex and risky invisible set- ting. The larger ones are composed of many the Patek Philippe Seal. For this reason, the ting technique. small brilliant-cut sapphires held by rose-gold focus throughout the years was not only on bead settings arranged to depict the contours watchmaking artistry. Great emphasis was Swimming in diamonds of the fishes and their speckles. Because fine also placed on the many highly specialized Altogether 1937 diamonds and sapphires white diamonds lie beneath these sapphires, artisanal techniques with which movements grace the dial, case, bracelet, and clasp of the light can easily shine through their blue and cases were refined. They include different the Twenty~4 Haute Joaillerie with its poetic body color from below, thus amplifying their enameling arts such as painting on enamel, “Aquatic Life” motif. All gems are flawless color intensity and brilliance. Additionally, 855 cloisonné enamel, champlevé enamel, relief and immaculately cut, the baguette diamonds small brilliant-cut diamonds totaling approxi- and line engraving, guilloching, as well as the sparkle in Top Wesselton white, and the fire mately 1.7 ct. glisten vibrantly between the jeweler’s and gemsetter’s handcrafts. of the sapphires is intensely blue. With a links of the bracelet. As the demand for lavishly decorated time- total weight of approximately 43.73 ct, they pieces waned in the 20th century and the com- form a marine still life that was composed Mechanical magnificence munity of gifted finissage artists grew smaller, in Patek Philippe’s design department and The lavishly finished caliber 16-250 is a the manufacture still retained their services. implemented in the manufacture’s ateliers manually wound mechanical movement that This was the case even if the results could according to venerable traditions. It shows proudly reveals itself through the case back. not be sold and in the end were added to the blue sapphire fishes of various sizes that swim The two bridges and the balance cock feature private collection of the company’s owners, the in an ocean of diamonds. round-chamfered and polished edges. Their Stern family. Quite a few of these creations Closed-set baguette diamonds beam on the surfaces are adorned with Geneva striping. are now highly admired exhibits in the Patek gently inclined flanks of the 18K white gold Gleaming red bearing jewels provide colorful Philippe Museum and so precious that it is case and bracelet. The diamonds in the case accents while the balance, the center wheel, justifiable to call them priceless. But perhaps are arranged in subtle fan-shaped pattern, and the engravings on the bridges emanate a the most important aspect is that, thanks to which made it necessary to cut every single golden sheen. Patek Philippe’s commitment, the last of these one to a shape corresponding to its exact loca- But above all, it is a mechanical movement artisans were able to pass on their expertise tion. The baguette diamonds on the upper side crafted to the finest watchmaking standards, to younger talent, preserving their valuable of the bracelet and on the dial are invisibly one which showcases its functionality: the bal- know-how for current and future generations. set. The invisible setting is considered one ance, that vibrates 28,800 times an hour (4 These rare handcrafts represent a cultural of the most challenging techniques and from Hz) and with an anchor-shaped lever trans- heritage without which Swiss watchmaking the gemsetter’s point of view the most risk- mits each semi-oscillation to the escape wheel, artistry would not have attained its globally fraught way to set gems. which in turn transmits each impulse via the unique status. To make sure all stones are seamlessly fourth wheel to the third wheel and then to THE PENINSULA Grandmaster Chime: The sound of history More than 100,000 hours were logged for development, production, and assembly, of which 60,000 hours for the components of the movement. Each caliber consists of 1,366 parts and each case of 214 separate parts, bringing the total number of components for each Grandmaster Chime to 1,580. It took 11,060 hand-finished parts to assemble the seven limited- edition commemorative Grandmaster Chime masterpieces, which is showcased at the pavilion of Al Majed Jewellery.

o pay tribute to its 175th the date on demand. Four additional anniversary, Patek Philippe patents emphasize the innovative thrust created a collection of limited behind this watch. Tedition commemorative To protect complicated timepieces timepieces, and one of them stands against damage caused by inadvertent out in particular. It is the so far manipulations, the manfacture’s most complicated wristwatch of the engineers devised clever “isolators” that eminent family-owned watchmaking interrupt the flow of power between companies and decidedly one of the individual mechanisms or block certain leap-year cycle at 6 o’clock and the day world’s most elaborate wristwatches. functions while others are active. The of the week at 9 o’clock. The time of day This is due not only to the number of engraved inscriptions and symbols on appears at 12 o’clock on the 24-hour and complications involved but also to the the case and the pushers are further 60-minute subdial. With the exception horological degrees of complexity, two of hallmarks of convenience that make the of the four-digit year, the calendar which have been added to the annals of Grandmaster Chime a self-explanatory displays advance instantaneously watchmaking for the first time. grand complication watch. and at the same time. As regards the Moreover, the Grandmaster Chime The effort invested by Patek Philippe date, this is indispensable because is the first double-face wristwatch in this unique anniversary timepiece is the date repeater must obtain precise presented by Patek Philippe that can remarkable. More than 100,000 hours information, especially during the be worn with either dial facing up: the were logged for development, production, minutes before and after midnight. one that focuses on the time and the and assembly, of which 60,000 hours for reserved for the strikework mechanism, The date repeater The perpetual instantaneous date is sonnerie, the other dedicated to the the components of the movement. Each the sonneries can be activated during The idea behind this patented global also displayed on the other face of the full instantaneous perpetual calendar. caliber consists of 1,366 parts and each a period of more than 30 hours before debut was inspired by a long-standing watch where it frames the moonphase Changing the face is very simple thanks case of 214 separate parts, bringing the they need to be rewound by hand. Patek Philippe customer who in a dis- display at 6 o’clock. A patent granted for to the ingenious reversing mechanism total number of components for each Remarkably, this was accomplished cussion with the manufacture’s presi- the four-digit year display acknowledges in the lugs. It is amazingly easy to Grandmaster Chime to 1,580. Thus, it even though the quarter-hours are dent Thierry Stern mentioned the the elegant mechanical solution which operate and firmly secures the case in took 11,060 meticulously hand-finished sounded not on two but instead on three possibility of a date strike. Now, with allows the year to be conveniently the selected position. Incidentally, the parts to assemble the seven limited- gongs with different tone sequences. the Grandmaster Chime, it becomes incremented forward or backward with information for which a watch is most edition exemplars of Patek Philippe’s This requires 50 percent more energy sonorous reality when the date repeater two pushers. frequently consulted – the current time commemorative Grandmaster Chime for each quarter-hour strike. is triggered with a pusher. It sounds The Grandmaster Chime is delivered and the date – is displayed on both dials. masterpiece. Seven watches that are ten-day intervals with a double high- in a chest made of Makassar ebony and Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster making history reverberate. Minute repeater and alarm low strike and the remaining days with 17 further wood species. It is decorated Chime is a wrist-format timekeeping The strikework double barrels also a high strike: the 23rd of a month is with intarsia and gold inlays. Apart from instrument of absolutely unprecedented Grande and Petite Sonnerie deliver the energy for the minute indicated with a ding-dong ding-dong the watch, it contains the accompanying complexity and ingenuity that This complication automatically repeater, which on demand strikes the followed by ding-ding-ding. The strike- documentation and a commemorative establishes new benchmarks in terms sounds the hours and quarter-hours hours and quarter-hours as well as the work mechanism obtains the date infor- medal in gold that depicts milestones of technical and aesthetic elegance. at each quarter hour (in the Petite minutes that have elapsed since the last mation from the perpetual calendar of the manufacture’s history as well as Its double-face case with a diameter Sonnerie mode only the hours at the quarter-hour. Connoisseurs automati- to which one side of the double-face portraits of the company’s presidents of 47 mm, it accommodates four top of the hour and only the quarters at cally associate the clarity and volume of watch is dedicated, and which controls from the Stern family since 1932. spring barrels and no fewer than each quarter hour). It ranks among the the sounds with Patek Philippe. After the date displays on both sides of the The Patek Philippe Grandmaster 20 complications, including coveted functions that aficionados and collectors all, it was the Genevan manufacture timepiece. Chime celebrates the 175th anniversary functions such as a Grande and hoped to see implemented in a Patek that orchestrated the comeback of this of the manufacture in a limited edition Petite Sonnerie, a minute repeater, an Philippe wristwatch. But it was always queen of complications 25 years ago. Instantaneous perpetual calendar of seven watches. Six of them will be instantaneous perpetual calendar with clear to the manufacture that this would The alarm strikes the alarm time by The dial of the calendar face is sold to long-standing collectors of Patek a four-digit year display, a second time not happen unless a strikework power reproducing the complete tone sequence eminently legible. It features four Philippe timepieces. The seventh one zone, and two patented global debuts reserve of at least one entire day could of the minute repeater, with exactly the subdials with analog displays grouped will find a place of honor at the Patek in the domain of chiming watches: an be achieved. The necessary technology same sound quality. This is a function around the gold-framed four-digit Philippe Museum where it can be acoustic alarm that strikes the alarm was not available until just recently. never before integrated in a mechanical year display in the middle. The month admired by the public. time and a date repeater that sounds But now, thanks to the double barrels wristwatch. is indicated at 3 o’clock, the date and THE PENINSULA

Monday 23 February 2015 4 Jumada I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6350 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780

QIB to raise up to QR5bn through Sukuk Total assets put at QR96bn

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB when required. It’s not going to be a retail issue. Initially, we propose DOHA: The shareholders of to issue it within Qatar.” Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) The new Basel III banking yesterday gave the nod to the standard, due to come into full bank to raise up to QR5bn force in 2019, oblige banks to set ($1.37bn) through a capital aside more capital. QIB’s total boosting Sukuk. capital adequacy ratio, a combi- The Bank’s extraordinary nation of Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital, general assembly (EGM) gave stood at 14 percent at the end of the approval to the bank for the 2014 against a 12.5 percent mini- issuance of unlisted Sukuk that mum prescribed by QCB. shall be eligible for inclusion as The ordinary AGM and the Addition Tier 1 Capital in accord- EGM approved all the items in ance with Basel III, in compliance the agenda in their respective with the instructions of Qatar meetings, including the board of Central Bank (QCB). directors’ proposal to distribute The issuance may be in a 42.5 percent cash dividends of the phased manner during the course nominal value per share, meaning of the year, and will depend on the QR4.25 per share. need of capital. “We need to main- Earlier, addressing the gen- tain a healthy Capital Adequacy eral assembly, Sheikh Jassim bin Ratio (CAR) in compliance with Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Basel III guidelines,” Bassel Jamal, Thani, Chairman of QIB, said the Group CEO of QIB, told The Bank remains committed to sup- Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) Chairman Peninsula after the EGM. port the local economy through Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin “It’s a Sukuk with long-term its innovative Shariah-compliant Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani with Vice- maturity. It is not convertible into solutions offered to its large Chairman Abdullatif bin Abdulla Al QIB to relocate HQ to Lusail City shares… the existing shareholders’ number of corporate customers Mahmoud (left) and Group CEO ownership will remain undiluted,” who are handling major national Bassel Gamal (right) at the AGM DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank our head office. We are starting a branch at the Qatar’s leading he added. projects across different sectors. of QIB at the Four Seasons Hotel (QIB) is planning to move its project but it will take some time,” shopping complex will be much The details such as the exact The Bank continues to recruit yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT headquarters to the upcoming Jamal told The Peninsula on the bigger in size compared to the amount to be raised, currency and invest in local talent and ful- Lusail City. The bank’s head- sidelines of the Bank’s General existing one. and profit rate that the bank will fill its responsibility as a corpo- quarters is currently located Assembly meeting yesterday. “The City Centre branch pay, would be decided in consul- rate citizen through its support QR5.65 in December 2013. at the Grand Hamad Street, He added: “We are focusing of QIB is very small. We are tation with the specially desig- to a number of social initiatives. Total assets of the Bank popular as Bank Street. on the refurbishment of some expanding the size of the branch nated members. “Once it’s done, QIB, Qatar’s largest Shariah- increased by 24 percent com- The country’s leading Shariah- old and existing branches, and as we intend to provide the best we will go back to the QCB for compliant lender by assets, pared to 2013 and now stands compliant bank also announced also intend to open three to five possible services to our custom- final approval.” recorded a net profit of QR1.6bn at QR96bn driven by a robust plans to open several new new branches in different parts ers,” said Jamal. Gourag Hemani, Chief ($439.38m) for the year 2014, growth in financing activities that branches in the country at stra- of the country, including The According to the QIB chief, the Financial Officer, QIB, said: “The which represents a strong 20 per- have now reached QR60bn having tegic locations as part of its Pear-Qatar, The Gate Mall and City Centre management is in the bank will predominantly be trying cent increase compared to 2013. added QR13bn, representing a 27 expansion, according to Bassel City Centre.” process of relocating all the bank’s to sell the Sukuk to government Earnings per share (EPS) percent growth over 2013. Jamal, Group CEO of QIB. The existing branch of QIB branches in the mall to different and institutional investors, as and reached QR6.78, compared to THE PENINSULA “We have some lands in Lusail at the City Centre will be relo- locations but within the complex. City where we are going to move cated within the mall. The new THE PENINSULA Qatar-Japan consortium to study projects in Turkey region RasGas connects with DUBAI: A group of Qatari state-linked markets including Turkey. bidder to construct the 2,400 megawatt investors and three Japanese power firms This decision forced Turkey into talks with Facility D gas power plant in Qatar, Project have signed an agreement to study the pos- other potential investors including Qatari and Finance International, a Thomson Reuters Qatari students in UK sibility of developing projects in Turkey’s Chinese parties. A consortium of Mitsubishi company, said on February 17. Last week, Afsin Elbistan region, one of the Qatari Corporation, Marubeni and Chubu Electric a consortium headed by Mitsubishi Heavy DOHA: RasGas Company Ltd said Abdulrahman Al Mannai, firms said in a statement yesterday. Power on the Japanese side and Qatar Holding Industries agreed a $3.33bn contract for a (RasGas) is on a recruitment Learning and Development The Afsin-Elbistan region holds up to 45 and Nebras Power from the Gulf state signed subway system in Doha, according to Japan’s drive in the UK looking for Manager at RasGas. percent of Turkey’s reserves of lignite, or an agreement on Friday to study projects in Nihon Keizai (Nikkei) newspaper. young and talented Qatari stu- As part of the UK visit, RasGas brown coal, and Turkish authorities have been the region, Nebras said in a statement. The newspaper also reported last week that dents who would like to make a also met with Qatari students on keen to attract investment into the region to The group will evaluate projects including Marubeni and Nebras Power had signed an career in the dynamic world of RasGas’ scholarship programme help meet growing electricity demand. the development, operation and maintenance agreement to build a gas power plant in Kenya. natural gas. The company took at six prestigious universities A $12bn deal with Abu Dhabi National of lignite power plants, but it was yet to reach Nebras Power is an internationally focused part in several recruitment across the UK. Energy Co to develop several power plants any agreement over projects with the Turkish infrastructure investment firm 60 per- driven initiatives in the UK The visits provided RasGas in the region collapsed in August 2013 after government, the statement said. The potential cent owned by Qatar Electricity and Water between February 18 and 28. with the opportunity to not only TAQA said it would delay its planned invest- development is the latest in a string of business Company, with the remainder split between As part of the programme, follow existing scholars’ progress ment amid difficult financing conditions at deals involving Qatari and Japanese entities. Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Holding. RasGas participated in the 8th but network and discuss fur- a time of currency volatility in emerging Mitsubishi is set to be named preferred REUTERS Annual Career Fair for Qatari ther programme improvement students in London on February initiatives with the university 20-21. The 2015 fair attracted professors and deans. There are more than 200 undergraduate and currently 52 Qatari students Motorcycle Days fair postgraduate students. enrolled in various university The fair provided RasGas with programmes across the UK under Libya resumes oil exports a platform to introduce students RasGas’ scholarship programme. to a wide array of career opportu- “This annual UK visit is one from eastern port of Zueitina nities, scholarships and internship of many initiatives we undertake programmes on offer at RasGas as part of our Qatarization pro- BENGHAZI/TRIPOLI: Libya has resumed oil exports and other prominent Qatari gramme and is testament to our from the eastern port of Zueitina after an almost year- organisations and institutions. commitment to fully support the long suspension and is also testing a pipeline to restart “RasGas is delighted to take national development strategy exports from Hariga port, officials said yesterday. part in the UK Career Fair for with specific emphasis on nurtur- The resumption will bring in badly needed revenues for the the eighth year in a row. The ing and supporting our national oil producer struggling with a public finance crisis due to a event provides a platform to not talent, as set out in the Qatar violent conflict between two governments and parliaments only connect with local students National Vision 2030,” he added. allied to armed factions. Zueitina is under the control of studying abroad but also works to RasGas was one of the first troops loyal to the internationally recognised Libyan govern- attract the highest caliber of engi- Qatari companies to participate ment. The proceeds from the oil exports will go to the central neering graduates for scholarships in the UK Career Fair and has bank which has sought to stay out of the conflict. at RasGas. Students in non-engi- recruited countless Qatari stu- Oil exports have fallen to less than 200,000 barrels a day with neering majors were introduced dents from overseas over the Visitors eye Harley-Davidson motorcycles during the Hamburg Motorcycle Days the closure of the eastern Hariga port due to a pipeline blast a to other career options avail- years. Currently, about 36 percent fair in Hamburg, Germany. The fair ended yesterday. week ago, a fraction of the up to 1.3 million barrels it exported able in different fields and were of its total workforce is made up daily prior to the ousting of leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. provided with valuable advice of Qataris. REUTERS on qualifications and skills,” THE PENINSULA MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Strong dollar not good for global recovery Dollar’s appreciation against a basket of major world currencies to continue, says QNB Group analysis

HE US dollar has appre- The pricing of USD liquidity Asian and Latin American EMs. that USD liquidity is increas- ciated by about 17 percent became prohibitive, making it dif- In India, for example, the ingly becoming more expensive Tagainst a basket of major ficult to settle many USD financial Reserve Bank of India disclosed and difficult to secure. Pricing world currencies over the past and trade transactions. In the end, in October 2014 that only 15% of 12-month swap contracts year and the trend is likely to the Fed had to intervene by open- of all corporate debt (mostly in for offshore Chinese Renminbi continue. This will aggravate the ing up bilateral swap lines with USD) was hedged as of August has reached an all-time high in economic slowdown in the emerg- other major central banks around 2014, compared with 34 percent recent weeks. To a lesser extent, ing markets, and further weaken the world in order to provide the in March 2014. five-year basis swap spreads the global recovery, warns a QNB necessary liquidity to meet the As QE came to an end in (in essence the cost of hedging Group analysis released yesterday. increased demand for USD. October 2014 and the US economy against USD movements over five The main driver of the dollar’s A similar liquidity squeeze strengthened in the second half of years) have recently risen against appreciation has been the US may be in the making now, says 2014, the USD started to appreci- the British pound, the euro and Federal Reserve’s (Fed) expected the QNB Group. According ate. As a result, many of the un- the Swiss franc, although they increase in US short-term inter- to the Bank for International hedged corporates that borrowed remain well below the highs dur- est rates later this year, while Settlement, credit to non-bank in USD during the QE period will ing the euro crisis of 2011-12. most other central banks around borrowers outside the United now require a larger amount of Looking forward, these trends the world continue to ease their States totalled $9.2 trillion at domestic resources to pay their are likely to continue if the USD policy stance. end-September 2014. USD-denominated debt. continues to appreciate. First, it Going forward, this divergence This represents an increase This is likely to have a nega- will become increasingly more of global monetary policy stances in USD exposure outside of the tive impact on their investment expensive for corporates in Asia could lead to further dollar appre- US of over 50 percent since end- plans and operations, leading to and other EMs to unravel their ciation, which is likely to have 2009, with the largest increase a further slowdown of economic un-hedged USD positions, lead- negative implications for the large coming from Asia. Most of this growth in EMs. ing to a further slowdown in eco- un-hedged dollar positions in many credit growth outside of the US At the same time, the appre- nomic growth in these countries. Emerging Markets (EMs) and lead has been driven by the histori- ciation of the USD, the expected Second, the expected rise in US to a tight USD (US dollar) liquidity cally low interest rates associated rise in US short-term interest short-term interest rates will add squeeze around the world. with the Fed’s successive rounds rates and negative interest rates to the already strong incentives This would, in turn, aggravate of Quantitative Easing (QE). in Europe are pushing global asset to hold USD-denominated assets, the EM growth slowdown and Corporates, in particular, have managers to move a larger share which could lead to a squeeze in further weaken the global recov- taken advantage of low US inter- of their portfolios into USD- global USD liquidity. ery, the QNB Group analysis has est rates to fund their operations denominated assets. Both these phenomena are warned. The USD continues to be in USD. Anecdotal evidence sug- This, in turn, is increasing the going to have a negative impact on the main currency for financial gests that about USD1.4tn of demand for USD outside of the an already fragile global recovery and trade transactions around for the same amount of financial global financial crisis of 2008-09, this outstanding credit is held by US, whereas the supply of USD and may lead to significant fur- the world. When it appreciates and trade services provided in when the whole world rushed for Chinese corporates, mostly un- liquidity US remains limited given ther volatility in financial markets against other currencies, more USD. a safe haven in the US Treasury hedged for exchange rate move- the end of US QE. in the months ahead, according to resources from non-USD denomi- This essential role of the USD Bond market, but there was not ments. Smaller amounts are also There are, therefore, increas- the QNB analysis. nated countries are needed to pay became apparent during the enough USD liquidity available. held mostly un-hedged by other ing signs from swap markets THE PENINSULA

Robot app challenge Freight shipping prices sink on oversupply, China slowdown LONDON: Freight shipping reflection of the balance of sup- But the Asian powerhouse’s prices have plummeted to a ply and demand for ships carry- economy is slowing down. In 2014, historic low, fuelled by a long- ing dry bulk. “The key point is it grew at 7.4 percent, the weakest standing problem of too many that demand for cargo ships has rate for 24 years. ships and lower demand from recovered since 2009, but it has And Beijing’s removal of an China, but experts cautioned failed to catch up with the growth export tax rebate last month against seeing it as a warning in supply,” said Jessop. is likely to continue to depress on the global economy. The shipping industry has long Chinese demand for iron ore, The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), suffered from the blight of ships according to Pauchet. “Chinese which tracks the cost of trans- ordered when times are good and steel mills had been taking advan- porting dry commodities such as delivered when they are no longer tage of the export tax rebate to coal, iron ore and grain across needed. The BDI peaked at 11,793 sell their production to neigh- 20 shipping routes, dropped in May 2008 and confident owners bouring countries,” he said. Wednesday to 509 points, its low- ordered more ships to cope with Prospects for coal are no bet- est level since the creation of the robust demand — oblivious of the ter. Chinese imports fell sharply index in 1985. coming global economic crisis. in 2014 owing to the increased There have never been more Since then, the market has use of hydropower, according to commodities transported by sea, been hoping for a recovery that Braemar ACM. And this year, A woman poses as humanoid robot Pepper takes a picture at a booth of IMJ Corporation during the Pepper but the sector has been plagued has been slow to materialise. the completion of nuclear power App Challenge 2015 in Tokyo yesterday. The robot was developed by Mobile phone carrier Softbank. with a surplus of ships ordered in And every tentative upturn has plants should further reduce good times, while China has put led to increased orders from ship- Chinese demand for coal. further downward pressure on yards, mainly in China and Japan, Shipowners have begun to rates. The index used to be seen perpetuating the problem. react, trying to push back new as a reliable indicator of global “The market does not learn,” deliveries. And since the start of economic health or looming crisis, said George Kalogeropoulos, com- the year, the scrapping of ships EMRQ to turn but the gauge has lost its edge in mercial and chartering director is increasing, a change from last Qatar bourse index recent years. at SafBulk—although he said the year when owners were hanging “The BDI adds little to what extent of the BDI decline this on to their older vessels, antici- 5 this week we already know about global time was surprising. The fourth pating a market recovery. commodity markets from other quarter of 2014 was especially bad Some of them such as Scorpio DOHA: ExxonMobil Qatar’s gains 28.97 points indicators, and it is a poor guide for business, a period supposed to Bulkers, which went on a buying research centre, ExxonMobil to the overall health of the world be the strongest in the year for spree in 2013, have also decided to Research Qatar (EMRQ) will DOHA: Qatar Exchange index Insurance companies also out- economy,” said Julian Jessop, ana- the dry bulk sector. convert some ships on order into celebrate its fifth anniver- gained 28.97 points or 0.23 performed. The sector’s index rose lyst at Capital Economics. This was compounded by a late oil tankers. sary this week. Inaugurated in percent when it closed yester- 0.5 percent and AXA Cooperative Marc Pauchet, an analyst at Chinese New Year in February, Kalogeropoulos said he did not 2009 at the Qatar Science and day at 12,525.43 points from Insurance Co, which at the end shipbroking company Braemar and the traditionally quiet period think this was enough. “In my Technology Park, EMRQ is one Thursday’s closing of 12,496.46 of last week reported a 22.4 per- ACM, said: “The combination of preceding it. China is the world’s opinion there is only one way for of QSTP’s first anchor tenants. points. The traded value cent increase in 2014 net profit, increased speculative investments second biggest economy after the the market to recover and sus- ExxonMobil Qatar will mark decreased to QR349.517m with surged its daily 10 percent limit. in the commodities market and United States and the largest con- tain,” he said. “It’s simple. All the the event with a special celebra- a volume of 9,328,742 shares Retailer United Electronics added an oversupply of ships has thrown sumer of coal and iron ore, mak- shipowners have to lay up 15 per- tion to be held under the patron- from 4,357 transactions com- 0.8 percent after the firm said it the indicator off in recent years.” ing the shipping industry highly cent of the entire fleet for good. age of Qatar Foundation Research pared with QR464.287m with had launched a new store which The BDI is now simply a dependent on Chinese demand. That’s the only way.” AFP and Development, which will a volume of 10,095,842 shares would boost first-quarter sales. gather more than 300 of its part- from 5,131 transactions on Markets in Dubai and Abu ners, key government officials and Thursday. Shares of 20 compa- Dhabi edged down 0.5 percent community leaders. nies closed higher, 14 dropped each. Egypt’s bourse edged up 0.1 Moto Park expo EMRQ exemplifies how while five remained unchanged. percent. Investment bank EFG ExxonMobil is contributing to Meanwhile, Gulf equity mar- Hermes climbed 1.0 percent after the Qatar National Vision 2030 kets were narrowly mixed after Qalaa Holdings hired it to advise by supporting research, safety, oil prices stabilised, with low on the possible sale of Qalaa’s food health and the environment. trading volumes indicating that businesses. There are many milestones to be investors remained cautious. Investment firm Pioneers celebrated in the life of EMRQ, Brent crude oil steadied just Holding fell 0.9 percent; last week, the main ones being: above $60 a barrel on Friday a subsidiary of Europe’s biggest In 2009, EMRQ launched its as expectations for falling US dairy group Lactalis raised its offer first project, focusing on the rig count numbers outweighed for Egypt’s Arab Dairy to 65.75 marine environment of the Qatari concerns about oversupply. Oil’s Egyptian pounds per share, top- coastline. Also in the same year, weakness earlier last week ended ping the latest bid from Pioneers. EMRQ began a comprehensive, a rally across Gulf stock markets, multiyear, QR7m research pro- prompting investors to book prof- HIGHLIGHTS gram to investigate the potential its and stay on the sidelines. SAUDI ARABIA: The index effects from the seawater used at The main Saudi stock index inched up 0.01 percent to 9,301 Ras Laffan and returned to the was flat with a roughly equal points. Gulf Sea. split between gainers and losers. DUBAI: The index edged down Speaking of the significance Petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic 0.5 percent to 3,840 points. of EMRQ’s milestones, achieve- Industries edged up 0.4 percent. ABU DHABI: The index fell 0.5 ments and partnerships, Alistair Makkah real estate developer percent to 4,647 points. Routledge, President and General Jabal Omar was the main support, EGYPT: The index added 0.1 Manager for ExxonMobil Qatar jumping 4.5 percent. The company, percent to 9,495 points. Inc, said: “We are very proud which uses the Islamic calendar, KUWAIT: The index edged of what EMRQ has managed to reported a second consecutive prof- down 0.6 percent to 6,602 points. achieve over the past five years, itable quarter this month after at OMAN: The index slipped 0.1 A visitor takes a closer look at one of the custom-made motorcycles made of wood at the Moto Park 2015 and how these efforts embrace the least five years of losses. Makkah percent to 6,634 points. international Exhibition in Moscow. The event ends today. objectives of the Qatar National Construction and Development, BAHRAIN: The index climbed Vision 2030.” which has a 10.1 percent stake in 0.1 percent to 1,461 points. THE PENINSULA Jabal Omar, jumped 3.2 percent. QNA/REUTERS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Cheap oil cuts Greece readies reform promises Kuwait’s budget surplus by 26pc Bid to secure financial lifeline from eurozone; Greeks relieved euro exit averted DUBAI: Kuwait’s government ATHENS: Greece’s government But veteran leftist Manolis budget surplus shrank 26 per- prepared reform measures yes- Glezos attacked the failure to ful- cent in the first nine months terday to secure a financial life- fil campaign promises. “I apolo- of this fiscal year as lower oil line from the eurozone, but was gise to the Greek people because prices cut revenue sharply, attacked for selling “illusions” I took part in this illusion,” he analysts at National Bank of to voters after failing to keep a wrote in a blog. “Syriza’s friends Kuwait (NBK) calculated, using promise to extract the country and supporters ... should decide if Ministry of Finance data. from its international bailout. they accept this situation.” The surplus totalled 10.6bn Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Finance Minister Yanis dinars ($35.9bn) between April Tsipras has insisted Greece Varoufakis said the reform prom- and December, down from 14.3bn achieved a negotiating success ises would be ready and submitted dinars a year earlier. The plunge when eurozone finance ministers to Greece’s EU and IMF partners in oil prices since last June has agreed to extend the bailout deal in good time. “We are very con- squeezed state finances and if for four months, provided it came fident that the list is going to be Brent crude stays at its current up with a list of reforms by today. approved by the institutions and level of around $60 a barrel in Greeks reacted with relief that therefore we are embarking upon the coming year, some analysts Friday’s deal averted a bank- a new phase of stabilisation and believe Kuwait could run a budget ing crisis which fellow eurozone growth,” he said on Saturday. deficit or come close to it. member Ireland said could have A government official said the NBK, the country’s largest erupted in the coming week. This reforms would include a crack- bank, predicted the surplus for means Tsipras has stood by one down on tax evasion and corrup- the full fiscal year to the end of promise at least: To keep the tion. The Brussels deal opens the March would total 4.1bn dinars, country in the eurozone. possibility of lowering a target for the smallest surplus in six years, Tsipras maintains he has the the Greek primary budget sur- though it would still be large by nation behind him despite staging plus, which excludes debt repay- international standards at 8.7 a climbdown in Brussels. Under ments, freeing up some funds to percent of gross domestic product. the deal, Greece will still live help ease the effects of 25 per- Government spending rose 10 under the EU/IMF bailout which cent unemployment and pension percent to 10.6bn dinars in the he had pledged to scrap, and must cuts. It also avoids some language first nine months of the fiscal negotiate a new programme by which has inflamed many Greeks, year. Capital spending surged 31 the early summer. angered by four years of austerity percent to 900m dinars, or 39 per- “I want to say a heartfelt thanks demanded by foreign creditors. People walk past a One Euro shop in Athens yesterday. cent of the budget’s annual alloca- to the majority of Greeks who stood In the deal the hated “troika” tion for capital spending. by the Greek government ... That of inspectors from the European although Tsipras won election last Evangelos Venizelos, leader of the bailout programme but lost power Actual expenditure has repeat- was our most powerful negotiat- Commission, European Central month on a pledge to end the socialist PASOK party. to Syriza on January 25. edly fallen far behind budget ing weapon,” he said on Saturday. Bank and IMF, which monitors humiliation of foreigners dictat- Venizelos was deputy prime Friday’s agreement merely buys plans in recent years as political “Greece achieved an important compliance with Greek bailout ing Greek economic policy. minister in the last conservative- time for Greece to seek a long-term disputes and bureaucracy have negotiating success in Europe.” undertakings, is referred to as The opposition pounced on the led coalition which succeeded in deal with the Eurogroup. Eurozone delayed the implementation of Top Marxist members of “the three institutions”. climbdown from promises that raising funds from financial mar- members Ireland and Portugal economic development projects. Tsipras’s Syriza party, a broad Tsipras declared Greece was have raised huge expectations kets with two bond issues last have already exited their bailouts, In past years, an average of only coalition of the left, have so far “leaving austerity, the bailouts and among Greeks. “No propaganda year. With the economy showing but Greece faces yet another pro- 35 percent of budgeted allocations been silent on the painful com- the troika behind”. Nevertheless, mechanism or pirouette can hide signs of growth after a depres- gramme — on top of bailouts in 2010 for capital projects were spent by promises made to win agreement government plans must still be the simple fact that they lied to sion which wiped a quarter off and 2011 totalling ¤240bn — when December; the rise of this ratio from the Eurogroup. approved by the re-named troika, citizens and sold illusions,” said GDP, it had prepared to exit the the extension expires. REUTERS to 39 percent suggests the gov- ernment’s ability to push through projects is improving, NBK said. Government revenue in the first nine months of this fis- cal year dropped 12 percent to 21.2bn dinars. Oil revenue, which Ahli United Bank posts account for over 90 percent of state revenue, fell 13 percent. $482.5m net profit REUTERS Widam records DOHA: Ahli United Bank non-performing loan ratio reduc- (AUB) reported a record net ing to 2 percent as at December QR62.2m profit profit attributable to its equity 31, 2014 with a specific provision shareholders of $482.5m for coverage ratio of 83.8 percent. DOHA: Widam Food Company the year 2014, a growth of 31.7 The total provision coverage ratio, (previously Mawashi) recorded percent compared with the inclusive of collective impairment a net profit of QR62.2m for net profit of $366.5m in 2013. provisions, was 159.4 percent as full-year 2014, compared to The net profit in Q4/2014 was at December 31, 2014. Core oper- QR54.9m a year ago. The $106.2m as compared to $77.2m ating return on Average Equity earnings per share (EPS) in Q4/2013. for 2014 increased to 15.2 percent amounted to QR3.46 in 2014 AUB’s total operating income and the core operating return on compared to QR3.05 in 2013, crossed $1bn for the first time Average Assets for 2014 increased QNA reported. The board since its inception in 2000 with to 1.6 percent, adjusted for excep- recommended distribution of an increase of 8.7 percent over tional non-recurring items. cash dividend of 25 percent the $958m achieved in 2013. This The resultant basic earnings from the share par value — surge in operating income was per share were US cents 8.0 for QR2.5 for each share. Widam The five winners of the Scalextric competition along with officials. driven largely by a 7 percent rise the year ended December 31, Food Company, established in in net interest income (NII) to 2014. Given the excellent results 2004, trade in livestock, meat $763.3m. Fees and other income achieved, the Board of Directors and animal feeds in addition Commercial Bank names first QMS prize winners increased by 13.4 percent from has recommended a cash dividend to tannery and the manage- $245.1m to $278m. The higher of US cents 4.5 per share together ment of the slaughter houses DOHA: Commercial Bank has Benaouda. Commercial Bank motorselfie campaign. To cele- operating income and disciplined with a bonus ordinary share issue in Qatar. THE PENINSULA announced the first group of Head of Retail and Enterprise, brate its sponsorship of the Qatar cost culture aligned to business of 5 percent. winners from its Qatar Motor Dean Proctor said: “ Each of our Motor Show 2015, Commercial needs across the AUB Group fur- “AUB’s diversified business Show customer engagement winners finished with the fastest Bank is offering a chance to win a ther improved the operating cost model combined with its growing Dubai refiner ENOC activities. Commercial Bank daily lap time on our specially Mini Cooper, in addition to a spe- income ratio to 29.7 percent. cross border business flows and was the exclusive Platinum designed course and wins a brand cial interest rate of 2.39 percent The Group’s total assets grew prudent deployment of liquidity hires M&A team Sponsor of the Qatar Motor new iPad mini. The course and flat, (4.43 percent reducing), up to by 2.4 percent to reach $33.4bn at have resulted in the total oper- Show 2015 and ran a Scalextric booth proved exceptionally pop- 3 months payment holiday for vehi- December 31, 2014 from $32.7bn ating income surging past the DUBAI: Dubai’s Emirates competition at the Commercial ular this year and we saw hun- cle loans and a discounted motor as at 2013 year-end. The growth in $1bn mark. The increase in the National Oil Company (ENOC) Bank booth as part of a number dreds of families racing round our insurance rate of 2.85 percent. total assets was primarily due to a operating net profit bears testa- has hired a five-person team of events and promotions in model of Doha.” The Bank is also offering Qatari 6.7 percent growth in the loans and ment to AUB’s strong underlying to work on mergers and acqui- connection with the show. The second batch of Qatar and expatriate customers special advances portfolio to $18.5bn. This business fundamentals and to its sitions for the company as it The five winners of the Motor Show winners will be personal loan rates starting from balanced credit growth was under- effective control framework and seeks to expand beyond its Scalextric competition are announced in April when 4.75 percent reducing (2.56 per- pinned by a 4.4 percent growth in resilient business model,” said home emirate, banking sources Indrohungkito Lawu, Kedar Commercial Bank will award five cent flat), up to 6 months pay- customer deposits to reach $23bn. Mohammad Jassim Al Marzooq, said yesterday. Tandel, Rajiv Rajan, Mohammed travel packages to Ferrari World ment holiday. Asset quality of the Acting Chairman, AUB. The state-owned company Haneefa Puthiyedath & Kreifeur Abu Dhabi part of the Bank’s THE PENINSULA Group improved with the THE PENINSULA could use some of the proceeds from a $1.5bn long-term loan, which it is close to agreeing with a group of seven local and international banks, to help fund this, the sources said. ENOC, a downstream-focused firm owned Al Shaheen Weatherford, StanChart sign agreement by sovereign fund Investment Corporation of Dubai, operates DOHA: Standard Chartered Bank Qatar reduced risk, lowered cost and improved service stations, fuel terminals has been awarded the cash management transparency”. and oil tankers in the Gulf. mandate by Al Shaheen Weatherford. Salman added: “We are constantly striving It did not respond to a request The solution entails automation of Al on building long term partnerships with our for comment. ENOC has expe- Shaheen Weatherford’s payments and collec- clients by offering banking solutions that add rienced turbulent times since it tions. Standard Chartered will be process- value to their business. We believe that this completed its last major acquisi- ing the cash management through electronic solution will further streamline Al Shaheen tion — a $1.9bn deal in 2009 for 48 banking via the bank’s “Straight2Bank” online Weatherford’s business operations through percent in Dragon Oil — as a need banking platform. efficient and secure cash management. There to sell petrol in the UAE at sub- The Straight2Bank platform is enhanced to is growing client demand for similar solutions sidised prices pressured finances. meet the needs of the bank’s clients, present- across our key markets and we are confident ENOC is close to securing ing a convenient, branchless access channel to that this platform will serve to reaffirm our a $1.5bn loan with a nine-year cash management, trade, securities services commitment to all our clients in line with amortising structure — mean- and reporting. The platform improves operat- their needs and aspirations.” ing the borrower repays parts ing efficiency for clients by enabling them to Commenting on the agreement, Ehab of the loan throughout the manage their cash and trade portfolios with Elsayed Financial Manager at Al Shaheen duration — according to bank- the Bank electronically and instantaneously. Weatherford, said: “Given the enhanced ing sources. Abu Dhabi Islamic At a signing ceremony held to mark the security and increased efficiency in processes, Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai occasion, Salman Sharif, Head of Transaction we are delighted with the solution and value , Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Qatar, addition provided. The implementation was NBD, Mashreq, Noor Bank and said: “Straight2Bank provides a dynamic smooth and timely and has served to improve Standard Chartered are providing platform with state of the art solutions for the experience for us overall”. Officials at the signing ceremony. the funds, the sources said. our clients by offering operational efficiency, THE PENINSULA REUTERS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS With new IPOs, China churning out billionaires World’s second-biggest economy hatched about 24 billionaires in first six weeks of 2015

HONG KONG: China’s world- the world’s best-performing index said Zhang Lu, securities ana- Other entrepreneurs have for- people are up $21.3bn for the year. best stock market rally made in 2014. lyst at Capital Securities Corp in tunes approaching $1bn. Zhou Some investors expect further January the busiest month for While the Shanghai index Shanghai, pointing to the surge Guohui, the 50-year-old chair- gains in Chinese stocks. At 15.5 IPOs in a year. It also created a is little changed this year, the in share prices. The net worth man of Eternal Asia Supply Chain times earnings, the Shanghai bundle of new billionaires. Shenzhen Composite Index, the of Zhou Yahui, the chairman of Management, which runs a logis- Composite trades at the lowest In the first six weeks of 2015, smaller of China’s two stock Beijing Kunlun Tech, reached tics and data-processing company, multiple after Hong Kong among the world’s second-biggest econ- exchanges, is up 12 percent in $1.8bn after the Internet video has a fortune valued at $880m the world’s 10 biggest stock mar- omy hatched about two dozen US dollar terms, Asia’s highest game developer quadrupled fol- including cash holdings of about kets. The MSCI China Index, billionaires, many of whom are returns and trailing just Russia lowing its offering, according to $150m, after deducting shares which tracks Chinese companies riding initial public offerings that and Saudi Arabia globally. the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. pledged as collateral. traded in Hong Kong, is valued investors are driving to their daily The Shenzhen rally has Sun Qinghuan, became a bil- No company produced more at 10 times earnings. The central price-trading limits — a frenzy that produced at least three new lionaire when MLS Co, China’s billionaires than the finance bank’s move this month to cut harkens back to the IPO market billionaires: Xiao Fen, whose elec- biggest maker of LED prod- affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding. the the amount of cash lenders of the late 1990s. Among the high- tronics company, Shenzhen Fenda ucts, started trading. The stock Zhejiang Ant Small & Micro must set aside as reserves may fliers are an airline, a video-game Technology, invested in a maker surged by the 44 percent limit Financial Services Group, the also boost stocks. developer and a drug-store chain. of Google Glass-like products; in Shenzhen, giving him a net parent of electronic payment Wang Jianlin, the country’s “IPOs have become very hot Ruan Hongxian, the chairman worth of $1.8bn, according to operator Alipay, doubled its valu- second-richest person, listed his investment products in China,” said of Yunnan Hongxiang Yixintang data compiled by Bloomberg. ation to about $50bn last month cinema business last month on Ronald Wan, chief China adviser Pharmaceutical, China’s third- MLS joins about a dozen com- ahead of a private placement and the Shenzhen Exchange to raise at Hong Kong-based Asian Capital biggest publicly traded drug-store panies that began trading this an anticipated IPO, according to money. Wanda Cinema Line, Holdings, a Hong Kong-based chain; and Zhou Wei, chairman Billionaire Jack Ma, Chairman of week, with the stocks rising by people familiar with the matter. China’s biggest owner of movie corporate advisory firm. “So all of medical software developer Alibaba Group Holding Ltd the trading debut limit. The higher valuation created screens, surged by the daily limit the controlling IPO shareholders Shanghai Kingstar Winning Ma Hong, Chairman of 13 billionaires, including Alibaba’s for more than two weeks after it become very rich afterwards — Software it trading debut. Dongguan Souyute Fashion, a cas- Chief Executive Officer Jonathan started trading, adding $3.8bn to they become billionaires.” In Shanghai, where gains in the Spring Air, whose executives ual-wear apparel maker, became a Lu and Chief People Officer Lucy Wang’s $28.9bn fortune. After a 14-month standstill first day of trading are capped share hotel rooms and eat instant billionaire on February 10 — one Peng, as well as the mother of At least one billionaire said he’s beginning in October 2012, IPOs at 44 percent and subsequent noodles on business trips to keep month after a report said his net founder Jack Ma’s private-equity more focused on his business than resumed in China last year. More daily increases are limited to 10 costs down, has more than quad- worth had crossed the mark. His fund partner, Wang Yulian. his net worth. “Being on a rich than 20 new stocks started trad- percent, Wang Zhenghua, the rupled in value since the IPO, fortune, which also includes stock Ma, 50, has added $6.7bn to his list only reflects paper wealth,” ing in January, the most since the 70-year-old chairman of Spring with the company emerging as held by a company the 47-year-old $35.1bn fortune this year, accord- Xiao said through his spokesman same month a year earlier. The Airlines, landed a $1.3bn fortune Asia’s biggest budget carrier by owns with his wife, increased after ing to the Bloomberg index, mak- Zhou Guiqing, who described the offerings follow a 49 percent rise after the stock surged by the market capitalisation. he reduced the number of shares ing him Asia’s wealthiest person. billionaire as “thrifty”. in the Shanghai Composite Index, daily limit in the nine days after “This is a man-made scarcity,” he had pledged as collateral. As a group, China’s 25 richest WP-BLOOMBERG

Air Arabia adds Sri Lanka mulls the Nepal to RAK future of Rajapaksa’s destination list DOHA: Air Arabia has announced Kathmandu as the white elephants latest destination to be served from the recently launched Ras Al Khaimah hub. The carrier will HAMBANTOTA: From a conditioning units and decorative fly twice weekly to Kathmandu, multi-million dollar airport water fountains switched off after the tenth destination which trav- ignored by airlines to a lav- the carrier’s handful of daily pas- ellers can now access from the ish cricket stadium rejected by sengers trickle through. Northern Emirates. The move players, Sri Lanka’s new gov- National carrier SriLankan came into effect yesterday. ernment is mulling the future Airlines, under orders by Adel A Ali, Group Chief of a string of white elephants. Rajapaksa to land there, halted Executive Officer of Air Arabia, Former president Mahinda flights immediately after he was said: “In just nine months, we have Rajapaksa ordered the state- defeated at the January 8 polls reached the milestone of 10 exciting of-the-art facilities built in by new President Maithripala destinations to which our custom- his southern home town of Sirisena. The airline estimates ers can fly using Ras Al Khaimah Hambantota in extensive efforts savings of $18m annually from Airport. Customers can now enjoy to turn his rural constituency into the stoppage. great connectivity to Nepal from a regional business hub. Vast rev- Built on a migratory route for both, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah enues were channelled into the birds, the airport has been dis- international airports. We look for- vanity projects, mostly named astrous for plane-bird collisions. ward to adding more routes in the after the former strongman who And more recently it has become future from our second hub in the ruled the tropical island for a dec- a highlight on a “white elephant UAE as the emirate’s travel and ade and was determined to keep tour” run by local tourist guides. A Sri Lankan official looks at cars standing at the port facility at Hambantota. tourism sector continue to enjoy the loss-making ventures open. “The challenge for me is to ener- significant growth.” But Rajapaksa’s defeat at elec- gise this place,” airport chief exec- Officials say the port, which was 300-acre botanical garden that location and the swarms of wasps Air Arabia will operate its tions last month, partly due to utive Derick Karunaratne said. meant to rival long established needs tonnes of water every day that have taken up residence. Kathmandu service on Wednesdays corruption and cronyism charges, “Just because there is an airport, ones in Colombo, could break even to keep its non-native plants “It is difficult to figure out and Sundays, departing Ras Al has saddled the new government airlines don’t fly in. They want in more than a decade. alive. Villagers scratching a living what to do with them (the Khaimah at 14.10 and arriving at with loans of close to a billion dol- a destination and we are yet to In a bid to lure business away nearby must get their drinking projects),” Finance Minister Ravi Tribhuvan International Airport at lars and, as yet, no clear strategy build it,” he said. from Colombo, Rajapaksa’s gov- water trucked into the area which Karunanayake said. “But as a first 19.40. Flights will depart Kathmandu to repay them. “From an econo- Located some 250km south- ernment built a sparkling six-lane receives little rain. “We are grow- step, we are trying to sort out the at 20.20 and land in Ras Al Khaimah mist’s point of view, we have to east of Colombo, the town of highway within Hambantota dis- ing wet-zone plants which are not loans. We want to renegotiate at 23.35. Air Arabia currently serves write off the investments,” said Hambantota is an arid outpost, trict and a $52m flyover and inter- native to this area,” a curator some of the loans which have been Kathmandu with triple daily flights Eran Wickramaratne, deputy surrounded by farm land. But change that sees little traffic. A said during a tour of the garden taken at five to seven percent. We from its main hub at Sharjah minister of highways and invest- Rajapaksa spent lavishly on the railway line extension and another opened by Rajapaksa during the should not be paying more than International Airport. ment promotion. “We will have to projects anyway, ignoring feasibil- expressway linking the area to the Commonwealth summit. half a percentage point.” Air Arabia’s first flight from repay the loans for a long time, ity studies against the move and capital are also under construction, Similarly, scarce water is lav- The government, which accuses Ras Al Khaimah International but we can’t expect any tangible environmental warnings about costing millions more. ished on a nearby cricket ground the former Rajapaksa regime of Airport, its second hub in the return from them,” he said. building in an area home to ele- Overlooking the port is another which Rajapaksa ordered built hiding the truth about the econ- UAE, took off on May 6, 2014 to Opened in 2013 after loans phants, leopards and bears. extravagance — a $15.5m con- for the 2011 World Cup when the omy’s health including public Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. It has since of $210m, the Rajapaksa The $361m Chinese-funded ference centre. After hosting venue hosted just two matches. debt levels, says it will keep the added direct services to Muscat in International Airport services harbour in Hambantota is deep in a side event during the 2013 The country’s cricket board was projects open for now, rather than Oman; Dhaka and Chittagong in just one airline, budget carrier debt, but it does at least see some Commonwealth summit, its hall forced to borrow heavily to pay for call in the bulldozers. “(But) This Bangladesh; Cairo in Egypt; and flydubai. The arrivals hall is eerily business from neighbouring India, has stood empty, except for the the 35,000-seat stadium where few is a terrible waste,” concluded Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar empty and the new government whose ships full of new cars dock occasional wedding reception. matches have since been played, minister Wickramaratne. in Pakistan and Doha in Qatar. has ordered the terminal’s air there en route around the world. A short drive away sits a teams put off by the isolated AFP THE PENINSULA

Agricultural Fair Saudi Aramco extends bidding for unconventional gas work

KHOBAR: State energy firm the deadline has been extended Khalid Al Falih told a confer- Saudi Aramco has extended the several times, most recently to ence in Riyadh last month that deadline for companies to bid for March 15. There was no immedi- Aramco had invested $3bn in work on its unconventional gas ate comment from Saudi Aramco. developing unconventional gas facilities in the north of the coun- Meanwhile, several companies resources and had earmarked an try, signalling it remains com- have prequalified for another additional $7bn for it. He did not mitted to developing shale gas unconventional gas project involv- reveal detailed plans. deposits, industry sources said. ing pipelines, also in northern So far, a mining project and The project, known as System Saudi Arabia. That project, known a power plant for Saudi mining A, will involve building process- as System B, is five times as big as company Ma’aden is projected to ing facilities, wellheads and pipe- System A, according to one source. take 200 million cubic feet per day lines for gas in Turaif, where a The search for natural gas is of unconventional gas by 2018. big mining project called Waad Al a priority for Saudi Arabia as The kingdom has made Shamal is under development. No it struggles to keep pace with appraisals of unconventional estimate for the total value of the rapidly rising domestic demand gas potential in its northwest, contracts was given. for power and its strategically Eastern Province and Empty “They extended - the bid clos- important petrochemicals indus- Quarter. It holds the world’s ing date now is in March,” said a try. It has been inspired by the fifth-largest proven reserves of source, adding that Saudi Aramco shale gas surge in the United natural gas, and expects domes- A man grooms a cow which will be entered into competition during the 2015 edition of the Paris International had sent companies additional States, which has been trans- tic demand to almost double by Agricultural Show at the Agricultural Fair in Paris yesterday. The event runs until March 1. requirements that would need formed from the world’s largest 2030 from 2011 levels of 3.5 tril- their study. Bids were originally gas importer to an exporter. lion cubic feet per year. due to close in early December and Saudi Aramco’s chief executive REUTERS MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,525.43 0.23 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,871.48 0.23 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,419.05 0.51 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,257.22 0.20 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,282.49 0.00 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5822.313 -27.209 -0.47 5852.3 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 4,042.33 0.23 % QR142.9368 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,432.54 0.47 % Cac 40 Index/D 4745.71 -6.24 -0.13 4779.54 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,525.84 1.06 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5896 QR 5.6687 QE All Share Insurance 4,079.41 0.18 % Dj Indu Average 18019.35 46.97 0.26 18103.4 15855.12 QR 1.9600 Euro ...... QR 4.1228 QR 4.1812 QE All Share Telecoms 1,411.77 0.26 % CA$ ...... QR 2.8915 QR 2.9485 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,561.25 0.25 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24784.88 58.35 0.24 25048.26 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8174 QR 3.8742 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5684.55 -7.15 -0.13 5781.83 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0304 QR 0.0310 Aus$ ...... QR 2.8100 QR 2.8667 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 33801.1 4.66 0.01 35055.94 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 22-02-2015 19-02-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0581 QR 0.0593 Index 12,525.43 12,496.46 Nikkei 225 Index 17987.09 -17.68 -0.1 18074.26 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0355 QR 0.0363 Change 28.97 65.40 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0833 S&P 500 Index/D 2096.99 8.51 0.41 2097.03 1814.36 % 0.23 0.52 $ 60.22 SL Re ...... QR 0.0271 QR 0.0280 YTD% 1.95 1.71 Straits Times/D 3415.91 -11.25 -0.33 3448.96 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 9,328,742 10,095,842 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 349,517,896.17 464,287,457.50 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3114 QR 0.3177 Trades 4,357 5,131 $ 54.96 Up 20 | Down 14 | Unchanged 05 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 22-02-2015

Commodities: Oil and metal prices retreat LONDON: Crude oil and metal after the Energy Information sabotage in Libya has reduced portrayed a central bank more chaos across financial markets. As mainly to make chocolate. prices drifted lower this week Administration confirmed a output to 150,000 barrels a day, dovish on interest rates than a result, risk appetite has been By Friday on LIFFE, London’s as markets took their cue from weekly surge in US commercial down from a high of almost 1.5 thought, traders said. sapped.” futures exchange, cocoa for deliv- supply and demand patterns crude stockpiles to levels not seen million barrels per day, he said. The record of the January By Friday on the London Metal ery in May stood at £2,007 a tonne as well as uncertainty over since records began in 1982. Flynn said: “Risk premium in 27-28 policy meeting showed the Exchange, copper for delivery compared with £1,970 for the July Greece’s eurozone future. Tony Nunan, risk man- oil may start to come back and Fed policymakers inclined to wait in three months fell to $5,679 a contract a week earlier. On the Eurogroup head Jeroen ager at Japanese trading house the glut of oil may tighten faster longer to begin hiking interest tonne from $5,717.50 a week ear- ICE Futures US exchange, cocoa Dijsselbloem was working over- Mitsubishi Corp, said that than many people think.” rates. By Friday on the London lier. Three-month aluminium for May climbed to $2,987 a tonne time to save a make-or-break although the increase was above Meanwhile booming US out- Bullion Market, the price of gold slipped to $1,810.50 a tonne from from $2,930 the previous week. meeting on Greece’s demand to market expectations, “the gain put from shale rock, which dropped to $1,208.25 an ounce $1,847. Three-month lead dropped SUGAR: Prices retreated on ease its bailout programme as was a lot smaller than the number helped spark slumping oil prices, from $1,235.50 a week earlier. to $1,776.50 a tonne from $1,840. profit-taking, according to Scoville. Germany insisted it stick with announced on Wednesday by the will continue over the next 20 Silver slipped to $16.34 an Three-month tin grew to $17,880 a By Friday on LIFFE, a tonne of its austerity commitments. (private) American Petroleum years but start to slow, increas- ounce from $16.80. On the London tonne from $17,445. Three-month white sugar for delivery in May After days of sharp exchanges, Institute in its weekly report.” ing demand for Opec crude, BP Platinum and Palladium Market, nickel declined to $14,130 a tonne dipped to $388 from $391.40. On the 19 eurozone finance minis- Crude prices lost around 60 forecast on Tuesday. The British platinum decreased to $1,166 an from $14,710. Three-month zinc ICE Futures US, unrefined sugar ters gathered for the third time percent of their value to about $40 energy giant revealed its ver- ounce from $1,201. Palladium slid to $2,058 a tonne from $2,105. for May dropped to 14.67 US cents in little over a week to consider between June and late January dict in an annual global Energy dipped to $783 from $786 an ounce. COCOA: Prices extended gains a pound from 14.84 US cents. Athens’ take-it or leave-it proposal owing to an oversupply in world Outlook report which covers the BASE METALS: Base or on tight supply concerns in West COFFEE: Prices dropped with to extend an EU loan programme markets, a weak global economy period 2013-2035. industrial metal prices mostly Africa, hitting four-month highs support coming from rainfall in which expires this month. and a strong dollar that made oil By Friday on London’s retreated in quiet trade owing to in New York at $3,028 a tonne. major producer Brazil. “Further Time is pressing to find a solu- expensive to purchase for holders Intercontinental Exchange, Brent the Lunar New Year, while Greece “Prices were higher again as rains across key growing areas of tion before the current bailout of rival currencies. North Sea crude for delivery in weighed also. “The market will be hot and dry Harmattan winds Brazil and the highest January programme ends this month, for And while they have been climb- April fell to $60.69 a barrel from keen to gauge the mood in which affected West Africa,” said Jack production in Colombia since fear that failure could see Greece ing in recent weeks on news that $61.19 a week earlier. On the New Chinese participants return to Scoville, analyst at Price Futures 2008 have helped push the price of run out of money and forced out the number of US oil rigs in opera- York Mercantile Exchange, West work later this month,” said ana- Group. The dry Harmattan Arabica coffee to its lowest level of the eurozone within weeks. tion has fallen and energy giants Texas Intermediate or light sweet lysts at Unicredit. wind—a dry breeze packed with in a year,” Capital Economics said. OIL: Prices slipped as news of are cutting back on investment, crude for March dropped to $51.16 “The other big issue is Greece. dust which blows across West By Friday on ICE Futures US, record-high US crude stockpiles markets-watchers say volatility is a barrel from $52.70. The market perception is that the Africa from the Sahara—has Arabica for delivery in May slid offset weak Libyan supplies. likely to continue for some time. PRECIOUS METALS: Gold possibility of a Greek exit from blown away leaves and flowers to 153.80 US cents a pound from Traders sold off crude on Phil Flynn of Price Futures fell over the week despite winning the eurozone has been brought which develop into cocoa fruits. 166.15 cents a week earlier. On Wednesday on forecasts of a huge Group said that largely offline support from the Greek situation much closer by recent events West Africa’s Ghana and Ivory LIFFE, Robusta for May eased jump in US inventories. They supply in Libya was also sup- and minutes from the Federal and if this outcome material- Coast are the two biggest produc- to $1,989 a tonne from $2,022. extended the losses on Thursday porting oil prices. Infighting and Reserve’s January meeting that ises it has the potential to cause ers of the commodity that is used AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Kings gain key win over Sharks in outdoor game Gaborik hits the winner in latest NHL outdoor spectacle

SANTA CLARA: Marian Gaborik scored the game-win- ning goal in the Los Angeles Kings’ 2-1 victory over San Jose Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquaio attends a training session at a gym on Saturday in the latest NHL in General Santos City on the southern island of Mindanao. Pacquiao outdoor spectacle. may be a hero in his native Philippines but even his fans and associates A crowd of 70,205 turned out admit he will be the underdog in his bout against undefeated US boxer for the open air contest at Levi’s Floyd Mayweather in the “fight of the century” in Las Vegas on May 2. Stadium, home of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and the venue for next year’s Super Bowl 50. The crowd was the third-larg- est to watch an NHL contest, Mayweather ‘like any behind Winter Classic outdoor games crowds in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2014 and in Buffalo, other fight’: Pacquiao New York, in 2008. It was the NHL’s 15th regu- lar-season outdoor game, and in GENERAL SANTOS, “pound-for-pound” fighters of addition to the festive atmosphere Philippines: Philippine boxing their generation. the contest carried plenty of seri- hero Manny Pacquiao may be After years of squabbling and ous playoff implications, with the facing the biggest fight of his negotiations, they announced on reigning NHL champion Kings career in undefeated rival Floyd Saturday they would face off in a and the Sharks battling for a Mayweather but he said yes- match that will unify the world Western Conference post-season terday he is taking it all in his welterweight crowns. berth. stride. Pacquiao began light train- Kyle Clifford scored for the first “This is just like any other fight ing for the fight weeks ago and time in 15 games and Jonathan I had before,” he told reporters has been seen running laps and Quick made 31 saves in his 200th as he went through his regular punching bags in preparation for career victory for the Kings, who training regimen in his home Mayweather. won their seventh straight game. town of General Santos in the Following reports in which the Brent Burns produced the lone southern Philippines. Mayweather camp was quoted Sharks goal and Antti Niemi “I’ve been in this kind of situ- as criticising his fighting style, stopped 27 shots in the defeat. ation many times in my previ- Pacquiao said the American With the win, the Kings tied ous fights. It doesn’t scare me. would soon learn the difference their Pacific Division rivals San I love being the underdog,” said between watching him on screen Jose for the second wild card spot The Los Angeles Kings celebrate after Marian Gaborik’s goal against the San Jose Sharks in the third period of Pacquiao, amid reports that odd- and facing him in the ring. in the Western Conference with an NHL game at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Saturday night. smakers in Las Vegas, the venue Pacquiao, who has parlayed his 68 points. of the May 2 fight, are giving his boxing fame into a fortune as a Gaborik’s deciding goal was a force overtime. Clifford opened The Kings fell to the Ducks opponent the advantage. commercial pitchman and elec- NHL Results hard-earned effort as he came off the scoring with a neat deflection 3-0 in a Stadium Series game “It even motivates me to train tion as a member of parliament, Washington 3 NY Islanders 2 the bench, stripped Burns of the of Jake Muzzin’s shot in front 2:46 last season at Dodger Stadium, hard and go for the crown,” the said he would likely fly to the Philadelphia 3 Nashville 2 puck and slapped a shot through into the contest. the baseball park that held the 36-year-old said. United States by February 28. the pads of Niemi from the top of Burns knotted the score after first outdoor regular-season game The boxing champ appears so The 38-year-old Mayweather Toronto 4 Winnipeg 3 the left circle for a 2-1 Kings lead taking the puck off an offensive played in the US west of the relaxed he is even going ahead has never lost in 47 fights. Montreal 3 Columbus 1 4:04 into the third period. face-off win and wristing a quick Mississippi River. with his other job — as playing Pacquiao has 57 victories and five Ottawa 4 Florida 1 “It was an unbelievable atmos- shot from along the right-wing Gaborik said the Kings used coach of a local professional bas- defeats — including two suffered New Jersey 3 Carolina 1 phere, 70,000 people,” Gaborik boards with 1:04 left in the first Friday’s practice to soak in the ketball team in Manila — later as recently as 2012. Anaheim 2 Edmonton 1 said. “I think it’s great for hockey frame. atmosphere, so they could focus this week. Pacquiao’s American promoter Pittsburgh 4 St Louis 2 here in California and a huge two Neither team scored in the sec- on the task at hand on Saturday. “I will play on Wednesday,” Bob Arum confirmed that the two Detroit 7 Dallas 6 points for us.” ond period. “We had a good practice and Pacquiao told ABS-CBN television. fighters had not made any provi- The Sharks pulled Niemi with The Sharks became the 19th came here tonight and it was all Boxing fans have been waiting sions for a re-match. Tampa Bay 4 Arizona 2 more than a minute left but NHL team to play in an outdoor business,” he said. “Great game for years for the match between “That wasn’t even discussed,” Los Angeles 2 San Jose 1 couldn’t come up with a goal to game. for us.” AFP the two men, considered the best he said. AFP Depleted Oklahoma City beat Charlotte 110-103

CHARLOTTE: Oklahoma City crucial injuries, the New Orleans shook off the absence of injured NBA Results Pelicans snapped a four-game los- NBA Most Valuable Player Oklahoma City 110 Charlotte 103 ing slide with a 105-91 road win Kevin Durant on Saturday to New Orleans 105 Miami 91 over the Miami Heat. defeat Charlotte 110-103. Chicago 112 Phoenix 107 Pelicans star Anthony Davis Russell Westbrook scored a re-injured his right shoulder Houston 98 Toronto 76 game-high 33 points to go with when he collided with Heat center 10 assists and seven rebounds for LA Clippers 126 Sacramento 99 Hassan Whiteside in the first the Thunder. quarter. Davis missed the All- Serge Ibaka contributed 16 started at point guard and posted Star Game and two games before points and 12 rebounds, spark- 24 points and 10 assists. returning on Friday. ing a key fourth-quarter surge Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Al New Orleans also lost forward for Oklahoma City who have won Jefferson scored 20 points apiece, Ryan Anderson with an ankle five straight games and seven of but the Hornets suffered their injury in the second quarter. their last eight. fourth straight defeat. Bulls 112, Suns 107 D.J. Augustin and Enes Kanter, Durant missed the game with Forward Pau Gasol scored 22 who were acquired by the a soreness in his right foot — the points with 14 rebounds, and the Thunder at the trade deadline on same foot on which he had sur- Chicago Bulls held on for a 112- Thursday, both scored in double gery in the pre-season that saw 107 win against the Phoenix Suns, figures, Augustin chipping in 12 him miss the first 17 games of the who lost their fourth straight. points and Kanter contributing regular season. Forward Jimmy Butler added 10 points and 13 rebounds. Durant played just 10 minutes 19 points for Chicago, which The Thunder’s win overshad- in last Sunday’s All-Star Game, earned its fifth win in six games. owed Mo Williams’s sparkling and was favoring the foot late in Brandon Knight scored 13 debut for the Hornets. Thursday’s win over Dallas. points for Phoenix in his first game Jason Thompson (#34) of the Sacramento Kings battles for the ball with Matt Barnes (#22) and DeAndre Jordan Pelicans 105, Heat 91 Williams, traded last week from since arriving from the Bucks two (#6) of the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night. the Minnesota Timberwolves, Despite suffering a pair of days earlier. AGENCIES Ethiopia’s Negesse springs Tokyo marathon upset

TOKYOL: Ethiopia’s Endeshaw was a bit of rain and the cold made the presence of several runners Security had been beefed up for Negesse destroyed a quality field it hard work but luckily I was able who have gone under 2:05, includ- Sunday’s race with police and fire including Olympic and world to hang in and win the race. My ing two-times London Marathon services on high alert for a terror- champion Stephen Kiprotich to dream is to go on and make the winner Tsegaye Kebede. ist attack, such as the bomb blast produce a stunning upset in the Ethiopia team for Beijing.” The pint-sized Ethiopian had which killed three people at the Tokyo Marathon yesterday. Ugandan hero Kiprotich, com- been jabbering at the pacemakers 2013 Boston Marathon. Birhane Dibaba completed an peting in honour of the memory to speed up over the first half of Mingling with the 36,000 com- Ethiopian double by winning the of his baby daughter Elizabeth the race but fell out of the lead- petitors was a crack unit of police women’s race to underline the who passed away from a respira- ing pack at the 35km mark and runners wearing cameras that depth of marathon running in the tory illness last month, put in a trailed home in eighth in 2:07:58. capture real-time footage of the East African country. late burst to pip last year’s win- Masato Imai was the top Japanese course, while more than 6,000 Negesse boosted his hopes of ner Dickson Chumba of Kenya to finisher, in seventh place. security officials lined the streets being selected for this year’s world second place. Dibaba, runner-up in 2014, of Tokyo. championships in Beijing with a The London Olympic gold med- won in 2:23:15 while fellow The ninth running of the Tokyo masterful run, leaving the favour- allist and world title holder fin- Ethiopian Tiki Gelana, who Marathon marked the start of ites floundering in his wake after ished a step ahead of Chumba in captured the women’s title at the a new format comprising the an explosive final seven kilome- a personal best of 2:06:33. 2012 London Olympics Games, world’s top six races — including Athletes, including Endeshaw Negesse (#5) of Ethiopia, start the Tokyo tres to clock a winning time of Kenyan Dennis Kimetto’s world finished third after arriving in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago Marathon 2015 in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building two hours and six minutes flat. record of 2:02:57, set in Berlin last Japan late on Saturday because and New York — and offering a yesterday. “It was a tough race,” the year, was never under threat in her flight from Europe was $1m purse split between the men’s 26-year-old told reporters. “There chilly, drizzly conditions despite delayed by snow. and women’s champions. AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Scottish Premiership Results Celtic 4 (Commons 57, 82, Johansen 64, Liverpool survive penalty Guidetti 78) Hamilton 0. Played on Saturday Aberdeen 3 (Rooney 21, 48, Reynolds 66) St Mirren 0; Dundee Utd 0 St Johnstone 2 (O’Halloran 9, 44); Inverness CT 3 (Shinnie 18, Ross 33, Williams 52) Kilmarnock 3 (Eccleston 20, Slater 45, Obadeyi 61); Motherwell 0 drama to sink Saints 2-0 Dundee 1 (McGinn 12)Partick 1 (Taylor 68) Ross County 3 (Curran 11, De Vita 65, Fraser 71). Kane rescues point for Spurs, Upson own goal leaves Leicester frustrated Second-half

LONDON: Liverpool sur- vived three penalty appeals to show takes boost their bid for a top-four finish in the Premier League with a contentious 2-0 win at Celtic clear Southampton yesterday. Brendan Rodgers’ side at top moved up to sixth place, within two points of fourth-placed GLASGOW: Kris Commons Manchester United, as goals from marked his return from injury Philippe Coutinho and Raheem with a double to help Celtic Sterling secured their sixth win to a comfortable 4-0 win over in their last seven matches in all Hamilton Academical that took competitions. them clear at the top of the But fifth-placed Southampton Scottish Premiership yesterday. had reason to feel aggrieved after A well-organised Hamilton a trio of penalty claims were defence frustrated Celtic in the turned down in the first half, first half with Swedish striker starting in the opening moments John Guidetti guilty of missing a when Emre Can tugged at Filip host of chances. Djuricic. The breakthrough came in the Coutinho responded by lashing 57th minute through Commons Liverpool into a third-minute lead before Stefan Johansen tapped in with a brilliant long-range strike a second. that streaked into the top corner Tottenham’s Erik Lamela (left) in action against West Ham’s Mark Noble during the English Premier Guidetti finally got on the for the Brazilian midfielder’s first League (EPL) match at White Hart Lane in London, Britain, yesterday. RIGHT: Liverpool’s English scoresheet with a 78th-minute league goal since November. midfielder Raheem Sterling (left) vies with Southampton defender Jose Fonte (right) during the header before Commons made it Djuricic’s second penalty appeal EPL match at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, England, yesterday. 4-0 two minutes later as Celtic came when he appeared to be extended their unbeaten run to fouled by Joe Allen, but again 11 matches ahead of Thursday’s referee Kevin Friend ignored his penalty area as he tried to con- And when in-form striker challenge for the penalty, claimed Steven Naismith broke the dead- Europa League return with appeals. trol before clearing a cross, yet Kane was fouled in the area by Tottenham were lucky to take a lock in the 57th minute with a low Internazionale in Milan. Then Can handled in the once more Friend waved play on. Alex Song deep into second-half point from a pulsating London scuffed shot that beat wrong- The win moves the Hoops three Liverpool took advantage of stoppage-time, he kept his com- derby. footed Leicester goalkeeper Mark points clear at the top of the more good fortune to seal the posure to smash in the rebound “You can argue whether Alex Schwarzer. Premiership ahead of their clash English Premier points in the 73rd minute when after his spot-kick was saved for Song has made enough contact But David Nugent equalised six with nearest rivals Aberdeen next Southampton’s Matt Targett his 24th goal of a breakthrough for Harry Kane to go down, minutes later when the Leicester weekend. League Results slipped while trying to clear and campaign. but when you’re desperate like forward tapped in after Everton Following their exertions in the the ball fell perfectly for Sterling The result continued the north Tottenham are, you get touched goalkeeper Tim Howard weakly 3-3 draw with Inte on Thursday, Everton 2 (Naismith 57, Upson 89-og) Leicester to slot a deflected shot past London side’s poor record after and the player is going to fall palmed Jamie Vardy’s cross into manager Ronny Deila made four 2 (Nugent 63, Cambiasso 70); Southampton 0 Fraser Forster. midweek Europa League ties this over,” Allardyce said. his path. And Howard was to changes to his side as James Liverpool 2 (Coutinho 3, Sterling 73); Tottenham Elsewhere yesterday, Mauricio term. “They’re so lucky today. One blame for Leicester’s second goal Forrest, Guidetti, Efe Ambrose 2 (Rose 81, Kane 90-pen) West Ham 2 (Kouyate Pochettino praised the fighting But Pochettino said: “In the with the first goal - Danny Rose in the 70th minute as well when and Commons all landed places 22, Sakho 62). spirit of his Tottenham Hotspur second half I thought some deci- has mishit it - and the second goal he misjudged a high cross, push- in the starting line-up. Played on Saturday players after Harry Kane rescued sions were against us, the second Adrian saved the penalty and it ing it out to Vardy, who crossed Swedish striker Guidetti, who Aston Villa 1 (Sinclair 20) Stoke 2 (Diouf 45, a dramatic 2-2 draw against West goal was offside. But we showed has gone straight back to Harry for Argentine midfielder Esteban scored a stoppage-time equaliser Moses 90-pen); Chelsea 1 (Ivanovic 14) Burnley Ham United. character, that’s the most impor- Kane.” Cambiasso to fire home from close against Inter, came close with 1 (Mee 81); Crystal Palace 1 (Murray 90) Arsenal Pochettino’s team had fallen tant thing. There was more late drama at range. That set the stage for a an eighth-minute header from 2 (Cazorla 8-pen, Giroud 45); Hull 2 (Jelavic 16, 2-0 behind at White Hart Lane “Going into the last 10 minutes Goodison Park, where Everton frantic finale in which Leicester a Commons cross that ‘keeper N’Doye 89) QPR 1 (Austin 39); Manchester City as the Hammers struck through at 2-0 down, to finish the game snatched a 2-2 draw against bot- defender Upson unluckily headed Michael McGovern saved on the 5 (Aguero 2-pen, Nasri 12, Dzeko 21, Silva 51, Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra 2-2 is something to be proud of.” tom-of-the-table Leicester City into his own net as he dived to try line. 53) Newcastle 0; Sunderland 0 West Brom 0; Sakho, but an error by goalkeeper West Ham manager Sam thanks to Matthew Upson’s 89th- and reach a cross that was flicked The Hamilton stopper came to Swansea 2 (Ki 30, Gomis 73) Manchester United Adrian allowed Danny Rose to get Allardyce, frustrated that Kane minute own-goal. on by Everton’s Romelu Lukaku. their rescue again three minutes 1 (Herrera 28). one back with nine minutes left. went down easily under Song’s Everton’s Scottish striker AFP later when he got down low to block Guidetti’s snapshot as he connected with an Ambrose cross. Hamilton defender Michael Devlin then put in a superb Ligue 1: Lyon grind out challenge to stop Guidetti in his tracks as he delayed hitting his shot after a good headed knock- down by Ambrose. win to reclaim top spot Commons laid the ball on a plate for the Swedish striker after good work down the right but he PARIS: A scrappy goal cred- greater margin, but Djamel Bakar failed to make a clean connec- ited to Nabil Fekir was enough Spanish La Liga hit the bar with a late penalty. tion with his effort and it rolled for Lyon to beat Nantes 1-0 at For Guingamp, it was a first straight to McGovern. the Stade de Gerland yesterday Results defeat in eight games in all com- Johansen was then off-target and move back to the top of the MADRID: Results from La petitions and a first loss at home with a header as he got on the Ligue 1 table. Liga in Spain yesterday: since November. end of Emilio Izaguirre’s cross as Hubert Fournier’s side broke Meanwhile, Metz remain bot- Celtic’s finishing continued to let Real Sociedad 4 (Agirretxe 16, Xabi Prieto the deadlock midway through the tom of the table on goal difference them down. 48-pen, 90, Arribas 82-og) Sevilla 3 second half when Yoann Gourcuff after seeing their run without a The home side’s frustrations (Kolodziejczyk 43, Bacca 68, Gameiro 78-pen); and Alexandre Lacazette com- league win extended to 14 games grew at the start of the second Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 86) Rayo Vallecano 0. bined to set up Fekir, although as they drew 0-0 at Reims. half until Commons broke the Played on Saturday the final touch appeared to come Meanwhile, David Moyes’s Real Olympique Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette reacts after his team scored deadlock in the 57th minute. Barcelona 0 Malaga 1 (Juanmi 7); Cordoba 1 off Nantes defender Kian Hansen Sociedad struck twice in the final against Nantes during their French Ligue 1 match at the Gerland Stadium The Hamilton defence split as (Ghilas 73-pen) Valencia 2 (Andre Gomes 37, as the ball dribbled over the line. 10 minutes to come from behind in Lyon yesterday. Virgil van Dijk surged forward It was Lyon’s first attempt on Piatti 81); Atletico Madrid 3 (Mandzukic 13-pen, and beat Sevilla 4-3 in a thrilling from defence and his pass took a target but the goal allowed them Griezmann 20, 29) Almeria 0; Deportivo la match yesterday. touch off substitute Darren Lyon, to make it 11 league games with- Coruna 0 Celta Vigo 2 (Charles 46, Larrivey 81) The hosts had got off to an ideal who had been on the pitch for a out defeat as they reopened a two- Playing today start as Imanol Agirretxe slotted Zakri sacked as Wakrah matter of seconds, before reach- point gap to reigning champions Levante vs Granada (1845) home the opener after 16 minutes, ing Commons who lashed a volley Paris Saint-Germain, who beat but Timothee Kolodziejczak lev- beyond McGovern. Toulouse 3-1 on Saturday. French Ligue 1 elled for the Europa League hold- Moments later Johansen con- OL are also five points ahead of ers before the break. coach after another loss nected with a floated pass over third-placed Marseille. Results Sociedad were then gifted a the top but his weak strike was Lyon had drawn their last three soft penalty at the start of the DOHA: Al Wakrah sack their “I don’t think El Jaish will catch straight at McGovern. matches in the absence of 21-goal Guingamp 0 Montpellier 2 (Sanson 2, Berigaud second period, which Xabi Prieto head coach Nouradine Zakri up with us despite the defeat but Scott Brown then fed Guidetti leading scorer Lacazette, but he 55); Lyon 1 (Fekir 67) Nantes 0; Reims 0 Metz converted, but Sevilla responded after their latest defeat in the we really didn’t want to lose this in the box but the striker was 0. returned after a hamstring injury once more when their top scorer Qatar Stars League. game. Sebastian Soria was also foiled by McGovern who got down to lead the line against a Nantes Played on Saturday Carlos flicked home Ever Banega’s The loss came at the hands of not available for the match as low to block his dinked effort. side still looking for their first Paris Saint-Germain 3 (Rabiot 27, 48, Silva free-kick. Sevilla then looked set this year’s newly promoted side Al he was suspended in the previ- Johansen, who hit the post with league win of 2015. 74) Toulouse 1 (Ben Yedder 51); SC Bastia 2 to go on and claim a vital three Shahania. The 1-0 defeat was the ous game. I watched the major- a drilled shot in the 63rd minute, In a game of few clear chances, (Sio 22, Ayite 40) Lille 1 (Mendes 17); Caen 4 points in their battle for a return final straw as the club’s admin- ity of the game from the bench went one better a minute later as Nantes could have opened the (Feret 7-pen, Sala 35, 76, Bazile 36) Lens 1 (El to Champions League football istration thought it best to part and I saw that we too had two he made it 2-0. scoring in the first half when Jadeyaoui 45) ; Rennes 1 (Ntep 11) Bordeaux next season when Kevin Gameiro ways with the Algerian tactician. good chances. Msakni could have McGovern failed to hold a Serge Gakpe broke in behind the 1 (Khazri 77-pen); Evian vs Lorient (match post- scored from the spot after a hand- The team is languishing in the scored from a header but didn’t, stinging strike from van Dijk home defence only to prod his poned - snow). ball by Inigo Martinez inside the bottom half of the table in 12th I think it was one of those games and spilled the ball at the feet shot wide of the far post. to score his first Ligue 1 goal in area. place with just 16 points. In their where the first goal decided the of Johansen, who had the simple Lyon almost broke the deadlock over two years as he put the However, there was a final last six games they have won two, game and after the second goal, task of tapping home. five minutes before the interval as penalty wide. Elsewhere yester- twist as Sociedad equalised when drawn two and lost two. the game was finished. McGovern made a tremen- Fekir crashed a free-kick against day, Montpellier boosted their the ball ricocheted into the net Serbian head coach Goran We can’t afford to lose any dous double save from van Dijk the junction of bar and post. chances of qualifying for Europe off the unfortunate Arribas from Tufegdžic the former technical more games, next week we will and then Adam Matthews before Apart from that, Nantes with a 2-0 win against Guingamp Gonzalo Castro’s initial effort. director of the Kuwait national play Al Shamal and then after Guidetti added a third as he rose ‘keeper Remy Riou was never in Brittany. Morgan Sanson gave And Moyes’ men then grabbed team is due to fly into Doha to that is the big game against Al to head Izaguirre’s cross home really troubled until the goal, the visitors a second-minute lead the winner when Prieto flicked negotiate with Al Wakrah’s Sadd. The game against Al Sadd from close range in the 78th although he was called into action and Guingamp, perhaps feeling home a corner at the near post as administration and assume will probably be the decider, minute. to deny substitute Clinton Njie the effects of Thursday’s Europa the game entered stoppage time. responsibility for the team for the because if they win then there Commons completed the before he conceded a penalty in League win against Dynamo Kiev, Defeat means Sevilla still trail remainder of the season. will be a 4 point gap and this will scoring two minutes later. Van stoppage time for bringing down were unable to come back into the Valencia by five points in the fight Meanwhile, Lekhwiya winger put extra pressure on us, he said. Dijk again caused the Hamilton Fekir in the box. game. for fourth place, while Sociedad Vladimir Weiss of Slovakia says Al Sadd has a one-point lead defence problems with a rampag- However, with the last kick Kevin Berigaud doubled jump three places to 10th and are the game against Al Sadd will over Lekhwiya at the end of 18th ing run and Commons applied of the game, captain Maxime Montpellier’s lead in the second now eight points clear of the rel- probably be the decide this year’s round in the 14-team league. the finishing touch to the Dutch Gonalons missed the opportunity half and they could have won by a egation zone. AGENCIES QSL title. THE PENINSULA defender’s pass. AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Scoreboard

AFGHANISTAN (1w); Mendis 3-0-13-0. Javed Ahmadi c Herath b Lakmal ...... 24 SRI LANKA Jayawardene rescues Nawroz Mangal c Thirimanne b Mathews ...10 L Thirimanne lbw Dawlat Zadran ...... 0 Asghar Stanikzai c Mendis b Herath ...... 54 T Dilshan c Afsar Zazai b Shapoor Zadran .....0 Samiullah Shenwari c Mathews b Perera ....38 K Sangakkara b Hassan ...... 7 Mohammad Nabi b Malinga ...... 21 D Karunaratne c Mangal b Hassan ...... 23 Najibullah Zadran c Perera b Lakmal ...... 10 M Jayawardene c Mangal b Hassan ...... 100 Afsar Zazai c Herath b Malinga ...... 19 A Mathews (run out-Nabi) ...... 44 Mirwais Ashraf c Lakmal b Malinga ...... 28 J Mendis (not out) ...... 9 SL with gutsy knock Dawlat Zadran b Mathews ...... 4 T Perera (not out) ...... 47 Hamid Hassan c Mendis b Mathews ...... 0 Extras (LB-2, W-3, NB-1) ...... 6 Shapoor Zadran (not out) ...... 1 Total (for 6 wkts in 48.2 overs) ...... 236 Extras (LB-6, W-16, NB-1) ...... 23 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-18, 4-51, 5-177, Veteran scores ton after openers fall for golden ducks Total (all out in 49.4 overs) ...... 232 6-178. Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-40, 3-128, 4-157, Bowling: Dawlat Zadran 9-0-44-1 (1w); 5-169, 6-175, 7-221, 8-227, 9-227, 10-232. Shapoor Zadran 10-1-48-1; Hamid Hassan DUNEDIN: Mahela Bowling: Malinga 9.4-1-41-3 (1nb; 5w); Lak- 9-0-45-3 (1nb); Mirwais Ashraf 8.1-0-31-0; Jayawardene’s century rescued mal 10-1-36-2 (2w); Mathews 7-0-41-3 (2w); Nabi 5.2-0-28-0 (1w); Stanikzai 0.5-0-6-0; Sri Lanka from a batting melt- Perera 10-0-54-1 (1w); Herath 10-0-41-1 Shenwari 6-0-32-0. down as they beat Afghanistan by four wickets in their World Cup match in Dunedin yesterday. Sri Lankan We must improve our Set a modest target of 233 to batsman win the Pool A game, 1996 cham- Mahela pions Sri Lanka were stunned when openers Lahiru Thirimanne Jayawardene standards: SL captain and Tillakaratne Dilshan both fell plays a shot for golden ducks. during the DUNEDIN: Sri Lanka captain side next face Bangladesh on They were in further strife at 51 Pool A 2015 Angelo Mathews admitted his Thursday, with further Pool A fix- for four before Jayawardene (100) World Cup side must raise their game if they tures to come against Australia, and skipper Angelo Mathews match against are to win a second World Cup England and Scotland. (44) rectified the innings with a Afghanistan after surviving a scare against “I am feeling relieved at the 126-run partnership before Sri at University Afghanistan at University Oval moment but I thought we came Lanka won with 10 balls to spare Oval in in Dunedin yesterday. back well. It was a see-saw kind at University Oval. Dunedin, Mahela Jayawardene’s 19th of game. They started off well and Jaywardene’s crucial innings yesterday. one-day century rescued the 1996 then we pulled it back in the end. was his 19th ODI century and champions from a perilous 51 for I knew I had to stay out there one of his most valuable as Sri four in pursuit of a 233-run target with Mahela to get some kind of Lanka, losing finalists at the last after openers Lahiru Thirimanne stand going.” two World Cups, were in trouble and Tillakaratne Dilshan both fell Afghanistan captain before he set about taming the for golden ducks. Mohammad Nabi admitted his bowling. Jayawardene (100) and team’s 232 all out was always Sent in to bat in spicy, overcast Mathews (44) put on a crucial going to be hard to defend. conditions they reached 169 for 126 for the fifth wicket to steady “I felt we were short by 30-40 four before the last 15 overs saw continued the demolition of the their nerves with a decisive and engineered their own dismiss- the ship before Thisara Perera runs. We bowled really well in the six wickets go down as they were Sri Lankan top order. quickfire unbeaten 47. als playing rashly at innocuous smashed a quickfire 47 not out to first 10-15 overs, we put pressure dismissed for 232 with two balls He bowled Kumar Sangakkara Afghanistan may be regarded deliveries. see them home. on them in the end. We kept them remaining. for seven and Dimuth as rank outsiders but Dawlat Their removal united Asghar It was 1996 champions Sri to a tight game, so we are pleased It left Sri Lanka with a mod- Karunaratne was caught behind Zadran, Shapoor Zadran and Stanikzai (54) and Samiullah Lanka’s first win of this tourna- by that,” said Nabi, whose team est chase but an experienced side for 23 as Sri Lanka reeled at 51 Hassan taught Sri Lanka a lesson Shenwari (38) in the middle to ment after an opening 98-run next play Scotland in Dunedin on made life difficult for themselves for four against an Afghanistan on how to utilise the conditions. produce a well-crafted 88-run loss to New Zealand, while debu- Thursday. as, for only the second time in side beaten in their tournament With cloudy skies following partnership for the fourth wicket, tants Afghanistan have now been Jayawardene, who was named one-day international history, opener by Bangladesh. After overnight rain, and with the Afghanistan’s best stand against defeated twice following a first-up man-of-the-match, praised both openers fell first ball. leaving the field to address prob- ground renowned for early swing, a top-eight side. 105-run drubbing by Bangladesh. Afghanistan and said the gap Dawlat Zadran had Thirimanne lems with his boots, the flamboy- Mathews did not think twice Mirwais Ashraf chimed in with “We really need to raise our between Test nations and the leg before wicket with the first ant Hassan came back to end about fielding when he won the 28 as for the first time in their standards to compete against the second tier Associate sides was ball of the innings and Dilshan Jayawardene’s stand and finished toss. However, Lasith Malinga six-year, 47-game ODI history, top teams,” said Mathews, whose narrowing all the time. AFP was caught behind off the first ball with figures of three for 45. and Suranga Lakmal were too Afghanistan’s top eight batsmen he faced from Shapoor Zadran in Sri Lanka were 178 for six, loose to threaten Afghanistan all reached double figures. the second over. The slump did requiring 54 runs in under nine openers Javed Ahmadi and Mathews and Malinga both not end there as Hamid Hassan overs, when Thisara Perera eased Nawroz Mangal, who eventually took three for 41. AFP Afghan captain rues lack of experience

DUNEDIN: Afghanistan they were in with a chance but Afghanistan’s rawness at the top game but in the middle me and believe a lack of experience cost they eventually lost by four wick- international level. It was the first Asghar played an 80 partnership them the chance of a major ets with 10 balls remaining. time in their short 47-match ODI but we didn’t make the 30-40 World Cup upset yesterday “It was very disappointing history that the top eight bats- runs missing in this match when Sri Lanka escaped with a because we took four early wick- men posted double figures in “Our bowlers did very well. four-wicket win in their Pool A ets and Mahela, very experi- one match but only Stanikzai Fifty runs, four wickets, it was clash. enced player, and Mathews, also (54) reached a half century with a good chance to beat Sri Lanka A century by Mahela very experienced, took the match Shenwari’s 38 the only other score but Mahela and Mathews took Jayawardene, who featured in from us,” Afghanistan batsman above 30. “We need some more the match away.” a 126-run stand with Angelo Samiullah Shenwari said. matches with Asian teams to get It was a much improved show- Mathews, rescued Sri Lanka from Shenwari featured in an more experience. We need some ing by Afghanistan who lost to a disastrous start when they were 88-run partnership with Asghar time from the ICC to give us more Bangladesh by 105 runs in the 51-4 chasing 233 to win. Stanikzai for the third wicket matches against Test nations so first game in Canberra four days Afghanistan’s bowler Dawlat Zadran (right) celebrates the wicket of Sri When the Sri Lankan top in an innings he believed was maybe we get more used to it,” ago. Their next game is against Lanka’s Lahiru Thirimanne along with team-mates in Dunedin, yesterday. order collapsed Afghanistan felt 30-40 runs short and exposed Shenwari said. “Today was a good Scotland next Thursday. AFP FACTBOX England vs Scotland England’s poor form boosts Scotland WELLINGTON: Factbox CHRISTCHURCH: Under-fire return of none for 104. His new- on today’s World Cup Pool A England have fuelled Scotland’s ball partner Stuart Broad has fig- match between England and self-belief going into their World ures of two for 93 from 12.2 overs. Scotland at Hagley Oval in Cup Pool B showdown at Hagley “England don’t look as if they’ll Christchurch: Oval in Christchurch today. get out of the group at this ENGLAND At any other time the outcome stage,” was the blunt assessment Captain: Eoin Morgan would be a foregone conclusion of former England captain Paul England coach Coach: Peter Moores with England expected to cruise Collingwood who has switched Peter Moores Squad: Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, James to victory without pressure. loyalties to Scotland since join- (right) speaks with Anderson, Gary Balance, Ian Bell, Ravi But for England these are not ing their coaching staff. the team captain Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven ordinary times. They have come There have only been two com- Eoin Morgan Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, into the World Cup with a battle pleted games between England during training James Taylor, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes. plan that is not working and key and Scotland, in 2010 and 2014, ahead of their Results so far at 2015 World Cup players struggling for form. and England won both with ease. 2015 World Cup After a 111-run thrashing by But times have changed and Lost to Australia by 111 runs Group B match Australia in their Cup opener, Collingwood, who led England to Lost to New Zealand by eight wickets against Scotland, they were even more out of the World Twenty20 crown five Top performers: James Taylor (98 runs); their depth on Friday when New years ago, said Scotland held a in Christchurch, Steve Finn (five wickets); Joe Root (two Zealand whipped them by eight “real confidence and belief” they yesterday. catches). wickets. can win now. SCOTLAND Two games, two losses and a Collingwood was not alone with Captain: Preston Mommsen humiliated England – now under former England opener-turned- Coach: Grant Bradburn pressure to avoid falling to a low- commentator Geoffrey Boycott Squad: Preston Mommsen, Richie ranked side such as Scotland – admitting to being “a bit nervous” Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Frederick Coleman, are searching for answers while a head of clash. Matthew Cross, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, the Scots are talking up their Although Scotland rarely get Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, chances of an historic win. to measure themselves against Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Scotland fared considerably Test-playing nations nine of their Apologetic Bell hopes for resurgence Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw. better against New Zealand when squad – all of them professionals Results so far at 2015 World Cup they scored 142 and it took the – have county cricket experience. tournament co-hosts 25 overs and And if Scotland do stun CHRISTCHURCH: England showpiece ODI tournament with “But it’s about tomorrow now. Lost to New Zealand by three wickets the loss of seven wickets to secure England then an Englishman opener Ian Bell apologised for a 111-run hiding by Australia Hopefully we can put on some- Top performers: Matt Machan (56 runs); victory. could well be central to their his side’s embarrassing start before suffering an eight-wicket thing that’s at least – I don’t Iain Wardlaw (three wickets; Matt Cross (four England’s opening partner- success. Tenacious batsman Matt to the World Cup after being thrashing by New Zealand. think it will repair the damage catches) ships against Australia and New Machan, Sussex-born of Scottish thrashed by Australia and New “To go out and play like we did fully – but at least it’s a step in England vs Scotland head to head Zealand were 25 and 18. Against parents, has a handy 37.75 ODI Zealand in their first two games. was embarrassing,” Bell said. the right direction.” Total played: 3 Australia they were 92 for six and average and scored 56 against “We expect people at home to “The fact we have to apologise “We want to play aggressive England won 2; no result 1 against New Zealand 108 for six New Zealand. be angry about that performance,” to people about the cricket is not cricket. We just haven’t managed Played at Hagley Oval: First match with the cream of their batting Four years back, England he said on the eve of their third acceptable. It’s really disappoint- to do that in the last two games,” back in the hutch. showed they are there for the tak- Pool A match, against Scotland, ing what we’ve done.” he said. Last match Of England’s main strike bowl- ing by the lesser sides when they at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, “We were gutted about the per- “It’s no good doing it in the May 9, 2014: England won by 39 runs at ers, James Anderson sent down 15 lost to Ireland by three wickets at to be played today. formance” against Australia and nets. We have to take it into the Aberdeen. overs in the first two games for a the 2011 World Cup. AFP England opened cricket’s New Zealand, he said. middle and do it there.” AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Dhawan shines as India rout SA Holders just a win away from quarter-finals after maiden Cup victory over Proteas

MELBOURNE: Shikhar sending down just four overs. Dhawan smashed 137 off 146 Dhawan, who made 73 against balls as defending champions Pakistan, put on 127 for the sec- India whipped mighty South ond wicket with Virat Kohli (46) Africa by 130 runs to step closer and 125 for the third with Rahane to a quarter-final berth in the (79 off 60 balls). World Cup yesterday. The 29-year-old Dhawan fell A boisterous crowd of 86,876 at in the 44th over when Hashim the Melbourne Cricket Ground Amla, who had floored a difficult Indian batsman saw India pile up 307 for seven chance off Wayne Parnell when Shikhar Dhawan after electing to bat and then the batsman was on 53, picked up celebrates after bowl out the Proteas for 177 with an easy catch at fine leg off the scoring his almost 10 overs to spare in the same bowler. century during day-night Pool B match. India lost five wickets for 41 the ICC World Faf du Plessis top-scored with runs after being strongly placed Cup match 55 but India made regular dents at 261 for two, but they still man- against South in the South African batting, with aged to score 80 runs off the last Africa at the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin 10 overs. Melbourne taking three wickets and seam- India broke through in just Cricket Ground ers Mohammad Shami and Mohit the fourth over of South Africa’s Sharma sharing four wickets. innings when Quinton de Kock, (MCG) in With two wins from as many who had hit centuries in each of Melbourne, games – India defeated arch- the last three one-dayers against yesterday. rivals Pakistan by 76 runs last them, was caught at mid-off for Sunday – Mahendra Singh seven. Dhoni’s men will move into the Dependable opener Amla had quarter-finals if they beat the made 22 when he top-edged a unfancied United Arab Emirates pull off seamer Mohit Sharma in Perth on February 28. and Shami, who had claimed de South Africa, one of the pre- Kock’s wicket, took a well-judged tournament favourites who beat catch at long leg. Zimbabwe in their first match, Skipper AB de Villiers made 30 have two points from as many in a 68-run stand for the third games. wicket with du Plessis when he Dhawan, the left-handed was run out as Mohit Sharma De Villiers dejected on SA display opener who resides in Melbourne rifled in a throw from deep cover with his British-Asian wife for Dhoni to break the stumps. Ayesha and three children, hit 16 South Africa slipped to 133 MELBOURNE: South Africa boundaries and two sixes during for four in the 29th over when captain AB de Villiers lashed Indian captain his seventh one-day international Mohit Sharma, returning for his out at his team after their mas- century. All his seven hundreds second spell, had the dangerous sive 130-run loss to India in have come in a winning cause, du Plessis caught at mid-off by the World Cup yesterday, say- excited by but it was the confident display Dhawan. ing it was an “unacceptable” South against Dale Steyn and company Ashwin, who came into the performance. Africa’s AB that would have pleased retired attack in the 22nd over, had JP After defending champions World Cup de Villiers batting star Sachin Tendulkar Duminy caught in the slips and India had piled up 307 for seven, reacts as he who was present in the packed then trapped Philander leg before. with opener Shikhar Dhawan progress stands. Steyn, one of the most In between those two dismiss- making 137, the Proteas were leaves the fearsome fast bowlers in the mod- als, David Miller was run out for bundled out for 177 with almost field after ern game, was clipped by Dhawan 22 to leave South Africa gasping 10 overs to spare in front of a huge being run MELBOURNE: Indian captain over backward square-leg for for survival at 153 for seven in 34 crowd of 86,878 at the Melbourne out during Mahendra Singh Dhoni said his six and driven over his head for overs. Cricket Ground. the World team was on the right track at another six by Ajinkya Rahane. The tail folded up as Shami “All round we were very aver- Cup match the World Cup after hammer- Steyn finished with figures of dismissed Steyn, Ashwin bowled age,” said de Villiers. “We lacked between ing South Africa by 130 runs at one for 55 from 10 overs. Morne Morkel and Ravindra discipline in the field with dropped against the Melbourne Cricket Ground South Africa were hampered Jadeja claimed last man Imran catches and untidy bowling and India at the yesterday. further when seamer Vernon Tahir leg-before to spark wild two run-outs in our innings was Melbourne Shikhar Dhawan hit 137 as the Philander hobbled off the field celebrations in the stands packed unacceptable.” Cricket defending champions piled up 307 with a hamstring injury after with India supporters. AFP The skipper himself was run Ground, for seven and then bundled out out through a smart throw from yesterday. the Proteas for 177 with almost 10 Scoreboard the deep by Mohit Sharma and overs to spare in front of 86,878 David Miller followed in similar largely Indian fans. INDIA Q de Kock c Kohli b Shami ...... 7 fashion soon afterwards. The win followed the 76-run R Sharma (run out-de Villiers) ...... 0 F du Plessis c Dhawan b M Sharma ...... 55 Faf du Plessis was the Proteas’ win over arch-rivals Pakistan S Dhawan c Amla b Parnell ...... 137 A B de Villiers (run out-M Sharma) ...... 30 top-scorer with 55, the skip- in Adelaide last Sunday and left V Kohli c du Plessis b Tahir ...... 46 D Miller (run out-Yadav) ...... 22 per’s 30 the only other notable Dhoni’s men needing a win over A Rahane lbw Steyn ...... 79 J P Duminy c Raina b Ashwin ...... 6 contribution. unfancied United Arab Emirates S Raina c (sub-Rossouw) b Morkel ...... 6 W Parnell (not out) ...... 17 “You always feel the pressure of in the afternoon,” he said. “But said. “We need to regroup before in Perth on Saturday to advance M Dhoni c de Kock b Morkel ...... 18 V Philander lbw Ashwin ...... 0 chasing 300, like playing shots you there was wear and tear in the Friday and I am confident we will to the quarter-finals. R Jadeja (run out-de Villiers) ...... 2 D Steyn c Dhawan b Shami ...... 1 may not want to,” said de Villiers. evening. Without making excuses, bounce back.” “It is very satisfying to have R Ashwin (not out) ...... 5 M Morkel b Ashwin ...... 2 “But the top six are there to win I can say it was a bit two-paced as The overwhelming bulk of fans back-to-back wins and especially Mohammad Shami (not out) ...... 4 Imran Tahir lbw Jadeja ...... 8 games. Two run-outs in the top the match went on. in a crowd of nearly 87,000 were the way we have won both games,” Extras (LB-2, NB-2, W-6) ...... 10 Extras (LB-1, W-6) ...... 7 five is not what we want. “It was a big knock for us to be India supporters but de Villiers a delighted Dhoni said. Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 307 Total (all out in 40.2 overs) ...... 177 “It was a disappointing per- beaten by 130 runs.” insisted a raucous atmosphere “Both Pakistan and South Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-136, 3-261, 4-269, Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-40, 3-108, 4-133, formance with both bat and ball. However, de Villiers was con- had not contributed to South Africa games were important 5-278, 6-284, 7-302. 5-147, 6-153, 7-153, 8-158, 9-161, 10-177 No excuses, we should have come fident his team, who’ve now won Africa’s emphatic loss. “I don’t for us. Against Pakistan it was Bowling: Steyn 10-1-55-1; Philander 4-1-19-0; Bowling: Yadav 6-0-34-0 (1w); Shami 8-1- up better today.” one and lost one at this tourna- think that was the case,” he said. a complete batting performance Duminy 7-0-39-0 (1w); Morkel 10-0-59-2; Tahir 30-2 (2w); M Sharma 7-0-31-2 (2w), Jadeja The captain said losing the toss ment after seeing off Zimbabwe, “As Hashim (Amla) said to me, and this game too I felt we did 10-0-48-1 (1w); Parnell 9-0-85-1 (2nb, 4w). 8.2-0-37-1 (1w); Ashwin 10-0-41-3; Raina and batting second under lights will bounce back for their Pool India batted well. And we need to really well with the batting. SOUTH AFRICA 1-0-3-0. contributed to South Africa’s B game against the West Indies win games anywhere in the world “A total of 307 was definitely a Hashim Amla c Shami b M Sharma ...... 22 Result: India won by 130 runs. defeat. in Sydney on Friday. “We have if we want to be the best cricket par-plus score on this wicket and “It was a good wicket to bat on a mature group of players,” he team in the world. AFP when we turned up with the ball, I think we bowled in the right areas and we made it tough for Hossain to be sent home from Cup the opposition to score.” West Indies chief blasted for Dhoni agreed with South African skipper AB de Villiers that the pitch was two-paced in the second session which made In this photograph Gayle’s ‘retirement’ retweet batting difficult, but praised his taken on August 25, bowlers and the team’s fielding. 2014, Bangladesh SYDNEY: West Indies cricket “I felt the mix of pace was good bowler Al Amin chief Dave Cameron was from our bowlers, but what was Hossain delivers blasted yesterday for apparently West Indies really crucial was the use of the a ball during the retweeting a demand for out- batsman bouncer,” he said . third ODI against spoken opener Chris Gayle to be Chris “The two run outs in the mid- the West Indies at given “a retirement package”. Gayle goes dle overs (of AB de Villiers and In the latest controversy to hit David Miller) from the deep really the Warner Park through his the World Cup team, West Indies changed the game for us.” cricket ground in stretching Cricket Board (WICB) President Dhoni heaped lavish praise on Basseterre, Saint exercises Cameron’s behaviour was con- ahead of his fast bowlers, Mohit Sharma Kitts and Nevis. demned as “unacceptable” by and Mohammad Shami, who Bangladesh pace their World players’ representatives. Cup match claimed two wickets each to back bowler Al Amin The drama unfolded during the up off-spinner Ravichandran against Hossain will be Windies’ match against Pakistan Ashwin’s three wickets. Pakistan, sent home from the at Christchurch on Saturday “It was definitely a fantastic World Cup after when Gayle was out for four, in this performance by them,” he said. breaking a team stretching his run without a cen- February 20 “Maybe the wicket also helped us curfew in Brisbane, tury in ODI cricket to 20 matches. file photo. a bit, but still it was important to media reports One fan tweeted: “Gayle goes... hit the right areas. They quickly claimed yesterday. Can’t buy a run. Let’s give him a assessed what was the right Team manager retirement package ... Can’t fail length to bowl. They never gave Khaled Mahmud repeatedly and still front up based by the unacceptable re-tweeting WIPA chief executive Wavell any extra width to the batsmen.” said that Al Amin on reputation”. by Mr. Dave Cameron, President Hinds added: “We denounce Dhoni said it was a pleasure had failed to return Cameron then apparently of the West Indies Cricket Board any such behaviour by any offi- playing in front of such huge retweeted the post even as the (WICB), of a negative “fan” tweet cial of the WICB in any given crowds at the MCG. to the team hotel match was ongoing. which was directed at our mem- circumstance.” “It’s always good to play when before the 10:00pm The West Indies Players ber Mr. Christopher Gayle,” said Cameron, who is seeking re- you get good support and that too local deadline on Association (WIPA), often at a statement. election, apologised for his actions in Australia,” he said. February 19. loggerheads with the WICB in “That Mr Cameron’s retweet and removed the post from his “Definitely we need to give a long-standing battle over con- came in the middle of the West account. “No offense intended. a lot of credit to the fans, who tracts and payments, immediately Indies team’s critical game Full apologies extended. Rally have come not only from India, denounced Cameron. against Pakistan renders it even round the West Indies,” he wrote but from across Australia and “WIPA is extremely disturbed more unacceptable.” on @davec51. AFP England as well.” AFP MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus (second right) poses with the men’s singles trophy of the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open along with runner-up Ovtcharov Dimitrij of Germany (second left). Khaleel Al Mohannadi, President of Qatar Table Tennis Association (QTTA) (right) is also seen along with another QTTA official, yesterday at the Women’s Sports Community Hall in Doha. RIGHT: Elizabeta Samara (right) of Romania and Han Ying of Germany pose after their women’s single final. Samara won the final 4-0. PICS: ABDUL BASIT Samsonov reigns supreme in Doha Qatar Open: Veteran downs top seed to win men’s title, Samara grabs women’s crown

DOHA: Fourth seed Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus yester- ITTF World Tour day posted a couple of upsets to clinch the men’s singles title Qatar Open Results at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF Men’s Singles Semi-finals World Tour Qatar Open in Doha. Elizabeta Ovtcharov Dimitrij (GER) bt Freitas Marcos Also yesterday, Germany’s Han Samara from (POR) 4-2; Samsonov Vladimir (BLR) bt Ying, the third seed failed to capi- Romania in Chuang Chih-Yuan (TPE) 4-0. talise on her semi-final show in action against Women’s Singles Semi-finals the decisive match as Romania’s Han Ying of Han Ying (GER) bt Feng Tianwei (SIN) 4-3; Elizabeta Samara captured the Germany Samara Elizabeta (ROU) bt Yang Haeun crown in women’s singles event. during their (KOR) 4-1. Samsonov also known as the women’s Men’s Doubles Finals ‘Tai Chi Master’ in table tennis singles Freitas Marcos (POR) / Gacina Andrej (CRO) power house China because of final at the bt Calderano Hugo (BRA) / Tsuboi Gustavo his top class, stunned Germany’s GAC Group (BRA) 3-0. No.1 seed Dimitrij Ovtcharov in 2015 ITTF Women’s Doubles Finals the final 4-1 to win the title as Lin Ye (SIN) / Zhou Yihan (SIN) bt Jiang top-notch action concluded at the World Tour Huajun (HKG) / Tie Yana HKG 3-0. Women’s Sports Community Hall. Qatar Open, The Belarusian’s clinical per- yesterday. Men’s Singles Finals formance in the final came just a Vladimir Samsonov (BLR) bt Ovtcharov few hours after he shocked sec- Dimitrij (GER) 4-1. ond seed Chuang Chih-Yuan of Women’s Singles Finals Chinese Taipei in straight games. Elizabeta Samara (ROU) bt Han Ying (GER) The 38-year old continued with 4-0. his fine form in the final against his higher-ranked German oppo- nent, winning the first three are many other who are older as he sealed the title by winning healthy. I made surgery last year games in a row. “I am surprised than men,” the 38-year-old added. the fifth game 11-9. and I want to be healthy,” Samara how well I played here,” Samsanov “I am very happy overall since Ying who defeated top seed said. said. “I have been practising well it was a decent field this year. It Feng Tianwei of Singapore in the The No.7 seed Romanian and I had some great wins here. was not as strong as last year but fully-stretched 75-minute thriller who earlier on the day defeated “I guess it’s your professional- it was tough. I lost out at the last showed little resistance against Korea’s Yang Haeun in five games ism is what gets you through,” 16 stage last year and I am glad I the 25-year old Samara who won overcame the top seed with 11-6, Samsonov said when asked if he won this year,” he added. the trophy with an easy win in 12-10, 11-6, 11-9 score-line. playing younger players was diffi- On the other hand, Ovtcharov straight games. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s duo cult for the seasoned campaigner. who was engaged in a tough 4-2 “This is my first trophy in of Huajun Jiang and Yana Tie “I have been coming here for semi-final win against Portugal’s Qatar,” Samara said. “I have been walked away with the women’s many years. The first time I won Marcos Freitas, earlier on the day coming here since I was 14 and doubles title after defeating Ye here was in 1997. It is a great did not look up to the mark in the now I am 25 now,” she added. Lin and Yihan Zhou of Singapore event and yes, I will come back title-deciding encounter. “No I did not expect to win. in straight games. The trophy for next year,” he said. But, after losing the first three I wanted to play good and get men’s doubles went to Marcos “I have a few targets to achieve games, 9-11, 8-11 and 13-15, the my form back. I was in Baku Freitas (Portugal) and Andrej so I will keep playing. My motiva- German strive to make a come- last week and I was not in good Gacina (Croatia) who prevailed tion is winning. I don’t want to back, grabbing the fourth game shape,” she said. over Brazilian pair of Hugo Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus lifts his trophy after winning the men’s give up the sport since I am doing 6-11 to reduce lead. “I am happy that I won. I was Calderano and Gustave Tsuboi in single final against Ovtcharov Dimitrij of Germany, yesterday. well. “It’s not just me who’s play- Samsonov, however, was in no home for 9 days and I practiced the final, with a similar 3-0 score- ing the sport for so long. There mood of dropping another game well,” she said. “I want to be line. THE PENINSULA

H H The Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival

Moneera Al Waab winner of class 1 yearling Fillies is seen at the H H The Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival, yesterday. The festival that started on Thursday will conclude on February 26. RIGHT: A glimpse of yesterday’s action at the festival. PICS: JUHAIM MONDAY 23 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Formula One: Alonso crashes as McLaren toils in testing

BARCELONA: Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso brought the morn- ing session on the final day of the second pre-season test in Barcelona to a premature end when he crashed the McLaren- Honda MP4-30. The Spaniard had managed just 20 laps on another troubled morning for the struggling giants, who lag well behind every other team on the grid in terms of mile- age with the start of the season less than a month away. Alonso received medical atten- tion at the circuit and was then airlifted to hospital. “Fernando Alonso’s McLaren- Honda car left the track at turn three, causing the right-hand side of his car to strike the wall,” McLaren said in a statement. “Fernando was driven to the circuit’s medical centre where the circuit’s doctors gave him first aid. “He was conscious and spoke A general view of the Al Shaqab Arena in Doha. The third edition of CHI Al Shaqab will be held next month from March 2 to 7 with a staggering prize bag of Euro 1.5m on offer, organisers with the doctors. in Doha said yesterday. “However, as per usual pro- cedure in such circumstances, he was then airlifted to hospital where he is undergoing precau- tionary checks.” Jenson Button was already scheduled to take over from Alonso for the afternoon ses- Doha gets ready for third sion having been very limited in his running on Thursday and Saturday due to a faulty seal. It was a much more positive morning for the other Spanish driver on show as rookie Carlos Sainz Junior was fastest in the edition of CHI Al Shaqab Toro Rosso in a time of 1min 25.604. Sebastian Vettel was sec- ond quickest for Ferrari, whilst A staggering overall prize bag of €1.5m on offer at March 2-7 event Mercedes continued their mile- age marathon in testing as Nico Rosberg logged another 68 laps DOHA: The third edition of despite an early spin-off into the CHI Al Shaqab will be held next gravel. month from March 2 to 7 with a staggering prize bag of Euro 1.5m on offer, Fahad Al Qahtani, Cycling: Valls President of Al Shaqab said yesterday. waltzes to Tour The annual tournament, the only CHI-level competition in the of Oman victory Middle East and Asia, will stage competitions in para-dressage, MUSCAT: Spanish climbing dressage, jumping, vaulting and specialist Rafael Valls expe- endurance. rienced the greatest moment This year, the crème da la by far of his career in winning crème of the world’s greatest the Tour of Oman yesterday as riders and horses will compete Matthias Brandle of Austria before royalty, VIPs and 10,000 clinched the sixth and final spectators at the Gulf’s most stage. prestigious equestrian venue. Valls, who seized control in More than 250 riders from winning the feature stage of the 34 countries will feature at the race, the climb to the Green week-long event. Mountain on Friday, had a nine- “Qatar has an illustrious eques- second advantage over American trian heritage and we always Tejay van Garderen, while placed the highest value on another Spaniard, the experi- great horsemanship. Al Shaqab enced Alejandro Valverde, was is honoured to welcome some of third overall, 19 seconds adrift. the world’s finest competitors to Tour de France champion what we anticipate will be a mag- Vincenzo Nibali scraped into the nificent tournament,” Al Qahtani top 20, more than three minutes said at a media briefing yesterday. off the pace. A lot of serious work is being For 27-year-old Valls it ended put into making sure the stand- several years of angst and self- ards of CHI Al Shaqab 2015 could ExxonMobil will be official doubt over whether he would ever FROM LEFT: Saleh Al Mana, Vice President, be seen as a benchmark of excel- sponsor of the event, it was prove himself at the highest level. Government and PA of ExxonMobil Qatar, lence at the highest level possible, announced yesterday. “These have been three dream Al Qahtani added. Alistair Routledge, President Alistair Routledge, President and General days, and this is the apotheosis,” “This is happening due to the and General Manager for Exxon Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar, Fahad Al said Valls, who was succeeding employment of all means avail- Mobil Qatar Inc, said: ““CHI Al Qahtani, CHI Al Shaqab President, Omar K Britain’s 2013 Tour de France able on all levels. A unique equine Shaqab is a wonderful oppor- Al Mannai, CHI Al Shaqab Event Director winner Chris Froome, the winner venue in its own right, Al Shaqab tunity for spectators to indulge and Fahad Al Hajri, CHI Al Shaqab Media of the previous two editions of the is created as an ideal place where in world class equestrian com- and Broadcast Manager during a pre-event race but who didn’t compete this the traditional Qatari horseman- petition in world class facilities; press conference for next month’s CHI year. It is a reward for the past ship meets the most up-to-date and to be entertained by Qatari Al Shaqab 2015 international Equestrian four or five difficult years that I requirements of the sport,” he sportsmen and horses competing Competition at Al Shaqab Main Arena in have experienced. added. at the highest level.” Doha yesterday. PICTURE: BAHER AMIN “I have proved to myself that I Al Shaqab is appreciat- Routledge added: “I am con- can ride at the level I had before. ing the great help of the Qatar stantly amazed at the energy “It gives me a lot of confidence,” Foundation which assists in ful- the event puts forward. At added Valls, whose only previous filling Al Shaqab’s mission is to ExxonMobil Qatar we believe that victory was a stage in the Tour of be a global leader in preserving, Energy Lives Here – right here San Luis five years ago. improving, and promoting the in Qatar. We have a commitment In the stage itself, Brandle went Arabian horse breed through to nurture this energy that fuels clear of three other breakaway setting the highest standards in progress and adds value to life.” riders in the final stretch along breeding, show, equestrian arts, Al Qahtani said the love for the Matrah corniche to finish and equine welfare while encour- horses is in the blood of the four seconds clear of Belgian Iljo aging community participation. Qataris and the development of Keisse with the latter’s compa- Omar Al Mannai, Event the Arabian horse is a part of the LEFT triot Jef Van Meiraghe third, 13 Director of CHI Al Shaqab, said: traditional fabric of the Qatari AND seconds off the pace. “Our aim for this year is to go far culture. RIGHT: Saturday’s fifth stage had been and beyond what we have offered Saleh Al Mana, Vice President Action cancelled due to poor weather. up till now. In its third year, CHI for ExxonMobil Qatar, the Qatari from Overall results of top-10: Al Shaqab reaches the era of culture is being fully reflected in last 1. Rafael Valls (ESP/LAM) maturity, based on the efforts of the spirit of CHI Al Shaqab 2015. year’s 21hr 09min 31sec, 2. Tejay Van the people who constantly, all year “For centuries Qataris were event. Garderen (USA/BMC) at 09s, 3. round, prepare the event.” cherishing their love for horses. Alejandro Valverde (ESP/MOV) He added: “The addition of the This love is fully engraved in the 19., 4. Rafal Majka (POL/TCS) para-dressage, for the first time national soul of this country,” Al 32, 5. Jacques Janse Van Rensburg in the Middle East, is the main Man said. “CHI Al Shaqab is such (RSA/MTN) 01:04, 6. Louis innovation we offer this year to an incredible opportunity to show Meintjes (RSA/MTN) 01:08, 7. our spectators with regards to this love to the world and share it Jakob Fuglsang (DEN/AST) 01:10, the competition per se. However, with all the people who will come 8. Ben Hermans (BEL/BMC) there are a lot more for them to to Qatar to watch this unique 01:15, 9. Julian Arredondo (COL/ enjoy the very moment they go equestrian event,” he added. TFR) 01:25, 10. Patrick Konrad through the doors of Al Shaqab.” THE PENINSULA (AUT/BOA) 01:36. AGENCIES Monday 23 February 2015 4 Jumada I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6350 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Order of Play Centre Court 3.30pm Qatar Total Open begins today Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs Flavia Pennetta (ITA) Not Before 5.45pm Halep withdraws due to injury, but still to make the trip to Doha Angelique Kerber (GER) [8] vs [WC] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) DOHA: World number three Venus Williams (USA) [7] vs Casey Petra Kvitova of the Czech Dellacqua (AUS) Republic will lead a field of Not Before 8:00 pm exceptional players who will Lucie Safarova (CZE) vs take to the courts at the Khalifa Samantha Stosur (AUS) International Tennis and Squash Court 1 Not Before 5.45pm Complex here today. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) vs The two-time Wimbledon Sabine Lisicki (GER) champion is one of the five play- ers ranked in the top 10 who will be seen in action at the $731,000 championship. Defending champion Simona Halep of Romania, who beat Angelique Kerber of Germany to win the title last year, will not be here this time to defend her title but world number five Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, world number 10 Andrea Petkovic of Germany and world number nine Rafael Nadal in action against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia Fabio Fognini during their semi- are some of top-ten ranked play- final match at the Rio Open in Rio ers who have made the trip to de Janeiro on Saturday night. Doha. World number four Halep, who won the Dubai WTA event on Saturday, was forced to withdraw Nadal stunned due to an injury. However, she will still come to by Fognini in the Qatar Total Open, a tourna- ment she loves to take part in, Rio semi-final and be a part of some promotional activities, the organisers said. RIO DE JANEIRO: Fabio “From our point of view the Fognini pulled off a huge upset, most important thing is the Victoria Azarenka of Belarus practises at the Khalifa International Tennis Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic addresses a news conference in stunning top seed and holder health of a player. It is unfortu- and Squash complex in Doha yesterday. Doha yesterday. Rafa Nadal 1-6 6-2 7-5 in the Rio nate Simona has had to withdraw Open semi-final on Saturday. from defending her title. She is a wind. I practiced yesterday and tournament has many current The Italian’s spectacular vic- popular player and we wish her it was really nothing like tennis, and former Grand Slam winners tory ended world number three well for her next tournament,” it was more like badminton. But vying for top honours, including World No.1 a distant Nadal’s 52-match winning streak Tournament Director Saad Al it’s fun on the other side. Still you seven-time Grand Slam win- in semi-finals on clay and earned Mohannadi said. can’t really feel the ball how you ner Venus Williams of the US, him a place in the final against With the pull out of Halep, want it and you have to be ready former world number one Jelena another Spaniard David Ferrer. Kvitova will be hoping to win for it. Jankovic, 2011 US Open winner dream for Kvitova “I’m really happy about this her first title on her third visit “Sometimes it’s also difficult if Sam Stosur of Australia, two- match. I beat the best player to Qatar. Having lost in the pre- somebody has a little trouble with time former Grand Slam winner ARMSTRONG VAS a title from this year in Sydney on this surface,” said the world quarter-finals in Dubai last week, the body. So it’s difficult,” she said. Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia for sure. Of course, I expect a number 28, who has been in good the Czech is determined to make The Wimbledon champions and Victoria Azarenka. DOHA: Two-time Wimbledon little bit more for myself in form this year since winning the amends. said she enjoys playing in Qatar. Kuznetsova is not new to Doha champion Petra Kvitova of the Melbourne. That hurt me, but Australian Open doubles title The 24-year-old said she is get- “I think it’s getting better…It’s having finished as runner-up Czech Republic believes taking then its tennis and it’s always with Simone Bolelli last month. ting used to the windy conditions warm here but it’s always nice. twice. Two-time former champion the slow and steady route will like that and I’m going to try to “Rafa is always difficult. From here. And I feel well here on the court. Azarenka of Belarus is one of the help her reach the WTA rank- be better again and play better the second set I played really well, “This year is a little bit differ- It’s a little bit slow than in Dubai,” three players who has been given ings summit. tennis,” she added. and I tried to change a little bit ent from what I remember from she said. a wildcard for the event. “Well I did say I would like to Kvitova said she is aiming to to be more positive on court,” he the previous years, which is the Besides Kvitova, the THE PENINSULA be number one in the world one improve her game not only for was quoted as saying on the ATP day, but I didn’t say it’s going grass courts but also for clay. Tour website (www.atptour.com). to be this year. For sure, it is “I’m trying to improve on Nadal had complained of poor still a lot of work. I’m not really every surface, not only the hard scheduling after Friday’s quarter- ‘Aggressive’ Radwanska thinking about it now. I’m just courts. I mean, I had pretty final win over Uruguayan Pablo trying to improve my game,” great events already playing on Cuevas finished at 3.30am on the 24-year-old, the top seed at the hard courts this year when Saturday. the Qatar Total Open said here I won at Sydney. It’s still a lot of Fognini played a long last eight eyeing Grand Slam success yesterday. work to do, of course. The clay match that lasted more than Kvitova, who first won the is coming soon, in two months. three hours on Friday before he DOHA: World number eight “Yes, I think so. I feel good on Wimbledon title in 2011 and fol- “I think it’s nice to change overcame Argentine Federico Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland court. I can see really the differ- lowed it up with another victory the surface. I have quite a good Delbonis. is focused on playing more ence. Sometimes the habits that in 2014, said she wants to add game for the hard courts…I’m “I’m super happy, and obviously “aggressive” tennis this year you have for so many years are more Grand Slam titles to her not saying too much in the clay tomorrow I will have to battle as she bids to win her maiden difficult to forget and you have to resume. because it’s a little bit different. David, who has always beaten Grand Slam. remember those new things...So “Of course, another Grand It always takes me some time. me ... I will obviously be happy if “Well, we are working on I’m just going to now try to refo- Slam would be great to win. I But the hard courts, yeah, I do I win. If I lose, I will also leave a couple of things on the cus in the matches to do those don’t mind if it’s Wimbledon like them. I grew up on the hard with the good memories from this court. Definitely playing more things that I should do.” again. It’s a great event and I courts during the winter so I’m week in Rio,” Fognini said after aggressive, really going for it,” She, however, did not agree always love to be there. So we’ll used to them,” she said. his win that took two hours and Radwanska said while speaking with the view that her game is in see. Of course it took me three Kvitova, who lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 17 minutes. to reporters here yesterday. a transition period. years to win another Grand to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain Second seed Ferrer reached Tennis has become “faster and “Well transition maybe is too Slam after 2011. So I know how in the Dubai Open pre-quarter- the final with a 7-5 6-1 win over stronger” and the 5-foot 6-inch big a word, definitely changing tough it is to win again. finals, was disappointed with last Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer. 25-year old, who weighs 53kg, a few things, trying to improve. “But of course from the last week’s performance and wants to REUTERS doesn’t want to be left behind. Of course, tennis is a sport that year and the year before, I would better in Qatar. “I think this is the really impor- you can always improve some- like to improve my results in the “Of course, Dubai was tough tant thing, especially right now thing. Doesn’t matter what you Grand Slams,” she said. last week, didn’t really play my Rio Open Results when the tennis is going the way have won before, you just want to The Czech has no plans to best tennis. I will try to play bet- Men Semi-finals that everything is going faster win more and be better...I haven’t change her schedule in pursuit ter this week here (Doha),” said and stronger. This is in the thing won a Grand Slam yet and that of yet another title at this year’s Kvitova, who has won 15 career Fabio Fognini (ITAx4) bt Rafael Nadal (ESPx1) that you would have to do,” she is always the goal right now. Of Wimbledon. titles and has earned a first 1-6, 6-2, 7-5; David Ferrer (ESP x2) bt Andreas said, while explaining the changes course I want to be better as well “I think the schedule is pretty round bye in Doha. Haider-Maurer (AUT) 7-5, 6-1 since Martina Navratilova came and make this step forward, so similar to the years before. I Kvitova has been handed a first Women Semi-finals on board to help improve her that’s why I’m changing a few don’t think I will do anything round bye and will in all likeli- Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK x6) bt Irina game. Agnieszka Radwanska of things. We’ll see.” big to my schedule to play well hood take on Jelena Jankovic of Begu (ROM x2) 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; Sara Errani (ITA Radwanska, who has reached Poland practises at the Khalifa The Pole said she will face an in the Grand Slams, but I always Serbia in the first round, if she x1) bt Johanna Larsson (SWE x5) 7-5, 6-3. the semi-final of the Australian International Tennis and Squash uphill task in Qatar. wanted to play great at the big gets through. Open but is yet to win a Grand complex in Doha yesterday. “I think wherever you go for the events. And so, we will see how “I know I can possibly play Delray Beach Open Slam, said shifting to a more tournament you want to win, so of it goes. Health is important and, Jelena on the qualifier. Funny aggressive would take time. a bit more time than a few weeks.” course that is the goal. Obviously hopefully, everything will be fine. thing is that I lost to her in the Results “Well, I think it’s a bit too early Radwanska, the fourth seed it’s not going to be easy. The draw “As a tennis player, I wanted qualifier last year here. So it’s to say. Martina has been with us at the Qatar Total Open which is pretty strong from the begin- always do the best and try to quite tough for the first round if Semi-finals for just two months. So, I think begins here today, said whatever ning. So not an easy one, but be deeper, especially in the she wins,” she said. Ivo Karlovic (CRO x4) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA in time we have to see that after she has been practicing on the always trying to win,” she added. Grand Slam. I’m happy to have THE PENINSULA x5) 6-3, 6-4; Donald Young (USA) bt Bernard maybe half year, a year. Just needs courts is reflected in match play. THE PENINSULA Tomic (AUS) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.