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WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 • 20 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6366 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Emir meets German Vice Chancellor Qatar budget Motorists told surplus at QR100bn DOHA: Qatar’s budget surplus to move cars stood at more than QR100bn by the end of January 2015, despite the sharp decline in global oil prices. Qatar also managed to achieve after accident QR160bn current account sur- plus in the balance of payments during the first nine months of Overtaking from right very common 2014, said QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al BY SIDI MOHAMED on an experimental basis to see Thani here yesterday. The glo- its effect. bal economic landscape has DOHA: Overtaking from the Meanwhile, the findings of a seen the emergence of new eco- right side is the most common study conducted by Qatar Road nomic, financial and political traffic rule violation, followed by Safety Studies Centre show that challenges that left a negative use of mobile phones by motor- Al Shamal Road was the most impact on the global economy ists while driving, a seminar vulnerable in terms of acci- growth. Global financial markets was told yesterday. dent-related deaths as some experienced huge volatility dur- The other most frequent mis- 54 people died in four years on ing the period. International oil take made by motorists is that this highway between 2010 and prices declined to a historical low. in minor accidents, they refuse 2013. THE PENINSULA to remove their cars and block Al Mamoura in Doha ranked Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with German Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economic Affairs See also page 17 the traffic. second with a toll of 40 in the and Energy Sigmar Gabriel at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. This is an offence which same period. attracts a fine of QR1,000 and a Madinat Khalifa was next with deduction of three points. Traffic a death toll of 36, followed by officials said they will now impose Al Rayyan at 32. fines on such offenders. Areas in the South (Al Wakra, Saudi bans entry for Umrah in private cars “You can take a picture and Messaieed) had a toll of 29 in the remove your car from the acci- period while in Old Airport area dent site or better still, don’t take of Doha, 24 people perished in DOHA: A Saudi ban on for- until the end of Ramadan, which “People intending to go for past one week from people who a picture and remove your car road mishaps between 2010 and eigners entering the Kingdom falls in summer. Many people, Umrah now have two options — had originally planned to go in and park it in the nearest avail- 2013. for performing Umrah in pri- especially expatriates in Qatar they can go by air or by bus. In their cars. able slot.” The toll was only seven in vate vehicles has hit a number and other GCC countries, pre- both cases, they need to make “We are conducting Umrah “The traffic police will inves- Dukhan. of aspiring pilgrims in Qatar. ferred to go for the pilgrimage the arrangements through a tour trips this month coinciding with tigate and fix the responsibility,” Figures also show that a third People travelling by road to in private cars, due to lower operator,” said a source. the Indian school holidays. All our road safety awareness official, (33 percent) of those who died in Saudi Arabia for Umrah are now expenses and the convenience Most tour operators conduct- seats are full and we are not in Abdul Wahed Al Anzi, told road accidents between 2011 and required to go with an author- it offers while travelling with ing Umrah trips by road charge a position to accommodate new the seminar on road safety at 2013 were aged 20 to 29 years, and ised tour operator (Muqawil) in families. QR900 per person including people,” he said. Darb Al Sai. Al Anzi said that the another 32 percent were in the their buses, industry sources have Many pilgrims also take the accommodation and transport, An Arab expatriate said he traffic department has begun road age group of 30 to 39. People aged disclosed. opportunity to visit friends and but this may go up with an was planning to go for Umrah safety lessons for drivers from less than 20 comprised 16 percent Several expatriates here who relatives staying elsewhere in expected increase in demand, in his car but changed his mind companies. of the dead. left for Umrah in their cars with- Saudi Arabia, which will not be he added. when he knew about the new rule “They can send their drivers to Most accidents (55 percent) out knowing about the new rule possible with the new rule. Representative of a commu- from the tour operators about a us for those lessons.” took place on Thursdays, Fridays were turned away at the Abu The new decision will appar- nity organisation that conducts week ago. Replying to a question about and Saturdays (weekend), with Samra border post over the past ently lead to a surge in bookings Umrah trips for expatriates in “I have got the visa and now I reduction of speed to 80km per Friday topping the list with a 20 few days, said the sources. with the authorised tour opera- collaboration with an authorised am planning to go by air,” he told hour on February 22 Road, the percent share of the total. The Umrah season has started tors and a possible increase in the tour operator said they have got this daily last evening. official said it was being done THE PENINSULA in Saudi Arabia and will continue tariffs, say industry sources. several new enquiries over the THE PENINSULA

INSIDE Show turns into tragedy Page 9 Qatar starts building The falsehood of the Egyptian media By Dr Rabia bin 1,000 homes in Gaza Sabah Al Kuwari GAZA: A Qatari official visit- “Today we are starting the $1bn The central ing a Gaza neighbourhood heav- (effort),” Amadi told reporters as markets stink ily bombed in last summer’s he stood in the rubble of a hospi- war with Israel said yesterday tal destroyed during the 50-day By Khalid Abdulla the country had begun a project Gaza war. Al Ziyara to rebuild 1,000 homes as part Cogat, the Israeli military office of a $1bn aid pledge. that coordinates the movement of Mohammad Al Amadi, head of goods into Gaza, said the cement the Qatari Committee to Rebuild shipments were being handled by QA buys hotel near Gaza, said that earlier in the day the Western-backed Palestinian Israel had allowed four truckloads Authority. The PA exercises lim- Heathrow Airport of cement into the Gaza Strip so ited self-rule in the West Bank, that the planned construction of which Israel took in a 1967 war. the dwellings could begin. REUTERS DOHA: Qatar Airways has purchased the Sheraton Skyline hotel in Britain. The hotel will continue to be managed by Starwood under the Sheraton Budget term extended to Dec brand. The Sheraton Skyline, a DOHA: A law passed yester- Number 2 of 2015 issued by Emir four-star property situated in day extends the current state H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Bath Road, and a short distance The wreckage of one of the two helicopters that collided mid-air near Villa Castelli, in the Argentine province budget until 2015-end, and Al Thani vests the authority in from all Heathrow Airport ter- of La Rioja, yesterday. The accident killed 10 people, including three French sports stars, participating in a stipulates that from next year the finance ministry to prioritise minals, has 350 rooms. reality TV show. See also page 28 the financial year shall follow development projects and set See also page 17 the Gregorian calendar. standards for their prioritisa- The present budget was to tion if state entities responsible lapse on March 31 as Qatar for identifying and implement- had been following an April-to- ing those projects fail to do so, CIA tried to hack iPhone, iPad systems: Report March fiscal year. or even if they prioritise and the The budget year is being ministry doesn’t agree. changed to January-December The law asks the finance FRANKFURT: CIA research- software application development documentary maker Laura introduced its first iPhone and to seek compatibility with minister to issue the bye-laws ers have worked for nearly a tool, to create surveillance back- Poitras. It said the latest docu- continued through the launch of the financial year of private and until such time existing decade to break the security doors into programs distributed ments, which covered a period the iPad in 2010 and beyond, The companies. rules will apply. The law has protecting Apple phones and on Apple’s App Store. from 2006 to 2013, stop short Intercept said. Also, global monetary and seven chapters and 45 arti- tablets, investigative news site The Intercept has in the past of proving whether US intelli- Breaching Apple security was banking institutions follow the cles and another seven arti- The Intercept reported yester- published a number of reports gence researchers had succeeded part of a top-secret programme Gregorian calendar. cles talk of the help the finance day, citing documents obtained from documents released by in breaking Apple’s encryption by the US government, aided by For the extended 2014-15 ministry may need from enti- from NSA whistleblower whistleblower Snowden. coding, which secures user data British intelligence researchers, budget, the finance minister ties like the Supreme Council Edward Snowden. The site’s editors include and communications. to hack “secure communications will issue a decision. The new of Economic and Investment The report cites top-secret Glenn Greenwald, who won a Efforts to break into Apple products, both foreign and domes- law, which has already become Affairs and other ministries. US documents that suggest US Pulitzer Prize for his work in products by government secu- tic” including Google Android effective, gives immense powers THE PENINSULA government researchers had cre- reporting on Snowden’s rev- rity researchers started as early phones, it said. to the finance ministry. Law Continued on page 4 ated a version of XCode, Apple’s elations, and by Oscar-winning as 2006, a year before Apple REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME QF to host youth forum Sheikha Moza meets Albanian First Lady on crime prevention Organising Committee of UN Conference to support meet

DOHA: Qatar Foundation will Safety, Security and Environment themes – the first being ‘the host The Doha Youth Forum at Qatar Foundation, said, “This successes and challenges in the on Crime Prevention and forum provides an important implementation of comprehen- Criminal Justice, from April 7 opportunity to empower young sive policies and strategies for the to April 9 at the Qatar National people and ensure a rich and prevention of crime and criminal Convention Centre. rewarding experience on practical justice in order to strengthen the The Forum, which is the-first- and personal levels. This is closely rule of law at the national and of-its-kind in the Middle East, is aligned with Qatar Foundation’s international levels and to support being organised in collaboration mission to promote human capa- sustainable development’. with the Organising Committee bility, to support the growth of The second is ‘national of the United Nations 13th the state and the Qatar National approaches to public participa- Conference on Crime Prevention Vision 2030, and a culture of crea- tion in the strengthening of crime and Criminal Justice. tivity and innovation in society.” prevention and criminal justice’. The Forum is a unique initia- Qatar Foundation received a The third is ‘to enhance crime tive launched by Qatar to actively total of 185 applications, of which prevention and criminal justice, engage young people in discus- 123 have been accepted. This com- which will also include new forms H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community sions related to crime prevention prised of 46 males and 77 female of crimes such as cyber-crime and Development, met yesterday at her office in Education City the First Lady of Albania Odeta Nishani. They and criminal justice, and famil- students. Most of the applicants trafficking in cultural property, discussed prospects for cooperation in the fields of education and health. iarise them with the role and are between the ages of 16 and with the lessons learned applied functions of the United Nations. 26. Among the students selected to international cooperation to In addition, the forum aims to to participate in the Forum, 31 address the procedures’. discuss issues faced by students students are from Qatar, 15 from The conference will compile in the region and the problems India, 11 from Pakistan, nine from a final report to be presented at th QU launches Computing Contest caused by crime and how to pre- Egypt and seven from Jordan. the culmination of the 13 United vent it through concrete and At the conference, the student Nations Congress on Crime practical solutions. delegates will be asked to role-play Prevention and Criminal Justice at DOHA: Qatar University Fifty eight students and 19 teach- with highly-qualified graduates in Sheikha Amal bint Thamir the 13th United Nations Congress a ceremony to be held at the Qatar (QU) recently launched its 8th ers from 58 schools attended the software and systems engineer- Al Thani, Executive Director of on Crime Prevention and Criminal National Convention Centre. Computing Contest (QUCC), an launch ceremony. A workshop held ing, websites design and develop- the Department of Health and Justice to discuss the three main THE PENINSULA annual initiative organised by on March 7 to orient students and ment, network engineering, and the Department of Computer teachers on the competition guide- systems security, consistent with Science and Engineering (CSE) lines will be followed by another on their needs.” at the College of Engineering March 14. Student projects will be ExxonMobil President and (CENG). The competition conducted under the supervision of General Manager Alistair requires students to programme teachers, and in coordination with Routledge said: “In Qatar, a robot that will perform tasks the contest committee. ExxonMobil provides the energy to within a limited time. In his opening remarks, CENG drive human potential through its As in previous years, the con- dean Dr Rashid Alammari partnerships in local programmes. test is based on logic program- thanked the sponsors QAPCO, Qatar University’s Computing ming of the sensor inputs of a Dolphin Energy and ExxonMobil Contest is one of the programmes LEGO-based robot. This year, Qatar for their support, and high- which support this objective. The students will use the LEGO EV3 lighted the importance of the con- contest challenges students and kit and in an added engineering test in engaging secondary school teaches them important life skills, component, they will compete in students to develop their creativ- such as commitment, teamwork the final day on May 9 to demon- ity and innovation in computing and leadership. All of this —com- strate the time it takes for their as well as to raise their awareness bined with computing skills and robots to complete the tasks. on CENG programmes. engineering techniques — is a First place winner will be He added: “This contest is in recipe for success. We are proud awarded QR10,000 and a schol- line with CENG’s goal to produce to play a role in fostering a genera- arship to study at CSE, while graduates who are experts in tion of technical experts and lead- QR6,000 and QR4,000 will be computer science and engineer- ers who can create a sustainable awarded to the 2nd- and 3rd- ing. It also highlights our com- future, both locally and globally.” The participants during the first orientation session of the Doha Youth Forum. place winners respectively. mitment to provide the industry THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

PM meets Algerian Speaker HMC and PHCC Silatech forum complete consultant to tackle youth validation

DOHA: Hamad Medical unemployment Corporation (HMC) and Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) have suc- cessfully completed a two-year IYF to co-host three-day conference project to revalidate all consult- ants working in the respective DOHA: Silatech and the World Bank, the International organisations. International Youth Foundation Labour Organisation, Oasis Nearly 800 consultants from (IYF) will hold a three-day 500, Tamweelcom, Mowgli, Save HMC and PHCC have had their conference designed to develop the Children, United Nations credentials revalidated against and implement solutions to the Development Programme the international benchmark cri- region’s growing youth unem- (UNDP), the Abdul Latif Jameel teria used by Medical Validation ployment crisis. Poverty Action Lab, Ahead of the Ireland (MVIRL), a consortium “Arab Youth Employment: Curve, and the Rand Corporation. of renowned international certify- Promoting Innovative Solutions Silatech is a regional social ini- ing authorities in Ireland. to Longstanding Challenges” is tiative that works with partners HMC’s Managing Director, Dr expected to draw over 350 dele- throughout the Arab world to Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met yesterday Speaker Hanan Al Kuwari, said that the gates from throughout the Arab create jobs and expand economic of the Algerian National People’s Assembly Mohammed Al Arabi Ould Khalifa, at the council’s headquarters. primary function of revalidation world, including representatives opportunities for young people. The They reviewed bilateral cooperation and the means to enhance them. was to safeguard the best possi- of NGOs and civil society organi- International Youth Foundation ble standards of care for patients. sations, policymakers, private sec- (IYF) is a global leader in youth “Achieving validation with MVI is tor leaders, researchers and the development focused on education, a testament to the high level of media to share insights and build employment, and citizenship. professionalism, advanced quali- partnerships to support Arab “Over the last decade, many VCUQ launches Tasmeem Doha fications and specialization of our youth employment. initiatives have been intro- doctors. Youth unemployment in the duced throughout the region to “We are confident that the Arab countries is the highest of fight unemployment and pro- DOHA: Virginia Commonwealth by multidisciplinary artists, design- of fashion history. The museum, revalidation process helps us to any region in the world, and is vide opportunities to our youth. University in Qatar (VCUQatar) ers, architects, performers and a downloadable application that uphold our high standards and growing. The jobless rate among Unfortunately, very few of these in partnership with the Qatar musicians. uses real time 3D technology, let’s the quality of care we provide. I’m Arab youth has increased from have made any noticeable impact Foundation launched its bien- The studio part of the day visitors explore, in-depth, not very proud of our team for suc- 24 percent in 2009 to 29 percent at a national level,” said Silatech nial art and design conference came to a close with the open- just the house’s archive, but also cessfully achieving revalidation in 2014, while entrepreneurship CEO Dr Tarik M Yousef. Tasmeem Doha 2015. ing address by Pors and Rao, a Valentino’s captivating back story. and for remaining steadfast in has declined over the same period. He added: “It is now urgent for Tasmeem Doha 2015: ‘3ajeeb!’ is Bangalore-based Indo-Danish Moderated conversations with our commitment to care for each Organised by Silatech and all of us to learn from each other open to the public and takes place at art duo, making sculptures and Valentino and Giammetti, led by and every patient with compas- hosted by IYF, the conference will what types of programmes work VCUQatar until March 12, with pres- installations that often involve VCUQatar Fashion Design Chair sion, safely and effectively,” said be held in Amman from April 28 best, and then partner with oth- entations today from 1pm to 8pm mechanical movement and Sandra Wilkins, followed the Dr Al Kuwari. to 30. This event builds upon the ers to replicate these programs, and on Thursday from 3pm to 7pm. responsive behaviors. Pors and screening, and touched upon the HMC and PHCC engaged the success of the 2013 “Arab Youth scale them up, and achieve sub- The 2015 edition of Tasmeem Rao are particularly interested in concept of the virtual museum, as Irish consortium, which was & Entrepreneurship” conference stantial impact at the national Doha focuses on the theme of ‘play- the involuntary aspects of human well as Valentino’s amazing profes- managed by MVIRL (a sub- in Doha, which brought together and regional levels.” fulness’ as expressed by the Arabizi behavior - of what lies outside our sional and personal insights into the sidiary of the Royal College of delegates from throughout the “While facing great challenges, word 3ajeeb! (ahh-jhee-b) mean- knowledge and control. world of couture fashion. Following Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), in region to enhance youth entre- today’s Arab youth have the enor- ing ‘strange in a strange way, cool This was followed by a con- the conversation, members of the 2013 to complete a peer review preneurship and economic oppor- mous potential to boost economic in a cool way, and slightly weird versation with special guests, audience, including students, par- of the credentials of every tunities at the grass-roots level. growth in their communities and in a slightly weird way.’ Tasmeem legendary fashion designer and ticipated in a Q&A session. consultant. The conference features 18 ses- across the region. IYF looks forward Doha 3ajeeb! will foster discussions master couturier Valentino “We are grateful to Qatar More than 30 MVIRL repre- sions organised by over 20 lead- to working with Silatech and many on playful processes as a creative Garavani and Honorary President Foundation for providing such an sentatives joined the celebration ing youth-serving organisations others to ensure millions more Arab practice to generate new knowl- of the Valentino Fashion House, extraordinary opportunity to our to mark the successful conclu- around the world. The content youth have the skills and opportu- edge, technologies and discoveries. Giancarlo Giammetti. Valentino students,” said VCUQatar Dean sion of the revalidation program. will showcase the rich knowledge nities they need to find success in The first morning of the con- and Giammetti opened their ses- Allyson Vanstone. “It was a once These included presidents and and innovative approaches being the workplace, build their own busi- ference saw participants of the sion with a video presentation of in a lifetime event, and Valentino deans of all the participating col- developed throughout the region. nesses, and contribute positively to various workshops being briefed the Valentino Garavani Virtual and Giammetti were truly leges who worked closely with The contributing partners society,” said IYF CEO Bill Reese. about the projects. The 3ajeeb! Museum, a digital fashion expe- delightful and generous guests.” HMC and PHCC. at the conference include the THE PENINSULA studios feature 26 workshops led rience showcasing five decades THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Agreement signed CMC takes up illegally partitioned villa issue for building Electricity cannot be disconnected without Municipality order, says Kharamaa official accommodation for

BY YASIN ABU TAQIU advantage of shortage of afford- “It’s now common to find a the house they are staying in is The Council also discussed 12,000 workers able housing. house designated for one family owned by a Qatari or someone a proposal to have all citizens DOHA: A new contract was DOHA: Utility distributor Following a debate, the Central being shared by about five families else, do not renew their visas.” working for the government and signed yesterday at Qatar Kahramaa said yesterday that Municipal Council (CMC) asked through partitions,” he said. “This A representative from the having a secondary school cer- Projects 2015 Conference for its officials know of the mush- the civic ministry to increase the puts a lot of pressure on utility Ministry of Municipality and tificate to be given government building high-quality accom- rooming illegally partitioned inspection of partitioned villas and services like water electricity and Urban Planning told the council housing. The topic was tabled by modation for 12,000 workers homes but cannot discontinue apartments and suggested that as sewage as they are not enough for that the Municipality was hav- Mohammed bin Hamoud Al Shafi over the next three years, event electricity and water supplies to soon as a violation is noticed util- the several families.” ing an ongoing campaign aimed council representative of New Al organisers said. such a home unless the munici- ity distributor Kahramaa should Council member Hamad Al by identifying illegally partitioned Rayyan, who expressed concerns Daruna Development signed a pality of the area concerned be asked to disconnect the supply Mansouri blamed the persistent home whether among villas or of the hardships young Qatari QR800m management agreement asks it to specifically do that. of water and electricity to such problem of home partitioning to apartments and was levying a families are facing with having to with Wasita Qatar (ISNAD), a “Our hands are tied. The law a home. poor urban planning, saying that fine. He said that not all parti- pay rents. He said that rent was subsidiary of Shariah-compliant requires that the municipality But the Kahramaa official officials were keen to allocate tioning was illegal but if there was increasing at a fast speed every service provider Wasita Group of of the area concerned ask us to put the ball in the court of the more residential places to citizens to be any, it has to be approved year and that it was taking up to Companies, conference organier disconnect utility supplies to an municipal ministry saying that its who are less than 15 percent of and permitted by the municipal- half of the salaries of some Qatari MEED Events said. illegally partitioned villa or apart- officials always notices such viola- the population and the expatri- ity according to rules and after families. Daruna will maintain owner- ment. On our own, we can’t act,” tions but the law required them to ates who are every day increasing studying that the villa has the A recommendation for this ship of the accommodations while said a senior Kahramaa official. disconnect electricity and water in the country were left to share capacity and enough utility serv- proposed housing had been sent to Wasita will operate and manage He, along with a senior official supplies to a shelter after being a few congested areas. ices to accommodate the number the Ministry of Finance and the the workers’ housing including of the Ministry of Municipality notified by the municipality of the Mohammed Al Hajri, another of families that will stay there. council got no response, yesterday housekeeping, catering, laundry and Urban Planning, attended area. council member, called upon The council recommended to council members raised concerns and maintenance. the proceedings of the Central Jassim Al Malki, Deputy authorities to link the issuance both the Ministry of Municipality that the earlier recommendation The developers will market the Municipal Council (CMC) yes- Chairman of the Council, said and renewal of residency permits and Kahramaa to do more aware- was sent to the wrong depart- permanent workers’ accommoda- terday which raised the issue of that most of the villa partition- (RPs) to a proof of Kahramaa ness among the communities about ment, and recommended that it tions that fully complies with all illegally partitioned homes. ing was being done by expatri- number for every family. the dangers and consequences of should be sent to the Ministry international and Qatar’s legal CMC members said the danger- ates who rented the premises and “If five families turn up at illegally partitioning homes. of Municipality and Urban plan- standards. ous trend was a result of toothless instead of staying there, they par- the immigration to renew their The proposal was earlier tabled ning which should forward it to Daruna Vice Chairman laws and some greedy expatriate titioned them and rented them residents and all don’t pay utility by CMC member, Mohamed bin the cabinet. Ambassador Joe LeBaron said, middlemen were taking undue out to several families. services in their names but claim Hamod Al Shafi. THE PENINSULA “The coordination from the compliant design and world class certified management, including catering and laundry, gives us tremendous advantages in con- trolling costs and value driven Call for creating local services which can not be achieved in any other manner. This com- bination, along with the value for money is the reason Daruna chose relevance in filmmaking to partner with Wasita on its first project.” DOHA: Film industry experts people. “I realized I was passion- QNA have urged content creators ate about films but in Saudi sadly and stakeholders to create more there are no cinemas. YouTube State can give content, collaborate to improve was booming and I simply con- quality and ensure local rel- nected the dots.” loans, debt evance to meet the demand for Creating alternative spaces is regional content. what Hania Mroue, Director of instruments Speaking at a special session Metropolis Cinema, does. About Continued from page 1 of the Northwestern University ten years ago, realizing the The Finance Ministry shall in Qatar (NU-Q) Qatar Media demand for indie and arthouse prepare and implement the state Industries Forum held at Qumra, films, Metropolis was set up as budgets in line with the National they also recommended polish- an alternative venue. Development Strategy and Qatar ing storytelling and building “When we started, we were National Vision 2030, and tackle alternative spaces for content very happy to have 500 admis- financial crisis, if any. The Ministry, appreciation. sions for the films we showed; in coordination with the Qatar Khalifa Al Haroon, Founder of today it is five to seven thousand, Central Bank, shall specify mecha- the iLoveQatar Network, said the and it will grow. Not every festival nisms to list debt instruments in key “is to create locally relevant film works in a commercial cin- local or foreign capital markets or content” and to just “put it up” and ema but it is important to create through any other channels, if the the people would watch. His own alternative spaces.” state needs funds. The state can experience of creating YouTube She added: “The industry also ink deals with other parties. content about “Qatari culture for should also accept responsibil- Similarly, the state can give away expats in English” has gained over ity for shaping demand, and not loans and subscribe to debt instru- 1 million hits with just 38 episodes. simply cater only to what the ments like bonds and sukuks. This was reiterated by audience wants. When we keep A panel discussion during the session. Finance Minister H E Ali Mohammed Makki, Director and showing festival films, even if we Shareef Al Emadi told QNA the Showrunner of the “Takki” series, accept losses in the beginning, we the best US series,” but the chal- viewer preference for the dialect a deficit in creative storytelling new law unifies the legal frame- who said, “Takki succeeded because can change the local demand.” lenge lies in the quality of the used. What works in one market, because there is less collaboration. work for the state’s fiscal policy. it is simple and relatable to the peo- Fadi Ismail, General Manager productions. therefore, does not have accept- “The US series work because of There were four laws regulat- ple. Today’s audience is smart and of O3 Productions (MBCGroup), Selim El Azar, Chief Executive ance in another. the sophistication of the writing. ing public money and fiscal poli- to reach them, do not seek what pointed out that television still Officer of Qatar-based distributor “We do not dub movies; all we Collaboration, therefore, is the cies and now there is only one. they want but start from inside. continues to be the mass media Gulf Film, said that ultimately it provide are subtitles. But I can say most important thing. The con- Qatar will continue with all Write where it hurts; what is bad leader, and in this space, dramas all comes down to “storytelling.” that even other language films do tent creation industry in the Arab development projects and follow the for the heart is good for art.” and films dominate. He said that He explained that despite speak- well if the story is good.” A good world is chaotic and the practical set timetable. Absolutely no changes Makki also attributed his suc- there is a profusion of local con- ing one language, the Arab enter- story can thus serve as the bridge way for storytelling to develop is will be made. The switch to the new cess in finding an “alternative tent and “the worst Arabic drama tainment market is fragmented to travel across the Arab world. through writing rooms.” system will be smooth, he said. space” to take his content to the series will get higher ratings than led by cultural sensitivities and Ismail said that the region faces THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Experts hail Qumra for setting new model

DOHA: Industry experts and emerging filmmakers have lauded Doha Film Institute’s (DFI) Qumra for setting a new model to promote emerging film talent by offering “a real platform for networking.” “The most important aspect of film events is to gain access to people,” observed Rashid Abdelhamid, the Palestinian producer of Dégradé, a Qumra Work in Progress project, one of 29 that are mentored by industry experts at Qumra. “The networking opportunities here are great.” He said that one of the first funding for the film with an all-women cast, directed by Tarzan and Arab Abunasser, came from the Doha Film Institute. The DFI had extended similar funding support to Lisbon-born director Joao Salaviza for his feature- length debut, Mountain. The film’s producer, Francois D’Artemare, also highlighted the value that Qumra brings in making “new connections and identifying ways for newer collaborations.” Anocha Suwichakornpong, writer-director of By the Time it Gets Dark, said the support from the Institute for her film, on which she had been working for nearly three years, “came as a big surprise.” She has been meeting a number of industry professionals, including potential sales agents at Qumra. “The nature of the film – set in the 1970s about a less-known real incident with a fictional narrative of interwoven stories of several characters – was very hard and all thanks to the DFI for the support.” Remi Bonhomme, Programme Manager, from the Cannes Critics Week, said the selection of films at Qumra Projects is very good, and that he arrived in Doha, despite the hectic schedule of screenings at Cannes, “to meet the filmmakers and answer questions.” He said that ten years ago, films from the Arab world were funded by non-Arabs, which would mean the “the stories are said from a European point of view for a European audience.” Today, with support from entities such as the DFI, Arab filmmakers can tell stories from their point of view, said Bonhomme, adding that at Cannes there is no distinction made in the selection of films – whether it is from the Arab world or by first-time filmmakers. THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC hosts conference on Otolaryngology 450 international professionals to attend ORL-HNS meet

DOHA: A unique platform a sophisticated robotic platform will allow experts to exchange that is designed to expand the knowledge and experiences per- surgeon’s capabilities and offer taining to latest diagnostic and a high-tech minimally invasive management trends for a vari- option for major surgery. ety of otolaryngology, head and neck, and audiology disorders, in Doha today. Most surgeries for Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will host the second cancer: Expert Qatari and 11th GCC International Conference in Otolaryngology, DOHA: Majority of Head and Neck Surgery (ORL- Otolaryngology, Head and Neck HNS) until Saturday. Surgery (ORL-HNS) conducted The three-day conference is at the ENT department of being organised by the ORL-HNS Hamad Medical Corporation (ENT) Department at Rumailah (HMC) is for different types of Hospital and will shed light on cancer, says a senior official. latest advances, innovative sur- year’s conference comprises of ENT one of the biggest and From right: Dr Salah Aldeen Saif, Urinary Tract Specialist, Dr Omar Al-Faitoori, Nephrology Consultant, and Dr gical procedures, and research in 150 lectures, which will be pre- busiest departments on aver- Hassan Al Maliki, Nephrology Consultant with the patient. the field of otolaryngology, head sented by more than 60 distin- age performs as many as 2,400 and neck surgery. guished speakers and ORL-HNS surgeries each year and approxi- The conference will con- experts from all over the world, mately 27,000 patients are seen at Kidney patient hails HGH services vene nearly 450 local, regional including countries like the the ENT outpatient clinics. and international ORL-HNS United States, the United The patients operated for professionals. Kingdom, Germany, Italy, India cancers included those who had DOHA: A patient who under- rotation came to check up on say, “In the Name of Allah, in “This is a terrific opportunity and other countries in the GCC cancer of the tongue, orophar- went full kidney transplant me about five to six times a day Him we entrust.” for those attending the confer- region. The interactive sessions ynx and hypopharynx (like oral at Hamad General Hospital after the surgery and I felt very The kidney that was trans- ence to learn about the progress will allow delegates to gain cancer and cancer of the lar- (HGH) has highly praised well looked after. If I had had my planted in Al Rumaihi was we have made in this field at HMC advanced skills that will cer- ynx) and salivary gland tumours, Hamad Medical Corporation’s surgery overseas, I don’t believe I received from a deceased organ and how we are continually estab- tainly enhance their practice.” said Dr Abdulsalam Al Qahtani, (HMC) transplant service, stat- would have been tended to more donor, who had registered with lishing best practices to ensure Dr Olfa Al Mannai, Conference Senior Consultant and A/Head of ing that it exceeds international than once a day – from what my Hiba during his lifetime to donate our patients receive the best pos- Organising Committee member ORL-HNS (ENT) Department standards. colleagues have informed me fol- his organs in the event of his sible care,” said Dr Abdulsalam Al and Swallowing Specialist at yesterday. Saad Al Rumaihi, a Qatari lowing their own experiences in death. The donor’s second kidney Qahtani (pictured), Conference ENT Department said, “We are “Number of surgeries include kidney transplant recipient said, other countries.” was given to an Indian patient Chairman, Senior Consultant trying to update and enhance the from major to minor cases and “My initial thought was to get the Al Rumaihi explained that, in and his liver was donated to an and A/Head of ORL-HNS (ENT) management within ENT service day care t inpatients, depending operation done in Egypt, China, addition to his belief in Allah, his Egyptian patient, all of whom Department speaking at a press as well as incorporate new tech- on the condition of the patient,” India or Pakistan, but I decided to trust in HMC led him to choose to have recovered excellently. conference yesterday. nologies in this field in Qatar. he added. undergo the transplant in Qatar stay in Qatar for his operation. He Al Rumaihi said, “I hope that Discussions during the con- The continued education of our In the past two years surgical at HGH, because I had heard very said Dr Riyadh Fadhil, Director all local and expatriate patients ference will be centred on many staff is one of our top priorities robots are used to conduct sur- good things about the standard of of Qatar Organ Donation Center place their faith in the medical different topics such as hearing and this will certainly reflect in geries in the mouth and neck with doctors here.” (Hiba) at HMC, was very helpful and surgical teams at HMC and assessment and screening, swal- our services, enhancing patient high precision and minimal oper- “From my experience, I can and explained the entire proce- trust in Allah; they will never find lowing, speech disorders, nasal outcomes.” ating time. say that the organ transplant dure to him before the surgery, better treatment elsewhere.” He disorders, cancer in the head and Also an instructional course Surgical robots are used for team at HGH is really among ensuring him a full recovery by expressed his utmost gratitude neck, otology and ear disease. will also be held tomorrow, to highly selective cases to reach the world’s best when it comes Allah’s command. and appreciation to Dr Fadhil, Dr Sara Ashkanani, coincide with the conference parts could not be reached by the to technique, experience and According to Al Rumaihi, as well as the surgical and nurs- Conference Scientific Committee at the Qatar Robotic Surgery hands of a surgeon except through knowledge. During my time prior to the surgery he was ing team, for their support to save member and Rhinology Center to provide hands-on train- surgical incision of the neck, said at the hospital, I had access to afraid but, once in the operating patients lives and provide the best Specialist at ENT Department, ing to ENT surgeons on the Da Dr Al Qahtani. the best possible care both pre room, his fear vanished as soon healthcare services in Qatar. said: “The programme for this Vinci Surgical System. This is THE PENINSULA and post-operation. Doctors on as he heard the anesthesiologist THE PENINSULA

93,000 to benefit from QRC Somalia project

DOHA: Qatar Charity (QC) will implement a relief and rehabili- tation project in the Somalian province of Middle Shabelle, for the benefit of around 93,000 people. The QR3.3m project will offer support to people affected by the floods that have swept through the province during the past two years, and is expected to take around a year to complete. The project will help improve the living standards of the affected families by providing support to the agricultural and pastoral sector, establishing income-generating projects for the displaced and rehabilitating a number of essential facilities in the targeted areas, and that in a number of villages affiliated to the directorates of ‘Jawhar’ and ‘Bal’ad’ of Middle Shabelle governorate. A land reclamation project is expected to reclaim 250 hectares of agricultural land in one of the most important agricultural prov- Diversion at Othman Bin Affan inces in Somalia and restore sta- bility to 500 families in Shabelle DOHA: The Othman Bin Affan street located between Al Waab who depend on agriculture and street junction and Saeed Bin Al Aas street will be closed from grazing which was affected by A QRC official with some of the flood-hit people in Somalia. tomorrow, the Public Works Authority –Ashghal- has announced. the floods. Four schools and four The eight months closure is to facilitate work on phase one of the health centers will also be reno- provision of alternative sources to enable the affected people trained on how to cope with fre- roads and infrastructure development project in East Al Aziziya area. vated and equipped, in addition of income through small income- to become self-sufficient, via quent floods and have their arte- A temporary road is constructed for use during the closure and to the rehabilitation of seven generating projects for 58 affected a series of income-generating sian wells rehabilitated to run traffic will be diverted in both directions of this carriageway. People wells and provide them with new families. projects including shops, machin- according to the latest modern can access shops and houses in the area through Al Aziziya street. generators, the construction of QC aims eventually to begin ery production and ownership of energy systems. THE PENINSULA 10km of irrigation canals, and the providing recovery projects animals. The people will also be THE PENINSULA

QRC gets QR400,000 donation from Awqaf

DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent difficulty securing their least Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, other charitable organizations in (QRC) has received a needs due to lack of money; QRC Secretary-General, thanked Qatar,” he said. QR400,000 donation from scarcity of food, medical, and Awqaf for its generous donation. Mohamed Lahdan Al the General Directorate of relief supplies; and the destruc- “QRC has never declined to Mohannadi, Awqaf Assistant Endowments (Awqaf) at the tion of their local crops under work hard to relieve our brothers General Director, said, “The Ministry of Endowments and Snowstorms Huda and Yohan. affected by the four-year Syrian donation was allocated from an Islamic Affairs, as a contribu- The programme involved dis- crisis, utilising its legal capacity as endowment bank for QRC’s Warm tion to its relief efforts to help tributing winter assistance worth a globally recognised humanitar- Winter Campaign. This assistance the displaced people in Syria QR1,095,200, including 25,600 ian organisation whose vehicles, is important because it is targeted survive the severe weather. blankets and 384 tonnes heating facilities, and staff are protected towards the displaced inside Syria, The funds covered part of the wood, to 6,400 families, instead under international laws and con- while most of the international cost of QRC’s winter relief pro- of 4,000 families as previously ventions to deliver humanitarian assistance goes to Syrian refugees gramme to help Eastern Ghouta’s planned. Each family received assistance into Syria, a capac- in neighbouring countries.” 2,196,000 population, who suffer four blankets and 60kg wood. ity that distinguishes QRC from THE PENINSULA Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi (left) and Mohamed Lahdan Al Mohannadi WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Deal signed for electronic land registry project QTA keen on bringing DOHA: Minister of Justice H E Dr Hassan Lahdan added that beginning the project was in line with Saqr Al Mohannadi signed yesterday signed a the directives of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin contract with Ebla Computer Consultancy to Hamad Al Thani to facilitate services to citizens. develop land registry services into digital form. The project also contributes to Qatar National The project is part of Qatar e-Government 2020 Vision 2030. The Minister thanked youth Qatari major meets to Doha strategy. The project aims to connect electronically cadres that worked on the planning phase of the all state components related to the land registry project. process. Electronic land registry will have smart phone IAPCO seminar begins at Qatar National Convention Centre The Minister said that starting the project will applications so citizens have a safe and accurate data cause a qualitative leap at the Ministry and the of their real estate possessions. BY RAYNALD C RIVERA to IAPCO, its strategies and for- campaign. The session touched on services it provides to the public. The Minister QNA mats, in order for them to bring how to market a brand and show DOHA: Qatar Tourism more conferences, he explained. the talent and enthusiasm of the Authority (QTA) is poised to This is not the first time QTA people involved in the organiza- buttress the country’s Meetings, has brought globally renowned tion of MICE events. Incentives, Conferencing, and organizations to benefit the sector. Today, a session enti- Exhibitions (MICE) industry “We brought the UFI — tled “Dynamics of Program by strengthening the capacity the Global Association of the Management” will provide sim- of organisers through train- Exhibition Industry and ICCA, plified tips on how to manage ing and membership in world (International Congress and and host speakers, while anther renowned MICE entities. Convention Association) last year session called “Engaging the Hamad Al Abdan, QTA’s and IAPCO this year and still Delegate: Networking and Social Director of Exhibitions said the more to come,” he said. Events” will touch on what makes QTA will keep on bringing big As an emerging MICE destina- a congress special and how to cre- conventions and conferences to tion, Qatar will benefit from hav- ate the perfect social environment Doha but at the same time give ing a MICE bureau established to to maximize interaction between the private sector the opportu- support and develop this impor- delegates, between delegates and nity to engage the private sector tant industry. speakers, between delegates and in bringing more such events. “MICE is a separate entity and sponsors and exhibitors to achieve He was speaking to the media on in order to drive MICE industry effective networking and social the sidelines of the two-day semi- to the right direction, a bureau interaction. nar regional seminar by renowned will be established. It is coming “This seminar is an endorse- International Association of soon but QTA is playing the role ment of the future vision of the Professional Congress Organisers of MICE bureau until it is estab- meetings industry of Qatar, rec- (IAPCO) which opened yesterday lished,” he said. ognizing that education is the at the Qatar National Convention The two-day seminar is spe- route to quality and excellence Centre (QNCC). cifically structured to suit Qatari and the pathway to success- “This seminar is first time participants’ desire for world- ful meetings, both bidding and being organised in Doha. This is class knowledge, training and winning, and the delivery”, said one of our most important ini- best practices. All participants André Vietor, Chair of IAPCO tiatives for the private sector to will be awarded a Certificate of Training Academy. guide them on the right process of Attendance signed by IAPCO. Michel Neijmann, President of bringing events to Qatar,” he said. One of the sessions yesterday IAPCO stressed that “IAPCO sees IAPCO is an international entitled “Bidding” focused on the Qatar as a terminus for future organisation dedicated to profes- people who must be involved in a international meetings and an sional congress organisers and the bid team, the roles of each one of important destination in the con- aim of this workshop is to give them, and the specific skills that ference field.” these Qatari companies access contribute to a successful bid THE PENINSULA

Engineer Jassim Telefat (centre) receiving the award from Edmund O’Sullivan, Chairman of Events at MEED, (left) and Jabra R Ghandour, Managing Director of IBQatar. QF wins projects leadership award

DOHA: Qatar Foundation was awarded the Qatar and the community. Projects Leadership Award 2015 at the annual THE PENINSULA MEED Qatar Projects Conference. Every year, the award is presented to an organisa- tion that has made a lasting contribution to economic and social development of Qatar. This year, Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Executive Director of Qatar Foundation Capital Projects and Facilities Management, accepted the award on behalf of Qatar Foundation during the gala dinner in the presence of an esteemed gathering. The MEED Qatar Projects Conference is a two-day event that brings together government representa- tives, key project owners, developers, consultants and financiers in the sector to address the evolving challenges of Qatar’s project delivery market and highlight future project opportunities, strategic pri- orities and master plans. Engineer Jassim Telefat said, “This year’s MEED conference coincides with the twentieth anniver- sary of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, created to support Qatar on its transformation from a carbon to knowledge- based economy through the unlocking of human potential in the areas of education, science and research, and community development. “This has been achieved through a wide range of institutions, centres, and initiatives designed to encourage creativity and innovation, while promoting science and research and sustainability. Therefore, QF is preparing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs and researchers to confidently and successfully lead the future, armed with modern sci- ence, relevant skills and cutting-edge technologies.” Qatar Foundation is dedicated and committed to supporting the nation and its people through inten- sive educational and research and development pil- lars. QF’s educational cycle covering all levels from the age of six months to higher education, has so far resulted in the graduation of more than 2,500 students from QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University and partner universities within Education City. These talented graduates have since joined the local labour market, utilising the very best skills and expertise. In addition, the Research & Development pillar of QF has provided a solid path in which young people can unlock their research capabilities. The acquired advisory and expertise skills help them from conceiving ideas through to the implementation into practical commercial projects that serve the country WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Terrorist alliance

OKO Haram has announced with gusto that it’s aligning with the Islamic State. The news was Nigeria vote a bellwether greeted with a sense of déjà vu. It definitely didn’t Bcreate any surprise or shock. Whether it’s in business, diplomacy or terrorism, there is nothing wrong in two like-minded parties declaring allegiance, tie-ups or for African democracy mergers. BY DANIEL MAGNOWSKI Both the outfits have failed to shock the world because Muhammadu Buhari, a former Nigeria’s election four years ago, the brutalities they are practicing is unheard of and military leader who aims to unseat which Jonathan won by taking about unprecedented, overtaking even Al Qaeda. They are IGERIA’S election on March Jonathan, said on Feb. 26 that the elec- 59 percent of the vote, was followed breaking their own record in depravity and cruelty with 28, already postponed once tion has “great implications” beyond by days of rioting in which hundreds and fraught with tension, Nigeria’s borders and it will test the of people were killed, mainly in the each new act of terror. In that sense, the alliance they have Nmay determine investor and strength of the principle that voters can north, according to Human Rights declared doesn’t create or achieve anything new. Both are foreign leaders’ perceptions of whether replace governments without provoking Watch. Buhari, who was a candidate in operating in different regions, and despite the similarities democracy has taken hold in Africa. violence. the three previous elections, protested in their objectives, they have different operational bases As the continent’s most populous “Peaceful alternation of power against his defeat, claiming the vote was and scope for synergy is limited. country, its biggest economy and top through competitive elections have rigged. oil producer, Nigeria’s conduct during happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi In a country roughly divided between Both Islamic State and Boko Haram are now on the and after the vote is being closely moni- and Mauritius in recent times,” Buhari a Muslim north and Christian south, retreat, and are being pummeled by their rival forces. In tored. The West African nation hasn’t said in a speech at the Royal Institute the demonstrations degenerated into Iraq, soldiers and Shia militiamen captured a town on the had a peaceful transition of power of International Affairs, also known sectarian and ethnic violence, as outskirts of the Islamic State-held city of Tikrit. Seizing between parties since independence as Chatham House, in London. “The mainly pro-Buhari Muslims targeted Alam puts the offensive on course to attempt to liberate from Britain in 1960, with the People’s prospects of democratic consolidation in Christians and southerners, prompting Tikrit in the coming days. The army operation will likely Democratic Party in charge since a Africa will be further brightened when reprisal attacks. return to civilian rule in 1999. The PDP that eventually happens in Nigeria.” “When people look at decent elec- set the stage for how Iraq attempts to retake the more- is facing its toughest contest yet after A survey of 2,400 adults in December tions, they look at Ghana and Botswana, densely populated cities of Mosul and Fallujah from the opposition parties showed support is evenly split at 42 these are the countries people respect,” militants. Once the IS militants are driven out of Iraq, merged in 2013 to percent for the PDP and Buhari’s Cullen said. “People look at Nigeria and their brethren in Syria will be unseat President All Progressives Congress, according they expect it will be bad, they expect under pressure. Nigerian forces The West African Goodluck to Afrobarometer, a research group unrest.” said they recaptured towns in Jonathan. whose funders include the Mo Ibrahim Tension has intensified as the mili- Boko Haram’s nation hasn’t “This election Foundation and the U.S. Agency for tary struggles to contain a six-year northeastern Yobe state from will be a bell- International Development. insurgency by Boko Haram militants. declaration Boko Haram militants after the had a peaceful wether for the Ivory Coast, the world’s biggest cocoa The group’s campaign to impose Islamic insurgents declared allegiance entire continent,” producer, will hold a presidential elec- law on the country has spilled over into of allegiance to Islamic State, Troops seized transition of Linda Thomas- tion in October, its first since a disputed neighbouring countries, including Chad Buni Yadi and Buni Gari towns Greenfield, ballot in 2010, when then-incumbent and Cameroon, killed about 15,000 peo- power between the Assistant President Laurent Gbagbo refused to ple since 2009, and forced at least a mil- to Islamic in Yobe state on Saturday, parties since Secretary of concede defeat to opposition candidate lion Nigerians from their homes. State doesn’t as Nigerian authorities seek State for African Alassane Ouattara. A five-month con- “The signs are that there is greater to recover the few areas independence Affairs, told flict that followed left at least 3,000 potential for violence and civil unrest pose any new remaining in the hands of reporters on people dead. in Nigeria than last time, and this time the terrorists. Nigeria is also from Britain in Feb. 26. “The Burkina Faso is scheduled to hold there is a much more severe threat of threat. cooperating with neighbouring world is watch- presidential and parliamentary elec- terrorism,” Cullen said. 1960. ing, the conti- tions on Oct. 11, almost a year after Elsewhere, Guinea, the West African countries to exterminate Boko nent is watching, nationwide protests ousted President nation hit by the worst-ever outbreak Haram. Nigeria’s neighbours are watching this Blaise Compaore following 27 years of Ebola, is scheduled to hold general Boko Haram, roughly election.” in office. A transitional president was elections this year that “run the risk translated as “Western education is a sin,” emerged around Electoral authorities postponed the appointed about three weeks after of instability and inter-ethnic vio- 2002 to fight oppression and corruption in Nigeria. The election one week before it was sched- Compaore fled to Ivory Coast. lence,” according to the Brussels-based Islamists, staging attacks in the north of the country, uled to take place on Feb. 14, follow- While domestic factors are the International Crisis Group. A legisla- ing a request from Jonathan’s security main drivers of the risk of civil unrest tive vote in 2013 was delayed by almost have killed more than 4,700 people last year. The terror adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who said the in countries such as Guinea and Togo, three years as a result of violence group drew international attention and condemnation military was too stretched fighting an which will also hold elections this after the 2010 presidential ballot, the with the kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from a Islamist insurgency in the northeast of year, “there are signs of some emula- country’s first democratic vote since town in Borno state in April 2014. Neighboring Cameroon, the country to keep voters safe. Civil- tion within Africa,” Jesper Cullen, a independence. Chad and Niger have been drawn into the fight against rights groups have warned of the threat sub-Saharan Africa analyst at Risk The outlook isn’t all bleak, said of a constitutional crisis if the vote is Advisory Group, a global risk manage- Albert Essien, chief executive officer the insurgents, which has also caused a six-week delay postponed again or scrapped. ment consultancy, said by phone from of Ecobank Transnational Inc., which of presidential elections to March 28 in Nigeria, Africa’s The political uncertainty, coupled London on March 5. operates in 36 African countries. biggest oil producer. with a plunge in oil prices, caused the “In Togo, some of the opposition Burkina Faso’s relatively quick move to Boko Haram is mainly a threat to Africa, while Islamic currency to drop 18 percent against groups have been referring to Burkina a transitional administration following State is seen as a global threat. There is no doubt that the dollar in the past six months, the Faso, saying that they kicked out the Compaore’s resignation shows there’s both will be weakened considerably in the coming days worst performer of 24 African nations president there, so we can do it here,” political will on the continent to resolve . tracked by Bloomberg. he said. conflict, he said. WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Bring back the loot the day HAT corruption today has for corruption to take its stranglehold trust and not a vehicle by which to place under the previous regime that eaten into the body politic to the scale that is witnessed in this amass wealth. Politicians of yore were are gradually unraveling itself. So much is only all too well known. It country. So much so that corruption accountable to the public and there so even the present authorities are Tis no exaggeration that the and politicians are spoken of in the was probity and transparency in all unable to determine from which point canker of corruption has made deep same breadth. their actions and deeds. to commence the probe. According We urge the inroads into every aspect of public It is not that corruption had been Most observers are of the view that to reports the hedging deal alone cost life. From the graft solicited by a synonymous with local politicians of corruption became institutionalized the economy a staggering Rs. 7 billion. government minor traffic cop to the “donations” this country right down the line. There in the country with the advent of the This coupled with the establishment of accepted by heads of schools for were people’s representatives who market economy. The open space it a loss making airline, a port devoid of of Burma to admitting students corruption has in fact lost their wealth after entering afforded for large scale commerce vessels and other ego boosting enter- taken a firm grip on society so much public life. There was the famous case and free enterprise provided the ideal prises are but a few of the ventures respect the right so that it has become a way of life in of a Prime Minister having only a Rs opportunity for corruption on an unpar- where profligacy of a mind boggling of protesters Sri Lanka. There is also a strong public 400 bank balance at the time of his alleled scale leading to the current state scale was witnessed. The present perception that corruption in high death. There were also political leaders of affairs in the country. However all Government had put on hold most of to assemble Jen Psaki places has contributed to the spread who donated all their land, property corruption down the years pale into the questionable projects until a full of this malaise among all and sundry. and dwellings to the public. This was a insignificance when one considers the study is conducted into the deals. peacefully. US State Department Meaning, politicians have set the tone time when political office was a public mind boggling swindles that had taken Daily News Spokeswoman WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 The falsehood of the Egyptian media that in the past; they are hypo- crites who never change. Also, as the Egyptian media does not enjoy the freedom and democracy of our media, it hides the truth, which prevents people from following it as they do not trust the directors who make things look and smell like stale food. The Egyptian media has insulted Qatar, its people and some Arab countries for years. It is still BY DR RABIA BIN SABAH playing this dirty game. One day, AL KUWARI when the mask of this false media falls, its true face and the hidden either Egyptians truth will be revealed. nor Arabs in general If we study the history of the believe the Egyptian Egyptian media, especially its Nmedia’s propaganda recent history, we find that it has these days. achieved the following: It’s all lies and cheap publicity to 1. Promoted hatred among the mislead people, who are now aware Egyptian people. of the truth behind the deceitful 2. Insulted the GCC countries, media platform that presents especially Qatar and Saudi Arabia; fraudulent information in many 3. Destroyed relations between ways to cover up the policies of Egypt and Arab and Islamic coun- the collapsing regime that are not tries by promoting sectarianism serving the people. and racism. The regime cannot improve 4. Resorted to fraud and lies people’s lives, which I don’t need to mislead the Egyptian public, to talk about since their hardships distorted the truth and published are known to everyone. fabricated interviews. For decades, Egyptians have 5. Made use of some broadcast- known the truth behind this false ers to promote the state’s policies media. They know who leads the under the pretext of defending media, who funds it, and how Egypt. (This is a reflection of the much money is spent on it. They media’s ignorance, as it does not also know who is the broadcaster comply with the international code who misuses media outlets to of conduct that all media outlets spread the regime’s lies, believ- respect.) ing that the government will gain 6. Portrayed the oppressed as Journalists and photojournalists hold banners as they demonstrate in front of the journalist’s syndicate in Cairo against repeated attacks on members the trust of the Egyptian people the oppressor and vice versa in a through such cheap tactics. propaganda exercise bereft of any of the press in Egypt. The Egyptian people are not credibility, objectivity and neutral- stupid and have exposed such ity. We can easily call it the media and their Arab and non-Arab The media was accused of hid- were under pressure due to the many Egyptian people live under deceit as they are educated and of hypocrisy. leaders, and insulted their reli- ing the truth and promoting lies, fast-moving events. the poverty line. open-minded. That’s why they 7. Spread rumours of war to gious sect. There is no doubt that and it was not the first time the An Egyptian living in Qatar Egyptians are not stupid to watch Arab and international hide the truth of the government’s this is done for political gain. official Egyptian TV channels said: “Trust me, dear brother, believe the Egyptian media. They satellite channels, including Al incoherent policy, as it exports its The Maspero event was men- were facing these accusations. Qatar is in the hearts of every free are educated and like to watch Jazeera, which tops their list of crises abroad through these media tioned in an Arab satellite channel, One of the flaws was the rushed and honest Egyptian, despite what Arab and foreign channels like Al favourite TV channels. outlets. and how the ignorant Egyptian coverage of the event, which lasted these criminals do or say.” Jazeera, ignoring what is broad- Al Jazeera is watched and 8. It is unfortunate to find some media handled it! hours. This was besides the report- We ignore this dirty media to cast on Egyptian TV. trusted by Egyptians of all ages, Egyptian leaders in the media Also, the Egyptian media ing by some broadcasters that preserve our high level of ethics To conclude, Saad Hagras, the unlike their crumbling media out- who contribute to this process of mishandled news of the clashes the army was subjected to violent when we speak about facts, and political thinker and editor-in- lets, which present poor material misleading by promoting hatred between Copts and the troops in attacks by Coptic protesters. that is what they are afraid of; chief of The World Today news- and biased reporting that remind towards some sections of the which 25 people died and hundreds Many considered these reports they wish to drag us down to their paper, said that corruption in the us of the 1950s and 1960s, when Egyptian society, besides defaming were injured, prompting a lot of to have promoted sectarian strife, level. media was the most serious issue nothing but news about the presi- some countries and their political debate about the role of official and yet they were justified by Egyptian broadcasters receive in Egypt, as it led to discord in all dent was reported. figures. media outlets. Some even accused Osama Heikal, the minister of millions every year from the section of society. The Egyptian media today is 9. Used some local homosexual the media of encouraging religious information at that time, who authorities and businesses. Their The witness was from among run by the same people who did actors to defame some countries strife. claimed that the broadcasters officials have high salaries while them this time! The central markets stink Qataris alienated in of good and bad experiences. Many demographic changes in various times we have publicly asked gov- parts of the country, but the exist- ernment agencies to have mercy ing central markets are not on on those living near the markets, anyone’s mind. who have to tolerate unpleasant We are challenged by the their own homeland smells and waste produced by the odours emanating from Widam markets. and Woqod’s huge tankers. These a fresh graduate, but all doors For years we have The delay in moving the cen- repugnant smells are so strong would be closed. One employer tral markets is due to the slack- that they are hard to miss, and would say that his company been hearing that ness of Widam company, whose they pollute the air and cause was overstaffed, another would timid requests in this regard are chills. respond that there were no open- the citizen is the ignored. If the project for new central ings and a third one would prom- BY KHALID ABDULLA AL Therefore, no one has consid- markets is meant to fulfil the needs ise to contact him later but never real treasure of this ZIYARA ered relocating the markets, even of citizens and residents, would it do so. as the local inhabitants have kept not be good for the national plan This person is shocked to country and that complaining about the obnoxious to include the removal of the old know that the doors that were he news about signing odours that afflict them. markets to alleviate the suffer- closed in his face are wide open improving his life is of contracts for building The odours from the fish mar- ing of the locals, who have been for expatriates. In the end, he Tcentral markets in Umm ket mix with the smell of fuel assailed by their foul odours for asks an expatriate acquaintance the main goal of the Salal, Al Sailiyah and Al Wakra from the nearby Woqod station to years? BY MOHAMMAD ALI AL to mediate and get his daughter is wonderful. create a unique “fragrance” that The livestock market not only KUBAISI a job. There are many examples government. In reality This project aims to make life people in the neighbourhood are produces unpleasant odours but of this but not enough space to easier for people in the above areas forced to savour every day, espe- also poses a health risk, as it mention them. this is not true. by providing them items of daily cially on rainy or humid days. causes the spread of insects and he Qatari citizen starts The response to the needs of use locally, obviating the need for Widam (hooves) changed its rodents. to look for legal means to a citizen depends on how well he without the mediation of expats. them to travel long distances, and name to Mawashi (livestock), but Yet, there seems to be no Tprotect his rights when is connected. You will find him The strength of any state is rep- relieving pressure on the existing did nothing to improve its services. prospect of the current central the administration refuses to befriending port workers, gas resented by its resources, capa- central markets. Suddenly, the project to markets being moved away from fulfil his needs. When he reads station attendants, electricians bilities and potential. Our relationship with the exist- build new central markets was residential areas. the laws he finds that most of and market workers, even for a Each citizen should feel that ing central markets has been one announced, keeping in view rapid Take care! the articles are very clear, to the short while. he is an important contributor point that he can identify those Qataris feeling alienated in to the state, not just an employee that serve his needs and get his their own homeland is a serious who earns his living without any rights from the responsible per- violation to the country’s con- sense of belonging or loyalty. son who had refused to help him. stitution. This will harm social This is what makes devel- He may meet the responsible cohesion, which is a serious issue. oped countries unique, which is government officer to discuss Humiliating situations make dedication to work derived from his concerns, but at the end of the citizen hate himself for giv- trust in their public system. They the day, he simply says: “These ing expats higher value. I do come together for their home- instructions are from the top.” not mean to offend expatriates, land, putting aside differences of However, when the citizen who are a good resource in our opinion and belief. tries to relate this response to community. The Qatari citizen has become the laws, he finds no relation Expatriates work in Qatar an alien in his own homeland. He whatsoever. because our society needs their does not have any option but to While pacing outside the office services. submit to this situation and look of the responsible official, he may, I want to focus in this article for an expat to mediate for him by chance, meet an employee he on the Qatari government official and get his work done. knows. After an exchange of who puts obstacles between him- Maybe such actions are not greetings, the employee would self and his brothers. He delays deliberate, but they have a ask him why he had come there. people’s work by haphazardly destructive effect. The Qatari After the situation was interpreting the law. government should work to get explained to him, the employee For years we have been hear- the citizen his rights, which will would take the citizen’s papers ing that the citizen is the real stabilise Qatari society. and get them approved, even treasure of this country and that It is unfortunate that the citi- though this was initially refused improving his life is the main goal zen feels alienated in his own on the pretext that that was the of the government. country, among his own relatives. instruction from the top. In reality this is not true. Alienation in one’s homeland Customers buying fish at the Central Market. Another citizen may search The citizens feel that they have tastes bitter. Will this bitterness for a job for his daughter who is rights but are unable to get them last long? WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Political deal or destruction for Libya: UN Peace talks being held in Algeria

ALGIERS: Warring factions government,” she added. in Libya have a choice between “This should happen within a political deal to end violence days, not weeks, as time does or the destruction of their oil- not work on our side.” Mogherini rich North African country, UN raised concerns about the Islamic envoy Bernardino Leon said State group’s expanding presence yesterday. in Libya, where its local affiliate Leon was speaking in neigh- has beheaded 21 Coptic, mostly bouring Algeria, as he pressed Egyptian, Christians. ahead with talks aimed at end- That prompted retaliatory air ing the violence that has plagued strikes by Egypt and requests Libya since the 2011 Nato-backed for a UN embargo on arms sales uprising that ousted and killed to Libya to be lifted in favour of dictator Muammar Gaddafi. the internationally recognised “There are two options: a government. political accord or destruction,” And on Friday, IS jihadists Leon said at the start of talks in killed eight guards in an attack on Algiers, adding that “destruction the southern oilfield of Al Ghani. is not an option”. Nine foreigners, including At the weekend in Morocco, a 39-year-old Austrian and a he brokered the first direct talks Filipino who worked for a serv- between Libya’s rival parliaments, ices company, were missing after Iranian clerics at the annual meeting of the Experts Assembly in Tehran yesterday. The assembly is the highest body of clerics in the country authorised and their envoys are due to return the attack. to supervise the activities of the country’s supreme leader. to Rabat today for further talks. Austria’s foreign ministry said Meanwhile, Leon has brought on Monday there was “reliable together around 15 key figures for information” that they were “in the meeting in Algiers, which he the hands of IS terrorists”. described as a “forum of political The Security Council put the Ultraconservative to head Iran clergy body parties” crucial to taking Libya arms request on hold Monday, towards a political settlement. to allow Leon to make progress TEHRAN: Iran’s Assembly of contenders whose names had the Assembly of Experts chooses insisting his membership of Iran’s Libya’s elected, internationally in brokering a deal on a national Experts, the clerics who appoint been linked to the post by Iranian the supreme leader and monitors top political arbitration body, the recognised parliament and gov- unity government that could and can dismiss the country’s media in recent weeks but he was his actions. Expediency Council, already kept ernment are based in the east, spearhead the battle against IS. supreme leader, picked an ultra- not the most talked about. The clerical body grants the him busy. while the rival Islamist-backed There is also concern that arms conservative as their new chair- His election represents a heavy leader, currently Ayatollah Ali “Psychologically, I am not at General National Congress and a shipments to Libya could fall into man in a surprise appointment defeat for former president Akbar Khamenei, an indefinite term but all prepared to become the chair- government it supports are in the the wrong hands. yesterday. Hashemi Rafsanjani, a relative it retains the power to sack him, man of the Assembly of Experts. capital, Tripoli. A UN panel of experts wrote Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi, moderate who previously held the if it sees fit. I work enough at the Expediency On Monday, EU foreign affairs to the Security Council warning 83, was a deputy speaker of par- position between 2007 and 2011, Yazdi, initially at least, will Council and why would it be nec- chief Federica Mogherini said the of possible “transfers of mate- liament after the 1979 Islamic and who received 24 votes. hold the post for just one year essary to work more than this?” sides must reach a deal on form- rial — particularly tanks, small revolution and headed the judici- Yazdi, described in Iran’s offi- as elections for the Assembly of he said in an interview published ing a unity government within arms, light weapons and related ary for a decade until 1999. cial Who’s Who as rightwing, Experts are scheduled alongside by the reformist Shargh newspa- days, not weeks. “We need the ammunition — to non-state actors He gained 47 of the 73 votes takes up a position vacant since parliamentary polls next year, per yesterday. Libyan factions to take the first directly by the official end-users cast at a closed-door meeting in October 2014, when Ayatollah with a new vote for chairman to “We’ll see on the day. My cri- step,” she told the UN Security to militias supporting them or Tehran, according to the web- Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani follow. terion is that it should be some- Council. Libyan leaders must indirectly following fighting and site of state television, citing died following a heart attack. Although Rafsanjani put his one who befits the stature of the “grasp this last chance and agree loss of control over stockpiles.” officials. Officially comprised of 86 reli- name forward, he had appeared Assembly of Experts.” on a transitional national unity AFP Yazdi was among five gious figures elected by the people, reluctant to resume the post, AFP

IAEA expects Army officer, civilian killed in Sinai suicide attacks more details CAIRO: Two bombings in tanker filled with explosives into El Arish has seen repeated Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, one the rear gate of the base,” a secu- deadly attacks on security from Iran on of them a suicide attack on a rity official said. forces. police base, killed a civilian and “As the vehicle approached, In January, a combined rocket an army officer yesterday as an police fired on it, detonating the and car bomb attack on a military N-programme Islamist insurgency showed no explosives inside.” base, a nearby police headquar- let-up, officials said. Interior ministry spokesman ters and a residential complex for VIENNA: The UN nuclear The rugged peninsula is the Hani Abdel Latif said the death army and police officers killed at watchdog IAEA expects more base of the Islamic State group’s toll could have been much higher least 24 people in the city, most of information soon from Iran on Egyptian affiliate, formerly but for the swift reaction of the them soldiers. its nuclear programme after known as Ansar Beit Al Maqdis guards on the gate. The nighttime curfew is among progress in talks parallel to (Partisans of Jerusalem), which “The security forces dealt with a raft of security measures that Tehran’s negotiations with six has claimed the majority of the vehicle near the checkpoint have been in force in North Sinai world powers, a senior agency attacks on the security forces in of the base which saved a lot of since a late October attack on a official said yesterday. the region. lives,” Abdel Latif told AFP. military base near the city killed The International Atomic The suicide bomber rammed “The wounded policemen suf- 30 soldiers. Energy Agency says Iran is at a vehicle packed with explosives fered only minor injuries from The army has also been clear- least six months behind in pro- into the police base in North shattered glass.” ing a buffer zone along the prov- viding technical information on Sinai’s provincial capital of In the second attack, an army ince’s border with the Gaza Strip the nature of its neutron calcula- El Arish, killing the civilian, secu- captain was killed and two other to prevent militants infiltrating tions and alleged experiments on rity and health officials said. soldiers wounded when a roadside from Palestinian territory. explosives that could be used for Two civilians and 30 police bomb blew up as they pursued Militants have intensified an atomic device. were also wounded in the attack, militants south of El Arish. their attacks on the security This inquiry runs parallel to which came just minutes after a Tuesday’s bombings came a day forces in the Sinai since the army Palestinians await permission to enter Egypt as they gather at the Rafah Tehran’s talks with six world nighttime curfew was lifted at after three Egyptian soldiers were overthrew Islamist president border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip yesterday. Egypt is due to reopen powers to curb its nuclear work 6am (0400 GMT). killed by a roadside bomb east of Mohammed Mursi in July 2013. the crossing for two days, for the fourth time since it was closed after a in exchange for lifting economic “The bomber drove a water the city. AFP suicide bombing in the Sinai Peninsula in October 2014. sanctions. Diplomats have voiced concern there would be little progress in these talks until that political deal is reached. Seized weaponry But IAEA Deputy Director General Tero Varjoranta reported Dubai workers protest to progress in exchanging informa- tion on Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran says is peaceful but other countries such as the demand overtime pay United States fear might have military dimensions. DUBAI: Hundreds of foreign con- it said. Workers, wearing green uni- “These issues ... take time to be struction workers staged a rare pub- forms, remained at their construction resolved and we have been resolv- lic protest outside the opulent Dubai site near Dubai Mall while negotiations ing them,” Varjoranta told jour- Mall yesterday in a pay dispute with went on. They cheered and applauded nalists in Vienna on return from their company, witnesses said. when they were informed that the meetings in Tehran. Dubai authorities deployed riot dispute had been settled and as police The next meeting is scheduled police to Sheikh Mohammed bin began leaving the area. in Tehran next month, he said, Rashid Boulevard in downtown Dubai, Mohammed, a Pakistani employee adding: “We would expect also where the world’s tallest building is of Arabian Construction Co, said a in mid-April that we would have located, blocking some roads while worker’s basic salary was less than new measures proposed.” negotiators tried to settle a dispute Dh500 ($136) and with overtime pay, US Secretary of State John about overtime pay. one could make around Dh1,100. “We Kerry and his Iranian counterpart The workers, from south Asia, said don’t have overtime work any more so Mohammad Javad Zarif will meet the company had stopped overtime we’re striking. I’m not afraid to ask for on March 15 in Switzerland, an work and pay at a time when basic my rights,” he said. Iranian official has told Reuters. salaries were too low. Details of the agreement were not Iran, the United States, The Dubai government media office, immediately clear and officials from France, Germany, Russia, China in a message over Twitter, said Dubai the company were not available to and Britain are trying to seal A seized arms cache displayed at a National Guard post in Medenine, Tunisia, yesterday. Tunisian police helped to resolve the dispute. comment. an understanding by the end of troops captured a second large arms cache near the border with Libya, including Kalashnikov rifles “Within an hour, Dubai Police resolved Dubai is enjoying a construction March before a final deal in June. and rockets. issues of Fountain Views workers gath- boom following its recovery from the REUTERS ered in Boulevard demanding bonus,” 2008 financial crisis. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Turkish PM IS loses strategic town to Iraqi troops AL-ALAM, IRAQ: Iraqi troops and militias drove Islamic State insurgents out of the town of Al-Alam yesterday, clearing a denies rift final hurdle before a planned assault on Saddam Hussein’s home city of Tikrit in their big- gest offensive yet against the ultra-radical group. The power base of executed with Erdogan former president Saddam’s clan, Tikrit is the focus of a counter- offensive against Islamic State Controversy over intelligence chief by more than 20,000 troops and Shia Muslim militias known as ANKARA: Turkey’s prime Hashid Shaabi, backed by local minister denied a rift with Sunni Muslim tribes. President Recep Tayyip If Iraq’s Shia-led government Erdogan (pictured) over the is able to retake Tikrit it would fate of the country’s intelligence be the first city clawed back from chief yesterday after the top the Sunni insurgents and would spy was hastily restored to the give it momentum in the next, job he had quit to stand in June pivotal stage of the campaign — elections. to recapture Mosul, the largest Opposition parties said Prime city in the north. Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s A Reuters photographer saw reappointment of Hakan Fidan dozens of families, who earlier fled late on Monday as head of the Al-Alam to escape Islamic State Iraqi security forces inspect a destroyed vehicle belonging to Islamic State militants on the outskirts of Al-Alam MIT intelligence agency was a rule, return to the town, celebrat- yesterday. result of pressure from Erdogan, Erdogan is required by the ing and slaughtering sheep for the who had opposed his decision to constitution to remain above victorious forces. But the ultra-radical group over The Iraqi army and militias military base on the same west- run for a parliamentary seat. party politics, but his opposition “I announce officially that the the past few months has gradu- now control the two towns to the ern side from which it could send Seen as a potential foreign min- to Fidan’s resignation as intel- town is under the total control of ally lost ground in Iraq to the north and south of Tikrit along forces into Tikrit. ister, Fidan is one of Erdogan’s ligence chief signalled a possible security forces, the Hashid Shaabi army, Shia militias and Kurdish the Tigris river and appear ready Hundreds of Shia army recruits closest confidants. But had he rift between him and Davutoglu (Popular Mobilisation) units and peshmerga forces, backed by air to move on the city itself. who abandoned the Speicher mili- gone through with his plan over election plans. local tribal fighters,” said local strikes carried out by a US-led Security officials said the tary base last June were shot dead to enter parliament, he could Elected president in August mayor Laith Al Jubouri. coalition of mainly Western and assault could start as early as in one of the biggest mass kill- have become a powerful ally to after a decade as prime minis- “We rejoice in this victory allied Arab states. today, although the 10-day cam- ings carried out by Islamic State Davutoglu and a potential check ter, Erdogan wants the AKP to and we want Al-Alam to be the The United States says Baghdad paign has so far been marked fighters. on Erdogan’s influence. secure a stronger majority in June launchpad for the liberation of did not seek aerial backup from by gradual and steady advances There have been fears that the “Pressure was exerted and he and make constitutional changes Tikrit and Mosul,” he told Reuters the coalition in the Tikrit cam- rather than rapid attacks. Shia-dominated security forces said ‘I’ll return to my duties’,” introducing a presidential system by telephone. paign. Instead, support on the Security officials said Islamic and militia would seek revenge main opposition CHP leader in Turkey, where the prime min- Mosul in the far north is the ground has come from neigbour- State fighters blew up a bridge on local Sunni residents for the Kemal Kilicdaroglu told a par- ister holds more power. largest city held by the ultra- ing Iran, Washington’s longtime over the Tigris yesterday, aim- Speicher killings. In the nearby liamentary meeting. “Everyone Speaking to reporters in parlia- radical Islamic State, who now regional rival, which backs the ing to hinder any advance. Both village of Albu Ajil, local officials should know Hakan Fidan’s ment, Davutoglu played down ten- rule a self-declared cross-border Shia militias and has sent an elite Al-Dour and Al-Alam lie on the said houses had been set on fire return is not right. The govern- sions with Erdogan and defended caliphate in Sunni regions of Revolutionary Guard commander east bank of the river, opposite by the militia. ment is under tutelage.” Fidan’s position. Syria and Iraq. to oversee part of the battle. Tikrit. But the army has a large REUTERS The nationalist MHP party “There is absolutely no differ- also saw the reappointment as a ence of opinion between me and move by Erdogan to consolidate the president on this subject. We his power. always consult,” he said. “It is clear that President Jonathan Friedman of global CaliphateBook: Islamic State’s Facebook Erdogan is moving towards the risk consultancy Stroz Friedberg goal of making MIT in the full said Fidan’s climb-down sug- DUBAI: Islamic State support- to “protect the information It was unclear who created trademark Arabic insignia. Data sense his back garden, using gested that Erdogan — prime ers, facing regular bans and and details of its members and 5elafabook.com — a name based online showed it had been built it for his political interests,” minister for more than a decade blockages on Facebook and other their safety”. on an English transliteration of using Socialkit, a program that MHP General Secretary Ismet before winning the presidency social networks, have launched Islamic State, which had the Arabic word for caliphate lets users produce do-it-yourself Buyukataman said in a written last August — felt insecure in his their own CaliphateBook to declared its own caliphate in ter- ‘khelafa’ — or how many members social networks. The site was statement. current role, trying to maintain spread their militant message ritory captured in Iraq and Syria, it attracted. registered with webservices com- The MIT under Fidan appeared influence over government with- over the Internet. has relied heavily on social media The message posted on the pany GoDaddy.com on March 3 largely beyond the influence of a out the constitutional mandate. The site 5elafabook.com, which to spread messages and publicise front page said it was inde- and cited its home address as muslim cleric rival, Fethullah “He’s in a moment of real vul- resembled Facebook but appeared military victories and its behead- pendent and not sponsored by IS-controlled Mosul in Iraq but Gulen, whom Erdogan accused nerability, he’s overstepped his unfinished, went live on Sunday ings of prisoners. Islamic State. its home country as Egypt with of infiltrating police and judici- constitutional powers,” Friedman then went offline again a day later But mainstream social media But it went on to say the an apparently false phone number ary in a bid to discredit him with said. and its linked Twitter account companies have raced to remove militant group was expand- there. graft accusations. Gulen denied “He’s planning to legalise eve- was shut down. links to footage of killings — and ing across the whole world “by Islamic State supporters held a such ambitions, but a power rything after elections, but in the A message in English posted many governments have called for Allah’s permission”. The origi- debate in a separate web forum on struggle continues within the meantime it’s a delicate period.” on its front page said it had tem- stronger restrictions on militants’ nal website showed a map of the whether platforms like 5elafabook establishment. REUTERS porarily suspended operations use of the Internet. world dotted with Islamic State’s could be trusted. REUTERS

No to orange Yemen could Girls stole jewellery disintegrate, says Tehran to fund Syria travel LONDON: Three London after the 15-year-old girl went TEHRAN: Iran warned yes- schoolgirls who fled to Syria are missing in December, and gave terday of possible “disintegra- believed to have stolen family them a letter requesting further tion or civil war” in Yemen, jewellery to fund their travel, permission from their parents to criticising President Abdrabuh police said yesterday as the talk to them. Mansur Hadi for leaving the trio’s relatives expressed disbe- None of the trio passed on the capital Sana’a and basing him- lief at their actions. letters, and their relatives have self in the southern city of Aden. Schoolfriends Kadiza Sultana, complained that they could have The comments, by deputy 16, and 15-year-olds Shamima acted to stop the girls going to foreign minister Hossein Amir Begum and Amira Abase, left Syria if they had known the Abdollahian, came after Gulf their homes last month and flew situation. countries agreed to Hadi’s to Istanbul, from where they are Abase said of his daughter: request to host talks in Riyadh believed to have joined Islamic “She is the kind of girl who, if it aimed at pulling Yemen out of State (IS) jihadists in Syria. (is) sunset, will call me to pick political crisis. Abdollahian told Giving evidence before parlia- her up. So how on Earth (can) the ISNA news agency: “Sana’a is ment’s home affairs committee, she travel abroad and to join the official and historical capital Britain’s national police lead on ISIS (IS)? The letter terrified of Yemen and those in Aden who counter-terrorism, Mark Rowley, my daughter.” back disintegration or civil war are said the girls paid a travel agent He added that the family was responsible for the consequences. more than £1,000 for their flights. “mentally disabled” by her loss, “Yemen’s outgoing president Asked where they found the saying: “We focus on our children would have done better to stay in A picture taken on February 21 shows Jordanian city cleaners in their orange jumpsuit uniforms cleaning snow money, he said: “We think it’s to come back home, not in prison, Sana’a and keep to his resignation on the streets of the capital Amman. Jordan’s capital said yesterday it is replacing the orange jumpsuits worn by linked to theft from families. We because they are victims.” letter and not lead the country its city cleaners because they look like those worn by hostages murdered in Islamic State group videos. From think it’s linked to taking jew- In her evidence to the commit- into crisis.” AFP ellery from one of their family tee, Begum’s older sister Sahima March 20, Amman’s more than 6,000 street cleaners will trade in their orange jumpsuits for turquoise uniforms. members.” also said there was no indication The girls are among 26 British that the younger girl had been young women who have gone to radicalised. join IS fighters in Syria, accord- “My sister was into nor- ing to Rowley, who is assist- mal teenage things. She used Inmates clash with police in Bahrain prison ant commissioner of London’s to watch ‘Keeping Up With Metropolitan Police. The Kardashians’,” she told But he said that so far “we have lawmakers. MANAMA: Bahraini secu- participating in illegal protests or used,” Salatna told Reuters. the village of Shahrakan, were no evidence to suggest they are Metropolitan Police rity forces tear-gassed and beat involvement in attacks on secu- The Interior Ministry said “severely beaten” by police. involved in terrorism”, and they Commissioner Bernard Hogan- inmates at a prison yesterday rity forces. families vandalised and damaged Pictures posted on social media could return home to Britain Howe said he was sorry if the while trying to quell clashes Nader Al Salatna, acting presi- the building and assaulted police showed a person with a bandaged without facing charges. families felt let down by the that erupted during family vis- dent of the Bahrain Youth Society when they were denied a request head and a man with a bleeding Earlier, Abase’s father Hussen police, and acknowledged offic- its, a local human rights group for Human rights, said the distur- to visit relatives. arm that seemed to have been hit Abase told the committee that ers had failed to get the letters said, causing some injuries bance at Jaw prison was sparked “Police restored order, arrested by blows. Other photos showed his daughter was a victim — through to the parents that among the detainees. by an assault by security guards those involved and referred the young men standing in a room adding that he believed she could have alerted them to the The Gulf state has remained on family members trying to visit case to the relevant authorities,” with overturned furniture or had been “terrified” by police risk. prone to political strife since relatives held at the remote facil- the ministry said in a message strewn with plastic bags. attention following the flight of But he told the committee: “I a failed uprising in 2011 by the ity, located south of the capital posted on its Twitter account. It was not immediately possible another schoolfriend to Syria in don’t think we would go as far Shia Muslim majority demand- Manama. Social media messages reported to verify the authenticity of the December. as saying therefore that caused ing reforms and a bigger share in “This caused clashes between that at least two inmates, iden- photographs, or where they were Police spoke with Sultana, the girls to go. There was noth- government. Hundreds of people, prisoners and police, in which tified as Ali Hussein Abdel-Nabi taken. Begum and Abase and four other ing more we could have done to mostly Shias, have been jailed for tear gas and rubber bullets were and Jameel Abdel-Ghani from REUTERS girls from the same London school prevent that.” AFP WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE / AMERICAS

Madison memorial Russia could be Personal email ‘single greatest threat’ to UK, use: Hillary says Hammond

LONDON: Russia could pose the “single greatest threat” to admits mistake Britain, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned in a speech yesterday, while criticising “apol- ogists” for Islamic State (IS) ‘I did so for my own convenience’ group militant “Jihadi John”. Hammond accused Russian NEW YORK: Under fire for contravened State Department President Vladmir Putin of “sub- using private email while sec- rules against conducting official verting” international rules which retary of state, Hillary Clinton, business on personal email, she keep the peace between nations the likely next Democratic insisted her actions were legal. and said his actions in Crimea and presidential nominee, said yes- The 20-minute appearance was eastern Ukraine “fundamentally terday that she did so for “con- her first before a swarm of report- undermine” the security of east- venience” — but admitted this ers since the email revelations ern European states. was probably a mistake. last week, and has been widely Hammond said that Moscow’s Clinton insisted the private described as an effort for the “aggressive behaviour” offered “a server that she used suffered no famous Democrat to tamp down stark reminder that it has the security breaches and that she the uproar before she launches Mike Ring (right) and Willie Fleming (left) look over flowers, balloons and candles that line the road near the potential to pose the single great- discussed “no classified mate- a run for the 2016 White House location where 19-year-old Tony Robinson was shot and killed by a Madison police officer in Madison, in est threat to our security”. rial” in the emails, while promis- race, perhaps as early as April. Wisconsin yesterday. Officer Matt Kenny responded to a disturbance call and reportedly shot Robinson after In a speech at British defence ing she had turned over all work But Republicans kept up the think-tank RUSI, the foreign being attacked by the unarmed man on March 6. Residents have taken to the streets protesting the shooting. communications to the State pressure, demanding the entirety minister sharply criticised those Department and wants to see of Clinton’s correspondence, who he said sought to excuse the them made public. reportedly from a clintonemail.com actions of “Jihadi John”, the IS But she also admitted she address, be considered for release. jihadist identified by media as deleted roughly 30,000 personal “Secretary Clinton didn’t hand Mohammed Emwazi, who grew emails — such as those planning over her emails out of the good- up in London. That was seen as her daughter’s wedding, her moth- ness of her heart—she was forced Maduro seeks decree powers a criticism of British civil rights er’s funeral and “yoga routines.” to by smart, determined, and group Cage, which worked with And, in a move not calculated to effective oversight by the House Emwazi for over two years before silence her critics, she said the Select Committee on Benghazi,” he went to Syria. Clinton family server on which all House Speaker John Boehner’s to face US ‘imperialism’ “We are absolutely clear — the her emails were stored would not spokesman said, referring to responsibility for acts of terror be turned over to the government. the panel investigating the ter- CARACAS: President Nicolas lower inflation?” satirized oppo- Washington, communist-run rests with those who commit them,” Clinton said it had been “a mat- ror attacks in Libya in 2012 that Maduro was seeking special sition leader Henrique Capriles. Cuba was quick to join Venezuela’s Hammond said. “But a huge burden ter of convenience” to use a per- killed four Americans. decree powers from Venezuela’s “It’s another smokescreen.” mockery of the US language. of responsibility also lies with those sonal email system on the job and The committee’s chairman, parliament yesterday in Confirming Venezuela as “Venezuela a threat to the United who act as apologists for them.” Cage insisted she had taken “unprec- Trey Gowdy, said Clinton’s com- response to new US sanctions, Washington’s No. 1 adversary in States? Thousands of miles away, has drawn sharp criticism in recent edented” steps to comply with ments provided more questions drawing opposition protests of a Latin America after a rapproche- without strategic arms and with- days for suggesting that the actions the law requiring official records than answers. “Without access power-grab. ment with Cuba, the United out using resources or officials to of British intelligence, who appar- be kept. “Looking back, it would to Secretary Clinton’s personal If as expected the government- States has taken its gloves off conspire against the US consti- ently tried to recruit him, helped have been better for me to use two server, there is no way for the controlled National Assembly against Maduro, qualifying his tutional order, the declaration radicalise Emwazi. separate phones and two e-mail State Department to know it has approves his request for an government a security threat and is barely credible and reveals Hammond said that gathering accounts,” Clinton told report- acquired all documents that should “Enabling Law”, it would be the sanctioning seven officials. In ter- the real aims of those behind intelligence on Russian capabili- ers after speaking at a United be made public,” Gowdy said. second time the 52-year-old suc- minology that has also been used it,” Cuba’s government said in a ties would be a “vital part of our Nations women’s conference. “I see no choice but for Secretary cessor to Hugo Chavez has gained for measures against nations like statement. intelligence effort for the fore- After she left office, she said, Clinton to turn her server over to a these expanded powers since win- Iran and Syria, President Barack Despite the diplomatic tensions, seeable future”. “We are now “we went through a thorough neutral, detached third-party arbi- ning election in 2013. Obama’s government declared the United States is Venezuela’s faced with a Russian leader bent process to identify all of my work- ter who can determine which docu- “I’m going to ask for an anti- a “national emergency” due to top trading partner and the Opec not on joining the international related emails and deliver them to ments should be public and which imperialist Enabling Law ... to “the unusual and extraordinary member’s crude sales even rose in rules-based system which keeps the State Department.” should remain private.” preserve the nation’s peace, integ- threat” from Venezuela. February to 796,000 barrels per the peace between nations but on But she offered no avenue for Gowdy also said he would urge rity and sovereignty,” Maduro said A visa ban and financial block day. Venezuela’s heavily traded subverting it,” Hammond said. proving that potentially embar- Clinton to appear twice before his in a speech late on Monday night. was slapped on seven officials, bonds have slipped amid the dis- Moscow denies Western accusa- rassing work-related emails were committee, first to “clear up her Opposition leaders slammed ranging from the head of national pute, with most down on Tuesday. tions that it backs the separatist not permanently deleted. role and resolve issues surround- Maduro, saying he was using the intelligence and a state prosecu- The benchmark 2027 issue was off militias fighting against govern- Asked directly if she or her ing her exclusive use of personal worst flare-up with Washington tor to the national police chief and 2.000 points, or nearly 5 percent, ment forces in eastern Ukraine. team destroyed any work emails, email,” and then in a public hear- of his nearly two-year rule to jus- various military officers, for their to a bid price of 39.444. However, journalists have repeat- she said “we did not.” ing on Benghazi. tify autocratic governance, side- alleged role in repressing Maduro’s US-Venezuelan tensions have edly witnessed large deployments The former first lady and US She has already turned over track parliament and distract domestic opponents or corruption. escalated amid since Maduro’s of military hardware coming from senator has been accused, mainly around 30,000 emails to the attention from Venezuela’s grave Alongisde the seven on national accusations that Washington was the direction of the Russian border, by her Republican opponents, of State Department. The process economic crisis. TV late on Monday, Maduro behind an alleged coup plot and including advanced weapons that trying to improperly keep her of publicising the emails will take “Nicolas, are you requesting hailed them as “heroes” and the arrest of an opposition Caracas military analysts say could only emails out of the public domain. months, but State said it would the Enabling Law to make soap, named one interior minister. mayor accused of conspiracy. have come from Russian arsenals. While Clinton apparently soon release a first batch. AFP nappies and medicines appear, to Despite improving ties with REUTERS AFP

Queen with ‘Britannia’ crew Lawsuit challenges legality Renzi clinches reform vote of NSA online snooping WASHINGTON: A lawsuit filed yesterday by the operator of Wikipedia and other organisations challenges the US govern- despite tantrum ment’s mass online surveillance programmes, claiming that tapping into the Internet “backbone” is illegal. The lawsuit was by Berlusconi filed in Maryland federal court by the Wikimedia Foundation, Amnesty International USA, Human Rights Watch and other ROME: Would-be comeback kid organisations. It said the effort by the National Security Agency Silvio Berlusconi challenged Italy’s and other intelligence services “exceeds the scope of the author- Matteo Renzi yesterday and lost, ity that Congress provided” and violates US constitutional guar- as the prime minister won a key antees. “We’re filing suit today on behalf of our readers and vote on his reforms programme, editors everywhere,” said Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, deepening cracks within the in a statement. “Surveillance erodes the original promise of the already-weak centre right. Internet: an open space for collaboration and experimentation, Berlusconi, whose “bunga and a place free from fear.” The lawsuit claims that by tapping bunga” case is under review at into the Internet backbone, “the NSA is seizing Americans’ com- the country’s top court, had called munications en masse while they are in transit, and it is search- for his Forza Italia party to vote ing the contents of substantially all international text-based against the key constitutional communications,” effectively sweeping up data of many people reform bill in the lower house of unrelated to the effort to thwart terrorism. parliament. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip pose for a photograph with senior members of the crew during the “It is a difficult day, I ask you US university expels students christening ceremony of P&O’s new cruise liner “Britannia”, in Southampton, southern England, yesterday. to remain united,” the former premier wrote to his lawmakers, LOS ANGELES: The University of Oklahoma expelled yesterday according to Il Fatto Quotidiano two students who led a racist chant by members of a major col- daily, as the 78-year-old vowed lege fraternity, caught in a video which went viral online. “There to reclaim his leadership of the is zero tolerance for this kind of threatening racist behavior at centre-right and challenge Renzi. the University of Oklahoma,” tweeted university president David Canada govt pushes anti-terror measures But the reform bill — which still Boren, a day after announcing the banning of the Sigma Alpha has to go before the upper and Epsilon fraternity. “I hope that students involved in this incident OTTAWA: Canada’s govern- guard and storming of parlia- group—which has made video lower houses for a second time — will learn from this experience and realise that it is wrong to use ment yesterday fended off ment, and the hit-and-run mur- threats against Canada—was passed by 357 votes to 125 against, words to hurt, threaten and exclude people,” he added. The chant sharp criticism of a new anti- der of another soldier in rural spreading from Syria to Libya, and 17 of Berlusconi’s lawmakers — sung to the tune of a nursery rhyme — used the racially charged terror law that would grant Quebec the same week. Afghanistan and Pakistan, mak- publicly protested against the bil- N-word and refers to lynching in affirming that blacks shall never Canada’s spy agency sweeping Blaney said it is crucial that ing a case for expanding CSIS’s lionaire’s orders. be members of the fraternity. The video went viral on social media powers in the aftermath of two authorities be given a mandate reach overseas. “Reform vote ok in the lower after it was posted on YouTube on Sunday by Unheard Movement, deadly attacks last October, and and the tools to track suspected Until now, CSIS has handed house. A country more straight- an African American student group at the university. pressed for quick passage. extremists “at home and abroad” off cases to the Royal Canadian forward and fair. Well done,” “Canada is not immune from who would do harm to Canadians. Mounted Police (RCMP) to inves- Renzi said on Twitter, ignor- terrorism,” Public Safety Minister With this in mind, the gov- tigate and make arrests. Under ing the political tantrum by Top Gear presenter suspended Stephen Blaney told a parliamen- ernment is seeking to pass the its new mandate, the spy agency Berlusconi, who was lashing out LONDON: The BBC yesterday said it had suspended Jeremy tary committee reviewing the bill “Anti-terrorism Act, 2015” before will actively seek to disrupt at the prime minister after a deal Clarkson, the controversial host of popular motoring programme after second reading in the House. parliament breaks in June, giving threats and start working out- between the pair broke down. Top Gear, after he became involved in a “fracas” with a producer. “Currently, CSIS (Canada’s the Canadian Security Intelligence side of Canada for the first time. The reform aims to substan- Top Gear is the most popular factual television programme on spy agency) can detect security Agency (CSIS) increased powers As part of that new mission, tially reduce the powers of the the planet, with 350 million viewers per week in 170 countries. threats but is unable to take to thwart terror plots. it could interfere with financial upper house, ending the system “Following a fracas with a BBC producer, Jeremy Clarkson has action, unlike (what) most of CSIS’s chief Michel Coloumbe transactions, prevent a suspect of “perfect bicameralism,” by been suspended pending an investigation,” said a statement from (our) allies are doing,” he said. was also scheduled to appeared from boarding a plane, intercept which the two branches of par- the broadcaster. “No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will The government has ham- before the committee over the weapons or conduct “online coun- liament have equal weight in not be broadcast this Sunday. The BBC will be making no further mered away at this message, coming eight days of hearings. ter-messaging,” for example, by confidence votes and in passing comment at this time.” pointing to a lone gunman’s He warned senators on hacking a Twitter account used and blocking laws. AGENCIES October 22 killing of a ceremonial Monday that the Islamic State to recruit jihadists. AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 ASIA / AFRICA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Key suspect Philippine court in deadliest massacre offers plea deal freed on bail

MANILA: A key defendant in the worst political massacre to US Marine in the Philippines, which saw 58 people murdered, has been freed on bail, the court trying Accused may avoid murder trial the case said yesterday. The court granted the provi- OLONGAPO, Philippines: that’s what we want: to see him in sional release of Sajid Ampatuan A Philippine court yesterday jail for what he did to my child,” on Monday, ruling against the offered a plea bargain to a US the victim’s mother Julita Laude government which wants him Marine accused of murdering a said. kept in prison along with more transgender Filipina, according Prosecutors allege Pemberton than 100 other suspects in the to lawyers, in a case that has met Laude in Olongapo shortly 2009 slaughter. strained Philippine-US ties. after the US marine took part “He was released yesterday. He This would give the detained in joint military exercises in the is free to travel anywhere in the marine, Lance Corporal Joseph Philippines. Philippines,” Alan Moral, an offi- Pemberton, a chance to avoid a Laude, a 26-year-old also cial from the regional court han- murder trial that could land him known as Jeffrey, was found dead dling the case said. He is, however, in prison for 40 years if convicted, on October 12 last year in a cheap barred from leaving the country a state prosecutor and lawyers for hotel in Olongapo’s red light dis- while on bail. the victim’s family said. trict shortly after checking in Moral said the defendant had Pemberton, aged 19 at the time with Pemberton. paid an 11.6m-peso ($262,000) of the killing, had previously asked Prosecutors have described an bond to be freed on bail. the court through his lawyers to unprovoked and relentless attack Protesters display placards during a rally near the court in Olongapo City, north of Manila, where the pre-trial Sajid Ampatuan could not be downgrade the murder charge to against Laude, whose head was hearing of a US Marine accused of murdering a transgender Filipina was being heard yesterday. reached for comment Tuesday. homicide, which carries a maxi- plunged into a toilet until she He is a son of Andal Ampatuan mum 20-year prison term. died. the victim’s family said. military base in Manila, the US gained independence in 1946. Senior, a Muslim political clan Lawyers for Pemberton could One option that the American If the parties fail to agree, the government having refused to Military exercises involving leader accused of masterminding not be reached for comment at could consider is to agree to pay murder trial will proceed and hand over custody to Philippine thousands of US soldiers take the massacre in his southern bail- yesterday’s court proceeding, damages and plead guilty to a the court will order prosecutors authorities. place each year, with a new agree- iwick of Maguindanao province on which was off limits to the press. lesser charge, Olongapo chief to start presenting their evidence Security was tight at the ment signed a year ago allowing November 23, 2009. Prosecutors and lawyers for prosecutor Emilie Fe de los and witnesses on March 23, the courtroom yesterday, with only a greater US troop presence in Nine clan members are among the family of the victim, Jennifer Santos said. lawyers said. lawyers, legal staff, US embassy the country—part of US President 111 people detained for the mass Laude, as well as Pemberton’s “They (Pemberton and the Legal observers say that the- representatives and the family of Barack Obama’s so-called pivot killings that prosecutors allege were defence team, were summoned Philippine state prosecutors) have oretically, a plea bargain would the victim allowed inside. to Asia. part of a bid to quash an election to a hearing in the northern port to agree on all points. After that, help resolve the case within a Philippine police stood guard Philippine President Benigno challenge from a rival clan. Thirty- of Olongapo to discuss the plea we’ll inform the court. But today one-year period set under a joint as anti-US demonstrators staged Aquino had courted a greater two media workers were among bargain process. there was no offer” agreed to by US-Philippine defence agree- a rally outside the courthouse US presence in an effort to those killed, making the attack The victim’s family said they both parties, de los Santos said, ment for US servicemen accused demanding Pemberton be trans- counter perceived rising Chinese one of the deadliest ever recorded would not oppose the plea bargain outlining the court’s instructions. of committing crimes in the ferred to Philippine custody. aggression in a long-running globally against journalists. as long as Pemberton served jail “There is no final agreement.... Philippines. The US military has had an territorial dispute in the South State prosecutors have opposed time. As of now, the charge is still mur- Pemberton is currently under enduring presence in its former China Sea. the clan members’ bail bids amid “From the beginning until now, der,” Virgie Suarez, a lawyer for US military guard at a Philippine colony since the Philippines AFP fears their release could intimi- date witnesses. Four people who had already given testimony or were sched- uled to, as well as three relatives of potential witnesses, have been Myanmar police arrest scores in violent student rally crackdown mysteriously murdered over the past few years. “We’re aghast, we’re frus- LETPADAN: S c or e s of My a n m a r protesters had been injured. Phil Robertson of Human Rights Government spokesman Ye after authorities apparently trated,” Harry Roque, a lawyer for protesters were arrested when “Some were injured and taken Watch said the “disguise has come Htut defended the police after reneged on an agreement to allow some of the victims’ families, said. baton-wielding police dispersed to hospitals for treatment,” the off and we are back to the bad old Tuesday’s violence, saying they them to continue their march. “We are apprehensive that the a student rally yesterday, as the police official said on condition of Burma of yesteryear,” referring to were forced to react to provo- “The police beat us,” one stu- Ampatuans could regain influ- second crackdown in days deepens anonymity, adding that some 16 the country by its previous name. cation by the protesters. “After dent protester, requesting ano- ence,” he added, noting the rul- fears that authorities are return- police officers were also hurt by The embassy of former colo- many warnings that were not fol- nymity, said by telephone as he ing came just over a year ahead ing to the repressive reflexes of rocks thrown by demonstrators. nial power Britain tweeted that lowed, police had to use force to took shelter with some 70 other of the May 2016 national and local the junta era. The crackdown has intensified it was “deeply concerned” about disperse the protest because (pro- demonstrators in a monastery. elections. Two large truckloads of protest- concerns that authorities are Tuesday’s events, while its US testers) attacked them and tried Student campaigners have Andal Ampatuan Senior had ers were taken away after riot police resorting to the repressive tac- counterpart also took to Twitter to destroy barricades,” he said in been at the forefront of several of ruled Maguindanao as governor violently broke up the rally in the tics of the previous authoritarian urging “patience, compromise and a post on his Facebook page. Myanmar’s major uprisings, includ- for about a decade under the central town of Letpadan, according regime, as the nation stumbles restraint” on Myanmar’s path to The students have for months ing a huge 1988 demonstration that patronage of then-president Gloria to a reporter on the scene, ending towards a general election slated democracy. been demonstrating for reform in prompted a bloody military assault Arroyo, who had funded a pri- over a week of stalemate between for the end this year. Myanmar’s quasi-civilian gov- Letpadan, but plans by a core group under the former junta. vate army for the clan as a buffer the authorities and students calling It also comes just days after ernment, which replaced outright to march to Yangon were halted on The government has also against Muslim separatist rebels for education reforms. authorities used violence to end military rule in 2011, has ushered March 2 when police surrounded defended its Friday crackdown on Justice Secretary Leila de Lima The Ministry of Information a supporting rally in the com- in a number of major reforms that some 150 activists near a monas- an unauthorised rally in Yangon said state prosecutors will chal- said 127 people, including 20 mercial hub of Yangon, prompt- have lured foreign investment tery in the dusty central town. from accusations that police lenge the bail ruling in appellate women, were arrested in a state- ing condemnation from rights back into the isolated nation. Tempers frayed early yesterday and men in civilian clothes beat courts in a bid to get the defend- ment posted on its website. A campaigners. Criticising the use But observers fear democratic when demonstrators tried to push unarmed protesters with batons. ant back behind bars. senior police officer confirmed of “excessive force” in Letpadan, reforms are stalling. through the security blockade AFP AFP

Boko Haram raids Frenchman appeals town in Nigeria, at least 12 dead against death penalty

MAIDUGURI: Suspected Boko CILACAP, INDONESIA: A Atlaoui was released Haram militants attacked the Frenchman on death row in last evening from one of town of Ngamdu in Nigeria’s Indonesia was yesterday trans- Nusakambangan’s maximum northeast Borno state early ferred under heavy police guard security prisons and taken by yesterday, killing about a dozen from a prison island, the day ferry to Cilacap, the Javanese port people, witnesses and a security before he starts a last-ditch court town that is the gateway to the source said. bid to avoid the firing squad. island, according to a reporter at The town, which has been hit Serge Atlaoui has been detained the scene. several times by militants, lies on the island of Nusakambangan He was transferred in hand- on the border of Borno and Yobe in Central Java, known as cuffs to a waiting vehicle, where states. Borno is the heartland of Indonesia’s “Alcatraz,” since he heavily armed police escorted him Boko Haram’s six-year insur- was sentenced to death in 2007 in a convoy from the port. gency, which aims to carve out on drugs charges. A French embassy official con- an Islamic state. He is among a group of drug firmed that Atlaoui, 51, was being Ngamdu is about 100km east of convicts, including nationals from transferred ahead of his case. Borno state capital Maiduguri and Australia, Brazil, the Philippines, He will travel overland to a about 40km west from Yobe state Ghana and Nigeria, who face court more than 400km away in capital Damaturu, and lies near imminent execution after recently Tangerang, an industrial city just a road that is a major transport Indonesian police tighten the security as they move French death row prisoner Serge Atlaoui from Pasir Putih losing their appeals for presiden- west of the capital Jakarta. artery between the two states. prison in Nusakambangan prison island located off central Java island yesterday. tial clemency. AFP A security source said the casu- alties and wounded were mainly bus and truck drivers. Around six drivers died, he said. A commercial driver, Mamman Abdullahi, said the insurgents China choosing Dalai Lama like Castro naming Pope: Tibet leader came to Ngamdu at about 9.30am. (0830 GMT) but were pursued by soldiers. “They came back later on DHARAMSALA: For China would not be reincarnated when party’s business, mainly because Lama. Sangay’s comments came that the Dalai Lama and the gov- horse, shooting at people. Many to find a successor to the Dalai he died. The governor, Padma Communism believes in atheism on the anniversary of a failed 1959 ernment in exile were “splittists” were killed and some of our driv- Lama would be like former Choling, repeated that Beijing had and religion being poisonous,” the uprising against Beijing’s rule that seeking Tibetan independence. ers were injured,” he said. Cuban leader Fidel Castro the right to decide. prime minister of the govern- prompted the Dalai Lama to flee The Dalai Lama’s envoys were Three drivers and some passen- choosing the pope, the political Tibetan Buddhism holds that ment-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, to India, where he has lived since. ready to engage in dialogue with gers were hit by bullets and being head of Tibet’s exiles said yes- the soul of a senior lama is rein- told Reuters. In New Delhi, Tibetans scuffled their Chinese counterparts at any treated in a Maiduguri hospital, terday, in response to comments carnated in the body of a child on “It’s like Fidel Castro saying, ‘I with police outside the Chinese time, he added. A Tibetan women Abdullahi said. Five people were by a senior Chinese official. his death. China says the tradi- will select the next pope and all embassy during an anniversary set herself ablaze and died on being treated for serious injuries The Chinese-appointed gover- tion must continue and it must the Catholics should follow.’ That protest. In an earlier speech, March 5 in Tibet’s Ngawa region, after the attack at Maiduguri’s nor of Tibet on Monday accused approve the next Dalai Lama. is ridiculous,” said Sangay, who Sangay urged China to allow the International Campaign for Umaru Shehu Hospital. the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader “It’s none of Padma Choling resides in the Indian mountain Tibetans to govern their region, Tibet said. REUTERS of blasphemy for suggesting he or any of the Communist town of Dharamsala, like the Dalai but denied Beijing’s accusations REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Executions to begin as moratorium lifted fully Pakistan Interior Ministry directs provisional governments to proceed with hanging of death row prisoners

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has The partial lifting of the mor- southwestern Baluchistan prov- that Pakistan has more than 8,000 highly critical of the resumption due to be sent to the gallows on lifted its moratorium on the atorium only applied to those ince, Akbar Hussain Durrani, prisoners on death row, most of of executions. Sarah Belal of the March 17. death penalty in all capital convicted of terrorism offences, confirmed that the government whom have exhausted the appeals Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) Yesterday’s announcement cases, officials said yesterday, but officials said it has now been had issued instructions to resume process. rights group condemned the move could also pave the way for the after restarting executions for extended. executions. Supporters of the death penalty to extend executions as “irrespon- execution of Mumtaz Qadri, a terrorism offences in the wake “The government has lifted the “We have received a letter in Pakistan argue that it is the sible”, saying it put the lives of former police bodyguard who shot of a Taliban school massacre. moratorium on the death penal- from federal government ask- only effective way to deal with the vulnerable citizens at risk. dead Punjab governor Salman The interior ministry has ity,” the senior interior ministry ing to expedite all death penalty scourge of militancy. “We’ve seen time and time Taseer in Islamabad in 2011. directed provincial governments official said. cases for executions whose mercy The courts system is notori- again that there is immeasurable On Monday a court in to proceed with hangings for “The interior ministry has petitions have been rejected,” ously slow, with cases frequently injustice in Pakistan’s criminal Islamabad upheld the death sen- prisoners who have exhausted all directed the provincial home Durrani said in provincial capi- dragging on for years, and there justice system, with a rampant tence passed on Qadri for the avenues of appeal and clemency, departments to expedite the exe- tal Quetta. is a heavy reliance on witness tes- culture of police torture, inad- attack, which he said he carried a senior official said. cutions of all condemned prison- Until December’s resumption, timony and very little protection equate counsel and unfair trials,” out to punish Taseer for question- Another government official ers whose mercy petitions have there had been no civilian hang- for judges and prosecutors. she said in a statement. ing the country’s strict blasphemy confirmed the news. been rejected by the president.” ings in Pakistan since 2008. This means terror cases are In the latest case, an anti- laws. Pakistan has hanged 24 con- The official said there are Only one person was executed hard to prosecute, as extrem- terrorism court in Karachi on But the judges also cancelled victs since resuming executions around 1,000 condemned prison- in that time — a soldier convicted ists are able to intimidate wit- Monday issued death warrants Qadri’s conviction terrorism in December after Taliban mili- ers around the country whose by a court martial and hanged in nesses and lawyers into dropping for two men convicted of murder charges, which before Tuesday’s tants gunned down more than 150 appeals and clemency petitions November 2012. charges. during a house robbery. announcement made it unlikely people, most of them children, at have failed. Rights campaign group Human rights campaigners and The two men, Mohammad he would be hanged. a school in the restive northwest. The home secretary of Amnesty International estimates the European Union have been Afzal and Mohammad Faisal, are AFP

Solidarity with Qadri Govt drafting Halal food authority bill

ISLAMABAD: Following a (Holland); Pascual Yogikids number of cases of non-halal (Spain); three brands of Skittle foods in the country, Pakistan Fruit (UK); Picnic Chicken (US); Federal Ministry of Science Slima Soup (UK); Knorr Chicken and Technology is weighing Soup (France); Cup A Soup (UK); options for introduction of a Tulip Chicken (Denmark); Rice bill to establish an authority to Chicken Broccoli (US); Pasta ensure supply of Halal food in Chicken Broccoli (US); Pasta the market and to keep an eye Creamy Chicken (US); Heinz on imported food items. Dinner Chicken (England); Jell-O This was stated by a ministry (US) and Pop Trats (US). official, at the meeting of National These items, according to the Assembly Standing Committee ministry’s data, contain ‘Haram’ on Science and Technology, ingredients, including white wine, yesterday. red wine, gelatin and E120, a food The bill will be called ‘The colour derived from insects. Pakistan Halal Authority Bill Some of the food items contain- 2015’. ing chicken have been placed in The committee chairman, the list due to “doubts” about the Tariq Bashir Cheema, decided to “slaughtering mechanism” since form a sub-committee to finalise “stunning animal is prohibited” in the draft bill. Islam. Some of the products had On February 23, a senior been placed in the list because of government official informed a lack of “proper source or trace- the standing committee that a ability to ascertain the Halal/ number of imported packed food Haram status.” items being sold in the markets According to Trade Policy Pakistani Islamists and supporters of former police bodyguard, Mumtaz Qadri shout slogans calling for his release during a protest in Lahore yes- contained ‘Haram’ ingredients. 2012-15, the import of all edi- terday. A court on Monday upheld the death sentence for the killer of a politician who sought blasphemy law reform. Additional secretary to the ble products shall be subject to ministry, Mian Ijaz, also pre- the condition that they shall be sented a list of 19 imported food free of any “Haram” element or items which were found contain- ingredient. At least four ing ‘Haram’ ingredients. Briefing Yesterday, the committee was Pashto poet Andesh dies aged 81 the committee members, the informed that soon a bill will official said the ministry was not be moved to make a law ensur- killed in Afghan mandated to stop sale or purchase ing supply of ‘Halal’ food in the PESHAWAR: Senior pro- flag), a poetic pamphlet in Pashto, founded Olasi Adabi Tolana (OAT), of such products in the country. market. gressive Pashto poet Shamsul written by Shamsul Qamar Andesh Mardan in 1980 on the advice of car bombing However, he said, its affiliated The committee directed the Qamar Andesh breathed his last was published in 1970 while a versi- Ajmal Khattak. He groomed up organisations such as Pakistan ministry to take measures in col- due to cardiac arrest at his home fied tribute to Bacha Khan, leader young poets and writers. KABUL: At least four people Standards and Quality Control laboration with the concerned in Mardan on late on Sunday of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek, was Mushtaq Majrooh, research were killed and 20 wounded Authority (PSQCA) provided departments to develop a mecha- night. He was laid to rest at his published in the late poet’s life time scholar and close friend of yesterday when a suicide services with regard to setting of nism to stop the sale of ‘Haram’ ancestral graveyard yesterday in titled ‘Fakhre Afghan’ in 2005. “He Andesh, said that the late poet bomber blew up his car outside standards, accreditation of testing products in the country. Mardan city. He was 81. had written a few short stories but was a staunch nationalist and a police station in the capital of labs to the federal and provincial Members decided to constitute A large number of poets, writ- poetry was his mainstay,” Zubair said. proponent of Pashto. He said that Afghanistan’s restive Helmand regulatory authorities. a sub-committee headed by MNA ers, intellectuals and notables Faizul Wahab, another poet, Andesh sahib’s unique literary province, officials said. The official said currently 78 Sajid Ahmed to keep a check on from Swat, Swabi, Charsadda, said that Andesh Baba was pio- style inspired other poets to por- A provincial spokesman in the items, including 37 food or edi- the efforts of the ministry and Nowshera and Peshawar attended neer of modern phraseology and tray sufferings of the poor masses. southern city of Lashkargah said ble items, were covered under departments to stop the sale of his funeral prayers. Andesh is diction in Pashto poetry. “Andesh sahib was not in favour the attacker detonated his explo- the Compulsory Certification objectionable products and look survived by his wife and two Being a poet of substance, he of long literary critical sessions. sives-packed car after trying to Marks Scheme announced by the into the draft bill. daughters. Hazrat Zubair, a said, Andesh Baba used to con- Instead, he used to advise us that enter a police station. PSQCA. MNA Syed Muhammad Athar young poet and maternal nephew tribute his poetic pieces to vari- we should take practical steps for Spokesman Omar Zhwak said The 19 products listed as con- Hussain Shah Gillani of PML-N of Shamsul Qamar Andesh, said ous literary Pashto journals and promoting our mother tongue by seven people had been killed, taining ‘Haram’ ingredients and member of the committee that he would publish complete enjoyed a widespread fame among visiting local schools and colleges although a doctor at a local hos- include two brands of Chicken said there are many issues in the works of his Baba spanning over literary circles and high status so that young students could be pital said they had only received Tonight (imported from Holland); bill which need to be discussed. 500 pages in near future. for his trendsetting thoughts. educated on Pashto,” he added. four bodies and 20 wounded. Bubblicious (UK); Chupa Bubble INTERNEWS He said that Sara Junda (Red Wahab said that Andesh Baba had INTERNEWS “The attack killed seven civil- ians and wounded six, including two police. All the civilians were passers-by,” said Zhwak. A day’s labour “The attacker tried to enter the station, but hit a police Child offenders being vehicle outside the station and detonated.” The bombing comes as Afghanistan has been battling a denied rights, says UN growing Taliban insurgency since Nato ended its combat mission in ISLAMABAD: A recent as young as 7-years old in Fata. December after 13 years of war. United Nations report reveals Under the FCR, juvenile offenders that young offenders from can be sentenced to a prison term Panel to document Federally Administered Tribal with hard labour- which is a clear Areas (Fata) of Pakistan are infringement of JJSO. unregistered Afghans being deprived of basic rights The report also raises con- provided to them under the cerns about children being denied PESHAWAR: Pakistan and juvenile justice system. assistance by the state if they are Afghanistan have agreed to set In its report titled ‘State of unable to engage a legal counsel up a joint committee to work out a Children in Pakistan’, Unicef states at their own expense. mechanism for documentation of that juvenile offenders in Fata are This coupled with other viola- unregistered Afghan nationals. denied of basic rights provided tions of the basic constitutional But Islamabad has made it clear to them under Juvenile Justice rights has provoked widespread to Kabul that it has no intention System Ordinance (JJSO) 2000. condemnation of the FCR. Rights to grant further extension to the The document, jointly organisations have been urging refugees beyond the December authored by Unicef and Children the government to repeal the 31 deadline, a senior government Complaints Office of the Federal colonial law. Furthermore they official, who attended a meeting Ombudsman, also highlights have also called for the implemen- between the two sides yesterday. the abuse of children’s consti- tation of the JJSO in Fata to pre- “The Afghans did not ask for tutional rights in Punjab, Sindh, vent such violations in the region. extension in so many words, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and JJSO was first extended to the but we could suss out what they Balochistan. Provincially Administered Tribal wanted to say. The buzzword was According to the report, Frontier Areas (PATA) under a presiden- ‘give us some time to work out a A street vendor waits for customers as she sells chicken outside her makeshift shelter at a slum on the out- Crimes Regulation (FCR), which tial order on October 20, 2004 and comprehensive package to incen- skirts of Islamabad yesterday. has been billed as a draconian was later extended to Fata. tivise repatriation’,” he said. law, is also applicable to offenders INTERNEWS AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Rehearsal Solar plane Lower house lands in passes land Ahmedabad AHMEDABAD: Solar Impulse 2 landed in India late yester- day, completing the initial sea crossing of its epic bid to become acquisition bill the first plane to fly around the world powered solely by the sun. The aircraft touched down in Opposition members walk out the western state of Gujarat at 11:25 pm local time to finish its trip NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha party was likely to abstain during from the Omani capital Muscat in yesterday passed the conten- voting in the Rajya Sabha. little less than 16 hours. tious land acquisition bill amid “We wanted to convey that land Live footage on its website a walkout by opposition parties of farmers should be taken with showed the faint line of the plane’s even as the government moved their consent. The decision (to white-and-blue lights in the pitch- nine amendments to address abstain) was not to put the gov- black night as the Solar Impulse 2 concerns raised by farmers. ernment in trouble. It will con- approached Gujarat’s main city of Shiv Sena, an ally of the tinue (in Rajya Sabha),” Geete Ahmedabad. Bharatiya Janata Party, abstained said. Members in the control room during the voting. Road transport minister Nitin applauded as Pilot Bertrand The proposed legislation Gadkari said that the bill will Girls perform a dance during a dress rehearsal for a ceremony organised by the Indian Air Force to commemorate Piccard, who was at the controls removes the need for obtaining speed up development and create the 50th anniversary of the air campaign in the 1965 war with Pakistan, in front of Gateway of India in Mumbai. on the 1,465 kilometre journey, the consent of landowners and jobs. landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel carrying out social impact assess- The government has the option International Airport. ment (SIA) for acquiring land of calling a joint session of both “Congratulations to @bertrand- under certain categories — provi- houses to pass the bill, which the piccard from Mission Control... sions that had raised the hackles opposition says favours corporates Landing 11.25pm local time,” the of critics. at the cost of farmers whose land Yadav, Bhushan wanted AAP to Solar Impulse team posted on Rural Development Minister will be taken away for business and Twitter. Birender Singh, who took potshots infrastructure projects. The Solar Impulse will be in at the Congress, his former party, The bill will replace an ordi- Ahmedabad for four days during moved nine official amendments, nance promulgated by the gov- lose in Delhi: Kejriwal loyalists which “several events are planned which were adopted. ernment last December, which on the theme of renewable energy With opposition members amended a law passed by the NEW DELHI: The AAP cri- Bhushan — were making all-out Gandhi later said he was being and sustainable development”, repeatedly insisting on division Congress-led UPA in 2013. sis worsened yesterday, with efforts for the party’s defeat (in targeted over his remarks. according to the Swiss embassy. to register their disagreement, it The nine amendments pro- four leaders known to be close Delhi),” the statement said. Yadav, welcoming the four AAP The aircraft will embark on its took more than an hour for the posed included removal of social to party chief Arvind Kejriwal “The PAC did not publicise the leaders’ statement, said he hoped fourth leg to Myanmar on March bill to be passed after the minis- infrastructure from the exempted accusing senior colleagues reasons behind the move as it could that it would “end all slander”. 16 after making a short stop at ter’s reply to a nearly eight-hour category, survey of wastelands, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant affect the senior duo’s reputation,” “I welcome the statement by the the Hindu holy city of Varanasi in debate. compulsory employment to at Bhushan of having attempted the it said, in reference to Prashant four colleagues. Begins the pos- northern India. The Right to Fair Compensation, least one member of the affected party’s defeat in the February 7 Bhushan, an AAP founder mem- sibility of open, transparent dia- The sea legs pose the greatest Rehabilitation and Transparency families and acquisition of land up Delhi assembly polls. ber and a senior Supreme Court logue. Truth shall prevail,” Yadav challenge for the Solar Impulse in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation to only one km on both sides of The allegation was levelled in advocate, and Yadav, widely seen tweeted. team as any loss of power over and Resettlement Bill, 2015 faces designated railway lines or roads a statement by deputy chief min- as a leading political expert. “Hope this statement ends all the water would leave the pilot a tough call in the Rajya Sabha, for industrial corridors. ister Manish Sisodia, minister Shanti Bhushan is Prashant slander, planting of allegations. no alternative but to bail out and where the government is in Replying to the concerns of the Gopal Rai and two other Aam Bhushan’s father and also a lead- Hope no more coercion of party await rescue by boat. minority. members, Birender Singh said: Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders: ing advocate. functionaries and Delhi MLAs on Much bigger crossings lie ahead Opposition leaders in the upper “Social impact assessment” had Pankaj Gupta and Sanjay Singh. “But the manner in which an this issue,” he added. as Piccard and fellow Swiss aviator house have already hinted that been left to the state governments. It prompted Yadav to say that atmosphere has been created Yadav said he hoped that his Andre Borschberg, who alternate they would try and send the bill Hitting out at the opposition, he hoped the charge would lead that the National Executive was and Prashant Bhushan’s responses at the controls of the single-seat to a standing or select committee. mainly the Congress, the minister to an “open, transparent dialogue” undemocratic and irresponsible, would also be duly publicised by aircraft, traverse the great oceans. The Congress, which had moved said certain parties opposing the for the truth to prevail. and the questions raised in the the party media. Muscat was the first of 12 a number of amendments in the land bill had been selective while Prashant Bhushan said: “Time minds of the AAP activists, we “Hope the party’s website planned stops on the plane’s jour- Lok Sabha — all were negated — espousing farmers’ causes. has come for the country to know are compelled to give this expla- will be opened for all volunteer ney around the world from Abu demanded that the bill be sent to “When farmers are being looted the whole truth about the matter nation,” the statement added. responses,” he said in another Dhabi, with a total flight time of a standing committee. in Haryana, then it doesn’t mat- and the truth will come out soon.” The statement further said that tweet. around 25 days spread over five “They have not accepted even a ter,” he said, in an apparent refer- In a joint statement, the four not only did Prashant Bhushan Meanwhile, another AAP leader, months. single amendment proposed by us. ence to the time when the state leaders yesterday said the AAP openly support AAP’s breakaway Ashutosh, said: “No organisation While in the air, the pilots This bill is anti-farmer. So we are was ruled by the Congress. “This National Executive decided on group, which maligned the party will survive if it does not observe are linked to a control centre in walking out,” said Congress leader can’t go on.” March 4 to “release” Bhushan with the backing of the BJP, he minimum discipline. Individuals Monaco, where 65 weathermen, of the house Mallikarjun Kharge. Noting that he would never and Yadav from the Political threatened to sabotage the party’s are important but organisation is air traffic controllers and engi- Members of the CPI-M, CPI, accept anything against the Affairs Committee (PAC) — the poll preparation by holding press bigger and the rule is for all.” neers are stationed. A team of 65 AAP, RJD, JD-S, Samajwadi Party interests of farmers, Singh said party’s highest decision-making conferences. AAP secured a sweeping win a ground staff is travelling around and Trinamool Congress did the that farmers needed to move body — and assign them new The statement came after month ago, winning 67 seats in the the world with the two pilots. same. towards productive employment responsibilities. Maharashtra AAP leader Mayank 70-member Delhi assembly. The After Myanmar the plane will Biju Janata Dal members had as the share of agriculture had “While all workers were strug- Gandhi, in his blog, questioned BJP could win barely three seats. head to China, Hawaii and New walked out minutes earlier. Shiv come down from 52 percent of gling to ensure the party’s victory, the wisdom of sacking Yadav and AAP’s National Council meeting York. From there it will go on Sena leader and union minister GDP to 15 percent over the last the trio — Prashant Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan from the PAC is slated to be held on March 28. towards its starting point in Abu Anant Geete indicated that the six decades. IANS Yogendra Yadav and Shanti when they were ready to leave. IANS Dhabi. AFP

‘No separatist will be freed without consultation’ Activist detained after JAMMU/NEW DELHI: “This was done by Mufti sahib BJP sources said it had been that Alam’s release was ordered Jammu and Kashmir Chief to clear the confusion created by conveyed to the PDP leader- by the state home department Minister Mufti Muhammad some people over Masrat Alam’s ship that remaining in power in in February, when the state was screening rape film Sayeed yesterday assured Home release,” a PDP source said in Jammu and Kashmir was not a under the governor’s rule. Minister Rajnath Singh that no Jammu. priority for the BJP and there “A communication was sent by LUCKNOW: A social activ- Dixit was subsequently arrested separatist would be released in “The chief minister assured should be no deviation from the the state home department to ist yesterday said he had by police and questioned for sev- future without taking the BJP the union home minister that no common minimum programme. the Jammu district magistrate, been detained by police and eral hours before being released into confidence. separatist would be released on They said the BJP had made who had ordered detention of had his computer equipment without charge. Sources in the Peoples its own by the state government, it clear that there could be no Masrat Alam under the Public impounded after organising a “The police official told me that Democratic Party (PDP) said except when it becomes neces- compromise on issues concerning Safety Act. public screening of a banned he was letting me off as he did not Sayeed spoke to Rajnath Singh on sary because of a court order.” national security. “The communication sent in documentary about a savage have any document on the basis of the phone and assured him that no Sources said Deputy Chief A serious crisis had developed February said that since the term gang-rape. which I could be arrested,” Dixit separatist leader would be released Minister Nirmal Singh met BJP between the PDP and the BJP of detention of Alam was coming Plans by the national NDTV said. from custody by the state govern- president Amit Shah in Delhi after Sayeed ordered the release to an end in March, necessary network to broadcast the docu- “However he seized my laptop, ment without taking the PDP’s yesterday and apprised him of separatist leader Alam without arrangements should be made for mentary, India’s Daughter, on projector, and other equipment alliance partner, the Bharatiya of developments over Alam’s taking the BJP on board. his release,” the source said. Sunday to mark International for some investigation.” Janata Party, into confidence. release. The PDP clarified yesterday IANS Women’s Day were thwarted Akhilesh Bhadoriya, deputy when authorities obtained a ban superintendent of police in Agra, order on the grounds that the film confirmed that Dixit had been risked fuelling public anger. arrested. Tibetan protest But Ketan Dixit, an activist and “The action was in response to film-maker who has campaigned the screening of this documen- DP Yadav gets extensively against acid attacks tary, which has been banned by on women, decided to hold a the government. We have seized life for murder screening in a village near the Taj the screening equipment of Ketan Mahal city of Agra on the same Dixit and are probing the case.” DEHRADUN/GHAZIABAD: evening as an act of defiance. AFP Mafia don-turned-politician D P Yadav was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment by a CBI court for his involvement in the 1992 murder of former legisla- tor Mahendra Singh Bhati. Charges against LeT militant dropped Yadav’s three accomplices — NEW DELHI: A Delhi court yesterday dropped charges under Karan Yadav, Pal Singh alias Pala the TADA Act and the Explosive Substances Act against alleged alias Lakkad as well as Praneet Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) bomb expert Abdul Karim Tunda in a 1994 Bhati — were also sentenced to life case. imprisonment. Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna discharged the Fines ranging from Rs45,000 to 72-year-old Tunda, accused under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Rs117,000 were imposed on them. (Prevention) Act (TADA) and the Explosive Substances Act (ESA), the D P Yadav surrendered to the Arms Act and criminal conspiracy. court in Dehradun on Monday but Tunda was declared a proclaimed offender in a case relating to the excused himself from the proceed- recovery of explosive substances that was registered in south Delhi’s ings yesterday, citing ill health. Malviya Nagar police station in 1994. The other three, who had sur- Though Tunda got relief in the case relating to the recovery of explo- rendered on February 28, were in sive substances, he has to remain jail as he was allegedly involved in 33 the court when the sentence was bomb blasts in India between 1994 and 1998, 22 of which occurred in pronounced. Four other accused Tibetan activists shout slogans as police detain them during a protest outside the Chinese embassy in New Delhi. He was arrested in August 2013. died during the prolonged trial. Delhi yesterday to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the 1959 uprising in Tibet against Beijing’s rule. Delhi Police had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Tunda IANS under the TADA and the ESA on March 12, 2014. IANS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME First encounter

Fajr (Dawn) 4:32 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:48 Zuhr (Noon) 11:44 Asr (Afternoon) 3:08 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:42 Isha (Night) 7:12

WEATHER

Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Clear Clear Clear Slight dust to blowing dust at

High: 28° High: 23° High: 24° places at times Low: 18° Low: 17° Low: 18° with some cloud and relatively cold by night.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:48 17:42 07:30 & 21:00 02:00 & 14:00 12-22/25 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Tiger cub Alisha (left) meets another tiger, named Dragan, for the first time at the zoo in Eberswalde, Germany, yesterday. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 23/19 Chance of showers 23/17 Partly cloudy MAKKAH 38/24 Clear 41/24 Clear KUWAIT 26/12 Clear 26/18 Clear 3,000 skeletons discovered in London dig BAHRAIN 26/16 Partly cloudy 26/17 Clear SANAA 26/10 Clear 27/10 Clear LONDON: Archaeologists in statement that the bones would be The area was London’s first “The Bedlam burial ground RIYADH 29/13 Clear 27/16 Clear London have begun digging up tested to “shed light on migration municipal burial ground and was spans a fascinating phase of DUBAI 25/15 Clear 27/17 Clear some 3,000 skeletons, includ- patterns, diet, lifestyle and demog- named after the nearby Bethlem London’s history, including the BAGHDAD 27/09 Clear 28/17 Partly cloudy ing those of victims of the Great raphy” of Londoners at the time. Royal Hospital or “Bedlam” — the transition from the Tudor-period Plague, from a burial ground “Archaeologists hope that tests world’s oldest psychiatric institu- City into cosmopolitan early- THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW that will become a train station, on excavated plague victims will tion, which has since relocated modern London,” said Jay Carver, the company in charge said. help understand the evolution outside London. Crossrail lead archaeologist. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER A team of 60 researchers will of the plague bacteria strain,” The burial ground was used by Nick Elsden, a project man- ATHENS 12/08 Chance of showers 12/07 Chance of showers work over the next month at the Crossrail said. Londoners who could not afford a ager from Museum of London Bedlam burial ground to remove The Bedlam ground was used church burial or who chose to be Archaeology (MOLA), said: WASHINGTON 19/13 Chance of showers 14/11 Partly cloudy the ancient skeletons, which will between 1569 and 1738 — a period buried there for religious or politi- “There are up to six metres of SYDNEY 27/19 Partly cloudy 22/17 Chance of rain eventually be re-buried at a cem- that spanned Shakespeare’s plays, cal reasons. archaeology on site in what is one LONDON 13/07 Mostly cloudy 14/07 Partly cloudy etery near London. the Great Fire of London and Members of the Levellers, a of the oldest areas of the city, so PARIS 16/04 Partly cloudy 15/04 Clear Crossrail, which is building a numerous plague outbreaks. 17th-century political grouping we stand to learn a great deal”. ISTANBUL 09/05 Partly cloudy 12/04 Partly cloudy new east-west train line in London, The excavation is also expected that advocated popular sover- Crossrail is one of Europe’s MANILA 32/22 Partly cloudy 32/22 Partly cloudy said the dig near Liverpool Street to further uncover the remains eignty and religious tolerance, are biggest construction projects and DHAKA 33/18 Clear 33/20 Clear station was being carried out on its of an ancient Roman road, where believed to be buried there. the company said that more than DELHI 28/15 Clear 29/17 Partly cloudy behalf by the Museum of London’s several artefacts such as horse- Following excavation, construc- 10,000 artefacts had been uncov- ISLAMABAD 25/11 Partly cloudy 24/12 Partly cloudy archaeology unit. shoes and cremation urns have tors will build a new ticket hall for ered so far in multiple excavations The company said in a already been found. Crossrail’s Liverpool Street station. at some 40 sites. AFP

   

From Sunday, March 15, The Peninsula Plus will have a new name. And we will reach out to communities to connect you better.

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XXXUIFQFOJOTVMBRBUBSDPN Wednesday 11 March 2015 20 Jumada I 1436 Volume 20 Number 6366 Price: QR2

QIB opens new branch at Pearl-Qatar

Business | 19

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar Airways buys Sheraton Skyline in the UK

DOHA: Qatar Airways has pur- courts and a swimming pool. with access to the Sheraton Club business meetings can be held. chased the Sheraton Skyline “The Sheraton Skyline hotel featuring complimentary breakfast The hotel also has a choice of din- hotel (pictured) in the UK, one of is an excellent addition to our and high-speed internet access. ing venues ranging from casual the best-located hotels for trav- travel offering, complement- All of the bedrooms (which have dining at the Sports Bar & Grill ellers using Heathrow Airport ing our five-star hotel the Oryx the largest size in hotels around to the renowned Indian cuisine of and a perfect base for a trip into Rotana in Doha, and making it Heathrow) are fully soundproofed Madhu’s Heathrow. central London or the rest of easy for passengers who wish to and feature LCD flat-screen Qatar Airways has embarked England. The hotel will continue spend some time in London before TVs. Car rental is also available on a strategy to expand into the to be managed by Starwood travelling further,” said Akbar Al from the hotel for travel to/from hotel business, delivering five-star under the Sheraton brand. Baker, Group Chief Executive of Heathrow. The 300 plus car park quality to guests staying in hotels The Sheraton Skyline is the Qatar Airways. offers “Park & Fly” facility, for the as well as travelling on its modern first hotel to be bought by Qatar The Sheraton Skyline, a four- convenience of travellers. fleet. The purchase of the Sheraton Airways outside of Qatar, where star property situated in Bath One of the Sheraton Skyline’s Skyline is part of that strategy it owns the five-star Oryx Rotana Road and just a short shuttle best-known features is the Sky which is expected to include fur- Hotel in Doha and runs the new journey from all of the terminals Garden, a spectacular social ther hotels in North America, the Hamad International Airport at Heathrow Airport, has 350 guest space, where families can relax United Kingdom and elsewhere. Hotel, which includes squash bedrooms, including Club Rooms by the swimming pool or where THE PENINSULA Oil at $60 ‘not bad’ for Qatar Budget surplus at over Country not dependent on oil export only, says Al Attiyah QR100bn in Jan 2015 DOHA: Qatar’s budget surplus situation by increasing its focus BY SACHIN KUMAR stood at more than QR100bn by on supporting financial stabil- the end of January 2015, despite ity, economic diversification and DOHA: Crude oil price at $60 the sharp decline in global oil coordination in fiscal and mon- per barrel is not a bad price prices. etary policies, Sheikh Abdullah for Qatar provided govern- Qatar also managed to achieve said. On the reforms in Qatar’s ment rationalise subsidies and QR160bn current account surplus financial market, the central bank cuts unnecessary costs, said in the balance of payments dur- Governor noted the local bourse Qatar’s former oil minister ing the first nine months of 2014, was upgraded in 2014 to emerg- yesterday. Speaking at Doha said Qatar Central Bank (QCB) ing market status by the Morgan Energy Forum, H E Abdullah Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah Stanley Capital International. bin Hamad Al Attiyah, ex- bin Saud Al Thani here yesterday. QCB enjoys excellent relations energy and industry minis- Addressing the MEED Qatar with all the international and ter and the President of the Projects conference 2015, Sheikh regional financial organisations. Qatar Administrative Control Abdullah said the Qatari economy “We strive to enhance our rela- and Transparency Authority, continued to maintain its strong tionship with other central banks said oil price is expected to be growth, particularly in the non- to serve the common interest,” he around $60 per barrel at the oil sectors. The central bank is said, pointing to a memorandum end of this year. closely monitoring emerging risks of understanding and agreements “In my opinion we can live with to the financial system, particu- signed recently with China and oil at $60 per barrel, even below larly those related to inflation. South Korea including a Swap it and we can live good, but the The inflation rate was contained Agreement with the People’s condition is that we cut cost and to a large extent, as inflation ratio Bank of China as well as an MoU reform the budget. We lived it H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah addressing newspersons on ‘How to Keep Opec Together Under Shrinking did not exceed 3 percent in 2014. to establish a centre for renminbi (low oil price) back in the 90’s Market Share’ at the 5th Gulf Intelligence Doha Energy Forum 2015 at the W Hotel in Doha yesterday. With him is The global economic landscape clearing and settlement in Doha. with oil at nine dollars (per bar- moderator of the session, Dyala Sabbagh, Partner, Gulf Intelligence. SALIM MATRAMKOT has seen the emergence of new The signing of the MoU will rel),” said Al Attiyah. economic, financial and political enhance the strong ties between He said Qatar’s is not depend- unlikely to breach $60 per barrel challenges that left a negative China and Qatar and position ent on oil export only. It now but mark in 2015. Brent to be in $60-$70 range impact on the global economy Qatar as the regional centre for the has diversified product portfolio. “In the end of this year we will growth. Global financial markets RMB clearing and settlement. The “Now we have different products, see oil at 60 dollars but it will take DOHA: Brent crude oil prices are expected to trade in the $60-$70 experienced huge volatility dur- centre will be opened next month. different varieties unlike in 90s few years to go above $70 level. per barrel price range by the end of 2015, according to an industry ing the period. International oil The memorandum of under- when it was only oil. Today we We should forget the era of crude survey conducted yesterday at the Gulf Intelligence Doha Energy prices declined to a historical low. standing with the Bank of Korea have oil GTL (Gas to Liquids), oil going above $100,” he said. Forum. The survey added that international oil companies (IOCs) Geopolitical tension exacerbated is aimed at supporting the eco- LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), He said that there are some are likely to maintain their production targets despite crude prices the situation. nomic and banking relations and chemicals, steel, Aluminum, advantages of lower crude oil having fallen around 50 percent from last summer’s highs. All these posed unprecedented strengthening cooperation in the helium and fertilisers,” he added. prices. According to him, lower oil The survey saw participation of more than 160 Qatari and international challenges in the State of Qatar, financial and banking sector. Brent crude prices slumped prices mean low inflation which leaders from government, academia and the energy industry. According to but the country managed the THE PENINSULA below $50 a barrel in January will benefit construction, oil drill- the survey 42 percent of the respondents expressed the view that Brent this year from highs of above ing and other sectors. was expected to trade in the $60s-a-barrel range at the end of the year, $110 in June last year. Prices “There are some positives of while 38 percent thought prices were more likely to be in the $70s. Only Al Attiyah ‘refuses’ top Opec job have recovered to some extent as low oil price. Drilling cost and 6 percent predicted Brent would trade above $80 a barrel by year end. Brent Crude hovered around $60 construction cost will come After touching peak of $115 per barrel in June last year, oil prices DOHA: H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, ex-energy and a barrel in February. Brent was down,” he said. have fallen to $60 per barrel now. The survey also found that 33 industry minister and the President of the Qatar Administrative trading below $58 a barrel yes- Al Attiyah said Qatar’s devel- percent of respondents expected IOCs to maintain production tar- Control and Transparency Authority, was recently offered the terday. Crude prices have declined opmental projects will not be gets through greater operational efficiency, even with lower capital post of Secretary-General of Opec, which he refused. Al Attiyah on the back of new supplies hit- affected by the dwindling oil expenditure, despite oil prices trading in the current price range and said few months ago he had received a proposal from different ting markets, in particular from prices. He added that China and the resulting volatility on the development of new energy capacity Opec member countries and even an official delegation had come shale oil production in the United India have change the demand over the short to mid-term. As many as 29 percent of those surveyed to meet him. He said that he was against the idea of moving to States, and slower global eco- dynamics and have emerged as thought that prices and volatility would cause United States shale headquarters of OPEC in Vienna, Austria. About oil prices, he nomic growth, including in Asia. major consumers of oil and gas. oil producers to stop new capacity additions and lead to a decline said that it will not be good idea for Opec to cut production to Ex-energy minister said oil is THE PENINSULA in existing shale oil capacity. THE PENINSULA raise oil prices because it has just 30 percent market share. THE PENINSULA Ooredoo registers 12pc increase in customer base in 2014

DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday announced at the heart of the digital future of our will ultimately benefit our sharehold- the pervasiveness of Ooredoo’s ultra- to enhance its customers’ experience and that its number of customers increased customers. Mobile infrastructure is an ers as well. On behalf of the Board of fast broadband networks. Ooredoo now to create cost synergies. by 12 percent to reach 107 million in 2014, essential enabler of a country’s economic Directors, I am pleased to recommend has 4G deployed across five out of its “Ooredoo made significant progress driven by the Indonesian, Iraqi, Kuwaiti, prosperity, particularly in developing mar- to the General Assembly the distribution nine markets. Algeria, Iraq, Qatar and against its strategy during 2014 despite Myanmar and Algerian markets. kets. Our financial results for 2014, despite of a cash dividend of 40 percent of the Tunisia are all markets where Ooredoo facing sustained, high levels of competi- Group’s revenue for 2014 decreased the challenges we have faced in some of nominal share value (QR4 per share),” is the market leader in data customer tion, adverse currency movements and by 2 percent to QR33,207m compared our markets, demonstrate how Ooredoo is he added. share. the current security situation in Iraq. We to QR33,851m in 2013. Group EBITDA increasingly playing its role in supporting Ooredoo’s strategy to become a data- Ooredoo is also rolling out service continue to invest in our infrastructure to stood at QR12,948m against QR14,640m the economic growth in our markets,” said centric business made significant progress agreements with OTT players to drive target market leadership by offering the in 2013 with EBITDA margin decreased Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud following the investment the business has and capture a growing share of data best network experience. Data revenue to 39 percent due to the continued stra- Al Thani, Chairman of Ooredoo . made in its broadband networks, data revenue in its markets. Ooredoo gener- continues to grow and now represents tegic investments across the business into “Our networks, services and invest- infrastructure, driving smart phone pen- ated strong revenue growth from its B2B a quarter of Group revenue. The accel- broadband networks, customer acquisi- ments into new growth opportunities etration and creating innovative new strategy, which targets the communica- eration of our strategy execution during tion and retention, global brand roll-out, in Myanmar and next generation net- bundles and data offers for customers, the tion needs of the businesses in its mar- 2014 puts Ooredoo in a good position to service launches and customer experi- works in Iraq, Qatar and Algeria all company said in a press release. kets, with more than QR4.5bn of B2B generate and capture value for our share- ence. Net profit attributable to Ooredoo demonstrate the transformative power Group data revenue now represents 25 revenues and B2B customers increasing holders and our more than 107m cus- shareholders for 2014 was QR2,134m of Ooredoo for our customers and their percent of group revenue. The growth in by 25 percent during the year. Ooredoo tomers,” said Dr Nasser Marafih, Group against QR2,579m in 2013. communities. These investments into data revenue reflects the growing adop- invested in technology modernization Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo. “Ooredoo is rapidly positioning itself new technologies and future business tion of data-based services, enabled by across its global footprint during the year THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Doha Energy Forum

The 5th Gulf Intelligence Doha Energy Forum 2015 in progress at the W Hotel yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT QE outlines strategy to boost liquidity Oil prices Bourse currently working on plans to launch a number of ETFs, says Al Mansoori tumble DOHA: B o os ti ng m a rket l iqu id- further enhance the market. The Shariah-compliant products liquidity for certain stocks. The further expand availability to LONDON: Oil prices slumped ity is one of the key elements of upgrade to emerging market sta- are also part of our product diver- Group Securities and Mannai professional investors, allowing yesterday as the dollar pushed Qatar Exchange’s (QE) strategy tus by both MSCI and Standard sification strategy. We are cur- Corporation entered into an LP them to gain additional income the euro to fresh lows, while to create value, Rashid Bin Ali &Poor’s, has led to significant rently working with a local asset agreement last year, which has through lending their shares. This the market also tracked geopo- Al Mansoori, CEO of QE, said increases in trading activity and manager to launch the largest resulted in a tenfold increase will also result in an increase in litical tensions in the crude-rich here yesterday. market depth”. Shariah-compliant ETF in the in average turnover of Mannai the market free float and provide Middle East. Speaking at the MEED As a means of improving the world. In addition to ETFs, we stock. This is particularly signifi- additional trading opportunities US benchmark West Texas Qatar Projects conference, Al breadth of the market, and to fur- are also working with the regula- cant because Mannai is not one for licensed investors”. Intermediate for delivery in April Mansoori said Qatar Exchange ther improve liquidity, Al Mansoori tors to list real estate investment of the companies included in the With the introduction of slid $1.31 to $48.69 a barrel. Brent has come a long way ever since noted that the QE continues to funds (REITs) as we recognize MSCI Emerging Markets index Margin trading, investors will be North Sea crude for April tum- it launched in 1997. The average promote the bourse as an attrac- that real estate is integral part and yet with this LP arrange- given the opportunity to increase bled $1.73 to $56.80 a barrel. daily trading volume jumped from tive venue for new listings. of many investment portfolios in ment in place has been able to the size and scope of their port- The euro tumbled Tuesday QR300m during the last 10 years Al Mansoori said the local the region. These products will attract significant liquidity. We folios without having to tie up towards a 12-year dollar low, hit to QR900m during 2014. The bourse is currently working on to significantly add to the size of the are expecting a number of similar more of their capital. This will by eurozone stimulus, growing US huge jump in the trading volume launch a number of ETFs which market and allow us to attract deals with other listed companies also improve market liquidity. rate hike speculation and Greek is because of the QE’s strategic will provide access to emerging new investors, further enhanc- to be announced soon.” Our product diversification strat- debt concerns, dealers said. plans to increase liquidity in the market debt and equities. “We are ing liquidity. Al Mansoori noted: “Currently, egy is simple; list products that A stronger dollar makes oil market, he said. also panning the introduction of “We continue to develop and securities lending and borrowing provide access to markets outside priced in the US unit more expen- “We recognise that developing ETFs that will allow investors to implement initiatives, in par- is allowed only for delivery ver- Qatar and allow easier access to sive for buyers using weaker cur- liquidity in the market is impor- invest in all of the components of ticular the liquidity provision sus payment (DVP) processing a broader range of asset classes rencies, denting demand and tant and we continue to develop the QSE 20 index with a single regime, which have contributed and liquidity provision. We are within Qatar. pushing prices lower. and introduce initiatives to trade” to significant improvements in working with the regulators to THE PENINSULA Supporting crude prices was unrest in Libya between rival militias and the emergence there of the Islamic State group, ana- lysts said. Fighting in the north African state, a member of the Opec oil- Qatar bourse index edges up producing cartel, has seen output reduced from a high of almost 1.5 DOHA: Qatar Exchange gained three sessions on hopes that it Takaful Emarat has never paid div- million barrels a day to 150,000, 28.46 points as it closed yes- would recover following a shock idends since listing in 2008, accord- according to analysts. terday at 12,264.38 points up 2014 earnings revision. The pet- ing to Thomson Reuters data, and Iraq, another Opec member, is from the previous closing of rochemicals sector fell 0.6 per- 2014 was its first profitable year. also battling jihadists who spear- 12,235.92. Among the top gain- cent as Brent crude dipped 1.7 Abu Dhabi fell 1.4 percent headed a sweeping offensive in ers were Commercial. Bank percent to $57.51 per barrel and because of large lenders Abu June that overran large areas of Qatar whose share was up the oil market remained hobbled Dhabi Commercial Bank and north and west of Baghdad. 0.57 percent to QR70.30. Doha by oversupply and weak demand. First Gulf Bank which dropped Singapore’s United Overseas Insurance addeda 0.75 percent Dubai’s index was flat as most 4.0 and 3.8 percent respectively. Bank said oil remained under to QR 26.80 per share. Vodafone stocks gained but heavyweight Oman’s bourse fell 0.9 percent pressure as a stronger US dollar Qatar gained 0.28 percent to Dubai Islamic Bank tumbled 5.9 as most banking stocks declined. was “offsetting geopolitical ten- QR 18.10 and Barwa rose by 1.15 percent; its shares no longer car- National Bank of Oman and Bank sions and the threat of output percent to QR 48.55. Of the 43 ried the 0.40 dirham 2014 divi- Muscat fell 3.4 and 2.0 percent cuts in Libya and Iraq”. AFP companies listed, shares of 38 dend. Union Properties surged 5.9 respectively, while Bank Sohar saw trading. From these, 28 percent after proposing a 3 per- lost 2.4 percent. The bank did not Bahrain refinery gained and 10 declined. (QNA) cent, or 0.03 dirham per share, explain the reasoning behind the Meanwhile, stock markets in cash dividend and a 5 percent recommendation, but said it would expansion to Saudi Arabia and Egypt stalled bonus share issue for 2014. It increase its bonus share issue to 15 after rising for three days in would be the company’s first cash percent from 10 percent. cost around $5bn a row, while most Gulf bourses dividend since 2002, according to Egypt’s market closed nearly remained sluggish and banks Thomson Reuters data. Union flat after gaining 2.7 percent in MANAMA: An expansion of dragged down Oman as its cen- Properties last issued bonus the previous three sessions. Most Bahrain’s Sitra crude oil refin- tral bank advised several lenders shares for 2013, a 5 percent issue. stocks pulled back and Telecom ery is expected to cost around to reduce cash dividends. Islamic insurer Takaful Emarat Egypt dropped 4.4 percent, having $5bn and the facility is likely to The main Saudi benchmark surged 14.2 percent on its highest reported a 31.4 percent slump in be commissioned by 2019, the slipped 0.1 percent to 9,613 points trading volume in more than a year profit for 2014. But SODIC edged energy minister said yesterday. after meeting strong technical after the firm said on Monday its up 0.1 percent after announcing “We have the refinery moderni- resistance near the 200-day aver- board had decided to “discuss the it had acquired 42 hectares of sation which will cost around $5 age of 9,662 points. decision on profit dividend during land on the Mediterranean north Employees of a foreign exchange trading company work under monitors billion. Already front-end engi- Telecommunications firm the annual general meeting” to be coast to build the company’s first displaying the Japanese yen’s exchange rate against the US dollar (top) neering and design (FEED) has Mobily dropped 4.0 percent after called soon, although it made no coastal development. and Japan’s Nikkei stock average, in Tokyo yesterday. been awarded — FEED should surging 21 percent in the previous concrete proposal for a payout. QNA/REUTERS be ready by the end of the first quarter of 2016,” Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza said. “The increase in capacity Euro sinks close to 12-year low against dollar according to the current plan is from 260,000 barrels per day to LONDON: The euro tumbled 2007. It closed at 121.21 yen in of time wasting,” said Fawad urgent technical talks on scared by the prospect of another 360,000 and it will be commissioned yesterday towards a 12-year London. Razaqzada, technical analyst at Wednesday on extending its cru- long drawn-out debt negotiation. by 2019.” He added, “Financing will low against the dollar, hit by Meanwhile, the yield on FOREX.com. cial bailout after its eurozone “The ECB’s government bond- be through borrowing, we haven’t eurozone stimulus, growing US German, Italian and Spanish “The consensus is that it will partners accused debt-stricken buying scheme is being overshad- finalised this yet.” rate hike speculation and Greek 10-year government bonds fell eventually be able to gain access Athens of wasting time in previ- owed by Greece, and if Athens Bahrain lacks the ample crude debt concerns, dealers said. to new record lows on the ECB to part of its remaining bailout ous negotiations. keeps pushing its creditors oil and financial resources of the In London, the European single bond-buying programme to com- funds (but) any further delay in The main talks will be in around it may receive a rap on big Gulf energy exporters, and its currency sank to $1.0722 at the bat deflation and boost growth. the negotiations will undoubtedly Brussels but teams from Greece’s the knuckles.” state finances are under heavy close—its lowest level since mid- The rate of return to investors unnerve some traders,” he said. creditors will also be on the US stocks dropped amid wor- pressure from the plunge of oil April 2003. The region’s stock on 10-year German government London’s FTSE lost 2.52 per- ground in Athens, Eurogroup ries about the strong dollar, prices since last year. But Bahraini markets also retreated, with bonds fell to 0.230 percent from cent to 6.702.84 points, while in chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said, reversing Monday’s strong per- officials have said they will press London’s benchmark FTSE 100 0.312 percent on Monday. Paris the CAC 40 fell 1.12 percent despite the new left-wing govern- formance as last week’s volatility ahead with key projects that are index dropping 2.52 percent. The yield on 10-year Italian to 4,881.95 points. Frankfurt’s ment’s earlier insistence that they looked set to continue. needed to develop the economy. The shared eurozone unit con- government bonds fell to 1.219 DAX 30 index slipped 0.71 percent should not return. In early afternoon trade, the Construction of a pipeline tinued to flounder one day after percent from 1.280 percent and to 11,500.38 points after setting a The announcement came after Dow Jones Industrial Average between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, the European Central Bank those of Spain to 1.231 percent new record high on Monday. a meeting of eurozone finance was down 1.35 percent to 17,751.65 which will replace an ageing one launched its 1.1 trillion euro ($1.2 from 1.275 percent. “Global equity markets came ministers in Brussels on Monday, points. The broad-based S&P 500 and lift capacity to 350,000 bpd trillion) quantitative easing (QE) Europe’s main stock markets under renewed pressure in at which the Greek government fell 1.24 percent to 2,053.70, while from 230,000, is expected to be stimulus “bazooka”. fell into the red, mirroring losses today’s session as ongoing con- outlined the reforms demanded the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite finished by 2018, Mirza said. The dollar neared an eight-year in Asia, as concerns lingered over cerns regarding the European QE by lenders in exchange for fur- Index dropped 1.38 percent to Previously, officials had estimated high against the yen as dealers bet Greek debt talks, while official programme and the strong rally ther cash. “Athens is dragging its 4,873.90. Analysts cited concerns the pipeline would be completed by on an interest rate hike from the data showed fresh weakness in in the US dollar weighed heavily heels over reforms and patience is about the strong US dollar, expec- the third quarter of 2016. Mirza did Federal Reserve after bright US economic powerhouse China. on market sentiment and limited running low in Brussels,” said IG tations for higher US interest not give a reason for the change. He payrolls data. “Sentiment has been hit by a risk appetite,” said Myrto Sokou, analyst David Madden. rates and uncertainty about the added that this year Bahrain would The greenback surged in Asian number of factors, not least the senior research analyst at Sucden “The Greek government is eurozone’s debt negotiations with ask companies to bid to explore off- trading hours to a high of 122.03 return of ‘Grexit’ fears after Financial. pushing the envelope with its Greece for the market weakness. shore blocks for oil and gas. yen, a level not seen since July the troubled nation was accused Greece has agreed to start creditors and the market is AFP REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Qatar Islamic Bank opens new branch at the Pearl-Qatar

DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Qatar’s leading Islamic bank, opened a new branch at the Pearl-Qatar, as part of its expansion strategy to provide better services to the custom- ers and seeks to attract new customers in all vital areas and strategic locations throughout the country. The new branch is conveniently located in MedinaCentrale City, Al Hamra Street, Gate 9, the town centre of the Pearl-Qatar and a hub for high-end amenities and facilities. The Pearl Branch will be open Sunday to Thursday, from 11am to 6pm. Customers at The Pearl will be able to open a variety of bank accounts, apply for a suite of financing, debit and credit cards, discuss a host of Takaful services, and consult on other Islamic banking services with a specialised team of staff. In keeping with QIB’s vision of offering its customers an immer- sive banking experience, the new branch is designed with customer convenience as a particularly singular standout feature. The Officials pose for a group picture. open-plan layout provides more welcoming space, while the use of brings the number of QIB’s local available on all smartphone plat- D Anand, General Manager of their location. Anand said: “The investment in alternative chan- colours is so designed to add to a branches to 30, backed by over forms (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, QIB’s Personal Banking Group, new addition will allow us to nels, such as online banking, our modern business experience and 165 ATMs all over the country. and Windows), as well as the QIB explained that the opening of the better serve our customers and mobile banking application, our the branch is equipped with an The expansion of the branch net- call center operating around the new branch goes hand in hand with enhance our strategic vision in Call Center, and IVR, help QIB ATM offering customers 24 hour work is accompanied by advanced clock. Moreover, all QIB services Qatar’s substantial growth, which terms of offering comprehensive provide a seamless banking expe- service with access to all their electronic services provided by enjoy stellar security standards has prompted QIB to expand in the banking services to people from rience and offer premium services accounts. QIB, such as online banking and thanks to the measures put in local market to offer banking serv- all walks of life. Those services, to the customers.” The opening of the Pearl branch the mobile banking application place by QIB. ices to its customers regardless of coupled with our continuous THE PENINSULA

Nakilat ups dividend for shareholders Qatar Chamber hails DOHA: Nakilat’s Board of LNG fleet to 61 vessels in opera- developments, and exemplary Directors yesterday discussed tion by mid-2015 N-KOM signed safety record of Nakilat and its annual financial statement several significant contracts and its joint venture partners, ship yesterday and increased divi- has now completed more than 300 repairer Nakilat-Keppel Offshore govt initiative on SMEs dend for shareholders at the projects. NDSQ has finalised the & Marine (N-KOM), and ship- company’s Annual General delivery of 19 new-build vessels builder Nakilat Damen Shipyards Meeting (AGM) held yesterday. to Milaha, and delivered two new Qatar (NDSQ). The meeting also ratified the workboats as part of a seven-ves- Nakilat’s Board of Directors QE’s Venture Market to further boost the sector Board’s recommendation to dis- sel order, and continues to work expressed its deepest thanks to tribute a cash dividend to the on the construction of the first H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad DOHA: Qatar Chamber (QC), Given the challenging environ- shareholders equal to 12 percent two super-yachts ever to be built Al Thani, the Emir of the State of the representative body of ment for financing SMEs the of the nominal value of its capital, in Qatar.” Qatar, and to H H Sheikh Hamad Qatar’s private sector, hailed the need for thought-out and innova- which is equivalent to One Riyal The company’s net profit for Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Father unique efforts being initiated tive exchange solutions for SMEs and Twenty Dirhams per share. 2014 reached QR 895m com- Emir of the State of Qatar for the by the government to support is more apparent than ever,” he Attendees voted to support all of pared to QR730m achieved for vision that has enabled Nakilat’s country’s small and medium- added. the resolutions that the Board of the year 2013 – an increase of 23 development. The Board of sized enterprises (SMEs). “We are presently working Directors proposed to the AGM. percent. Nakilat has continued its Directors also offered its appre- Addressing the opening session with a short-list of companies Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti, quest to expand and strengthen ciation to Qatar Petroleum for of QC’s first conference on SMEs who have appointed advisors and Managing Director of Nakilat, the State of Qatar’s position as its ongoing support of Nakilat’s here yesterday, the Chamber who we hope will,subject to the said: “The expansion and consoli- a world leader in LNG. Nakilat’s activities, and to QP Industrial Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin approval of the regulators, form dation of our shipping activities LNG fleet continues to be one of Cities for its cooperation with Jassim bin Mohamad Al Thani our launch candidates in the com- has been a major achievement the world’s youngest and largest. Erhama Bin Jaber Al Jalahma (pictured) lauded the govern- ing years. for Nakilat in 2014. Highlights The meeting also highlighted Shipyard. ment directives, enactment of “One area of additional inter- include the expansion of Nakilat’s the growth, infrastructural THE PENINSULA laws and encouragement to entre- est and concrete progress has penuers to invest in this sector. been our association with QDB The government’s economic in assisting the Qatari SMEs with diversification programme has some of the fees associated with Greece agrees to talks helped grow the local economy listing. Together we offer indi- in line with the Qatar National vidual candidate companies help Turkish central Vision 2030, which envisages with the fees payable to Listing innovation at several sectors centre of the government’s on- Advisers of up to $ 100,000 and we bank struggles that would help Qatari youth to going support for this important encourage you to investigate this be self-reliant. sector”. option.” Al Mansoori said. Speaking on the occasion, Al Mansoori recalled several “We are presently working with to lift lira Rashid bin Ali Al Mansoori, CEO stories of success where SME’s a short-list of companies who have ANKARA: Efforts by Turkey’s of Qatar Exchange (QE), said could improve and develop to appointed advisors and who we central bank to defend the lira QE’s Venture Market would act as become giant companies playing hope will,subject to the approval did little to lift it off record lows a best supporting tool for SMEs’ important roles in the economies of the regulators, form our launch yesterday, outweighed by a glo- development in the country. of their countries. He called for candidates in the coming years. bally strong dollar and concern “Qatar Stock Exchange recog- encouraging other Qatari SME’s One area of additional interest about President Recep Tayyip nises the importance of the SME to grow and play a similar role. and concrete progress has been Erdogan’s intervention in mon- sector which globally provides “The characteristics of the our association with QDB in etary policy. the foundation for successful QE Venture Market reflect the assisting the Qatari SMEs with In a complex series of steps, economies, contributing employ- objectives of allowing SMEs to some of the fees associated with the bank said it would adjust its ment opportunities, wealth crea- list and raise capital more easily listing. Together we offer indi- reserve requirements — used to tion and increased output. Qatar and cheaply and with less strin- vidual candidate companies help control the amount of dollars Stock Exchange has therefore gent requirements than would with the fees payable to Listing in the market — to temporar- developed QE Venture Market be the case on the Main Market Advisors of up to $ 100,000 and A street vendor hawks his wares outside shuttered shops in cen- ily boost forex liquidity by some with the objective of supporting whilst also retaining the trust we encourage you to investigate tral Athens yesterday. Greece agreed to start technical talks on $1.5bn over the coming weeks. the growth of SMEs and position- of the investor base through a this option,” Al Mansoori added. extending its crucial bailout after its eurozone partners accused The lira weakened to 2.6316 to ing Qatar Stock Exchange at the structured regulatory framework. THE PENINSULA the dollar by 1543 GMT, just shy debt-stricken Athens of wasting time in previous negotiations. of a record low hit last Friday. The lira has fallen around 12 per- cent against the dollar this year, according to Reuters data. Its falls have been exacerbated by Erdogan’s demands for sharp Credit Suisse names Prudential’s Thiam as new head interest rate cuts to boost growth ahead of a June election. That has ZURICH: In a surprise move, of June “to ensure a flawless tran- headwinds in the global financial Thiam’s “extensive international tied the central bank’s hands, Swiss banking giant Credit sition to Tidjane Thiam”, Credit services industry.” experience, including in wealth leaving it unable to contemplate Suisse announced yesterday Suisse said in a statement. Investors appeared pleased and asset management and in a rate hike and trying instead to that its longtime chief Brady During his eight-year term with the shift, sending the bank’s the successful development of defend the currency with policy Dougan will step down and pass at the helm, the 55-year-old US share price soaring 8.32 percent new markets,” which he insisted adjustments on the margins. the torch to the current head national steered Credit Suisse to 25.13 Swiss francs a piece in would provide “a firm foundation Central Bank Governor Erdem of British insurer Prudential, not only through the financial late afternoon trading, as the for leading Credit Suisse”. Basci will brief Erdogan today on Tidjane Thiam (pictured). crisis but also through a tax Swiss stock exchange’s main SMI Thiam, who speaks flu- the latest developments. Economy Credit Suisse hailed Thiam, evasion probe by the US Justice index remained flat. ent French, English and Minister Nihat Zeybekci, one of a former Ivory Coast govern- Department that eventually saw Dougan has faced a rising tide German, meanwhile highlighted the cabinet’s most vocal critics of ment minister who has headed Switzerland’s second largest bank of criticism in recent years for Prudential’s rapid expansion into the central bank, said yesterday Prudential since 2009 and over- slapped with a $2.8bn fine. not reforming Credit Suisse fast Asia — a region Credit Suisse is that it should have cut interest saw the firm’s rapid expansion Dougan, who joined Credit enough and especially after the eager to conquer — on his watch. rates before its last meeting in into Asia, as “a strong and distin- Suisse a quarter century ago, bank was slapped with its stag- “Prudential in Asia has more late February. guished leader with an impressive has “significantly and success- gering US fine last year. than doubled in size and profit- Turkish equities were among track record.” fully shaped our company,” Credit Thiam, a 52-year-old dual ability since 2009 and is a clear the worst emerging markets per- Dougan, who is one of few top Suisse Chairman Urs Rohner said. French-Ivory Coast national, has leader in insurance in the world’s formers, with the main index end- executives in the banking sector He praised the outgoing chief for no banking experience, and the most populous and dynamic ing the day down 3.31 percent at to have weathered the storm of keeping “our bank on track in analyst said his career path was region,” he said in a statement 77,977.48 points, compared with a the global financial crisis, will recent years despite a complex “absolutely not linear”. issued by the insurer. 1.49 percent fall across emerging meanwhile stay on until the end environment and considerable But Rohner highlighted AFP markets. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Telecom Egypt China’s inflation jumps but woes endure plans to spend Producer price index declines more this year BEIJING: China’s consumer in the economy,” Nomura econo- inflation rebounded in February mists said. “To offset headwinds CAIRO: Telecom Egypt plans from a more-than-five-year to economic growth, we expect to spend more than $400m this low, official data showed yes- monetary policy to be loosened year mainly on building a fibre terday, but a plunge in factory further,” they added. network in the country after the gate prices added to persistent China’s benchmark stock fixed-line monopoly reported a concerns about deflation in the market fell yesterday, with the 31 percent fall in 2014 profits. world’s second-largest economy. Shanghai Composite Index clos- Chief Executive Mohamed The 1.4 percent increase in the ing 0.49 percent lower at 3,286.07. Elnawawy said the company consumer price index (CPI) com- Economists are increasingly planned capital expenditure pared with a gain of 0.8 percent worried that China — a key driver of 3.428bn Egyptian pounds in January, according to National of global growth — is heading for ($449.28m) in 2015, which he said Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures. a debilitating deflationary spiral, was a record high for capex. The result, which exceeded the such as that which has plagued Net profit for the year fell to median forecast for a 1.0 percent Japan for years, citing consist- 2.03bn Egyptian pounds ($266m) gain in a survey of analysts by ently weak CPI figures as well as from 2.96bn pounds in 2013, Bloomberg News, came largely accelerating falls in factory prices. Telecom Egypt said, citing sev- due to higher prices for food and The central People’s Bank of eral one-off and operational costs services surrounding China’s China cut benchmark deposit related to license fee payments annual Lunar New year holiday, and lending interest rates in and tax liabilities. which economists largely saw as February for the second time in Telecom Egypt’s landline mar- a one-off. three months, citing “historically ket has come under pressure as In contrast the producer price low inflation”, as the economy more Egyptians use services pro- index (PPI) — a measure of costs expands at its slowest annual pace vided by the country’s three mobile for goods at the factory gate and in nearly a quarter of a century. phone companies, Vodafone Egypt, a leading indicator of the trend “The weak inflation profile Etisalat and Mobinil. for CPI — declined for the 36th suggests that further monetary Last year, Egypt opened the straight month in February. policy easing will be needed to People buy fruits and vegetables at a market in Beijing yesterday. China’s consumer inflation rebounded in way for Telecom Egypt to offer The PPI fell 4.8 percent year- fight against rising deflation risk,” February from a more-than-five-year low, official data showed. mobile services, while the govern- on-year, the NBS said, more than ANZ economists Liu Li-Gang ment also took steps to allow the the 4.3 percent decline recorded and Zhou Hao said in a report, China’s gross domestic product Yu Qiumei said in a statement economist at Capital Economics, three mobile companies to enter in January, and the worst result adding that despite the rate cuts (GDP) expanded 7.4 percent last regarding the February CPI data said the fall in the PPI “reflects the landline market. since October 2009. “the easing effort so far has been year, its worst result since 1990, that fresh food demand rose dur- the broader weakness in global Telecom Egypt agreed last year Moderate inflation can be a limited.” as authorities seek to transform ing the holiday, “leading prices to commodity prices, which has to pay 2.5bn pounds for a unified boon to consumption as it encour- They expect the PBoC to fur- the Asian giant’s growth model to rise by large margins”. pushed down the price of the licence for mobile and landlines ages consumers to buy before ther cut the reserve requirement one in which consumer spending Yu added that transport and industrial inputs” that make up which would allow it to compete prices go up, while falling prices ratio (RRR) -- the amount of takes over as the key engine. tourism prices also increased, a heavy portion of the indicator. with the mobile operators. encourage shoppers to delay pur- cash banks must keep on hand— And last week leaders lowered while labour shortages prompted He added that despite the But activation of the licence, chases and companies to put off “to lower the funding costs for the their 2015 GDP growth target to by migrant workers returning rebound in the CPI in February approved by the government last investment, both of which can real economy”. Cutting the RRR “approximately seven percent”, home also pushed up costs for the outlook in coming months year, has been repeatedly delayed. hurt growth. theoretically frees up more cash while the CPI objective for was services such as nannies and was for consumer price rises to Elnawawy said Telecom Egypt “We continue to expect infla- for lending. They also expect a set at “around three percent”. housekeepers, which rose 6.3 per- weaken back below the one per- was eager to acquire the new tion to remain relatively low and further 0.25 percentage point cut Consumer prices rose 2.0 per- cent from the previous month. cent level, though he was san- licence: “We know mobile is the still see disinflationary pressures in the deposit interest rate. cent last year. Senior NBS analyst Julian Evans-Pritchard, China guine on the prospect. AFP only way forward.” The government has said for competition reasons Telecom Egypt would need to shed its 45 percent stake in Vodafone Egypt Cambridge Judge once it has the new unified license. But the company has not done Business School, this yet and has said it might Oil exploration still viable in Africa consider alternative options such Pearl Initiative as taking a controlling stake in DAKAR: African oil explor- projects in Kenya and Uganda. to cancel projects in an area he said Chris Bake, an executive at Vodafone Egypt, majority-owned by plan Dubai meet ers will keep drilling in select “This is certainly not the end of called one of Africa’s “sweet spots”. top energy trader, Vitol which has British mobile company Vodafone. locations such as onshore east African oil - far from it.” “It’s an area that is oil-rich with a stake in a $7bn Ghana project. Elnawawy said his company DOHA: Cambridge Judge Africa and less complex projects Oil prices have collapsed from little gas and it’s cheap to drill,” said Paul Eardley-Taylor of was in the final stages of select- Business School, University off the West African coast even $115 a barrel in June, prompt- Lake, pointing to two Cairn finds in Standard Bank Oil and Gas said ing an investment bank to consult of Cambridge, and the Pearl with oil at $60 a barrel, execu- ing oil firms to slash hundreds of Senegal. He said the mothballing of he expected liquefied natural gas it on what to do with its minor- Initiative, the leading independ- tives and analysts said. millions of dollars from explora- projects further south had dragged projects in Mozambique — home ity holdings, including Vodafone ent private sector-led, not-for- But they warned that African tion budgets, hitting relatively down rig rates, saying costs were to an estimated 180 trillion cubic Egypt. profit institution working across governments with reserves in expensive African projects hard. now around $35-$50m per well feet of gas, or enough to supply Telecom Egypt said licence fees the region to influence and less attractive locations should Tullow has cut its budget from versus $200m in Angola. Germany, Britain, France and hit its 2014 results to the tune of improve corporate accountabil- revise terms now or forfeit the a peak target of $1bn to around Low operating costs of around Italy for 18 years — to go ahead. 201m pounds, deferred tax lia- ity and transparency, yesterday investment, leaving the oil and gas $200m this year, mostly focused $10 a barrel for Ghana’s Jubilee “Mozambique achieved a lot bilities rose by 308m Egyptian announced a two-day intensive underground. on Kenya, although it may double field will mean cuts have a lim- over the last two months with pounds and its salary bill went up Senior Leadership and Trust “There are still some exciting from next year. ited impact there, said Jacques the passing of enabling legisla- by 280m pounds. The company, Programme for Middle East areas in Africa like east Africa Stuart Lake, CEO of African Verreynne, an economist at NKC tion. Standard Bank is hopeful in which the government owns business leaders, to be held in and in particular the onshore Petroleum, which has licences Independent Economists. “You that a final investment deci- an 80 percent stake, had operat- Dubai on March 23-24. areas,” said Aidan Heavey, CEO offshore Senegal and Ivory Coast need to be close to or at produc- sion can be reached this year,” ing revenues of 12.16bn Egyptian The programme has been of one of Africa’s biggest explorers in the West Africa Transform tion and have visibility on cash Eardley-Taylor said. pounds in 2014, up from 11.14bn designed by the executive edu- Tullow Oil, referring to drilling Margin, says the firm has no plans flow. That’s critical right now,” REUTERS the previous year. REUTERS cation division of Cambridge Judge Business School, and will be taught by Cambridge Judge faculty experts Dr Philip Stiles, Air Arabia holds AGM University Senior Lecturer in Corporate Governance and Overhaul plan helps G4S Co-Director of the Centre of International Human Resource Management, and Dr Khaled to deliver higher profits Soufani, Senior Teaching Faculty in Finance and Director of the LONDON: A management rose 8.9 percent and helped off- Cambridge Executive MBA overhaul and restructuring set weaker trade in continental Programme. helped G4S to beat profit fore- Europe and Britain. The programme will examine casts in 2014, marking progress Almanza maintained a cautious how to build trust in an inter- for the world’s largest security tone on the outlook for a company connected, globalised world in group after a series of setbacks. which runs services from trans- which boundaries between busi- The British firm, trying to porting cash to protecting ships nesses and employees, suppliers recover from contract problems from pirates. “There remains and competitors are increas- including a high profile failure at much to be done to realise the full ingly porous, so leaders need to the London Olympics in 2012, said potential of our strategy,” he said. build up their powers of trust yesterday that underlying oper- The profit rise was helped by 3.9 and persuasion. Participants ating profit rose 7.9 percent to percent revenue growth and cost will also focus on their individ- £424m ($637m) last year. savings that pushed margins up ual leadership development, and Under CEO Ashley Almanza, slightly. Almanza told reporters develop plans to sharpen those who took charge in 2013, G4S has that Britain remained an impor- skills through interaction with shaken up its management and tant market for the firm despite a the Cambridge teachers. begun cutting costs in areas like number of headache contracts. It IT and procurement. It has also said it had increased its provision Air Arabia’s Board of Directors (pictured) approved the distribution of a 9 percent cash dividend of the com- axed weak businesses to help feed for problematic British govern- SWBH exhibits pany’s share capital for the year 2014 at their Annual General Meeting yesterday. The airline, which operates growth in more profitable emerg- ment deals by £45m. at ITB Berlin services to 104 destinations, said earlier that its 2014 net profit reached Dh566m. ing markets, where 2014 revenue REUTERS DOHA: Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels (SWBH), the luxury, five-star hotel collection owned and managed by Al Rayyan Hospitality, announced its third Ford offers technology insights for safe driving year of attendance at ITB Berlin, the International Tourism DOHA: As the region kicked off its 31st a number of innovative systems and tech- Ford also regularly hosts “Driving Skills the highest rates of traffic accidents in the Exchange exhibition, which was annual GCC Traffic Week, Ford joined nologies in its vehicles designed to keep for Life” driver-training programmes world. “First and foremost, safety always held in Berlin recently. officials from throughout the Middle drivers and passengers safer on the road. throughout the region. Driving Skills for begins with a seat belt,” said Benintende. “Our relationship with inter- East to remind drivers to keep their These include inflatable seat belts, MyKey, Life engages young drivers and addresses “Everyone in the vehicle should always be national markets is strong, par- attention on the road as everyone works a 360-degree camera view and MyFord four key areas that are critical factors in buckled up. Second, despite the best tech- ticularly with Germany as our toward the common goal of reducing Touch with SYNC. vehicle accidents. nology, it is important for drivers to always German visitors have increased road fatalities. Other technologies are designed to assist These include distractions/hazard recog- remain alert behind the wheel. In some by 100 percent since we signed “We can’t emphasise enough that the driver in maintaining control of the vehi- nition, vehicle handling, space management parts of our region more than half of all business agreements with lead- road safety begins with the driver,” said cle and avoiding crashes in the first place. and speed management. These four key traffic accidents are caused by people using ing travel and tourism compa- Jim Benintende, President, Ford Motor These include roll stability control, lane areas pose the most problems for young their mobile to text and talk while driving. nies in the country,” said Vasken Company Middle East & Africa. “We departure warning, trailersway control, drivers and play a role in more than half of At the very least, using hands-free technol- Vartanian, Director of Sales applaud the efforts that leaders throughout adaptive cruise control with collision warn- the vehicle crashes involving young people ogy, like MyFord Touch with SYNC, can & Marketing at Souq Waqif our region are initiating to raise awareness ing, BLIS blind spot information system with worldwide. help drivers maintain more focus on the Boutique Hotels. of this important issue.” cross-traffic alert, high-speed warning chime According to the World Health road ahead and the vehicles around them.” THE PENINSULA Over the past years, Ford has introduced and parking/back-up assistance. Organisation, the Middle East has one of THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Spending patterns to help Shell Central bank chief tries to and ExxonMobil through oil fall BY RON BOUSSO and DMITRY ZHDANNIKOV sidestep Erdogan pressure HE world’s two biggest oil firms, ExxonMobil Corp and Royal Dutch Shell, may withstand the oil price collapse BY ASLI KANDEMIR and A meeting expected in the coming days central banker and newspaper columnist. better than their rivals because they are closer to finish- NICK TATTERSALL between Basci, Erdogan, Prime Minister Unable to raise rates because of the politi- Ting expensive investment projects while others must keep Ahmet Davutoglu and Deputy Prime cal pressure, Basci has been trying to sup- spending. The near halving of oil prices since June is likely to send URKISH Central Bank Minister Ali Babacan, in charge of the econ- port the lira by other means, on Monday all the biggest listed oil companies into negative cash flow this year, Governor Erdem Basci, a omy and a close Basci ally, could be crucial. cutting forex deposit rates, the bank’s third and has sparked a rush to cut costs across the sector as a result. technocrat reluctantly thrust When the central bank lowered its main back-door attempt since last week to prop But depending on where they are in their spending cycles, some into a standoff with President rate in January to 7.75 percent, government up the currency. companies are finding those cuts easier to make than others. Tayyip Erdogan, appears to ministers immediately said the 50 basis point “(Basci) has been a creative technician ... “Both (ExxonMobil and Shell) had already entered a lower spend- believe he will eventually ride cut was not enough to support growth. He tried to please the markets together with ing phase, with major projects reaching completion and coming on Tout the storm. But with the lira tumbling to record lows the politicians,” said the CHP’s Boke. stream over the next two years,” Moody’s rating company said in In his shoes, many bank chiefs might last week and inflation stubbornly above tar- His hands had been tied, she said, by the a report. ExxonMobil started eight major oil and gas production already have quit. Erdogan’s relentless get, Basci is likely to try to persuade Erdogan government’s failure to undertake structural projects last year in locations ranging from Papua New Guinea to demands for sharper interest rate cuts, his of the need to keep monetary policy tight. reforms to reduce a large current account the Gulf of Mexico and Abu Dhabi. assertion that the bank is under outside “I think Basci is living under an illu- deficit that has left Turkey dependent on Shell started four big production start-ups last year in the influence, and his equating of high rates with sion. He’s still not resigning. He’s assuming volatile foreign capital flows. “If they want to Cardamom and Mars B oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico as well as treason have left Basci struggling to restore Erdogan can be persuaded and the ten- avoid the depreciation they’re going to have to other oil fields in Nigeria and Malaysia. investors’ confidence. sion can be eased after the parliamentary hike interest rates ... We’re an open economy, As a result ExxonMobil, the world’s biggest publicly traded oil Yet those close to the former professor election,” said one source familiar with the we haven’t resolved our structural issues and company, was able to cut its 2015 project spending by 11 percent to - who is respected on financial markets for thinking inside the central bank. Others in clearly we need foreign financing,” Boke said. around $34bn without significant impact on its production. Shell, his command of economic theory — say he the institution fear Erdogan’s statements Davutoglu and Babacan spent much of last the second-largest, opted for a $15bn cut over the next three years is optimistic that Erdogan’s rhetoric is little will only intensify and “spin out of control”. week in New York, trying to trying to reas- and maintained its 2015 capital spending at $35bn which will also more than populist theatre before a parlia- “(Some) think this is a political manoeu- sure investors that the outlook for Turkey not affect its output. mentary election in June. vre by which Erdogan aims to put the blame was bright despite the row over monetary Chevron and Total, on the other hand, are both in the midst of While reluctant to talk politics even in for the deterioration in growth and rising policy. One bank strategist briefed by col- large project spending cycles, and will have to tap into more debt private, Basci has made clear he does not inflation on somebody else, and claim that leagues said the delegation had emphasised in order to stay afloat, Moody’s said. plan to stand down, saying last month that the economy got worse because they didn’t that there would be no “aggressive reshuffle” Elsewhere BP, despite cutting costs and jobs and freezing salaries, a public duty must be performed for the full listen to him,” the source said. of the economic team before June. still faces sizeable outgoings related to its 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil period in which it is assigned. Basci’s fate is seen as closely tied to that of But after the election, things will be less cer- spill fine and its stake in Russian oil champion Rosneft. Economic growth, a pillar of the rul- Babacan, a top figure in Turkey’s economic tain, particularly if Erdogan pursues his battle Most big oil firms announced cuts of 10 to 15 percent to their 2015 ing AK Party’s electoral strength over the management team for more than a decade against the “Cemaat” network of US-based budgets versus last year. Some suspended share buybacks, revived past decade, is flagging. Industrial produc- and respected by foreign investors. cleric Fethullah Gulen, an ally-turned-foe dividend payment via company stock, known as scrip shares, and tion fell more than two percent in January, The two were childhood friends, their whom he accuses of plotting against him maintained dividends flat in order to boost cashflows. data showed yesterday, adding weight to fathers both small business owners in through influence in state institutions. While all companies are expected to keep paying high dividends Erdogan’s case against Basci. Cikrikcilar, a neighbourhood of artisanal “The central bank and the Treasury are by increasing borrowing, Anglo-Dutch Shell and Texas-based “He is cornered,” said Selin Sayek Boke, workshops and traders in Ankara’s old town. the last fortresses of the Cemaat. A consid- ExxonMobil appear to be most able to cover both spending and deputy chairwoman of the main opposition They went on to study together at the city’s erable number of people think Basci remains dividend payouts if oil prices stay at their current $60 a barrel. CHP, who, like Basci, taught economics at Middle East Technical University. in office due to their support,” said the They are also likely to be able to pick up bargain assets, while the Ankara’s Bilkent University. “If he resigns he “Basci is a smart man who’s well aware source familiar with central bank thinking. price collapse shakes the sector out. “Those who have stronger bal- is going to be blamed for bringing havoc to of what’s going on. But the reason he’s “What kind of steps will be taken for these ance sheets would be able to acquire more assets in the downturn, the financial markets. If he does not resign, remaining in office is his personal relations institutions will be clear after the elections.” for example distressed and cheap US shale producers,” said Kirill he will be blamed (for stalling growth).” with Babacan,” said Ugur Gurses, a former REUTERS Pyshkin who helps manage over $400m in global and US equity funds at Mirabaud Asset Management in London, including shares in Shell. Pyshkin noted too: “If oil prices recover they won’t have to sacrifice their growth budgets and hence will be growing faster than peers in future.”

LOWER BREAKEVEN ExxonMobil and Shell also lead the rest of the pack in terms of where their cashflow breaks even. They can survive on a much lower price of oil to cover project spending, operating costs and dividend payments. According to analysts at Jefferies, Shell and ExxonMobil both have 2015 breakevens of around $75 to $80 a barrel. While that’s still significantly higher than the average 2015 Brent price of around $56 a barrel, it’s healthier than Chevron, BP and Eni’s breakevens which Jefferies forecast at around $95, $100 and $120 a barrel respectively. For some however, while Exxon is a safe investment, its dividend is relatively low compared to its peers and its shares offer little upside because of the steady course the firm is now on. Other peers and smaller companies offer better returns. “Although it (Exxon) retains significant defensive strengths should oil prices dip again, we think the market is now beginning to deploy its investment dollars in higher risk plays,” BMO Capital Markets analyst Iain Reid wrote in a note to investors. Reid’s key pick is Shell, which still has “plenty of firepower to deliver further upside via more aggressive restructuring”. Total, which is further behind in the spending cycle may however also offer higher returns for investors in the future, Reid added. According to Reuters data, 15 out of 23 polled analysts are neu- tral on ExxonMobil shares, while 5 rate it a “buy”. Shell is more attractive for analysts, with 10 out of 20 recommending a “buy” and 9 a “hold”. Total remains the most robust stock, with 17 “buy”, 16 “hold and 2 “sell” recommendation. All of the big oil firms are expected to see negative cash flows this year, according to Moody’s, and will turn to borrowing in order to cover costs. All have indicated they would have no problem increasing bor- rowing this year, given their debt-to-equity ratios below 20 percent. “The majors with their AA and AAA ratings still have access to attractive sources of funding. Their balance sheets have the capac- ity to absorb one or two years of low prices,” said Wood Mackenzie analyst Tom Ellacott. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Euro area pushes Greece to open its books

BY REBECCA CHRISTIE, As Greek officials struggle to Brussels. “Our job is to start the its heels during the two weeks will take place in Brussels, but focus of Monday’s meetings — CORINA RUHE and meet the euro area’s demands, the process which is necessary for the since they reached an agree- supporting people will go to which also discussed national JONATHAN STEARNS government’s cash supplies are European Central Bank to have ment to extend Greece’s bailout. Athens to find the right number so budget plans — Greece must work running low. One official from the confidence.” Tsipras, whose anti-austerity gov- that there is no misunderstanding with the euro-area institutions UROPEAN finance currency bloc, who spoke on the Greece could gain access to ernment was elected in January on that,” Dijsselbloem said. and not on its own. ministers piled pres- condition of anonymity, said that some of its remaining bailout on a promise to renegotiate terms While the negotiations con- “The Greeks must implement sure on Greece to open Greece’s funding might last for money if Prime Minister Alexis of Greece’s ¤240bn ($260bn) bail- tinue, the ECB is effectively now what they promised to do its books and follow one, two or three weeks, though Tsipras delivers his nation’s outs, now has through June to financing the Greek private sec- and must especially refrain from through with pledges it was difficult to be precise. pledges, Eurogroup Chairman reach a broader agreement on tor because of its support for its taking one-sided measures,” Eagreed to in its rescue package, as “No one really knows how much Jeroen Dijsselbloem said after further support. banks. Schaeuble told reporters. the country tries to avoid running money is left, no one can tell if it finance ministers met Monday in Euro-area creditors are will- In a bid to raise the pres- Greece is seeking the dis- out of cash as soon as this month. will keep the country afloat until Brussels. Recent debate about who ing to help solve Greece’s financ- sure on Greece to reach a deal bursement of an outstanding Greece will resume talks with March, April or even summer,” would meet where and when had ing issues once talks resume, a with authorities, ECB officials aid tranche totaling about ¤7bn. its creditors in Brussels today, Hatzis said. been “a complete waste of time,” Greek government official said will increase the scrutiny on the Without access to capital mar- alongside technical talks in Athens European Central Bank Dijsselbloem said. in an e-mail to reporters. Greece Emergency Liquidity Assistance kets, its only sources of financ- to comb through data. Finance President Mario Draghi took “If there is time pressure for will add to its list of proposed extended to Greek lenders with an ing are emergency loans from the Minister Yanis Varoufakis said a personal hand in persuad- financing needs that should be reforms and sees progress in the extraordinary review this week, euro area’s crisis fund and the Greece will make “all necessary” ing Greece to allow new visits helpful for getting the package most recent talks, the official two officials familiar with the International Monetary Fund. data available. from technical experts, accord- back on track,” he added. said, asking not to be named in matter said. The country’s ability to win “It looks as if Greece wants to ing to two officials familiar with Concerns about the pace of line with policy. As long as Greece remains over its euro-area counter- commit to as little as possible, so Monday’s talks. talks helped send the Greek ASE unlikely to regain market access parts will depend on whether that it can get money as soon as stock index down 4.2 percent in CASH POSITION soon, the ECB probably won’t it can produce budget data and possible,” Aristides Hatzis, an asso- NEGOTIATIONS Athens, its lowest level in more Varoufakis declined to comment allow its banks to post more T- a clearer understanding of the ciate professor of law and econom- After the meeting, Varoufakis — than three weeks, with Piraeus on Greece’s cash position, saying bills as collateral because that country’s financial situation, ics at the University of Athens, said who described Draghi as “a very Bank down more than 12 percent. instead that the country liquidity would effectively be monetary French Finance Minister Michel by phone yesterday. “Hopefully, this skilled central banker” — said he Greek three-year yields rose 191 would be guaranteed by the gov- financing, another euro-area offi- Sapin said. will resume with the Greek govern- was confident negotiations would basis points, or 1.91 percentage ernment with the EU institutions. cial said. Monetary financing is “The time comes when what’s ment realizing that some of those resume in good faith. points, to 15.95 percent at 4:52 Euro-area finance ministers banned under European law. needed is not declarations of reforms must be done as they’re “I believe that we are doing our p.m. New York time. welcomed the decision to allow German Finance Minister intention or slogans, but figures necessary to kick-start the econ- job properly and they will do their The euro-area finance ministers technical teams back to Greece for Wolfgang Schaeuble said that and verifiable data,” Sapin said. omy,” Hatzis said. job,” Varoufakis told reporters in reprimanded Greece for dragging more research. “Most discussions while Greece wasn’t the main WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,264.38 0.23 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,778.48 0.35 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,428.19 0.47 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,238.06 0.32 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,278.1 0.21 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5794.256 1.209 0.02 5962 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 4,046.41 0.27 % QR137.9137 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,514.6 0.22 % Cac 40 Index/D 4897.01 -40.19 -0.81 4986.88 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,434.19 1.00 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4691 QR 5.5450 QE All Share Insurance 4,092.97 0.75 % Dj Indu Average 17995.72 138.94 0.78 18288.6 15855.12 QR 1.8790 Euro ...... QR 3.9364 QR 3.9919 QE All Share Telecoms 1,429.8 0.86 % CA$ ...... QR 2.8692 QR 2.9255 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,177.81 0.17 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23896.98 -226.07 -0.94 25101.96 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.6774 QR 3.7323 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5965 -10.1 -0.17 6049.69 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0298 QR 0.0304 Aus$ ...... QR 2.7880 QR 2.8428 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32566.59 -293.98 -0.89 35055.94 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 10-03-2015 09-03-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0577 QR 0.0588 Index 12,264.38 12,235.92 Nikkei 225 Index 18665.11 -125.44 -0.67 18979.64 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0353 QR 0.0360 Change 28.46 91.91 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0833 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2119.59 1814.36 % 0.23 0.76 $ 57.75 SL Re ...... QR 0.0271 QR 0.0277 YTD% 0.17 0.41 Straits Times/D 3398.26 -6.31 -0.19 3458.14 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0474 Volume 9,497,235 10,146,931 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0362 QR 0.0370 Value (QAR) 418,668,938.80 475,629,196.15 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.2990 QR 0.3050 Trades 4,702 5,271 $ 55.10 Up 28 | Down 10 | Unchanged 00 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 10-03-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A C C-A/D 1649.2 -12.35 16916 Cipla-A/D 729.7 -3.5 256869 Himat Seide-B/D 83.6 -3.3 62349 Kanoria Chem-B/D 38.4 0.4 21224 Oudh Sugar-B/D 16.45 -0.1 4343 Kingfisher/D 353.5 -6.3 3111607 Aarti Drugs-B/D 1340 13.5 3141 City Union Bk-/D 98.35 -0.2 18877 Hind Motors-T/D 7.13 -0.07 123102 Kg Denim-B/D 24.15 0.65 31987 Punjab Chem.-B/D 135.7 -1.4 19738 Land Secs Grou/D 1236.1 -3 648459 Aban Offs-A/D 487.05 -5.8 349932 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1976 0.6 6581 Hind Org Chem-/D 16.4 -0.45 10351 Kilburnengg-T/D 47.25 -1.7 7452 Radico Khait-B/D 92.65 -0.7 81082 Legal & Genera/D 283.5 -0.4 4312103 Ador Welding-B/D 205 -1.1 2764 Colgate-A/D 2086.8 -16.85 20024 Hind Unilever-/D 956.65 -17.65 144124 Kinetic Eng-B/D 50.7 -2.6 6729 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485.1 -3.6 309186 Tesco/D 238.4 -1.9 9710064 Bom.Burmah-B/D 516.85 12.65 260777 Fgp Ltd-B/D 2.65 0 2800 Jct Ltd-B/D 3.4 -0.01 103846 Nepc India-T/D 2.71 -0.05 14791 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3021 -48 180953 Unilever/D 2825 -3 949232 Bombay Dyeing-/D 76.65 1.75 572914 Finolex-A/D 275.2 -2.45 7233 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 5.07 0.07 24829 Neuland Lab-B/D 364.6 14.4 16979 Barclays/D 259.2 -3.25 12167607 United Util Gr/D 901 -21.5 738856 Camph.& All-B/D 270 0 3250 Gail-A/D 383.75 -2 89138 Jik Indust-T/D 0.86 0.01 4100 Nrb Bearings-B/D 145.3 -0.8 14054 Bg Group/D 873.5 -45.7 4109046 Vodafone Group/D 218.8 -0.3 31885685 Canfin Homes-B/D 610 -1.75 10863 Gammon India-T/D 20.8 -0.7 175341 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 113.85 -1.7 230809 O N G C-A/D 314.75 -1.35 988465 Bp/D 436.15 -9.55 9951870 Whitbread/D 5225.625 -35 107937 Caprihans-B/D 76.6 -0.25 5440 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.45 0.06 9710 Jmc Projects-T/D 190 2 36298 Ocl India-B/D 438.3 -7.1 6104 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3712 -44 747792 Castrol India-/D 485.35 -8.05 24901 Garden P -B/D 28.2 -0.1 2380 Kabra Extr-B/D 82.25 0.05 3390 Onward Tech-B/D 50 0 4013 Bt Group/D 448.7 -5.3 3257416 Century Enka-B/D 158.2 -1 3184 Goodricke-B/D 154.1 0.3 24709 Kajaria Cer-A/D 768.9 -11.45 6329 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.8 0.6 249764 Centrica/D 238.8 -5.1 8590118 Century Text-A/D 552.15 22.5 165444 Goodyear I -B/D 564 -11.25 12126 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 125 -4.1 5497 Orient Hotel-T/D 20.05 -0.25 3555 Gkn/D 355 -3.8 1083263 Chambal Fert-B/D 66.95 2.35 184212 Hcl Infosys-B/D 55.95 -2.7 1056088 Kalpat Power-B/D 228.15 3.55 20669 Orient.Carb.-T/D 439.8 -2.2 5090 Hsbc Holdings/D 568.5 2 15419382 Cimmco-B/D 97.25 4.6 119819 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 16 -0.1 998732 Kalyani Stel-T/D 139.4 -0.8 56447 Orient.Carb.-T/D 439.8 -2.2 5090 Imperial Tobac/D 3173.32 0 719543 WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Sharks sneak Marc Gasol shines past Penguins in shoot-out

NEW YORK: Tommy Wingels scored on the backhand in the in Grizzlies’ win eighth round of a shoot-out to give the San Jose Sharks a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Hawks hit 20 3-pointers to rout Kings Penguins yesterday. Melker Karlsson was the only other Shark to beat Penguins goalie CHICAGO: Memphis star NBA Results knee injuries over the past several Marc-Andre Fleury in the shoot- Marc Gasol scored a game- seasons but has taken an optimis- out. Sharks goalie Antti Niemi Washington 95 Charlotte 69 high 23 points and outshone tic turn about the latest layoff. stopped seven of eight Pittsburgh brother Pau in a sibling rivalry Atlanta 130 Sacramento 105 “This time could be a blessing shooters, including Steve Downie matchup of Spanish big men as Boston 100 Miami 90 in disguise, give me time to work on the visitors’ final attempt. the Grizzlies beat Chicago 101-91 Memphis 101 Chicago 91 on all the little injuries I had this Matt Nieto netted for San Jose yesterday. New Orleans 114 Milwaukee 103 season,” Rose said. (33-26-8) in the first period while Jeff Green added 19 points for Denver 106 NY Knicks 78 Meanwhile, Kyle Korver and Sidney Crosby converted his 23rd Memphis while Zach Randolph DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 goal of the season in the third to Golden State 98 Phoenix 80 scored 16 and pulled down nine points to pace a balanced scor- tie it for Pittsburgh (38-18-10). rebounds for the Grizzlies, who LA Clippers 89 Minnesota 76 ing attack as Atlanta ripped In another match, Predators improved to 45-18, the third-best Sacramento 130-105 yesterday for winger James Neal banged in record in the NBA. “I was open. My teammates the Hawks’ 50th victory of this a rebound from defenseman Memphis, two games ahead of found me. I was able to make NBA season. Seth Jones’s shot with 2:15 left Houston atop the Southwest divi- some shots,” Marc Gasol said. “To Korver sank six of a team- in overtime, and goalie Pekka sion, closed the game on a 17-3 win by 10 here was not easy. We record 20 3-pointers on 36 Rinne made 27 saves, as Nashville run and avenged a home loss to put together a good game.” attempts that the Hawks made snapped a season-high six-game the Bulls earlier this season. Pau Gasol had 13 points and 11 on their way to a 13th consecu- losing streak. The win stretched Tony Snell scored 21 points rebounds for the Bulls, who suf- tive triumph in meetings with the Nashville’s lead over St. Louis to Chicago, 11 of them in a 23-6 fered their third loss in a row in Kings. in the Central Division to four run to put the Bulls ahead 88-84 falling to 39-26. Jeff Teague and Al Horford points, but the Blues have two around the mid-point of the Aaron Brooks added 15 points each added 18 points for Atlanta, games in hand. The Predators fourth quarter. for the Bulls while Nikola Mirotic with Teague also passing out (42-19-7) also pulled into a tie The Grizzlies scored the next 11 had 18 points and 12 rebounds off a game-high 13 assists as the with Anaheim for the Western points to start their closing run the bench for Chicago. Hawks finished with a team total Conference and NHL lead with to victory. The Bulls updated the injury of 42 assists, the most by any club 91 points. AGENCIES “We had to get aggressive status of Derrick Rose, who said in an NBA game this season. defensively,” Marc Gasol said. he expects to return this season Paul Millsap added 13 points “They had space and it creates from a right knee injury. and Dennis Schroeder added 12 NHL Results a lot of lanes. We were able to “I feel good, in a positive space off the bench for the Hawks. NY Islanders 4 Toronto 3 read what they were doing and right now,” Rose said, adding of a At 50-13 and with 30 wins in 34 Detroit 5 Edmonton 2 make some shots and were able return before the playoffs, “That’s home starts, the Hawks stretched Kevin Martin (23) of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots over JJ Redick Vancouver 2 Anaheim 1 to pull out a win.” the plan. Whenever I feel right, the Eastern Conference’s best (4) of the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, Nashville 2 Arizona 1 Marc Gasol scored 15 points in that’s when I’ll step back.” record to 11 games ahead of sec- California, yesterday. San Jose 2 Pittsburgh 1 the fourth quarter. Rose has been nagged with ond-place Cleveland. AGENCIES QPalz Ooredo, PCY2 to vie for U-18 title

DOHA: Two top seed teams of minutes to inch closer to the scor- the Under-18 Season 1 of Pinoy ing distance. Basketball Qatar (Pibaq) will A back-to-back baskets by vie for the championship crown Genonangan with 3:38 remaining after they separately routed while effectively applying pressure their opponents during the defense had drawn them closer with nail-biting exciting games over just three-point deficit, 55-52 even the weekend at the Al Gharafa as the QPalz squad led by Manalo Training Gym. was dominating by 10-point edge at QPalz Ooredo overcame a scary the start of the last quarter. It was end game feat from the heroics of Manalo who dictated the tempo in hot-shooting Adrian Paul Manalo the last 20 seconds with his three Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge returns with unique professional net- who converted a one out of two visits at the free throw line from the working opportunity. basket from the free throw line series of fouls made by his defend- with 4.3 seconds left to seal their ers with both squads already under hard earned victory 61-60. penalty situation. In the second game, PCY2 Genonangan even took his Xerox Corporate Golf Travelex Exchange DIANA squad to a two-point lead, 60-58, also escaped a narrow win with his difficult drive towards over the never-say-die squad the basket with 30 seconds left of Supreme Technology Young but such momentum vanished by Challenge returns CEG International, 51-47, after their mistake of committing too Rafael Vincent Caruz managed many fouls against the unstop- DOHA: The 17th Xerox rounds held around the GCC and to squeezed his way in an under pable Manalo. Corporate Golf Challenge, the in South Africa. The top five goal stab after grabbing the ball Filipino basketballs will expect region’s most popular, award- teams from each UAE round, and from a missed one out of two free a much more heart pounding winning corporate tournament, the top teams from the GCC and throws of King Tabol with 4 sec- championship game between and the largest corporate net- South Africa rounds, will compete onds left in the game. PCY2 and QPalz that will serve working event on the greens, is in a 2-day Grand Final, which will Both QPalz Ooredo and PCY2 as an exciting curtain raiser now open for player registration be played in Ras Al Khaimah, squads will square off for the cov- before the colourful opening of for the 2015 edition. UAE, in November 2015. eted one-game only championship the PIBAQ 2015 season. Avid golfers from the Middle Andrew Horne, General match on Friday at the same The league is supported by East and South Africa are invited Manager Xerox Emirates, said: venue, before the opening of the Travelex Money Exchange, to form 2-player teams and regis- “Xerox Emirates, alongside our new PIBAQ regular season. Arabian Gulf Logistics Services, ter online at www.xeroxcgc.com, regional partners, is very please QPalz was comfortably lead- Power Horse Energy Drink, where full details of all qualifying to, for its 17th year, bring the ing most of the way but the CEG Boracay Filipino Restaurant, rounds are readily available. Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge Action from the Under-18 Season 1 of Pinoy Basketball Qatar (Pibaq) at frontliners led by Joshua Mathew Diana Jewellery & Watches, This year’s event tees off at to the UAE, GCC and South the Al Gharafa Training Gym. Genonangan mounted a strong Happy Journey Travel and August Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club African amateur golfing calendar. comeback rally in the last five Sports Tailor. THE PENINSULA today, to be followed by qualifying THE PENINSULA

Action from ISF World Schools Tennis Championship in Doha

Action from the ISF World Schools Tennis Championship at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha yesterday. The championship will end on March 15. The event is being organised by the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) in co-operation with the Qatar School Sports Association (QSA), under the umbrella of the International School Sports Federation (ISF). The eighth edition of the ISF World Schools Tennis Championship fea- tures participation of boys and girls from 16 countries, including Belgium, Australia, China, Britain, Brazil, France, Germany and Qatar. PICTURES BY: IBRAHIM KUTTY WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Injury-hit Sri Lanka seek Scottish balm Another injury blow for Mathews’ side, Perera to replace injured Chandimal

HOBART, Australia: Sri New Zealand took 134 runs Lanka will look to tie up some from the last 14 overs, England FACTBOX Sri loose ends ahead of the World garnered 148 from 15 and Former Sri Cup quarter-finals when the Australia smashed 200 in the last Lankan fast Lanka vs Scotland former champions take on win- 16 overs. bowler and cur- HOBART: Factbox on today’s less minnows Scotland in their “We have got to improve rent bowling World Cup Pool A match last group match in Hobart our bowling and fielding,” said between Sri Lanka and today. Mathews. “If we can keep the coach Chaminda Vaas (left) speaks Scotland at Bellerive Oval, The Islanders, who have won opposition to 300, we can chase Hobart. three of their five matches, will it down.” to Thisara Perera SRI LANKA likely take third place in Pool A Sri Lanka are struggling to during a train- behind co-hosts New Zealand find an ideal combination after ing session at Captain: Angelo Mathews and Australia should they record all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and the Bellerive Coach: Marvan Atapattu an expected win at the Bellerive batsman Dimuth Karunaratne Oval ground Squad: Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Oval. returned home due to injuries and ahead of the Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews’ side return to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath 2015 World Cup Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara action just three days after going suffered a bruised finger. Pool A match Perera, Upul Tharanga, Sachithra down to Australia by 64 runs Sri Lanka suffered another against Scotland Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Lasith in Sydney on Sunday despite a injury setback at the World Cup in Hobart Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga heroic run chase led by remark- on Tuesday when batsman Dinesh yesterday. Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Seekkuge able veteran Kumar Sangakkara. Chandimal was ruled out of the Prasanna. The 37-year-old left-hander tournament to be replaced by Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to smashed 104 to become the only Kusal Perera. New Zealand by 98 runs; beat Afghanistan batsman to score three successive With a week to go before the by four wickets; beat Bangladesh by 92 centuries in a World Cup and is quarter-finals, Sri Lanka may runs; beat England by nine wickets; lost to the leading run-scorer in this edi- look to rest tired limbs and test Australia by 64 runs. tion with 372 runs at an average their bench strength against Top performers: Kumar Sangakkara (372 of 124. Scotland, who are lying at the runs); Lasith Malinga (nine wickets) Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, bottom of the group with five SCOTLAND 38, is fifth in the list with 291 defeats from as many matches. Captain: Preston Mommsen runs, but former skipper Mahela Sri Lanka have played the non- Jayawardene’s lean patch on Test side just once in a one-day Coach: Grant Bradburn either side of a match-winning international, winning easily by Squad: Preston Mommsen, Richie century against Afghanistan will 183 runs in Edinburgh in July Berrington, Kyle Coetzer, Freddie Coleman, be worrying. 2011, and another one-sided game Matthew Cross, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Jayawardene, 37, fell for zero in appears likely. Statistics reveal Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, the tournament opener against the wide gulf between the two Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan New Zealand, did not get to bat sides. The combined ODI appear- Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw. against Bangladesh and England, ance total of the entire Scotland Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost before being run out for 19 against squad is 332 -- 114 fewer matches to New Zealand by three wickets; lost to Australia. than Jayawardene’s 446 ODIS, 70 England by 119 runs; lost to Afghanistan by Sri Lanka will need the three below Sangakkara’s 402 and just one wicket; lost to Bangladesh by six wickets. senior pros to fire if they are to 20 more than Dilshan’s 312. Remaining Pool A match: vs Australia, repeat their 1996 triumph after Scotland have yet to win a Hobart (March 14) losing the last two World Cup match in three World Cups, and Best performers: Kyle Coetzer (253 runs); finals in 2007 and 2011. with the International Cricket Josh Davey (11 wickets) The batsmen have so far made Council planning to reduce the Sri Lanka vs Scotland head-to-head up for a wayward bowling attack number of teams involved from Sri Lanka cricketer Upul Tharanga bats during a training session. which has leaked runs in the final 14 to 10 in 2019, today’s fixture Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 183 runs in the TOP: Sri Lanka cricketer Lasith Malinga gets a massage during only time the teams met, at Edinburgh on overs to allow rivals to plunder could be their last in the show- a training session. big totals. piece event. AFP July 13, 2011. Cup exit shines light on England’s one-day woes

SYDNEY: “We thought 275 through to the quarter-finals, Yet England’s latest World Cup won the World Cup, they did instrumental in the decision to was chaseable. We shall have to ought to have made it all but exit -- far worse than the previous appear in three finals between recall Moores and effectively exile look at the data.” impossible for a leading team to nadir of 1999 when the then hosts 1975 to 1992. star batsman Kevin Pietersen With those words, uttered fol- fail to reach the last eight. crashed out in the first round But England have been try- last year following England’s 5-0 lowing a defeat by Bangladesh “We would have to have an on net run-rate even before the ing to play catch-up in one-day Ashes thrashing in Australia in Adelaide on Monday that absolute stinker not to make tournament theme song had been cricket ever since being on the England, however, didn’t make knocked England out of the World the quarter-finals,” said England released -- was no great surprise. receiving end of opener Sanath the most of what resources they Cup, Peter Moores (pictured) paceman Stuart Broad back in “Eng had the wrong team, the Jayasuriya’s 82 off 67 balls in a had after a warm-up tour of Sri appeared to write his own epitaph January. wrong style of play & everyone quarter-final loss to Sri Lanka at Lanka generated further prob- for his second spell as coach of the And that is what England had. could see it, tonight’s result not the 1996 World Cup. lems when in a major U-turn, they national side. Monday’s loss followed crushing a shock,” tweeted Australia great The 1990s and early 2000s also dropped Test skipper Alastair It did not require great sta- defeats by Australia (111 runs), Shane Warne and it was hard to saw England well-beaten in sev- Cook and brought in Eoin Morgan tistical analysis to understand New Zealand (eight wickets) and disagree, with their inherently eral successive Ashes series by as captain in his place. why England had gone down by Sri Lanka (nine wickets) and cautious approach in marked Australia. It made little difference, 15 runs to Bangladesh -- long meant there was no way England contrast to that of leading one- That led to a renewed focus by with Morgan’s nought against regarded as the whipping boys of could go through to the knockout day teams. officials on Tests with the impres- Bangladesh his fifth duck in nine international cricket but now vic- phase. Even though it pioneered the sion given that ODIs were little innings. torious over England at two suc- Their only win of the tour- staging of one-day and Twenty20 more than money-spinners. Alex Hales, a dynamic opening cessive World Cups. The simple nament so far has been against games on a professional basis, “This is not just about this batsman of the kind employed by truth is England were yet again Scotland, a non-Test side. there has long been a snobbery tournament,” said under-fire many top one-day sides, didn’t out-batted and out-bowled. Now England, one of the about the limited overs format in England and Wales Cricket Board play at the World Cup until the But Moores’ words appeared world’s wealthiest cricket nations, England, with many cricket lov- managing director Paul Downton Bangladesh game -- and then emblematic of an inflexible will head into Friday’s final ‘dead’ ers insisting it’s not the real deal. on Monday. as a number three. Meanwhile England set-up, where too many pool game against Afghanistan Yet there need not be a contra- “It goes back to a domestic England’s most experienced bowl- players were unable to think on -- who’ve also beaten the Scots diction between Test and one-day structure, and putting an empha- ers, Broad and James Anderson, their feet. -- with exactly the same number success -- Australia had plenty of sis in this country more on Test were their most expensive with How the tournament was set- of points as a team who mainly both while winning three consec- cricket than one-day cricket and averages of 78.66 and 56.75 respec- up, with four teams from each learnt how to play cricket in refu- utive World Cups from 1999-2007. that has to change,” added the tively and defenceless when the of the two pools of seven going gee camps. Although England have never former England wicketkeeper, ball wasn’t swinging. AFP In-form Engachev bags second gold at Losail

DOHA: Oleg Engachev won the In the 50m pistol too Konstantin 25m Rapid Fire Pistol to clinch lost to Engachev and had to take the second gold medal at the the silver medal. ongoing Emir Cup Shooting and Engachev dominated at last Archery Championship at the year’s Emir Cup where he won Losail Shooting Range. three gold. He did not take part On Saturday, Engachev had in the recently concluded Qatar won the 50m pistol event. Cup as he was on a vacation. Oleg Engachev Yesterday, the Asian Games Yesterday Engachev seemed to (centre) on gold medal winner in the men’s have started from where he left the podium 25 centre fire pistol at last year’s on Saturday hitting the target with Maltsev Games in South Korea, over- with perfection. Konstantin (left) came the challenge of Maltsev Ali Mohamed Al Kuwari, the and Mohamed Konstantin to emerge on top. head of the tournament organ- Hasan Al Tamimi Engachev shot 23 in the six- ising committee, was the chief after winning the shooter final to top the field. guest and gave away the prizes. 25m Rapid Fire Konstantin could card only 21. He praised the efforts of all the Pistol in the Emir Both Engachev and Konstantin three winners, especially young Cup Shooting were locked at 19 before the final Mohammed Hasan Al Tamimi for and Archery shot. While Engachev got 4, landing the third place against Konstantin could gain only two the experienced shooters. Championship at and lost the first place by two Today the final of the 10m Air Losail Shooting points. Rifle will take place. The shoot- Range yesterday. Mohammed Hasan was a dis- ing events of the championship tant third with 13 hits. organised by Qatar Shooting and Ali Hassan Morshed secured Archery Association will finish on the fourth place when he got March 21. The archery events will only 9. He was followed by Riyaz be held for two days and will take Rustam Khan (seven) and Adel place on March 27 and 28. Rustam Khan (4). THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Dhoni hails India sweep to untroubled rejuvenated Dhawan HAMILTON: Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni saluted 8-wicket win over Ireland Shikhar Dhawan’s return to form after the opener smashed his second World Cup hundred Defending champs confirm top spot in Pool B with fifth straight victory in yesterday’s eight-wicket win over Ireland. Dhawan hit an 85-ball 100 HAMILTON: India took apart Niall O’Brien was the top scorer with five sixes and 11 boundaries a diligent but limited Ireland with 75 including three sixes, to anchor India’s 260-run chase attack to sweep to an untrou- one of which was helped over the in 36.5 overs at Seddon Park in bled eight-wicket victory at boundary rope by Mohammed Hamilton. Seddon Park yesterday which Shami leaping high to try to take Dhawan, who also smashed 137 confirmed they will top Pool B the catch. in the win over South Africa, had in the cricket World Cup. O’Brien, swinging vigorously to suffered a wretched bout of form After dismissing Ireland for the leg side, kept the scoreboard at the tri-nations series leading 249 with an over to spare when moving but wickets fell regularly up to the World Cup, scoring just their spinners established a at the other end, including that two, one, eight and 38. stranglehold on the top-order bat- of the dangerous Kevin O’Brien “It is important to back your ting, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar who was caught behind for one players,” said Dhoni. Dhawan played themselves in for from a thin edge off Shami. “We try to do it and I felt that a token couple of overs. REUTERS though he had a tough series, I They then launched a full- felt we had put a lot of effort into blooded attack, alternating flow- Scoreboard him. ing drives with explosive pulls “We always believed in him. while also pushing around the ball IRELAND But the final step that needs to be for comfortable singles. W Porterfield c Yadav b Sharma ...... 67 taken is from the individual, and Dhawan was dropped on five P Stirling c Rahane b Ashwin ...... 42 I felt he prepared well for these when John Mooney failed to E Joyce b Raina ...... 2 ODIs, and it obviously takes time.” hold a fierce caught-and-bowled N O’Brien c Yadav b Shami ...... 75 Dhoni said Dhawan was capi- chance. After scoring five fur- A Balbirnie c Shami b Ashwin ...... 24 talising on his good starts in the ther runs he was dropped again K O’Brien c Dhoni b Shami ...... 1 five World Cup matches where off the unlucky Mooney, this time G Wilson c Rahana b Jadeja ...... 6 the defending champions have at backward point when captain S Thompson (run out) ...... 2 barely broken sweat. William Porterfield parried a J Mooney (not out) ...... 12 “Overall the difference I’ve seen stinging cut but was unable to G Dockrell c Dhoni b Yadav ...... 6 in his batting is once he gets a hang on to the rebound. A Cusack c Yadav b Shami ...... 11 start he sees it as an opportu- Those were the only times the Extras (LB-2, W-9) ...... 11 nity to turn that start into a big Irish bowlers looked like taking a Total (all out in 49 overs) ...... 259 innings, and right from the first wicket and the duo took the score Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-92, 3-145, 4-206, game that’s what he’s done. to 174 when Sharma chopped 5-208, 6-222, 7-226, 8-227, 9-238. “He’s not someone who is happy medium pacer Stuart Thompson Bowling: Yadav 4-0-34-1 (1w), Shami 9-0- getting a 50. He knows that the on to his stumps and was out for 41-3 (5w), Mohit Sharma 6-0-38-1 (3w), team needs him to score big runs. 64 from 66 balls. Jadeja 7-0-45-1, Ashwin 10-1-38-2, Raina So once he gets to his 50, he hits With the Indian support- 10-0-40-1, Rohit Sharma 3-0-21-0. the next milestone which is a ers making a tremendous din, INDIA hundred.” Dhawan took a single to complete R Sharma b Thompson ...... 64 Dhoni stressed all of his play- his eighth one-day century from S Dhawan c Porterfield b Thompson ...... 100 ers need to contribute at the 84 balls with five sixes but was India’s Shikhar Dhawan celebrates after reaching his century at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. V Kohli (not out) ...... 44 tournament. then caught off the following ball A Rahane (not out) ...... 33 “I think the crucial part is for he faced from Thompson. a picturesque ground in New Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and bowling and Ed Joyce was bowled Extras (B-4, LB-2, W-13) ...... 19 everybody to score runs to get Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Zealand’s fourth largest city Suresh Raina responded by first for two trying to cut a ball from Total (for 2 wkts in 36.5 overs) ...... 260 wickets and to bowl well. Ajinkya Rahane (33 not out) and all seemed set fair for the frustrating then dismissing the Raina which was too full for the Fall of wickets: 1-174, 2-190. “Because ultimately in the took their team to victory with Irish when the captain and Paul Irish batsmen who found bound- shot. Bowling: Mooney 6-0-44-0 (4w), Cusack knock-out stages you don’t really 13.1 overs to spare. Stirling put on 89 for the first aries hard to come by after the Porterfield was reduced to 8-0-43-0 (1w), Thompson 6-0-45-2 (8w), know who you may need, so it’s Porterfield elected to bat on a wicket from 15 overs. initial flurry. pushing the ball for singles and Dockrell 5-0-44-0, Stirling 5-0-36-0, K important that everybody gets warm afternoon before a capac- Mahendra Singh Dhoni turned Stirling (42) lofted a simple was finally caught for 67 skying O’Brien 6.5-0-42-0. a bit of confidence going,” said ity crowd of 11,000 packed into to his spinners and Ravichandran catch to long-off off Ashwin’s the ball while trying to accelerate. Dhoni. Dhoni also praised key off- spinner Ravichandran Ashwin who took 2-38 to check Ireland’s India’s Swami Army sweeps up Pakistani recruit progress. “Ashwin is someone who I HAMILTON: Three heart watching a Pakistan match. “My stadium, while fans were also always love to have, the reason attacks haven’t stopped Pakistan wife Rafia is from Hyderabad displaying “won’t give it back” being I always push him to bowl cricket fan Mohammad Bashir Deccan, India. I love Dhoni. He placards, referring to the World in the power plays and even have from following his team around is my hero. Cup trophy which India won on used him whenever I’m in difficult the world. “I have joined Indian support- home soil four years ago. situations. So he is really confi- And if they are not in action, ers for this match and hope I sup- Some people brought tradi- dent about his bowling,” said the the Chicago-based Bashir, 62, is port both the teams (India and tional dhol drums, banging them Indian skipper. more than happy to watch arch- Pakistan) when they play the to the screams of “Jeetay ga bhai Dhoni insists his team will rivals India. final.” jeetay ga, India jeetay ga (India remain motivated in their last The proof came in the usually Chaudhary, wearing a number will win) from the stands in a pool game against already-elim- sedate surroundings of Hamilton’s ten shirt in honour of Tendulkar, festive atmosphere. inated Zimbabwe in Auckland on Seddon Park, transformed into a said he was excited to be in New “I have brought a group of Saturday despite it having no con- riot of colour and noise by India’s Zealand. around 550 fans from various sequence for either side. Swami Army of supporters for “It’s a wonderful country parts of India and its a two-in- “We’re highly motivated. We the reigning champions’ World blessed with nature and I am one pack for me as I earn as well have qualified for the next stage Cup Pool B match against Ireland enjoying the tour with India look- as watch the match on tour,” said (before today), but still it was a yesterday. ing so solid in their title defence,” Manas Kolay, who had travelled challenge in itself because of the Bashir, who has become a said Chaudhary, who has report- from the holiday resort of Goa. travelling issue that we had. friend of India ‘super fan’ Sudhir edly cycled over 15,000 miles to Arun Goyal lives in Hamilton “A lot of boys didn’t get enough Kumar Chaudhary, is a huge watch India play at various cities and any cricket match involving sleep before this game because of admirer of India batting great at home, Bangladesh and Lahore India brings back memories of his the time we landed and the trav- Sachin Tendulkar. in Pakistan. native country. elling that we have to do. “I love you Dhoni,” shouted Wearing their team’s blue “I come to watch this match “So every game pushes you to Bashir. “Dhoni is my heart and kit and holding the tri-colour to remember India,” said Goyal, do something special. The next I hope his team reaches the final national flag, the Swami Army born and brought up in Mumbai. game will be the last before we An Irish and Indian fan cheer during the World Cup match at Seddon and plays against Pakistan.” were out in force. It’s an atmosphere which reminds get into the knock-out stages, so Park in Hamilton yesterday. Bashir said he had no prob- The green, saffron and white me of the Wankhede Stadium in we’ll keep improving every game.” lems supporting India when not flags flew in large parts of the Mumbai. AFP AFP Comeback Aamer urges youngsters not to ‘destroy’ lives

RAWALPINDI: Former “In these five years I’ve learnt Africa at the weekend, Aamer’s Villiers,” Aamer said. Pakistan pace prodigy you need to make good friends swift return to the side is far from “But not everyone is an AB who Mohammad Aamer yesterday in life, have good company, don’t assured. can reverse sweep a yorker! It all urged young players to be care- destroy your life.” But he heaped praise on his depends on the situation whether ful of the company they kept to Aamer, fellow quick bowler former team-mates, terming their you should be bowling yorkers or avoid “destroying” their lives, as Mohammmed Asif and then performance “outstanding” and slow bouncers.” he prepared to make his return Pakistan captain Salman Butt congratulating the team for its His return has been eagerly from a spot-fixing ban. were jailed in Britain over the “fighting spirit”. awaited by most fans in cricket- The 22-year-old was due to spot-fixing scandal in 2011. Aamer singled out South mad Pakistan, though some begin his first game back in Aamer’s ban was originally due Africa’s Dale Steyn and Australia’s notable critics, including former domestic cricket on Monday but to expire on September 2, but the Mitchell Starc, who has so far captain Rameez Raja, have argued the first two days in the garrison International Cricket Council taken 12 wickets at an average of he should not be given a second town of Rawalpindi, not far from used discretionary powers to 10 during the World Cup, as his chance in the sport. Islamabad, were cancelled due to allow him to return to domes- top bowlers at the moment. Aamer said he would do his a waterlogged pitch. tic cricket early, citing his early He is mindful too that thanks best to prove his detractors wrong Aamer was one of three admission of guilt and cooperation to the influence of Twenty20 and show he had turned over a Pakistanis banned from all cricket with anti-corruption authorities. cricket, tactics have moved on in new leaf. for at least five years for arrang- Looking more muscular than his absence and he acknowledged “I am trying my best and I ing no-balls to order in a Test when he last played competitively, he will need to adapt his game to did video messages with the ICC against England at Lord’s in 2010. Aamer said he had been working emulate Steyn and Starc. aimed at youngsters — don’t take He urged young players to learn hard on his fitness and had not The once-deadly yorker is no shortcuts, be focused on your from his mistakes and concen- lost any of the zest that saw him Pakistan’s Mohammad Aamer participates in a training session at the longer the killer weapon it once goals,” he said. trate on the game. become the youngest bowler, at Army Cricket Ground in Rawalpindi yesterday. was, with batsmen like South “I would not wish the five years “If you want to achieve some- just 18, to take 50 Test wickets. Africa’s AB de Villiers willing to I went through on my worst ene- thing in life you need to be very “I haven’t played competitive at when you’re at a good ground to be the same.” attack the delivery. mies. Work hard with good inten- focused on your goals,” he said cricket so far — when you play wearing spikes,” he said. With Pakistan’s bowling attack “Yorkers are generally best tions and leave the rest to Allah, between fielding drills at the army in the rhythm of a match you “I feel in my practice that my finally appearing to click in a key in the death situation, but per- at the end of the day Allah will cricket ground in Rawalpindi. know what speeds you’re bowling pace hasn’t gone down, it’s going World Cup victory over South haps not for someone like AB de respect that.” AFP WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Arsenal face PSG seek revenge at Chelsea Bradford or French giants take on Mourinho’s side today at Stamford Bridge Reading in Cup semis LONDON: Eleven months on From left: Chelsea defender from their last visit to Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta, midfielder LONDON: Arsenal will face Stamford Bridge, Paris Saint- Juan Cuadrado, striker Didier Bradford or Reading in the FA Germain return yesterday look- Drogba, midfielder Cesc Cup semi-finals in April after ing for confirmation of their Fabregas, defender John the holders enjoyed a 2-1 win place among the Champions over Manchester United on Terry and goalkeeper Thibaut League elite. Monday night. Courtois smiling during a train- In last season’s quarter-finals, Just minutes after the final PSG came to London with a 3-1 ing session at Chelsea’s training whistle at Old Trafford, Arsene lead from the first leg and with ground in Stoke D’Abernon, Wenger’s side learned that their a huge 13-point advantage at the south of London, yesterday reward for an impressive quarter- Ligue 1 summit, only to crash out ahead of their UEFA Champions final success against United is the after Demba Ba’s 87th-minute League, round of 16, second less daunting task of seeing off strike took Chelsea through on leg football match against Paris Championship team Reading or away goals. Saint Germain today. RIGHT: third tier outfit Bradford. This season, a round earlier, Bayern Munich’s Spanish head The other Wembley semi- the tie is even more evenly-bal- coach Pep Guardiola speaks final will see Aston Villa take on anced at 1-1, and it is Chelsea during a press conference Liverpool or Blackburn, who will who are dominating domestically, in Munich, Germany, yester- meet in a replay at Ewood Park five points clear in the Premier day. Bayern Munich will face after the Championship team League with a game in hand, Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA drew 0-0 at Anfield on Sunday. while in France, PSG trail Lyon Champions League Round of 16 While the Gunners will be firm by a point. second leg today. favourites whoever gets through, But in contrast to last season’s Wenger will recall that his side London trip, PSG have Zlatan needed a late equaliser and a Ibrahimovic fit and in form, with penalty shoot-out to beat second the giant Swede having scored his tier Wigan at the same stage last third goal in four games and pro- season. vided a delightful assist for Javier Bayern eye quarter-final berth And the north Londoners may Pastore in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat not be quite so keen on facing of Lens. BERLIN: Bayern Munich have set to move into Bayern’s defen- an injury-time equaliser when But the 69-year-old acknowl- Bradford, who knocked Arsenal Laurent Blanc’s side have now a “duty” to reach the Champions sive midfield alongside Bastian Vladimir Priemov netted for edges that his side face an uphill out of the League Cup en route gone 14 games without defeat in League’s quarter-finals when Schweinsteiger with Brazil’s Kharkiv. task. to the 2013 final. all competitions and despite their they host Shakhtar Donetsk Rafina and Juan Bernat used as “We dominated the play, but “I’m perfectly aware we are fac- Bradford have extended that failure to recapture last season’s today with everything to play wing backs. made too many own mistakes ing an extremely difficult second giant-killing form to this sea- heights, they remain in conten- for, according to goalkeeper Bayern’s injured captain Philipp especially in midfield and in leg in Munich, Bayern cannot son’s FA Cup, with a stunning 4-2 tion for an unprecedented four- Manuel Neuer. Lahm returned to team training defence and paid the price for it,” afford to leave the competition fourth round victory at Premier trophy haul. Donetsk held Bayern to a goal- on Monday after fracturing his said Lucescu. so early,” he said. League leaders Chelsea followed “Of course we have belief less draw in their last 16, first ankle last November and echoed “In Munich we must put in “The final will be played in by a win over top-flight side against Chelsea,” said Blanc. leg, in Ukraine last month and Neuer’s sentiments. a fine show, otherwise we’re Berlin, so they will do their best Sunderland. “We’re in an unfavourable the visitors will be chasing an “We are deserved favourites doomed. to be there.” Three of his full- “Last year we played a tricky situation because they scored early goal to put Pep Guardiola’s when we play against many oppo- Lucescu has a difficult task backs, Sergei Kryvtsov, Yaroslav game at Wembley in the semi- that famous goal (Ba’s goal) that Bavarian giants under pressure. nents and our own performance keeping his players’ spirits up Rakitskiy and Ivan Ordets, final and we expect that again. meant Paris didn’t reach the But Neuer says the 2013 dictates whether or not we can as they have been forced to relo- missed the Metalist game with We have played Bradford before, semi-finals for the second year Champions League winners have be counted among the top teams,” cate to play in Kiev with Donetsk minor injuries, while Brazilian we know about that,” Wenger in a row. a duty to reach the last eight as Lahm told German magazine affected by the conflict between Alex Teixeira dropped out with said. “But we have to do the same they bid to win a sixth European Kicker. government forces and pro-Rus- food poisoning and is also doubtful “We will be the favourites, but thing as them. If we’re as clinical title. Pep Guardiola’s side are on sia rebels. for the Munich match. AFP we have tricky memories from as Chelsea were, I’ll take it.” “The game simply has to be course to win a third straight “We’re doing our best to keep last year. That was our hardest With PSG’s owners, Qatar won, nothing else comes into Bundesliga title after Saturday’s our players’ spirits up during this Champions League - game in the whole run, so let’s Sports Investments, having taken question for us,” said the 28-year- 3-1 win at Hanover 96 left them period of time, but it not an easy prepare well first. over at the Parc de Princes eight old Neuer. 11 points clear in the league. task,” said the Romanian. Round Of 16 Matches “What’s important is to focus years after Roman Abramovich “We like a situation like this. Shakhtar travel to Munich on “It is very difficult to play a Today (Doha time) now on the Premier League. On first brought his rubles to It’s our duty to progress. To bow the back of a 2-2 draw against championship in these conditions. Chelsea vs Paris SG (agg 1-1) 10:45 Saturday we play West Ham and Stamford Bridge, the French out would be fatal, but we are Metalist Kharkiv in the Ukraine “I would rather focus on what Bayern Munich vs Shakhtar (agg 0-0)10:45 then the Champions League. It’s champions have had to face the thinking positively.” Premier League on Saturday and happens on the pitch: train- March 17 a long way to wait.” barrier of Financial Fair Play The hosts will be without sus- their coach Mircea Lucescu said ing sessions, recoveries, away Atlético Madrid vs Villa secured their place in (FFP), which Chelsea did not pended defensive midfielder Xabi a similar performance would see matches, style of play. Bayer Leverkusen (agg 0-1) 10:45 the semi-finals for the first time have to worry about when Jose Alonso, who was sent off in the them “doomed” at the Allianz “That way, I try to help our Monaco vs Arsenal (agg 3-1) 10:45 since 2010 by seeing off local rivals Mourinho was building the first first leg after a second yellow Arena. players get away from their wor- March 18 West Brom 2-0 in a fiery affair great team of the Abramovich card. Donetsk captain Dario Srna ries and those of their families Barcelona vs Manchester City on Saturday and Tim Sherwood’s era. With Alonso suspended, and forward Luiz Adriano were who are still living in conflict (agg 2-1) 10:45 side will now be waiting to see The FFP sanctions that PSG Austria left-back David Alaba is on target, but Shakhtar conceded zones.” Dortmund vs Juventus (agg 1-2) 10:45 whether Liverpool, hoping to were hit with last year restricted provide a trophy for depart- their close-season transfer activ- ing captain Steven Gerrard, or ity, but they were nonetheless able Blackburn are their opponents to splash out an astonishing 50 for a place in this season’s final. million euros ($54.5 million) to AFP sign David Luiz from Chelsea. The Brazil centre-back aimed a tongue-in-cheek barb English FA Cup at Mourinho earlier this week, responding to a question about Results what made the ‘Special One’ so London: English FA Cup result on Monday special by saying: “But he’s special night: for you, not for me!” Arsenal’s Danny Luiz deputised in defensive Welbeck (second left) Quarter-finals midfield for the first leg, but with shoots to score dur- Manchester United 1 (Rooney 29) Arsenal 2 Thiago Motta fit again after a calf ing the English FA Cup (Monreal 25, Welbeck 61) injury, he is expected to return to quarter-final match Played on Sunday central defence alongside Thiago against Manchester Silva, who was rested against United at Old Trafford Liverpool 0 Blackburn 0 Lens. in Manchester, on On Saturday In Lucas Moura’s absence, Monday night. Pastore has been tipped to get Aston Villa 2 (Delph 51, Sinclair 85) the nod to line up alongside West Brom 0 Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani Bradford 0 Reading 0 -- who cancelled out Branislav Draw for the English Ivanovic’s opener in the first leg -- FA Cup Semi-finals: in Blanc’s three-pronged attack. Only John Mikel Obi is defi- Bradford or Reading vs Arsenal nitely out for Chelsea, with Aston Villa vs Liverpool or Blackburn Nemanja Matic expected to return after a two-match domes- Ties to be played on the tic suspension despite hurting his weekend of April 18/19. ankle during the celebrations that followed the 2-0 League Cup final victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea have had over a week to prepare for the game, having Old boy Welbeck fells Man United in FA Cup not played at the weekend, and centre-back Gary Cahill says they MANCHESTER, United side were drawn to face either now the race for Champions opening goal. Having earlier been and Michael Carrick for Shaw and have left no stone unturned. Kingdom: Danny Welbeck Championship side Reading or League qualification, in which granted the space to put a cross- Ander Herrera, while Oxlade- “We’ve been able to really work claimed revenge for his depar- third-tier Bradford City in the they currently trail Arsenal by shot wide, Oxlade-Chamberlain Chamberlain had to hobble off on specific things in preparation ture from Manchester United last four. a point. wriggled between Daley Blind, five minutes in after appearing to for it,” the England defender, by scoring the winner as hold- “We had to start without “I said in advance that (the top Shaw and Valencia before stab- injure his hamstring, with Aaron whose side hope to reach the last ers Arsenal reached the FA Cup apprehension and play at a high four) is a priority, but as a man- bing a pass to Monreal, who beat Ramsey coming on. eight for the fourth time in five semi-finals with a 2-1 away vic- pace, and we did that well. Danny ager and as a player and club you David de Gea at his near post. There were half-chances for years, told the Chelsea website. tory yesterday. Welbeck, I believe, is just happy to want to win titles and now we United’s fans were quick to both teams, De Gea saving a “We know the quality of PSG The Manchester-born United score. He worked extremely hard cannot win a title,” said Van Gaal. voice their annoyance, but they deflected Alexis Sanchez shot and the job that lies ahead of us. academy graduate, who joined today and deserved his goal.” With Jonny Evans beginning were off their feet just three min- and Di Maria shooting wide, It’s going to be like a final, a big the club at the age of eight, left Welbeck pounced on a mistake a six-game ban for spitting at utes later when Rooney met Di before Valencia’s blunder allowed one-off game, and we’ll be ready in a £16 m ($24.2m, 22.3m euros) by Antonio Valencia to score a Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse, Maria’s right-wing cross with a Welbeck to put Arsenal ahead. to go out there and give it every- deal last September after being 61st-minute winner after Wayne Luke Shaw came into the United fine diving header to claim his United’s supporters have thing we have to get us into the deemed surplus to requirements Rooney had cancelled out Nacho defence, but although that was 14th goal against Arsenal. bemoaned their team’s predilec- next round.” by new manager Louis van Gaal. Monreal’s opener, and United’s the only change to the hosts’ line- Encouraged, United finished tion for back-passes in recent The first leg was overshad- And he returned to haunt his evening ended in ignominy when up, they displayed uncertainty the first half strongly, with visit- weeks and it was from such an owed after mobile phone foot- former club as Arsenal claimed a Angel di Maria was sent off after from the off. ing goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny action that the goal stemmed, age emerged showing a group of first victory at Old Trafford since receiving a second yellow card Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain saving from Rooney, Di Maria and with Welbeck seizing on Valencia’s Chelsea supporters preventing a September 2006. for manhandling referee Michael started on the right for Arsenal, Marouane Fellaini, although Santi under-cooked pass, touching the black Frenchman from boarding “Tonight I thought we played Oliver. with Mesut Ozil in the centre, and Cazorla worked De Gea with a ball past the onrushing De Gea, a Paris Metro train prior to the well and deserved to win the United’s wait for FA Cup suc- in the 26th minute the England free-kick at the other end. and rolling home. game and chanting racist songs. game,” said Arsenal man- cess will now stretch into a 12th midfielder marked his return to United made two changes at There was no muted celebra- AFP ager Arsene Wenger, whose year and their sole objective is the starting XI by creating the half-time, introducing Phil Jones tion either. AFP WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Another Wimbledon Delbonis fires Argentina title is Federer’s goal

NEW YORK: Roger Federer is proud of all his Grand Slam into Davis Cup quarters singles titles, but if the Swiss master could add just one more to his record men’s haul of 17 it Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci loses on fourth day of epic tie would be at Wimbledon. “It would be my favorite choice if I had a choice right now,” BUENOS AIRES: Argentina Federer, 33, told reporters on the reached the Davis Cup quarter- eve of Tuesday’s BNB Parabas finals when Federico Delbonis Showdown exhibition at Madison beat Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 3-6 Square Garden against 23-year- 6-2, 7-5 on the fourth day of an old Grigor Dimitrov. epic tie against Brazil to seal a “I’d love to win Wimbledon. I 3-2 win on Monday. think it’s possible, and I think if I Four-time finalists Argentina win Wimbledon it’s more cool for will meet world number one me personally, and my team and Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, the 2010 Swiss people and my fans.” champions, in another home tie in Another singles title at the All the last eight on July 17-19. England Club would give Federer Argentina hope to have former a record eighth Wimbledon US Open champion Juan Martin crown, breaking his tie with Pete del Potro back in the team if Sampras and W.C. Renshaw of he has recovered from a wrist the late 19th century. injury. It would also make him the Roger Federer speaks during a “Leo’s win yesterday (Sunday) oldest Wimbledon men’s winner, news conference at Essex House allowed me to play today for the eclipsing Arthur Ashe, who was in New York City on Monday. victory. Thanks to the crowd 31 when he won in 1975. for their support,” Delbonis said Federer said he is not con- because Rafa and me, we both are courtside. sumed by a quest to add breath- still playing. It’s not like we’re Argentina had flirted with ing room to his record total with both retired or anything. defeat by their bitter South Rafa Nadal sitting on 14, six “I’m more focused on me than American rivals when they were ahead of world number one Novak on them. I hope to make it more 2-1 down after the doubles and Djokovic, who lost to the Swiss in difficult on them but at the end number one Leonardo Mayer the final at Dubai on Feb. 28. of the day records are there to be needed 11 match points to over- Federer said Nadal could broken.” come Joao Souza in the fourth Argentina’s Federico Delbonis (second from left) celebrates with team captain Daniel Orsanic (left) and team- charge past him, but felt Djokovic Federer, whose last grand rubber which lasted a competi- mates Juan Martin Del Potro (second from right) and Carlos Berlocq after defeating Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci in was a longshot. slam triumph came at the 2012 tion singles record six hours and a Davis Cup World Group first round match in Villa Martelli, Buenos Aires, on Monday. “Who knows? Rafa has the best Wimbledon, made it clear that 42 minutes on Sunday. shot if he wins the French Open a setting the all-time record meant Delbonis reached his first The Argentine number two and Bellucci’s higher number of cheered every Delbonis point and few more times and if I don’t win a great deal to him. match point after a Bellucci drive carried a first set lead into unforced errors, especially when launching into soccer style chants anymore he can catch me quickly. “I was very happy to get the landed over the baseline after Monday’s extra day on the at the net, saw him through to at every interval. “I guess Novak is still a long grand slam record at Wimbledon one of the many long rallies in a purpose built claycourt at the victory. Brazil, who reached the World shot but it really depends on how in 2009,” he said about surpass- tense final rubber which began on Tecnopolis exhibition centre on With a colourful group of Group when they beat Spain in dominant his next years are going ing Sampras’s total of 14. “It was Sunday. the city outskirts. Brazilian fans no longer in Buenos last year’s promotion-relegation to be,” said Federer, whose wife a dream come true and it was a He sealed the win with a fine Delbonis lost the second set but Aires on Monday, the court was round, will looking to retain their and two sets of twins travel with huge motivation to get to that drive down the line out of the his greater accuracy with drives packed full of Argentine support status in the same playoffs later him around the globe. after Pete had set that record.” Brazilian’s reach. and backhands from the baseline that unsettled Bellucci, loudly this year. AFP “They have to be very dominant REUTERS Mauresmo among three elected to Hall of Fame

NEWPORT, USA: Former for years to come. We look for- Bartoli during her run to the 2013 1996, 2000 and 2004. His career world number one Amelie ward to celebrating their many Wimbledon title. singles record before retiring in Mauresmo of France, Australian accomplishments.” “I’m honored and humbled to be 2006 was 632-111. wheelchair star David Hall and Mauresmo won the 2006 selected,” Mauresmo said. “Tennis “I feel so honored and thank- industry leader Nancy Jeffert Wimbledon and Australian has been my passion for as long ful that I am going to be inducted were announced on Monday Open titles, each time defeating as I can remember. I extend my into the International Tennis Hall as 2015 inductees into the Justine Henin in the final. She gratitude to the selection com- of Fame,” Hall said. International Tennis Hall of also made a remarkable run to mittee for recognizing my career “I’m sure the ceremony will be Fame. the 1999 Australian Open final as in this way. It’s an extraordinary a very emotional moment for me. The trio will be enshrined July an unseeded player, ousting world honor to have my career cel- Tennis has taken me further than 18 during a ceremony at an ATP number one Lindsay Davenport ebrated alongside the greatest I ever imagined and I can’t wait grasscourt tournament outside and two other seeds on the way. champions of our sport, people to get to Newport to share this the Hall of Fame in Newport, The 35-year-old Frenchwoman, who I have admired so greatly all wonderful honor with my family Rhode Island, after receiving at who spent 39 weeks on top of the my life.” and friends.” least 75 percent support from a rankings, was the Olympic wom- Hall, a six-time Paralympic Jeffett was elected in the Hall selection committee. en’s runner-up in 2004 at Athens. medallist, is the fourth contributor category in recog- “Amelie and David were both She won 35 WTA titles and went wheelchair tennis player inducted nition of her commitment to inspiring and highly accomplished 545-227 for her career before into the Hall of Fame and it fol- the sport’s development at the competitors on the professional retiring in 2009. lows his induction earlier this junior and women’s professional tours,” Hall of Fame president Mauresmo is now a coach, year into his homeland’s Hall of levels. Stan Smith said. counting Britain’s Andy Murray Fame. “I’ve loved every minute of “Nancy’s commitment to tennis among her charges, and has Hall, 45, from Sydney, lost his working to grow the sport,” Jeffett has been integral to the growth helped guide others, notably legs after being struck by a car at said. “I’m incredibly honored and Former French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo. of the sport and will leave a per- former world number one Victoria age 16. He won Paralympic Games humbled to have my commitment manent positive impact on tennis Azarenka and compatriot Marion singles and doubles gold medals in to tennis recognised.” AFP

Ronaldo sets UAE promises new stadium, new European Lekhwiya, Al Sadd fans for 2019 Asian Cup goals record settle for draws PARIS: Cristiano Ronaldo SINGAPORE: The United task in following Australia where Al Serkal said UAE would con- (pictured) scored twice for Real DOHA: QSL leaders Lekhwiya consolidated their grip on the Arab Emirates promised a fit- the total attendance soared to tinue to invest in its team as it Madrid in the first half of their and second-placed Al Sadd both title after Sebastian Soria and ting spectacle complete with 650,000 and games sold out in all seeks to match Australia by win- Champions League last 16, sec- squandered two-goal leads and Mohamed Razaq had given them a glittering new stadium and five host cities. ning the Asian Cup for the first ond leg, match against Schalke had to settle for draws against a two-goal cushion by the time the plenty of fans yesterday after But Al Serkal said UAE drew time on home soil. yesterday to set a new record Al Wakrah and Al Sailiya match was 35 minutes old. winning hosting rights for the fans in 1996, when it first hosted “I’m sure from now until then for goals in European competi- respectively in the Qatar Stars But after Ahmed Kaheel had 2019 Asian Cup. the Asian Cup, and that it suc- the team will not just remain tion with 78. League yesterday. pulled one back in the 39th minute UAE Football Association cessfully held both the 2003 U20 as it is with the same players,” he Ronaldo’s A 92nd minute penalty con- and Lekhwiya had missed quite a chief Yousuf Al Serkal said the World Cup and the 2013 U17 said. header in ceded by Lekhwiya proved their few chances in the second half, Gulf state could host the regional World Cup. “The majority of players will the 25th undoing as Mouchine Moutouali the holders saw their campaign showpiece “next week” if it had to, “We managed to fill the sta- remain but we’re investing in this minute scored from the spot to give base- suffer a hiccup when Mohamed but that it planned to build a new diums on that occasion (1996), I team regardless of whether we’re from a cor- ment side Al Wakrah an unlikely Abdullah handled the ball while venue in Dubai. think we can do the same (again),” hosting the Asian Cup or not.” ner by Tony 2-2 draw. trying to thwart a dangerous situ- Games will be played in Dubai, he said. “It will not be a problem.” Whether UAE can win the Kroos can- Sadd had led 2-0 courtesy an ation in second-half injury-time. Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and possibly He added: “If we needed to tournament or not, the Asian Cup celled out impressive free-kick by Hasan Al Moutouali, who took the shot, Sharjah, in an event which comes host the competition starting will shine a light on football in the an opener Haydos and a volley from just out- easily beat the Lekhwiya goal- just three years before neighbour- next week we could still host it Middle East, which has lagged for the side penalty area by Yusef Ahmed keeper to give them their fifth ing Qatar hosts the 2022 World successfully. advances elsewhere in Asia and Germans by but a timely header by Issam draw as they struggle to avoid Cup. “The infrastructure is there, we further afield. Christian Jemaa ensured Sailiya went into relegation. But Al Serkal said the UAE, have enough stadiums, we have That spotlight will intensify Fuchs five the break on a high. There was no doubt about whose national team finished an enough facilities, training fields. three years later when Qatar, minutes Twenty minutes into the sec- Lekhwiya’s superiority, though. impressive third at this year’s Everything is there.” knocked out of the Asian Cup at earlier and ond half Abdulrahman Al Hurazzi They stamped their class on Asian Cup in Australia, had no The wealthy state also has the group stage, host the globe’s equalled the record of 77, held by scored the leveller and neither of the match quite early and were plans to bid for a World Cup of some of Asia’s most exciting best teams at the World Cup. former Real striker Raul. the teams was able to break the rewarded in the fifth minute its own. young players including dazzling “The (Asian Cup) can do a After Klaas Jan Huntelaar had deadlock. through a simple header by Soria “Now that Qatar is hosting in midfielder Omar Abdulrahman lot for our local football to start restoreed Schalke’s lead, Ronaldo With yesterday’s draw Sailiya who nodded the ball in off a cross 2022, it will be a long period of and Ali Mabkhout, the with... and of course it will have equalised for a second time just moved up a spot to eighth position. by Korean Nam Tae-hee. time to rotate and come back to Asian Cup’s top-scorer with five some effect on the Middle East,” before the break, with his 78th Al Wakrah are placed 13th in Lekhwiya’s second goal, how- this part of the world,” he said in goals. said Serkal. European goal in all. the 14-team tournament with just ever, came in a slightly dramatic a phone interview. Free-flowing UAE beat Qatar “It attracts a lot of viewers and It also took him to a Champions 17 points from 21 matches, with fashion. Wakrah goalkeeper “We will leave it to the coming and Bahrain, and then ousted spectators and also it will encour- League total of 75, equalling the Al Shamal languishing at the bot- Hassan Idriss Dicko failed to grab generation.” defending champions Japan in age a lot of our local young gen- record held by his Barcelona tom on just seven from 20 games. a routine shot cleanly in the 35th UAE, chosen ahead of Iran by the quarter-finals before losing eration to focus on football and arch-rival Lionel Messi. Lekhwiya, who were four clear minute and Razaq stabbed the the Asian Football Confederation’s in the semis to eventual winners give more attention to the game.” Real won the first leg in of Sadd before yesterday’s match ball comfortably home. executive committee, has a tough Australia. AFP Gelsenkirchen 2-0. AFP with 48 points, appeared to have THE PENINSULA Wednesday 11 March 2015 20 Jumada I 1436 Volume 20 Number 6366 Sport Price: QR2

India sweep to Delbonis seals untroubled win Argentina over Ireland victory

Sport | 25 Sport | 27

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 French sports stars killed in Argentina copter crash Olympic swimmer, boxer and world-famous sailor among the dead Qatar Stars League Chief Executive Hani Taleb Ballan BUENOS AIRES/PARIS: France was plunged into mourn- ing yesterday after three well- known sports stars, including Strong league an Olympic champion swimmer and one of the world’s best sail- to fuel Qatar’s ors, died in a helicopter crash in Argentina while filming a real- Asia ambition, ity TV show. The athletes were among 10 people killed when two helicopters says chief collided in a remote region of the South American nation. DUBAI: Qatar’s football league Investigators removed the bod- chief hopes a close alliance with ies of Olympic swimmer Camille the national team can help the Muffat, yachtswoman Florence country improve its interna- Arthaud and boxer Alexis Vastine tional performance following a from the charred wreckage of the disappointing Asian Cup this two aircraft, but said it was still year. unclear what caused the accident The energy exporter is the on Monday afternoon in the rug- world’s richest country per ged western province of La Rioja. capita and has used its dizzying There were no survivors. A TV grab shows the moment of the crash between the two helicopters in Villa Castelli, in La Rioja Province of Argentina, on Monday evening. RIGHT: wealth to become a major force Amateur footage taken from The blazing wreckage of one of the helicopters. in soccer. the ground showed the two heli- Qatar will host the 2022 copters flying in tandem at low World Cup, its riches have pro- altitude when one appears to pelled Paris Saint Germain into deviate into the path of the other. Europe’s club elite and broad- Both helicopters then plunge to caster BeIn Sports has bought the the ground. rights to many of soccer’s major A second video showed dozens competitions. of people rushing through the Less than a fifth of the 2.3m heavy undergrowth toward the population are thought to be helicopters’ burning wreckage. locals and Qatar’s FIFA world The accident occurred around ranking of 109 reflects its toils at 5.15 pm local time (2015 GMT) January’s Asian Cup. on Monday. “It’s very important for us to “The sudden death of our fel- become a consistent football force low French nationals is a cause in Asia, which we’re really striv- of immense sadness,” French ing to be,” Qatar Stars League President Francois Hollande’s Chief Executive Hani Taleb Ballan office said in a statement. said. As part of the show, other “Until now we haven’t achieved contestants were standing that, so it’s normal to see us some- blindfolded on the ground a times lose. We as a league should few hundred meters from the be a strong tool to support the helicopters’ flight path, French national team.” media reported. They ran to the Ballan said Qatar’s aim was to crash site but could not extin- Men recover debris from the wreckage of the helicopters. RIGHT: People pay tribute to Olympic gold medallist swimmer Camille Muffat in her home be among Asia’s top four from its guish the fire, an assistant to the town of Nice yesterday. current 13th position. contestants told French broad- He hopes the league’s innova- caster RFI. or something else was to blame. a 1990 record for the fastest using their skills to find their way 2011, when she fell off her boat tions can support that ambition, A magistrate judge at the France’s BEA investigation solitary crossing of that body of back to civilization. into the Mediterranean. Rescuers with all 11 starters in Qatar’s final site said all 10 bodies had been office said in a statement yester- water. The collision was the second whisked her out after she called Asian Cup group match playing retrieved from the helicopters’ day it had dispatched two inves- TF1 issued a statement express- time in two years that a reality her mother by mobile phone. for domestic teams. Six of those mangled ruins and were being tigators to Argentina to gather ing solidarity with the victims’ show produced by ALP for TF1 Muffat, 25, won 400m freestyle were foreign-born. taken to a morgue in the provin- evidence on the crash. families. French media said film- had been hit by tragedy. gold at the 2012 London Olympics. The league claims to be the only cial capital. “The whole of French sport is ing had been suspended and the In April 2013 the doctor Vastine, 28, won bronze at the domestic competition to provide Two pilots and several mem- in mourning because we have lost crew and other contestants were charged with looking after con- Beijing 2008 Olympics. free Prozone performance analy- bers of the ALP-TV production three huge champions,” Thierry heading back to France. testants in the long-running Koh- “I am sad for my friends, I’m sis to clubs, while club licences company involved in filming the Braillard, junior minister for “We have no details on the Lanta endurance show committed shaking, I’m horrified, I can’t require them to have at least four adventure show Dropped for pri- sports, town and youth affairs, exact circumstances at the suicide after one of the competi- find the words,” tweeted Sylvain youth teams, a reserve team and vate TV station TF1 were among told RTL radio. moment,” TF1 Chief Executive tors died following one of the Wiltord, an ex-footballer for highly-trained coaches. the dead, officials said. “Florence Arthaud — we all Nonce Paolini said. “All I can say tests, complaining of heart pains. English Premier League club “We’re trying to improve the A spokesman for Argentina’s knew her as the ‘Fiancee of the at the moment is that we are in a Arthaud, 57, was one of the first Arsenal and a fellow cast member. professionalism by supporting Air Accident Investigation Board Atlantic’,” he said, referring to state of complete shock.” women to carve a place for herself Both pilots were military- clubs technically,” said Ballan. said it was too early to determine a nickname she earned through Dropped involves contestants in the top levels of sailing. trained, according to Argentine “Coaching is quite independent, if human error, mechanical failure many daring voyages, including being left in the wilderness and She had a brush with death in daily La Nacion. REUTERS but we can control certification of coaching.” Qatar qualified for FIFA’s 2015 under-20 World Cup after win- A look at the three athletes who died in the crash ning last year’s Asian under-19 championship and Ballan hopes FLORENCE ARTHAUD And her shock announcement the bulk of this side will be turn- Florence Arthaud was one of last year that she was going to ing out in 2022. the world’s finest, bravest and retire at the tender age of 24, “It’s a good team ... there are most outspoken sailors, having exhausted by long hours of pool players in the under-17 team with succeeding in conquering what training, propelled her further very good potential and a mixture had been seen as a strictly male- into the spotlight. of the two will be a great combi- dominated sport. Tall with long, auburn hair, nation,” he said. A household name in France Muffat’s exploits in London made Qatar’s clubs have struggled in where competitive sailors are her a superstar back home. the Asian Champions League. Al held in the highest esteem, she ALEXIS VASTINE Sadd lifted the trophy in 2011, but was known for speaking her mind Vastine’s lifelong goal had the country’s clubs have reached and for her love of freedom and always been to win Olympic the quarter-finals just twice this adventure, criss-crossing the gold in the ring, and his tears decade. globe from the 1970s along with FROM LEFT: French champion sailor Florence Arthaud, Olympic gold medallist swimmer Camille Muffat and and emotion after failing to do After two games of this year’s her generation of intrepid sail- Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine. so moved the French sporting competition, Lekhwiya lie bot- ors. Her inspiration was the leg- world. tom of Group A, while Al Sadd endary Breton yachtsman Eric her countless trophies including CAMILLE MUFFAT least three medals at the London The 28-year-old took a bronze top Group C on four points. Tabarly. the prestigious Route du Rhum She was just 25, but already Olympics, including a gold in the medal in Beijing at light-welter- “I’m very optimistic Al Sadd Arthaud’s sheer determination solo trans-Atlantic race in a 1990 had a long list of swimming 400m freestyle and silver in the weight in 2008 and lost in the and Lekhwiya will qualify for the and navigational skills brought watershed for the sport. achievements to her name, not 200m freestyle. quarter-finals in London. AFP next round,” added Ballan. REUTERS