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Education is becoming US is expected to Qatar will stage another expensive due to attract an estimated international sporting increasing tuition and over $35bn worth of competition— the FIFA other fees. Its cost rose investments from Qatar Beach Soccer World 11.4pc in past two years. over the next five years. Cup Asian Qualifiers.

THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 • 30 Rabial II 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6346 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Sheikha Moza with young innovators Emir leaves for Emir signs Japan today DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will begin an offi- law on wage cial visit to Japan today, during which he will meet with Emperor Akihito. The Emir will also hold talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe protection and other senior officials on bilateral relations. QNA Six months time for implementation

DOHA: As part of a promised QE to list first of labour market reform, Qatar yesterday issued a law making four investment it mandatory for private com- panies to pay all their workers funds soon their wages through electronic Company owners transfer system. not transferring DOHA: The Qatari bourse is The law is to be published in all set to list one of the four the official gazette and only after workers’ wages planned investment funds soon. which it is to be implemented. electronically in “We are just waiting for the nec- The implementation is expected time will be liable essary approval from the authori- soon. ties concerned to list the fund,” the Companies will be given a grace to a jail term not CEO of Qatar Exchange (QE) said. period of six months to apply the exceeding a month Rashid Al Mansoori told Al Sharq new mode of workers’ salary pay- the approval process for listing ments, popularly known as the or a fine of QR2,000 the second fund is also on. “The Wage Protection System (WPS). ($549.2) to QR6,000 remaining two proposed funds are However, the Minister for ($1,647.6) or both. H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser and H R H Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco speak to young innovators at the under study,” he said. One of the Labour and Social Affairs will innovation gallery of the World Innovation Summit for Health 2015. Reports on page 4 four funds is Al Rayan Islamic, have the authority under the new while another one will be bonds- law to extend this grace period to based. In other words, it will be another six months or more. to face a jail term not exceed- invested primarily in bonds and The law (Number 1 of 2015) ing a month or a fine of QR2,000 other debt instruments. amends some provisions of the ($549.2) to QR6,000 ($1,647.6) or Investment funds are col- Law Number 14 of 2004, known both. No rift with Egypt, says FM lective investment schemes in as the labor law. The new legis- The Minister for Labor and which both big and small inves- lation was issued by the Emir H Social Affairs has been asked tors could pool in their money/ H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al by the law to frame and enforce DOHA: The Minister of Mohammed Mursi was spying for foreign minister said it is an inde- savings through subscriptions for Thani yesterday, reports Qatar executive regulations to help Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid Qatar a ‘disaster’. pendent TV channel and no one long-term capital gains or regular News Agency (QNA). implement its provisions. Mohamed Al Attiyah said there Al Attiyah was speaking to is forced to watch. He said this in income. Details of the four funds Needless to say that until the It is hoped that these regula- is no dispute between Doha and Saudi Arabian newspaper Al reference to those who are criticis- are yet to emerge. Al Mansoori new law has been brought into tions will talk in detail about Cairo that requires reconcilia- Sharq Al Awsat. ing the channel. said several new companies would effect provisions of the existing which financial institutions shall tion. “Qatar always hopes well- In another interview with Answering a question, Al be listed on the QE this year. A legislation (Number 14 of 2004) be made part of the WPS and to ness and good for Egypt and its Al Hayat Arabic daily based in Attiyah said the reason for the number of companies have applied will apply. From the provisions of what extent, and commission to people,” he said. London, Al Attiyah confirmed that imprisonment of Qatari poet Ibn for listing and their requests are the new law it is clear that not be paid for their services, among The minister described the the World Cup 2022 will be held Al Zayeb had nothing to do with being looked into by the regulator. only banks but also other finan- other things. charge former Egyptian president in Qatar. Regarding Aljazeera, the his views. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA cial institutions such as exchange The regulations, also known as houses will be brought within the bye-laws, are expected to specify network of the WPS. the deadline by which companies Actually, the new law incor- must pay the wages and allow- INSIDE porates amendments only of two ances due to their workers. main articles of the previous law The law suggests that not only Page 09 (Articles 66 and 145). Article 66 wages but all types of payments, talks of wage payments to com- including allowances and perks, pany workers. must be paid to workers only Between violence The amended portion says the electronically. and peaceful wage must be transferred into a The labor ministry said earlier worker’s account with one of the that this will allow it to create change financial institutions in the coun- a national database that would By Dr Shafiq Al try “within a specified period”. record wage payments in the pri- Ghabra Article 145 of the previous law vate sector and guarantee timely which stipulates punishments for and full payment to workers their Will Arabs unite not complying with its provisions agreed-upon wages. The WPS, or fragment? has almost been retained. once in force, will end workers’ It says company owners not woes regarding delayed or non- By Dr Shamlan transferring workers’ wages elec- payment of their wages and perks. Yousef Al Issa tronically in time will be liable THE PENINSULA Qatar 2022 in Nov-Dec: Report NEW YORK: Staging the 2022 Qatar World World Cup in the host nation as a test run for Cup in November and December to avoid blazing the globall football showdown. In December, the summer heat is “a done deal,” Sports Illustrated European Clubs Association and European reported on its website yesterday. Citing Professional Football Leagues indicated multiple sources, the magazine’s report a strong preference for playing the 2022 said the decision has been made, World Cup from May to June. saying a FIFA task force will make Just last week, FIFA extended the US the November-December timing media rights to the World Cup for four recommendation next week at a years through 2026 with Fox and NBC meeting in Doha and FIFA’s exec- Universal-owned Spanish language utive committee will finalize the network Telemundo. The move came plan when it meets next month in without opening the events up for Zurich. bidding, a shock especially given the Just three weeks ago, FIFA general United States might bid for the 2026 secretary Jerome Valcke told France- World Cup. Info radio the World Cup in Qatar At the time, there was specula- should be staged in winter but clash- tion the move was a sign that the ing with the 2022 Winter Olympics in 2022 World Cup would move to February was also a concern. the winter, a major hit for North The report said the current plan was American rights-holders given the to impact only one European club season, more filled TV sports landscape with clubs hoping to trim in a November-December some international time frame compared to match dates to achieve, the usual June-July sched- but there was no firm uling. Giving rights-holders plan regarding the another World Cup could FIFA Confederations make up for financial losses Cup, typically staged a change in timing could the year before the bring. AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Emir appoints envoy to Italy Permit for use of construction DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued an Emiri Decree, appointing Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Maliki Al Juhani as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy. materials could be mandatory Deputy Emir meets Shell CEO

DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani Cabinet approves rules for beneficiaries to access subsidised food, fodder yesterday met Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden and his delegation at his Emiri Diwan Office yesterday. DOHA: Individuals and com- it for extracting or dealing in or or export of and dealing in any permission from the concerned They discussed cooperation on issues of mutual interest and ways panies may soon need a per- using the materials. other way in food items and fod- department,” says the draft law. of enhancing it. mit from the Ministry of A construction industry source der subsidised for sale to citizens. According to sources, the Separately, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Environment to extract, trans- told this newspaper that the move The draft law includes terms draft focuses on high quality Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani met Ben van Beurden fer or use sand, soil or stones would make construction materi- and conditions for beneficiaries and expensive food items like and his delegation and reviewed cooperation. and their derivatives for con- als more expensive and increase of state subsidy to access these rice, butter, sugar and edible oil, struction, paving or land-filling. construction costs. items and for outlets that would among others, made available to A draft law to make the per- He said sand is in short supply be issued permit to sell them. nationals at highly subsidised FM gets phone call from Fabius mit mandatory has been prepared and only bigger projects are able No one who doesn’t hold a prices. and the Cabinet yesterday took to access it easily. permit to buy or sell these items Sometimes these items land DOHA: Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah measures to issue it. He, however, agreed that could possess, carry, or deal in in in smaller restaurants for use in yesterday received a telephone call from his French counterpart The draft seeks to amend extraction and sale of the mate- any way or transfer them. preparing dishes. Once the law Laurent Fabius. They discussed latest developments in Libya and some provisions of Law No 3 rials would be regulated once the The products can’t be comes into force, such practices ways to achieve stability there. QNA of 2007 regulating the use of new law is put into force. exchanged, hoarded, hidden or would be punishable. natural resources like sand, Prime Minister and Interior thrown away. The draft law, The Cabinet also looked into soil and stones. The draft has Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah according to Qatar News Agency, a draft decision of the Minister incorporated Advisory Council’s bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani bars these items from being taken of Environment about organic recommendations. chaired the weekly Cabinet ses- out of the country. farming and amendment of a GCC portal for common The ministry is expected to sion at Emiri Diwan. “No one is allowed to use decision regarding some admin- issue a decision, detailing terms The Cabinet approved a draft them or part of them to pro- istrative units of the ministry. services, link next month and conditions for a permit from law that focuses on sale, transfer duce another product without THE PENINSULA

DOHA: The Executive Services to be available on the Committee for e-Government portal are those provided by the Push for more private sector participation of GCC will launch a portal for Ministry of Interior, Ministry of common services of member Education, Ministry of Health DOHA: Qatar is amending sev- ministerial groups yesterday. and provision of services. He said the group is keen to countries and set up a link to and Ministry of Environment. eral laws to pave the way for One group is to take care of The Minister of Economy and maintain efficiency in imple- connect them by next month. Authorities will coordinate to greater participation of private strategic development projects Commerce, also Chairman of the menting projects within approved An initial list of services to be provide services on the portal and players in areas like health, and another to ensure greater group to stimulate private sector budgets. included in the portal and latest later services will be updated and education, manufacturing and participation of private players in participation in economic devel- The Premier stressed the developments on the link were more be added. logistic services, including health, education, manufacturing opment projects, made a presen- need for a clear mechanism to discussed in a meeting in Doha GCC citizens and expatriates warehousing facilities. and logistics. The third is on allo- tation on the outcome of his group deal with any delays that might yesterday, Qatar News Agency can avail themselves of services The Ministry of Economy and cation and development of new and the action plan. increase the cost of a project. (QNA) reports. on the portal like customs, those Commerce is working on the plan land for housing, commercial and He said the plan includes The Minister of Municipality The project aims to exchange related to setting up business and and making sure that laws are industrial activities. amending laws to allow greater and Urban Planning and information and provide common companies, tenders, said Ali bin changed to ensure increasing par- The group for development contribution of the private sec- Chairman of the group tasked services, said Hasan Al Shayad, Saleh Al Suma, Director-General ticipation of private companies. projects is also tasked with con- tor in sectors, including health, with allocating and developing Assistant Secretary-General for of e-Services in Saudi Arabia. The Minister of Economy and trolling price rise and inflation. education, manufacturing, ware- land for various purposes, spoke e-Government Programme at Services of the Traffic Commerce is expected to discuss The three groups were set up by housing and logistics. on the group’ outcome in terms the Ministry of Information and Department and transportation proposed amendments and plans the Premier last month, reports The Minister of Finance and of the budget for land, size and Technology. will be also available on the portal, to bolster the private sector’s role Qatar News Agency (QNA). Chairman of the group for coor- number of plots and space allo- The project is scheduled to be he added. in the economy with the sector’s They were formed following dination and follow-up on projects cated for various activities. launched in the ministerial meet- Experiences of Qatar, Kuwait representatives soon. directives of Emir H H Sheikh of strategic importance, submit- The Premier asked the ing of e-Government of GCC in and Saudi Arabia in this regard He was yesterday asked to Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to ted a report on the work of the Minister to arrange meetings March in Doha, he added. were also discussed. The three meet private sector representa- complete major projects related group, the size and number of with real estate development The link is ready, infrastruc- countries have such a link, said tives by Prime Minister and to economic development, stimu- current and future projects and companies to review the coun- ture has been mobilised and nec- Abdullatif Al Sari, Head, IT Interior Minister H E Sheikh late private sector participation in means of following up on their try’s urban development plans essary legal procedures are being Section, Kuwait. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa economic development projects, implementation in terms of dura- and make them public. made to launch the project. THE PENINSULA Al Thani at a meeting of the three fight inflation and rising prices tion and budgets. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Education cost rose Abandoned vehicles removed 11.4pc in two years BY YASIN ABU TAQIU DOHA: Dozens of vehicles DOHA: Education is becoming a category) is now 12 instead of abandoned by their owners expensive in Qatar due to con- eight. have been towed away as part stantly increasing tuition and And the weight of all these of an ongoing campaign by the other fees. categories has been readjusted Ministry of Municipality and Its cost rose 11.4 percent in the in the new CPI basket. CPI Urban Planning to improve the past two years, reveal compari- measures changes in the prices surroundings and avoid envi- sons of data for last January and of goods and services to track ronmental problems. those for 2013. consumer price inflation. Most cars had been removed However, the maximum In the new basket, the from residential areas, according increase in prices since 2013 has weight of ‘rent, fuel and energy’ to a ministry spokesman. He said been in tobacco products, includ- (rephrased as ‘housing, water, in Al Zaayen, inspectors from the ing cigarettes. electricity, gas) has been lowered Department of Services Affairs ‘House rents, water, electric- to 21.89 percent from 32.1. and Public Hygiene removed ity and gas’ rank third in terms Earlier the rental component 15 vehicles from areas Lusail, of price rise (8.2 percent), con- included an amount representing Samisma and Lahbeeb. sumer price index (CPI) for an assumed value for the owner- Al Rayyan Municipality also January 2015 shows. occupied housing unit. removed 63 vehicles from its area Transport as a separate The weight of ‘recreation and recently. Most were found in Al expense overhead became 5.3 culture’ has gone up to 12.7 per- Karaana. Civic inspectors con- percent expensive, while fur- cent in the new CPI basket from ducted about 92 visits and issued nishing and household appliances 4.1 percent since the category 45 fines. have become 4.8 percent costlier includes expenses incurred on Residents in some areas wel- since 2013. foreign travel and leisure. comed the campaign, saying it was CPI data released by the Eating out is another category helping free much-needed park- Ministry of Development whose weight has been increased ing spaces. Hameed Mohammed, Planning and Statistics for last in the new basket — from 3.7 per- a 30-year-old Egyptian, said: “I January reflect that overall infla- cent to 6.1. live in old Airport Area. You can Vehicles being towed away by municipality workers in Al Karaana. tion since 2013 was 3.4 percent. According to the weights hardly get parking after 9pm and The ministry has rebased CPI assigned, families spend more half of these cars have been there from 2007 to 2013 as it does it on recreation than on food and for more than a month.” only his first name and leaving we don’t find them removed when buildings, schools, on streets and every five years. beverages. But some vehicles got dirty and for his annual 30-day holiday we return?” in parks. They have also removed The number of expense cat- And nearly as much as half looked abandoned on the streets next month, the campaign poses Municipalities have also been 16 million gallons of sewage waste. egories for which consumer price the money a household spends after their owners left on annual a problem. “Can authorities tell carrying public health campaigns Civic teams also cleaned beaches indices have been issued (for on food a month is spent on eat- vacation which lasted more than us where it’s safe to leave our and have conducted 1,239 visits to and coastal areas in Umm Al Maa, example, food and beverages as ing out. THE PENINSULA a month. cars or how we can wash them Al Zaayen to combat insects and Madinat Al Shamal and Mumtada. For Zaid, a Pakistani who gave while we are on vacation so that rodents in homes, government THE PENINSULA

Tips for driving school students from traffic officials Workshop on diabetes strategy today DOHA: Driving school workshop for driving department in raising innovative programmes DOHA: The Supreme University, Weill Cornell Studies have been con- students will soon get school representatives traffic safety awareness for the 31st GCC Traffic Council of Health (SCH) will Medical College in Qatar, the ducted under the project on tips from traffic officials held by the department. among new drivers. For Week that will begin at today organise a workshop Supreme Education Council how to reduce the burden of on road safety and rules. It focused on the role of instance, officers inves- Darb Al Saee celebra- on the national strategy for and the Ministry of Interior the disease on the patient and Officers from various driving schools in reduc- tigating accidents will tion ground in Al Sadd on fighting diabetes, at Four will attend. society. sections of the Traffic ing accidents and sought highlight major causes March 14. Seasons Hotel. Dr Sheikha Al Anoud The workshop is the first Department are expected participants’ views and of accidents and how Visitors will get free Representatives from Al Thani, Director, Health step towards prioritising the to visit all driving schools suggestions. they can be prevented. driving lessons and will the SCH, Hamad Medical Promotion and Non- focus areas of the strategy and to directly communicate “We have an agreement Others from the depart- be able to participate in Corporation, Primary Communicable Diseases, SCH, setting a work plan to deal with trainees, a senior with the department to ment will talk about traf- competitions and other Healthcare Corporation, and Chairman of the national with cases. It will also high- official of a driving school implement the decision,” fic rules, violations and fun-filled activities, with National Health Insurance committee for combating dia- light the importance of mod- disclosed yesterday. said the official. punishments. chances to win attractive Scheme (Seha), Sidra Medical betes, said the strategy aims ern technology in treatment The proposal was The idea is to involve Meanwhile, the depart- prizes. and Research Center, Qatar to reduce the prevalence of and diagnosis of diabetes. discussed in a recent various segments of the ment has come out with THE PENINSULA Diabetes Association, Qatar diabetes by raising awareness. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Call for global efforts to fight health threats WISH 2015 ends with reports on healthcare issues

BY FAZEENA SALEEM discussion on ‘Global diffusion bin Khalid Al Qahtani and other of healthcare innovation/leading dignitaries. DOHA: Policymakers and health systems network’. Professor Lord Darzi of experts from around the world The two-day summit at Qatar Denham, Executive Chair of were urged yesterday to imple- National Convention Centre WISH, shared the summit’s ment new and more efficient under the theme ‘A healthier achievements and goals. methods to cope with grow- world through global collabora- “There is a clear need for radi- ing health threats as World tion’ saw around 1,000 delegates, cal innovation and urgent action Innovation Summit for Health including 28 health ministers, in the face of increasing global (WISH 2015) ended in the pres- from more than 80 countries. health threats. ence of H H Sheikha Moza bint WISH 2015 addressed issues, “WISH succeeds in bringing Nasser. including affordable cancer care, these two needs together — pro- The summit published research maternal and newborn health and viding evidence-based, innovative reports on pressing healthcare communicating complex health solutions and sharing them with and showcased 25 innovative find- messages. policy experts and national agen- ings to offer new, cheaper, easier Three panels discussions were cies able to implement them.” and more effective healthcare in held. One on the challenge of “Over the past two days we matters such as cleft palate treat- maternal and newborn health, have seen the best minds in ment, hearing aids, prosthetics held in partnership with the healthcare join together to help H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the closing session of World Innovation Summit for Health 2015 yesterday. and cataract treatment. Gates Foundation, another on shape and inform the most effec- Sheikha Moza visited WISH the threat of Ebola and control- tive solutions for countries around innovation gallery and met young ling infectious diseases and the the world. adopt the best practices which it learning from WISH. We review in healthcare innovation. It is innovators, including those behind third on genomics and the future “This dedication to collabo- has learnt at the summit to fur- all WISH recommendations and now a global healthcare com- Hamad Medical Corporation’s of personalised medicine. ration is what makes WISH so ther improve healthcare services. see what can be implemented.” munity dedicated to capturing ‘How Was Your Visit’ app-based The closing session discussed unique and is what, I believe, will However, Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, WISH was established in and disseminating the best evi- patient experience survey, which ‘The changing pattern of infec- allow us to make such an impor- Managing Director, Hamad 2013 under the guidance of dence-based ideas and practices is helping improve healthcare tious diseases: a global healthcare tant impact on the future of glo- Medical Corporation, told a press H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, for the benefit of populations services. crisis’ in the presence of Minister bal health,” he said. conference earlier yesterday: Chairperson, Qatar Foundation, everywhere. Earlier, she attended a panel of Public Health H E Abdullah Lord Darzi called on Qatar to “We have implemented a lot of to promote greater collaboration THE PENINSULA 25 ground-breaking initiatives unveiled

DOHA: Twenty-five ground- WISH 2015 provided the innova- breaking initiatives were unveiled tors with a platform to display and as the world’s healthcare elite were discuss their works with 1,000 of introduced to next generation leading experts and decisionmakers. global game-changers at the sec- Through the Innovation ond World Innovation Summit for Showcases, delegates experienced Health (WISH). new approaches to issues, includ- From virtual surgery simulators to ing clinical training; design and 3D printed prosthetics, the experts sustainability; disease diagnosis and spent the past two days in Doha, dis- management; intravenous technol- covering 20 new initiatives. ogy; rehabilitation therapy; ocular The WISH Innovation Showcases health; maternity; road traffic acci- represent some of the most promising dents; reconstructive surgery; blood developments in future healthcare, donation; critical care and ambu- ranging from practical, low-cost, lance service access; and the role of Professor Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair, WISH, speaks at the closing session yesterday. devices to tech-based and design-led microfinance in developing health- solutions. care systems. and thought leaders aged 30 or promise to transform health- a chance to present ideas to our global community. Following a worldwide search for Qatar Foundation’s Your Health less, who represented the next care delivery. WISH’s global healthcare “We can learn a lot from innovation, each project was chosen First initiative was on hand to show generation of healthcare inno- They include measures to community. motivated young people who by WISH for its potential to trans- how it promotes healthy lifestyles in vation leadership. improve childbirth safety, hear- Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, have grown up surrounded by form healthcare globally by reducing the country. The Young Innovators chosen ing aids, affordable access to President, QF, said, “The Young ideas and technology that will costs of delivery and improving qual- Delegates also met WISH Young by WISH have launched ground- healthcare, and patient experi- Innovators represent that secure a healthier future for all,” ity of care. Innovators — five talented inventors breaking new schemes that, ence data collection. future and it is essential to he added. like the Innovation Showcases, This year they were given engage and make them part of THE PENINSULA Hospitals ‘too often harm instead of help’

DOHA: Hospitals too often harm Innovation Summit for Health safety to prevent avoid- healthcare systems too instead of help, said a patient (WISH) while launching a report able deaths. often harm rather than safety expert yesterday at World on the need for advancing patient Failure to address the help. growing concern of patient “In our WISH report, we safety contributes to waste advocate a holistic system in the healthcare system solution to eliminate pre- and skyrocketing costs, ventable harm in health- delegates were told. care. Patient safety is – or It is estimated that should be – one of the fun- about one-third of US damental building blocks of healthcare spending was every healthcare system,” consumed by waste in 2011. he added. WISH’s experts iden- Five other reports on tified key issues such urgent healthcare issues, as a lack of regulation, including cancer and dia- understanding and inte- betics, were also released. gration and offered inno- Communication is fun- vative solutions to provide damental to challenges recommendations to faced by health leaders, policymakers. says a report, calling for To improve patient more effective health safety through a holis- communication titled tic, sector-wide perspec- ‘Communicating complex tive, Dr Peter Pronovost, health messages’ as part Senior Vice-President, of the prescription for Patient Safety and Quality, improving global health.’ and Director, Armstrong Another report urges Institute for Patient Safety policymakers to take and Quality, John Hopkins action on diabetes. The Medicine, US, oversaw global report on dementia a team of international calls for ‘brain health’ to be experts drawn from every adopted by health services field of patient safety to around the world. inform and produce the WISH also unveiled report. strategy for tackling cure- Dr Pronovost said, “For less disease as diagnosis is too long in healthcare, set to almost double every the mindset has been 20 years. Another report that patient harms are called for global action to inevitable, that silos are improve children’s mental natural, and that hero- well-being. ism rather than thought- Charities were urged to ful design keeps patients develop free education and safe. Through the work treatment programmes undertaken behind today’s using smartphone tech- report, it is clear that what nology. And countries were is missing is a systematic, urged to act to protect the sector-wide approach health of a billon people. underpinned by sound Another report sought principles in safety science. universal health coverage. “In their current state, THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Photo exhibition depicts First World War horror ‘We should fight causes of conflicts that lead to terror’

DOHA: Ninety-four photographs “The exhibition depicts the record of some of the great battles depicting devastating results of plight of people and catastrophic at various locations involving mil- war are showcased at ‘No War’ consequences of First World War. lions of troops in extremely difficult photography exhibition Katara “Held for the first time in Doha, terrains, trenches and cities on air, has launched in commemoration the exhibition will travel to several seas and deserts. of the centennial anniversary of countries to spread the culture of “Millions of civilians suffered First World War. peace and co-existence around the and died. The main objective of Running for two weeks, the world,” he added. showing these photographs is to expo by photojournalist Haitham The photos had been reprinted remind people of the tragedies of Aziz features documentary photos from a bimonthly pictorial news- the war,” said Aziz. reminding viewers of catastrophic paper entitled Truth published in The painful images should help consequences of war from 1914 to London which covered all aspects of raise awareness about the futility of 1918. Some photos show the suffer- the war. It was printed by Milford the idea of war and violent destruc- ing of troops, others paint a happy Lane and distributed in the Middle tion as a means to resolve disputes, expression on the faces of prison- East and the Indian sub-continent he added. “We should fight for ideas ers of war with their escape from and included subtitles in Arabic, of tolerance and fight the root death. Turkish, Persian and Hindi. causes of conflicts such as poverty, Led by Katara General Manager, The newspaper represents a injustice, and fundamentalist ideas Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, valuable visual resource for under- that lead to extremist views and the inauguration of the expo on standing complexities and trage- terrorism,” he added. The expo at Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (centre) with photojournalist Haitham Aziz (right) and other Tuesday was attended by diplo- dies of the war. Katara Building No. 19 is open until officials at the opening of the exhibition. mats, artists and local media. “This album is a documentary February 26. THE PENINSULA Qatar Airways, HIA conduct drill to test emergency preparedness

the emergency exercise. during a major accident at HIA, coordinated from Emergency “Safety is paramount at QA including communications, part- Operations Centre at the airport, and at the heart of everything ner response, management of the both equipped with tools to man- we do. We ensure that the best site, casualty registration and age any incident. Features include safety and emergency response transportation logistics. satellite communications, links practices are followed in all cases. “I am proud to announce to communicate with aircraft Our staff are equipped with lat- that HIA’s Emergency Exercise in-flight and media operations est technology and adequate Charlie Oryx 2015 took place centres. procedures to respond to any seamlessly. The commitment and On notification of the exercise, emergency at HIA,” said Akbar dedication of all agencies during senior management gathered in Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, preparation and implementa- Group Command Centre at QA QA. “It is an integral part of our tion of the drill has been impres- headquarters to prepare for the operating procedures to hold sive. The exercise has been an simulation of the exercise and exercises of this scale. We regu- opportunity for us to learn and activate QA’s comprehensive pro- larly conduct preparatory activi- improve our emergency prepar- cedures for deploying operations ties through which we train our edness,” said Badr Al Meer, Chief staff instantaneously. staff to handle any incident to Operating Officer, HIA. To maintain the integrity of minimise damage and protect QA’s response was coordi- such emergency exercises, all passengers and crew.” nated from its Group Emergency procedures that must be followed The drill aimed to assess the Control Centre in its headquar- in emergencies were tested. adequacy of plans and facilities ters and HIA’s response was THE PENINSULA Participants leave the plane during the emergency exercise.

DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) technology, including a state-of- requirements to fully test the and Hamad International the-art operations control centre. readiness of HIA, QA, its stake- Airport (HIA) yesterday con- This is the second exercise at holders and partners. ducted an emergency drill to HIA, after the first one in 2012. The scenario involved a flight train staff in managing an air- This year’s exercise involved that alerted an emergency 15 craft accident at the airport. airport stakeholders and all major minutes after take-off from HIA, The annual preparedness emergency response organisa- reporting severe flight control exercise is part of QA’s commit- tions in Qatar. problems. ment to ensure that its staff are The full-scale drill included Following that a hard landing equipped to handle any emer- 140 volunteer passengers, a QA took place and resulted in simu- gency situation in a timely, safe Airbus 330-200 aircraft with 14 lated injuries and damage to the and responsible manner. crew members and 50 volunteer aircraft that had to be managed HIA officially commenced com- family members waiting at HIA. by the ground team. mercial operations last April and The exercise was conducted at Helicopters, ambulances and has a network of sophisticated a scale that exceeds international aircraft chutes were deployed for Civic inspectors take field training

Municipality inspectors on a field trip.

DOHA: The Ministry of of detection of food items, sam- prepared by the ministry to Municipality and Urban pling, procedures and documen- improve inspectors’ efficiency. Planning yesterday organised a tation of violations, and health The inspectors were accompanied field training for food and health requirements to be met by outlets. by Dr Helmy El Fakhrany, Food inspectors. The tour covered outlets, Expert, Dr Abeer Saad, Public It was part of the ministry’s including restaurants, traditional Health Expert at the ministry and course under the theme ‘Judicial restaurants, kitchens and hotels the team responsible for rehabili- Control of Food Venues’ to equip in various areas. tation of inspectors. them with knowledge of methods It was in line with a programme THE PENINSULA Villa rent contracts for firms, clinics extended DOHA: Law, audit and accountancy as well as yesterday ratified Cabinet Decision No. 8 of 2015, engineering consultancy firms, clinics, veteri- granting the extension for a year of these tenants narian’s clinics and agricultural and fisheries for non-residential purposes. experts, among others, that have offices in villas The decision will published in the official gazette, in residential areas have been given a new lease of Qatar News Agency reports. The extension also life as their rent contracts are to be extended for applies to administrative headquarters of commer- a year starting from February 15. cial companies. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Tarmem begins infrastructure Ezdan backs CMU-Q’s Tajer initiative work at SEC Tower Al Obaidli: We sponsor educational programmes that promote the knowledge economy

DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group has sponsored Tajer, a com- munity outreach programme organised by Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a member of Qatar Foundation. The programme drew 50 stu- dents from 15 secondary schools to develop their skills in e-Com- merce and expand knowledge in latest economic developments. The students were able to learn more about the business admin- DOHA: Tarmem (Dar Al Salwa istration programme at CMU-Q. for maintenance and restora- The session hosted economic tion of buildings) has announced experts who shared business the commencement of infra- expertise and explained how to Ali Mohammed Al Obaidli, CEO, structure works at the Supreme manage stock exchange opera- Ezdan Holding Group. Education Council Tower in tions, securities and prices Doha. change. The works include the supply Lectures on how technology 2030 which seeks to build a mod- and installation of internal and contributes to transform and ern society based on knowledge external air ducts. extends the application of mar- economy culture.” Ahmed Al Jabali (pictured), kets to daily life, were also held. He expressed satisfaction with General Manager, Tarmem, said; Ali Mohammed Al Obaidli, the number of participants which “The project represents a major CEO, Ezdan Holding Group, exceeded expectations and said step forward for the business. stressed the Group’s keenness to CMU-Q successfully managed This is one of many contracts sponsor and fund the initiative as the event. He also stressed the this year, which will lead to the it targets cooperation with educa- Group’s keenness to support edu- company’s exponential growth tional institutions to support eco- cational initiatives in the future and add to our impressive market nomic and human development and promote cooperation with share in Qatar. and scientific research. CMU-Q and the education sec- Some of the students who attended the outreach programme. “Our experience in the field of “The Ezdan management seeks tor in general. electromechanical maintenance to strengthen ongoing education Ilker Baybars, Dean and CEO, look forward to partnering again information systems, executive strategy to follow best practices works is an essential part of our initiatives, which constitute an CMU-Q, said, “As students on future educational and com- education, national capacity and global standards, particularly strategy to enhance the company’s important stream in spreading apply and prepare for university, munity initiatives.” building, scientific conferences in investing in human resources growth in line with the country’s economic awareness as Tajer CMU-Q is pleased to offer sec- The Group has signed a memo- and community development. through sustainable plans that massive preparations to host the implies. ondary school students an insid- randum of understanding (MoU) The partnership is part of the include upgrading the perform- FIFA World Cup 2022,” he said. “There is no doubt that in er’s view of financial markets and with CMU-Q on cooperation in Group’s societal responsibility and ance of young people, enabling Tarmem has recently won Qatar we need to develop the eco- trading and the business admin- the fields of scientific research, interest in human development them to come out with innova- contacts from many companies nomic culture and pave the way istration programme. strategic studies, scholarships, and the advancement of individ- tive solutions to meet economic in Qatar. for outreach opportunities since “We are grateful for Ezdan exchange of business administra- ual skills. and social challenges. THE PENINSULA they serve Qatar National Vision Holding Group’s involvement and tion specialists and researchers, The MoU reflects the Group’s THE PENINSULA Many top brands to debut at jewellery & watches expo DOHA: The Doha Jewellery & experience in reaching out to Many international and Manufacture Royale, Maitres du Watches Exhibition has become consumers.” regional brands are debuting Temps, Schoeffel, Speake Marine, one of the foremost in the region, The expo has also become a this year. Participants include Vacheron Constantin, Yeprem, with the number of participat- platform for local designers and Jaipur Gems, Jean Paul Gaultier, Suzanne Kalan, 7Cs Diamond ing brands and visitors growing brands as it helps them reach Davidoff, Fendi, Phillipe Royal, & Jewellery, Dar Al Majid Fine year on year. out to an audience beyond Qatar Shenoy, Tellus, Swarovski, Jewellery, Breva, Brioni, Jean Hamad Al Abdan, Director and gives them an exposure to Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Paul Menucci, Laviere, Roaln of Exhibitions, Qatar Tourism the region’s jewellery lovers and Bentley, Rochas, Saint Honore, Iten, Yvan Tufenkjian, Kamyen Authority (QTA), said, “We are buyers. Cover, Charles Jourdan, Grovana, Jewellery, L’epee, Maximilian, going into our 12th year of the “Every year, we ensure a well Seculus, Westend, Domaskenos, Noudar, AS29, Prestine, exhibition with new designs rolled-out publicity campaign Cabestan, Al Bidaa Swords Buccellati, Urwerk, HYT, Armand and trends on offer and more targeting the region and a robust & Gifts, Valbray, Dietrich, Nickolet, Roberto Cavalli, Conta exhibitors. media presence and coverage. Golden Dreams Geneva, Dust Tempo, Gianfranco Ferre, Dittis, “We are proud to welcome This is an opportunity for local Kreations, AKM Mehrasons, Al Cerrutti 1881, Bayco, Bomare, brands that are exhibiting for the and regional brands to engage Khudairy Jewellery, Al Tawash, Dehres, Frere Rochat, Luxe, first time and are confident that with the media and communicate Brusco, Cvstos, Hafner, Hodel, Marco Bicego, NRE Art LTD. , they will find the expo a fantastic their collections.” KGK, Mattia Cielo, Malpani, William Goldberg, Fanfani Fabio, Al Mahaba, Amrapali, Dottling, Hazarilal, Hodel, Mad, Navitec, Project X designs, Samer Halimeh, New designs and trends on offer by more exhibitors this year. Seven Bicakci, Star Gems LLC, Technomarine, Meyers, Arzano, Jewellery, Titanium Cargo, De Tourbillon W & ACC, Bermont, Moukarzel, Trance Jewellery, Bethune, Givenchy, Ippolita Jewel, Menicucci and Zagliani. Zanelle, Maria Mirelli, Tijoree MCT Complication Watches, THE PENINSULA

Doha Bank names campaign winners

Officials with some of the winners.

DOHA: Doha Bank has entitlements, convenient instal- “The campaign illustrates the announced the winners of its ments, postponements in addition bank’s emphasis on creative and ‘Win Your Loan Back’ cam- to top up loans, free management customer-focused innovation and paign which offered customers fees and much more. continues our commitment to the chance to wipe off loans by “Customers availing loans can creating life-changing opportu- winning prizes equivalent to receive a free Doha Bank-LuLu nities for customers.” loans subject to QR100,000. Shopping Credit Card — voted the “I extend my congratulations to The campaign was a success Best Credit Card in the Middle the winners and hope they make as large numbers of Qataris and East at Banker Middle East prudent and judicious use of their expatriates rushed to avail loans Product Awards 2013.” winnings,” he added. to benefit from the win-back Dr R Seetharaman, CEO, said, The bank was recently offer — a chance of winning for “The bank offers the most com- rewarded for excellence in lending every QR50,000 from their overall petitive rates on car, home and services at Banker Middle East loans. personal loans and we have gone Product Awards 2014, where it Suresh Bajpai, Head, Retail one step beyond with our ‘Win won five top awards, including Banking, said: “The bank contin- Your Loan Back’ campaign by for Best Trade Finance Offering ues to offer the best loans with offering customers the chance to and Best Home Finance Account. the fastest approvals, flexible have their entire loans written off. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Arabs want UN to ease Libya arms embargo Call for increased surveillance from sea and air

CAIRO: Arab states will ask the recognised by the international a government of national unity UN Security Council to lift an community and the other with was the “best hope” for peace. arms embargo on weapons sales ties to Islamists. Shoukry said the UN must to Libya’s internationally recog- The decision to submit the “reconsider the restrictions” on nised government for its fight draft resolution came after a arms deliveries to the Libyan against jihadists, Egypt said. meeting between Arab UN envoys government, which is seeking to Cairo, which is pushing for and Egyptian Foreign Minister “impose its authority and restore tough measures against the Sameh Shoukry, who warned of stability,” according to his office. Islamic State group in Libya after the risks of inaction. Libya has descended into chaos jihadists there beheaded Egyptian In their talks, Shoukry since the 2011 revolt, with the Christians, had called for inter- stressed “the need for the inter- internationally recognised gov- national military action against national community... to assume ernment forced to flee to the IS but dropped the request after its responsibilities towards the country’s east and militias in Western hesitation. deteriorating situation in Libya, control of Tripoli and other main It also said Arab states would as it represents a clear threat to cities. propose a resolution that requests international peace and security,” Some militias have pledged the lifting of an arms embargo to his ministry said. allegiance to IS and one of them allow “the legitimate government A US-led coalition is already released this week a video of the (of Libya) to enable it to fight carrying out air strikes against gruesome mass beheadings of against terrorism”. IS targets in Syria and Iraq, and 21 Coptic Christians. The coun- “There is no call for foreign Egyptian officials have suggested try’s main militias, including the military intervention,” Egypt’s they should be expanded to Libya. Islamist-backed Fajr Libya coali- foreign ministry said hours before But Western powers are wary of tion that has declared a rival gov- a Security Council session on committing to action in Libya, ernment in Tripoli and has been Libya. That draft would also call still awash with weapons and rival involved in the peace talks, have for “increased surveillance from militias battling for control of its not linked up with IS. the sea and air to prevent deliv- cities and oil wealth. But Italian Foreign Minister eries of weapons to armed mili- Libya’s neighbour Tunisia said Paolo Gentiloni warned of the tants,” the ministry added. it too opposed military interven- threat of such an alliance. “There Egyptian journalists take part in a demonstration outside their syndicate in Cairo yesterday against the beheading The UN imposed an arms tion, instead calling for a political is an evident risk of an alliance of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians by IS jihadists on a beach in Libya. embargo on Libya at the start of solution. being forged between local groups the 2011 Nato-backed uprising That echoed a statement on and Daesh, and it is a situation that at our disposal is not infinite adventures or crusades.” to Europe. Egyptian President that toppled long-time dictator Tuesday by the United States, has to be monitored with maxi- and is in danger of running out The chaos in Libya has also con- Abdel Fattah Al Sisi has said Muammar Gaddafi to protect Britain, France, Germany, Italy mum attention,” Gentiloni said, soon,” he said while stressing that tributed to a dramatic increase “there is no choice” but to form an civilians from his forces. The and Spain that an ongoing using an Arabic acronym for IS. Italy believed in a political solu- in the number of migrants international coalition to tackle country now has two rival gov- UN-backed attempt to get Libya’s “We have to be clear, the situ- tion. “Saying we are in the front attempting to travel across the Libya’s militants by force. ernments and parliaments, one warring sides to negotiate forming ation has deteriorated. The time line does not mean announcing Mediterranean from the country AFP

Saudi court Kuwait court upholds govt Istanbul snowstorm grounds decision to shut daily upholds 15 KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s lower court yesterday upheld a gov- ernment decision to shut leading newspaper Al Watan which has planes, shuts Bosphorus years’ jail for been highly critical of the government, a lawyer for the paper said. “The court rejected our challenge to two decisions by the ministries of commerce and information to revoke the com- ISTANBUL: A snowstorm in two days in parts of Istanbul. strait at both ends and were now rights lawyer mercial and media licences of Al Watan,” attorney Rashed Al in Istanbul grounded planes, The storm also stranded members scheduled to make the voyage Radaan said. In January, the ministry of commerce and industry halted traffic and forced the of the Besiktas football team for today, shipping agent GAC said. DUBAI: An appeals court revoked the commercial licence of Al Watan saying it had vio- closure of the Bosphorus Strait hours. The Istanbul side is sched- The Dardanelles at the oppo- in Saudi Arabia has upheld a lated minimum capital requirements and shut the newspaper. shipping channel yesterday, uled to play Liverpool in England site end of the Sea of Marmara 15-year jail term for a human Under Kuwaiti law, the commercial licences of companies with Turkish officials said. today. remained opened, it said. rights lawyer who was nomi- losses worth more than 75 percent of their capital are cancelled. Turkish Airlines, Europe’s The club said on its website the Maritime authorities regularly nated for the Nobel Peace Prize, The information ministry later revoked the media licence of the fourth-largest carrier, said it was players had finally departed from shut the Bosphorus, the only navi- a watchdog said yesterday. newspaper. “The judge did not accept our arguments that the forced to cancel more than 300 Sabiha Gokcen Airport on the gable waterway for Russian com- The Specialised Criminal Court commerce ministry is not authorised under the law to revoke flights scheduled for yesterday Asian side of the city instead of modities, due to reduced visibility of Appeal, which hears terror- the licence of a share-holding company. We will study details and today. the planned morning flight from in winter months, which raises ism cases, confirmed yesterday of the ruling and file an appeal at the court of appeals within a Ataturk Airport, Istanbul’s main Ataturk. Discount carrier Pegasus cargo costs. Some 10,000 tank- the latest verdict against Waleed few days,” Radaan said. Al Watan, one of the largest dailies in airport and the fourth-busiest in also called off some flights at its ers carry 150 million tonnes of Abulkhair, said the Gulf Centre Kuwait, is owned by former oil minister Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al Europe, closed briefly in the morn- hub at Sabiha Gokcen. petroleum products through the for Human Rights. Sabah and is managed by his son Sheikh Khalifa. The newspaper ing because of the adverse weather, The Bosphorus, which divides narrow, winding strait each year. Abulkhair was convicted last has traditionally supported the government, except in the past but reopened by early afternoon. Istanbul into Asian and European Icy roads had led to more July on a series of charges includ- two years when it adopted a tougher line. Some commuters in the city of districts, was shut in both direc- than 800 traffic accidents since ing “inciting public opinion” but 15 million had to walk to work tions at 8:10am. At least 13 tank- Tuesday, the mayor’s office said. the last five years of the sen- Kuwait blogger critical of Saudi after as much as 60cm of snow fell ers were waiting to enter the REUTERS tence were initially suspended. In January, another court ordered Abulkhair to serve the full 15 gets increased jail term years of his sentence, a ruling upheld by the latest decision. KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s appeal court yesterday increased by The Centre, which has offices two years the four-year jail sentence of an activist who tweeted in Beirut and Copenhagen, said comments deemed offensive to Saudi Arabia. Saleh Al Saeed was Abulkhair was transferred on sentenced to four years in jail in December by a lower court for February 4 from a prison in his posting comments on Twitter in which he accused Saudi Arabia home city of Jeddah to one in the of grabbing land in Kuwait and Bahrain. The lower court charged capital Riyadh. that because of the 16 tweets he had posted online in October “It’s believed that his refusal to he had endangered Saudi-Kuwaiti relations and undermined the recognise the legitimacy of the trial kingdom. The appeal court raised the jail sentence to six years court, in addition to not giving an but did not give a reason for its decision. The sentence is not final apology to the court, were the rea- as it can be challenged in the Supreme Court. Kuwait authorities sons behind his recent transfer,” last month detained several online activists allegedly for com- the centre said on its website. ments deemed offensive to Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah. No Abulkhair was the lawyer for one has so far been sent to court. Saudi blogger Raef Badawi who is serving 10 years in jail and has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes for Egypt jails student over atheism insulting Islam. He received the CAIRO: An Egyptian court has sentenced a student to one year first 50 lashes on January 9 but in jail for insulting Islam and promoting atheism on a Facebook subsequent weekly sessions have page, his lawyer and judicial sources said yesterday. It is the sec- not been carried out. His case ond such ruling in Egypt since January when another 21-year-old has sparked worldwide outrage. was jailed for three years for declaring on Facebook that he is an A Norwegian parliamentarian atheist. Judicial sources said that Sharif Gaber “was sentenced nominated Badawi and Abulkhair to one-year in prison for insulting Islam and promoting athe- People walk during heavy snowfall in Istanbul yesterday. for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. ism, but could be freed on a bail of 1,000 pounds ($130) until AFP his appeal trial”. The sentence was handed down on Monday by a criminal court in the northeastern city of Ismailiya, where Gaber studies literature at university. Egypt’s constitution out- laws insults against the three recognised monotheist religions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism. UN tells donors to make good on Gaza pledges Iran parliamentary poll in Feb 2016 TEHRAN: Iranians will vote for a new parliament on February UNITED NATIONS: The failure by world July and August that left 2,200 dead on the “increasingly worrisome” and cited the slow 26 next year, the elections watchdog said yesterday, in a con- donors to deliver billions of dollars of aid to Palestinian side and 73 on the Israelis side, pace of reconstruction along with security and test expected to mark the return of reformists. The date was rebuild Gaza is jeopardising efforts to avoid while 100,000 Gazans lost their homes. governance problems as creating “an increas- announced by a Guardians Council spokesman, quoted by the ISNA a new flareup in the Palestinian territory, a Feltman said more than 75,000 people have ingly toxic environment.” news agency. After the previous parliamentary elections in March senior UN official warned yesterday. been cleared to receive construction material The donors’ failure to release promised funds 2012, reformists virtually disappeared from the assembly — which UN political affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman to rebuild, and over 47,000 had been able to comes as Israel withheld for a second month now has 209 members — following a boycott. The boycott was in told the Security Council that donors who purchase building supplies. the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian response to the repression of protests that erupted following the had promised $5.4bn to the Palestinians at The delivery of construction material is Authority to punish the Palestinians for join- disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president in the Cairo conference four months ago “have heavily controlled by the United Nations and ing the International Criminal Court. June 2009, when two major reformist parties were banned. yet to fulfill the vast majority of their pledges”. Israel to prevent supplies from falling into the Over $200m is owed to the Palestinians, “This is, quite frankly, unacceptable, hands of extremists. forcing them to turn to private banks for loans and cannot continue if we hope to avoid In a sign of growing impatience with pace to pay salaries of civil servants, Feltman told British aid worker killed in Juba another escalation in Gaza,” Feltman told of reconstruction efforts, dozens of protest- the council. “This approach is neither suf- JUBA: A British aid worker has been shot dead in South Sudan’s the 15-member council during a meeting on ers forced their way into a UN office in ficient nor sustainable,” he warned. capital Juba, a spokesman for the presidency said yesterday. the Middle East. Gaza on January 28, after the world body The United Nations is pushing for Israeli- Ateny Wek Ateny said the Briton had been killed outside his “Failure to deliver the necessary support announced it was suspending an aid pro- Palestinian peace talks to resume, but that home at around midnight on Tuesday. It was not clear which is putting an almost unbearable strain on an gramme to support home repairs and refugee track appears to have gone into a deep freeze organisation he worked for or why he might have been killed. already highly fractious environment,” he said. shelter assistance. ahead of the Israeli elections on March 17. “The investigation is under way,” Ateny said. AGENCIES Gaza was devastated by the 50-day war in Feltman described the situation in Gaza as AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Kirchner’s troubles Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

RGENTINIAN President Cristina Kirchner’s troubles over the controversial death of a prosecutor have grown to overwhelm her cult-like status. Wife of late president ANestor Kirchner, the flamboyant leader has grabbed world headlines for the wrong reasons after Alberto Nisman Texas judge’s immigration rebuke was found dead in his apartment in Buenos Aires on January 18. As Kirchner left the Argentine capital for an event, a huge march was staring at her. The marchers likely to number close may be hard to challenge to 300,000 were rallied by federal prosecutors who were marking a month of their colleague who had sensitive material in his possession regarding the bombing of a Jewish centre in 1994. BY DAVID INGRAM and MICA policy toward the roughly 11 million potentially millions of illegal immi- Kirchner’s reputation has come under a cloud over the ROSENBERG people in the country illegally. Obama grants, was binding on federal agents bombing investigation. Days before his death on January 18, said on Tuesday he disagreed with the or merely general guidance. He ruled Nisman had come out with a 300-page report in which he accused ruling and expected his administration that they were binding, and that Kirchner and Foreign Minister Hector Timerman of covering up RESIDENT Barack Obama’s to prevail in the courts. Obama should have allowed for notice Iran’s alleged role in the bombing. The deadliest terror strike in administration faces a diffi- The US Justice Department was and comment. cult and possibly lengthy legal preparing an appeal of Hanen’s tempo- Lawyers with expertise in adminis- Argentina’s history had left 85 people dead and injured more than battle to overturn a Texas rary injunction to the 5th US Circuit trative law said there was little guid- 300. Amid a snowballing controversy, Kirchner has dissolved the P court ruling that blocked his landmark Court of Appeals in New Orleans, ance from the US Supreme Court on country’s intelligence service and declared in a television address immigration overhaul, since the judge Obama said. The court could con- what qualifies as a rule that needs to that Nisman’s death was a ploy to discredit her government. based his decision on an obscure and sider an emergency request to block be published, leaving disagreement However, the most surprising element in the controversy unsettled area of administrative law, Hanen’s ruling, potentially within days, among lower courts and a grey area is Kirchner’s about-face on the prosecutor’s death. A day after lawyers said. although most of the 23 judges on the for Hanen to work in. In his ruling on Monday that court were appointed by Republican “The case law as to what qualifies Nisman’s body was found in his bathroom with a single gunshot upended plans to shield millions of presidents. as a legislative rule is remarkably to his temple, the Argentinian leader sounded outraged. “What people from deportation, US District There was no consensus among law- unclear,” said Anne Joseph O’Connell, drives a person to commit such a terrible act?” Day later, Judge Andrew Hanen avoided diving yers with expertise in administrative a University of California Berkeley law Kirchner posted on her website a into sweeping law and immigration law on whether professor. The controversy statement suggesting that the federal constitutional Hanen would be reversed on appeal. O’Connell said it was hard to pre- prosecutor was murdered. questions or But they said the judge was wise to dict how the appeals court would rule over the death tackling presi- focus on an area of administrative law in the end, although she thought it The apparent about-face came as There was no dential powers where legal precedent is sometimes was likely the court would lift Hanen’s of a federal a result of Kirchner facing pressure head-on. Instead, fuzzy. temporary injunction and allow the prosecutor has from within and without the consensus he faulted Obama In the near term, the narrow Obama administration to begin establishment. Nisman had accused for not giving approach allowed Hanen to issue a putting its program in place. shaken the Kirchner four days before his death among lawyers public notice of temporary injunction barring federal The subject is not strictly partisan, his plans. agencies from putting Obama’s plans she said, because sometimes a liberal of obstructing his investigation by government with expertise in The failure into place. An appointee of President interest group might favour a strict cutting a secret deal with Iran in to do so, Hanen George W Bush, Hanen had pre- requirement for notice and comment. of Argentinian exchange for oil. A day before he was administrative law wrote, was a vio- viously criticized US immigration An appeal before the 5th Circuit President murdered, the prosecutor was to and immigration lation of the 1946 enforcement as too lax. could take months, as lawyers file Cristina present findings of the report to the Administrative Hanen’s ruling turned on the written briefs and the court holds oral Congress. He would have probably law on whether Procedure Act, Administrative Procedure Act’s argument and comes to a decision. Kirchner. which requires requirement that a proposed rule The appeals court could also con- come out with more details of the a US judge’s notice in a publi- or regulation appear in the Federal sider other questions, such as whether 10-year investigation that proved to cation called the Register so people have a chance to the states that brought the lawsuit had be his undoing. decision would Federal Register comment. The Federal Register is what is known as standing to sue or More than the controversy, it was the timing of the death of be reversed on as well as an a daily journal of US government whether Obama violated the clause Nisman that put Kirchner in a pickle. Though she has denied opportunity for proceedings. of the US Constitution that requires involvement in his death, it is clear that the controversy has appeal. people to submit The “notice and comment” require- presidents to “take care that the laws views in writing. ment acts as a brake on all presidents, be faithfully executed.” sparked a political crisis for the president and has put her in the The ruling, slowing their plans by months or years. There is no chance Obama would glare of international media. Nisman’s investigation goes back to however narrow, marked an initial vic- The requirement, though, does not begin the notice-and-comment period 2006 when with the support of then president Nestor Kirchner, tory for 26 states that brought the case apply to “interpretative rules” or gen- now, because US immigration policy Cristina’s late husband, Nisman had charged that the attack alleging Obama had exceeded his pow- eral statements of policy, an exception would be frozen in place during the on the Jewish centre was carried out by Hezbollah with the ers with executive orders that would that Justice Department lawyers said lengthy process, said Peter Margulies, let up to 4.7 million illegal immigrants applied to Obama’s announcement in an immigration expert at Roger involvement of top Iranian officials, including former president stay without threat of deportation. November. Rules that must be submit- Williams University School of Law in Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. In 2013, Cristina Kirchner reached “It’s a very procedural point - ted for notice and comment are some- Rhode Island. a deal with Tehran to let Iranian suspects to be questioned at that he did this too quickly,” said times known as “legislative rules.” He said it could delay Obama’s home. But the agreement never materialised. The demeanour Michael Kagan, a law professor at the For Hanen, the pivotal question policy for “a minimum of six to eight of Kirchner doesn’t betray the nature and magnitude of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. became whether the new rules, months, and potentially much longer.” controversy. However, the Argentinian leader has to tread Hanen’s ruling left in disarray US such as granting work permits to REUTERS carefully as she has put herself in perilous territory. The other side Quote of ‘Flies’ as harmful as ‘tigers’ to the nation the day HE crackdown on corruption before clean and honest governance more than 1 billion yuan in cash by abuse of power that has estranged the and the abuse of power by can be established. refusing to supply water to work units ruling Party and the government from lower level and junior officials These “flies” are great in number and unless his palms were greased. the public. Twho grab the interests of rural the harm they have been doing to both Officials such as these are the ones In the long run, if there are many villagers or urban residents will be the country and the ruling Party is no who should materialize the policy of the such incompetent and corrupt officials intensified, as part of the deepening of less than the “tigers”. The “flies” often central authorities. They are the ones at the local levels, they will undermine the anti-graft fight in 2015. have appetites as big as the “tigers”, who should make sure people benefit the very foundation of both the ruling The terrorists do not Uncovering high-level corrupt and they will grab every opportunity from the central government policies Party and government the same way speak for a billion officials, or “tigers”, such as Zhou they can to transfer public money into as intended. They are the ones whose termites erode the foundations of a Yongkang, a former member of the their own pockets. professional competence and working structure unless they are thoroughly Muslims. Nations Standing Committee of the Political An official in charge of civil affairs style are the yardstick used by residents eradicated. Therefore it is imperative must not accept Bureau of the Communist Party of used 367 account books to embez- to judge the governing capability of the the Party and the government rid them- China, and dozens of ranking officials zle more than 500,000 yuan ($81,582) ruling Party. selves of these “flies”. there is a clash of above the level of vice-minister, is from the minimum living stipends for It is therefore their malpractice that In addition, governing transparency civilisations. encouraging. Yet, there is still a long substitute residents. And an official just has compromised the policies of the and tight supervision must be estab- way to go in clearing up all the lower in charge of a water works in North central authorities and tarnished the lished to clear the soil in which “flies” Barack Obama level corrupt elements known as “flies” China’s Hebei province accumulated image of the Party. It is their rampant fester. China Daily US President THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 ARAB VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Between violence and peaceful change

region since the Arab Spring. This section of society has reached its biggest size in Arab history. That’s why its future is not secure. Its dreams most likely cannot be real- ised in the shadow of corruption and weak organisations. It is a generation standing at a historical juncture at a time when difficult questions, helplessness, discrimination and racism are on the rise. The young Arab middle-class BY DR SHAFIQ AL citizen has started the most GHABRA important journey of change since the beginning of the 21st century. This citizen has discovered how he Arab Spring revolu- the world around him can be tions have opened a one- changed by social transformations. way street in our region. This citizen knows of cases of T Arab countries are the corruption which he never imag- least democratic and suffer from ined could occur in his homeland; lack of development and deep cor- cases of oppression and arrest, of ruption. They have recently faced the state’s decay and failure to one of the strongest currents of complete the simplest projects. change the world has ever known. This generation has begun to What is happening now in many understand the discourse intro- Arab countries is linked to the duced to it through schools, the nature of these changes, whereby streets and the media. Such dis- one political system, overwhelmed course does not match the reality. by centralisation, mismanagement At all levels, the new generation and lack of development, gives way is living in shock and worry, which to another before reaching a dem- led some to rebel in 2011. ocratic state. At the beginning of the Arab In previous decades, our sys- Spring — and despite the fact tems and institutions did not get that Muhammad Bouazizi did not the opportunity to develop so that belong to the middle class — the they could give equal rights to all revolutions were inspired by the citizens and enable harmonious leadership of middle-class youth. Libyan anti-government protesters chanting slogans in the city of Tobruk in March 2011. coexistence between different sec- The Arab revolutions revived tions of society. optimism for a better future We could also not attain devel- for Arabs and brought hopes of in the 2011 Arab Spring revolts of destroy whatever stands in its way. new stage in a long conflict. just, democratic and progressive. opment that would benefit the reform. But political conflicts accepting drastic and comprehen- It is surely a different genera- Suppression of revolutions has At the same time, this generation public. Instead, government secu- began after the revolutions over sive change. tion that will walk diverse paths benefited Islamists, jihadist and is a threat to the Arab state that rity forces controlled the whole filling in the gaps in the political For this reason, we can call until it finds what it needs, in its extremist trends of all types. used to marginalise it and prevent community, along with its social scene. Then there was oppression the current Arab generation the own way. It has also boosted radical- it from attaining its rights, and and legal structures, seeking a and counter-revolutions, which “Grand Conflict Generation”. Take, for example, the youth in ism. At the same time, peaceful where politics is monopolised by legitimacy that was not derived created pessimism in the youth. This generation will pump more Syria and Iraq. You will find an activists have retreated to the those who do not understand it from free elections. But most importantly, this pes- fuel into its conflict with Arab extremist generation, like the fol- background. nor play it right. What we have been passing simism started to spread from the authorities. lowers of IS, but in other places Arab countries are fighting From all indications, this gen- through since 2011 is a compli- middle class to the masses. In other words, we are about you will find revolutionaries. In activists as they stifle any form of eration won’t calm down soon; it cated, tiring, unclear and long Though the young generation to witness widespread social and other places, they are peaceful peaceful protest. They are unwit- will become more angry, profes- process that will takes years, if was shocked by the reaction of political conflict in the Arab world. reformers, Houthis, Islamists, or tingly setting the stage for more sional and experienced. The Arab not decades. But this process, even the entrenched forces, the youth This will happen due to intellec- even jihadists. violence and extremism. The bat- world is full of surprises as Arab in the worst scenario, won’t take still carry in their hearts courage tual shifts and politicisation of new This generation has a conflicting tle between the school of violence countries face unique challenges. Arabs back to conditions that pre- derived from the first moments segments of youth. state of mind, but it is demolishing and the school of peaceful change They will either use unjust means vailed before the revolutions. of the revolution and the changes This generation of youth is get- the Arab systems that could not is still on in the Arab world. that will lead to more anger and There will be no return to any that occurred in 2011. ting angry and their numbers are be changed by democratic means. Until now, there is no sign of extremism, or will look for a seri- kind of bullying, strangling of the When this strength transfers increasing in Egypt, Iraq, Syria, This fight will spread. Whoever any alternative. Maybe through ous project based on democratic civil society or curbs on the work to the youth social powers that Libya, Yemen and other Arab looks at the Arab scene now and the complicated historical proc- principles, freedoms and a just of activists, which blocked demo- belong to the most poor and disad- countries and communities. It is focuses on the violence directed ess we are witnessing, we will one economic environment. Only the cratic change and political reform. vantaged sections of society, it will in confrontation with many par- at communities and activists, will day find an alternative to what we latter will enable Arab countries It is just that we had a transitional have served the cause of revolution ties. That’s why this generation know how it establishes a base for are passing through. to empower a generation that is stage that brought surprises and and change. This will be the fuel more or less looks like an adven- a counter-revolution. The current Arab generation taking its first independent steps big shifts. for change in the next stage. turous person who does not take The non-violent revolu- is a victim of tyranny. Amid the in life. The youth is the biggest social There is a growing trend into consideration risks or losses. tions against the Al Qaeda ide- Arab deadlock, we need to find The author is an academic and force moving the wheels of our among the youth who took part It looks like a wild beast that will ology are starting to enter a a way out that is legal, humane, a political analyst Death to America?

Will Arabs unite or fragment? eath to America” was the rallying cry of the Islamic has prompted Syrian militias such as Al what was destroyed by previous regimes, “DRevolution in Iran, where the Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS) and will not enjoy security and stabil- United States is still called the “Great to meddle in Lebanon. ity because the common denominator Satan.” Iraq’s civil war between Sunnis and between the emerging entities and mili- In the late seventies, many Muslims Shias has encouraged the Kurds to tias is the enemy. took the Iranian revolution seriously. exploit the deteriorating situation and Iraq may split into several political People hoped that the revolution would enter Kirkuk, which will become part entities, notably the Shia in the south, bring about major changes in the weak- of their Kurdish state, rather than help the Sunnis in the centre and Kurds in the ened Muslim nation, which had almost rescue Iraq, of which they are one of the north. However, these entities have begun lost its Islamic and national identity most important components. to rupture since the Shias are more than under repressive regimes. Yemen’s Houthis, who make up only one religious group and their militias are The Muslim Brotherhood was among a third of the population, entered into fighting each other; the same can be said those who believed this and hoped that a conflict with the government. It was a of the Sunnis and Kurds. the revolution would reform the Islamic BY MUBARAK FAHD AL political dispute about improving their This also applies to Syria since the world, which was torn by internal and BY DR SHAMLAN YOUSEF AL DUWAILA ISSA living conditions, but they turned it into opposition groups are fighting each other external conflicts, with most regimes fol- a sectarian one and asked for Iran’s help. — the Free Syrian Army against IS and lowing the American-led West. olitical observers have noted Today, after seizing the capital, Sana’a, Al Nusra — even before the fall of the However, the falsehood of this slogan in the region, starting with the Muslim the increased violence of bloody and rejecting the new prime minister, Assad regime. soon became clear and the Islamic world Brotherhood. Pinternal conflicts in Iraq, Syria, who was appointed by the Yemeni presi- What about terrorism? Religious ter- realised the deception when it found Iran Overnight, we started seeing the Great Lebanon, Yemen, Libya, Somalia and dent, they have begun killing and displac- rorism is fragmented because it does not adopting a sectarian approach. Then the Satan, the Iranian Quds Force and some Sudan. Some terrorist operations have ing people based on their identity. The have a state project, but the international revolution came to reveal the fact that Gulf armies fighting a common enemy in begun in Algeria, and there are divisions once united people are divided by a tribal coalition led by the United States cannot Iran’s aim was to promote its sect and the Levant. in the remaining Arab countries along mentality and corrupt politicians. agree on how to eliminate terrorism and not Islam, which calls for equity, justice Under the eyes of the Arabs, coopera- religious, tribal or regional lines. The Libyan civil war between the gov- defeat IS. and moral values. tion between the United States, Iran and Where are these conflicts leading to? ernment and terrorist groups has ripped Finally, I see that the solution lies in We saw how Iranians bombed oil plants, the Gulf states reached Yemen, result- To further divisions, or is this the begin- the people apart. There is also a possibil- the establishment of a free democratic hijacked planes, threatened the security ing in the occupation of Sana’a by the ning of a radical modification of the ity that Egypt will intervene in this con- system that separates religion from of pilgrims in Makkah and occupied a Iranian-backed Shia group, the Houthis. region’s map? What is the nature of the flict, which could make matters worse. politics. part of the United Arab Emirates, not to Even during the recent Gaza war, we next transformation in case the region There is no doubt that new political The author is a researcher and politi- mention its espionage cells that aim to expected Iran to support the Palestinians; settles? Or will it witness a continuation entities will emerge from the ruins of cal analyst destabilise the Gulf. instead we watched the entire world of bloody conflicts? Yet people were convinced of the cred- support Israel under the supervision of Will the emergence of new sectarian, ibility of this slogan on hearing the politi- Zionist officials. national, tribal or regional entities and cal discourse of the revolution against the Today, we hear senior Iranian officials militias solve the intractable problems Americans and seeing Hezbollah’s hostility openly saying that the Americans must of the Arabs? to Israel. They believed that the Iranian realise that the fall of Bashar Al Assad’s Can the Arab regimes deal with all revolution would defend the oppressed regime in Damascus would threaten these challenges? Are those demanding and uphold the belief that “There is no Israel’s security and existence. It is as if change and raising religious or national- God but Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) they are declaring that Iran’s goal in sup- ist slogans to pacify ordinary people seri- is His messenger.” porting the Syrian government over the ous about fulfilling people’s desire for a God has now shown us the truth of this years was to save Israel! Perhaps this ide- government that represents all sections revolution by breaking news of the coop- ological coup explains Iran’s behaviour in of society and seeks to eradicate corrup- eration between the West and Iran under the region and the even stranger actions tion and nepotism, and works to ensure the auspices of the Great Satan, America. of the Americans. justice and equality? While addressing the issue of Iran’s When the Houthis entered Sana’a, was Will some Arab countries become like nuclear programme, we were astonished their slogan “Death to America”? Somalia, where multiple militias rule? by the Great Satan’s pressure on most They destroyed the Islamic University, I don’t claim to have answers to these Gulf states to change their hostile policy burned the Reform Party’s offices and questions, but our condition is not happy. towards Iran, review their political rheto- attacked mosques, but were kind enough There is a civil war in Syria spilling over ric by forgetting unpleasant history, try to send protection to the US embassy. The author is a writer and political into Lebanon with the intervention of Rebel fighters carry their weapons as they move towards their positions near the front line to forget the three occupied islands, and analyst Hezbollah’s Shia militia in Syria to pro- against forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad in Ratian village, north of Aleppo. even coordinate to fight against Sunnis tect the authoritarian regime, which THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Protest against US killings Jordan rapper Iran talks: US raps Israel sues Netanyahu over election for inaccurate leaks campaign clip

JERUSALEM: A Jordanian Khamenei vows to resist global curbs over N-programme hip-hop group has taken legal action against Prime Minister WASHINGTON: The United Obama, who has frosty relations Khamenei said in a public speech Benjamin Netanyahu and his States accused Israel yesterday with Netanyahu, has declined to in Tehran carried by the official Likud party after one of its songs of leaking inaccurate informa- meet the Israeli prime minister, IRNA news agency. “I believe that was used in a campaign video for tion about nuclear negotiations citing what he has said is US pro- if we allow them to dictate to us Israel’s election next month. with Iran, intensifying tensions tocol not to meet world leaders on the nuclear issue, they will still Firas Shehadeh, founder of the over the issue before Israeli before national elections, due to keep the sanctions in place because group Turabyeh (“Of the Soil”), Prime Minister Benjamin take place in Israel on March 17. what they are against is the very filed an injunction with the Haifa Netanyahu’s contentious March State Department spokes- foundation of our revolution.” District Court stating that the visit to Washington. woman Jen Psaki, speaking Khamenei said: “Serious work song had been used without per- US President Barack Obama’s to reporters, accused Israel of must take place. We can with- mission, Iyad Jubran, the group’s spokesman accused Israel of “selective sharing of informa- stand the sanctions and neutral- attorney, said. misrepresenting the US position. tion” but declined to say what ise and foil the enemy’s goals. If “They were stunned by Likud’s White House spokesman Josh information had been “cherry- we don’t, the enemy would pro- shamelessness and outright Earnest criticised the “contin- picked”. “I think it is safe to say ceed and place conditions on our theft,” the Israel-based Jubran ued practice of cherry-picking not everything you are hearing nuclear programme and impose said. Representatives of Likud specific pieces of information from the Israeli government is an sanctions. If sanctions are to be and Netanyahu declined to com- and using them out of context accurate reflection of the details the way, the Iranian nation can ment. The song, entitled Gorbeh to distort the negotiating posi- of the talks,” Psaki said. also do it. A big collection of the (Alienation), is being used in a tion of the United States”. Earnest would not discuss details world’s oil and gas is in Iran so 40-second online video posted on “There’s no question that some of US-Israeli consultations on Iran Iran if necessary can hold back Netanyahu’s YouTube channel. of the things that the Israelis have nuclear negotiations. “But I think on the gas that Europe and the The video, under the title “Us or said in characterising our nego- it is fair to say that the United world is so dependent on.” Them, ISIS’s Version”, depicts four tiating position have not been States is mindful of the need to not Khamenei said the United men dressed as Islamic State mili- accurate,” Earnest said at a news negotiate in public and ensure that States, which has waged air strikes tants driving across sandy terrain. briefing. “There’s no question information that’s discussed in the against Islamic State fighters in At one point, the driver stops to ask about that.” negotiating table is not taken out Iraq and Syria, had written to the driver of a car next to them in The public criticism of the long- of context and publicised in a way Tehran about tackling the radi- Arabic-accented Hebrew: “How do time US ally from both the White that distorts the negotiating posi- cal Sunni Islamist group. But he we get to Jerusalem, brother?” The House and the State Department tion of the United States and our accused Washington of secretly Israeli driver replies: “Turn left.” came as negotiations between allies,” he said. supporting Islamic State fighters. The message appears to be the United States, Russia, China, Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme “They wrote a letter to the that if the centre-left defeats France, Germany, Britain and leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Iranian foreign ministry promis- Netanyahu’s right-wing party in Iran reached a crucial stage, with vowed yesterday that his coun- ing not to support Daesh (Islamic the March 17 parliamentary elec- a basic framework agreement due try would resist global sanctions State), not knowing that the evi- tion, ISIS will end up taking over. by the end of March. imposed over its disputed nuclear dence in photographs of their Iranian students shout slogans during a demonstration near the Swiss Shehadeh said he learned of It also followed a rift caused programme, saying that Iran might military assistance to Daesh embassy in Tehran yesterday, in solidarity with the three Muslim American the clip from friends on Saturday, when Republicans invited respond to international pressure was already in the hands of the students murdered last week in the North Carolina university town of shortly after it was posted online. Netanyahu to address a joint meet- by cutting back gas exports. revolutionary forces (Iraq’s Shia- “I was shocked, it was craziness,” Chapel Hill. Shouting “Death to America” up to 300 students linked to ing of the US Congress on March “The enemy is using the lever of led government and militia),” he told Reuters by phone from the Bassiji Islamist militia demonstrated outside the embassy, which 3 without informing the White sanctions to the hilt and their goal Khamenei said. Spain. “We are against ISIS and House or Democratic leaders. is to stop our people’s progress,” REUTERS represents US interests in Iran. Heavy security was deployed around against Israel.” the building in north Tehran and police kept the demonstrators at bay. The court petition says the clip creates the impression that the group supports ISIS and could expose them to reprisals by those who oppose IS. Its use in the cam- paign of an Israeli right-wing 5 Turkish deputies hurt as tensions spiral over protest bill party could also deter their fans. Turabyeh has four members. ANKARA: Turkey’s ruling on the legislation. The parlia- — filmed by some MPs on their accusing the two of merely pre- a result of AKP attacks.” Musa The song is about their politi- party yesterday struggled to ment session focused instead on phones — be scrutinised and the tending to be hurt. Cam was being treated in hos- cal alienation and longing for a push a hugely controversial bill unrelated motions presented by guilty be sanctioned. “The two women lawmak- pital but all three were “in good return to their Palestinian home- boosting the powers of police the opposition in a delaying tactic Ertugrul Kurkcu, an opposition ers battered themselves. They condition” he said, adding: “We land, Shehadeh said. REUTERS against protesters through par- aimed at thwarting the debate on MP, said he suffered a head injury played their role very well.” The will keep on our struggle against liament, after tensions spilled the so-called “homeland security while trying to thwart a punch brawl came at the end of a ses- fascism.” South Sudan army over into fighting between MPs bill.” The bill has been put on par- directed at Sebahat Tuncel, a sion that had been dominated by Kurkcu said the opposition that left five deputies hurt. liament’s agenda for today. female deputy from the HDP. a high-profile murder case, which was more determined than ever and rebels battle The scuffles overnight — some Five opposition lawmakers were “I was stuck in the middle to has thrust the issue of violence to block the protest bill, which of the worst seen in the national injured in the midnight scuffles, prevent a punch aimed at Mrs against women into the spotlight. looks set to be one of the most JUBA: South Sudan’s army assembly in years — saw MPs with two suffering head injuries Sebahat (Tuncel). I was wounded Just hours before the fighting, contentious pieces of legislation and rebels fought heavy battles brandishing ceremonial gavels, inflicted by the gavel normally on the head. AKP (lawmakers) many lawmakers in the 550-seat in Turkey in years. for a third day yesterday with exchanging punches and one dep- used by the speaker, the Dogan attacked with whatever they have parliament had taken the floor to The bill was introduced in scores of casualties, the defence uty even dumped in a flowerbed. news agency said. Four of the in their hands. “They attacked condemn attacks on women after parliament by the government minister said, a day ahead of a The opposition has expressed five required hospital treatment with the parliament speaker’s the murder and attempted rape after deadly pro-Kurdish pro- planned restart of peace talks. outrage over the new bill, accus- for their injuries and the session, gavel and the parliament bell and of a 20-year-old student by a bus tests in October. “We consider it Heavy shelling was reported in ing President Recep Tayyip which had gone on until after hit us with iron chairs,” he said. driver in southern Turkey — a a law that facilitates a switch to several sites in the northern state Erdoganof trying to turn Turkey midnight, was finally adjourned AKP lawmaker Mustafa Elitas case that has triggered an out- an authoritarian state,” Aykan of Upper Nile, including around into a police state and vowing to until yesterday afternoon. claimed that he was “harassed” pouring of public anger. Erdemir, a lawmaker for the CHP, Renk and Melut, with Defence use every possible tactic to pre- The opposition Republican by the HDP’s female lawmakers, CHP lawmaker Muslim Sari told AFP. The AKP however has Minister Kuol Manyang claim- vent the text even being debated. People’s Party (CHP) and the including Tuncel and prominent said in a Twitter message that stood behind the legislation, say- ing that rebel chief Riek Machar Yesterday, the ruling Justice Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Pervin Buldan, when he his fellow colleagues Musa ing it is compatible with EU laws had lost control of his forces. and Development Party (AKP), took the affair to the parliament took the floor to deliver a speech. Cam, Aykut Erdogdu and Refik and describing it as a “package Manyang said the small settle- which introduced the bill, was still speaker’s office, demanding that “They tried to drive me away Eryilmaz were also injured dur- protecting freedoms”. ment of Kaka was “under heavy unable to begin a formal debate the footage from the fighting from the rostrum,” he said, ing the parliamentary brawl, “as AFP artillery bombardment”. AFP

Syria ready Tunisia ‘Qaeda’ attack for Aleppo kills four policemen truce: Envoy TUNIS: Four Tunisian police attack”. “We will chase the ter- were killed in a pre-dawn rorists, the assassins, into their BEIRUT: The Syrian regime attack yesterday by suspected hideouts in order to exterminate is ready to suspend aerial bom- Al Qaeda-linked militants them and clean up the country,” bardment of Aleppo to allow a near the Algerian border, with he told reporters in Tunis. humanitarian ceasefire, a UN the prime minister vowing to Essid, who was sworn in earlier envoy said, even as govern- “exterminate” the perpetrators. this month, heads a coalition gov- ment troops sought to encircle The attack was the first deadly ernment which includes moderate embattled rebels. assault this year on government Islamists and had said his priority The comments by Staffan de forces in Tunisia, where the police was to restore security and “bat- Mistura came as regime forces and the army have been hunting tle against terrorism”. cut the main rebel supply line into down jihadists blamed for a string The policemen were buried Aleppo in fighting that killed more of attacks on security forces. Wednesday afternoon in their than 150 people. As clashes raged “A group of 20 terrorists hometowns, including Kasserine in the area, De Mistura announced attacked a patrol of the National where at least one coffin was that Damascus was willing to sus- Guard,” 2km from Kasserine, draped in the Tunisian flag. pend its aerial bombardment of which lies at the foot of Mount There was no immediate claim of Aleppo city for six weeks. Chaambi, said interior ministry responsibility for the assault, but “The government of Syria has spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui. a Twitter account close to Okba indicated to me its willingness to The gunmen opened fire at a Ibn Nafaa praised the attack. halt all aerial bombing and artillery police car, killing the four police- “God be praised, a patrol of the shelling for a period of six weeks all men, and fled with their weapons, pagan (police) was attacked near over the city of Aleppo from a date Members of Al Qaeda’s Nusra Front prepare to fire a mortar towards forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al said Aroui. Mount Chaambi and four (police- we’ll announce from Damascus,” Assad in Al Mallah farms, north of Aleppo, yesterday. Witnesses said the car was rid- men) killed,” the account said. De Mistura said after addressing dled with bullets and had over- Okba Ibn Nafaa claimed the UN Security Council. “freeze” fighting in Aleppo that the regime more time to kill rebel fighters in the area. turned by the side of a road in responsibility for a July 2014 Rebel fighters, who have no air has thus far failed to gain much more civilians”. On the ground, Elsewhere, Kurdish forces had Boulaaba, near Kasserine. The attack that killed 15 soldiers power, would be asked to suspend traction. He incurred the wrath Syrian troops effectively severed now seized more than half the vil- windshield was also shattered. in the Chaambi region in what rocket and mortar fire for six of the opposition last week by the main rebel supply route into lages around the flashpoint town Aroui said the attackers were authorities said was one of the weeks. “The purpose is to spare describing President Bashar Al the eastern half of Aleppo city, of Kobane from IS militants. members of the Al Qaeda-linked deadliest assaults in the army’s as many civilians as possible while Assad as “part of the solution” to which is under opposition con- The group said fighters from the Okba Ibn Nafaa Brigade, the main history. Tunisia has seen a rise we try to find a political solution,” the country’s conflict. trol, the Syrian Observatory for Kurdish People’s Protection had Tunisian armed group active in Islamist extremism since the the diplomat said. An activist in Aleppo expressed Human Rights said. Regime captured 215 villages around the along the border with Algeria. 2011 revolution that ousted vet- De Mistura was appointed doubt about the ceasefire plan, forces also captured the village of border town, which fell to them Prime Minister Habib Essid eran strongman Zine El Abidine UN peace envoy for Syria in July saying efforts by De Mistura Hardtaneen, in the countryside of on January 26 after more than said authorities would respond Ben Ali. and last year proposed a plan to and others “have simply given Aleppo, but lost another village to four months of fighting. AFP harshly to the “cowardly terrorist AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

UK journalist’s Ukraine troops resignation after HSBC leaks quit flashpoint makes waves

LONDON: A British journal- ist’s resignation and public after assault denouncements of his newspa- per’s coverage of the HSBC tax leaks scandal has shocked the media establishment. Fighting continues in Debaltseve Chief political commentator Peter Oborne announced his res- ARTEMIVSK/BULAVYNE: developments in violation of the ignation from the Daily Telegraph Government forces were pull- Minsk agreements continue,” she on Tuesday in a searing attack on ing out of an encircled town in said, making an apparent threat the newspaper published online. eastern Ukraine yesterday after of further economic sanctions on Oborne accused the broad- a fierce assault by Russian- Moscow. sheet of suppressing negative sto- backed separatists which Kiev Canada imposed sanctions on ries about banking giant HSBC and Europe said violated a Russia over its conduct in Ukraine to keep the valuable advertiser crumbling ceasefire. on Tuesday, a move Moscow said happy in comments widely shared President Petro Poroshenko would fuel further tension in on social media as a defence of said more than 80 percent of his Ukraine and prevent the imple- journalistic freedom. troops had left the rail hub fol- mentation of the ceasefire. In the wake of his claims, lowing a heavy bombardment and There was little hope when the The Guardian, which published street-by-street battles which he deal was signed last Thursday in the leaks, alleged yesterday that said showed “the true face of the the Belarussian capital Minsk by HSBC had put its advertising bandits and separatists who are the rebels, Ukraine, Russia and with the newspaper “on pause”. supported by Russia”. the OSCE security watchdog HSBC declined to comment on The rebels say the ceasefire, that it would hold for long, but Pro-Russian rebels stationed in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlivka, Donetsk region, launch missiles from Grad the accusations. negotiated by Ukraine, Russia, its seeming swift collapse has sur- launch vehicles yesterday. In a 3,000-word article describ- Germany and France at a sum- prised many. ing waves of redundancies and fall- mit in Belarus last week, does not Nato Secretary-General Jens witness saw weary Ukrainian saw black smoke rising over the troops were forced to pull back, ing standards during his five years apply to Debaltseve, which links Stoltenberg voiced deep concern troops, their faces blackened, town and heard loud blasts hours last week’s peace deal had all but at the Daily Telegraph, Oborne the two rebel-controlled regions about the deteriorating situation some in columns, some in cars, after the withdrawal began. collapsed, with both sides fail- said the separation between the of eastern Ukraine, Donetsk and in and around Debaltseve, saying: arriving in Artemivsk, about “The withdrawal of forces ing to withdraw heavy guns as editorial and advertising depart- Luhansk. “The refusal of the separatists to 30km north of Debaltseve. from Debaltseve is taking place required after the rebels refused ments had “collapsed”. Poroshenko and the West say respect the ceasefire threatens For Poroshenko, the retreat in a planned and organised way,” to halt their advance. “After a lot of agony I have the rebel assault is being rein- the agreement.” may have saved the lives of thou- said Semen Semenchenko, who But Interfax news agency later come to the conclusion that I forced by Russian tanks, artil- Britain Foreign Secretary sands of Ukrainian soldiers who heads the Donbass paramilitary cited the self-proclaimed Donetsk have a duty to make all this pub- lery and soldiers, though Moscow Philip Hammond said Europe were all but trapped in the town battalion. People’s Republic as saying sepa- lic,” Oborne wrote on website denies sending forces to join the should at least extend its sanc- against a better-equipped army. “The enemy is trying to cut the ratists had begun pulling back openDemocracy. battle for a region that President tions against Moscow if the cease- But another military defeat, roads and prevent the exit of the artillery from rebel-held areas “The Telegraph’s recent cover- Vladimir Putin has called “New fire broke down. coming as Ukraine approaches troops,” he said on Facebook. where fighting had ceased. age of HSBC amounts to a form Russia”. A German government spokes- the first anniversary of the over- News of the withdrawal imme- Rebels stepped up their offen- of fraud on its readers.” “The actions by the Russia- man said the Minsk agreement throw of the Moscow-backed diately affected financial markets, sive on Debaltseve almost imme- He repeated his claims in an backed separatists in Debaltseve had been damaged though it made president Viktor Yanukovich, with the cost of insuring exposure diately after the Minsk deal to end interview with BBC radio’s Today are a clear violation of the cease- sense to try to implement it. may be difficult to stomach for a to Ukrainian debt and the spreads the conflict in eastern Ukraine, programme, saying: “There has been fire,” European Union foreign pol- Putin showed no sign of backing population weary of a long con- of the country’s dollar bonds over which has killed more than 5,000 a series of stories which look very icy chief Federica Mogherini said down over Ukraine on Tuesday flict and could further damage safe haven US treasury bills soar- people, was signed on Thursday. much as if poor editorial judgement in Brussels, stepping up Western evening, when he urged Kiev’s Poroshenko’s standing. ing to record highs. The deal gave both sides until has been exercised and they tend to criticism of the rebel offensive on pro-Western leaders to let their Pro-Kiev commanders said The rouble was largely steady Sunday to lay down their arms, affect significant advertisers.” Debaltseve. soldiers surrender to avoid more some forces had pulled out but against the dollar, but the official prompting some analysts to sug- Oborne wrote that he had “The EU stands ready to bloodshed. there were reports of continued rate of Ukraine’s hryvnia cur- gest the rebels felt they could take informed the Telegraph leadership take appropriate action in case Hours later, the Ukrainian fighting in the town. A Reuters rency hit a record low. the town within that timeframe. of his resignation in December due the fighting and other negative withdrawal was under way. A correspondent near Debaltseve Even before the Ukrainian REUTERS to concerns that financial inter- ests were influencing coverage. He said he had changed his mind about leaving qui- etly because of the newspaper’s February coverage of allegations Labour under pressure over EU referendum as official quits that HSBC helped wealthy cli- ents evade tax, a story that made headlines around the world last LONDON: Britain’s opposi- would hang a “closed for business” feel uneasy about. UK Independence Party (Ukip) offer us that choice is UKIP.” week. “You needed a microscope tion Labour Party came under sign over Britain and that an EU There’s also disquiet — from a because she was “disillusioned” by Her resignation came as a major to find the Telegraph coverage,” pressure to offer voters a mem- exit would be disastrous. tactical viewpoint less than three its Europe stance. Labour donor prepared to urge Oborne wrote. bership referendum on leaving It has said it would only offer a months before the election — that Writing in the Daily Telegraph Ed Miliband, the party’s leader, In response, the Telegraph the European Union yesterday referendum if it deemed there was Cameron’s Conservatives are the newspaper, former NEC chair to commit to hold a referendum. issued a statement denying the after a senior official quit over a substantial further shift of powers only ones offering to renegotiate Harriet Yeo said she had been told “If Ed Miliband becomes prime accusations. “The distinction the issue and a major donor pre- from London to Brussels, something Britain’s EU ties before holding many senior Labour lawmakers minister in May and renegotiates between advertising and our pared to call for a policy U-turn. that’s neither imminent nor likely. such a referendum if re-elected. favoured a referendum but had without committing to a referen- award-winning editorial opera- Unlike Conservative Prime But some in the left-wing party, Yesterday, a former head of been asked not to speak out. dum, he will inevitably weaken the tion has always been fundamental Minister David Cameron, Labour parts of which have a tradition of Labour’s ruling body, the National “I cannot support this UK’s bargaining position,” busi- to our business. We utterly refute has resisted offering such a ref- Euroscepticism, argue it’s undem- Executive Committee, said she approach,” she wrote. “It is time nessman John Mills, who donated any allegation to the contrary,” erendum in the run-up to a close ocratic to deprive voters of a say was leaving the party and switch- to decide whether we remain in £1.65m to Labour in 2013 said. the statement read. May 7 national vote, arguing it on something polls show many ing her support to the anti-EU the EU. The only party I trust to REUTERS AFP

Pottery visit Scotland declares Denmark buries Jewish online ‘freedom’ from Britain shooting victim

LONDON: Five months after COPENHAGEN: Crowds of acknowledged on Tuesday that Scotland voted against independ- mourners turned out yester- the suspected gunman, identified ence from the rest of the United day amid high security for the as a 22-year-old with a history of Kingdom, the Scottish govern- funeral of a Jewish man killed in violent crime, had been had been ment has seceded — at least online. the Copenhagen shooting spree flagged up as being at risk of radi- The devolved government in as questions mounted about calisation while he was in prison. Edinburgh has replaced its old whether more could have been But police dismissed criticism domain name gov.uk, which is also done to prevent the attacks. they had failed to boost security used by British ministries in London, Dan Uzan, a 37-year-old vol- after the Paris attacks in January with the newly introduced .scot. unteer security guard, was killed that killed 17 people including The main website for the gov- outside Copenhagen’s main syna- four Jews. “The security level ernment is now www.gov.scot, gogue in the second of two week- was raised after the incident (in rather than www.scotland.gov.uk end shootings that sent jitters Paris),” Peter Dahl, a senior police — although that link will continue across Europe. official, told the Jyllands-Posten to work for the forseeable future. Security was tight as hundreds newspaper. “Using the .scot domain as of people gathered at a Jewish However, members of the our primary web address will be cemetery in Copenhagen for Jewish community in Denmark a visible symbol of the Scottish Uzan’s funeral, with police out in have said they did not notice government’s online presence and Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the ‘Emma Bridgewater’ pottery factory to view the production force along with sniffer dogs and any increased police protection our involvement with the world- of a mug that the company has launched in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, in Stoke-on-Trent, snipers posted on nearby rooftops. ahead of the Copenhagen attacks, wide family of Scots who choose Staffordshire, England, yesterday. Prime Minister Helle according to the paper. to express their identity or affin- Thorning-Schmidt, who said The alleged gunman, named as ity online,” said Deputy First this week that “an attack on the Omar El-Hussein, launched his Minister John Swinney. Jews of Denmark is an attack on rampage on Saturday, first firing off The .scot domain name was Denmark”, plans to attend the dozens of rounds outside a cultural introduced in September and so Strauss-Kahn case collapsed: Lawyer ceremony, according to Ritzau centre where a debate on Islam and far has more than 8,000 incarna- news agency. free speech was taking place. tions, according to the govern- “Everybody in our commu- Finn Noergaard, a 55-year-old ment. It is run by a not-for-profit PARIS: The pimping case Washington. But his lawyers, deliv- lack of evidence. The silver-haired nity knew Dan,” Dan Rosenberg Danish documentary film direc- registry. against Dominique Strauss-Kahn ering their closing arguments, said economist has maintained he Asmussen, the head of the Danish tor, was shot dead and three Former Scottish first minis- has “collapsed”, a lawyer for the the law had been “twisted” to try never knew the women brought Jewish community, said. police officers were wounded. ter Alex Salmond, who led the former IMF chief said yester- and attack Strauss-Kahn over his by his entourage to the orgies “He was always ready to his Several hours later, the assail- campaign for independence in day, summing up a trial which morals in a case which honed in on were prostitutes. The friends in part, he was a very fine example ant opened fire outside the syna- September’s referendum, has long has exposed the most intimate his sexual proclivities. question testified they had kept for the whole community.” gogue where a bar mitzvah was advocated a separate Scottish details of his client’s sex life. A date for the verdict will be the fact secret from him. Danish security services have being celebrated, killing Uzan and domain name. He said it would The 65-year-old Strauss-Kahn, announced on Friday. While prostitution is legal in come under scrutiny over what injuring two policemen. create an “online community once seen as a frontrunner for the Strauss-Kahn received a boost France, organising and profiting action had been taken to prepare The suspect, a Danish-born defined by a shared commitment French presidency, is on trial in the during the week after two former from prostitution is considered for possible attacks in the wake of man of Palestinian origin, died in to Scottish identity, culture and northern city of Lille, charged with prostitutes dropped a civil lawsuit pimping and is punishable by up the Islamist killings in Paris just a hail of police bullets in a pre- economic promotion”. procuring prostitutes to attend against him, and the prosecutor to 10 years in prison. weeks before. dawn shootout on Sunday. AFP sex parties in Brussels, Paris and called for him to be acquitted for AFP Danish intelligence AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA Tens of thousands flee Myanmar conflict Exodus sparks alarm in Beijing; clashes continue

LASHIO: Nearly 90,000 civil- Cross trucks in a desperate dash Humanitarian Coordinator in ians in northeastern Myanmar from their homes. “It was a mira- Myanmar, Renata Dessallien, said are believed to have fled clashes cle we weren’t hit,” Maung Ying she was “saddened” by the aid between troops and ethnic rebels, said in Lashio after the attack on convoy attack, adding that it was an official said yesterday, as spo- aid vehicles, which were marked in breach of humanitarian law. “I radic violence hampered efforts with Red Cross flags but had no appeal to all parties to the conflict to evacuate those still trapped. military protection. to ensure that civilians are pro- Rebels fear the national army “They were shooting from the tected, and to allow civilians who is planning a major assault fol- mountains on both sides of the remain in the conflict zone safe lowing the imposition of a state of road. I thought I was going to die, passage out of the Kokang area,” emergency in the Kokang region bullets were passing just over our she said in a statement. of Shan state on Tuesday. Whole heads,” he said, adding the ordeal The violence, which flared on towns and villages lie empty in lasted for an hour. The convoy February 9, has killed dozens of the rugged, remote area as tens had passed through Laukkai, the soldiers and rebels. There is no of thousands of residents have fled epicentre of fierce fighting since official civilian death toll. their homes — some on foot. rebels launched attacks last week. Laukkai’s ethnic Kokang MP At least 30,000 people, mainly Tun Tun Oo, head of the Lashio Kyaw Ni Naing said he believed the ethnic Chinese Kokang, have Red Cross, which is separate from more than half of the region’s crossed the border into China’s the better known International 140,000 people were on the move. Boko Haram fighters’ armoured vehicle burning after being set ablaze by the Nigerian military in Monguno, in Yunnan province, sparking alarm Committee of the Red Cross, said “There are many refugees northeast Borno state, yesterday. in Beijing. Clashes continued yes- it was now too dangerous to go fleeing from Laukkai town and terday as more civilians arrived into Laukkai. “We just have to nearby regions,” he said and in the Shan town of Lashio, fear- wait for people to come to us. If added that around 8,000 peo- Nigeria claims killing 300 Boko Haram ing they could be caught up in the the army could give us protec- ple from central Myanmar had sudden upsurge of violence. tion under military rule, then we fled through Lashio, while some In one of at least two separate would go back,” he said. 40,000 Kokang had crossed into attacks on civilians on Tuesday, Both the army and rebels have China. Another 40,000 people militants; civilians killed in air strike around 100 people came under fire blamed each other for the attack. from Kokang and other ethnic as they travelled in Myanmar Red The United Nations Resident and minorities were scrambling for ABUJA: Nigeria yesterday purported destruction of a vast is in Niger and the other in safety along the frontier. claimed to have killed more cache of arms, equipment and Nigeria. Only the Niger side of China says it has stepped up than 300 Boko Haram militants ammunition, adds to a list of the village was hit. border controls and called on all in a counter-offensive, as Chad claimed military victories in Troops from Niger and Chad parties to prevent a further esca- pushed into rebel-held areas recent weeks. are currently mobilised on the lation of fighting. Military activity but an air strike left at least 20 The Chadian military, which border against the Boko Haram in Lashio appeared to be increas- civilians dead. recently regained control of the threat but both countries’ mili- ing, despite an apparent lull in The military’s claim of “massive” Nigerian town of Gamboru on the taries denied being responsible. heavy fighting, with two helicop- Boko Haram casualties came as it border with Cameroon, said they Boko Haram, meanwhile, ters and six trucks seemingly on said it had retaken the garrison had pushed further into Borno. vowed to make voting impossible standby at an army airstrip on town of Monguno in Borno state Two Chadian soldiers and sev- in Nigeria’s upcoming presidential the outskirts of town. that had been captured on January eral Boko Haram fighters were and parliamentary elections after “The military is increasing its 25 and 10 other communities. killed in violent clashes around a brace of deadly suicide attacks forces with tanks and heavy weapons There was no independent verifi- Dikwa, some 50km southwest of in the country’s violence-wracked in the region. We believe there will cation of the claims, which follow Gamboru. A militant camp, which northeast. Boko Haram leader be more fighting,” said Captain Tar similar assertions about high num- is near the group’s stronghold in Abubakar Shekau vowed in a new Parn Hla, spokesman for the Ta’ang bers of militant deaths by Niger, the Sambisa Forest, was overrun, video posted on Twitter: “This National Liberation Army, which is Chad and Cameroon involved in Chadian military sources said. election will not be held even if fighting alongside the Kokang rebels. the regional fight-back. There was a set-back for the we are dead.” He denied rebel involvement in Civilian vigilantes in Monguno, regional force, however, as local Operations to end the deadly the attack on the aid convoy, and from which a militant strike on officials and humanitarian sources insurgency were cited as the rea- accused the army of “intentionally” the state capital Maiduguri was said between 20 and 30 mourners son to delay polling by six weeks A woman cries after fleeing from conflict areas near the Myanmar and targeting civilians. No one from the expected to be launched, con- at a funeral were killed in an air to March 28 but the elections Chinese border as they arrive at a temporary refugee camp at a monastery Myanmar government was avail- firmed the recapture but said only strike by an unidentified plane. chief ruled out further postpone- able to comment. that there were heavy casualties. The bombs struck near the ment as “unconstitutional”. in Lashio, northern Myanmar, yesterday. AFP The recapture, and the mosque in Abadam, half of which AFP

Indonesia tells Bangladesh orders top Islamist to hang, fuelling unrest Australia: Threats DHAKA: Bangladesh’s war Islamist party, Jamaat-Islami, on supporters to blockade roads, in the name of Islam,” prosecutor innocent villagers and minority have no place crimes tribunal ordered the exe- was found guilty of murder, railways and waterways to force Sultan Mahmud told reporters. Hindus in the 1971 conflict when cution of a senior Islamist leader genocide and torture. Hasina to call new polls. Subhan is the 17th person and the then East Pakistan seceded yesterday after convicting him The verdict is expected to fur- Justice Obaidul Hassan, head the 12th and the last Islamist to from Islamabad. in diplomacy of atrocities during the country’s ther inflame tensions in Bangladesh of the International Crimes be convicted by the court, which Defence lawyers said they 1971 independence war, trigger- where an alliance of opposition Tribunal (ICT), handed down the is a domestic tribunal set up by would appeal the verdict as the JAKARTA: Indonesia’s foreign ing violence outside the court. parties, including Jamaat, is trying sentences, saying the 79-year-old Hasina’s government without any charges against Subhan were ministry told Australia yester- Three Molotov cocktails to topple the government of Prime leader would be “hanged by the international oversight. “false and baseless”. Previous day that nobody responds well thrown by suspected anti-gov- Minister Sheikh Hasina. neck until his death”. Prosecutors said Subhan was the death sentences handed down to threats as tensions mount ernment activists exploded out- At least 87 people have died since “He was found guilty of six head of Jamaat and a pro-Pakistani against Jamaat leaders, including over the looming execution of side the courthouse in central early January when the leader of out of nine charges. As a leader militia in the northwestern district its supreme and spiritual leaders, two Australian drug smugglers. Dhaka as Abdus Subhan, a vice the main opposition Bangladesh of Jamaat, he collaborated with town of Pabna and he actively took plunged Bangladesh into its dead- As diplomatic efforts intensify president of Bangladesh’s largest Nationalist Party (BNP) called Pakistan army and he carried out part in the murder of hundreds of liest unrest in 2013. AFP to save Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, Prime Minister Tony Abbott asked Indonesia to remem- ber the $1bn in Australian aid in Dragon Dance ANC chief sorry for ‘cockroach’ remark the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami that killed 170,000 Indonesians. CAPE TOWN: The chairwoman of South Africa’s ruling African “We sent a significant con- National Congress apologised yesterday for calling opposition tingent of our armed forces to leader Julius Malema a “cockroach” — the insult used to ignite the help in Indonesia with humani- Rwandan genocide. The unusual move came from Baleka Mbete, tarian relief,” he told reporters who is also Speaker of Parliament and was a key figure in chaotic in Australia yesterday. “I would scenes in the national assembly last week. Mbete controversially say to the Indonesian people and called in security forces to forcibly evict Malema and members of his the Indonesian government — we Economic Freedom Fighters after they disrupted President Jacob in Australia are always there to Zuma’s State of the Nation address last Thursday. Addressing an help you and we hope that you ANC provincial congress she referred to “cockroaches like Malema might reciprocate in this way at roaming all over the place”. Malema responded by claiming that this time.” Mbete was calling for his assassination. “I have concluded that Abbott said he continued to make my remarks - all offending statements I made - were inappropri- “the strongest possible personal ate,” Mbete said. “I withdraw my remarks unreservedly. I apologise representations” to Indonesian unconditionally, to South Africans, to Parliament and Honourable President Joko Widodo and warned Julius Malema for any hurt or harm I may have caused.” he would feel “grievously let down” if his pleas for clemency were Nepal officials change Everest route ignored. Abbott’s comments were not warmly received in Jakarta, KATHMANDU: Nepalese officials said yesterday that they are which has repeatedly insisted its changing the route that climbers take up Mount Everest after an decision to execute the two ring- avalanche killed 16 guides last year, the deadliest accident in the leaders of the so-called Bali Nine mountain’s history. The new route will take climbers through heroin smuggling operation was the centre of the treacherous Khumbu Icefall just above Everest not directed at Australia. Filipino dancers perform a Dragon Dance on the eve of the Chinese New Year in Makati City, south of Manila, base camp, avoiding the section to the left of the glacier where Foreign ministry spokesman yesterday. Chinese around the world will celebrate the Year of the Goat today. last year’s avalanche occurred. Nepal’s icefall doctors — the Arrmanatha Nasir said he hoped highly skilled mountaineers who prepare the 8,848-metre peak the prime minister’s remarks did for climbers — will go to Everest next month to fix ropes along not reflect “the true colours of the route, which was last used in the 1990s. Australians”. “What I know is this: threats are not part of dip- Chinese MH370 relatives protest lomatic language and from what MILF hands over some police weapons I know no one responds well to PUTRAJAYA: Chinese relatives of MH370 passengers gathered threats,” Nasir said in response MANILA: The largest Muslim The January 25 firefight on Forty-four police commandos outside the Malaysian prime minister’s office yesterday to demand to Abbott’s tsunami aid remarks. rebel group in the Philippines Mindanao between the Moro were killed in the fighting, the his government rescind its declaration that all on board the plane Indonesian authorities have handed in 16 assault rifles taken Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) first clash between Philippine were presumed dead. “We want an explanation from (Prime confirmed the Australians will be from police commandos killed in and members of the police Special security forces and the MILF in Minister Najib Razak). And we want him to cancel the declara- among the next set of prisoners a January firefight that has jeop- Action Force has thrown the talks about four years. About 50 weap- tion that the incident was an accident,” said Kelly Wen, a Chinese to face the firing squad, but have ardised milestone peace talks, in into doubt and left President ons and other equipment taken national whose husband was on the Malaysia Airlines flight. Two- remained tight-lipped about when what the group said yesterday Benigno Aquino facing a politi- from police in the ambush are thirds of the plane’s passengers were Chinese. AGENCIES the executions will take place. AFP was a show of goodwill. cal crisis. still missing. AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Abducted polio Sharp rise in immunisation team found Afghan civilian murdered QUETTA: Four members of a polio immunisation team have been found murdered after casualties: UN being kidnapped in south- west Pakistan, officials said yesterday. 10,548 civilians killed last year Local militants had abducted the vaccination worker, two local KABUL: The number of civil- (14 percent). Ten percent of all tribal policemen and a driver in ians killed and wounded in casualties could not be clearly the Zhob district of Baluchistan Afghanistan jumped 22 percent attributed to either side. province on Saturday. in 2014, the UN said yesterday, The report also documented a Pakistan is one of only three as Nato troops withdrew from 40 percent increase in casualties countries where polio remains combat leaving government among children (714 killed, 1,760 endemic. But attempts to eradi- forces to battle a raging Taliban injured) compared with the pre- cate it have been badly hit by insurgency. vious year and a 21 percent rise opposition from militants and The United Nations Assistance in casualties among women (298 attacks on immunisation teams Mission in Afghanistan attributed killed, 611 injured). that have now claimed 71 lives the rise to an intensification in The report also underlined the since December 2012. ground fighting, resulting in a dire social and economic con- “Security agencies conducted total of 10,548 civilian casualties sequences of civilian losses on several operations to recover last year, compared with the 2013 Afghan society, with the deaths or the polio worker and other team figure of 8,637. injuries of men often leaving their members and finally found their The number of civilian deaths wives as the sole breadwinners of Pakistani Shias shout slogans during a protest yesterday against the authorities for not providing financial bodies in the mountains on rose 25 percent to 3,699 while the their households, forcing them to compensation to the victims of a suicide attack on January 30 on a mosque in Shikarpur in Karachi. At least 60 Tuesday,” a senior local admin- number of injured was up 21 per- marry off their daughters or take persons were killed when a suicide bomber attacked the mosque. istration official in Zhob, Nazar cent to 6,849. The total casualty children out of school to work. Muhammad Khatran said. figure is the highest recorded in “For Afghan women and chil- He said it seemed the four a single year since the UN began dren, the anguish of losing a men were shot dead on Saturday compiling its reports in 2009. husband and father in the con- or Sunday. A spokesman for the The total number of civilian flict is often only the beginning Attack on Shia mosque paramilitary Frontier Corps, casualties since 2009 now stands of their suffering and hardship,” Manzoor Ahmad, confirmed the at 17,774 killed and 29,971 injured. said UNAMA Director of Human incident. UNAMA had previously noted Rights Georgette Gagnon. Taliban militants claim that the a leap in civilian casualties linked “Rising civilian deaths and polio vaccination drive is a front to the intensification in ground injuries in 2014 attests to a fail- kills three in Islamabad for espionage or a conspiracy to fighting between government and ure to fulfil commitments to sterilise Muslims. They stepped insurgent forces, in its last report protect Afghan civilians from ISLAMABAD: At least three while the other is stable,” she said. on a Shia mosque in northwest up their attacks after a Pakistani published in July 2014. harm,” added Nicholas Haysom, people were killed and two oth- A spokesman of the Islamabad Pakistan last week, claimed by the doctor was recruited by the CIA For the first time since 2009, the UNAMA head. ers injured in an attack on a Shia police confirmed that the security Taliban. to take part in a fake immunisa- more civilians were killed by “Parties to the conflict should mosque in Islamabad yesterday, guard and one other person also Pakistan has suffered a rising tion drive to capture Osama Bin ground engagements (34 percent) understand the impact of their officials said, in a rare attack died during the blast. tide of sectarian violence in recent Laden. AFP than by improvised explosive actions and take responsibil- in the usually calm Pakistani “The suicide bomber had years, most of it perpetrated by devices (IEDs), the insurgent- ity for them, uphold the values capital. A lone suicide bomber opened fire before trying to hardline Sunni groups against made bombs that have previously they claim to defend, and make blew himself up after he was enter the mosque which caused minority Shiite Muslims, who Pakistan to install been the biggest killer. protecting civilians their first confronted by a mosque security the causalities,” the spokesman of make up around one in five of the The report said the increasing priority.” guard as he tried to enter the Islamabad police said. He said the population. modern radar use of explosive weapons systems The Taliban dispute the UN fig- complex during evening prayers, people inside the mosque locked Since June last year the army such as mortars, rockets and ures, which attribute the major- officials said. the door as the suicide bomber has been waging a major cam- system to forecast grenades in civilian-populated ity of casualties to their fighters, “One of the injured expired scuffled with the security guard. paign against strongholds of TTP areas had resulted in “devastat- and have repeatedly stated their in the operation theatre and The attack is the latest in a and other militants in the North rain and flood ing consequences”. desire to limit the loss of civil- the death toll is three now,” Dr wave of deadly sectarian attacks. Waziristan tribal area. As in 2013, the UN estimated ian life. In its recommendations, Ayesha Ishani, spokesperson of In January 61 people were killed The military has heralded the PESHAWAR: After jolted by that close to three-quarters of UNAMA urged the Taliban to the government-run Pakistan in a suicide bombing carried out success of the operation, which it unpredicted devastating rains civilian casualties were caused cease its use of IEDs, while asking Institute of medical Sciences by a Taliban splinter group at a says has killed more than 2,000 and floods in Pakistan’s history by “anti-government elements” government forces to stop using (PIMS) where the injured are Shia mosque, the deadliest sectar- militants, though the precise about four years ago, the mete- (72 percent), far ahead of those mortars and rockets in densely being treated, told reporters. ian incident to hit the country in number and identity of those orological (Met) department is caused by government forces populated areas. “One of the injured is in critical nearly two years. At least 23 peo- killed cannot be verified inde- finally gearing up for install- including international forces AFP condition in the operation theatre ple were killed in another attack pendently. AFP ing modern radar systems to be more exact in predicting weather so that it could warn the government bodies con- cerned in time if there is any disaster in the making. The need for modern radar sys- Ruling party, PPP reach out for a backdoor deal tem was realised when the unprec- edented rains and floods brought huge devastation in July 2010. ISLAMABAD: As the Senate give up on the chairman’s seat. blackmail. The sources said that that PML-N has nominated three and results can be contrary to According to a National Disaster election draws closer, both the PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali both parties’ leaders agreed that Sindh office bearers to contest the conventional results in the Management Authority report, 20 Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Zardari has had two meet- the real numbers game in the there. provincial assembly. million people in an area of over and Pakistan Muslim League- ings with the PML-N, one with Senate would only be visible after There is also growing discon- In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the 100,000 square kilometres were Nawaz (PML-N) are not shying Railways Minister Khawaja Saad the election, and that is when the tent that Chan is capitalizing on PPP has pitched ex-MNA Noor affected by the rains and floods and away from contacting each other, Rafique, and the second with two would be able to negotiate South Punjab which has been Alam Khan on the general seat. there was widespread damage to according to confirmed reports. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. with each other. totally ignored by the PML-N He is in a comfortable position to property and infrastructure. Both of them appear to be on Both sides, it seems, are reluc- For his part, Zardari wants leadership while awarding Senate secure the seat due to his personal After the floods in July 2010, the lookout for broader settle- tant to place all their cards on to keep his party relevant in ticket. The PML-Q’s alliance with contacts with all MPAs of the K-P the radar system at strategic ments in the quest for building the table. national politics by bringing in the PPP could help garner votes Assembly. locations were proposed to bet- consensus over the prized posts of According to details shared by Senate members from all four for Chan. Barring a few major upsets, it ter monitor weather systems chairman and deputy chairman of their representatives, the leaders provinces. By forming an alliance with the seems that the PPP will retain its and forewarn about the disaster. the upper house. of the two parties discussed how In Punjab, PPP candidate PML-Q, Zardari can succeed in position as the single largest party The July 2010 floods woke up the For the moment, however, they should come to a mutually Nadeem Afzal Chan is actively securing Sabir Baloch’s seat from in the upper house. The party’s authorities from deep slumber to there is little sign of any agree- acceptable agreement- in order to soliciting the support of mem- the Balochistan Assembly. The top leadership is expecting 26 to improve the technical capacity of ment between the two sides. prevent smaller political parties bers of the provincial assembly Senate election in Balochistan 28 senators in the upper house. the Met department. Neither party appears willing to in the cabinet from resorting to trying to capitalise on the fact province has its own dynamics INTERNEWS INTERNEWS

Refugees watch cricket Karachi school students learn to counter violence KARACHI: Since the brazen He further shed light on be divided and they use discrimi- attack on a school in Pakistan’s how economy is crippled in the nation to divide people,” he said. Peshawar city, every school- aftermath of a terrorist attack. The head of the Pakistan going child faces the challenge “America is the biggest example Railway bomb disposal squad, of combating terrorism. To meet because its economy was greatly Yaseen Bulro, talked to the chil- the need of the hour, students of affected for a particular time dren about what a bomb looks eight government schools were period after the 9/11 attacks.” like and how to handle it. He told provided an open forum to seek In an attempt to engage the stu- them about the five basic parts guidance from the law enforce- dents, Korejo asked why the ter- of a bomb and what preventive ment agencies’ representatives rorists wanted to make our nation measures should be taken while yesterday. fearful of them. “They want to handling a bomb. Karachi Youth Initiative (KYI) make us weak and uneducated “If you see any of the signs of joined hands with the Society for because their motive is to ruin a bomb such as a mobile phone the Protection of the Rights of our future,” said a student of Agro attached to a box, lights blinking the Child (Sparc) to provide a Technical School. or a battery connected through platform to apprise more than “After the Peshawar school tapes, inform your nearest police 300 government school students attack, every student should station immediately and stay away of ways to counter violence at the understand that every law from it,” he said, while giving his Provincial Scout Headquarters, enforcement agency is there to multimedia presentation. Sindh. protect you and your future,” Answering a question, ASP Investigation SSP Faizullah Korejo said. Shahla Qureshi said that we need Korejo shed light on what terrorism District Central deputy com- training programmes for school- Afghan refugees watch the live broadcast of the Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and Bangladesh is and how it affects us. “When the missioner Saifur Rehman also going children. “Our children, like at a market in Peshawar yesterday. Born in refugee camps and nurtured in the midst of bloody civil strife, environment around you changes answered the queries of students those of our neighbouring coun- Afghanistan’s cricketers have reached another landmark in their extraordinary journey after making their World and makes you uncomfortable in on discrimination in society and tries, should be aware of basic Cup debut against Bangladesh. stepping out of your doorstep, it is its religious and social impacts. self-defence techniques.” terrorism,” he said. “The terrorist groups want us to INTERNEWS THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Pakistani boat blast: Minister warns of action Parrikar says disciplinary action against Coast Guard officer after inquiry; Congress and AAP mock govt

BENGALURU/ Pakistan. We have blown them Guard’s northwest region, denied Parrikar had said in early from near Karachi on New Year’s with a statement”. Party leader AHMEDABAD: Defence off. I was there at Gandhinagar making the comments. January that occupants of the Eve, turned into a ball of fire and Manish Tewari took a dig at Minister Manohar Parrikar and I told at night, blow the boat Facing a volley of questions on vessel that blew up and sank off sank after its occupants, believed Parrikar. yesterday said he will hold an off. We don’t want to serve them Loshali’s remarks, Parrikar said: the coast of Gujarat were “sus- to be four in number, apparently “Mr Def Min what is a big- inquiry and possibly take “disci- biryani.” “I will make inquiry. Take the pected terrorists” and did not set fire to it early Jan 1. ger sin blowing the Pak boat or plinary” action against a Coast Loshali’s remarks were aired by video copy. We will take action appear to be smugglers. The defence minister’s state- lying to the nation? If they were Guard officer who sparked off television channels minutes after against the person if he made the He had said that those aboard ment came just hours after indeed terrorists why be ashamed controversy with his remarks the defence minister was asked statement.” decided to blow themselves up Loshali refuted the media reports. of blowing them out of water. — captured on video — that he about the Indian Express story, “If someone makes a state- instead of surrendering. Addressing a press confer- Uncanny similarities to similar ordered a Pakistani boat alleg- which had highlighted the officer’s ment which is incorrect, you are The defence minister had also ence in Ahmedabad, Loshali said modus operandi the fake encoun- edly trying to sneak into Indian statement. making a case of disciplinary pro- said that another boat was also media reports quoting him as say- ter syndrome to bolster machismo waters be blown up. The daily yesterday ran the ceedings,” he told reporters at the traced but it was in international ing that he ordered that the sus- & build Alpha image,” Tewari said Parrikar also said the govern- story about Loshali’s claims. Aero India 2015 show that was waters. pected boat be blasted were wrong in a tweet. ment “stands by its statement” Later, in the day when Parrikar inaugurated by Prime Minister The suspicious boat was and not factual. “The operation The AAP also mocked the Modi that the boat was blown up by the was speaking on the matter, it Narendra Modi here. intercepted by the Coast Guard was not handled by me. I was not government. “suspected terrorists” themselves put up a video on its website of “You have to understand my based on an intelligence input on fully privy to it,” he maintained. “This reflects the functioning and was prepared to release evi- Loshali speaking at the launch of position. There are 15-16 lakh December 31, after it was traced The Congress and the Aam of the government. A senior offi- dence to this effect. an interceptor boat in Surat on service personnel, if someone in the Arabian Sea, 365km off Aadmi Party took on the govern- cial is saying something and the Coast Guard Deputy Inspector February 16 and where he made makes a statement which is fac- Porbandar in Gujarat. The dra- ment on the issue. government is saying something General (DIG) B K Loshali had on the remarks about the Pakistani tually incorrect I will take action matic incident was a reminder of Congress leader P C Chacko else. This is like one hand does not Monday apparently said: “Let me ‘terror’ boat. after inquiring into it.” the manner Pakistani terrorists said that the “whole thing looks know what the other is doing,” tell you. I hope you remember 31st But in a u-turn, Loshali, who “Defence ministry stands to sneaked into Mumbai in 2008. confused” and they felt that “the said AAP leader Ashutosh. December night. We blew off that is also chief of staff of the Coast what it had stated,” he said. The vessel, which had set off defence minister should come out IANS

Decision on Delhi labs to halve media entry swine flu test rates today: Delhi

NEW DELHI: The Delhi gov- comparatively high number of government ernment yesterday asked the 10 patients with swine flu symp- laboratories authorised to carry toms,” Sharma said. NEW DELHI: The four-day- out swine flu tests to halve their According to the DHS, a total old AAP government will take prices from Rs9,000 to Rs4,500, of 102 positive cases of swine flu a decision today on allowing officials here said. were reported Wednesday, taking entry for media to the Delhi The decision was taken after a the number to 1,781 this year. A government secretariat build- meeting of officials of the directo- total of six people have already ing after meeting senior media rate of health services (DHS) and died due to the disease. representatives, an official said seven private and three govern- Of the 26 designated hospitals yesterday. ment laboratories. to treat swine flu, six are private “We will be meeting tomor- “It was decided that the prices hospitals and 19 are government row (Thursday) morning to sort will be brought down as more hospitals. out this matter,” said Ratnesh and more people are showing Meanwhile, to ensure availa- Mishra, Chairman of the Delhi the symptoms (of swine flu) and bility of sufficient medicines, the Press Accreditation Committee. should get tested,” DHS director health ministry has put up a list A delegation of five-six senior S.K. Sharma said. of retail outlets on its website — media personnel including photo, Any 100-bedded hospital — pri- mohfw.nic.in. The move is meant video and print journalists will be vate or government — can treat to ensure that requisite amount of meeting representatives of the swine flu patients if they have medicine is available for patients. government in an effort to end ventilator facilities, he said. Stating that though there were the impasse. In addition, 40 new licences will at times drug shortages for swine According to a senior journal- be given to chemists around the flu but the DHS always has a ist in the know, new guidelines on city on February 19 onwards to buffer stock and the chemist can Two men wear face masks as a precaution against swine flu outside the Jai Prakash hospital in Bhopal, yesterday. media entry and access to the sec- sell Tamiflu medicine to combat take the supply from them any retariat are likely to be released swine flu. time. hospitals. The health ministry be monitored for their progress home and didn’t require any after the meeting. Sharma said due to the high There are presently four chem- recently cateogorised the people and reasseed after 48 hours by the swine flu test. The Arvind Kejriwal led- standards required to store the ist associations in Delhi, with 100 suffering from seasonal influenza doctor. No testing was required. Cateogory C being a bit severe government has not allowed Tamiflu tablets, limited chemist chemist shop owners having the under three groups. “Category B consisted the one with the symptoms of cat- media persons to enter the Delhi store owners will be given the license of selling the Tamiflu tab- According to it, group A con- patients with all the signs and egory A and B along with chest Secretariat since Monday, the (schedule X )licence or permis- lets to the patients. sisted of the patients with mild symptoms mentioned under cat- pain, breathlessness, drowsiness new government’s first work- sion to sell the Tamiflu tablets. Sharma also urged the people fever, cough sore throat with or egory A and along with that also and sputum mixed with blood ing day leaving many journalists “The selected chemist stores not to panic even if they poses the without body ache, headache, diagnosed with one more flu. They required testing and immediate incensed. are mostly near the 11-12 author- symptoms of swine flu and con- diarrhoea and vomiting. They do shall be treated with Tamiflu. hospitalisation and treatment. The decision was taken follow- ised hospitals that are witnessing sult the doctors at the designated not require Tamiflu and should They needed to be confined at IANS ing a scuffle among some journal- ists, TV crew and photographers. Following the altercation, a press conference by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi government spokesperson We cannot intrude into legislature’s domain: Supreme Court Nagendra Sharma was called off. Court rejects Uber NEW DELHI: The Supreme Interest Foundation contended from contesting elections. and legislature. Lines are marked the constitution bench” which bars Court yesterday said it was for that a person against whom crim- He said that this was also a demarcating the roles (of three courts from issuing directions to cab driver plea to elected representatives to take inal charges have been framed by stage where there was a judicial organs of state),” the court said legislature. As Dwivedi pressed a call at what stage of proceed- the court should be debarred from application of mind by the court as the NGO urged the court to his plea, the court asked him: recall witnesses ings a person facing criminal contesting elections. before framing the charges. take recourse to its power under “What is the medium you want charges should be barred from “This is for the representa- “We should not be stepping the constitution to issue direction us to adopt... What you expect this NEW DELHI: Rape-accused contesting elections and the tives of the people to decide. We into an area” earmarked for the to the Election Commission to court to do, tell us in nutshell.” Uber cab driver Shiv Kumar courts could not issue directions can’t issue directions to legisla- legislature, the court said asking bar people charged with criminal Dwivedi told the court that it Yadav’s application seeking to to the legislature and intrude in ture. They know how to run the if it could issue direction to the offences from contesting elections. should direct the poll panel to recall 28 prosecution witnesses its domain. country in a democratic manner,” parliament to legislate on barring “Your submissions on the first reject the nomination papers of a in the case for further cross A bench of Chief Justice H Chief Justice Dattu observed as the people against whom criminal thought look very, very attractive. candidate against whom charges examination was rejected by L Dattu, Justice A K Sikri and Dwivedi pressed the plea that charges have been framed. What a noble thought is this. But have been framed and also ask the a court here yesterday as an Justice Arun Mishra said this as the framing of charges should “In the name of judicial activ- after a deeper consideration, no,” central government to consider attempt to “delay the proceed- senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi be stage where a person facing ism we can’t step in the arena Chief Justice Dattu said, adding: the issue seriously. ings”. “The application under appearing for NGO Public criminal trial should be barred earmarked for the law makers “We are bound by the decision of IANS consideration is thus nothing but an attempt to protract the trial,” said Additional Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja. ‘Selfie’ girls She said that there was no change in circumstances except Mamata to meet Hasina change of counsel. Yadav’s defence counsel Dharmendra Mishra has submitted that the lawyer who was previously associated with him was during Bangladesh trip not compete enough to defend him. He has requested court to recall KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Mother Language Day, which witnesses for certain clarifications, Minister Mamata Banerjee is commemorates the martyrdom which was opposed by Special scheduled to call on Bangladesh of Bangladesh youths during the Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava President Md Abdul Hamid and Language Movement in 1952. saying that defence is trying to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Banerjee said her government delay the trial in the case. to discuss a host of issues during would build a replica of the Bhasha Meanwhile, the court will hear a three-day trip to the neigh- Shahid Smarak in Kolkata near final arguments in the case today. bouring nation beginning today. the Birla Planetarium. The chief The prosecution on January 31 The talks would particularly minister received an invitation completed recording of evidence in focus on the contentious Teesta from Bangladesh Foreign Minister just 17 days. According to police, water sharing and land boundary A H Mahmood Ali and would also the woman executive was allegedly agreements, which Banerjee had attend a high tea hosted by him. raped by 32-year-old Yadav inside opposed in the past. Diplomatic sources said the chief his cab on the night of December 5. “There should be stronger minister would address a business The court January 13 framed cultural ties between the two conclave organised by the India- charges of rape and causing griev- Bengals. Hope this trip will make Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce ous bodily harm and endangering our bond stronger,” Banerjee told and Industry in association with the life of a woman, kidnapping a media persons here Wednesday. the Federation of Bangladesh woman, criminal intimidation and The chief minister will attend Chambers of Commerce and voluntarily causing hurt against the main function at Dhaka’s Industry and Indian Chamber of Yadav under various sections of A group of women takes ‘selfie’ photographs at a high-end hotel in New Delhi yesterday. Shaheed Minar on Saturday, also Commerce, Kolkata. the Indian Penal Code. the occasion of International IANS AGENCIES THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Partner with India: Modi to foreign defence firms Prime Minister flags off Aero India expo in Bangalore

BANGALORE: From being lakh square metres at the sprawl- equipment. “For me, this (Aero just sellers of defence equip- ing venue. India) is not just a trade fair for ment, foreign firms must evolve Of the 110 countries partici- defence equipment, but a platform into strategic partners as India pating in the event, the US is to launch our defence manufac- wants their technology, skills, represented in a big way with a turing sector. A nation with a systems integration and man- 64-member delegation, followed strong defence industry can not ufacturing strength, Prime by France with 58 delegates, only be more secure, but also reap Minister Narendra Modi said Britain with 48, Russia with 41 rich economic benefits,” Modi here yesterday. and Israel with 25. said, delivering his 20-minute “From sellers, foreign firms Admitting that India had the address in English. must turn into strategic partners reputation of being the world’s Pointing out that India was and use India as part of their glo- largest importer of defence equip- spending tens of billions of dol- bal supply chain,” Modi said at the ment, the prime minister, how- lars on acquisitions from abroad, inaugural ceremony of the Aero ever, said the country would not which accounts for 60 percent India trade expo in this tech hub. like to be in that position though of the defence equipment, Modi Noting that defence budgets imports were inevitable in the said even 20-25 percent reduc- the world over were shrinking, military arena. tion in imports would create an Modi said in his brief address “India being the largest additional 120,000 skilled jobs in to the gathering, which included importer of defence equipment the country. defence ministers and air chiefs of may be music to the ears of some “If we can raise the percent- a dozen countries from the world of you here, but this is one area age of domestic procurement to Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he stands in front of an Indian Air Force Aircraft at Yelahanka Airforce over, adding that the country’s where we would not like to be 70 percent from 40 percent, in Station in Bangalore on the inaugural day of Aero India 2015. frugal manufacturing and engi- number one,” Modi said. the next five years, we will double neering services sector could help He said that in view of the the output in our defence industry of India’s air prowess and daring The IAF pilots also flew the KC-135 tanker of Boeing and foreign firms reduce costs. security challenges in the region, and create thousands of jobs in aerobatics by fighters, helicopters Dhruv advanced light helicop- EMB-145 Embraer from Brazil. “India can also be a base for there was a need to increase the the manufacturing and services and transport aircraft. ter (ALH) as the Sarang aero- In addition, 17 types of civil export to third countries in view country’s defence preparedness by sector,” Modi said. Modi and about 1,000 invitees batics team, the Boeing C-17 aircraft, including business jets of our growing defence part- modernizing the defence forces. Increasing localisation has also were treated to thrilling aerial Globemaster-III heavy-lift and helicopters are on display for nerships in Asia and beyond. A “We have to equip for the needs spin-off benefits on other sectors feats by different types of air- transport and the Russian-made hard-selling in the growing Indian strong defence industry will not of the future, where technology in terms of advanced materials craft, including the indigenous Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft. aviation market. only make us more secure but will play a major role. As a nation and technologies. Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), Daring feats by Flying Bulls The state-run defence exhibi- also more prosperous,” Modi told of a billion people, we have huge “We are focusing on develop- Sukhoi SU-30MKI, Mirage-2000, of Czech Republic, AeroSuper tion organisation has chosen the global aerospace firms partici- requirements for managing inter- ing our defence industry with a Jaguar and the Hawk advanced jet Baltics and Aerowind Services ‘Make in India’ programme of the pating in the five-day air show at nal security,” Modi said. sense of mission with Make in trainer (AJT). from Britain, Scandinavian government as the event’s theme the Yelahanka base of the Indian Terming the 10th edition of India programme at the heart. French aerospace major air show team Wasp and Open to pitch for overseas invest- Air Force (IAF) on the city’s the biennial air show as the larg- We are also reforming our defence Dassault Aviation flew its Rafale Skydiving of the US Special ments in designing, developing outskirts. est ever, reflecting the country’s procurement policies and proce- medium multi-role combat air- Forces drew cheers from the and manufacturing aerospace About 600 multinational and new confidence level and global dures, with a clear preference craft to demonstrate its awesome spectators. products and platforms for the Indian firms, including state-run interest in India, Modi said the for equipment manufactured in strike force as the IAF has short- In all, 72 military aircraft are global military and civil aviation enterprises, are showcasing their trade expo was a mega-meeting of India,” Modi added. listed the MMRCA for induction on flying and static display at the markets, especially in the Indian technologies and products in a the global supply chains, with the Aero India got off to a flying in its frontline fleet in place of the air show, including P8-A mari- sub-continent. dozen pavilions spread over 2.5 most advanced technology and start with a spectacular display ageing Soviet-era MiG-21. time reconnaissance aircraft and IANS Nothing wrong in AAP’s foreign funding, court told Assam BJP

NEW DELHI: The central The PIL was filed by advocate accused the party of receiving “The AAP now has been secur- PIL and said: “Order reserved. We leader quits, government yesterday told the M L Sharma against AAP chief Rs.2 crore in four equal instal- ing funds from foreign country, will pass the order.” Delhi High Court that the Aam Arvind Kejriwal and others say- ments from companies registered especially Muslim terrorist, in The plea named Delhi Chief blames Modi, Aadmi Party’s (AAP) foreign ing that AAP has been receiving in Delhi slums and having the cash converting through false Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy funds were investigated and foreign funds in violation of the same set of directors. cheques as well as phone calls to Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, nothing was found in violation Foreign Contribution Regulation The group claimed that April 5, Delhi from Dubai and other coun- advocates Shanti Bhushan and corruption of the law. Act (FCRA). 2014, four bogus companies made tries...,” the plea said. Prashant Bhushan and said A division bench of Chief The counsel appearing for the donations of Rs5m each through However, appearing for the AAP and its members were pro- GUWAHATI: A senior leader Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Centre told the court that the cheques to AAP at midnight. AAP, advocate Pranav Sachdeva moted and funded by the Central of the BJP’s Assam unit and Endlaw also asked the ministry of earlier government had investi- It alleged that the compa- told the court that the issue of Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the national executive member has home affairs to submit its revised gated the issue and filed a status nies made these donations even AVAM is being investigated by the US through various companies and quit the party, blaming Prime or up-to-date report with regard report and nothing was found though they have not earned prof- government and it has cooperated trusts such as the Ford Foundation. Minister Narendra Modi, to its findings in the matter, in against AAP. its for two years. on the issue. Earlier, the court had directed party President Amit Shah and a sealed cover by 4pm yesterday. “The issue was investigated, Sharma claimed that it has AAP is the only party which the central government to go several other reasons for his The bench reserved the order there was nothing which was been revealed that lakhs of phone asked the Supreme Court to set through the details of the money “disillusionment”. on the public interest litigation found out,” he added. calls from Dubai and other coun- up a SIT on funding received by donated to AAP since its incep- “My departure from the BJP (PIL) that sought a CBI probe Recently, AAP Volunteer tries have been made to Delhi, all national and regional political tion November 26, 2012 and to is not a knee-jerk reaction to any into foreign funds the AAP Action Manch (AVAM), a group especially to the Muslim com- parties, he further said. take action if anything was found specific event, but a gradual disil- received in the past and now in of volunteers who broke away munity for supporting AAP’s The bench after hearing all the in violation of the FCRA. lusionment, a loss of faith with the violation of law. from the AAP in August last year, election. parties reserved the order on the IANS general drift of the party at both the national and state levels,” said Bora in a letter addressed to media. “It was very difficult for me to Relishing rain compose a resignation letter and cite specific causes. What I have Provide toilets to 65,000 tried to do instead is consolidate my thoughts around five specific themes: 1) Assam features fairly low on the priority of the national families per day: Official leadership. 2) Subversion of the democratic tradition by the Modi- NEW DELHI: As many as Attended by political leaders, Shah duo. 3) Political corruption 65,000 families per day need government officials as well as in Assam BJP. 4) BJP’s dalliances to be provided toilets over a sanitation experts, the three-day with the most corrupt Himanta period of over four years in summit explored solutions for a Biswa Sarma. 5) State presi- order to make the “Clean India” successful operation of the SBM dent Siddhartha Bhattacharya’s campaign a success, mission that seeks to make the country actions and utterances,” Bora said director Sujoy Mojumdar said open-defecation free by 2019. in his letter which was available yesterday. Drawing upon the need to make on his Facebook page. As many as 65,000 families sanitation programmes cultur- Bora, who had unsuccessfully per day need to be provided toi- ally sensitive, MP A.V. Swamy contested the 2011 state assembly lets over the next four and half committed to supplement such polls from Jalukbari constituency, years to achieve the goal of the programmes with funds from had earlier been vocal against the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM),” MPLAD “as long as women state BJP leadership over the Mojumdar said at valedictory ses- spearhead the programme”. later’s alleged attempt bring in sion of the India WASH Summit. Delhi legislator Alka Lamba said: Congress leader Himanta Biswa Delhi legislator Somnath “I’ve been elected by the women in Sarma to the BJP. Bharati said the Aam Aadmi my constituency to provide them Party government would soon with safe drinking water and toi- Punjab Police seize assess the requirement of toilets lets, which I’ll ensure will be done.” and dustbins across the national Suggestions that figured in the 25kg heroin capital, adding that he would summit discussion called for a A couple shelters under an umbrella as they walk during a hail storm in Shimla yesterday. work to ensure his Malviya Nagar collective behaviour change while CHANDIGARH: The Punjab constituency in south Delhi is engaging communities to moni- Police yesterday said that it made open-defecation free. tor progress in order to ensure had seized 25 kg heroin from a “The Delhi government will accountability and transparency smuggler in Fazilka district. soon map the entire city to assess with respect to the implementa- The heroine consignment is val- Sayeed hails Modi’s stance on plurality requirements of toilets and dust- tion of the mission. ued at Rs.125 crore in the inter- bins. I’ll take this up as a priority to Gender sensitivity was kept national market, said Inspector ensure that open defecation stops central to the programming and General of Police Jatinder Jain. JAMMU: Peoples Democratic elements did not come too soon, cannons of extremist schools in my constituency,” Bharati said. implementation of the SBM. The seizure was made by the Party (PDP) patron Mufti but his assertion on inclusive and of thought”. “Most of the peo- Meanwhile, Mojumdar added Senior water and sanitation spe- Bathinda unit of the counter intel- Muhammad Sayeed yester- pluralistic character of the country ple within the country and its that the drinking water and cialist Joep Verhagen said: “There ligence wing of the police from day hailed Prime Minister should help in sending right signals well-wishers outside have had a sanitation ministry will soon be are three dots that need to be Hasta Kalan village of Fazilka Narendra Modi’s affirmation on to the world that the idea of India sense of unease for the past many organising orientation workshops connected for the Swachh Bharat district. Police arrested smuggler India’s plurality and co-exist- would continues to offer inspira- months over the divisive practices for all district collectors across campaign: generation of demand Gurcharan Singh in this connec- ence of people belonging to dif- tion for peaceful coexistence of followed by some fringe elements India to enable them to prioritise from communities, a robust supply tion and recovered three Pakistani ferent communities and creeds. communities and ethnicities.” which had created apprehensions sanitation work in their districts. chain market and enough capac- SIM cards, three mobile phones, a In a statement, he said: “Though Sayeed expressed hope that the among the minorities and a large “India also needs to conduct a ity at all levels, right from gram car and other things from him, a the prime minister’s response to assertion would prove as a turn- section of the majority community. national hygiene baseline survey panchayat level to the top.” police spokesman said here. the divisive policies of certain ing point in “silencing the loose IANS like Bangladesh did,” he added. IANS IANS THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Flowery parade

Fajr (Dawn) 4:49 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:06 Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:31 Isha (Night) 7:01

WEATHER

Today Friday Saturday Weather Conditions: Clear Clear Clear Hazy at places at first becomes High: 28° High: 21° High: 21° moderate Low: 19° Low: 15° Low: 14° temperature with scattered clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:06 17:31 05:15 & 17:15 12:00 & 23:00 05-15 KT A woman wearing a colourful costume takes part in the flowers parade of the 131st Carnival of Nice in France yesterday. The theme of the carnival, THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW which runs until March 1, is ‘King of Music’.

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 37/23 Sunny 37/21 Sunny MAKKAH 28/15 Sunny 27/15 Sunny KUWAIT 24/08 Cloudy 19/06 Sunny Can doubts hit a film’s Oscar chances? BAHRAIN 29/16 Partly cloudy 19/14 Cloudy SANAA 26/08 Sunny 26/08 Sunny LOS ANGELES: Do filmgo- Eastwood’s movie about elite Affleck, was accused of playing “Your competition is often RIYADH 29/11 Cloudy 29/08 Sunny ers care if a movie takes liber- US sharpshooter Chris Kyle — fast and loose with the facts, nota- responsible for pulling the tap- DUBAI 36/26 Cloudy 31/18 Cloudy ties with facts? More critically credited with killing at least 160 bly failing to give credit for the estry out from under your feet,” BAGHDAD 11/04 Rain 12/03 Scattered showers in awards season, can doubts people in Iraq — for allegedly glo- major role Canada had in securing he told AFP. about the truth of a film tor- rifying a mass murderer. the US diplomats’ freedom. Tom O’Neil, of the award sea- THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW pedo Academy hopes? Other recent films which In earlier years Oliver Stone’s son ranking and analysis website Or do Oscars voters not really generated polemics included “JFK” in 1991 and Ron Howard’s Goldderby.com, is more nuanced. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER mind as long as they get a good “Zero Dark Thirty,” which com- 2001 movie “A Beautiful Mind” Members of the Academy of story? peted for the Oscars in 2013. also fuelled controversy. Motion Picture Arts and Sciences ATHENS 09/04 Clear 14/06 Clear For several of the pictures eye- Some accused it of making a her- “It doesn’t help a movie to “are very tolerant of liberties WASHINGTON 09/-19 Cloudy -7/-13 Sunny ing Oscars glory on Sunday, in oine out of a CIA agent who prac- have controversy over it,” said screenwriters take and of the fact SYDNEY 27/19 Mostly cloudy 27/21 Scattered showers theory based on real events, those tised torture, while others said it Tom Nunan, who produced the that a role can get sanitised,” he LONDON 09/04 Rain 07/02 Rain are vital questions. helped re-elect President Barack Oscar Best Picture “Crash” and said. PARIS 09/06 Partly cloudy 08/04 Rain Director Ava DuVernay’s Obama. who teaches at the UCLA School “I don’t think the ‘American ISTANBUL 03/02 Snow 04/03 Showers Martin Luther King Jr movie That was the year that the of Theatre, Film and Television. Sniper’ controversy could hurt “Selma” is accused of misrep- Best Picture Oscar went to Moreover, “it is not a coinci- Bradley Cooper,” its main star, MANILA 29/22 Partly cloudy 29/21 Partly cloudy resenting president Lyndon “Argo,” about a bold CIA opera- dence that those controversies he added, saying: “It could even DHAKA 29/19 Sunny 29/19 Sunny Johnson as an enemy of the civil tion to rescue six US diplomats are happening now,” when it could help him. Voters might want to DELHI 28/15 Mostly sunny 29/17 Mostly sunny rights icon. trapped in Iran by the 1979 hos- help to eliminate a rival in the help an American hero if they feel ISLAMABAD 18/09 Showers 23/11 Partly cloudy Some critics have slammed tage crisis. crucial final stages of an Oscars he’s under attack.” “American Sniper,” Clint The film, directed by Ben campaign. AFP Indian baby New York Fashion Week sews in pre-Oscars chic survives NEW YORK: New York edgier and cooler.” Wang incorpo- sophisticated evening wear Fashion Week got a slice of pre- rated a lot of sportswear — a key inspired by the paintings of 19th Oscars, red carpet glamour with trend on the New York runway century Spanish artist Raimundo birth in minimal chic from Vera Wang, this season — and played with de Madrazo Garreta. autumnal flash from Rodarte proportions to make new shapes. The British designer said she train toilet and Spanish sophistication from Despite splashes of white, the was captivated by his portraits Duchess of Cambridge favourite collection was overwhelmingly of beautiful, fashionable society JAIPUR: An Indian baby Jenny Packham. black. She summed it up as “very women — the clientele she has survived a shocking birth In a snowy New York, the sporty and boyish, tomboyish but made a career out of dressing. when he slipped down a American designer showcased a still female.” She presented slinky cocktail train toilet and landed on modern twist on Savile Row tai- The California-based sisters dresses and billowing evening railway tracks just moments loring for next winter, offering at Rodarte — who have dressed gowns, encrusted with beads, after his mother delivered daywear alongside the sophisti- Oscar winner Natalie Portman feathers and sequins. Trousers him, police said. cated evening dresses for which and designed ballet costumes and jumpsuits were tailored, and The 22-year-old woman she is perhaps most famous. for her 2010 film “Black Swan” breathtaking jackets were made fainted in the tiny toilet cubi- “I thought there was a real — offered sequin and flamenco- out of crystals and pearls. cle on Monday after giving need for purity, because I have inspired evening wear. Her dresses, which have birth on the train, which had seen so many red carpet dresses Designer duo Kate and Laura been worn by Hollywood A-list briefly halted before reach- lately. I really wanted to go our Mulleavy rooted their collection actresses such as Oscar win- ing Hanumangarh station in own way,” she told AFP backstage. in the colours of autumn, using ners Charlize Theron and Kate western Rajasthan state. “I think it takes a lot of courage the same browns and oranges that Winslet, came in many hues “The woman... felt acute to be minimal today.” have been bang on trend this sea- — navy, green, black and cocoa, labour pain, so she went to She laughed when asked son. “For me it’s like going back to accented with bursts of red and the toilet to relieve herself whether she could provide any Designers Kate (left) and Laura Mulleavy acknowledge the crowd after the more outdoorsy palette, kind orange. Other highlights on day and gave birth to a baby boy hints ahead of Sunday’s Oscars in presenting the Rodarte Fall/Winter 2015 collection during New York Fashion of brown, things that are almost six of Fashion Week came from who slipped down through Los Angeles, when designers fall Week. muted in a way but to me it’s affordable luxury brand Tory the toilet bowl and fell on the over themselves to dress Academy like seeing that in contrast with Burch, who sits atop a report- tracks,” senior railway police Award nominees — and, better Her inspiration was tailoring see on the runway,” she said. The bright purple or orange,” Kate edly more than $3bn empire, official Subhash Vishnoi told still, the winners. and menswear, she said. collection was “based a little bit Mulleavy told reporters. and mainstream brand J Crew — AFP by phone. “We are trying,” she says. “You “A lot of work went to the on Savile Row, but then worn not Across town in Greenwich beloved by First Lady Michelle Most Indian trains have never know!” inside of the clothes that you don’t the Savile Row way. Worn looser, Village, Packham showcased Obama. AFP western-style and squat toilets with filthy chutes that empty directly onto the tracks. The train had already left for Hitchhiking robot Hanumangarh by the time the woman’s family mem- bers found her unconscious in Hip-hop artiste Drake climbs to the toilet. A local guard spotted the newborn crying on the tracks and informed the police, who number one with surprise album admitted the baby to a nearby hospital. “When the woman NEW YORK: The rapper Drake bricks-and-mortar store sales, the Wayne’s Young Money label. Drake’s and her husband found their cruised to number one on the US strongest first-week showing since first three full-length albums all newborn alive and safe, they charts yesterday with his new Taylor Swift’s blockbuster “1989” last debuted at number one on the were very happy,” another album, even though he released year, according to tracking service Billboard 200 chart. police official Ram Singh said. it only digitally and with no prior Nielsen SoundScan. Releasing an album out of the “They had not expected publicity. Drake’s work took the number one blue, while not the norm, has become that the newborn would The Canadian hip-hop artiste spot on the Billboard 200 chart for increasingly common for musicians be alive.” AFP and actor last Thursday suddenly the week that ended on February 15, troubled by a growing frequency of dropped on iTunes and streaming dethroning “1989” which had been leaks and a changing music market- services with “If You’re Reading accompanied by a massive marketing ing landscape. This, It’s Too Late,” which features effort by Swift. Superstar Beyonce released a self- collaborations with Madonna and Lil Since late last year, the Billboard titled album, accompanied by a full Wayne. chart has factored in stream- set of videos, with no prior notice in Drake has not announced any ing and not just physical and late 2013. physical release for the work, which digital sales. Similarly, R&B artist D’Angelo in he described as a mix-tape as he Raised in Toronto, Drake became December released his first album Robot “hitchBOT” and his inventors Frauke Zeller and David works on a full-length album. a teenage star on Canadian television in 14 years, the critically acclaimed Harris Smith in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate yesterday. Nonetheless, “If You’re Reading before releasing his first mix-tape in “Black Messiah,” with no previous The robot was hitchhiking more than 6,000 kilometres across This, It’s Too Late” sold nearly 2006. announcement. Canada in 2014 as part of a social experiment. 500,000 copies even without He eventually signed up with Lil AFP Thursday 19 February 2015 30 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6346 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Pakistan in talks Qatari investment in US to hit $35bn to import Qatari Opportunity in infrastructure sector LNG: minister ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is in DOHA: Investment opportu- business environment, providing talks to import liquefied natu- nities are abound in the US expert insights into the immigra- ral gas (LNG) from Qatar, a for Qataris in various sectors. tion, tax and legal systems. minister said yesterday, as the Citing recent announcements Dana Shell Smith said: “The country grapples with a chronic by top government officials, US-Qatar relationship is strong energy shortage. experts yesterday noted US is on many levels. Our business and Petroleum Minister Shahid expected to attract an estimated cultural relationship is the foun- Khaqan Abbasi confirmed talks over $35bn worth of investments dation that underpins so much of were under way with Qatar, but form Qatar over the next five what we do. We share around $7bn said he “cannot comment on... years. in bilateral trade.” details at this time as it is under Attending an economic forum Detailing Qatar Chamber’s role negotiation”. hosted by the American Chamber as a gateway to helping all com- A report in the Wall Street of Commerce Qatar (AmCham panies achieve their ambitions, Journal yesterday said the deal Qatar) here yesterday, market Rowhani said: “We are open for would be worth $1.5bn annually experts from both public and pri- business and we are open for part- and quoted officials as saying vate sectors said they foresee big nerships with the US companies to the agreement could be finalised opportunities for Qatari investors help us deliver the great goals of by March. Pakistan has faced a in the US market. our National Vision.” severe energy crisis since 2006, The Forum, “Doing Business AmCham Qatar Chairman brought about largely by “circu- in the US”, was opened by Dana Robert Hager said that there has lar debt” — the dual effect of the Shell Smith, the US Ambassador been a great deal of activity fol- government setting low electricity to Qatar and Remy Rowhani, lowing US Secretary of Commerce prices and of customers failing to US Ambassador to Qatar Dana Shell Smith addressing the meet as AmCham Qatar Chairman Robert Hager (left) Director General of Qatar Penny Pritzker’s visit to Doha last pay bills. and Qatar Chamber of Commerce Director General Remy Rowhani look on. SALIM MATRAMKOT Chamber. The experts and busi- year. “While this week celebrates The government of Prime ness leaders discussed oppor- the diverse and multi-faceted Minister Nawaz Sharif made tunities for Qatari investors in nature of our partnership, today visit to the US by H E Ali Sherif The speakers included Rodney of Private Sector, Citi; Susan B solving the energy crisis a key strategic sectors of the robust US we want to talk business, he said. Al Emadi, the Minister of Finance, E Slater, Partner, Squire Patton Bastress, Partner, Squire Patton campaign pledge, but has so far economy, including in investment “Our two countries, I believe, share speakers from the forum esti- Boggs and former US Secretary Boggs; Scott Cooper, Partner, failed to alleviate the problem. banking, commercial real estate, similar attitudes on such crucial mated that Qatar’s investments of Transportation; Ryan Elzein, Fragomen Worldwide; and Bob Increasing oil supplies could entertainment and transportation. issues as growth, vision, innovation in the United States will exceed Foreign Service Commercial, US Hercules, Independent Filmmaker impact on the country’s fiscal The forum also discussed other and independence.” a staggering $35bn over the next Embassy in Qatar; Zubaid Ahmad, and Co-Owner of Media Process deficit target of 4.5 percent. important areas of the American Citing a figure from a recent five years. Vice Chairman and Global Head Group. THE PENINSULA AFP GIS meet approves dividends

DOHA: The Ordinary General Assembly of Gulf International Services (GIS) has approved the board of directors’ recom- mendation to distribute a cash dividend of QR5.50 per share, representing 55 percent of the nominal share value, to the shareholders for 2014. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Said Mubarak Al Mohannadi, Vice Chairman of GIS. Speaking on behalf of the chairman H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Energy and Industry, Al Officials at the Ordinary General Assembly of GIS. Mohannadi said the previous financial year stands as a distin- previous year’s dividend, and is accommodation barge and lift- guished and record-breaking year almost equal to the accumulated boat services. And this fleet for GIS. distribution of all previous years”. expansion is continuing: the com- “After only seven years, GIS The excellent results were not pany has 4 more assets currently has achieved its 10-year anni- due solely to the purchase of 30 under construction-namely, one versary targets with net profit of percent of foreign interest in Gulf offshore jack-up rig, two onshore QR1.4bn-from less than QR0.5bn Drilling International; all seg- rigs, and one lift boat that are due in 2008, total assets growing to ments have contributed positively for delivery in 2015 and 2016. QR11bn from only a third of that to these excellent results, and With the addition of six heli- at the end of 2008, and more than have exciting plans to continue copters in 2014, Gulf Helicopters’ 100 percent increase in total dis- this impressive growth story. fleet has now expanded from 31 in tributable cash,” he said. In 2011, GDI adopted a growth 2008 to 50 at the end of 2014. And On the dividend distribution strategy designed to further subject to prevailing market con- he said : “The Board of directors expand, diversify and modernise ditions, it is expected that 11 more proposes a total annual dividend its fleet of drilling rigs to meet helicopters will be deployed in the distribution of QR1bn, equiva- the evolving needs of its grow- next five to six years, he said. lent to a payout of QR5.50 per ing clientele in Qatar. In addi- The Board’s responsible and share, and representing 72 per- tion to expanding the offshore prudent decision in 2012 to acquire cent of the group’s net profit. This and onshore rig count by adding AMWAJ Catering Services Ltd total distribution equates to an 6 more drilling rigs, the company has clearly added value to the increase of 244 percent versus the has also diversified into providing group. THE PENINSULA

Beema’s profit touches QR40m

DOHA: The net profit of the shareholders of are Qatar Insurance Company (25 percent), Qatar Damaan Islamic Insurance’s (Beema) touched Islamic Bank (25 percent), Masraf Al Rayan (20 QR40m for the full-year 2014, up from QR30m percent), Brawa Real Estate Co (20 percent) and recorded a year ago. Q Invest (10 percent). The company started with a The financial results were announced after the gross contribution of QR33m and went on to grow company’s annual general meeting held on Tuesday. steadily year on year and within five years it has The meeting was chaired by Abdullatif Abdulla Zaid achieved contribution growth of QR254m in 2014 Al Mahmoud, the Deputy Chairman of the company. making itself a formidable Islamic insurance pro- Addressing the meeting, the deputy chairman said vider in Qatar. Beema has achieved a gross contribution of QR254m Beema is probably one of the few Islamic insurance in 2014 compared to QR204m in 2013, a growth of 25 companies in the region, which has declared refund percent. He announced a refund of surplus of 7 per- of surplus from its first year of operation. Beema cur- cent to the policy holders. The Chairman expressed rently has branches at Al Mirqab, Abu Hamour and his happiness on the excellent results achieved by Al Khor and it has planned for an expansion this year. Beema in short period of time. The company has seen a tremendous increase in online Beema was incorporated in September 2009 as insurance policies, and planned to introduce new prod- a fully Shariah-compliant private Closed Qatari ucts through online which would help the customer Shareholding Insurance Company with a paid up to choose the insurance product and buy right from capital of QR200m. The founders of the company their home or workplace. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Rolls-Royce ventures off-road in hunt for growth Luxury carmaker enters SUV segment after Bentley pushes ahead

FRANKFURT: Venerable Metzler Bank automotive analyst growth is that Rolls-Royce cars Porsche has certainly benefited luxury carmaker Rolls-Royce is Juergen Pieper said. “SUV’s sell remain rare, precious items and from its expansion into SUVs, preparing to jump on the SUV well in the United States and in absolutely authentic.” which today make up more than bandwagon that other premium all emerging markets, where the A recognition of changing two thirds of the Volkswagen- marques have already set in road infrastructure may not be trends had already prompted owned company’s sales. motion in the chase for sales the best. For Rolls it is a shift to Rolls-Royce to expand its range Porsche expects to sell more growth. growth.” beyond the like of its massive than 200,000 cars in total this A business that for the past 111 Though proud of the exclusiv- Phantom limousine, introducing year while sister brand Bentley years has built a limited number ity of its 12-cylinder cars, which the Wraith Coupe in 2013 and said it has received about 4,000 of sumptuous limousines said command prices of €200,000 Ghost II last year. advance orders for its SUV, due yesterday that it will develop a ($228,000) or more, the company The new Rolls-Royce offroader, to hit showrooms in 2016. sports utility vehicle that can has long hesitated over whether which it said will be built at its As for Rolls-Royce’s potential cross “any terrain” in response to build an offroader, worried that Goodwood plant in England and market, it could also be buoyed by to client demands. it may stretch the brand too far. will enter the market in about a growing band of the super-rich, The change of heart comes It sold only 4,063 vehicles last three years’ time, could prove a if a report by Capgemini and RBC after parent company BMW said year, with volumes having grown lucrative addition. Wealth Management is anything that it will build an X7 offroader at a glacial pace since 2003, when The higher ground clearance to go by. The Rolls-Royce Ghost II waiting to be unveiled at a launch meet. with three rows of seats and rivals it delivered 300 cars. of SUVs has proven particularly Wealth accumulated by high Bentley and Jaguar unveiled plans A spokeswoman declined to popular in Russia, China, Brazil, networth individuals, defined as for their own SUVs. comment on potential sales of Malaysia, India and other emerg- those having investable assets of up 22 percent on 2013, the report specified a price for the new SUV, “The SUV is the hottest prod- the SUV but said: “What is key to ing markets with bad roads. $1m or more, is expected to reach said. you can be sure it won’t come uct in all vehicle segments,” our strategy of carefully managed Sports car manufacturer a record of $64.3 trillion by 2016, Though Rolls-Royce has not cheap. REUTERS

BMW launches i8 in India Ferrari family Mercedes’ Pullman owners not to sell stake to start at $570,000 FRANKFURT: Daimler said because it proved so popular MODENA: Piero Ferrari, son a new 12-cylinder Mercedes- with leaders including Uganda’s of the eponymous luxury sports Maybach Pullman will cost Idi Amin and Romania’s Nicolae car company’s founder Enzo upwards of half a million euros Ceausescu. Other fans included Ferrari, said he had no inten- ($570,000) and aim to set a new fashion diva Coco Chanel, rock- tion to sell the 10 percent stake standard for chauffeur-driven star Elvis Presley and a raft of his family owns in the company. limousines when it goes on sale German chancellors. “I have never sold and I have no in 2016. The new version is designed intention of doing so,” Ferrari told It was reported last April that to allow high-level dignitaries to journalists at an event. Mercedes-Benz was working on continue face-to-face discussions Car maker Fiat Chrysler a Pullman “state limousine” cost- thanks to a row of rear-facing Automobiles plans to conclude the ing up to $1m in its armor-plated seats. spin-off and initial public offer- version. The car will be presented It also features a glass partition ing of Ferrari this year, subject to at the Geneva Motor Show. With wall which can be lowered elec- regulatory approvals, FCA Chief a length of 6.5 metres, the new tronically to give passenger addi- Executive Sergio Marchionne said car is a full metre longer than the tional privacy from the driver. last month. Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Daimler has not said how many Marchionne said in October he The original Pullman 600, of the vehicles it plans to produce. would spin off Ferrari from the launched by Mercedes-Benz in Other stretch limos such as group, sell a 10 percent stake via a 1963, was over six metres long the Lincoln Vitesse are less public offering and distribute the Former cricket player Sachin Tendulkar poses next to the BMW i8, a hybrid sports car, during its launch in and had a top speed of 200 km expensive but do not aim to pro- rest of FCA’s stake to its share- Mumbai yesterday. per hour. It gained notoriety in vide the same level of luxury and holders. REUTERS some circles as a “dictator ship” performance. REUTERS THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Nakilat 2014 Swiss raid net profit rises 23pc to HSBC offices hit QR895m DOHA: Qatar Gas Transport Company Ltd (Nakilat) has announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, in tax case 2014, whereas the company’s net profit reached QR895m com- pared to QR730m achieved for Prosecutor opens criminal inquiry the year 2013, with an increase of 23 percent. GENEVA: Geneva’s public pros- us to make an analysis.” In this regard, the Board recom- ecutor searched HSBC’s lake- HSBC has apologised to custom- mended distributing a cash divi- side Swiss office yesterday after ers and investors over the previous dend to the shareholders equal to opening a criminal inquiry into failings of its Swiss business and 12 percent of the nominal value allegations of aggravated money has said the operation has since of its capital, which is equivalent laundering, the second probe to been overhauled. to QR1.20 per share. It was also hit the bank this week. However, Britain’s financial decided to invite the ordinary Europe’s largest lender is in reg- watchdog said on Monday it would Geneva’s Attorney General Olivier Jornot leaves a branch of the HSBC bank in Geneva yesterday. general assembly to convene on ulators’ sights after details about investigate HSBC and focus on its March 10, the company said in a how its Swiss private bank alleg- current behaviour. HSBC’s Swiss statement. edly helped wealthy clients dodge unit has been in the spotlight since and Hong Kong, and its chief exec- were unloaded and delivered into illicit drug money through the US On this occasion, Nakilat’s taxes were leaked to the media and 2008 when a former IT employee utive, Peter Boyles, is based in the the building. financial system. board of directors commended the published last week. Hérvé Falciani fled Geneva with lakeside Geneva office. The office The bank has said compliance The disclosures about the Swiss company’s strong financial results, In an unusual move, the Geneva files which are alleged to show evi- employs several hundred staff, who and controls at its Swiss private bank have also caused a political which clearly reflect the strength prosecutor’s office notified the dence of tax evasion by clients. continued to work yesterday. “We bank in the period up to 2007 fell row in Britain over practices at and stability of the company’s media of the raid as it was going on. Jornot said Swiss law made it have cooperated continuously with short of requirements but the HSBC and whether its tax author- financial position. These results It searched two HSBC offices and impossible to carry out an inves- the Swiss authorities since first business had been transformed in ity had done enough to pursue sus- highlight the company’s prudent said its investigation could target tigation based on stolen evidence becoming aware of the data theft recent years. pected wrongdoers. strategy in exploiting valuable individuals, who would be liable to but his office could investigate if it in 2008 and we continue to coop- Swiss financial regulator HSBC’s shares closed up 0.4 per- business opportunities and risk a fine and up to five years in prison secured the evidence itself. erate,” HSBC said in a statement. FINMA, which had already inves- cent at 605.5 pence, having slipped assessment, which in turn, will if found guilty of serious money Falciani’s files have been passed Jornot said that so far he had tigated HSBC and criticised its 2 percent since the first reports support Nakilat’s quest to retain laundering offences. “As of now, by the French tax authorities to “no reproach” to make about the internal controls in 2011, said it based on the leaks were published its position as global leader in we aim at securing all the infor- their foreign counterparts around bank’s cooperation. was aware of the proceedings by 10 days ago. the field of transporting liquefied mation concerning the accounts the world. US officials then opened The search at HSBC’s lake- the Geneva prosecutor and was in Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver natural gas. and clients who have been men- a criminal investigation and side address wrapped up after a contact with HSBC about it. has said the recent allegations All aspects of the company’s tioned as detaining funds resulting French magistrates put the bank few hours. But at a second HSBC A concern for HSBC is that had been “painful”. They are also operations have achieved a higher from criminal offences,” Attorney under formal investigation last site close to Geneva airport, the US authorities could look at re- expected to overshadow HSBC’s profitability level. This was clearly General Olivier Jornot told report- November. The tax authorities in prosecutor and his team were opening a 2012 deferred prosecu- annual results on Monday and demonstrated by the addition of a ers. “What we are looking for today Belgium, Austria and Argentina still collecting evidence after tion agreement with the bank, Gulliver and Chairman Douglas number of LNG vessels to Nakilat’s is not yet proof. What we are look- are also looking at the allegations. 5pm. During the afternoon, a van which followed a $1.9bn fine after Flint are due to testify to British fleet during 2014 and the remark- ing for today are all documents, all HSBC’s private bank has major arrived and stacks of white card- it was found to have helped move lawmakers on the Swiss scandal on able improvement of LPG vessels’ information which will then allow operations in Switzerland, London board boxes full of paper archives hundreds of millions of dollars in February 25. REUTERS performance. In addition, to the increased operating activities at the shipyard facilities, which will continue to underpin the future financial results of the company. The board stated that Nakilat is in an excellent position to face Greece to submit loan request, Germany resists the current economic conditions, due to the company’s long-term ATHENS/FRANKFURT: by the new leftist-led government cash reserves and could run out of Minister Sigmar Gabriel, leader of positive stance on our requests,” he charter hire contracts. These long- Greece’s leftist-led government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras money by the end of March without the Social Democratic junior part- said at a meeting with President term contracts will ensure the said it will submit a request to the to keep a financial lifeline for an fresh funds, a person familiar with ners in conservative Chancellor Karolos Papoulias. company’s financial performance eurozone today to extend a “loan interim period while sidestepping the figures said. He said Athens had Angela Merkel’s coalition, wel- EU officials said intensive con- is not impacted over the coming agreement” for up to six months, tough austerity conditions in the enough to repay a €1.5bn instal- comed what he called the signal sultations were under way between years by the oil price fluctuations. raising prospects of a last-minute EU-IMF programme. ment to the IMF next month but from the Greek government that Athens, the Eurogroup and the The board has affirmed Nakilat’s deal to keep the heavily indebted Whether finance ministers of would struggle to pay public sector it was ready to negotiate. With the European Commission, with Italy continuous commitment to pur- country afloat. the 19-nation currency bloc, who salaries and pensions in April. current bailout deal with the euro- and France also involved in the sue its development and growth While European officials worked rejected such ideas at a meeting Hardline German Finance zone due to expire on February 28, search for a compromise. strategy in the long term, in frantically with Athens to find a on Monday, accept the request as Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble Tsipras said talks were at a crucial Germany and other eurozone order to achieve strong returns formula, EU paymaster Germany a basis to resume negotiations will poured scorn on the Greek gam- stage and his demands for an end countries were standing firm on to its shareholders. Nakilat will said no such deal was on offer and depend on how it is formulated, bit, telling broadcaster ZDF on to austerity were winning backing. their insistence that there can be exploit future opportunities to led the chorus of partners demand- an EU source said. The wording Tuesday evening: “It’s not about “There were protests across no roll-back of reforms already acquire new vessels, serving the ing that Athens must stick to the has to match EU legal texts to extending a credit programme but Europe supporting the moves made implemented under the bailout international marine sector, and to terms of its existing international win approval in several eurozone about whether this bailout pro- by Greece and we have managed and that Greece will have to repay increase the utilization rate for the bailout. The move, confirmed by parliaments. gramme will be fulfilled, yes or no.” for the first time through contacts all it has borrowed, they said. shipyard facilities at Erhama Bin an Athens official, is an attempt Greece is burning through its However, German Economy with foreign leaders to create a REUTERS Jaber Al Jalahma Shipyard. QNA

Oil down 3pc as supply glut raises questions on rally Global energy demand

NEW YORK: A comeback crude, will observe the celebra- rose nearly 5 million barrels in 2.9 percent, at $60.73 a barrel by rally in oil paused yesterday as tion from today. UK-traded Brent the prior week, taking total crude 1825 GMT. It had hit a 2015 high to rise 35pc by 2040, traders took stock of the blis- and crude futures in New York inventories to a record high of of $63 on Tuesday, up 35 percent tering 35 percent gain in crude were both down about 3 percent nearly 418 million barrels. from a near six-year low of $45.19 prices since late January despite yesterday afternoon as traders “We have more supply com- on January 13. US crude fell $1.42, says ExxonMobil Qatar mounting US supplies. awaited supply estimates due at ing from here with the refinery or 2.7 percent, to $52.11. The closure of Chinese mar- 2130 GMT from industry group maintenance season in swing, The rebound in oil came after DOHA: A new outlook for 500 quadrillion BTUs (British kets through the weekend for American Petroleum Institute and that’s prompting some peo- extensive short-covering in recent world energy issued here by Thermal Units) in 2040. the Lunar New Year added to that could show a build of over 3 ple at least to ask if the market weeks by traders fearing the ExxonMobil Qatar expects By 2040, around 65 percent of the quieter trade in both bench- million barrels of crude last week. has overstretched itself with the market had hit bottom after a 60 global energy demand to rise the world’s recoverable crude and mark Brent and US crude, with Official supply-demand in rebound,” said Tariq Zahir, man- percent price crash since June. around 35 percent from year condensate resource will have yet volumes less than half of Tuesday US crude for the week ended aging member at Tyche Capital Violence in Iraq and Libya, both 2010 to 2040, and China plus to be produced. Energy sources levels, data showed. Singapore, February 13 will be released by Advisors in Laurel Hollow in New important oil producers, added India will spur half of this will continue to evolve and diver- another major trading centre for the government today. Stocks York. Brent was down $1.80, or fuel to the rally. REUTERS growth. sify, driven by changes in technol- Besides the two Asian giants, ogy, consumer needs, and public ten key countries — Brazil, policies. The report expects signif- Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Iran icant production gains in North Cameron at Vauxhall plant South Africa, Nigeria, Thailand, America, Latin America, and the Egypt, Mexico and Turkey — will Middle East. With production Saudi crude fuel demand for energy. rising and demand falling, North The ExxonMobil report pre- America will shift from a signifi- dicts natural gas to surpass coal cant crude oil importer to a fairly exports dip as the second-largest fuel source. balanced position by 2030. The world’s demand for natural Rapid urbanisation will spur KHOBAR: Opec heavyweight gas will rise by 215 billion cubic industrial energy demand glo- Saudi Arabia’s crude oil exports feet per day over the 2040 period. bally. The report expects the dropped in December by 362,000 Oil and natural gas will meet demand to rise by one-third up barrels per day to 6.934 million around 60 per cent of the demand to 2030. Production requirements bpd from 7.296 million bpd in for energy. of the energy industry accounted the previous month, official data The report anticipates global for around 20 per cent of indus- showed yesterday. growth for electricity consump- trial energy demand in 2010. This In December, the kingdom tion to jump by 90 per cent up to share is declining as industry maintained crude oil produc- 2040. The need for more power takes steps improve production tion little changed at 9.630 mil- will push around half the growth efficiency. lion bpd from 9.610 million bpd in demand for natural gas. Carbon dioxide emissions levels in November, data published by Developing countries will con- will drop through 2040 as indus- the Joint Organisations Data sume a large portion of this jump tries shift away from coal to natu- Initiative showed. However, refin- in demand for power. The report ral gas and electricity usage. ers processed 2.217 million bpd in reasons better living standards Demand for electricity by resi- December, up from 1.809 million for the projected growth in elec- dential and commercial segment bpd in November, the data showed. tricity consumption. will rise close to 90 per cent as Exports of oil products rose to ExxonMobil expects fuel input the global population will have 1.050 million bpd in December to power generation to increase 2 billion more people. The total from 878,000 bpd in November. more than 50 per cent, faster number of households in the State oil giant Saudi Aramco than any other sector up to 2040. world will rise 50 per cent, from started in January exporting oil The fillip side of this is aware- 1.9 billion in 2010 to 2.8 billion by products from its newly launched Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron assists in placing a grill fascia on to a Vauxhall Vivaro commer- ness campaigns and responsible 2040. Demand for power by com- Yasref refinery, which it shares cial van during a visit to the Vauxhall vehicle production plant in Luton, southern England, yesterday. consumption globally will help mercial establishments will rise with China’s Sinopec. REUTERS generate energy saving around by around 50 per cent. QNA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS BoJ holds off Sony may exit TVs, new stimulus despite phones businesses weak growth TOKYO: The Bank of Japan held off fresh stimulus, even as weak growth figures this week Expects 25-fold profit jump in three years aggravate concerns about the strength of a recovery in the TOKYO: Sony Corp aims to “The strategy starting from the 2018, adopting a yardstick Prime world’s number three economy. boost operating profit 25-fold next business year will be about Minister Shinzo Abe has been Policymakers said Japan was within three years by grow- generating profit and investing promoting as a way to attract seeing a “moderate recovery ing its camera sensors and for growth,” Hirai told a briefing, foreign investors. trend”, after wrapping up a two- PlayStation units, its chief exec- adding that Sony’s units would be He also said Sony aimed to post day meeting, but they further cut utive said, outlining a strategy given greater autonomy to make an operating profit of at least back on their inflation expecta- that could see the company exit their own business decisions. 500bn yen ($4.2bn) for 2017-18, a tions, in a sign that their price the cut-throat TV and smart- Asked about the TV and mobile jump from the 20bn yen forecast targets look increasingly out of phone sectors. phone units, Hirai said he would for the year ending March 31. reach. CEO Kazuo Hirai said the not “rule out considering an exit Sony’s revamp is starting to The central bank’s decision to Japanese consumer electronics strategy”, Sony’s clearest state- pay off. This month, it forecast keep its already massive stimulus firm would no longer pursue sales ment to date about the possibility an operating profit instead of a unchanged was widely expected, growth in areas such as smart- of selling or finding partners for loss for the financial year ending but analysts have said weak phones where its has suffered these struggling units. March 31. But it still expects to growth figures may force its hand competition from cheaper Asian Sony is in the midst of a book a net loss in 2014-15, albeit later this year. rivals as well as industry lead- restructuring that has so far seen a smaller amount than previously On Monday, official data ers like Apple Inc and Samsung it sell off its personal computer estimated. showed the economy limped out Electronics. division and spin off the TV busi- Few expect Sony to return to of recession in the last quarter Sony would instead focus its ness. It has also axed thousands of the days when its Walkman and of 2014, with a weaker-than- spending on more profitable busi- jobs. Sony shares have risen more Trinitron TV defined how peo- expected 0.6 percent expansion nesses such as camera sensors, than 80 percent over the past ple around the world consumed between October and December. videogames and entertainment as year as investors applauded the entertainment. Analysts, how- That followed two consecu- it seeks to return to growth after restructuring, which accelerated ever, have said it could make bet- tive quarters of contraction that forecasting for this financial year since Hirai appointed Kenichiro ter use of its gadgets and access came as an April sales tax rise its sixth net loss in seven years. Yoshida as his chief strategy to Hollywood content. Hirai said hammered consumer spend- The comments, made just as officer in late 2013. Sony will push to expand its ing. However, economists had the Tokyo market was closing, Hirai said Sony would target PlayStation network user base, expected a stronger 0.9 percent Sony President Kazuo Hirai speaks at a press conference to announce the helped Sony’s shares rise 1.4 per- return on equity of more than while focusing on areas such as expansion on-quarter, while over company’s new business strategy at the headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. cent in New York. 10 percent by the end of March streaming music. REUTERS the full year the preliminary data showed zero growth, compared with 1.6 percent in 2013. “As was widely expected, the Bank of Japan left policy set- tings unchanged at today’s meet- Stella Giasta joins ing,” said Marcel Thieliant from Cheaper oil subdues US producer inflation Capital Economics. Mövenpick Hotel “Board members upgraded WASHINGTON: US producer Food prices fell 1.1 percent, the their assessment of industrial prices recorded their biggest largest decline since April 2013, production and exports, which decline in more than five years Manufacturing output grows after falling 0.1 percent the prior they now see picking up. But in January on plunging energy month. they also acknowledged the dis- costs, pointing to very benign The volatile trade services com- appointing Q4 GDP data released inflation in the near term that modestly, hit by auto decline ponent, which mostly reflects profit on Monday by noting that the could argue against raising inter- WASHINGTON: US manufacturing output rose modestly in margins, rose 0.5 percent following recovery in private consumption est rates. January and not at all in December, potentially worrisome signs a similar gain in December. has been sluggish in some areas.” Other reports suggested the for the US economy given the recent strength in the dollar and The Commerce Department said He added: “The BoJ does not economy was growing moderately weaker overseas markets. housing starts fell 2.0 percent to a seem to be fully convinced over early in the first quarter. Housing Factory output edged up 0.2 percent last month, the Federal seasonally adjusted annual pace of the strength of the economic starts fell last month, while man- Reserve said. The data showed flat output in December, a downward 1.07 million units in January. recovery, and we still think that ufacturing output edged higher. revision from a previous estimate of 0.3 percent growth. The out- Despite the decline, which was policymakers will announce more “The reports paint a disappoint- put reading comes after several months in which factory manager driven by a fall in groundbreaking stimulus in late April.” ing picture on the US recovery, sentiment surveys have pointed to a slowdown in growth. for single-family projects, starts BoJ Governor Haruhiko with the housing starts report in Total factory output was dragged lower by a 0.6 percent drop in remained above the one million- Kuroda insisted that, while the particular reinforcing the narrative auto output. Production also fell for food, beverages and tobacco. unit mark for a fifth straight BoJ remains ready to expand its that the housing recovery might Mining output dropped 1 percent, a potential sign of the impact of month. Compared to January last asset-buying plan, now was not be in a spot of bother, said Millan recent drops in drilling and well-servicing activity brought on by year, groundbreaking was up 18.7 the time to act. “I don’t believe DOHA: Mövenpick Hotel Doha Mulraine, deputy chief economist lower oil prices. Overall industrial production rose 0.2 percent, which percent. we have to think about addi- appointed Stella Giasta (pic- at TD Securities in New York. was entirely due to an increase in output by utilities. REUTERS Sluggish wage growth and a tional stimulus right now,” he told tured) as Director of Sales. The Labour Department said shortage of homes on the mar- reporters in Tokyo. Originally from Greece, Stella its producer price index for final ket stymied housing last year, “But our commitment to comes with a wealth of expe- demand fell 0.8 percent, the big- basket of currencies. Lower energy A key measure of underlying even as the broader economy was adjust monetary policy without rience within the hospitality gest drop since the revamped series prices, against the backdrop of producer price pressures, which accelerating. hesitation remains unchanged” if industry, having spent the last started in November 2009, after softer global demand and increased excludes food, energy and trade But a turnaround in housing necessary. three years at the Majestic dipping 0.2 percent in December. shale production in the United services, fell a record 0.3 percent is expected this year as a rapidly The BoJ surprised markets Hotel Tower, Dubai, where she It was the third straight month of States, and a strengthening dollar last month after edging up 0.1 per- tightening labour market pushes in October when it announced was instrumental in develop- decline in the PPI. In the 12 months are dampening domestic inflation cent in December. up wages and encourages more an expansion of its huge asset- ing new source markets for the through January, producer prices pressures. “The weak PPI report Most economists expect the US young adults to move out of their buying programme — similar to hotel as well as driving revenue were unchanged, the weakest adds further evidence of building central bank to start raising inter- parents’ basements and set up their the Fed’s now wound-up quan- generation and e-Commerce. year-on-year reading since records disinflationary pressures in the est rates in June, citing rapidly own homes. titative easing plan. Since then, Fabien Chesnais, General started in November 2010, after U.S., not only in headline prices but tightening labour market condi- Already in the fourth quarter, the European Central Bank and Manager of Mövenpick Hotel rising 1.1 percent in December. also in core prices,” said Mulraine. tions. The Fed has kept its short- household formation was accelerat- several other major central banks Doha said “Stella’s diverse experi- Economists had forecast the While the Federal Reserve, term interest rate near zero since ing, breaking above the one-million have eased monetary policy. ence and industry knowledge has PPI declining only 0.4 percent last which has a 2 percent inflation tar- December 2008. mark that usually is associated The BoJ’s unprecedented made her a key addition to the month and gaining 0.3 percent get, views the tame price environ- Wholesale energy prices tum- with a fairly healthy housing mar- scheme pumps cash into the Mövenpick family. I am confident from a year ago. ment as transitory, signs that the bled a record 10.3 percent in ket. Although much of the gain in banking system at a rate of about that Stella will play a major role US Treasury debt prices energy-driven weakness is leaking January after sliding 6.2 percent households went into rentals, that 80 trillion yen ($679bn) a year, in growing our business in 2015 extended gains on the data. The to core inflation could cause dis- in December. It was the seventh would still be a boost to housing which it intends to grease the and beyond.” THE PENINSULA dollar maintained gains versus a comfort among some policymakers. straight month of declines. starts this year. REUTERS wheels of the economy. AFP

Japan Post to buy Toll Holdings for $5.1bn Snapchat deal EU regulators may probe would value into GE, Alstom deal

firm at $19bn BRUSSELS: General Electric’s reached for comment. GE said NEW YORK: Snapchat, the €12.4bn ($14.08bn) bid for it was cooperating with the vanishing-image service, is Alstom’s power equipment Commission. seeking to raise venture capital business is likely to face a full- “Our goal is to secure the in a deal that would value the scale investigation by EU anti- required regulatory approv- startup at $19bn, The New York trust regulators, three people als and close the transaction by Times reported yesterday. familiar with the matter said mid-2015,” the company said in The financing round could pro- yesterday. an emailed statement. vide Snapchat with $500m, the The move by the European GE has a checkered history paper said, quoting a person with Commission suggests that the EU with the Commission. Its planned knowledge of the discussions. If watchdog may have concerns that takeover of US industrial giant it obtains that amount, the pri- the deal could reduce competi- Honeywell was squashed by the vately-held company’s valuation tion, in which case it may demand EU watchdog in 2001 despite would shoot to $19bn — nearly remedies. “There is a strong getting the green light from US double the figure from a year ago. possibility that the European regulators. Last year the firm held financ- Commission will open a phase Alstom shares were down by ing talks on the basis of the com- two investigation although there more than 1 pct after the Reuters pany’s value being assessed at is no final decision yet,” said one story. They were trading 0.9 per- $10bn. The company was formed of the people who declined to be cent lower at €28.61 at 1552 GMT. by three Stanford University stu- named because of the sensitivity The EU competition authority dents in 2011. of the matter. is expected to announce the probe The deal would make Snapchat Another source said the com- next week. one of the highest-valued startups panies have not provided con- Alstom, whose power assets in the world. cessions to the EU competition contributed to more than two Toll Holdings Ltd Chairman Ray Horsburgh (left) and Japan Post Chief Executive Toru Takahashi at a signing That valuation of Snapchat authority. thirds of its revenues, wants to ceremony in Sydney yesterday. Financial giant Japan Post Holdings launched its global expansion strategy would near that of WhatsApp, Commission spokesman refocus on train-making after with its largest ever deal, agreeing a A$6.5bn ($5.1bn) takeover of Australian freight and logistics firm Toll the instant message service that Ricardo Cardoso declined to com- falling orders at its power tur- Holdings. The proposed cash acquisition would give Japan Post a reach spanning 55 countries. Facebook acquired last year for ment. French industrial group bines unit hit its cash flow and nearly $22bn. AFP Alstom could not be immediately credit ratings. REUTERS THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,561.86 0.07 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,879.83 0.20 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,413.82 0.38 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,256.4 0.19 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,287.51 0.66 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5822.313 -27.209 -0.47 5852.3 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 4,037.5 0.37 % QR141.6693 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,465.74 0.10 % Cac 40 Index/D 4745.71 -6.24 -0.13 4779.54 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,516.65 0.64 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5813 QR 5.6599 QE All Share Insurance 4,057.91 0.66 % Dj Indu Average 18019.35 46.97 0.26 18103.4 15855.12 QR 1.9318 Euro ...... QR 4.1159 QR 4.1732 QE All Share Telecoms 1,405.53 0.91 % CA$ ...... QR 2.9017 QR 2.9582 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,516.89 0.31 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24784.88 58.35 0.24 25048.26 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8502 QR 3.9059 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5684.55 -7.15 -0.13 5781.83 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0303 QR 0.0308 Aus$ ...... QR 2.8144 QR 2.8697 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 33801.1 4.66 0.01 35055.94 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 18-02-2015 17-02-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0579 QR 0.0591 Index 12,561.86 12,553.69 Nikkei 225 Index 17987.09 -17.68 -0.1 18074.26 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0355 QR 0.0363 Change 8.17 51.77 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0815 QR 0.0832 S&P 500 Index/D 2096.99 8.51 0.41 2097.03 1814.36 % 0.07 0.41 $ 61.75 SL Re ...... QR 0.0271 QR 0.0280 YTD% 2.25 2.18 Straits Times/D 3415.91 -11.25 -0.33 3448.96 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 12,660,696 14,506,977 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0362 QR 0.0369 Value (QAR) 509,607,998.79 628,083,263.41 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3081 QR 0.3142 Trades 5,405 6,268 $ 57.80 Up 14 | Down 19 | Unchanged 06 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 18-02-2015

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 1652.8 40.85 28018 Cimmco-B/D 69.8 -0.6 15010 Hind Motors-T/D 7.54 0.43 191301 Kilburnengg-T/D 45.05 0.15 15821 Rallis India-A/D 235.4 -0.6 19638 Imperial Tobac/D 3062 -1 724415 Aarti Drugs-B/D 1363.5 27.5 6358 Cipla-A/D 676.55 6.15 132750 Hind Org Chem-/D 19.35 0.8 100085 Kinetic Eng-B/D 43.45 -4 8295 Rallis India-A/D 235.4 -0.6 19638 Kingfisher/D 344 1.9 1351986 Aban Offs-A/D 478.8 -3.6 183854 City Union Bk-/D 97.5 2.95 74803 Hind Unilever-/D 912.5 5.3 276327 Kopran-B/D 47.65 -1.25 124491 Reliance Indus/D 450.2 1.75 73497 Land Secs Grou/D 1227 -19 647462 Aegis Logis-B/D 428.7 -6.5 6851 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1984.95 26.3 18000 Hind.Petrol-A/D 589.1 -8.35 387472 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 352.9 -13.8 9635 Ruchi Soya-B/D 46.05 4.95 904801 Legal & Genera/D 271.1 0.2 3048420 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 287 -6.6 71517 Colgate-A/D 1921.35 6.8 13243 Hindalco-A/D 151.6 0.75 335223 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 13.49 0.64 39629 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 627 3.15 6255 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 77.66 0.62 37829589 Alembic-B/D 42.2 1.15 212890 Container Cor-/D 1409.45 0.85 5490 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1326.2 38.1 1085484 Lupin-A/D 1685 26.05 46267 Saur.Cem-B/D 41.8 0.9 65079 Marks & Sp./D 494.3 5.2 1455226 Alok Indus-A/D 9.36 0.11 1373843 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 167 4 4034 I F C I-A/D 37.6 0.5 428172 Lyka Labs-T/D 44.65 -0.55 140798 Tanfac Indust-/D 19.25 0 52839 Next/D 7285 45 54727 Apollo Tyre-A/D 186.45 -0.55 433166 Dhampur Sugar-/D 42.2 2.35 47639 Idbi-A/D 69.55 1 321512 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 166 -1.2 5440 Tanfac Indust-/D 19.25 0 52839 Pearson/D 1375 3 590157 Asahi I Glass-/D 140.25 -3.15 23699 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3354.7 4.2 7836 Ifb Agro-B/D 282.7 -5.2 6108 Mah.Seamless-B/D 216 0.75 59490 Thirumalai-B/D 82.2 2.45 8242 Prudential/D 1609.3721 0.5 1175695 Ashok Leyland-/D 69.2 3 2310462 E I H-B/D 108.85 -0.25 19142 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 500 -0.5 7165 Mangalam Cem-B/D 283.1 0.1 31419 Til Ltd.-T/D 510 21.4 39319 Rank Group/D 185.875 2.9 99616037 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1380 6.85 33626 E.I.D Parry-A/D 182.3 7.25 32866 India Cement-A/D 104.7 2.15 572331 Maral Overs-B/D 26.1 2.8 77755 Timexgroup-T/D 17 0 75061 Rentokil Initi/D 129.3 2.5 260597 Ballarpur In-B/D 15.05 0.1 199597 Eicher Motor-A/D 16938 828.55 9899 India Glycol-B/D 100.5 0.2 17036 Mastek-B/D 398.3 -2 44967 Tinplate-B/D 60.45 -1.45 28044 Rolls Royce Pl/D 919.525 -3 2317270 Bata India-A/D 1286.25 2.3 23404 Electrosteel-B/D 17.6 0.15 88390 Indian Hotel-A/D 114.55 3.35 33959 Max India L-A/D 471.9 2.3 32110 Ucal Fuel-B/D 125.2 -0.6 16013 Rsa Insrance G/D 452.5 7.5 928502 Bayer Crop-A/D 3518.15 29.95 6942 Emco-B/D 37.85 0.4 43229 Indo-Tcount-T/D 402.7 -20.5 21796 Mrpl-A/D 61.15 4.95 605555 Ucal Fuel-B/D 125.2 -0.6 16013 Sainsbury(J)/D 269.75 -0.7 1603768 Beml Ltd-A/D 989.65 34.6 425832 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.99 -0.26 17397 Indusind-A/D 868 5.55 64037 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.75 6 144470 Ultramarine-B/D 69.3 -0.55 11579 Schroders/D 2990 20 118709 Bh Electronic-/D 3997.95 333.85 168266 Escorts-A/D 122.85 -0.35 214200 J.B.Chemical-B/D 195.25 4.5 29001 Nation Alum -A/D 48.25 0.55 127675 Unitech P -A/D 18.25 -0.15 6025530 Severn Trent/D 2001 -27 154047 Bhansali Eng-T/D 19.1 1 30034 Essar Oil-T/D 112.35 -0.25 72983 Jagson Phar-B/D 27.4 1.5 42664 Navneet Edu-B/D 108.1 0.15 24426 Univcable-T/D 43.3 0.35 3958 Smith&Nephew/D 1186 9 563478 Bharat Bijle-B/D 682.75 49.75 16972 Eveready Indu-/D 204 4.6 47101 Jamnaauto-B/D 205.9 10.5 6812 Nepc India-T/D 2.76 0.13 9567 Smiths Group/D 1193.64 14 222045 Bharatgears-B/D 76.55 1.45 13582 F D C-B/D 154.55 0.3 9990 Jbf Indu-B/D 237.8 -2.7 61662 Neuland Lab-B/D 347 0.7 9429 Standrd Chart /D 962.9 16.8 2157178 Bhel-A/D 259.75 0.5 343144 Federal Bank-A/D 136.8 -2.3 154737 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.61 -0.01 39552 Nrb Bearings-B/D 142.3 2.5 10042 LONDON Tate & Lyle/D 578.2 2.5 520937 Bom.Burmah-B/D 471 0.2 88693 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.98 -0.06 71026 Jct Ltd-B/D 3.6 -0.14 293504 O N G C-A/D 332.6 -7.9 517562 Tesco/D 245.8 1.45 11327711 Bombay Dyeing-/D 81 2.4 1061925 Finolex-A/D 279.45 2 15540 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 5.41 -0.11 56034 Ocl India-B/D 574 14 8665 3I Group/D 474.7 2.2 623069 Unilever/D 2766 -35 791164 Camph.& All-B/D 275 1.5 5024 Forbes-B/D 2056.5 103 6235 Jik Indust-B/D 0.99 -0.04 11266 Oil Country-B/D 36.45 1.35 17419 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2968 20 211479 United Util Gr/D 935.5 -13.5 985129 Canfin Homes-B/D 603 -4.5 7741 Gail-A/D 410.1 3.4 83113 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 127.2 -1.8 576880 Orchid Chem-B/D 63.45 0.75 121984 Barclays/D 261.8 4.25 16474741 Vodafone Group/D 228.1 -3.15 16494932 Caprihans-B/D 80.95 0.95 5783 Galada Power-T/D 27 -1.4 12840 Jmc Projects-T/D 169.5 -1.2 3265 Orient Hotel-T/D 22 -0.2 13031 Bg Group/D 975.3 12.1 2558977 Whitbread/D 5010 38 70778 Castrol India-/D 481.4 -2.7 33338 Gammon India-T/D 20.95 1.75 489840 Kabra Extr-B/D 86 -2.05 5456 Orient.Carb.-T/D 482.1 -18.8 5595 Bp/D 452.39 0.4 8550026 Century Enka-B/D 161.6 1.8 7655 Goodricke-B/D 151 -1.8 5465 Kajaria Cer-A/D 803 -13.5 4667 Orient.Carb.-T/D 482.1 -18.8 5595 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3612.625 -50.5 627620 Century Text-A/D 533.8 6.9 69790 Goodyear I -B/D 638.5 36.25 36597 Kalpat Power-B/D 234.95 1.1 9185 Oudh Sugar-B/D 20.05 0.3 5347 Bt Group/D 436.5 -5.5 5099974 Chambal Fert-B/D 69.4 3.85 558264 Hcl Infosys-B/D 52.6 1.8 1738982 Kalyani Stel-T/D 135.9 -2 31534 Pacific Indu-B/D 253 -3.4 12946 Centrica/D 280.07 0.1 4190247 Chola Invest-B/D 564.15 7.85 7197 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 16.6 0.4 2216067 Kanoria Chem-B/D 37 0.25 22293 Punjab Chem.-B/D 111.5 -0.6 5605 Gkn/D 381.82 6.3 1169886 Chowgule St-T/D 23 -0.35 14293 Himat Seide-B/D 85.1 -0.5 40440 Kg Denim-B/D 22.7 -0.05 11715 Radico Khait-B/D 86.5 1.25 124015 Hsbc Holdings/D 606.5 3.7 6042542 THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Fielding coach Luden drawn into Pakistan turmoil

CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan’s World Cup campaign was rocked Pakistan bowler by fresh allegations of unrest Sohail Khan (second In this yesterday when reports claimed left) is restrained by photograph that fielding coach Grant Luden team-mates Shahid taken on July was involved in a heated row Afridi (left) and Umar 18, 2014, with senior players. Akmal (second right) Pakistani Even before the tourna- after clashing with fielding ment started, eight members of Indian batsman Virat coach Grant Pakistan’s 15-man squad – includ- Kohli in Adelaide Luden arrives ing Shahid Afridi and Ahmed in this February for a news Shehzad – were fined $300 each 15, 2015 file photo. conference by team management for break- Report says both in Lahore. ing a curfew. Afridi and Akmal Pakistan’s Days later Pakistan suffered a along with Ahmed World Cup 76-run defeat by defending cham- Shehzad were campaign pions India in their tournament involved in a heated was rocked opener in Adelaide, the team’s row with fielding by fresh sixth successive loss to their arch- coach Grant Luden. allegations of rivals at the World Cup. Initial reports in the Pakistan off-field unrest media on Tuesday said Luden yesterday, had resigned after an argument (PCB) denied Luden had resigned some players were put through said. “Subsequently, as his issues as reports with Afridi, opener Shehzad and after the India match. “Reports their paces by all coaches, with were resolved, he took his resig- emerged batsman-cum wicketkeeper Umar stating that there has been a tiff Luden putting in an extra hour nation back. The PCB and the that fielding Akmal following Sunday’s Pool B between three players, Afridi, on both days with a select group team management as well as the coach Grant loss. Shehzad and Akmal and fielding of players,” the statement added. boys hold the job he is doing in Luden would “Luden had a serious argument coach Luden and that the latter Nevertheless, the PCB also high esteem, and are keen that he quit after the with some senior players and out has resigned because of it, are admitted Luden had offered to continues to serve in his present showpiece of frustration resigned,” said a absolutely false and that nothing resign before the World Cup role.” event source in the Pakistan camp. of the sort has happened,” said a started. Pakistan also has former following Luden, a member of Pakistan PCB statement issued yesterday. “A few days prior to the start Zimbabwe batsman Grant Flower a row with coach Waqar Younis’s backroom “The entire team trained of the World Cup 2015, Luden had as its batting coach. senior players. staff, was hired as fielding coach together in Christchurch on expressed his desire that for per- Pakistan continue their World in May last year on a two-year Tuesday under the supervision sonal reasons, he would want to Cup campaign against the contract. of head coach Waqar Younis with be relieved of his duties sometime West Indies in Christchurch on But the Pakistan Cricket Board each of the other coaches, where in May 2015,” the board statement Saturday. AFP Pakistan coach vows Zimbabwe eye UAE win team will bounce back

CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan 2011 World Cup, blamed poor bat- coach Waqar Younis (pictured) ting for the India loss. yesterday insisted his team “Unfortunately our batting with ‘ruthless’ approach would bounce back in the World did not click,” said Waqar, of Cup despite a demoralising Pakistan’s batting which failed defeat against arch-rivals India, to chase a target of 301, wrapped Upbeat Chigumbura wants improvement after SA defeat a loss he blamed on an inability up for 224. to handle big-match pressure. “A target of 300 runs in Pakistan succumbed to a Australia and New Zealand is NELSON, New Zealand: 76-run defeat against the defend- chaseable, this has become the Zimbabwe have warned they FACTBOX UAE vs ing champions in their first Pool norm, a par total, and we have to will show no mercy against B game in Adelaide on Sunday. chase down 300 in games ahead,” cricket minnows the United Zimbabwe “We can all see what went said Waqar. Arab Emirates in their World Factbox on today’s World Cup wrong,” Waqar told reporters. Pakistan desperately need a win Cup match in Nelson today, Pool B match between United “We didn’t play well, India played against the West Indies to keep with captain Elton Chigumbura Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe better than us by up their chances of a promising a “ruthless” approach. at Saxton Oval in Nelson. building partner- quarter-final place. The Pool B match statistics UNITED ARAB EMIRATES ships, probably we “We know the are heavily lop-sided in favour of took more pressure. importance of the Captain: Mohammad Tauqir Zimbabwe, seeking a commanding “But we have to game so we will try win as they bid to bounce back Coach: Aaqib Javed realise that it’s just to have a positive from their opening loss to South Squad: Mohammad Tauqir (captain), the start and there frame of mind and Africa. Khurram Khan, Amjad Ali, Amjad Javed, are more games to do well,” said Waqar, “You have to take every game Andri Berenger, Fahad Alhashmi, Manjula play and we will who admitted that seriously, do the basics right and Guruge, Kamran Shazad, Krishna Chandran, come back in the experimenting with make sure when you get into a Mohammad Naveed, Nasir Aziz, Swapnil matches ahead.” Younis Khan as an good winning position you are Patil, Rohan Mustafa, Saqlain Haider, Pakistan will look opener had failed. ruthless and win the game,” Shaiman Anwar. to put things right “The experiment Chigumbura said yesterday. Results so far at 2015 World Cup: First in their second game to use Younis wasn’t Zimbabwe put up a credible match in Christchurch on successful,” said showing in parts during their ZIMBABWE Saturday against Waqar. “It’s not too tournament opener against South the West Indies, who also suf- tough to drop a senior player but Captain: Africa. Elton Chigumbura fered a shock defeat at the hands in a tournament like the World They had their border rivals Coach: Dav Whatmore of Ireland. Cup you try to use maximum struggling at 83 for four before Squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Waqar repeated his team were experience. century-makers David Miller and Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva, Tendai not amongst the title favourites, “When we used Younis at JP Duminy mounted a 256-run Chatara, Chamu Chibhabha, Craig Ervine, a statement which he gave before number three or four he was rescue mission to lift the Proteas Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Hamilton Masakadza, the departure for New Zealand not scoring runs so as per the to 339. Stuart Matsikenyeri, Solomon Mire, Tawanda last month. Then, such pessimism requirement we used him as an In reply, Zimbabwe reached 191 Mupariwa, Tinashe Panyangara, Brendan was greeted with severe criticism opener but it didn’t work.” for two before they lost their last Taylor, Prosper Utseya, Sean Williams from former Pakistan players. Younis, playing his fourth World eight wickets for just 86 runs. Result so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost to “I think it’s the same, I back Cup, has managed just 73 runs in “It was a confidence boost the South Africa by 62 runs that again, I am not saying that seven matches with a highest of way we played (in parts) but also Best performers at 2015 World Cup: we have become favourites. Of 25 since the team’s arrival in New disappointing to play the way we Hamilton Masakadza (80 runs; Tafadzwa course, saying that releases pres- Zealand last month. did for 90 overs but we didn’t Zimbabwe’s Tafadzwa Kamungozi (left) celebrates with team-mate Craig Kamungozi (one wicket); Craig Ervine (two sure from players when you are Pakistan have opener Nasir manage to finish off,” Chigumbura Ervine after grabbing the wicket of South Africa’s AB de Villiers during catches) not favourites. Jamshed waiting in the wings and said. Waqar, who is in his second he is likely to replace Younis, who their Pool B 2015 World Cup match against South Africa at Seddon Park UAE vs Zimbabwe head to head On paper, an established cricket in Hamilton, in this February 15, 2015 file photo. stint as coach after guiding the made just six on Saturday, if the nation such as the 10th-ranked First match team to a semi-final finish in the veteran is dropped. AFP Zimbabwe should be far too pow- erful for UAE who scrapped into the World Cup as one of the final Steyn recovering from flu two qualifiers along with Scotland. UAE banking on Irish inspiration Zimbabwe’s aim in the build-up to today’s match has been to cor- NELSON, New Zealand: Council, have most of their play- rect problem areas that surfaced Cricket’s part-timers from the ers hardened by exposure to against South Africa. United Arab Emirates have English county cricket. “We have to make sure that we drawn inspiration from Ireland That experience showed as improve on things that we didn’t as they prepare to confront Ireland chased down a 304-run do well from the first game,” Zimbabwe in their opening target with 25 balls to spare and Chigumbura said. World Cup match in Nelson with the UAE squad keen specta- “That’s the most important today. tors at the way they handled the thing when it comes to our team Just as Ireland stunned the conditions. because we are quite balanced West Indies with a four-wicket “It’s a good ground, a good bat- when it comes to batting and win on the same Saxton Oval ting wicket. We’re also expect- bowling, so it’s just polishing up wicket on Monday, the lowly- ing 300-plus,” 43-year-old Tauqir where we went wrong in the first ranked UAE side have dared to said, which if achieved would be game.” dream that they too are capable Mohammad Tauqir a record for UAE whose high- Zimbabwe are seen to be in of an upset. est listed score is 282-4 against a three-way battle with Ireland “It was a great win for Ireland. higher for UAE against Zimbabwe Afghanistan last November. and the West Indies for the Most of the associate nations are than they were for Ireland against That total was built around an fourth quarter-final spot in a pool doing well and we would like to the West Indies. unbeaten 132 by Khurram Khan which also includes South Africa, prove a point also,” UAE skipper Zimbabwe showed their cre- which is the only ODI century by defending champions India and Mohammad Tauqir, an invest- dentials by posting 277 in their a UAE player. Pakistan. ment banker by profession, said opening Pool B match against the UAE were the 14th and last Ireland have already struck the Wednesday. highly-vaunted South African team to qualify for this World first blow with their upset win “Every individual in the team bowling attack after being set a Cup. Their only previous exposure South Africa’s Dale Steyn during the Pool B 2015 World Cup match over the West Indies on Monday has his own target and goals and target of 339. to cricket’s premier ODI tourna- against Zimbabwe in Hamilton, in this February 15, 2015 file photo. and Zimbabwe know they cannot collectively we are looking for- The UAE weekend amateurs ment was in 1996 where their soli- Steyn missed training yesterday due to flu, but is expected to be fit for afford to slip-up against any of ward to at least getting a couple of are the least experienced side tary victory was a seven-wicket the World Cup match against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the minor teams or their chance wins against Test nations. That’s in the competition where even win over the Netherlands to avoid Sunday. Team’s media manager Lerato Malekutu said the fast bowler will to make the knockout phase could what we’re targeting.” Ireland, while also not full mem- finishing bottom of their pool. take part in the training session today. be over. AFP But the odds are considerably bers of the International Cricket AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Real Afghanistan need to stand Afghan World Cup debut up, says coach CANBERRA: Afghanistan are at the World Cup to compete for victories and simply did not give a true account of themselves in their defeat to Bangladesh on ends in loss to Bangladesh their tournament debut, coach Andy Moles (pictured) said yesterday. Afghanistan succumb after losing three wickets in first three overs The thumping 105-run loss was a huge disappointment to the Afghans, whose meteoric rise CANBERRA: A three-wicket to the top table of international blitz at the start of their cricket over the last 15 years has innings knocked the wind out of been a rare good news story from Afghanistan on their World Cup their war-torn country. debut and helped Bangladesh After holding Bangladesh to a to a 105-run victory with more respectable 267 all out in their 50 than seven overs to spare in overs at Manuka Oval, they lost their Pool A opener in Canberra their first three wickets for three yesterday. runs in three overs and were Skipper Mohammad Nabi had finally bowled out for 162. warned that nerves might com- “That isn’t a true reflection promise Afghanistan’s bid to cap of how we play, but in any game their remarkable rise to the top of cricket when you’re three for table of international cricket three in one and a half overs, not with a maiden victory at crick- many teams, if any teams come et’s 50-over showpiece, and so it back from that,” Moles told a proved. news conference in Canberra. Their attempt to overhaul “The boys are very proud in the 267 all out that Bangladesh their performance, and they posted never recovered from the know that they haven’t given a loss of Javed Ahmadi, Afsar Zazai fair reflection and Asghar Stanikzai in 13 balls today. that left them facing humiliation “We’re in at 3-3 after the opening three the shop win- overs. dow here, we Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe haven’t dis- Mortaza (3-20) took two of the graced our- wickets to help spur his side to selves but we a measure of revenge for the got lost, we defeat in the only previous meet- just didn’t ing between the countries at the get out of the Asia Cup last year. blocks tonight Shakib Al Hasan, who tops with the bat, the all-rounder world rankings, we were in a fog,” he added. was missing from that match but “They bowled very well and played a key role in yesterday’s before we knew where we were, victory after Afghanistan had Bangladeshi bowler Rubel Hossain (centre) celebrates with team-mate Shakib Al Hasan after dismissing Afsar Zazai of Afghanistan (second from left) we were one-two-three down and shackled the Bangladeshi bats- during a World Cup Pool A match in Canberra yesterday. just treading water.” men and reduced them to 119 to Cricket was still the subject of a four in the 30th over. Bangladeshi to score 4,000 one- through onto the danger area, Taliban ban in Afghanistan when Teaming up with Mushfiqur day runs. four Afghan bowlers took two Bangladesh made their World Rahim (71) to plunder 114 runs Despite spinner Samiullah wickets apiece and they will Cup debut in 1999 but Moles said off 93 balls for the fifth wicket, Shenwari being forced out of the have been encouraged by bowling Deflated Afghan his team had approached the fix- Shakib (63) also became the first attack by the umpire for following Bangladesh out. ture against one of the 10 test- That encouragement did not playing nations with high hopes. Scoreboard last much beyond the innings “We genuinely thought this break and although Nawroz fans rue defeat was a game we could have won BANGLADESH AFGHANISTAN Mangal (27) and Samiullah tonight,” he said. Tamim Iqbal c Asfar b Mirwais ...... 19 Javed Ahmadi c&b Mortaza...... 1 Shenwari (42) averted complete KANDAHAR, Afghanistan: he added in a reference to “I still believe that if we’d have Anamul Haque lbw Mirwais ...... 29 Afsar Zazai lbw Hossain ...... 1 humiliation with a fourth wicket Cricket fans across Afghanistan Afghanistan’s one-day win over applied ourselves better, we would Soumya Sarkar lbw Shapoor ...... 28 Nawroz Mangal c Hossain b Mahmudullah .27 partnership of 62, the run chase generated a party mood for the Test nation during last year’s have given a better account of Mahmudullah c Afsar b Shapoor ...... 23 Asghar Stanikzai c Mahmudullah b Mortaza ..1 never looked on. their team’s World Cup debut Asia Cup. ourselves. Shakib Al Hasan b Hamid ...... 63 Samiullah Shenwari (run out-Sabbir) ...... 42 Shakib’s left-arm spin yesterday, but there were long In the eastern city of Jalalabad, “Take nothing away from Mushfiqur Rahim c Shenwari b Nabi...... 71 Mohammad Nabi c Soumya b Mortaza ...... 44 accounted for Najibullah Zadran faces as their side crumbled to near the border with Pakistan, Bangladesh, they played very well Sabbir Rahman b Hamid...... 3 Najibullah Zadran lbw Shakib ...... 17 (17), who looked unfortunate not a big defeat by Bangladesh. there was, perhaps, the biggest but we didn’t hit the heights we Mashrafe Mortaza b Aftab ...... 14 Mirwais Ashraf c Mortaza b Shakib ...... 10 escape the lbw decision on appeal In towns and villages across concentration of fans, with the expect of ourselves.” Mominul Haque (run out-Asfar) ...... 3 Aftab Alam (not out) ...... 14 as the ball appeared to strike him the country, crowds gathered streets and government offices Asked whether nerves were Rubel Hossain (not out) ...... 0 Hamid Hassan c Anamul b Taskin ...... 0 on the pad outside the line of the round TVs in restaurants, cafes deserted during the match. responsible for the calamitous Taskin Ahmed b Aftab ...... 1 Shapoor Zadran (run out-Mushfiqur) ...... 2 off-stump. and even in the street to watch Humayun, who like many folding of the top order, Moles Extras (B-3, LB-4, W-6) ...... 13 Extras (LB-1, W-2) ...... 3 After Nabi lashed out at a the game. Afghans uses only one name, said he would be talking to the Total (all out in 50 overs) ...... 267 Total (all out in 42.5 overs) ...... 162 Mortaza delivery on the follow- Hundreds huddled together in had bought 15 kilos of oranges to batsmen about their mental Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-52, 3-102, 4-119, Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-3, 4-65, 5-78, ing ball and was caught at mid-off front of a big-screen TV outside distribute among the crowd at a approach to the match. 5-233, 6-241, 7-247, 8-263, 9-263, 10-267. 6-136, 7-136, 8-154, 9-154, 10-162. for 44, the end was not long com- a wedding hall in the southern restaurant if the team had won. “I really don’t think they were Bowling: Hamid 10-0-61-2 (1w); Shapoor Bowling: Mortaza 9-2-20-3; Hossain 6-0-27- ing and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur city of Kandahar, once the heart- But as Afghanistan’s chances up for the fight from ball one,” 7-1-20-2; Aftab 9-0-55-2 (3w); Mirwais 9-3- 1 (1w); Taskin 7-0-23-1; Shakib 8.5-0-43-2; performed the coup de grace by land of the Taliban. ebbed away, he left the restau- he said. 32-2 (1w); Nabi 9-0-58-1 (1w); Javed 4.5-0- Mahmudullah 8-1-31-1; Soumya 3-0-13-0; running out Aftab Alam to end The excitement grew as rant, taking the oranges with Moles said his players needed 32-0, Shenwari 1.1-0-2-0. Sabbir 1-0-4-0. the innings with 162 runs on the the Afghan fast bowlers tied him. to take the defeat “on the chin” board. REUTERS Bangladesh down during the Some fans took a more philo- and pick themselves up for their early overs in the Australian sophical approach. next match against Sri Lanka in capital of Canberra, and each “This is one match, there is Dunedin, New Zealand on Sunday. Bangladesh wicket was greeted with deaf- always the chance of winning or REUTERS Cyclone threatens ening cheers. losing. Today luck was not on our revel in win over But the mood turned glum as side,” said Baryalai, aged in his the Afghan innings began with 30s, in Kandahar. US embassy Clarke’s Aussie return Afghanistan the loss of three quick wickets, And there was confidence with the newcomers eventually among some that the side would prematurely CANBERRA: If the Bangladesh going down by the large margin learn from their emphatic loss. BRISBANE: Australia’s week,” he said. celebrations after their compre- of 105 runs. “This was the first match declares win World Cup campaign as well “At this stage I think the selec- hensive win over World Cup deb- Ahmad Shoaib had been opti- and we lost, but there is still as Michael Clarke’s (pictured) tors are very happy.” utants Afghanistan in Canberra mistic the Afghans would cap hope,” said Hashem Yousufzai KABUL: The US embassy in long-awaited return could be Stand-in skipper George Bailey looked slightly over the top it their fairytale rise to the World in Kandahar. Kabul seemed to get caught up in blown off course by a tropi- is the man expected to make way was not without reason. Cup with a win. “Our team can recover, can the excitement of Afghanistan’s cal cyclone which threatens to for Clarke but it could be that Mashrafe Mortaza’s men “I am at loss for the words. I retaliate, can make a strong World Cup debut yesterday, dump 30cm of rain on Brisbane the wild weather will leave the embarked on a victory lap at could smash the TV. After all comeback. I pray for it and I congratulating the side on vic- in the lead-up to Saturday’s captain kicking his heels until the Manuka Oval after crushing those stunning achievements, know my prayers will come tory just half-way through the clash with Bangladesh. Australia’s third game of the Afghanistan by 105 runs yester- we were hoping for a better per- true!” Bangladesh innings. Australia’s meteorology office tournament, against fellow co- day, suggesting the 32-run defeat formance against Bangladesh,” Afghanistan face a tough chal- The Afghans made their World has forecast an 80 percent chance hosts and title contenders New in their only previous meeting last he said. lenge in their next match, when Cup bow in Canberra against the of rain, with thunder- Zealand in Auckland year still rankled. “How did we lose to they take on the mighty Sri Test-status South Asians, com- storms on Saturday on February 28. The upset on home soil at Bangladesh? I can’t believe it, Lankans, the 1996 World Cup- pleting another step in their fair- when the game takes Lehmann insisted Fatullah was one of the reasons we had beaten them before!” winners. AFP ytale rags-to-riches story. place at the Gabba. Australia’s selec- Mushfiqur Rahim lost the ODI The war-torn country has “Beautiful sun- tors would not be captaincy but the stumper-bats- taken to cricket with a passion shine at the moment, influenced by out- man redeemed himself with a and millions are expected to fol- but I think that’s side “feedback” when Man-of-the-Match performance low the match via TV, radio and it for the day — we they decide on who at the World Cup. social media. got a couple of days to drop ahead of the Mushfiqur top scored for With the match barely a of wet weather,” Gabba clash, with Bangladesh with a quick-fire 71 quarter of the way through, the Australia coach many critics demand- and sealed the victory by break- US embassy’s official Twitter Darren Lehmann said ing all-rounder Shane ing the stumps to run out Aftab account posted a message hailing yesterday. Watson be axed after Alam, looking overcome with Afghanistan’s “victory”. “We’ll work out what the best his golden duck against England. anger. “Congratulations to XI is once it clears up. It might “You do listen to what’s being “I think it’s not an easy win, #Afghanistan for their win over be different with overcast condi- said but at the end of the day you but it’s a comprehensive win. It’s #Bangladesh in the Cricket World tions and we might decide to play have got to make the right call for a really great feeling,” Mushfiqur, Cup #CWC15 #AFGvsBAN,” the a different way, and it depends on that particular game,” Lehmann 26, told the post-match news message said. the wicket.” said. conference betraying none of The tweet triggered a flood of But Lehmann confirmed that The grim weather forecast the emotions he displayed on the sarcastic retorts about Americans Clarke would be playing. “Yeah, could force the players indoors field. in Kabul prematurely declaring he’s playing mate,” Lehmann told for nets after rain hit the Gabba “As you can see with that run victory, as well as an apologetic reporters in Brisbane. training session on Wednesday. out (celebration), it’s a really response from the embassy. “We had a good conversation “The wickets were a little bit pleasing thing and, as I said, being “Premature posting but we (with selectors) last week and juicy so it was interesting fac- the captain, we lost that match are still cheering for team thought it was in the team’s ing the quicks that was for sure,” against them and it was a big Afghan shopkeepers watch the live broadcast of the World Cup match Afghanistan at the #CWC15! best interests to not play against said Australia all-rounder Glenn pressure match for us,” he added. between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in Kabul yesterday. #AFGvsBAN,” the embassy England and give me another Maxwell. AGENCIES REUTERS tweeted. AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Five tough desert stages planned for Sealine Rally Entries for QMMF’s cross-country event opens today

DOHA: The Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation Boxing champions Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines (left) and Floyd (QMMF) has laid out five Mayweather Jr. demanding desert selective sections for car, bike and quad entrants in this year’s Sealine Cross-Country Rally, the third round of the 2015 FIA World Mayweather and Cup for Cross-Country Rallies and second round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, from April Pacquiao, must 18-24. There will be no super special stage or ceremonial start on this occasion and the competitive decide soon: Roach action will get underway on April 20 (Monday) with the first provi- LOS ANGELES: Time is run- Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum sional 194km timed section from ning out for Manny Pacquiao last month ignited buzz over the a start at the Losail International and Floyd Mayweather to book fight when he said negotiations Circuit. a May 2 showdown, Pacquiao’s had been “narrowed down to Minor route amendments trainer Freddie Roach said extraordinarily small points.” are being made this week by Tuesday. On Tuesday, however, Arum event officials and the precise Amid a welter of reports in took himself out of the prophecy distances of the stages may recent weeks that a deal for the business. change slightly over the com- much-anticipated bout was all but “I know nothing,” Arum said ing days, but selective sections done, Roach warned that a deci- of the state of negotiations as of 397.56km, 401.15km, 400.55km sion would be needed soon if both he attended a public workout and 364.28km had been originally fighters are to prepare adequately. at Roach’s Wild Card gym for planned to test teams to the limit Motorcycle riders will tackle five challenging special stages at this year’s Sealine Cross-Country Rally. “We are getting really close,” Chinese fighter Zou Shiming. before the ceremonial finish at the Roach said of reaching a cut- Roach, however, thinks the bivouac near Sealine on April 24 (Friday). In an intended compact route of approximately 1,917km, Victories last year fell to off for declaring a May 2 fight a fight — which ran aground in 2009 over 90 percent of which will be two-time Dakar Rally winner reality. — will happen. competitive. Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah (Mini “I need eight weeks. That “I think we’re close enough it “We have been making subtle All4 Racing), Joan Barreda window is getting smaller and will happen sometime in the near improvements and changes to Bort (Honda CRF 450) and smaller.” future,” Roach said. “Floyd says the route and the format of the Mohammed Abu Issa (Honda) in In fact, Roach said, he could he wants to fight. Manny says he event each year,” said Nasser their respective car, motorcycle make do with a slightly shorter wants to fight. Fights get made Khalifa Al Attiyah, President and quad categories. All three are training camp with Pacquiao, like that.” of the QMMF and FIA Vice- expected to return to defend their the eight-division world cham- Pacquiao said this week he had president, MENA. Sealine titles in 2015. pion who said Monday in the agreed to the Mayweather camp’s “Feedback last year from com- Administration checks, scru- Philippines that a deal was “near.” demands regarding drug testing. petitors was extremely positive tinizing, the initial briefing and On an eight-week schedule, Published reports citing sources and we had one of the most excit- the pre-event press conference the first fortnight would be core close to the Filipino ring icon have ing finishes in the motorcycle cat- will take place at the Losail training and general conditioning, also said he has agreed to give egory. Our terrain is varied and International Circuit, north of Roach said. Mayweather the lion’s share of demanding and our team has laid Doha, April 18 and April 19. “The boxing would start six what promises to be the biggest on a difficult route with very chal- Entries open for all catego- weeks out, because if you go more pay-day in boxing history. lenging navigation,” he added. ries tomorrow (February 19). than six weeks with Manny you’ll “I think it would be the biggest Portugal’s Pedro Almeida will Supplementary regulations are burn him out because of his work fight of all time,” Roach said. “A act as clerk of the course once now available for download from ethic.” lot of it has to do with the world again for the auto event, with www.qmmf.com. Pacquiao is 57-5 with two we’re living in — you have pay- Qatar’s Marwan Musabah work- Entries close at the reduced draws and 38 knockouts, while per-view almost everywhere.” ing alongside as his deputy and rate on March 12, with the final Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 Those pay-per-view revenues with Jaime Santos on the complex entry cut-off set on April 2. Full knockouts. have added another wrinkle to road book. Iain Black is the clerk details on costs and concessions Fight fans around the world the negotiations, since the fight- Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah on his way to a Sealine victory in 2014. of the course of the motorcycle are available at www.qmmf.com. have clamored for years for a ers are under contract to rival US event. THE PENINSULA showdown between the box- telecasters, Showtime and HBO. ers widely regarded as the best If fight fans do get the bout “pound-for-pound” fighters of they’ve been waiting for on May their generation. 2, Roach has no doubt who will Qatar International Endurocross returns The Sunday Telegraph in bring the fireworks, with Pacquiao Britain reported that the pair ready to take some risks to make DOHA: The penultimate round rider Jake Preston won both races had agreed to a $250 million deal, an exciting fight. for the Qatar International and is leading the E2 category although on Sunday night in New That’s not something he Endurocross, organised by the with 95 points and Mohammed York, Mayweather said in a brief expects from Mayweather, a slick Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Jaffar is second in the standings television interview during the defender who Roach believes is Federation (QMMF), will start with 87 points. The Kuwaiti rider NBA All-Star Game that nothing reluctant to risk his unbeaten this Friday at the Sealine area. finished second in the previous had been signed by either party. record. A large number of entries are round and hopes to take the vic- Last year, Mayweather used “I don’t think he really cares expected for this third round tory in this round and reduce the the occasion of his 37th birth- about the fans,” Roach said of after the big success in the pre- gap with Preston. The third rider day on February 24 to announce Mayweather. “I think he just vious round, which had more than in the standings is the Emirati his opponent for a May 3 bout — wants to do enough to win. 50 entries. rider Mohammed Al Balooshi. plumping for Argentina’s Marcos Manny’s not like that. That’s why In the E1 category, the leader In the Quads category, Kuwaiti Maidana and snubbing England’s Manny’s been knocked out a few and double winner in the last rider Fahad Al Musallam is lead- Amir Khan. times. That could happen again, round, Kuwait’s Meshari Abou ing with 89 points and Mohammed A similar birthday announce- but I’d rather see a fighter get Shaibah, will try to register his Al Kulaifi, also from Kuwait, is ment by Mayweather would make knocked out trying to win than third victory of the season and second with 82 points. for a nine-week lead time to a just trying to go the distance.” extend his lead over compatriot Tomorrow, action will start at May 2 fight. AFP Moath Al Ansari, who came in 10.30am with free practice and second in the previous rounds. the first race for bikes will be at Abou Shhaibah is leading the 12.45pm. For quads, the first race Bika to fight Canada’s championship with 100 points will be at 1.40pm. and Al Ansari is second with 88 The second races are scheduled British rider Jake Preston in action during the previous round of the Qatar points. at 2.35pm and 3.30pm. International Endurocross. In the previous round, British THE PENINSULA Stevenson for title

LOS ANGELES: Cameroon- Other main events announced born Australian Sakio Bika will by Showtime and CBS included F1 bans mid-season helmet changes challenge World Boxing Council WBC featherweight champion light-heavyweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez, a Mexican who LONDON: Formula One driv- sportscar racer and former F1 website, four times world cham- Adonis Stevenson on April 4 at is 57-8 with 48 knockouts, making ers are to be barred from chang- driver Alexander Wurz one of pion Sebastian Vettel has used Quebec City, organisers said on his third title defense on March ing helmet designs during the those critical of the decision. some 60 different designs since Tuesday as part of several fight 28 against American Gary Russell course of a season in a ruling “I hear F1 banned drivers to his debut in 2007 -- although he scheduling announcements. Jnr, 25-1 with 14 knockouts. aimed at helping fans identify change helmet design during said recently he was likely to stick Haitian-born Canadian Showtime, which has two their heroes and also pleasing season. I am a fan of consist- with one now he was at Ferrari. Stevenson, 25-1 with 21 knock- fights remaining on a deal with traditionalists. ency. BUT SERIOUSLY! What’s The frequent changes have outs, has won his past 12 fights unbeaten Floyd Mayweather, said It will be less well received by next? Rules on haircut?,” said the rankled with more traditionally- over five years with only one of the welterweight star will enter those drivers who like to change Austrian on Twitter. minded fans, who yearn for the those victories going the distance. the ring again on May 2 but did the look of their lids with some Australian Mark Webber, who days when drivers were easily rec- Stevenson will be defending not say against whom. frequency. left Formula One at the end of ognisable by helmet colours and his crown for the fifth time since Former world middleweight The decision was taken by 2013 and now races for Porsche in when cars also had much bigger taking the title with a first-round champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr the governing FIA’s Formula sportscars, suggested there were numbers on their sides. knockout of Chad Dawson in of Mexico, 48-1-1 with 32 knock- One Commission, which met on “bigger issues than this” for the Britain’s two times champion 2013. But the 37-year-old south- outs, will fight Polish light-heavy- Tuesday, one of those present sport to address. Graham Hill famously raced with paw has fought outside the prov- weight Andrzej Fonfara, 26-3 with confirmed to Reuters. It has yet Others pointed out that one- the colours of the London Rowing ince of Quebec only once since a 15 knockouts, on April 18. to be ratified by the World Motor off helmets, such as the special Club, dark blue with white tabs, 2010 knockout loss in the United Britain’s Ricky Burns, a Sport Council. design worn by Jenson Button in in the 1960s and 70s with son and States to Darnell Boone, a defeat 31-year-old Scotsman who is “The FIA is keen to have sta- 2011 and auctioned off to raise 1996 champion Damon following Stevenson avenged in 2013. 37-4 with one drawn and 11 Sebastian Vettel seen during bility so people can identify who funds for victims of a Japanese the tradition. Bika, 35, is 32-6 with three knockouts, will face unbeaten practice for the 2014 German is in the car,” said the source. earthquake and tsunami, would The most distinctive helmet of drawn and 21 knockouts. He American Omar Figueroa, Grand Prix, with his customised “The new phenomenon of drivers not be allowed. all belonged to the late Brazilian steps up from super middleweight 24-0 with one drawn and 18 helmet in celebration of the changing helmet every few races Nor would tribute helmets, triple world champion Ayrton after winning that division’s WBC knockouts on May 9. Figueroa German national soccer team’s isn’t helping.” such as the James Hunt one worn Senna, who was always associ- crown in 2013 but losing it last vacated the WBC lightweight The news received a mixed by Kimi Raikkonen in 2013. ated with his country’s yellow and August to unbeaten American crown to move up to super light- World Cup victory. response on social media, with According to the autosport.com green colours. REUTERS Anthony Dirrell. weight. AFP THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Horse Racing Results: (Read under as horse, trainer and jockey) Runaway win for L/B P/A Maiden Plate 1800M Running Time: 2:08:63 Khrash Al Naif, Y. Bentaher, Marvin Suerland Madhloumm, O. Al Dhafa, Gerald Avranche Barq Al Uraiq, Eng. M. R. Al Kuwari, Alberto Janoub Nibras Sanna P/A Maiden Plate 1200M Running Time: 1:20:40 Convertino-ridden pony tops in Wathnan Cup Dheram Al Naif, Jassim Al Ghazali, Harry Bentley Falot Del Falot, H. Al Matwi, Gerald DOHA: Janoub Nibras produced with trainer Jassim Al Ghazali the 1800m race, finishing ahead Avranche one of the easiest wins ever at to ride Thawi to victory ahead of of West De Faust and ras Al Djuliet , Hilal Kobeissi, S. Golam Qatar Racing and Equestrian Meghwaar and Saint De Faust. Qimmah. P/A Graduation Plate Club where the Pier Convertino- Thawai finished the 1800m race In race three, T. O’Shea scored 1900M ridden entry emerged victorious with a time of 2:02.86. the turf as he guided Al Koufa to Running Time: 2:14:91 in the Wathnan Cup. In race six, Thameen topped win ahead of Vit’Al Fauquey and Al Koufa, J. Smart, T. O’Shea Janoub Nibras, trained by B Al the 1200m race ahead of Lupie Bentley-ridden Intizaa. Vit’Al Fauquey, O. Al Dhafa, Gerald Avranche Abid, produced a slick run in the and Nothern Water ridden by Minutes earlier Bentley won Intizaa, Jassim Al Ghazali, Harry Bentley 1900m feature race, winning with Convertino. race two with Dheram Al Naif. P/A Handicap Rated 0 - 60 1800M a margin of seven lengths. Thameen, trained by Nasser Al Bentley finished the 1200m Running Time: 2:07:96 Elkhart, ridden by Gerald Kaabi, was ridden by Almotasem race ahead of Falot Del Falot Mowhoubat Al Zaidy, H Abdalhadi Al-Marri, Avranche, finished a distant sec- Al Balushi. Lupie had Bentley in (Avranche) and Djuliet who had Gaetan Faucon ond while Zakon, who had Yanis the saddle. S Golam in the saddle. West De Faust, M. Hussain, Marco Aouabed in the saddle, ended the In race five, Avranche guided The day’s proceedings were Monteriso race in third spot. Disco Inferno to win ahead kicked off by Marvin Suerland Ras Al Qimmah, Jassim Al Ghazali, J.P Owned by Al Jasra Stud, Janoub of Rebelde who had Marco who guided Khrash Al Naif to win Guillambert Nibras clocked a time of 2:09.96. It Monteriso in the saddle, and in the first race. Khrash Al Naif Thoroughbred Handicap Rated 55 -75 was five-year-old Janoub Nibras’ Freckenham who was ridden by finished the 1800m race ahead of 1200M first win in almost a year. Al Balushi. Madhloun and Barq Al Uraiq who Running Time: 1:11:36 Earlier in race seven, British In race four, Mowhoubat Al had Alberto Sanna in the saddle. Disco Inferno, H. Al Khayarin, Gerald Avranche jockey Harry Bentley combined Zaidy battled hard for the win in THE PENINSULA Rebelde, S. Ibido, Marco Monteriso Freckenham, Bustawi Ismail, Almotasem Al Balushi Thoroughbred Handicap Rated 75 - 95 1200M Running Time: 1:10:87 Thameen, Nasser Al Kaabi, Almotasem Al TOP: Jockey P Convertino Balushi receiving the Wathnan Cup Lupie, Jassim Al Ghazal, iHarry Bentley from H E Sheikh Hamad bin Northern Water, B. Al Abid, P. Convertino P/A Conditions Jabor bin Jassim Al Thani at 1800M Qatar Racing and Equestrian Running Time: 2:04:86 Club in Doha yesterday. LEFT: Thawi, Jassim Al Ghazali, Harry Bentley QREC officials giving away Meghwaar, J. Smart, T. O’Shea the Wathnan Cup to Janoub Saint De Faust, Bustawi Ismail, Almotasem Nibras team members. Al Balushi PICTURES BY: JUHAIM Wathnan Cup - Thoroughbred Conditions 1900M Running Time: 2:00:96 Janoub Nibras, B. Al Abid, P. Convertino Elkhart, A. Al Qathiri, Gerald Avranche Zakon, H Al Jehani, Yanis Aouabed

H H The Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival Schedule Today H H The Emir Equestrian Sword 24th Qatar International Arabian Horse Show (QIAHS) at the Outdoor Arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation 9:00am – 1:00pm: QIAHS 3:30pm – 7:00pm: QIAHS 8:00pm – 10:00pm: Official Opening Ceremony Festival starts today at QREC Tomorrow 24th Qatar International Arabian Horse Show (QIAHS) at DOHA: H H The Emir 24th class professional horseracing and the Outdoor Arena of Qatar Equestrian Federation International Equestrian Sword equestrian culture in Qatar and 3:30pm – 8:30pm: QIAHS Festival starts today which will has staged unparalleled events On Saturday take place at the Qatar Racing which saw the attendance of 24th Qatar International Arabian Horse Show (QIAHS) at the Outdoor Arena of Qatar and Equestrian Club (QREC), scores of highly recognised eques- Equestrian Federation under the patronage of H H The trian personalities from across 9:00am – 12:00noon: QIAHS – Ridding Class Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad the globe.” 3:30pm – 7:00pm: QIAHS – Championships & End of the Show Al Thani, kicks off today. He added: “There is no doubt February 22 The seven-day racing carnival that our sponsorship partner- 5th Qatar International Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show at the Outdoor Arena of is ready to enthral Qatari and ships in the country will be key the Qatar Equestrian Federation international audience at QREC to maintaining the success of this 3:30pm – 8:30pm: 5th Qatar International Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show and on television with the live esteemed event particularly when February 23 telecast of the Festival’s events NBK has been considered QREC’s 5th Qatar International Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show at the Outdoor Arena of the Qatar reaching many homes. sports partner for years.” Equestrian Federation Over the years, the HH The He said: “QREC is saving no 3:30pm – 7:00pm: 5th Qatar International Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show Emir International Equestrian effort to promote the sports her- - Championships Sword Festival has grown to be itage of our country. Horseracing February 24 one of the most exciting events and Equestrian sports are deeply Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup & GCC Gulf Cup Race Meeting in the Middle East region. rooted in the fabrics of our culture It promises to be yet another and we are therefore extremely 1:00pm- 5:00pm: Race meeting featuring 9 races event that will showcase the proud to be associated with such February 25 capabilities of QREC on the world an event. We are confident that Qatar International Race Meeting stage. this year’s edition will prove to be A trainer seen with one of the entries at Qatar Racing and Equestrian 1:00pm- 5:00 pm: Race meeting featuring 9 races QREC Chairman HE Sheikh just as memorable and fantastic.” Club during day one of the 23rd Qatar International Arabian Horse February 26 Mohamed bin Faleh Al Thani Entry to the venue is free of Show — the feature event on the first two days of the 23rd International H H The Emir Trophies and Sword Race meeting said: “QREC has played a sig- charge, QREC officials said. Equestrian Sword Festival in this file picture of February 21, 2014. 1:00 pm- 05:00 pm: Race meeting featuring 8 races included H H The Emir Sword race nificant role in promoting a first THE PENINSULA Title contenders Lekhwiya face Al Shamal today

DOHA: Second placed important. We play each other on The match will kick off at Lekhwiya will be looking to gain February 28. That’s a big game Lekhwiya head 7:1pm in the Jassim Bin Hamad full points when they take on and we have to see after that coach Michael stadium on Saturday. bottom sitters Al Shamal in the game how the points are in the Laudrup Despite the fact that Al Arabi 18th round match of the Qatar standings, he added. (left) and Al in recent years haven’t been able Stars League here today. Laudrup said besides his club Shamal head to keep pace with their cross town Lekhwiya has 39 points from and Al Sadd other clubs are also coach Dragan rivals won’t mean a thing this 17 matches one less than lead- in the race for this year’s QSL Cvetkovic dur- Saturday. In this highly charged ers Al Sadd, while Al Shamal are title. ing a press and contested atmosphere the fighting relegation battle with just “This year the battle is conference Dream Team will make the short seven points. between us and Al Sadd. Both of trip to Al Sadd and will be look- on the eve of “To be fair, it’s one of these us have had a good season so far. ing to do better than the 1-1 draw their Qatar games that I don’t like very much. But I still think that there are a which they achieved in the first There is a lot to lose and not too couple of other teams that are Stars League half of the season. much to win,” Lekhwiya coach capable of winning the title. So match. Al Arabi currently finds itself Michael Laudrup said. I don’t think it’s just us two who PICTURES BY: in 8th spot in QSL and has been “Let me explain. We are playing are title contenders in the Qatar ABDUL BASIT finding it hard to get back their the bottom-placed team. We are Stars League.” early form which saw them in the big favorites but we have to show Al Shamal coach Dragan top four at the start of the season. that on the pitch. So that’s why Cvetkovic said: “This game is change the fortune of the game, “Unfortunately the results But that is something that we Al Sadd is once again lead- it’s one of those games that I don’t against a big team and a big side. like Weiss and Nam too.” don’t reflect the job done in the are working on every day, we are ing in the QSL standings due to quite like. As for our last result, It’s a very tough game and a big “We have to ensure that we club every day. I admit that our eager to get out first win.” Lekhwiya losing to El Jaish last I don’t think we deserved to lose challenge for us especially when don’t make the same mistakes team is fragile. The problem is Meanwhile, the classic derby week. This slender lead of just but we did.” they have many big-name play- that we did in the previous two that when we concede one goal between Al Sadd and Al Arabi is one point over last season’s cham- “As for our battle with Al Sadd, ers. Lekhwiya will have Sebastian games. If we make such mistakes, the team becomes more fragile, once again upon us this weekend, pions is all the motivation the in the last 4 or 5 games, we have Soria back for this game. So it will be very difficult espe- especially when we concede the this has been one of the big der- Wolves will need going into the been alternating the top spot in our task is very difficult in this cially when we play against the goal early. We have to rectify bies over the years and shouldn’t round 18 clash with Al Arabi as the table. The difference of 1 or 2 game. And not just Soria but they Lekhwiya players who have very that and focus on the right bal- disappoint in being a tough and they look to maintain their claim points that we see now is not that also have other players who can good individual technique.” ance between attack and defense. competitive clash. on the title. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Dubai Championships Results Results from the Dubai Championships Women’s Singles Round 3 matches yesterday 1-Simona Halep (Romania) bt Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) 6-4, 6-3; 13-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) bt 2-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6-3 4-6, 6-3; 17-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) bt 4-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; 10-Flavia Pennetta (Italy) bt 7-Angelique Kerber (Germany) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1; 11-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) bt 8-Venus Williams (US) 6-4, 6-2; 6-Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) bt Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) 6-3, 6-4; Garbine Muguruza Blanco (Spain) bt 5-Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 6-4 6-2. Venus suffers first Dubai defeat in a decade DUBAI: Venus Williams lost Qatari player Faramarzi Maha in action against Yang Xiaoxin of Mongolia during their women’s singles qualifying match at the 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open at Qatar Women’s Sports her title and an unbeaten Community Hall in Doha, yesterday. RIGHT: Spain’s Shen Yanfei returns the ball in her match against Minnie Soo Wai Yam of Hong Kong. PICTURES BY: BAHER AMIN record stretching back a decade when she subsided to a 6-4, 6-2 third round Dubai Open defeat against Lucie Safarova ITTF World Tour The 34-year-old American’s serving delivery was at half pace Qatar Open Results for much of the match in a court Yanfei overcomes first Men’s Singles temperature of about 40 degrees, her movement was slow, and her Tsuboi Gustavo (BRA) bt Cassin Alexandre appetite for the battle not great. (FRA) 4-2; Wu Zhikang (SIN) bt Liao Cheng- Williams dropped serve in the Ting (TPE) 4-0; Li Ahmet (TUR) bt Groth opening game and after failing to Jonathan (DEN) 4-2; Tan Ruiwu (CRO) bt convert three successive break Hung Ka Tak (HKG) 4-0; Ho Kwan Kit (HKG) back points at 4-5, no longer bt Lebesson Emmanuel (FRA) 4-0; Habesohn looked a serious contender for hurdle at Qatar Open Daniel (AUT) bt Floras Robert (POL) 4-3; Zhai victory. Yujia (DEN) bt Primorac Zoran (CRO) 4-3; The result was more a surprise Jeong Sangeun (KOR) bt Brossier Benjamin given that this was only Williams’ (FRA) 4-3; Wong Chun Ting (HKG) bt Hung second defeat this year, and that Veteran a step away from main rounds after win over Yam Tzu-Hsiang (TPE) 4-2; Kang Dongsoo (KOR) she may now have to wait a while bt Persson Jorgen (SWE) 4-2; Duran Marc before returning to the world’s (ESP) bt Paikov Mikhail (RUS) 4-1; Chen DOHA: Three-time ITTF top ten after a four-year interval, Weixing (AUT) bt Gnanasekaran Sathiyan World Tour champion, Shen one of her goals. (IND) 4-0; Fertikowski Pawel (POL) bt Tokic Yanfei of Spain continued “Obviously I want to win and Bojan (SLO) 4-0; Ouaiche Stephane (FRA) bt her international rehabilita- then your ranking goes up,” she Monteiro Thiago (BRA) 4-1; Lee Sangsu (KOR) tion process, with a victory in said. bt Lambiet Florent (BEL) 4-1; Jiang Tianyi the first preliminary round of “But I have been super happy (HKG) bt Robinot Quentin (FRA) 4-1; Yang women’s singles contest at the with the year so far and I am dis- Zi (SIN) bt Franziska Patrick (GER) 4-3; Seo 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar appointed to lose,” she added. Hyundeok (KOR) bt Ghosh Soumyajit (IND) Open, yesterday at the Qatar “She is a player who hits the 4-2; Wang Yang (SVK) bt Hachard Antoine Women’s Sports Community ball a little bit different. I don’t (FRA) 4-1; Filus Ruwen (GER) bt Soderlund Hall in Doha. think I was playing badly.” Hampus (SWE) 4-2; Wang Zengyi (POL) bt The 35-year old, a mother of Safarova’s serve was certainly Szudi Adam (HUN) 4-0; Petiot Jeremy (FRA) two children utilised her vast difficult to read, and she mixed in bt Skachkov Kirill (RUS) 4-0; Gorak Daniel experience to overcome teenager swerving deliveries into the body (POL) bt Ionescu Ovidiu (ROU) 4-2; Achanta Minnie Soo Wai Yam 4-1 with a with others swung out wide, test- Sharath Kamal (IND) bt Sternberg Kasper 11-9, 4-11, 11-9, 11-9, 11-8 score- ing the reach on a right-hander’s (DEN) 4-1; Pitchford Liam (ENG) bt Nuytinck line, advancing to the final round double-handed backhand. Cedric (BEL) 4-1; Kim Donghyun (KOR) bt of the qualifying stage of women’s She also hit confidently, and Salifou Abdel-Kader (FRA) 4-0; Jang Woojin singles event. moved remarkably well consid- (KOR) bt Kojic Frane (CRO) 4-2; Saive Jean- It is second international ering she had had a three-hour Michel (BEL) bt Calderano Hugo (BRA) 4-1; Li appearance for the Spaniard after match the previous day followed Hu (SIN) bt Geraldo Joao (POR) 4-1; Lorentz giving birth to her second child by a doubles. Romain (FRA) bt Matsumoto Cazuo (BRA) last year. “That’s what you train for,” 4-1; Walther Ricardo (GER) bt Chew Zhe Yu She has a son aged five and Safarova said. Clarence (SIN) 4-1; Monteiro Joao (POR) bt half years old and seven month Safarova also claimed to have Robinot Alexandre (FRA) 4-3. old daughter. taken confidence from winning In 2010, some eight months Women’s Singles a Grand Slam doubles title at after her first child was born, Choi Jeongmin (KOR) bt Imanova Maryam last month’s Australian Open. she competed in the Japan Open (AZE) 4-0; Kumahara Caroline (BRA) bt Al- She was due to play the win- where she was beaten in the first Abri Noora (QAT) 4-0; Xian Yifang (FRA) bt ner of Ana Ivanovic, the former round by Li Jie of the Netherlands. Kim Minhee (YOB=1991) (KOR) 4-0; Liu world number one from Serbia, However, the same year she Hsing-Yin (TPE) bt Guliyeva Rufat AZE 4-0; and Karolina Pliskova, her rising won the Women’s Singles title at Madarasz Dora (HUN) bt Al-Saffar Alanoud 22-year-old compatriot. the Korean Open. Hungary’s Pergel Szandra playing against Remzi Sibel of Turkey during their women’s singles qualifying match at (QAT) 4-0; Shen Yanfei (ESP) bt Soo Wai Earlier Agnieszka Radwanska, Yanfei made her return to the the 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open at the Qatar Women’s Sports Community Hall in Doha, yesterday. RIGHT: Yam Minnie (HKG) 4-1; Rakovac Lea (CRO) a former titleholder, was also international scene this year at Yang Xiaoxin from Mongolia in action against Faramarzi Maha of Qatar. bt Bsaibes Maysa (LIB) 4-0; Pergel Szandra beaten. the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World (HUN) bt Remzi Sibel (TUR) 4-0; Grundisch The fifth-seeded Pole has been Tour Hungary Open in Budapest round. “I feel relaxed”, said Yanfei so adapting is not easy,” she added. women’s singles and U-21 men’s Carole (FRA) bt Hussain Kholoud (QAT) 4-0; suffering from a virus and looked where she negotiated the first after winning her opening quali- Apart from the women’s singles singles will begin today. Yang Xiaoxin (MON) bt Faramarzi Maha below par for the second succes- phase of proceedings, before over- fying match. category, qualifying matches in The final qualifying round for (QAT) 4-0; Cheng Hsien-Tzu (TPE) bt Ozkaya sive day as she lost 6-4, 6-2 to coming Hong Kong’s Tie Yana in “However, it is (comeback) men’s singles and men’s U-21 sin- open categories will also be com- Gul Pembe (TUR) 4-0; LIN Chia-Hui (TPE) Garbine Muguruza, a 21-year- a close seven games duel, prior quite difficult for me; the ball is gles were also decided yesterday. peted. bt Bsaibes Rita (LIB) 4-0; Lin Chia-Hui bt old from Barcelona who looks en to Portugal’s Yu Fu in the second different to when I played before, The main round of U-21 THE PENINSULA Bsaibes Rita (LIB) 4-0. route for the top 20. AFP Finland’s Satu claims trap gold

DOHA: Three-time world champion and 2008 Olympic Games winner Satu Makela- Nummela of Finland extended FROM LEFT: her domination of the Trap Dosmagambetova Satu Makela- event at the Qatar Open Aizhan of Shotgun by winning yet another Kazakhstan Nummela of gold medal at the Losail shoot- (centre) poses Finland poses ing Range. with compatriot for a picture Yesterday Makela-Nummela Rysbekova after winning defeated Tonga’s Anna Shedrina Sarsenkul (left) and a gold medal 12-9 to win the crown for the Qatar’s Al Binali at the Qatar third time in four years. Meitha (bronze Open Shotgun “I love coming here as this place medallist), after Championship. is very lucky for me. I always do winning the gold PICTURES BY: well here,” said Makela-Nummela. medal in Trap in BAHER AMIN Twice Olympic Games sil- the junior category ver medallist Zuzana Rehak Stefecekova outshot Mirya of the Qatar Dmitriyenko to bag the bronze Open Shotgun medal. In the junior category, Championship at Qatar’s Meitha Al Binali Lusail Shooting won the bronze, while Aizhan Range, yesterday. Dosmagambetova and Sarsenkul Rysbekova, won gold and silver respectively. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

One-day Paralympic Day Festival held

Athletes taking part in Paralympic Day Festival, part of the Schools Olympic Program 2014-2015 at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium of Qatar SC in Doha yesterday. The one-day festival brought together around 800 students representing social centres in charge of people with special needs. According to the organisers, the participants competed in Goalball, Table Tennis, Athletics besides other sports activities and entertainment games. CENTRE: Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) playing Table Tennis with one of the competitor taking part in the Paralympic Day Festival.

Champions League Paris: Results from Tuesday night’s Champions League last 16 first leg matches: PSG hold Chelsea At Paris Paris Saint Germain (FRA) 1 (Cavani 54) Chelsea (ENG) 1 (Ivanovic 36) At Lviv, Ukraine Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 0 on a day of draws Bayern Munich (GER) 0 Second legs on March 11 Bayern and Shakhtar share points Japan target

PARIS: A goal from Edinson far post. Chelsea manager Jose decided to sacrifice a striker and Laudrup says Cavani secured a 1-1 draw for Mourinho conceded that PSG had remove Thomas Mueller from the Paris Saint-Germain with looked the most likely winner. fray sending on central defender not leaving Qatar Chelsea as both of Tuesday “If you go to chances created Holger Badstuber in his place. night’s opening Champions and the goalkeepers’ perform- Bayern, who only have one win League last 16 first leg matches ances we have to be honest and from six visits to Ukraine, then before May ended in draws. say they had more than us, so played it out for a draw which Ukrainian champions Shakhtar if somebody was closer to win- should give them enough when TOKYO: Michael Laudrup Donetsk drew 0-0 at ‘home’ ning the game it was Paris not they host Shakhtar in the sec- (pictured) will not leave his post in Lviv against German giants Chelsea,” said Mourinho. ond leg on March 11. Guardiola, as head coach of Qatari cham- Bayern Munich, who played the PSG handler Laurent Blanc whose first Champions League pions Lekhwiya before May last 25 minutes with just 10 men had mixed feelings about the campaign with Bayern ended despite confirming the Japanese as Spanish veteran Xabi Alonso game. with a drubbing at the hands of Football Association are seeking marked his 100th appearance in “The score is not favourable to eventual champions Real Madrid his services. the competition in unmemorable us, but I’m very happy with my last season, admitted it had been “I am aware of the interest fashion by being sent off. team,” said Blanc. a frustrating night. from Japan but... we have a lot of Chelsea had got the away goal “There were lots of very satis- “It was difficult because we had games coming up and they have, that they were dreaming of when fying things but the score is what to battle against an extra man,” absolutely, first priority at the Branislav Ivanovic scored another counts at the end so the return said the 44-year-old Guardiola, who moment,” the Dane told Kyodo vital goal for them in the 36th match will be complicated.” is bidding for a third Champions News yesterday. minute. Shakhtar -- who are facing League trophy as a coach having “When the season finishes in The Serbian’s header from a tough fight to win their sixth won it twice with Barcelona. May, I will think about my future. Gary Cahill’s flick-on -- another successive league crown as they “We did control the match but It could be here in Lekhwiya or central defender John Terry hav- trail Dynamo Kiev by five points we created very few chances. somewhere else.” ing provided the cross -- was his -- looked like a side that had not “It is always more pleasant to Laudrup played briefly with seventh goal in 53 appearances in played a competitive game since score an away goal as now we have Japanese club Vissel Kobe at the competition. the group match against Porto to win the second leg. However, the end of a glittering career Cavani, though, levelled 12 min- on December 10. The Ukrainian I believe we will achieve that,” which included league titles with utes into the second-half as poor side -- who have to play their added the Spaniard. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus Chelsea defending allowed him a games hundreds of miles away His Shakhtar counterpart and Ajax Amsterdam. free header from Blaise Matuidi’s from home because of the fighting 69-year-old Romanian Mircea The JFA have said they would cross. between rebels and Ukrainian sol- Lucescu was delighted despite like Javier Aguirre’s successor The Uruguayan -- who has 17 diers -- were give hope of at least their rustiness they had not taken in place by March 7 so the new goals to his name in all competi- taking a lead to Munich for the a similar hammering. manager can take in the start of tions this season -- should have second leg when Alonso was sent- “The first plan was not to lose,” the J-League season and be fully won the first leg for the hosts off for a second bookable offence. said Lucescu, who has been in up to speed before the World Cup when he wriggled free with just Bayern coach Pep Guardiola his post since 2004 and guided FC Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred (right), Luiz Adriano (left) and Bayern qualifying campaign gets under- 10 minutes remaining and one greeted with the decision with Shakhtar to victory in the 2009 Munich’s Franck Ribery fight for the ball during their UEFA Champions way in June. on one with Thibault Courtois a shake of the head and a grim UEFA Cup, the predecessor of the League football match F in Lviv on Tuesday night. The JFA said previously the he poked the ball just wide of the smile and shortly afterwards Europa League. AFP manager would be foreign and picked from a shortlist of five after sacking Mexican Aguirre early this month because of fears his alleged involvement in a Chelsea fans spark new racism storm match-fixing case in Spain could hurt the team. PARIS: French and British “We will work with British actions of a small group of Chelsea But the JFA have also not ruled police yesterday launched a police. These people must be fans in Paris. There is no place for out appointing a caretaker boss hunt for self-proclaimed “rac- known,” a French police source racism in football!” for the friendlies against Tunisia ist” Chelsea football fans who told AFP. England’s Football Association and Uzbekistan at the end of pushed a black man off a Paris London police confirmed that said: “The FA, like the club, com- March. metro train. they would assist the French pletely condemn such disgrace- Laudrup signed a one-year deal A new storm of controversy investigation. ful behaviour, which is a criminal to coach Lekhwiya in July -- the Paris St over racial abuse in the sport “We will examine the footage offence, and those responsible latest stop on a nomadic manage- Germain’s erupted after amateur video with a view to seeing if we can should face the strongest possible rial career which has taken him Maxwell emerged showing fans preventing apply for football banning orders, punishment.” to Spain, Russia and England. (right) chal- the man from boarding and then preventing people from travelling The footage was filmed by Paul Lekhwiya are one point behind lenges chanting: “We’re racist, we’re rac- from future matches,” said a New Nolan, a Briton living in Paris. He leaders Al Sadd with seven Chelsea’s ist, and that’s the way we like it!” Scotland Yard statement. told The Guardian he was “com- matches remaining in the Stars Branislav English Premier League leaders Meanwhile, British prime min- pletely appalled” by what he saw League. They also begin their Ivanovic Chelsea called the affair “abhor- ister David Cameron said the at Richelieu-Drouot station in AFC Champions League Group during their rent” and launched an appeal for incident was “extremely disturb- central Paris. A campaign next week with an Champions witnesses to contact the club. ing and very worrying”. A Chelsea supporter who away match to Iran’s Persepolis. League French politicians demanded The images shocked the football claimed to have been on the REUTERS round of “sanctions” after the incident in establishment. train said the man had only been the centre of the French capital In a statement, Chelsea called pushed away because the carriage 16 first leg before Chelsea’s 1-1 Champions the incident “abhorrent”. was full. match at League draw against Paris Saint- “We will support any criminal “He tried to get on and a few the Parc Germain on Tuesday night. action against those involved,” people were pushing him off des Princes The supporters repeatedly the club said. It added that those because there wasn’t much space Stadium pushed back the man each time involved could be banned from on the carriage. You couldn’t in Paris on he tried to get on the packed car- matches. move,” Mitchell McCoy, 17, told Tuesday riage, in footage obtained by The European football’s govern- Britain’s Press Association, deny- night. Guardian newspaper. ing body UEFA said it was ing there was any racist intent. A black woman is later seen “appalled” by the fans’ behaviour, But Nathalie Kosciusko- leaving the carriage as insults are but could do nothing as the inci- Morizet, deputy leader of France’s shouted inside. dent occurred away from PSG’s conservative opposition UMP French prosecutors said they stadium. party, called the Chelsea fan vio- have opened an investigation into Sepp Blatter, president of world lence “abject and intolerable”. She “deliberate racial violence on pub- governing body FIFA, wrote on said in a Twitter comment that lic transport”. Twitter: “I also condemn the “sanctions are essential”. AFP Thursday 19 February 2015 30 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6346 Sport Price: QR2

QMMF set to Hosts PSG host Sealine hold Chelsea rally in April to 1-1 draw

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Doha to host Beach Nasser Al Khater, Executive Director for Communications Soccer qualifiers and Marketing at the Supreme Committee FIFA-backed event to be played in March for Delivery & Legacy, is seen during the draw DOHA: Qatar will stage better tournament this year. ceremony of another elite international Doha Draw The matches will provide Qatari the FIFA Beach sporting competition - the FIFA sports fans with another chance • Group A: Qatar, Bahrain, Soccer World Beach Soccer World Cup Asian to show their passion for football Oman, Laos Cup Asian Qualifiers next month, it was in all forms.” • Group B: Japan, China PR, announced yesterday. Abdulla Al Saai, Director Qualifiers, in Vietnam, Kuwait The draw for next month’s Futsal and Beach Soccer, said: Doha yesterday. exciting qualifiers took place • Group C: United Arab “We would like to send a warm PICTURE: ABDUL at Al Bidda Tower as the event Emirates, Palestine, Uzbekistan, welcome to the visiting teams BASIT returned to Qatar following a Iraq coming to Qatar to participate hugely successful event in 2013. • Group D: Iran, Thailand, in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Running from March 23 to 28, Lebanon Cup 2015 and on behalf of the the matches will bring more than confirmed as official organisers Qatar Football Association I wish 2,000 fans to Katara Beach – with with the QFA the host federation. each of them the very best of luck Katara supporting the event as Nasser Al Khater, Executive and every success. We are hopeful at an incredible speed. Today, confederations all under the the sport, representing his coun- official venue partner. Director for Communications that our National Team will per- Asian teams can contest anyone umbrella of FIFA, it’s clear that try as both a coach and player. The crowds will watch 15 & Marketing at the Supreme form well and lift the title, but it in the world, and have become football’s move from grass pitches The variant of association foot- nations battle it out for the three Committee for Delivery & Legacy will be a tough competition. It’s a terrible opponents for the beach to sandy beaches has been a ball played on a beach or any patch Asian Football Confederation said yesterday: “Hosting the qual- fabulous opportunity for our team soccer all-time powerhouses.” success. of sand, emphasises improvisa- (AFC) berths available at the ifiers provides another oppor- to work hard and perform well He added: “This FIFA Beach With its origins in Rio de tion, agility and technique. finals in Portugal this July. tunity to demonstrate Qatar’s as all involved have been very Soccer World Cup 2015 – AFC Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, it’s A distant cousin of the 11-a-side A free to enter fan zone will ability to deliver events for the dedicated.” Qualifier Qatar will showcase that to nobody’s surprise that Brazilian traditional format of the sport, also allow fans to further enjoy world’s elite athletes in the run- Joan Cusco, Beach Soccer growth, with a terrifically bal- stars such as Romario and Zico beach soccer is unique in its own their experience at the Beach up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.” Worldwide Executive Vice anced fight among several teams were tempted to try their luck on way. Soccer, featuring a range of activi- He added: “We proved in 2013 President and FIFA Beach Soccer who deserve going to the World the beach. Only 10 players are on the pitch ties for the entire family. what a success we could make of Committee Member, said: “The Cup. Only three will make it.” Even former French footballer at any given time, with five play- The Supreme Committee for Beach Soccer and we are going level and competitiveness of Beach Now being played by 75 Eric Cantona became involved in ers on each team. Delivery & Legacy (SC) have been to raise the bar with an even Soccer in Asia has been growing countries from six different the game and is a big advocate for THE PENINSULA