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SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 • 16 Jumada II 1436 • Volume 20 Number 6391 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Lekhwiya, Shahaniya draw Strong winds, Labour tops dust forecast

DOHA: The weather bureau has issued an advisory say- ing that fresh to strong winds Qatar-Nepal accompanied by dust may hit the country early this after- noon, and the windy conditions may continue until late today. The advisory comes just days talks agenda after a heavy sandstorm of an intensity not seen in a long time lashed Qatar late last Wednesday. But a senior weather forecaster Minister on 4-day Kathmandu visit clarified that today it won’t be DOHA: Nepal may urge Qatar Labour and Employment of Nepal, a repeat of what happened on to make sure that its nationals Bhola Siwkoti, told Repulbica that Wednesday. coming here to take up jobs are Nepal will raise the issue of its “There is absolutely no chance provided work visas free of cost, migrant workers in Qatar during of a repeat of Wednesday’s sand- as also one-way air tickets. the visit of Al Khulaifi. storm. No dust or sandstorm Qatari companies give visas to “We already have an MoU is brewing,” said Abdullah Al foreign workers free of cost but (memorandum of understand- Mannai, researcher and analyst manpower agencies in their home ing) signed with Qatar on issues at the weather bureau. countries tend to exploit them and related to migrant workers,” he He told this newspaper: “There squeeze money out of them in the said. will be some dust in the air, so name of service charges. According to Republica, Al it doesn’t mean there would be a There are an estimated 400,000 Khulaifi is accompanied by a del- dust storm like the one we wit- Nepalese workers in Qatar, egation that consists of senior nessed on Wednesday”. Kathmandu-based online news- labour ministry officials, including Al Shahaniya’s Abdul Lateef Ali (centre) in action against Lekhwiya’s Dami Terawari (left) and Mohamed A weather forecast issued by paper myrepublica.com reported the director of his office, Mohamed Abdullahterazor during a Qatar Stars League match at Lekhwiya Stadium yesterday. Al Shahaniya ensured that the bureau, meanwhile, said Qatar as Qatar’s Minister of Labour Al Solaiti, Director of Labour Lekhwiya were not crowned champions yesterday after the two sides drew 3-3. See also page 28 KAMMUTTY VP was expected to be affected by and Social Affairs arrived in the Inspection Khalid Al Ghanim, high pressure extending from the Himalayan nation yesterday. legal expert Saleh Ali Al Khaldi, north of Saudi Arabia, beginning According to Qatar News and public relations director Ali midday today. It will be associated Agency (QNA), H E Dr Abdullah Abdullah Ashkinani. with a northwesterly to northerly bin Saleh Al Khulaifi reached During his visit, Al Khulaifi wind, fresh to strong, with speeds Nepal last evening with a delega- will also make courtesy calls on 22 new real estate firms set up of between 10 and 20 knots (18 tion on a four-day official visit. Nepal’s President Dr Ram Baran and 36 km an hour), reaching 25 “The Minister will look into Yadav and Prime Minister Sushil DOHA: The construction boom commercial and administrative invest in sectors that are more knots (46 km an hour) at times at issues of mutual interest and dis- Koirala. in the country, fuelled by the assets yielded 15 percent — the exposed to energy prices. places inshore. cuss ways to enhance bilateral The Qatari minister and his 2022 World Cup projects, con- highest in the region, reported The authorities are helping Offshore, the wind speed may relations between the two friendly delegation will leave Kathmandu tinues to attract investments in local Arabic daily Al Watan. real estate developers expand peak at 30 knots, or 55.6 km an countries,” QNA said. on April 7, the online newspaper the real estate sector. Last year, Given the volatility in oil and their operations in the country hour. The sea will be choppy, During his four-day stay, Al said. It added that Qatar remained 22 new real estate companies gas prices, the real estate sector and overseas. Over the past five with waves of up to eight feet. Khulaifi will hold bilateral talks a highly popular destination for with a total capital that runs has become a safe haven for most years, the sector has witnessed “This situation will continue with his Nepali counterpart, Tek Nepalese workers. into tens of billions of dollars investors in the country. significant growth, partly due to until the end of Monday (tomor- Bahadur Gurung. The newspaper lauded Qatar for were established in Qatar. The government’s massive the government’s support to local row),” said the bureau. “Labour and employment issues it plans to take reform measures, Real estate is one of the most spending on infrastructure real estate companies as part of Since there will be some dust will dominate the talks,” Republica including replacing the sponsor- lucrative sectors of the Qatari projects in the run-up to the foot- efforts to address housing short- with the northwesterly wind, vis- reported on March 31 quoting the ship and exit permit rules, which economy. Investments in housing ball extravaganza has been a big ages in the county. ibility could be poor in open areas. embassy of Qatar in Kathmandu. would benefit foreign workers in properties yielded eight percent boost for the real estate sector. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 Secretary at the Ministry of the country. THE PENINSULA returns in 2014, while those in Investors are now reluctant to THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Recall of some Private tutors make Dodge, Jeep models ordered hay during exams DOHA: Private tuitions for mothers didn’t help their DOHA: The Ministry of school students are much children with studies at Economy and Commerce has in demand, particularly home. ordered United Cars Almana, during exams, but most of “There is a problem with a leading automobile dealer, to those providing such serv- the school education sys- recall Dodge Durango and Jeep ices are jobless people with tem,” the daily said, quoting Grand Cherokee models from no teaching background. another mother. 2011 to 2014 due to manufactur- Tutors in English, math- Parents must spend at least ing defects related to electrical ematics and biology, for stu- QR2,500 ($686.5) a month connections. dents at all levels — primary, on average on a schoolgoing The recall has been ordered so preparatory and secondary child. Many have two or more that the faults in the said models — are more sought after, children in school. of cars can be fixed, said a state- reported local Arabic daily Jassem Al Mohannadi, ment yesterday. Al Watan. a secondary Independent The Ministry said the recall These so-called tutors School operator, told the daily decision was part of its efforts charge anything from QR150 that there was absolutely no to ensure that all vehicles on the to QR300 for an hour or two need for private tuition for roads are safe, and was also aimed of one-to-one instruction. students as nearly all schools at protecting consumer rights. Almost every day local provided extra classes. The Ministry said it would fol- Arabic newspapers carry However, attendance in low up the issue closely and keep advertisements from people extra classes is always poor in touch with the customers to offering private tuitions in (between 20 and 30 percent) make sure that the defective cars one or more subjects. during school days, though it are recalled and repaired. Yemenis inspect the rubble of destroyed houses in Bani Matar village, 70km west of Sana’a, yesterday after an air There is no dearth of such is high (around 80 percent) THE PENINSULA strike by the Saudi-led coalition against Shia Houthi rebel positions. See also page 9 advertisements in the shop- during vacations, said Al ping complexes as well. Mohannadi. For primary school stu- Attendance is poor on dents, the charges for one school days because stu- Call for pause in Yemen operations session on the above three dents are tired by the time UN resolutions to subjects can range from the extra classes begin, after UNITED NATIONS/ADEN: unhindered humanitarian access. the last two weeks in Yemen and QR150 to QR200, while those 2pm, he said. be lifted soon after Russia and the Red Cross The International Committee of nearly 1,700 wounded. Residents for preparatory and second- Some educationists the appealed yesterday for a military the Red Cross called for an imme- in Aden say parts of the southern ary school students can cost daily spoke to on the issue final deal: Iran pause in Yemen to allow urgent diate pause in hostilities to deliver port city have been without water QR250 to QR300. said parents hired private humanitarian aid deliveries and medical aid, saying three of its or electricity for two days. Parents say they pay tutors for their children DUBAI: All United Nations evacuation of civilians after 10 shipments remained blocked. Coalition spokesman Brigadier through the nose for private basically for their own psy- Security Council resolutions days of Saudi-led air strikes and “All air, land and sea routes must General Ahmed Asseri, asked tuition for their children, chological satisfaction. related to Iran’s nuclear pro- fighting in which hundreds of be opened without delay for at least about the calls for a humanitarian and blame schools for not “In reality it doesn’t serve gramme will be lifted imme- people have died. 24 hours to enable help to reach pause, said only that the military doing enough and ignoring any purpose, but some par- diately if a final nuclear deal Russia distributed a draft res- people cut off after more than a was ready for any instructions students. ents like to believe it does, is agreed, Foreign Minister olution at the United Nations week of intense air strikes and from its political leadership. He Umm Ahmed, a mother, so they hire tutors, espe- Mohammad Javad Zarif said pressing for suspensions of the fierce ground fighting nationwide,” said aid agencies and governments said that one of the reasons cially during exams,” said an yesterday. air strikes to allow evacuation the ICRC said in a statement. should coordinate aid shipments private tutors were hired educationist. REUTERS of foreign civilians and diplo- The United Nations says more with officials in Riyadh. for children was that many THE PENINSULA See also page 8 mats, and demanding rapid and than 500 people have been killed in REUTERS SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Greetings sent College gears up to receive students to Senegal DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday sent a Admission process continues at College of Medicine, first batch of students by September cable of congratulations to Senegal President DOHA: Qatar University’s (QU) was highlighted by the Minister that demonstrate its readiness to to undergraduate programs from The College International Macky Sall on his coun- newly-opened College of Medicine of Public Health H E Abdullah welcome the first batch of QU’s high-achieving secondary school Advisory Board includes cur- try’s Independence Day. is preparing to welcome the first Al-Qahtani as one of the key chal- future doctors this Fall. students. rent and former leaders of medi- Deputy Emir H H batch of students by September of lenges in advancing the health- Vice President for Medical A recent CMED Steering cal schools at Stanford University, Sheikh Abdullah bin this year, and the admission proc- care sector here, in line with the Education and Dean of the College Committee meeting showcased the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Hamad Al Thani sent a ess has already begun. human development pillar of Qatar of Medicine Dr Egon Toft noted level of progress made—the physi- University of Heidelberg, American similar cable to Sall. More than 500 students have National Vision 2030. that since its inception, the College cal building is on schedule, College University of Beirut, University of Prime Minister and applied for 50 seats in the first aca- He said: “As we prepare to wel- has organized a myriad of activi- leaders and faculty members have Sharjah and leading agencies such Interior Minister H E demic year, of a high quality MD come the first cohort of students ties to attract high-school students been recruited, student applicant as the US Accreditation Council Sheikh Abdullah bin six-year programme, a press state- by September 2015, I would like to through several online campaigns, numbers exceeded expectations for Graduate Medical Education Nasser bin Khalifa Al ment issued by the University. The assert the Ministry of Health’s com- schools visits, and participation in (over 500 to date and growing), (ACGME), among others. Thani also sent a cable of College is known by its abbreviated mitment to supporting and encour- career fairs on and off campus. and the study plan and curriculum At the steering committee level, congratulations to Sall. name, QU-CMED. aging Qatari students admitted to The College also recently organ- are being finalized. Outreach activi- the College engages national lead- Many students have already the college in any way possible, ized an orientation event hosting ties have been successful, engaging ers in healthcare and education, Qatar-Moldova applied following various outreach including providing full student 200 prospective students and their a wide spectrum of the society and including the PHCC and HMC activities by the college to engage sponsorship with monthly salaries parents to learn more about the engendering positive public and Managing Directors and several key ties reviewed prospective students and their from their first year at the College College, its program and curricu- media interest. HMC members such as the Chief parents. This marks another phase and throughout their education.” lum, and to articulate their expecta- Prof Al-Misnad said: “We are of Scientific, Faculty and Academic CHISINAU: Moldova’s in the College’s progress since its QU President Prof Sheikha tions and concerns. pleased to have guidance and sup- Affairs, Deputy Chief of Medical Minister of Justice establishment in October last year. Abdulla Al Misnad had announced Dr Toft also referred to QU’s port from current and former lead- Education, Head of Trauma and Vladimir Grosu yesterday The need for Qatar-trained phy- earlier this week that the university recent initiative of early conditional ers and members from international Vascular Surgery, and others. met Qatari Ambassador sicians and medical professionals has accomplished a host of timelines admission to attract applications medical schools.” THE PENINSULA Mohammed Ali Al Maliki and reviewed ways of enhancing relations Damaged road in Industrial Area between both countries. Slaughtering CILE to host lecture on partially closed

DOHA: Al Shamal Municipality has social ethics in Quran announced partial clo- sure of slaughtering in a DOHA: The Research Center for framework. poultry farm for 30 days. Islamic Legislation and Ethics Dr Fethi Ahmed, Research The slaughtering facil- (CILE), a member of Qatar Faculty Coordinator, CILE, will give the lec- ity was found operating of Islamic Studies (QFIS) at Hamad ture and explore noble social ethics in unhygienic conditions, Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), in the Holy Quran with reference to said the municipality on is hosting a public lecture ‘Social Surah Al Hujurat (the Chambers). its website. The name of Ethics in the Holy Quran: Surah He will integrate Holy Quran farm is provided on the Al Hujurat as a Model’ tomorrow. interpretation methods with meth- website, said officials. The event, part of CILE’s popular ods of social sciences and other monthly lecture series, will take place sources to help explain the topic. Shipments between 7 and 9pm at new QFIS He will provide an operational building in HBKU at Education City. definition and overview of ethics, seized Through its affiliation with QFIS explaining the meaning of social eth- in HBKU, a member of Qatar ics, its scope and importance accord- DOHA: The Agriculture Foundation for Education, Science ing to the Holy Quran with focus on Quarantine Office has and Community Development, CILE Surah Al Hujurat. seized 5,424 shipments Motorists using roads in the Industrial Area say their lives have become miserable due to big potholes and supports QF’s mission to foster an He will also discuss important totalling 79,000 tonnes accumulated rainwater on roads near Street No. 24, 26 and 27. They also complain that damaged roads are engaged society appreciative of its social ethics models provided by items for violating the causing long traffic jams and accidents in the area. Islamic heritage; one that is equipped Surah Al Hujurat. Agriculture Quarantine to address contemporary issues and The lecture will conclude with an Law and destroyed 39 challenges. focus on the need to address applied infected shipments which CILE aspires to revive the role social ethics, especially by sociologists were supposed to be quar- of Islamic ethics in contemporary and ethicists, due to its importance antined. It also seized 83 knowledge and practice and con- in maintaining community harmony, shipments weighing 729 tribute to the establishment of balance, cohesion, and strength. tonnes being exported in an Islamic legislative and ethical THE PENINSULA violation of the law.

Ooredoo SmartWoman App available for download

DOHA: Ooredoo has announced is available to female Ooredoo cus- generate new employment that SmartWoman App created tomers. The app cost QR3/week or opportunities’ in conjunction with Qualcomm QR12/month and can be downloaded App content includes Wireless Reach, is available for via Apple Store or Google Play now. stories and articles from download in Qatar. App content includes stories and experts in various fields’ to The first-of--its-kind app aims to articles from experts in various fields help women pinpoint what support and develop women with its to help women pinpoint what they they need to do to improve content in the country, provide edu- need to do to improve their busi- their business perform- cational content, social networking ness performance, be more effi- ance, be more efficient and and social impact information and cient and effective in their jobs and effective in their jobs, and also generate new employ- ment opportunities. THE PENINSULA Poor visibility forecast Continued from page 1 Temperatures will be between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius (minimum) and 32 and 35 in Doha and may reach 36 or more at places at times. The Weather Bureau said inshore there will be strong winds by afternoon and poor horizontal visibil- ity due to dust. Offshore, by the evening there will be high winds and choppy seas. THE PENINSULA Investors upbeat about market Continued from page 1 The sector remained resilient and recovered from the impact of the glo- bal financial crisis of 2008. Investors are upbeat about the booming real estate market and focus- ing on commercial devel- opments, especially near big infrastructure projects and other establishments. With scores of new companies setting foot in Qatar, demand for com- mercial space, especially for offices, is high and the market is expected to remain bullish. THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

QF employees join management for a group photo after the honouring ceremony. QF honours 298 longest serving staff

DOHA: Qatar Foundation’s employment. attended by Ahmed Al Muftah, by unlocking human potential employees at QF in 2014 which, The ceremony also highlighted the (QF), on its 20th anniversary, To reflect the importance of Executive Director, Organisation and supporting creativity to effect with a target of 50 per cent to be complete educational cycle that has honoured 298 of its longest the occasion, a number of senior Development, Mohammed Al positive changes in the com- met by June 2016, it demonstrates QF offers. Starting as young as six serving members of staff at an management members attended, Suwaidi, Executive Director of munity. QF’s vision underpins that the organisation has made months, the unique environment award ceremony at the Qatar including Engineer Saad Al Operations and Nabeel Al Salem, the broader objectives of Qatar great progress in its commitment provides primary, secondary and National Convention Centre. Muhannadi, President, QF, Fahad Executive Director of Outreach National Vision 2030, which is to to ensuring opportunities for tal- higher education opportunities During the annual Long- Saad Al Qahtani, Group Executive & Communications, QF Research build a knowledge-based economy ented nationals. at undergraduate, graduate and Service Awards ceremony, cer- Director, QF Administration, and Development (QF R&D). and promote the growth and The ceremony saw honours doctoral candidate level. tificates of appreciation were Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Engineer Saad said: “QF is overall wellbeing of the country,” awarded to employees in various All the way through, the cycle awarded in three categories to Executive Director, QF Capital proud of your achievements, and he added. divisions and departments within is carefully planned, so at each employees for their contribu- Projects and Facilities, and Soud grateful for what each and every Since its establishment in 1995, QF’s three pillars, Education, stage, students receive the full tion to the organisation, with Al Tamimi, Vice-President of one of you has accomplished.” QF has significantly increased the Science and Research, and preparation to advance and thrive 236 members of staff recognised Operations, Hamad Bin Khalifa “As you all know, QF’s objec- number of nationals within the Community Development, which, at the next stage of their advance- for five years of service, 56 for University. tive is to lead human, social, and organisation. Qatari employees collectively, enable QF to fulfil its ment through the education sys- 10 years, and six for 15 years of The ceremony was also economic development in Qatar accounted for 46 per cent of the goal of unlocking human potential. tem. THE PENINSULA

HMC team conquers Qatar-China Cultural Year 2016 announcement inked DOHA: Minister of and talks were attended Mount Kilimanjaro Culture, Arts and by Qatari Charge d’Affaires Heritage H E Dr Abdullah Saif Al Khayreen. DOHA: Hamad Medical was to go without a proper shower Hamad bin Abdulaziz Dr Al Kuwari also vis- Corporation’s (HMC) eight lead- for eight days! “It is not really the Al Kuwari and Chinese ited Chinese National ers and one family member have walking that was challenging, but Minister of Culture Luo Museum and Palace of the climbed the 5,895-metre Mount the altitude. “Climbers usually get Shugang have signed the Forbidden City in Beijing Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of a headache or other gentle symp- announcement of Qatar- and praised China’s rich the importance of maintaining a toms of acute mountain sickness China Cultural Year 2016 culture and the depth healthy lifestyle. that can be mostly solved by taking in Beijing. of historical relations The group initiative is a collabora- a mild analgesic, such as Paracetamol Dr Al Kuwari, who is between the Arabs and the tion between senior staff from dif- to relieve the pain. However, some on a visit to China, also Chinese. ferent areas of HMC and included climbers might experience High held talks with Luo on He stressed that 2016 significant training amid their busy Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), ways of enhancing cultural will see many events within schedules. The leaders hope that it which is extreme shortness of breath relations between both the framework of excellent will encourage others to incorporate or High Altitude Cerebral Edema countries. and historical bilateral physical activities into their daily (HACE). “We were sure to keep an The signing ceremony relations. QNA lives and instil a culture of maintain- eye out for any worrying symptoms ing a healthy lifestyle. and take precautions to ensure we The team, including doctors, all had a safe and enjoyable climb.” administrators, started the climb Mohamed Al Noimi, Chief of early in the morning. All endured a Communications and Chief of Staff long and hard journey in very chal- for the Managing Director’s Office, Ooredoo SSM customers lenging weather conditions and made who was accompanied by his nephew, it to the summit. said: “The 20,000-foot climb-up is a can win iPhone 6 Dr Yousuf Al Maslamani, Medical life-changing experience. It is a test Director, Hamad General Hospital, of courage and perseverance and I DOHA: Ooredoo and partnership with said: “The idea of climbing the mount think it helps you see the world dif- Kahramaa yesterday Kahramaa has become one was irresistible; the actual climbing ferently. It is also an opportunity to announced a new promo- of the company’s most pop- to the summit was amazing, but doing encourage others to adopt effective tion which will automati- ular SSM services due to its it as a team made it even better. practices to improve their health cally enter customers who ease-of-use, instant updates The overall experience was unfor- and support HMC’s commitment to pay their Kahramaa bills on customers’ accounts and gettable and exhausting at the same ensure the well-being of the popula- via Ooredoo Self-Service the growing network of time. The hardest part of it for me tion of Qatar.” THE PENINSULA The group at the summit. Machines (SSMs) into a over 200 SSMs across the prize draw. country. From April 1 to May 15, Ooredoo introduced customers will be eligible the option of real-time for the draw to win one of Kahramaa bills payment 10 new iPhone 6 Plus when late last year and contin- they pay their bills at any ues to upgrade its SSMs of SSMs. to bring more convenience The iPhone 6 Plus is to customers with a wide the biggest advancement range of options that suit in iPhone history, featur- their evolving lifestyles. ing a 5.5-inch Retina HD In addition to paying displays and packed with Ooredoo and Kahramaa innovative technologies in bills, customers can top- an all-new thin and seam- up Hala accounts, pay less design. It features the Shahry bills, buy cinema Apple-designed A8 chip tickets, donate to charities with second generation and access their Nojoom 64-bit desktop-class archi- accounts using SSMs. tecture for blazing fast Customers can also performance and power update their accounts and efficiency; advanced iSight purchase vouchers for an and FaceTime HD cameras; incredible range of shop- ultrafast wireless technol- ping, vacationing and din- ogies; and Apple Pay, an ing experiences that can be easier way to simply and used with some of the most securely make payments popular brands in Qatar. with the touch of a finger. For details, please visit The utility bill pay- the Ooredoo website at ment service made pos- www.ooredoo.qa sible through Ooredoo’s THE PENINSULA

152 shops violated rules last month, says Ministry DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce caught 152 commercial shops for violating rules of the Consumer Protection Department (CPD) last month. Fifty-one outlets were caught for not displaying the prices of commodities and services, said a release. At least 15 shops were found misleading customers, and 14 did not provide details of products. Eleven shops violated promotion rules and offered dis- count without taking permission from authorities. THE PENINSULA HOME SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Coast Guard rescues storm-hit fishermen

One of the fishermen being rushed for emergency medical care.

DOHA: Some 10 of the 11 fish- received by the Coast Guard from find anything until dawn. ermen who were rescued by the the vessel asking for help. There Two more patrols one each Coast Guard after their boat were high winds at the time and from Eastern Area Department capsized following Wednesday’s their speed was 45 knots an hour, and Southern Area Department heavy sand storm were Asians a press statement issued by the were sent along with two helicop- while one was Arab. Public Relations Department ters from Emiri Air Force to have The wind was moving at a of the Ministry of Interior said an aerial survey of the area. speed of 82km an hour (45 knots) yesterday. In the first hour of dawn, the at the time the boat was rocked It quoted Staff-Brigadier of rescue team could find 9 per- in the choppy sea. Navy, Ali Ahmed Al Badid, as sons. The search continued for The boat had begun its fishing saying that fishing was banned the whole day for the remaining expedition at 4pm on Wednesday at the time due to the intensity two and they were found on the while the Coast Guard had issued of the winds. second day after expanding the warnings to boats not to venture After the Coast Guard received search to 20km area. They were into the sea due to high waves and an SOS from the boat, it rushed found near Northwest of Hala reduced visibility. two water patrols to the spot Dalma where they were moved The boat informed the Coast which was specified by the boat to the beach and medical aid was Guard and got registered with it but they couldn’t locate it even provided. and said it would return from its after two hours of search. Later, The General Directorate of fishing expedition by 9.30pm the new coordinates were given by the Coasts and Borders Security said same day. cruiser on south of Al Wakra and in the statement it urges the sea However, they didn’t return it was difficult area for search. goers to register at Coast Guard on time, so the Coast Guard con- The ‘National Shield’ was centres before starting the trip tacted them and warned them of informed of the incident and and after finishing it. It also asked the seriousness of the situation four patrol yachts were sent to them to go through the weather as there were changes in the air. help the rescue operation. They report before heading for sea trips The Coast Guard asked them to reached the area and searched and not risk their safety in case return immediately. there the whole night irrespec- of unstable sea state. An hour later, a call was tive of high waves but couldn’t THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC programme completes 135 cochlear implants since 2005

DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) National Programme for Early Detection of Hearing Impairment has done 135 cochlear implants on children aged between one and three years since the pro- gramme began in 2005. About 10 cases are being pre- pared for implantation. The success of the procedure is found to be between 90 and 100 percent, according to a sen- ior official. “Cochlear equipment used at HMC are considered the most advanced internationally. “Qatar is also one of the first in the region to imple- ment a National Programme for Early Detection of Hearing Impairment and is committed to detecting children born with a hearing disorder at the earliest possible stage and treating them The workshop in progress. accordingly,” said Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi, Head, Audiology and Balance Unit, HMC. The unit recently organised an orientation meeting for children with cochlear implants and their Focus on smart grid, families. A cochlear implant is an elec- tronic device that enhances the sense of sound for people with a hearing impairment. The meeting was chaired by renewable energy Dr Hadi and led by Dr Maha Sleiteen, specialist at the unit. Nineteen families along with Global experts attend first workshop hosted by TAMUQ HMC specialists and representa- Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi, Head, Audiology and Balance Unit, HMC, poses next tives from the cochlear manufac- to a billboard about the cochlear implant event. DOHA: Texas A&M University at of ongoing and future research state-of-the-art issues turing company attended. Qatar (TAMUQ) hosted the First towards next-generation smart grid related to introduction of The event built on the unit’s They also presented visual child before the procedure. Workshop on Smart Grid and technologies and applications, lead- renewables, as well as reli- regular activities to ensure recordings of children with coch- “Preparation includes installa- Renewable Energy in Marriott ing to research collaboration oppor- able and efficient smart success of the electronic coch- lear implants and their subse- tion of hearing aids and providing Marquise Hotel, Qatar. tunities among participants. grid operation. lear implant and utilise latest quent development of speech children with auditory-speech Looking at the importance of the The workshop aimed to generate It positions Qatar as one technologies for the surgical from the time of the implant training to stimulate the hear- smart grid and renewable energy a long-term smart grid research of the centres of excellence procedure. until their current stage. ing nerve and the brain which resources integration for Qatar and agenda relating to smart grid and in research, education Several hearing and speech Families were provided with contributes to the success of the the world, the workshop explored the renewable energy. and deployment of future therapists from the unit high- information on functions of cochlear implantation and helps viability of this advanced technology This should lead to a smarter smart grid solutions for lighted the role of the family in cochlear devices and an overview the child acquire language skills. Dr Mark H Weichold, Dean and electric grid necessary for main- the benefits of its citizens children’s care and said with of problems that may occur when “Family support in training is CEO, TAMUQ, said, “The university taining rapid economic develop- and the world. the family’s support about 90 using the equipment and their also significant to the child’s lan- is proud to partner with academic ment, improved social lifestyle and “It has been a distin- percent children undergoing solutions. guage development,” Dr Sleiteen and industry collaborators to help a greener living environment. guished pleasure to collab- speech rehabilitation are able to Dr Al Sleiteen stressed the added. realise sustainable solutions to real- The workshop generated aware- orate with colleagues from improve. importance of preparing the THE PENINSULA world challenges and encourage the ness of industry, engineers and Qatar in organising this exchange of knowledge, ideas and researchers about advanced smart event, which should pave expertise. grid technologies and their benefits; the way for future inter- “The workshop brought together renewable energy resources and national collaboration”. leading experts from international their integration with smart grid The symposium fea- research institutions and universi- and information and communica- tured speakers from top e-government panel reviews work progress ties, as well as government and pri- tions technologies and their adoption international academic vate sector R&Ds to discuss progress in the smart grid. institutions, QEERI, QU, DOHA: The Qatar e-govern- Chaired by Minister of of Development Planning and and future challenges of smart grid It was co-organised by Qatar TAMUQ, and industry ment 2020 Steering Committee Information and Communications Statistics H E Dr Saleh Mohamed and renewable energies.” University (QU), Qatar Environment and served as a platform continued in March its evalua- Technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan Salem Al Nabit and Minister of The workshop brought together and Energy Research Institute to foster interdisciplinary tion and follow-up meetings with Al Jaber, the latest meetings were Public Health H E Abdullah bin leading scientists, researchers and (QEERI) and TAMUQ, supported future collaborations ministers to review progress in held over the past two weeks Khalid Al Qahtani. The ministers stakeholders from international and through sponsorship from Qatar among participants. implementation of Qatar e-Gov- with Minister of Finance H E were briefed on the progress. national research institutions, uni- Petrochemical Company (Qapco). THE PENINSULA ernment 2020 Strategy. Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Minister THE PENINSULA versities and industry to exchange Dr Mladen Kezunovic, Director, information on medium- to long- Smart Grid Centre Extension, term research and future chal- Qatar, and Professor of Electrical lenges of smart grid and renewable Engineering, TAMUQ said, “The energies. workshop is a unique gathering of Attendees engaged in discussions world-known experts to discuss EAC partners with NGOs on kids’ education

DOHA: Educate A Child (EAC), Tomorrow — to provide quality Faso, Nepal and Uganda. ‘We are grateful to a programme of Education Above learning environments and enrol Dr Mary Joy Pigozzi, EAC for support, thrilled All (EAA), has partnered with out-of-school children in Haiti, Director, EAC, said, ‘As to have this opportunity two NGOs — buildOn and Building Senegal, Mali, Malawi, Burkina we make steady progress and have hit the ground towards fulfilling our goal running.” of reaching 10 million Educate 51k will lever- children by 2016, we are age support of a network delighted to be working of partners, including with buildOn and Building the Ugandan Ministry Tomorrow. of Education and Sports, “These partnerships over 300 villages in the have allowed us to extend country and an inter- our commitment in national community of countries where we have donors. projects such as Haiti and By July 2019, EAC and Uganda and open opportu- Building Tomorrow will nities to reach out to more open 60 new community- children in new countries built, locally sustained such as Nepal and in East primary schools, scaling Africa’. construction to break Working in partner- ground on a new school ship through a co-funded every three weeks. model, EAC and buildOn Building Tomorrow will build 520 schools in partners with communi- current buildOn impact ties where at least 300 areas in Haiti, Senegal, children between four and Mali, Malawi, Burkina 14 years are out of school; Faso and Nepal over the no formal and accred- next four years to help ited primary school exists children access education. within a 2.5km radius; and Working with Building parents and families make Tomorrow also through a financial and in-kind a co-funded model, EAC commitment to support will contribute to provid- their children’s education. ing education facilities for EAC’s partnerships nearly 51,000 out-of-school with buildOn and Building children in rural Uganda Tomorrow are an exam- by 2019 through Building ple of its momentum to Tomorrow’s Educate 51k achieve its target of reach- programme. ing 10 million out of school “Since our founding children by 2016. in 2006, we have been These new partnerships working towards this will see 91,000 out of school moment,” said George children are provided with Srour, Building Tomorrow access to a quality primary Founder and Chief education. Dreamer. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Dr David Reilly, Consultant Physician, National Health Service Centre for Integrative Care in Glasgow, Scotland, and Lead Clinician for Integrative Care for the Scottish government, conducts a workshop. WCMC-Q holds ‘Integrative Medicine’ symposium DOHA: Ways to effectively dangers and risks they can pose “There is sufficient evidence integrate complementary and to patients. The relatively new that many complementary thera- alternative treatments with movement towards ‘integrative pies have clinical benefits and can conventional medicine were medicine’ encourages physicians help patients deal with a variety discussed at a symposium to speak to patients to ensure that of conditions and diseases, many hosted by Weill Cornell Medical any evidence-based alternative of which may cause chronic and College in Qatar (WCMC-Q). therapies they are using comple- disabling pain. More than 200 healthcare pro- ment conventional therapies and “Physicians have an obligation fessionals were present. do not endanger health by con- to explore how these modalities The symposium, coordinated by flicting with prescription drugs, can help patients and we must WCMC-Q’s Division of Global and for example. also examine new ways to struc- Public Health, featured speeches Dr Ravinder Mamtani, ture healthcare delivery to facili- by healthcare experts on integra- Professor of Healthcare Policy tate integration of evidence-based tive medicine topics such as acu- and Research, WCMC-Q, said, complementary therapies with puncture, mind-body medicine, “As physicians, we have a respon- conventional medicine.” and nutritional and herbal sup- sibility to engage empathetically Dr Javaid Sheikh, Dean, plements. Strategies for enabling with patients to discover comple- WCMC-Q, gave the keynote self-care and building therapeutic mentary and alternative thera- address, followed by remarks alliances with patients were also pies they might be using. One by Dr David Reilly, Consultant discussed. compelling reason for this is that Physician, National Health The symposium, under the research has shown that a large Service Centre for Integrative theme ‘Integrative Medicine: A number of patients make use of Care in Glasgow, Scotland, who Refreshing Approach to Optimum complementary therapies, so it spoke on self-care, wellness Health’, explored positive aspects would be remiss to ignore this enhancement and human healing. of alternative therapies and factor. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

Iranian media Obama: Diplomacy is split on merit of nuclear deal best course with Iran TEHRAN: The merit of an outline nuclear deal with world powers depends on tough details being settled in coming months, Fate of detained Americans hangs in the balance Iran’s newspapers said yester- day, with opinions split on the WASHINGTON: US President international crisis over Iran’s During his 254-day captivity, he planned agreement. Barack Obama said yesterday nuclear programme, but the final has not met with an attorney, Conservative outlets main- diplomacy was the best option deal has yet to be reached. and the government has not tained their long-held scepti- to deal with Iran’s contested Meanwhile, the framework announced charges against him, cism about negotiations with the nuclear programme, two days agreement provided little hint his family said. United States and other powers, after the conclusion of a frame- about how a deal may affect the “Now that the framework but rather than criticise the proc- work agreement with Tehran. fate of four Americans detained agreement is in place, we call on ess outright many questioned who Iran and six world powers or missing there. The Obama the Iranian leadership to review had benefited from recent talks in determined the outlines of a administration has made the the evidence their underlings the Swiss city of Lausanne. landmark agreement which would release of the Americans, who claim to have against Jason,” Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah curb Iran’s nuclear programme include Washington Post corre- Rezaian’s brother, Ali, said. “If Ali Khamenei, who will have the and potentially lift economic spondent Jason Rezaian, another they do, we are certain they will final say on any deal, has yet to sanctions. As Obama gears up to priority in its ties with Iran. see that Jason has done no harm officially comment on the agreed sell US sceptics on the deal, he In addition to Rezaian, who has to Iran. Otherwise, they should framework for ending the 12-year said he is convinced talks are the been the newspaper’s correspond- ensure the judiciary stop their crisis over Tehran’s nuclear best way forward. ent in Tehran since 2012 and inhumane delays, make pubic programme. “As President and Commander holds dual US and Iranian citizen- their case against Jason and let Yesterday’s newspapers in Chief, I firmly believe that the ship, the Americans include Amir the World see why they have sto- were the first in Iran since the diplomatic option — a comprehen- Hekmati, a former US Marine len 8 months of Jason’s life.” announcement in Lausanne sive, long-term deal like this — is detained since 2011, and Saeed Martin Baron, executive editor Thursday, as none were published by far the best option,” Obama Abedini, a Christian pastor. of The Washington Post, said Iran’s during the two-week Nowruz hol- said in his weekly address. Robert Levinson, a retired FBI handling of the case amounted to iday period, which has now ended. Explaining that he expects a agent who also had worked for the “state-sponsored injustice.” “Lausanne Horse-Trading: “robust debate” on the deal in CIA, disappeared during a visit to “Iran should have ended this Bargain or Bust?” asked the front the United States, Obama said he Iran’s Kish Island more than eight cruel and unconscionable cha- page headline in Kayhan, a hard- will keep Congress apprised of the years ago. While Iran has denied rade months ago, and with the line conservative daily. Its down- “substance of the deal”. holding him, U.S. officials believe he talks now adjourned, there can beat editorial argued that Iran Many of Obama’s Republican has been in Iranian custody. be no excuse for further delay,” had received less than it had given opponents in Congress have been Secretary of State John Kerry Baron said in a statement. “It is away. “The agreement speaks of sceptical of a deal with Iran and said that US officials had raised long past time for Iran’s leaders to suspension of sanctions and not suggested the US may be giving the fate of the Americans in demonstrate fairness and a com- the lifting of them,” wrote editor too much away in its negotiations. every meeting with their Iranian mitment to abide by Iran’s own Hossein Shariatmadari, who is Echoing comments he made counterparts. Asked whether the rules, which could only result in directly appointed by Khamenei. hours after the announcement detainees would be released as a Jason’s immediate release.” “Things that Iran has accepted of the agreement, Obama high- goodwill measure if a final deal Karim Sadjadpour, an are clear and verifiable, but what lighted the rigorous inspections can be achieved, Kerry declined Iran scholar at the Carnegie the other side has agreed is vague to which Tehran will be subject. to provide details but said officials Endowment for International and subject to interpretation,” he “If Iran cheats, the world will remain focused on the issue. Peace, said that hardliners in added. know it. If we see something sus- “We have a very specific process Iran had used American hos- The English-language daily picious, we will inspect it,” he in place to try to deal with it,” he tages or prisoners, starting with Iran News asked on its front page: said. “So this deal is not based on said. “We call on Iran again today, the 1979 US Embassy seizure, “Who is the real winner?” trust, it’s based on unprecedented now, in light of this, to release to exercise their influence and However, reformist media verification.” these Americans and let them get undermine those who favoured praised the work of Foreign According to outline text agreed home with their families.” greater engagement. If a nuclear Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to between Tehran and the P5+1 Iranian security forces picked deal is struck, “I think the likeli- and his negotiators. group, Iran must significantly up Rezaian and his wife, Yeganeh hood of their release goes up, but Shahrvand, a centrist daily, reduce its number of centrifuges Salehi, last July. Although Saleh it’s difficult to predict and each said Zarif and his team has suc- in exchange for a suspension was released after two months, of their circumstances are differ- cessfully navigated “a dangerous of sanctions. The outline was a Rezaian, 39, remains held at the ent,” Sadjadpour said. stretch of the path” toward a deal. major breakthrough in a 12-year notorious Evin prison in Tehran. AFP/WP-BLOOMBERG AFP

Court begins retrial of Mubarak in graft case CAIRO: An Egyptian court began a retrial yesterday of former president Hosni Mubarak and his sons for allegedly diverting pub- lic funds earmarked for the renovation of presidential palaces to upgrade family properties. Mubarak, 86, toppled in a 2011 popular uprising, was sentenced to three years in prison last May and his two sons were given four-year jail terms in the same case. In January, Egypt’s high court overturned the conviction against the frail Mubarak, who is currently being treated in a military hospital in Cairo. His two sons were also freed pending retrial. Egyptian state television aired brief footage of Mubarak and his sons inside a cage in the courtroom in the Police Academy. The case was adjourned to April 29. In November, a court dropped charges against Mubarak of conspiring to kill protesters in the 2011 uprising, raising fears among human rights activists that the old guard was making a comeback. Two bombs explode near Cairo police station, no casualties CAIRO: Two bombs exploded in Cairo’s residential Imbaba district yesterday, causing no casualties, Egypt’s state-run Al Ahram news- paper said on its website. Ahram said the bombs exploded in front of the Ahmed Oraby school near the Imbaba police station. It said Shia paramilitary fighters hold an IS flag which they pulled down during victory celebrations after returning from Tikrit yesterday. bomb exports had cordoned off the area and were searching for anymore explosives in the area. Most of the worst in a campaign of bomb attacks in Egypt have hit the Sinai peninsula, a remote but strategic region bordering Gaza, Shia fighters leave Tikrit after looting Israel and the Suez Canal. But smaller blasts have become increasingly common in Cairo and other cities. Imbaba has been hit by similar inci- BAGHDAD: Almost all Shia officials from Salahuddin prov- victories, paramilitary fighters ideologically who have their backs dents before. In February, a bomb exploded outside an Imbaba restau- paramilitaries had left Tikrit ince and took the decision that started ransacking buildings, up against the wall. If Daesh con- rant, killing one. An Egyptian militant group allied with Islamic State yesterday after locals com- the paramilitaries had to leave according to local officials. tinues to recruit so many from claimed responsibility on Friday for attacks on military checkpoints plained that some fighters had Tikrit. Kraim called the talks On Friday, Abadi had ordered other countries, then no army which killed 15 soldiers and two civilians in the Sinai. spent several days looting the with Abadi “very positive”. security forces to arrest anyone in our region can stand up to it.” Sunni city after helping retake The Sunni politician said that breaking the law and then con- Abadi said government security 48 to be tried for killing scribe, 2 others it from Islamic State. the looting and burning had vened his meeting yesterday with authorities needed to take action “Most of the (paramilitaries) stopped yesterday after “the fed- Salahuddin’s governor and key to protect young people from IS CAIRO: Egypt yesterday referred to trial 48 suspects accused were removed from the city,” said eral and local police along with officials. “It sent a clear message “in the same way they trace child of shooting dead a journalist, a boy and a Christian woman dur- Ahmed Al Kraim, the head of the (counter-terrorism) troops became to everyone. Although it is very pornography networks around the ing clashes last year between Islamist protesters and police. council of Tikrit and its province responsible for Tikrit’s security.” challenging, the prime minister world”. Mayada Ashraf, who worked for privately owned Al Dustour Salahuddin. A spokesman for the Shia is on the top of situation,” said Abadi said Germany could play newspaper, was shot in the head while she was covering clashes The rampage of theft and burn- paramilitary fighters, Karim Al Rafid Jaboori, Abadi’s spokesman. a key role in supporting the fight in Cairo’s northern Ein Shams neighbourhood on March 28 last ing began on Wednesday, within Noori, confirmed that 80 percent Meanwhile, Abadi told a against IS as it had weapons that year. A Coptic Christian woman and a 13 year-old boy were also hours of the Iraqi government of the Shia volunteer fighters German magazine that armies Iraq requires, particularly anti- killed in the unrest. declaring that security forces and had left Tikrit. “The situation in the region around Iraq had no explosive devices. He said Berlin The state prosecutor ordered the trial of 48 people in connection Shia paramilitaries had recap- now is calm,” said a police major chance of defeating Islamic State should help given that hundreds with the deaths of Ashraf and the two other civilians. A statement tured the city from Islamic State in Tikrit. Some eyewitnesses and (IS) if the militants continued to of Germans were fighting for IS. said they were all members of the blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood. (IS) after a month-long battle. IS government officials also blamed recruit ideologically indoctrinated German security services say The defendants, 35 of who are behind bars while 13 are on the run, had held Tikrit since last June. local Sunnis for the looting. foreign fighters. about 600 German residents have face several charges, including premeditated murder and membership Local officials said the may- Abadi has insisted that he will In an interview with Der Spiegel joined militant groups in Syria in “an armed wing of the terrorist Brotherhood aimed at targeting hem left hundreds of homes and not tolerate rights abuses by published yesterday, Abadi said and Iraq. Abadi said the libera- media personnel,” the statement added. shops looted or torched. The vio- any group in the war against IS, that around 57 percent of IS tion of Tikrit was encouraging but No date has yet been set for the start of the trial. Ashraf is among lence had threatened to cast a pall which has massacred thousands fighters were Iraqis but they he added that IS was still a major 10 Egyptian journalists killed in Egypt since the 2011 uprising that over the government victory in of Iraqi Shias and members of did not cause any problems as threat: “They keep on recruiting ousted former president Hosni Mubarak, according to New York-based the city, home of the late dictator other groups. Iraqi troops, work- they simply ran away when Iraqi people, they have huge financial Committee to Protect Journalist (CPJ). Six journalists died in 2013 Saddam Hussein. ing in tandem with Shia militias, troops entered towns. “It is the resources and, honestly, a uni- itself prompting CPJ to classify Egypt as the third most dangerous Prime Minister Haidar Al secured Tikrit on Wednesday, 43 percent who are foreign fight- formed army alone cannot face it country for journalists that year after Syria and Iraq. Abadi, a Shia Islamist, met but as the government declared ers who have been indoctrinated on its own.” REUTERS AGENCIES SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Thousands of Palestinians trapped in Yarmuk Jihadists seize most of camp in Damascus; UN body issues urgent plea for humanitarian access to the area

BEIRUT: Thousands of Palestinian “The residents of the camp are to 160,000 people, both Syrian and circulated by jihadists on social media. all of us, a source of universal shame”. civilians are trapped in Syria’s Yarmuk between the devil and the deep blue sea,” Palestinian. The Observatory also reported gov- “The humanitarian actors on the camp, which is besieged by government said Ayman Abu Hashem, who heads the Observatory director Rami Abdel ernment air strikes on the camp, though ground, like UNRWA, must have imme- forces and has been largely overrun by Syrian opposition interim government’s Rahman said Al Nusra fighters were not there was no immediate information on diate access to bring urgent assistance to jihadist fighters, an opposition official committee on Palestinian refugees. battling alongside IS forces, but were also casualties. civilians,” Gunness said. said yesterday. “The camp is surrounded by the not opposing the its advances. Yarmuk’s residents have suffered He urged “moral and diplomatic lead- The camp in Damascus is now almost regime, and inside the forces of IS have Palestinian officials accused Al Nusra through regular clashes, government ership from the international commu- completely under the control of the almost completely taken over.” of facilitating IS’s entrance into Yarmuk, shelling and a regime blockade that has nity” to ensure the protection of civilians. Islamic State group (IS) and Al-Qaeda’s Abu Hashem said Palestinian forces where the population has dwindled to just caused medical and food shortages. Palestinian officials in the West Bank local branch Al Nusra Front, a monitor- from the Aknaf Beit Al Maqdis group, 18,000 residents. Syrian forces remain outside the camp, and Gaza also called for action, and the ing group said. which is loyal to the Palestinian move- Al Nusra and IS are largely rivals, and sources said troops had set up addi- Syrian opposition National Coalition The UN agency for Palestinian refu- ment Hamas, were effectively encircled despite sharing a similar jihadist ideol- tional checkpoints around Yarmuk after urged a safe passage for civilians. gees UNRWA issued an urgent plea for by the jihadists. ogy, though there have been instances of the fighting began. An agreement last The body called for “urgent interven- humanitarian access to the area, saying And he said fears were running high local cooperation between fighters from June between the government and rebels, tion” from the Arab League and United the situation in Yarmuk was a “source of that IS would take revenge in the camp the two movements. backed by Palestinian factions, led to eas- Nations “to force the regime to open a universal shame”. because members of the jihadist group Abdel Rahman said at least 18 people ing of the blockade. safe passage for the safety of civilians”. Jihadists from IS first attacked the were expelled by residents and fighters had been killed since the fighting in the But humanitarian access has remained In Khan Yunes in the southern camp, just 7km from central Damascus, last year. camp began on Wednesday, six civilians limited and was halted completely with Gaza Strip on Saturday, around 300 on Wednesday. They were initially The Syrian Observatory for Human and 12 Palestinian fighters. the jihadist advance. Palestinians staged a march in solidar- repelled by Palestinian forces inside Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said Two fighters were beheaded, he said, Yesterday, UNRWA spokesman Chris ity with their compatriots trapped in Yarmuk, but have since captured 90 per- jihadist forces now controlled 90 per- and photos depicting two decapitated Gunness described the situation in the Yarmuk, a Hamas official said. cent of the sprawling area. cent of Yarmuk, which was once home heads purportedly in the camp were camp as “an affront to the humanity of AFP Spanish caver trapped in Morocco dies RABAT: A Spanish caver failed to show up as planned, trig- organisation, said earlier that unable to provide details. trapped at the bottom of a cliff gering concern among their fellow “helicopters and elements of the “What we know is that one of in Morocco’s High Atlas moun- cavers who alerted the authori- civil defence were participating in them is in need of medical help tains died yesterday, but rescu- ties. “The two persons who were the rescue effort”. because the other two were mov- ers were able to save two of his injured received first aid and will But he warned that access to ing and signalling for help when friends, officials said. be evacuated to a hospital, but the area was difficult, with no a helicopter passed overhead,” Emergency services had earlier the third caver has unfortunately possibility of the helicopters land- Ordonez said. in the day launched an operation died,” MAP news agency reported ing. Rescuers would have to make Media in Madrid, quoting inte- to rescue the three Spaniards local officials in Ouarzazate as their way on foot to the site. rior ministry sources, said seven after finding them alive days after saying. The area the three had been Spanish policemen from a unit they were reported missing. They said the trio “fell from exploring includes peaks of specialising in rescue efforts trav- Spanish media identified the a cliff several hundred metres around 4,000 metres (13,125 feet) elled to Morocco on Saturday to three as 26-year-old lawyer high” in the Tarmest region. The covered with snow from a heavy join the operation. Gustavo Virues and policemen Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie, winter, and there were fears the Vehicles bearing Spanish dip- Juan Bolivar and Jose Antonio Civil Protection and two doctors cavers may have been caught in lomatic licence plates were seen Martinez, both 41. had scrambled earlier yesterday flash floods. near Ouarzazate airport. Heavy It was not immediately known to rescue the three after they When the initial news came that cloud over the region hampered which of the three men had died. were found alive by search teams they had been found alive, relatives the rescue effort, reducing vis- They were part of a group of in the rugged High Atlas range. expressed relief. Martinez’s wife, ibility for the helicopters involved nine Spaniards who had split They were found at the bot- Julia Ordonez, told Cadena Cope in the search. Ordonez said the up on Sunday to explore differ- tom of a cliff in the commune radio “they have been found, thank trio, longtime friends, had years ent caves and were later due to of Tamest in the southern God, the nightmare is over”. of experience mountain climbing meet in Ouarzazate in southern Ouarzazate region, MAP reported. Ordonez also told Spanish state and caving in the Alps and the Morocco. Zoubir Bouhour, head of the television TVE that one of the Andes and had prepared well for By Tuesday afternoon the three Ouarzazate regional tourism three had been injured, but was their trip. AFP Yemenis unload boxes of aid, supplied by a Kuwaiti medical organisation at Al Sadaqa hospital in Aden yesterday. Yemeni tribes enter town Deserted streets in Idlib after to drive out Al Qaeda rebel capture ADEN: Armed Yemeni tribes- For a second night, the coalition men in pickup trucks entered airdropped weapons and ammuni- IDLIB: The streets of the the eastern port town of tion to supporters of Hadi. Syrian city of Idlib are still vir- Mukalla yesterday to drive out Pro-Hadi fighters were seen tually deserted a week after its suspected Al Qaeda fighters unpacking rifles from wooden capture from government forces who took control 48 hours ear- crates dropped by parachute. by Islamist rebels including lier, residents said. “We thank the kingdom of Saudi fighters from Al Qaeda affiliate The fighters are part of a Arabia and all the Gulf countries, Al Nusra Front. tribal alliance in the eastern as well as our brothers in Arab All around, the carcasses of Hadramawt province which has countries, for dropping supplies,” cars and rubble of crumpled pledged to restore security after said Ahmad Qassem Al Shaawi, a buildings bear witness to the the militants seized Mukalla on local militia chief. “God willing, ferocity of the fighting for the Thursday and ransacked build- we will be victorious and bravely northwestern city, which is only ings, broke into banks and freed carry on fighting as heroes, and the second provincial capital to be prisoners. fight off any attack.” lost by the government in more The tribal force had already Suspected Al Qaeda fighters than four years of civil war. taken over two military bases fur- stormed Mukalla’s prison on A handful of grocers and veg- ther east along the coast at Shihr Thursday, freeing 150 detain- etable stalls have reopened for and Riyan, which were abandoned ees including a prominent local business but many of their cus- by the army earlier this week. al Qaeda leader, Khaled Batarfi, tomers have fled, terrified by the It was not immediately clear Yemeni officials said. They also fighting and the retaliatory air why troops left Shihr and set fire to the television broad- strikes that followed the city’s fall Riyan, nor why they pulled out casting building, residents said. on March 28. “I’m hardly selling of Mukalla after offering little Meanwhile, Egypt’s president anything, mostly because every- resistance, but their withdrawal said that securing the Bab Al one has fled town because of the highlighted the further collapse Mandab access to the Red Sea brutal fighter jet bombings,” said of any central authority in Yemen. off Yemen’s coast is a top prior- Saad Muarawi, a spice vendor. That security vacuum may ity, nine days after Cairo joined Muarawi says he has had no dif- give Al Qaeda in the Arabian a Saudi-led offensive against ficulty in getting the goods to sell Peninsula (AQAP), a power- Yemeni rebels. despite the city changing hands. ful regional wing of the global “Securing navigation in the “I have the products,” he says, jihadi movement, opportunities Red Sea and protecting Bab Al adding that now they come from to entrench itself further in the Mandab Strait is a top priority for other rebel-held parts of northern country’s remote eastern reaches. Egypt’s national security,” Abdel Syria. “Before, the regime forced The United States, which has Fattah Al Sisi said in a statement. us to get our supplies from the carried out covert drone strikes The Red Sea is at the southern coastal areas, or Hama. But now, on suspected Al Qaeda targets end of the Suez Canal, through thank God, the road is open.” in Yemen, withdrew its person- which much of the world’s mari- Many of the shops around nel from the country last month time trade passes. Later, in a Muarawi’s show damage from the after Houthi fighters pushed speech broadcast on state televi- fighting. Some are gutted, oth- south towards the Al Anad mili- sion, Sisi said securing the key ers have their facades blown in. tary base used by the Americans, waterway was also a matter of Outside, only a few people venture 60km north of Aden. “Arab national security”. out, some on bicycles, other on foot. The Shia Houthi forces, which A Saudi-led coalition of more Before the uprising erupted in seized the capital Sana’a six than 10 countries, including March 2011, Idlib had a popula- months ago along with soldiers Egypt, launched an offensive tion of around 200,000, which loyal to former president Ali against Yemen’s Huthi rebels on was swelled in subsequent years Abdullah Saleh, are fighting sup- March 26 after the Shia militia by thousands seeking refuge from porters of the current president advanced to the southern prov- fighting in the surrounding coun- in the southern port city of Aden. ince of Aden. Egypt is taking part tryside. But many of those fled as Saudi Arabia and regional in the campaign with its air force the rebels advanced, and most of Sunni Muslim allies have waged and navy, and has pledged to com- the more than 130 people killed 10 days of air strikes against mit ground troops if needed. in the battle for the city were the Houthis to try to stem their The strait, only 32km wide, combatants. advances and to support President separates southwestern Yemen Only a few residents have so Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi, who fled from the small African country far returned. “There are those Aden for Saudi Arabia more than of Djibouti. Control of it by a hos- who are afraid to go back because a week ago. tile power could severely threaten of air strikes and the fear of an Coalition war planes and ships maritime traffic passing between eventual regime bid to retake the bombarded Houthi rebel positions the Mediterranean Sea and the city,” said the head of the Syrian in Aden. A military source said at Indian Ocean. Observatory for Human Rights, least 13 rebel fighters were killed. AGENCIES Rami Abdel Rahman. AFP SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Curbing terrorism Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE RECENT cowardice attack by a terrorist group in Kenya has once again brought the menace of growing terrorism to the fore. On Thursday, militant Tgroup Al Shabaab shocked the world by killing 147 people, mostly students, on a college campus. Rowhani buoyed by nuclear It was the deadliest attack so far by Al Qaeda-affiliated Somali militant group, which had declared war on Kenya after the country decided to send troops into Somalia in 2011. Terrorist assaults are not new to Kenya. It has faced many deal in battle with hardliners in the past. More than 400 people have been killed by Al Shabaab on Kenyan soil since President Uhuru Kenyatta took BY LADANE NASSERI regroup and come out fighting. a Rowhani ally, has been silenced by a power in April, 2013 — including 67 who died in September Rowhani “based his electoral cam- media gag. While their opposition has of that year during a siege on an upmarket shopping mall in IGHTEEN months after paign on the reintegration of Iran into been muted in recent months amid capital Nairobi. It will be a blunder to see the recent attack picking up the phone to the international community and the qualified support for nuclear negotia- in isolation. Like Kenya, other African countries are facing Barack Obama with an associated economic benefit”, said Henry tions from Supreme Leader Ayatollah the scourge of terrorism. Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon are historic message of recon- Smith, Senior Consultant, Control Ali Khamenei, the president’s rivals will ciliation, Iran’s President Risks, Dubai. A pact that lifts sanctions attack if they sense weakness. fighting Boko Haram, another terrorist group which has EHassan Rowhani has secured the out- “will be perceived fairly broadly in Iran “The real prize is sanctions being become a headache for governments of these countries. The line of a nuclear agreement he expects as a victory for him.” lifted, not a nuclear agreement,” said governments in Libya and Tunisia are also fighting against to end his country’s isolation. Rowhani, analysts say, faces two chal- Geneive Abdo, a research fellow at militants. Succeeding where two presidents lenges: He has to ensure economic ben- Washington-based Stimson Centre. Why terrorist groups like Al Shabaab and Boko Haram before him failed, Rowhani’s envoys on efits from the easing of sanctions reach “The problem for Rowhani is that lift- are able to stand against armies and governments? It is Thursday struck an accord with world people before they grow frustrated, ing of sanctions is going to take time,” powers that limits his country’s nuclear and he’ll have to confront those hard- he added. because they are able to recruit people who have been ignored work in exchange for eventual relief line rivals who will see the agreement “We will have to wait to see when the by development. They are the weak links in society which from punishing sanctions. Diplomats, reached in Lausanne, Switzerland, as a final agreement will come. It’s too early becomes an easy prey to false promises of terrorist groups. To who hours earlier had appeared worn threat. The deal “will not end endemic to be happy,” said a 54-year-old govern- cope with the threat of terrorism, out and doubtful of the prospects, now factionalism in Iran,” said Ali Vaez, ment employee. A housewife said the US The most the countries hit by terrorism need have three months to hammer out the Senior Iran Analyst, International was the real winner as no date was given a multi-pronged strategy. details of a final Crisis Group. “It is more likely to exac- for the lifting of sanctions. effective way pact and complete erbate it.” Others focused on the potential for The most effective way to the job. As news of the pact agreed emerged, change. “There aren’t many opportuni- to defeat the defeat the extremist forces is take “Uranium conservatives were quick to denounce ties and you cannot get a job without development to the last man of enrichment and it, identifying concessions they felt connections,” said Mahtab Noori, 20, extremist society and ensure greater social Rowhani, all our nuclear went too far. The decision to convert an engineering student at University justice. Depending only on a heavy- technology is the controversial underground Fordo of Tehran. “A final agreement will make forces is to take analysts say, solely for the complex into a centre for advanced a lot of things easier.” handed approach of using military faces two development of physics research with international According to the pact, the US and the development to and mass arrests is unlikely to Iran and it will participation is a “catastrophe,” Mehdi EU will only lift economic sanctions that every person yield desired results. challenges: He not be against Mohammadi, adviser to Saeed Jalili, have crippled the economy and slashed The affected countries also any countries in a conservative presidential candidate oil exports in half once inspectors ver- in society and need to device a mechanism of has to ensure the region or the and former nuclear negotiator, said in ify its compliance with restrictions on coordinated and joint military world,” Rowhani a tweet reported by a local journalist. uranium enrichment and monitoring of ensure greater economic said in a televised Mohammadi added: “This is not a bal- atomic facilities. US Secretary of State efforts against terrorist groups. A address on Friday. anced agreement.” John Kerry said the process would take social justice. coordinated military action and benefits from Iran has taken Since Rowhani took office in 2013 and from six months to a year. sharing of intelligence will be more a step towards then held the first phone call between A January report by Congressional efficacious than each country fighting lone battles against the easing of preserving its the presidents of Iran and the US since Research Service laid out the impact militants. These terror attacks have once again exposed sanctions reach nuclear rights the 1979 revolution, his policy of engage- of rounds of US, UN and EU sanctions, the double standards of the Western. No one can forget the and the removal ment with Iran’s arch-foe has irritated which also cut Iran off from the glo- people before of sanctions with the conservatives who control the leg- bal financial system. The economy is massive global support and attention France got after some the deal and islature and the judiciary. 20 percent smaller than it would have terrorists attacked the office of a magazine in Paris. they grow wants better ties Alongside his diplomatic successes, been without the sanctions enacted Terrorist attacks in African countries have been fiercer with countries Rowhani has reduced inflation from after 2010, it said. Closures among pri- and have cost more lives but were forgotten after a few days. frustrated. where relations above 40 percent when he took office vate businesses left one in five workers The global powers have more resources to deal with terrorist are strained, he to about 16 in January, and stabilised jobless. Reserves totalling $80bn are said. the rial. Yet his efforts to change Iranian trapped overseas. groups. Enhanced monetary and technological support of The deal comes as welcome news to society more broadly have been stymied. “You can expect generally a lot more developed countries to Africa will be a big game changer for Iranians fed up with years of stagnation, Hardliners in parliament impeached his noise after the nuclear deal, not neces- African nations in their fight against terrorism. rising prices and few jobs. Rowhani’s science minister for attempting to relax sarily about the deal, but focusing on Turning a blind eye by the West on Africa thinking it political opponents, who dominate par- restrictions on critical debate at univer- other aspects of Rowhani’s support and as a regional problem will only make future uncertain for liament and see his agenda as a challenge sities and delayed the appointment of a some of his domestic policy positions,” the world, which has become flat due to advancement in to the tenets of the Islamic revolution successor. Key reformist politician and said Smith of Control Risks. and the nation’s sovereignty, will likely former president Mohammad Khatami, WP-BLOOMBERG technology• The other side Quote of Iran N-deal in sight the day

N the midst of numerous crises greater IAEA access to Iranian nuclear Many of the tricky details remain to But what is important is that raging across the Middle East, the facilities and a more transparent be ironed out; for example, what will be progress has been made in a dispute news that emerged from Switzerland atomic programme, though there will the timeline for sanctions’ relief? Also, that, until very recently, seemed intrac- Ion Thursday was exceptionally be no rollback. Most critically, Tehran on a number of other geopolitical fronts, table, with neither side willing to budge positive. will have the debilitating UN, EU and such as Syria and Yemen, the West and and often demonising the other. If Daesh (Islamic After over a decade of mutual mis- US sanctions, which have primarily Iran are clearly not on the same page. The developments show that other trust and suspicion, the framework for hit its finance and petrochemical sec- And it can be expected that Israel and difficult situations in the world, such as State) continues a potential deal between Iran and the tors, lifted as part of the deal. Credit the Republicans in the US will try and the India-Pakistan relationship, or the P5+1 to resolve the Islamic Republic’s goes to both sides for choosing the sabotage a final deal. battles currently being fought in the to recruit so nuclear question has been agreed to. route of dialogue over bellicosity and The deal should not be held hostage Middle East, can be resolved through While scepticism has been confrontation. to the whims of Tel Aviv or domestic diplomacy and negotiations — if there is many from other expressed by some quarters, the Yet to assume that years of mistrust American politics. For this, Barack a desire to move forward by all parties. countries, then no principal stakeholders appear satis- will magically be transformed into bon- Obama, in the time he has left in the And where Pakistan is concerned, fied with the results of the marathon homie would be naive. Progress on the White House, as well as European the lifting of sanctions against Iran may army in our region negotiations. deal will be incremental and the P5+1 leaders will need to show statesman- well pave the way for projects such as can stand up to it. The potential deal — which is to and Iran will need to show flexibility and ship and diplomatic tact to ensure the the gas pipeline, should Islamabad play Haidar Al Abadi be finalised by June 30 — calls for avoid taking hard-line positions. agreement goes through smoothly. its cards right. DAWN Iraqi Prime Minister SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Plan to train Syrian force facing hurdles BY MISSY RYAN allegiances and battle lines. A have limited power to control how similar programme, run covertly the new Syrian force uses its new or months, US military by the CIA, has not resulted in a training and equipment. officials had been vetting visible impact on the war. American officials are now the first unit of Syrian The programme also presents debating whether they should Ffighters slated to join a Washington with a diplomatic commit to providing military pro- new force to be trained by the test. Although US officials say the tection for the fighters once they United States and allied nations. purpose of the training, in keeping return to Syria. But when violence flared up in with a congressional authorisation Most senior officials at the the unit’s home area, the fighters and White House policy, is to ena- Pentagon think they should. Last made a decision to stay home and ble Syrians to defend themselves month, General Martin Dempsey, defend their communities, forc- and to take on the Islamic State chairman of the Joint Chiefs of ing US military officials to line up militant group, partner nations Staff, suggested the training pro- another unit. behind the training programme gramme would not succeed unless That last-minute scramble are most interested in toppling the fighters believed they had “a delayed the launch of the training Syrian leader Bashar Al Assad. reasonable chance of survival.” programme by several weeks to Through four years of bloody “Militarily, we’re prepared to some time in May, according to conflict, the United States has provide intelligence logistical and military officials. It is also a sign shied away from direct military air support should this policy deci- of the obstacles the United States confrontation against Assad, bet- sion be made,” the military official and its allies face as they try to ting instead on now-stalled politi- said. build a rebel force, from a distance, cal talks. The White House only If approved, the Pentagon might in the midst of Syria’s civil war. authorised military involvement in provide the US-trained force addi- A senior military official said response to the rise of the Islamic tional ammunition supplies, give that training preparations had State, which has grown strong them radios and phones, or share been held up “due to the fluid envi- amid Syria’s civil war. intelligence about the location of ronment in Syria” but were now “The President has made clear adversaries. When they’re pinned moving ahead. Training sites will that ISIL is our priority,” said Ali down, US planes could provide air eventually be opened in Turkey, Baskey, a White House spokes- support. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan. man, referring to the Islamic It’s unclear which forces A rebel fighter prepares to fire a mortar shell towards a checkpoint of forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al The official, speaking on condi- State. “The (Pentagon training) American planes would be author- tion of anonymity to discuss mili- programme is an important com- Assad near Mork town in Hama. ised to strike in defence of allied tary planning, said the alternate ponent of our broader counter- fighters in Syria. If they hit back unit had been identified but not ISIL strategy,” Such differences matter because under President Barack Obama. factions — are close to a decisive against attacks from forces loyal fully vetted when the first unit In February, Turkish Foreign they could lead to confusion if the The administration has deter- victory. Though rebels led by the to Assad, that could quickly draw pulled out. “So it will take more Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said new force ends up in direct con- mined that existing legal authori- Al Qaida-linked Jabhat Al Nusra the United States further into the time to prepare the support for the programme would train fight- flict with forces loyal to Assad and ties provide a basis to build and seized the northern city of Idlib war. this group,” he said. ers to face both the Islamic State allied nations differ over what help arm a force to fight the Islamic last week, Assad retains a strong Fred Hof, a former senior On the eve of its long-awaited and the Assad regime, underscor- to provide. State, which has attacked power base in Damascus and other State Department official now launch, US officials acknowledge ing US and Turkish differences “If the foreign backers of this Americans and their allies, but parts of the country. at the Atlantic Council, said the the programme will have to over- over Washington’s reluctance to new force themselves are not not to go on the offensive against “My feeling is that these guys US-backed force was sure to come come a host of challenges, includ- take on Assad. Officials in Saudi in agreement about the mis- the Syrian military. will fight whoever they come up into conflict with Syrian troops. ing the relatively small size of the Arabia and Qatar, both impor- sion before it even deploys into None of the multiple armed against,” a second defence offi- “I think even the US is coming force being trained — up to about tant backers of the Sunni Muslim Syria, that is a warning that the groups fighting in Syria — includ- cial said, referring to the new to the conclusion that an awful lot 5,000 fighters — and the fact that uprising against a regime sup- force itself could quickly run into ing government forces, Lebanese US-trained force. of the time spent on the ground they will return to a multi-sided ported by Shia Iran, share that problems,” said Robert Ford, a Hezbollah fighters, Western- Beyond conditioning future in Syria will be fighting the Assad conflict characterised by shifting priority. former US ambassador to Syria backed rebels and various Islamist assistance, American officials will regime,” he said. BLOOMBERG Nigeria needs more than clean elections Iran talks prove BY DAYO OLOPADE It would be easier to crowed over the buck-passing Christiane Amanpour, Buhari and incompetence that animates made the right noises on inclusion Republicans not he Nigerian electorate can much of the civil service. As the and prosperity, but he will not able declare victory this week — cheer elections if the world may have forgotten, the to execute on a key promise of his Teven those voters who did underlying institutions unusual activists who begged election campaign — prosecuting not choose Muhammadu Buhari their government to #bringback- Boko Haram — until he is officially interested in peace to succeed incumbent President ourgirls will have been waiting sworn in. Nigerians may have to Goodluck Jonathan. Enduring in Nigeria, or in for one year this month. wait even longer for action on glitches, failures and delays in Formality bias has other conse- the nation’s fiscal and unemploy- BY TREVOR TIMM tabulation, 54 percent of vot- Africa broadly, were quences. The private sector that ment problems. Such is the reality ers punished Jonathan’s record drives 80 percent of Nigeria’s econ- of governing a sluggish and cor- small part of the Middle East may soon be off limits to US bomb- on administrative, economic and performing at the omy has been forced to sit on its rupt bureaucracy, which, despite ing and killing, so naturally Republicans and their neocon allies security issues, and elected an hands for the duration of the 2015 Buhari’s promised crackdown on Aare furious. opposition candidate to the presi- level that the region campaign — Africa’s most expen- “indiscipline,” Nigeria remains. The tentative Iran deal announced on April 3, in which Western dency for the first time in history. sive to date. Private companies, It would be easier to cheer elec- leaders and the Islamic republic agreed on strict limits to Iran’s nuclear In doing so, Nigerians vaulted needs and deserves. domestic and global, often hover tions if the underlying institutions programme, was hailed by many as a breakthrough, given that it could past the low expectations of this fixation with the systems of over elections in uncertain young in Nigeria, or in Africa broadly, avert yet another US-led war in the Middle East. So almost immediately, the international community. government. Whereas past elec- democracies, waiting-and-seeing were performing at the level that it was denounced by key conservative members of Congress, neocons, Before the vote, the US govern- tions had turnout over 50 percent, if capital allocation, infrastructure the region needs and deserves. But and Republican presidential candidates, whose unquenched thirst for ment warned of “political ten- Buhari was elected by winning a investments, and product launches because they are not, the most blood almost always outweighs their supposed commitment to peace. sions, overlaid atop simmering majority share of just 41 percent make sense. For months, “after compelling story for the future is Senator Mark Kirk kicked things off by quickly proving Godwin’s communal and ethno-religious of the eligible population. elections” became the mantra of that of the non-state actors who Law, and absurdly declared that “Neville Chamberlain got a better violence” — armchair anthropol- The 40 million Nigerians who businesspeople across the country. create jobs, provide services and deal from Adolf Hitler”. (“Appeasement” and “Chamberlain” are two of ogy that proved to be largely off abstained could be forgiven for The day after the announcement make change. Lamido Sanusi, conservatives’ favorite buzzwords whenever a diplomatic breakthroughs the mark. In an age of Mugabes their low opinion of the electoral of Buhari’s win, the Nigerian stock the former central bank gover- by Democratic presidents may be afoot, even if they don’t actually know and Musevenis, Jonathan himself process, and the craven political market leapt to attention — up 2 nor (sacked for daring to report what they mean.) deserves credit for his gracious leadership lashed to its mast. percent to a three-month high. In $20bn in oil theft) turned religious Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with his usual bombast, and timely concession to Buhari. Democracy and careful attention that context, the election-driven leader, recognised this, telling his said: “This deal would pose a grave danger to the region and to the world As a Nigerian American with to proper procedures hasn’t done loss of productivity and opportu- followers in northern Nigeria to and would threaten the very survival of the state of Israel”. He added: persistent connections to the much for the ordinary Nigerian. nity is breathtaking — up to $2bn, “acquire what they need to protect “In a few years … the deal would remove restrictions on Iran’s nuclear country, it’s gratifying to see a The past 17 years of democratic per one analysis. themselves” against Boko Haram programme, enabling Iran to have a massive enrichment capacity that peaceful transfer of power. Even rule in Nigeria corresponds to As soon as next week, Buhari — rather than waiting for the state it could use to produce many nuclear bombs within a matter of months.” after missteps by the electoral years of record high oil prices will select his cabinet and cavalry that has yet to come. It’s hard to take Netanyahu’s hyperbolic statements seriously when commission, the comparatively — and years of oil profits fail- announce plans for Nigeria’s ail- If Buhari can establish a base- he has basically been saying the same thing — that Iran is this close to a mature handling of Saturday’s ing to benefit most residents. ing economy and the terrorised line of state functionality — ensur- nuclear bomb — for over twenty-three years. Even his own intelligence vote was foreseeable. Nigeria’s When, in 2013, when the head northeast — with the mantle of ing power, roads and security — he services don’t agree with him. 2007 vote was crippled by fraud, of the Nigeria Security and Civil change at his back. Because the will have done far better than his Often forgotten in the entire debate is the fact that all 16 US intel- but by the time I covered the 2011 Defence Corps appeared on a election season in Nigeria is sub- predecessors, and produced a ligence agencies have concluded that Iran actually abandoned its active elections, a technology-enabled popular talk show, and couldn’t stantially issue-free, the contours framework for real victory for his nuclear weapons programme in 2003. The US has known this since at public ensured greater transpar- or wouldn’t share his agency’s of such planning can only be only people. least 2007, when a classified National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), which ency at the ballot box, and this website address, the country guessed at. In an interview with BLOOMBERG undercut George W Bush’s burgeoning Iran war talk, was leaked to the year Nigerians consolidated and media. In 2010 and 2012 two other NIEs were issued by the US govern- improved on those trends. ment that concluded, as the Los Angeles Times put it: “US intelligence Similarly, many Nigerian voters agencies don’t believe Iran is actively trying to build an atomic bomb”. in 2011 chose one party for presi- That hasn’t stopped senators like Democrat Robert Menendez from dent, another for governor, and yet repeatedly referring to “Iran’s illicit nuclear weapons programme”. another for parliament. The split And former UN ambassador and cartoonish war fanatic, John Bolton, ballots suggested a sophistication is running a much-mocked Twitter advertising campaign, condemning of preference — diminishing the the deal before anyone had a chance to read it. Of course, his stance has inevitability of the ruling People’s always been to bomb Iran and figure out the rest later, so it would be no Democratic Party, and paving the surprise if he actually pre-wrote his tweets before the details of the deal way for this year’s opposition vic- were even announced. (Bolton is so war hungry that he was recently tory. (This month’s legislative elec- caught mixing up the countries he wants to bomb next.) tions will either confirm or buck Republican de facto presidential candidates tried to out-do each other this trend.) for who could condemn the deal in more gratuitous terms, despite prob- But troubadours of this demo- ably not having the first clue about what it entails. (This is no surprise cratic moment risk celebrating given that in 2008 all the Republican nominees were in agreement that victories rather than progress for the US should potentially drop nuclear bombs to stop Iran’s non-existent Nigeria’s 177 million residents. nuclear bomb programme. So the bar was pretty high.) Even Jeb “I’m While western nations have long my own man” Bush denounced the framework, though I guess that viewed the “free and fair” African probably shouldn’t be a surprise since his advisors are full of George W election as an end in itself, such Bush-era war architects. elections carry no guarantees of When neocons like Bolton come out of the woodwork to denounce the improvements in the lives of vot- chance for peace with Iran, it’s always amusing to remember the people ers. Political leadership the world most responsible for helping the country to start its nuclear energy over fixates on weak state institu- programme: Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. tions, elliptical “good governance” They pushed President Ford to sign a deal to sell Iran nuclear mate- metrics and quadrennial votes, rial in 1976, but somehow that’s never brought up when Fox News is rather than the nimble, informal calling Iran “the devil”. forces that truly drive develop- There’s still a long way to go before this deal can become a signed ment. I call this phenomenon pact, but given that the terms were better than expected, the Obama “formality bias.” Supporters of newly-elected Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari sit on top of a bus as they celebrate the administration seems to have finally done something that could have The turnout this year sug- victory of their candidate in Lagos. lasting positive impact on the Middle East. gests the public may not share THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE / AMERICAS Labour, Tories Rally against Trident nuclear programme neck and neck in poll battle Significant boost to Miliband

LONDON: The two main par- predictably much less keen on ties remain neck and neck in the joining the second largest party in battle for Downing Street, with a coalition, with 28 percent saying the latest Opinium/Observer they should join Labour in a coali- poll putting both Labour and tion if the Tories have more MPs. the Conservatives on 33 percent. One in five (20 percent) say they The polling, carried out follow- should join the Tories in coalition ing Thursday’s leaders’ debate on if Labour are largest. ITV, also confirms the widely held Meanwhile, Scotland’s First perception that the SNP’s Nicola Minister Nicola Sturgeon denied Sturgeon put in the best perform- privately saying she wanted ance on the night but that it has Cameron to win Britain’s general not had any significant impact on election while publicly attack- the parties’ electoral prospects. ing everything his Conservative The Liberal Democrats are on 7 Party stands for. Sturgeon leads percent, Ukip 14 percent and the the left-wing Scottish National Greens 7 percent, according to Party (SNP), which is viscerally Opinium. The SNP are on 4 per- anti-Conservative. cent, up one point from last week. But a leaked memo in The All the leaders achieved posi- Daily Telegraph newspaper said tive marks for how they per- Sturgeon had told France’s formed in the seven-way debate, ambassador to Britain that she with the Green party’s Natalie wanted Cameron to remain Bennett coming closest to a nega- prime minister after the May 7 Protesters hold placards and signs against nuclear weapons during a rally against the Trident nuclear programme in Glasgow, Scotland, yesterday. tive mark – 24 percent said she general election. The SNP has was out of her depth and 29 per- indicated it would be prepared to cent said the Ukip leader, Nigel back a minority government of Farage, did badly. Ed Miliband’s centre-left Labour Ed Miliband has enjoyed a Party, on a vote-by-vote basis, particularly significant boost to to keep Cameron’s centre-right Fidel Castro his personal polling, however. Conservatives from power. Alabama man walks free after The Labour leader has seen a Sturgeon met French ambassa- appears in public six-point rise on last week, up dor Sylvie Bermann in February from -21 percent to -15 percent on the diplomat’s first visit to for the first time (29 percent approve, 44 percent Scotland. The Telegraph said 30 years on death row disapprove) with his net rat- the note was written by a sen- in over a year ing among Labour voters rising ior British civil servant following WASHINGTON: An Alabama were fired from a gun later recov- not enough evidence linking him from +53 percent to +59 percent. a confidential conversation with man who spent 30 years on death ered from Hinton’s mother. to the crimes. HAVANA: Former Cuban pres- David Cameron’s approval rating Pierre-Alain Coffinier, the French row for crimes he didn’t commit However subsequent tests later Hinton, who was 29 at the time ident Fidel Castro, 88, appeared is largely unchanged at +1 percent consul-general in Scotland, walked free from court on Friday cast doubt on the assertion that of the killings, was one of the long- in public “full of vitality” for overall; both approval an disap- regarding the meeting. after his conviction for a 1985 the bullets used in the killings est-serving death row prisoners in the first time in more than a proval have seen a one point rise. The memo said: “Discussion double murder was overturned came from the gun. A long legal Alabama history and among the year on Monday, greeting a del- Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, appears to have focused mainly because of insufficient evidence. saga culminated in victory last longest-serving condemned prison- egation of Venezuelans, official remains the least popular of the on the political situation, Anthony Ray Hinton, 58, year when the US Supreme Court ers to be freed, according to EJI. media reported yesterday. major party leaders but he too has with the FM stating that she emerged from Jefferson County ruled Hinton had not been given Hinton was charged after two res- It was his first known appear- seen a rise from -40 percent to wouldn’t want a formal coali- Courthouse to cheers from well- an adequate defense. taurant managers were shot dead ance outside his home since Cuba -30 percent (21 percent approve, tion with Labour; that the SNP wishers before being embraced His trial lawyer had hired an in a robbery at a fast-food restau- in December agreed to normalize 51 percent disapprove) while would almost certainly have by tearful friends and relatives, expert witness not properly quali- rant in Birmingham, Alabama. relations with the United States, Farage has seen a jump from -24 a large number of seats... that a day after a judge had dismissed fied to challenge the ballistics evi- Police did not find eyewitnesses Castro’s longtime adversary. percent last week to -13 percent she’d rather see David Cameron all charges against him. dence. “All they had to do was test or fingerprint evidence, according Official media showed images of a (32 percent approve, 45 percent remain as PM (and didn’t see Ed “Sun do shine,” an emotional the gun,” Hinton told reporters, to EJI. That same year, another seated Castro shaking hands with disapprove) this week. Miliband as PM material).” Hinton said moments after his frequently wiping away tears. restaurant was held up at gun the visiting Venezuelans through Lib Dem voters are utterly split However the civil servant release. “They had every intention “But when you think you’re point and the manager was shot the window of his vehicle, wearing over what their party should do in appeared to doubt whether this of executing me for something I high and mighty and above the and seriously injured. a baseball cap and a windbreaker. the event of a hung parliament, it accurately conveyed Sturgeon’s didn’t do ... I shouldn’t have sat on law, you don’t have to answer to The manager identified Hinton There was no explanation has also emerged. Between 40 per- meaning, adding: “I’m not sure death row for 30 years.” nobody. But I’ve got news for you as the suspect, though Hinton why five days passed before cent and 45 percent would support that the FM’s tongue would be Hinton was released after a key — everybody that played a part in said he was at work at the time the encounter was reported in going into coalition with whoever quite so loose on that kind of thing piece of ballistics evidence used sending me to death row, you will 24km away. A manager and col- Cuba. He met at a school with 33 is the largest party but one in five in a meeting like that, so it might against him in his December 1986 answer to God.” leagues backed his alibi. Venezuelans, who were on a soli- want to return to opposition and a well be a case of something being trial for two separate murders Jefferson County Circuit Court Chief attorney Bryan Stevenson darity mission to Cuba, for about quarter would favour a confidence- lost in translation.” Sturgeon said during robberies in Birmingham Judge Laura Petro dismissed all said Hinton, who is black, was 90 minutes. Since the fall of the and-supply agreement whatever the story was “categorically 100 was discredited. charges against Hinton after his wrongly convicted in part because Soviet Union, oil-rich Venezuela the outcome may be. percent untrue”. State technicians said bullets lawyers from the Equal Justice the colour of his skin. has become Communist Cuba’s The Lib Dem voters are THE GUARDIAN/AFP recovered from the crime scene Initiative (EJI) argued there was AFP closest ally and chief benefactor. Castro impressed the Venezuelans with a firm, long handshake and a lucid mind, Mass pillow fight the newspaper Juventud Rebelde reported in a writer’s first-person Sales of books on Islam account. Castro relayed “multiple details about life in Venezuela, especially now that this great selling out in France nation has become the bull’s eye for imperial greed,” the report said, in apparent reference to US sanc- PARIS: Books on Islam are sell- buy a copy of the Quran, because tions on Venezuela that declared ing out in France after deadly she wanted to understand for the South American nation a extremist attacks in the capital herself whether or not (Islam) national security threat. “Fidel is raised uncomfortable questions is a violent religion,” said Yvon full of vitality,” the report said. about Europe’s fastest-growing Gilabert, who runs a bookshop in Castro’s last previous public religion. Nantes, western France. sighting came on January 8, 2014, A special magazine supplement French academics too are at the opening of a Havana cul- focused on the Holy Quran has becoming more curious, with a tural center sponsored by one of flown off the shelves, and shops chair in the study of the Quran his favorite Cuban artists, Alexis are selling more books on Islam inaugurated on Thursday at the Leyva, alias Kcho. REUTERS than ever after the Paris attacks prestigious College de France in in January that left 17 dead. Paris. Jean Rony, who teaches at “The French are asking more the nearby Sorbonne university, 3 soldiers killed and more questions, and they began studying the Muslim holy feel less satisfied than ever by book for himself this year. in east Ukraine the answers they’re getting “Given the situation, I have KIEV: Three Ukrainian sol- from the media,” said Fabrice added sessions on monotheistic diers died when a mine exploded Gerschel, director of Philosophie religions to my general culture in the separatist-held east Revellers take part in a mass pillow fight on International Pillow Fight Day in Trafalgar Square, London, yesterday. magazine, which published the class for students preparing for where isolated clashes continue supplement. magistrate exams,” he said. to undermine a ceasefire aimed Sales of books on Islam were Mansour Mansour, who runs at ending a year-long war. three times higher in the first the Al Bouraq publishing house Army spokesman Andriy quarter of 2015 than this time specialising on Islam and the Lysenko said yesterday that “as last year, according to the French Middle East, said his sales have a result of the explosion of an Search for crash bodies in Alps halted National Union of Bookshops. shot up by 30 percent. “The same enemy mine ... three Ukrainian happened after the September 11 soldiers were killed, two injured” MARSEILLE: French investigators have ended public prosecutor and an expert in charge of envi- BETTER UNDERSTANDING attacks in 2001,” he said. in the previous 24 hours. their search for bodies in the Alps where a ronmental supervision of the operations,” he said. Mathilde Mahieux, of La Claude Brenti, of the Catholic There were no further details Germanwings passenger jet crashed last month, Lufthansa is the parent company of the lowcost Procure chain of bookshops that publisher Beatitudes, said he on the incident which occurred killing all 150 people on board, an official said. Germanwings carrier. The identification of victims specialises in religion, said peo- has noticed a change in atti- near the government-held vil- Prosecutors believe German co-pilot Andreas will now continue through the analysis of 150 sets of ple want a better understanding tudes among scholars. “In cer- lage of Avdiyivka, a few kilome- Lubitz deliberately flew the Airbus A320 jet into DNA found at site, which could take several weeks. of the religion that the brutal tain Muslim circles there was a tres from the separatist bastion the mountainside during a flight from Barcelona The prosecutor leading the French legal probe has Islamic State (IS) group claims to refusal to critically analyse the of Donetsk, a city in Ukraine’s to Dusseldorf, pulverising the aircraft and making cautioned that the number of DNA sets does not represent, so that they can make text, but now I see some thinkers industrial heartland which prior recovery efforts extremely complicated. necessarily mean all the victims have been found. up their own minds. are changing,” he said. to the unrest was home to a mil- “The search for bodies is over, but the search for As soon as a DNA set is matched to one of the vic- The jihadist attacks against the Twice as many books published lion people. the victims’ personal belongings is continuing,” a tims, the family will immediately be informed. Work Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in France last year were dedicated The fatalities were the first spokesman for the local government authority in the to remove aircraft debris and clean up the site will and a Jewish supermarket have to Islam than to Christianity, announced by the Kiev govern- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region said. “Lufthansa start next week and could take up to two months, left many non-Muslims looking according to the publishing ment in almost a week since the has also hired a specialist firm to remove the debris said General David Galtier, a regional French police for answers. weekly, Hebdo Livres. death of a Ukrainian army soldier of the aircraft, under the authority of the French commander in charge of the operation. REUTERS “A very Catholic lady came to AFP was reported on Monday. AFP SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 ASIA / AFRICA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Philippines evacuates thousands Typhoon Maysak weakens

MANILA: Around 24,000 than 7,350 dead or missing. coastal residents of the Despite its reduced strength, Philippines were being evacu- Galang said Maysak was still ated as a precaution from forecast to bring “moderate to approaching Tropical Storm occasionally intense” rain across Maysak yesterday, officials said, a 400km front on Luzon’s moun- even as experts downgraded the tainous northern section over- threat from what was at one night Saturday. point a super typhoon. Even light or moderate rain, if Maysak, which days earlier sustained for several hours, can hit several small islands in the bring floods and landslides in a Pacific Ocean, has weakened into locality, he noted. a 115km an hour storm, state The areas potentially affected weather forecaster Jun Galang have a combined population of said . about five million people, Social It was also possible the storm Welfare Undersecretary Vilma would further weaken to between Cabrera told a news conference 65-85 kilometres an hour by the in Manila yesterday. time it is projected to hit the About 20 typhoons and storms northeast coast of the main hit the Philippines each year, Philippine island of Luzon this many of them deadly, but such morning, he added. weather disturbances are rare in Residents stroll along the beach in Baler town, Aurora province, northeast of Manila yesterday, one day before Typhoon Maysak is expected to make landfall. “At those lower intensities, we April, the height of the tropical can eliminate the threat posed Asian nation’s dry season. Galang said the eye of the senior civil defence official for the Retired army general Jovie “There are lots of tourists by storm surges,” he said, refer- Maysak is forecast to strike at storm was tracked 365 kilome- region, told AFP earlier. Narcise, who is visiting the Aurora arriving in the area but they ring to giant tsunami-like waves the tail-end of a long Easter holi- tres southeast of Aurora’s coast at In all, some 24,000 people from town of Dingalan, said the skies are going to resorts situated on that had prompted local officials day that saw millions of Filipinos 3pm (0700 GMT) yesterday. the coastal province of Aurora, began to darken there in the after- higher ground,” Narcise told AFP. to evacuate coastal villages in the flock to the beaches to escape the It was expected to hit land where the storm is projected to noon as big waves pounded the shore. Maysak last week ravaged the area. heat. there between 6am and 10am make landfall today, would be Small outrigger fishing boats Federated States of Micronesia, Such waves caused many of the Cabrera said about 10,000 tour- today (2200 GMT Saturday to evacuated, he said. had been pulled up and stored leaving at least five dead, thou- fatalities when Super Typhoon ists were warned Friday to stay 0200 GMT Sunday), he added. “We have asked the tourists (in about 30 metres away from the sands homeless and crops Haiyan struck the country in away from the beaches of Aurora “We plan to move people out of Aurora) to stay in their hotels water to keep them from being destroyed. November 2013, leaving more province northeast of Manila. coastal villages,” Nigel Lontoc, a and avoid the water,” he added. swept out to sea, he said. AFP

Gunmen kill Somali militants vow to turn Kenya cities ‘red with blood’ nine in Nigeria’s GARISSA: Somali militants Christian students to kill, while a long, gruesome war of which of those detained, who was a secu- days after the siege ended. vowed yesterday to wage a long sparing some Muslims. you, the Kenyan public, are its rity guard at the university. The bloodshed piled further Rivers state war against Kenya and run its In a message directed at the first casualties.” A Tanzanian man named as pressure on President Uhuru cities “red with blood” after the Kenyan public, the Al Qaeda The death toll in the Garissa Rashid Charles Mberesero was Kenyatta, who has struggled to PORT HARCOURT: Gunmen group’s fighters killed nearly aligned group said the raid was blitz was put at 148. Four attack- also arrested at the university. stem the violence that has dented stormed two communities in 150 people during an assault on revenge for Kenya’s military pres- ers also died and the authorities “We suspect the Tanzanian, Kenya’s image and ravaged the Nigeria’s southern oil state of a Kenyan university. ence in Somalia and mistreat- put their bullet-ridden, swollen who was hiding in the ceiling, country’s vital tourism industry. Rivers, killing at least nine peo- Kenyan officials said they had ment of Muslims within Kenya. bodies on display on Saturday, was one of the combatants. He The timing of the attack has ple and injuring two others a arrested five men in connec- “No amount of precaution or hoping that the hundreds of locals had ammunition with him when been embarrassing for Kenyatta, week ahead of a gubernatorial tion with Thursday’s attack by al safety measures will be able to who viewed the corpses might be he was arrested on Thursday who a day earlier had berated election, police said yesterday. Shabaab gunmen at Garissa univer- guarantee your safety, thwart able to identify them. night,” ministry spokesman Britain and Australia for putting “It was about 19:30 hours (1830 sity, 200km from the Somali border. another attack or prevent The Interior Ministry said Mwenda Njoka said. “We suspect out travel warnings over security GMT) of yesterday (Friday). The raid has put Kenya on another bloodbath from occurring three men thought to have the guard facilitated the entry threats to the country. Some unknown armed men heightened alert and spooked in your cities,” the group said in co-ordinated the assault were (into the university).” Local media have been scepti- invaded Obrikom and Obor com- Christian congregations, horrified an emailed statement. arrested while trying to flee to The Kenya Red Cross said it cal about the government’s latest munities and went on a shooting by survivor tales recalling how the It said it would run cities “red Somalia. They were all Kenyans had found a woman survivor on promise to halt the slaughter. spree,” state police spokesman Islamist militants had sought out with blood”, adding: “This will be of Somali origin, as was another yesterday in the university, two REUTERS Ahmad Muhammad said in a statement. Muhammad said an initial Five held over Garissa death toll of six had risen to nine. The assailants also set ablaze the house of a local politician, Vincent Ogbagu, who is a state university massacre parliament candidate in the April 11 election, he said. GARISSA: Kenya said yester- Over 600 students from the Police were looking for the day it had arrested five men now closed college yesterday assailants, Muhammad said. in connection with the univer- boarded buses for Nairobi. Elections for state governor sity massacre by Somalia’s Al Interior ministry spokesman, and parliament are scheduled to Qaeda-linked Shebab militants Mwenda Njoka, said five arrests take place on April 11 in about 30 that left nearly 150 people dead. had already been made. Nigerian states, including Rivers The arrests came as militants “Three were the coordinators and Lagos. warned of “another bloodbath” who were arrested while trying to Obrikom and Obor are neigh- and a “long, gruesome war” unless flee to Somalia, two were arrested bouring communities in Rivers, Kenya withdrew its troops from within the precincts of Garissa one of Nigeria’s most restive Somalia. University,” he said, noting that states. Forensic police officers contin- the four gunmen in the university ued to scour the site where one were killed on Thursday. WHO official in student shocked security forces The name of the three sus- by emerging unharmed from a pected organisers were not given, Thailand denies wardrobe where she had hidden but Njoka said the two arrested for over two days. on campus included a security maid slavery claims A Kenya Red Cross spokes- guard at the university, and a woman said that the 19-year Tanzanian named as Rashid BANGKOK: The World Health old was traumatised and dehy- Charles Mberesero. Organization’s top official in drated but physically unharmed Mberesero was reportedly Thailand yesterday denied and undergoing assessment by arrested on the campus on Friday, beating his Ethiopian domestic doctors. found hiding as people carried out helper and treating her like a Thursday’s attack on Garissa the grim work of clearing piles modern day slave. University, situated near the bor- of bodies. “He was hiding in the The 25-year-old unnamed maid der with Somalia, claimed 148 ceiling of the university and had filed a complaint with police last A security officer tries to keep a crowd of spectators back as they gather to see the bodies of the terrorists involved lives, including 142 students, three grenades,” Njoka said. month accusing Dr Yonas Tegegn, in the Moi University attack at the mortuary in the northeastern town of Garissa yesterday. police officers and three soldiers. AFP the WHO’s representative in Thailand, and his wife of abus- ing her and forcing her to work without pay for nearly two years. Police on Wednesday said they would investigate the allegations US geologist jailed in China freed, deported: Rights group and question the couple, who are also Ethiopian nationals. In a statement released BEIJING: A US geologist con- said in a release dated Friday. after a terrible ordeal,” the San China’s state-run Xinhua on China’s oil industry while Saturday, Tegegn denied the victed on state secrets charges The rights group, which advo- Francisco-based group’s executive news agency did not immedi- working for US energy and engi- claims. “These accusations made and imprisoned in China has cates clemency and better treat- director John Kamm said in the ately carry any articles on the neering consulting firm IHS. against me and my family are been released and returned ment for prisoners in China and release. release. A phone number for the Both Xue and IHS had said in baseless. We deny any wrong- to the United States, a human had repeatedly raised Xue’s case The US embassy in Beijing Beijing No. 2 Prison could not the past that they believed the doing,” he said in a statement rights group said. with Chinese officials, said that he said in an e-mail it was “aware be found and the institution’s database to be a commercially emailed said. Xue Feng, who had been serving arrived in the US city of Houston of reports” that Xue had been website had no information on available product. It was only Tegegn added that he hoped an eight-year sentence in Beijing on Friday evening. released, but could add no Xue’s release. classified as a state secret after both the media and Thailand’s No. 2 Prison, was immediately “Dui Hua is delighted that more due to privacy considera- Xue, a Chinese-born US citizen, Xue had bought it, according to legal system would “give us a fair deported upon leaving jail, the Dr Xue has finally been reu- tions, directing media instead to was first detained in November Dui Hua. chance to clear our name”. US-based Dui Hua Foundation nited with his family in America Chinese authorities. 2007 over the sale of a database AFP AGENCIES SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Pakistan army battles Taliban for strategic valley Military mounts series of ground air assaults in Tirah; Forces claim taking three strategic locations

PESHAWAR: High in the Tirah, which has long been a to Orakzai tribal region, Kurram, and covered to a large extent charge. The fight against mili- and dislodge their shelters. mountains along the Afghan hideout for TTP ally Lashkar-e- Bara and Afghanistan.” with dense woodland. There are tants was given fresh impetus in Denying a space to the militants border, Pakistan’s fight against Islam (LI). The area is remote and off- no roads in the area, with locals December when TTP gunmen mas- and clearing an important bas- Taliban militants is focusing Security officials in the north- limits to journalists, making largely relying on mules and sacred more than 150 people, most tion such as Tirah will curtail on their last, fearsome redoubt west said that the so-called it difficult to verify the army’s horses for transport. of them children, at a school in the the overall movement of the mili- — the notorious Tirah Valley, Khyber II operation to shut down claims—and the number and iden- Tirah also has some of northwestern city of Peshawar. tants,” Gul said. home to renegades and rebels LI’s hideouts in Tirah began in tity of those killed. Pakistan’s most fertile land for Tirah’s eastern end leads Besides the strategic impor- for centuries. earnest on March 18, and ground TTP spokesman Muhammad marijuana and opium, which has directly to the plain on which tance of the captured locations, The military has mounted a skirmishes are continuing. Khurasani denied the claims, say- helped militant groups fund their Peshawar sits and army chiefs officials say Tirah is the only hide- series of air strikes and ground Chief military spokesman ing his group has killed 30 sol- activities. believe securing it will help stop out left in Pakistan for TTP chief assaults in Tirah in recent weeks Major General Asim Bajwa diers so far and lost only three To the north the Spin Ghar attacks on the city and its subur- Mullah Fazlullah. that it says have captured key tweeted last week that the stra- militants. mountain range, soaring to a ban hinterland. Fazlullah, believed to have passes in a remote region that tegic Masatul pass, which links to If the operation is a success and highest point of nearly 4,800 “This is the last hideout for LI ordered the 2012 murder attempt has never before come under full Afghanistan’s restive Nangarhar the military brings Tirah under metres, separates Tirah from militants and their TTP affili- on schoolgirl campaigner Malala government control. province, had been secured. government control, it will end Afghanistan’s Tora Bora, where ates. This is the battle of their Yousafzai, became public enemy The operation in Tirah, part A security source in the north- the renegade status the area has Osama bin Laden reputedly hid survival and military action will number one for many in Pakistan of Khyber tribal area, aims to west said other important passes enjoyed for hundreds of years. out after the US invasion in 2001. curtail the movement of Taliban,” after the Peshawar massacre. build on the army’s offensive had also been taken. Tirah’s geography makes it an This isolation and inaccessibil- a security official privy to the lat- “Fazlullah either remains in against strongholds of Tehreek- “We have taken over three almost perfect hideout. Rather ity have made the area an easy est fighting said. Afghanistan or in Tirah. We started e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and main strategic locations by mov- than a single valley, it is a net- place to hide, a hard place to Security analyst Imtiaz Gul this operation based on reports other militant groups in nearby ing ground forces to Masatul Pass, work of peaks and vales cover- control and a favoured bolthole agreed taking Tirah would help that he has arrived in Tirah. If we North Waziristan that began in Takhtakai mountain and Sokh ing an area of 1500-1800 square for rebels since the days of the secure Peshawar, which has borne clear this area from the militants, June last year. area,” one security source said. kilometres at altitudes of up to Mughal empire. the brunt of the TTP’s nearly he won’t have any place to hide,” a Last month the army said it “With these gains, we have 2,500 metres. But it is not Tirah’s history that eight-year fight against the state. security official said. killed at least 230 militants in blocked their movement from and The valleys are steep-sided is motivating the army’s current “It will degrade their capability AFP

Protest against lynching of woman Supreme Court to take up challenge to military courts

ISLAMABAD: As the mili- therefore the jurisdiction of Court no-one knows who the convicts tary court issued its first ver- Martial (Military Courts) should were, what the specific charges dict awarding the death penalty not extend to civilians. against them were or what their to six terrorists on Thursday, Abdul Latif Afridi and Abrar defence was. the Chief Justice of Pakistan Hassan are appearing on behalf While no-one opposes the Nasir ul Mulk has constituted of PBC and Asma Jahangir is awarding of exemplary punish- a 17-judge full bench to take up representing the SCBA in this ment to terrorists or militants more than a dozen constitutional case. Federal and all provincial who have slaughtered innocent petitions on April 16 against the governments have already sub- people or attacked security forces, establishment of military courts. mitted their concise statements retired Justice Tariq Mehmood, Military courts have been in favour of the 21st constitutional a former Supreme Court Bar established through the 21st con- amendment. Association (SCBA) president, stitutional amendment to try The federation had claimed believes that the constitutional civilians who wage war against that the existing civilian law guarantee of a fair trial under the state in the name of religion enforcement structure is inad- Article 10A should not be tram- or sect. equate and cannot effectively pled upon at any cost. A three-judge bench of the prosecute, convict and sentence “No-one should have any sym- Supreme Court, headed by Justice terrorists. pathy for the militants and the Anwar Zaheer Jamali, referred AG Pakistan Salman Aslam death penalty can be awarded to Afghans shout slogans during a protest against the brutal mob slaying of Afghan woman, Farkhunda, in the matter to CJP Nasirul Mulk Butt while submitting the state- them, but the nation must know,” Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. According to local reports some 500 men and women gathered to demand on February 24 and requested him ment stated that prosecutors and he said, adding that a tweet by justice for Farkhunda. to constitute a full bench court to witnesses feel threatened and that ISPR Director General Maj Gen hear several constitutional peti- they do not have adequate or suffi- Asim Bajwa was not enough. tions against the 18th and 21st cient protection as there are actual He expressed fears that the constitutional amendments. The instances where judges, pros- military court verdict might be Roadside blast top court will also examine in this ecutors and witnesses have been upheld by an appeal court headed Islamabad gets back matter whether the constitution threatened or attacked and killed. by a senior army officer, which of Pakistan has basic structure Regarding the enforcement of would defeat the very purpose of kills two bomb or not. fundamental rights, the statement an appeal. Lahore High Court Bar contends that under the Pakistani According to him, the judi- its polio-free status disposal officers Association is the main petitioner constitutional dispensation, abridg- cial system never functions in a in 21st constitutional amendment ment of fundamental rights has way where nobody is aware of ISLAMABAD: An environ- “Polio is a very sensitive issue PESHAWAR: Two bomb dis- case. Top jurist Hamid Khan on been recognised in certain circum- the charges against the accused, mental sample from Pakistani in Pakistan, so a lot of care is posal technicians died in a behalf of LHCBA believes that the stances, adding that the parliament nor do they know whether the capital of Islamabad which required while carrying out roadside bomb explosion yes- constitution has basic structure, has power to pass laws that may accused was afforded the oppor- had previously tested posi- such procedures and reporting terday as they cleared a route which cannot be altered through abridge fundamental rights. tunity of mounting a defence. tive for polio has tested nega- such incidents. Even the slight- for troops in a restive Pakistani constitutional amendments. “This is a defining moment The least the ISPR could tive after being re-examined est negligence can affect all past tribal region near the Afghan Challenging the establish- for this nation, its people and do was to issue a press release at the Capital Development efforts and bring a bad name to border, officials said. ment of military courts, the bar its institution. At this juncture, explaining the specific charges the Authority’s (CDA) request. the country,” Dr Orooj said, add- The incident took place in the associations have claimed before we face a choice. These terrorist militants were prosecuted under, A report issued by the US ing that the positive test was a Barwand area of South Waziristan the Supreme Court that the groups want to enforce at gun- what their defence was, who was Centre for Disease Control and shock for him and his team. “It tribal district, one of Pakistan’s 21st Constitutional Amendment point their ‘ideology’. engaged to defend them and what Prevention (CDC), where the was impossible since all anti-polio seven semi-autonomous tribal is passed by parliament under Either we accept this and let the findings of the trial court sample was sent for retesting, drives carried out in areas that regions, which is considered a pressure from the military high them Talibanise our society or were, Justice Mehmood said. declared the sample negative, fell under CDA jurisdiction were stronghold of Taliban militants. command. we rise to the occasion and make “This is the opposite of what allowing the capital to extend its up to the mark,” he said. “Two bomb disposal officials were The superior bars have Pakistan a democratic state based used to happen in 1977 under the ten-year polio free status. The third nation-wide anti- clearing the route for troop move- requested the SC to interpret the on the Islamic principles of social martial law regime of Gen Ziaul The sample, collected by the polio drive concluded in the capi- ment when an improvised explo- 21st Constitutional Amendment as justice as visualised by Quaid-e- Haq. At that time, a magistrate World Health Organisation tal on Saturday. The anti-polio sive device went off, killing both of being inconsistent with Article Azam”, says the federation in its used to sit alongside an army colo- (WHO) from the Afghan Basti drive was delayed in the capital them,” a senior security official said. 175(1), 203 and 4 as well as fun- statement. nel and the accused were allowed slum in Sector I-11, tested posi- due to Pakistan Day security con- The semi-autonomous tribal damental rights, the principle For most critics of the military to engage a lawyer of their choos- tive in February this year. The cerns. According to Islamabad areas on the Afghan border have of separation of powers and the courts, the primary concern is the ing,” he said. results were challenged by the Capital Territory (ICT) officials for years been a hideout for Islamist independence of judiciary and mystery surrounding the trials; INTERNEWS CDA Health Directorate. a total of 129, 739 children under militants of all stripes, including Al CDA Health Director Dr Hassan the age of five were vaccinated Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban Orooj expressed reservations over during the campaign out of the as well as foreign fighters such as the procedure followed to collect 138,449 children targeted. Uzbeks and Uighurs. A day’s labour the sewage sample, specifically Meanwhile, 2,360 children missed Pakistan began a long-awaited that the collection containers used out the polio vaccination and 75 push to clear insurgent bases had not been sterilised. parental refusals were recorded. from North Waziristan last June Later on February 11, the CDA The sources said the most of the after a bloody Taliban attack on supervised the WHO team while col- children missed were out of town Karachi airport finally sank fal- lecting a fresh sample from the area as schools were closed at the time. tering peace talks. to ensure that protocols were followed. INTERNEWS AFP

Reopening of Zulfikar case still undecided

ISLAMABAD: As the trial but the reference remains However, he says that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) undecided for the last four years. top court while exercising its was observing the 36th death Senior lawyer Tariq Mahmood suo motu power can revisit the anniversary of its founder and says that on the legal side, incum- Bhutto murder case because it former prime minister Zulfikar bent President Mamnoon Hussain is a big stigma on the judiciary Ali Bhutto yesterday, the deci- can withdraw the presidential that Bhutto was not given the sion on a presidential reference reference but on the political side, opportunity of a fair trial. He seeking reopening of his mur- it is very difficult for the federal also wonders why the judiciary der case is still awaited despite government to take that decision. has prolonged this matter. the passage of four years. Similarly, former Attorney On the other hand, it has been Former president Asif General Tariq Mahmood Khokhar witnessed that during the hearing of Ali Zardari on April 2, 2011 says it is the discretion of the this matter three years ago, Pakistan approached the Supreme Court court whether or not to accept Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led through a presidential refer- the federal government’s plea Punjab government had opposed the ence under Article 186 of the because the president can with- revisiting of the murder case under A n Afghan youth pushes a wheelbarrow along a road on the outskirts of Mazar-i- Sharif. Constitution to seek its opinion draw the reference subject to the Article 186 of the Constitution. on revisiting the Bhutto’s murder permission of the court. INTERNEWS SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Dal Lake crosses danger mark Dust storm Land acquisition claims 14 bill dominates lives in Uttar Pradesh LUCKNOW: The severe dust BJP conference storm that hit many parts of Uttar Pradesh yesterday has left behind a trail of devasta- tion and death and officials yes- No Advani speech at executive meet terday confirmed death of more than 14 people. BENGALURU: A generational Yesterday, the final day of Besides, over two dozen people shift was evident in more than the meet, the land acquisition were injured in the storm, the one way as BJP concluded its bill dominated the scene, with officials said. two-day strategy meet here, with an elaborate presentation being In Lucknow and neighbour- veteran L K Advani choosing to made on its main points. ing areas, eight people lost their stay quiet as the party discussed While the BJP admitted it is lives, 320 hoardings were ripped its massive expansion plans. “worried” about the opposition’s apart and power transmission Advani, one of the founder “disinformation campaign”, it also lines snapped, leading to power members of the party, did not expressed full confidence over outages of more than 20 hours at speak at the national executive convincing people that the bill is many places. meet, the second time in the his- pro-farmer. Harvest, mainly of wheat which tory of the party founded in 1980 “We are worried about the was lying in the fields has also by him and Atal Bihar Vajpayee disinformation campaign. It is a been damaged extensively, officials along with others. The other time campaign against the reforms we The water in world famous Dal Lake in Srinagar has crossed the danger limit and overflows on the connecting informed while adding that this he did not address a national are bringing,” said party leader road in Srinagar, yesterday. Authorities have said the water level in the lake won’t recede until the water level has added to the already cup full executive meet was in June 2013 and union minister Nirmala in river Jehlum comes down to normal. of woes of farmers following heavy in Goa which he had skipped. Sitharaman. “We are confident rains and hail strom last week. The ambitious membership about the amendments brought Mango harvest has also taken a drive launched by party president by us and about Prime Minister beating in Kakori and Malihabad Amit Shah, meanwhile, received Narendra Modi directly engag- mango belts neighbouring accolades with the numbers ing with people and explaining the Fake IAS woman held in Uttarakhand Lucknow. expected to touch 10 crore by the points on radio. We are willing to Heavy rainfall has been deadline of April 31. discuss with anyone,” she said. reported since Friday night Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) The minister said a detailed DEHRADUN: The woman interrogated by the Muzaffarnagar a fake ID card is likely to face in Agra, Bareilly, Sitapur and leaders expect this will pump fresh power point presentation on the who resided in the Lal Bahadur police in Uttar Pradesh and a action any time now. some parts of western Uttar blood and energy, involving large bill was made which explained the Shastri National Administrative report has been dispatched to Chowdhary has alleged that Pradesh. the masses in party activities. legislation and the amendments Academy, Mussoorie for over the academy administration, an Jain had sought Rs.20 lakh as a More such weather phenom- The party appeared happy with brought by the government. six months on a fake IAS card official informed further. bribe to get her a librarian’s job enon are likely to occur over the its performance of 10 months, “The members were briefed. No has been arrested, an official “The woman who was holed up at the academy. weekend, the state Met depart- with Amit Shah saying on the first they will go and spread the mes- said yesterday. in a city hotel in Nehru colony has She said she had paid Rs five ment has predicted. day of the meeting that the party sage forward,” she said. Ruby Chowdhary was arrested since been arrested for question- lakh already. Regional Met director J.P. was here to stay for 10-20 years. Sitharaman said the BJP will late Friday night and was ear- ing,” an official said. Jain has been maintaining a Gupta said that the dust storm The stage was however dominated go to the people and explain that lier put under house arrest in Director General of Police studied silence on the matter and was a local phenomena which by the contentious land acquisi- the law is not anti-farmer. “It is Dehradun for the day but after a (DGP) BS Siddhu informed that is not available to the media for had developed due to “local tion bill with an aggressive BJP a disinformation campaign which go ahead from the top brass of the law of the land would be followed his reaction. heating”. appearing ready to go at length particularly the Congress is try- state government, she was taken in the case and no body will be The Uttarakhand govern- “There has been extreme heat to get it through. ing to spread.” Jaitley said the into custody by a team of police spared if found guilty. ment was left red-faced after at some places while at some Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, land acquisition bill passed by officials late night, an official said Meanwhile, the union minis- the woman was discovered to places the mercury is down by few addressing a press conference the UPA government in 2013 was yesterday. try of personnel has also sought have stayed at the academy in notches and this yawning gap has after the meet ended, said though “anti-farmer” as it “prevents rural The family and relatives of a report from the academy’s top Mussoorie and even got herself led to this cyclonic circulation,” the government will try to get roads, housing in rural areas and Chowdhary have already been brass on the whole episode. clicked in a group photograph of he added. the bill passed as it is now after rural electrification” and the BJP questioned and her parents have Insiders say deputy director IAS probationers with President The Met office has predicted amendments in Lok Sabha, it is will campaign among people to disowned her. and Kerala cadre IAS Saurabh Pranab Mukherjee, who visited rainfall in some parts of the state open to suggestions, if the opposi- explain its benefits of the new bill. Her father Satyaveer and Jain, who is alleged of conniving the academy last year. yesterday and today. tion agrees for a discussion. IANS brother Mohit have been with the woman in getting her IANS IANS Policeman, two gangsters killed in Telangana gunfight

HYDERABAD: Two gang- the assailants opened fire, killing the early hours of Thursday. sters and a policeman were constable Nagaraju who was driv- They had opened fire on killed and two police officers ing the four-wheeler and injuring police when a police party was were injured in a fierce gunfight sub-inspector Siddaiah. questioning them at Suryapet in Telangana’s Nalgonda dis- Circle inspector Bala after deboarding them from a trict yesterday, police said. Gangireddy, who reached there in bus coming to Hyderabad from Two days after the gang- another vehicle, also came under Vijayawada. sters, suspected to be from fire from the gangsters. “The A police constable and a home Uttar Pradesh, gunned down circle inspector returned the fire guard were killed and a circle two policemen and injured two killing both the gangsters,” the inspector and a home guard were others, police eliminated them home minister said. The official injured in the incident. in an encounter on Saturday was also injured in the exchange The gangsters, suspected to be morning near Janakipur village of fire. involved in thefts on buses, had in Mothkur mandal of Nalgonda The circle inspector and sub- escaped with a carbine. While district, about 175km from here. inspector were admitted to a hos- fleeing, they also opened fire on The gunfight started when a pital in Hyderabad. According to a car injuring a civilian. police party engaged in combing doctors, the sub-inspector’s condi- The home minister told report- operations came face to face with tion is critical. ers that the duo were suspected to the gangsters. Two pistols and a carbine, be members of a gang from Uttar Home Minister N Narasimha which the gangsters had snatched Pradesh. Reddy told reporters in from police, were recovered from “They had no terror links. Hyderabad that a police team the scene. There is no question of this. had reached the village following a Director General of Police This was an inter-state gang tip-off that the two suspects were Anurag Sharma and senior offi- of dacoits,” he said when asked hiding in a local mosque. cials visited the village. about some media reports that The policemen did not find the The gangsters had escaped the assailants were members youth in the mosque but later after gunning down two police- of the banned Students Islamic came face to face with the gang- men and injuring two others at Movement of India (SIMI). sters. On seeing the police vehicle, Suraypet in the same district in IANS

Tripura tribal council Three killed in Rajouri explosion goes to polls in May JAMMU: Three people were killed and one injured yester- AGARTALA: With the issu- eligible to vote. Of the 30 seats, 28 day in a blast at a forest area ance of the statutory notifica- are filled through direct election near the line of control (LoC) in tion yesterday for the May 3 and two members are nominated Rajouri district of Jammu and polls for the 30-seat Tripura by the government. Twenty seven Kashmir, police said. Tribal Areas Autonomous seats are reserved for tribals. Police said three civilians were District Council (TTAADC), Rakesh said for the first time killed and another injured when political activities have gath- votes in the TTAADC polls will the explosive device went off ered speed. be cast through EVMs (electronic near Saryam village, Nowshara, “Today (Saturday) notification voting machines). of Rajouri district on Saturday was issued for the election to the The TTAADC was formed in morning. 30-seat TTAADC. The polls will January 1982 under the seventh “Three civilians were killed be held on May 3. Votes will be schedule of the constitution and and another injured when an counted on May 6,” State Election its authority was upgraded by explosive device went off in for- Commissioner Sanjay Kumar amending the sixth schedule of est area near Saryam village at Rakesh told reporters here. the constitution in August 1984 9am today (Saturday),” a senior He said: “With the issuance of to protect and safeguard the police officer said in winter capi- formal notification, filing of nomi- political, economic and cultural tal Jammu. nations began from Saturday and interests of tribals, who make up The area is densely forested it would continue till April 11.” one third of Tripura’s 3.7 million and close to the LoC in Rajouri A total of 758,554 electors, population. district of Jammu region. including 375,117 women, are IANS IANS SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Tulip bloom in Srinagar

Fajr (Dawn) 4:05 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:22 Zuhr (Noon) 11:37 Asr (Afternoon) 3:06 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:53 Isha (Night) 7:23

WEATHER Weather Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: Sunny Sunny Partly cloudy Hazy at places at first becomes

High: 33° High: 32° High: 32° hot and blowing Low: 24° Low: 22° Low: 22° dust at places by afternoon with some clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:22 17:53 05:15 & 18:00 11:30 & 00:00 15-25/30 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 37/27 Sunny 36/26 Sunny MAKKAH 40/24 Sunny 40/26 Sunny A girl runs through beds of Tulip flowers at the Tulip Garden in Srinagar. After continuous rainfalls in the Kashmir valley for the past week, the Tulip Garden KUWAIT 36/19 Sunny 35/21 Sunny will be opened to the public tomorrow. The garden, claimed to be Asia’s largest, has become a primary attraction for tourists from home and abroad. BAHRAIN 29/23 Sunny 28/23 Cloudy SANAA 29/13 Mostly sunny 29/13 Mostly sunny RIYADH 36/19 Sunny 34/21 Mostly sunny DUBAI 36/21 Sunny 34/21 Sunny BAGHDAD 29/14 Sunny 32/15 Sunny Final Frank Zappa album to come out THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW NEW YORK: More than 20 the album’s release on April Fool’s Zappa’s estate has been had an uneasy relationship with HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER years after his death, the final Day — prompting speculation it releasing albums from him it, often mocking hippies in his ATHENS 18/14 Scattered showers 21/12 Cloudy album is coming out from Frank was a spoof — but the estate con- and his band, The Mothers of music and steering clear person- WASHINGTON 20/09 Mostly sunny 23/14 Partly cloudy Zappa — the prolific rocker who firmed that the album was on sale Invention, almost annually since ally of drugs. was both an icon and scourge of through direct orders and would his death. He was nonetheless outspo- SYDNEY 24/14 Scattered showers 19/13 Scattered showers the counterculture. be shipped in June. Skilled in guitar, bass and ken politically, particularly in LONDON 13/03 Cloudy 16/03 Partly cloudy Zappa’s estate announced pre- Zappa had mentioned the drums, Zappa was often described his advocacy of absolute free PARIS 12/02 Mostly sunny 13/03 Mostly sunny order sales for Dance Me This, album before his death, say- as a hard rocker but his music speech. ISTANBUL 14/09 Mostly cloudy 17/07 Partly cloudy saying it was the 100th and last ing that it would feature the was free-flowing with improvi- His fans included the Czech MANILA 34/24 Thunderstorm 34/23 Thunderstorm album from the Los Angeles- synclavier — a synthesizer and sation techniques from jazz and Republic’s post-communist leader DHAKA 28/24 Thunderstorm 31/24 Thunderstorm based experimental musician programming system developed inspiration from contemporary Vaclav Havel, who gave Zappa DELHI 32/19 Sunny 28/19 Scattered T-storms who died in 1993 from prostate in the 1970s — and, true to the classical composers. an unofficial title of cultural ISLAMABAD 26/14 Partly cloudy 24/14 Thunderstorm cancer. work’s name, would consist of Zappa was popular in the ambassador. His official website announced dance music. California counterculture but AFP Paris holds film festival — for visually challenged

PARIS: In most movie thea- to follow this film”. Many of the (Audiovision) handicapped me, in tres the lights go dark and the children agreed it helped greatly, fact,” said one adolescent, Benita, feature begins, but for an audi- but one or two said they had during the debate. Mauro, too, ence attending a Paris film fes- adapted to piecing together mov- admitted that the system wasn’t per- tival under way this month, the ies from the dialogue and sounds fect, and he had to turn up the vol- whole world is dark and stays that having a narrated descrip- ume on his headphones to make the that way. tion wasn’t indispensable. audio description audible above the The Audiovision Film Festival, “I’ve always been used to movie’s Dolby-boosted soundtrack. which began this week and runs ‘watching’ series and films that it AFP to April 14, is unusual in that it catres to the blind and visually impaired. Movies are screened as normal on the big screen. But in the theatre in a southern Paris district hosting the festival, the audience is wearing head- phones hooked into a local The moon is seen behind downtown high-rise buildings during the shortest total lunar eclipse of the century in network to hear blow- Los Angeles, California. by-blow synchronised descriptions of the action happening before their un- Pacific Rim sky-gazers witness or poor-seeing eyes. “A pterodactyl swoops from the sky and pecks Edouard on the head,” unusually brief lunar eclipse narrates a voice in echo of a scene from the opening film shown on Wednesday: TOKYO: Sky-gazers in parts phenomenon” on Saturday night, because lights are limited off- a new French animation of the Pacific Rim observed an observatory officials said. shore,” Captain Shinya Naoi said comedy making light of “unusually brief” total eclipse of “We were so thrilled to see ahead of the departure. prehistoric evolution, titled the Moon yesterday night, with the beautiful moon eclipsing “I hope many of our passengers Pourquoi j’ai pas mangé mon the rare red-tinged satellite and turning red,” said Yuko will enjoy the rare spectacle,” he père (Why I didn’t eat my glimpsed from Japan’s far north Miura, an official at the city’s said. father). to the Hollywood Hills. observatory. In Australia, rain and clouds For the crowd of blind The eclipse — which occurs “We were worried that the sky affecting much of the east coast and partially blind school when the Sun, Earth and Moon was slightly filmy, but we were meant the eclipse could not be children in the theatre, are lined up so that the Moon relieved to watch the totality seen at the Sydney Observatory, the movie — and its added passes through the Earth’s from beginning to end.” but sky-watchers further south soundtrack — elicited shadow — was seen in northern Residents of the Japanese in Melbourne had a clear night. laughs and giggles. Japan, parts of Australia, and capital, however, missed out as a “It looked like it should look, Fabio, a nine-and-a-half- parts of western North America. result of thick clouds, and many quite spectacular if you haven’t year-old who lined up to The partial eclipse began at gave up on hopes of combining a seen one before,” said Perry get popcorn for the feature, 7.15pm (1015 GMT) in Japan and traditional cherry blossom view- Vlahos from the Astronomical said that the Audiovision at around 8.54 pm, the moon was ing against the backdrop of the Society of Victoria. description augmented his to be fully covered by the Earth’s rare phenomenon. The red-tinged moon was experience of the movie. umbral shadow, according to the Shin Nihonkai Ferry said it clearly visible in the early morn- “I imagine the film and I country’s National Astronomical would host an onboard event with ing skies Saturday across the Los try to ‘see’ the description,” Observatory. more than 100 passengers and the Angeles region, casting an eerie he said. US-based Sky and Telescope captain would give them a brief pall down Hollywood’s deserted A blind-from-birth magazine described the eclipse lecture about the total eclipse on streets. radio presenter who led an as “unusually brief”. the deck during the regular ferry The city’s iconic Griffith Park audience debate after the In the northern Japanese service from Hokkaido to Fukui observatory, nestled near the movie, Benjamin Mauro, city of Sapporo, some 200 peo- in central Japan. Hollywood sign, was streaming ventured that “if there ple flocked to an observatory to “The ocean is one of the per- the event live over the Internet. wasn’t Audiovision, it jointly observe “nature’s great fect sites for lunar observation AFP would have been impossible Sunday 5 April 2015 16 Jumada II 1436 Volume 20 Number 6391 Price: QR2

Obama touts solar energy as good for jobs

Business | 20

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar banks to report healthy growth in Q1 Petrochemicals to weigh on GCC equity earnings; Listed companies’ aggregate profits expected to decline

DOHA: GCC listed companies’ region, including four major interest income and fee income of Industries Qatar (IQ). sector to be continued from Q4.” including currency impact and aggregate profits for the first banks in Qatar said Qatari banks of QNB is to grow, while higher On the region’s “real estate The SICO analysts expect flat geo-political issues in Iraq.” quarter of 2015 (Q1, 15) are are likely to report healthy top- Zakat and operating expenses to and construction sector” Q1, 2015 first quarter net-earnings for Higher disposable income, expected to decline 9 percent line growth. The net profit of QIB remain a drag, leading to moder- performance, the analysts noted: companies in its coverage. While favourable commodity prices and year-on-year (YoY) led by 45 is expected to grow by 25 percent ate earnings growth”. “Across in the UAE, earnings are volume growth during the year- expansions are expected to yield percent YoY drop in the pet- in the first quarter on year-on- According to the SICO ana- expected to be relatively flat YoY, to-date (YTD) period has been strong YoY profit growth of the rochemical sector, a result of year basis. lysts, Commercial Bank’s higher with earnings growth muted by strong, lower pricing power and region’s Consumer sector. lower product prices impacting “Robust lending book growth is provisioning charges and lower lower property development rev- higher one-time employee costs On the “Logistics and the sector’s profitability. expected to boost the bank financ- fee income is to negatively impact enues; although hospitality and are likely to weigh on margins. Transportation” sector the ana- For banks, logistics and con- ing and fee income. However, we the bank’s bottom-line. retail segment are expected to Decline in YoY earnings in lysts expect slowdown in YoY sumer sectors, earnings are expect provisioning charges to GCC’s petrochemicals’ earn- record healthy growth. Within Ooredoo and Zain, led by cur- growth for Aramex on reduction expected to grow YoY in Q1, increase YoY,” SICO analysts com- ings are expected to decline by 45 Saudi Arabia real estate sector, rency impact and Iraq conflict in business from the Oil & Gas SICO’s quarterly result preview mented on QIB’s performance. percent YoY, led by lower prod- Akaria and Taiba’s earnings to will impact the region’s telecom related services. Recent acquisi- on GCC equities noted. QNB’s net profit is projected uct prices and some shutdowns. be lifted by one-offs relating to sector’s overall earnings. “Q4 tions are still to provide growth The Investment Bank SICO, to rise by 4 percent YoY, with 1.8 Lower product prices across the asset sales. We also expect sub- of Ooredoo impacted by several momentum in the sector. which covers 18 banks in the percent QoQ growth rate. “Net board are to weigh on profitability dued performance in construction one-offs across group operations THE PENINSULA

Greek FM to meet Swiss launch of Apple Lagarde ahead Watch hit by of IMF deadline patent issue ZURICH: Apple is not able to launch its new smart- ATHENS: Greek Finance Dimitris Mardas said that the watch in Switzerland until Minister Yanis Varoufakis state does have the money needed at least the end of this year will meet IMF chief Christine for the IMF payment. because of an intellectual Lagarde in Washington today “The payment to the IMF will property rights issue, Swiss ahead of the country’s April 9 take place on April 9. There is broadcaster RTS reported deadline for its next payment to money for the payment of sala- on its website. the fund. ries, pensions and whatever else The US tech giant cannot Varoufakis and Lagarde will is needed in the next week,” he use the image of an apple nor have “an unofficial discussion on told Mega TV. the word “apple” to launch the Greek government’s reform The IMF meanwhile denied a its watch within Switzerland, programme”, according to a report in the German magazine the home of luxury watches, Greek Ministry of Finance state- Spiegel that it had withdrawn its because of a patent from 1985, ment yesterday. staff temporarily in protest at the RTS reported, citing a docu- Another government source Greek government’s slowness in ment from the Swiss Federal told AFP that Varoufakis “will implementing reforms. Institute of Intellectual also meet with United States Athens is betting on next Property. Treasury officials” on Monday, week’s Euro Working Group The document, reprinted including Under Secretary for meetings to give it some relief Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis (front) and Deputy Minister for International Economic Relations Euclid on the RTS website, was International Affairs Nathan from its creditors. Tsakalotos leave the Maximos Mansion after a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Athens. published by trade magazine Sheets. The meetings come amid Eurozone deputy finance min- Business Montres & Joaillerie, speculation that Athens might fail isters will meet on April 8 and 9 Energy and output minister, the country like a semi-colonial Tsipras, who was already sched- RTS said. to meet the €460m ($501m) IMF in an attempt to reach an agree- Panagiotis Lafazanis, who leads state,” he told Agora newspaper. uled to visit Russia in May for its The patent is set to finish instalment if forced to choose ment on the list of Greek reforms the far left wing of the ruling “They are not interested in the annual Victory Day parade, will on December 5 of this year. It between the IMF and paying gov- needed to unlock the last tranche Syriza party, accused Greece’s content of our proposals, but they now also travel to Moscow on currently belongs to William ernment workers. of the bailout package. European partners of being are bothered those proposals are Wednesday for surprise talks with Longe, who owns watch brand Greece has not received the However, the tensions between annoyed at having to work with coming from a radical left-led Russian President Vladimir Putin. Leonard that first filed the remaining funds in its €240bn Brussels and Athens have not a radical left government. government. “That annoys them Upon taking office in January, patent. EU-IMF rescue package as gone away, and a high-profile “The institutions and espe- to the point of hysteria,” he added. the new Greek government pro- Apple did not immedi- Brussels has demanded to first Greek minister was defiant yes- cially the German establishment Greek Prime Minister Alexis tested against an EU threat of ately respond to a request for approve Greece’s revised reform terday about the screws being put are treating the government Tsipras meanwhile has stepped further sanctions against Russia. comment. plan. But junior finance minister on his government. with doctrinal superstition and up his courting of Russia. AFP The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property could not immediately be reached outside of normal business hours. The Apple Watch, the firm’s first new device since Tim Non-hydrocarbon sector to push Qatari economy: QNB (pictured) Cook became chief executive officer, will be avail- DOHA: The performance of the programme ahead of the FIFA able in stores in nine countries Qatari economy in 2014 is all 2022 World Cup. In its 2014-15 on April 24. the more impressive given the budget, the government ear- The world’s largest watch- significant decline in oil prices, marked a capital spending of maker Swatch unveiled its which fell by nearly 50 percent $182bn until 2018. The figure riposte to Apple’s smartwatch in the second half of the year, excludes the oil and gas sector, last month, announcing a plan QNB Group said in its weekly where annual investments are to put cheap programmable report yesterday. forecast to average $3.4bn over chips in watches that will let “We expect the diversification 2015-17. In turn, this is expected wearers from China to Chicago drive to continue and for the non- to drive double-digit growth in make payments with a swipe hydrocarbon sector to increase the non-hydrocarbon sector, of the wrist. REUTERS its share of nominal GDP to 68.5 which will be further boosted by percent in 2017. Low inflation, strong population growth. healthy fiscal balances and signif- In contrast, the hydrocarbon icant current account surpluses sector shrank by 1.5 percent in should provide a conducive mac- real terms in 2014. Gas produc- roeconomic environment for the tion fell slightly due to tempo- growth momentum to continue rary maintenance shutdowns. gathering steam,” the report said. Meanwhile, crude oil production The Qatari economy continued and condensates (associated with its strong performance, growing withstand the decline in oil prices construction; finance, insurance, government services benefited gas production) fell to an aver- by 6.2 percent in 2014, accord- thanks to its strong macroeco- real estate and business services; from the rapid population growth age of 1.966 million barrels per ing to the latest data released nomic fundamentals as discussed and trade, hotels and restau- (estimated to have been 10.1 per- day reflecting maturing oil fields by the Ministry of Development in our recently published Qatar rants. Construction expanded by cent), which added a further and the necessary shutdowns to Planning and Statistics (MDPS). Economic Insight 2015 report. 18 percent on the implementation boost to the expansion of the non- implement enhanced oil recovery Growth was driven by the non- The non-hydrocarbon sec- of major infrastructure projects, hydrocarbon sector. techniques. “However, we expect hydrocarbon sector, which sus- tor was the engine of growth in such as the development of Lusail, Going forward, and given its the hydrocarbon sector to recover tained its double-digit growth. 2014, growing by 11.5 percent on Barwa City and Education City. substantial financial resources, in the medium term, growing by The strong growth data are large investment spending. The Finance, insurance, real estate Qatar has ample external and 0.8 percent in 2015, 1.8 percent in evidence to the resilience of the largest contributors to real GDP and business services; trade, fiscal buffers to continue imple- 2016 and 1.9 percent in 2017,” the Qatari economy and its ability to non-hydrocarbon growth were hotels and restaurants; and menting its ambitious investment report said. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Investors in Peer-to-peer lending surges in US Japan to take Challenge for traditional banks as volume of loans made through intermediaries increase cues from US

NEW YORK: Josh Smith, a through intermediaries like risk and generally falls between six companies like Lending Club and “The industry does not see it as 30-year-old blogger on finance, Lending Club has jumped an and 12 percent. Prospective bor- Prosper split loans among different a threat. It sees an opportunity,” jobs report was in the midst of a career average of 84 percent each quar- rowers are vetted as they would investors. The default rate is three she said. “Many of the banks are change in 2009 when he sought ter since 2007, according to be at conventional banks, but the to four percent, according to the indirectly involved with peer-to- to refinance $8,000 in credit PriceWaterhouseCoopers. process is more rapid. The compa- website Lend Academy. peer lending as lenders. Also banks, TOKYO: Japan’s market direc- card debt. “At the time, I was Total loans reached $5.5bn nies that serve as intermediaries Goldman Sachs said earlier this like other businesses, learn from tion next week will depend making the transition to free- in 2014 and are projected to hit typically charge between 0.5 and month that seven percent of the the competition and evolve.” heavily on the closely watched lance,” he said. “When I asked $150bn or more in 2025, the 5.0 percent of the sum borrowed. bank industry’s annual $150 billion But Feddis said there was a US jobs report, dealers said. the bank, they did not want to accounting firm said in a February The market is booming for peer- profits could be at risk from new need for regulators to ensure a Traders were sitting tight lend me the money because I was report. “Think of them as eBays for lending brokers as banks remain credit sources in the next five years. “level playing field” between banks before the release of the non-farm leaving a permanent position for money,” Consumer Reports maga- cautious about opening up their That is pressing conventional banks and the emerging class of finan- jobs reading that is expected to freelance.” zine said in January. “Just as eBay loan books in the wake of the 2008 to refashion themselves to keep up cial players. For example, banks are inform the outlook for the US Smith turned to the online mar- brings buyers and sellers together, crisis, and being pressed with with the new online competition. kept to strict capital requirements Federal Reserve’s interest rate ketplace Lending Club and had a peer-to-peer platforms bring bor- tighter regulations. “Emerging players will force the not faced by alternative lenders. policy. The Fed is considering deal within six days. “Getting a rowers in need of loans from $1,000 California-based Prosper incumbents to change competitive But that marks a big differ- raising near-zero interest rates peer-to-peer loan was incredibly to $35,000 together with investors Marketplace has facilitated $1bn behavior,” Goldman Sachs said. “We ence between the two approaches: this year even though this may simple,” he said. who want to earn better returns in loans the last five months and is would expect pricing of products peer lending platforms do not take slow the US recovery. Led by companies such as than those offered by banks.” aiming for $3bn in 2015, said chief to adjust, driving potentially lower deposits like banks to make their But a string of weak economic Lending Club, which went public in Peer lending platforms can give executive Aaron Vermut. returns.” own loans, but are just brokers who data has muddied the outlook for December, borrowing money from borrowers better rates than con- “What I think changed after the Nessa Feddis, a senior vice presi- take a fee for matching lenders and an increase in rates, which have other individuals and groups via ventional banks, while providing crisis of 2008 is that the big banks dent at the American Bankers borrowers. been pegged at the zero level for Internet marketplaces has surged investors a higher yield in an era really left a big vacuum in the lend- Association, said large banks would Meanwhile, Vermut said his firm more than six years. in the United States. of low interest rates. ing space,” Vermut said. adjust if demand for alternative is already “very transparent” about “Many investors are opting The volume of loans made The interest rate varies with the To limit the risk for lenders, lending stays high. its fee structures. AFP to wait on the sidelines ahead of the US jobs report,” Tomomi Yamashita, an analyst at Tokyo’s Shinkin Asset Management, said. Worry for Chinese brokerages Juichi Wako, a senior strategist at Nomura Holdings Inc in Tokyo, also said: “There are few reasons Nakilat MD among Gulf’s top CEOs for stocks to move solely based on domestic reasons.” DOHA: Abdullah Al Sulaiti, Tokyo stocks gained on Friday Managing Director (MD) of after a positive lead from Wall Nakilat, has been honoured as Street, where the Dow added one of the Gulf’s top CEOs at 0.37 percent on Thursday ahead the TOP CEO awards in Dubai. of a three-day holiday weekend Al Sulaiti was recognised as one in the US. of Qatar’s top 10 CEOs, com- On Friday, the Nikkei 225 index ing in eighth among companies at the Tokyo Stock Exchange listed on the Qatar Exchange. added 0.63 percent, or 122.29 When all 700 companies from points, to end at 19,435.08. It the region’s seven stock exchanges gained 0.77 percent over the week. were taken into account, Nakilat The broader Topix index of all won 33rd place, a hugely impres- first-section shares rose 0.64 per- sive feat for the young company, cent, or 9.99 points, to 1,564.16. It which began trading only in 2004. added 0.73 percent this week. Organised by Trends magazine The dollar edged down to and INSEAD Business School, the 119.67 yen on Friday afternoon awards are audited by Deloitte. from 119.77 yen in New York Al Sulaiti said: “Nakilat’s stra- late Thursday. The euro changed tegic and ambitious growth plan hands at $1.0883 and 130.22 yen is achieving increasing recogni- against $1.0879 and 130.30 yen in tion throughout the region. The New York. expansion and consolidation of In Tokyo, Toyota rose 0.58 per- our shipping activities has been cent to 8,426.0 yen following news Abdullah Al Sulaiti receiving the award. a major achievement for Nakilat reports that the Japanese auto in the last 12 months, and our giant plans to invest a combined fleet continues to be one of the employees at all levels show on a with Qatar’s New Port Project to $1.3 billion to build new plants in world’s youngest and largest. Our daily basis.” build 11 vessels for use at the port, China and Mexico. policy of recruiting and retaining “We announced record prof- a landmark moment for the coun- Sony jumped 3.41 percent to talented and visionary employ- its of QR895m at our AGM in try’s marine industry. Nakilat will 3,450.0 yen, while Sharp ended Investors look at an electronic board showing stock information at a ees from Qatar and beyond is March, as Qatar’s LNG industry continue its quest to expand and flat at 231.0. Heavyweight firm brokerage house in China’s Shenyang. After a stellar 2014 — securities the foundation of our continu- continues to buck global trends. strengthen the State of Qatar’s Fast Retailing, operator of the firms’ profits more than doubled to $16bn — Chinese brokerages are ing success, and this award is a Nakilat made history once again position as a world leader in Uniqlo clothing chain, rose 1.05 now bracing for the impact of newcomers by lining up to raise billions recognition of the dedication our in 2014, when we signed a deal LNG.” THE PENINSULA percent to 47,610.0 yen. AFP of dollars in funds to expand margin trading and other businesses. Sheikh Abdul Rahman is Barwa Ukraine seeks to restructure foreign Bank’s new head of govt sector debt sold before March 2014 DOHA: Barwa Bank has bachelor’s degree in International announced Sheikh Abdul Business Management from the KIEV: Ukraine’s government Templeton, which holds about Ukrainian decision yet, she said. Rahman bin Fahad Al University of North Umbria in approved a list of debt that $7bn in the debt, to save $15.3bn The list of debts included may Thani (pictured) as Head of Newcastle, United Kingdom. should be restructured under an through the restructuring. Russia be published as soon as tomorrow, Government Sector. Commenting on the appoint- IMF programme, including $3bn says it bought the Eurobonds in the Ukrainian Finance Ministry Prior to joining Barwa Bank ment, Khalid Yousef Al Subeai, in Eurobonds sold to Russia. 2013 to support the government of said. The decision on debt comes in 2011, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Barwa Bank’s Acting Group Chief Ukraine’s sovereign external then-Ukrainian President Viktor amid a relative lull in the one- held senior roles at Qatar Executive Officer, said: “Long debt, sovereign-guaranteed exter- Yanukovych and is already con- year military conflict in two east- International Islamic Bank and term individual development is nal debt, and sub-sovereign exter- tributing by not demanding early ern Ukrainian regions that led the Islamic Bank of Britain in one of our priorities. As the most nal debt incurred before February repayment. the government in Kiev to seek London. With over seven years progressive Shari’ah compliant 28, 2014 is included, the Finance “Up to now, we’ve been repeat- assistance from the IMF. While of experience in the corporate and bank in Qatar, we’ve made it our Ministry said yesterday on its edly saying that Russia doesn’t casualties have waned following government banking sectors, he mission to embrace professional website. The last category covers plan to restructure the Ukrainian a cease- fire agreed on February has been recognised for his dili- development, culture, innovation state banks, the railways opera- debt and isn’t in talks on the 12, Ukraine still has to complete gence, work ethic and ability to and creativity by incorporating tor and the city of Kiev, accord- issue,” Svetlana Nikitina, an aide negotiations on losses for inter- cope with challenging business professional development within ing to the statement. Ukraine to Russian Finance Minister national bondholders by May to environments. our overall corporate strategy.” is trying to reach an agreement Anton Siluanov, said by phone. keep funds flowing from the IMF. Sheikh Abdul Rahman holds a THE PENINSULA with creditors including Franklin The ministry hasn’t seen the BLOOMBERG

Doha Bank hosts meet in Japan

DOHA: Doha Bank hosted spending to encourage Qatar’s mainly on account of surge in a knowledge sharing session non-hydrocarbon diversifica- exports to Japan. Qatar’s foray “Opportunities in Qatar” in tion story will remain. Hence into the global LNG market was Tokyo on Friday. The key dig- the allocation towards health, realised with the shipment of nitaries who participated in education and infrastructure is the first output from a Qatar gas the event include Hassan Al expected to continue. Private sec- plant in October 1996 to Japan’s Hemaidi, Second Secretary, The tor can play a key role in Qatar’s Chubu Electric Power. Japanese Embassy of the State of Qatar non–hydrocarbon diversification. companies secured contracts and Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Qatar’s ranked 16th in ‘the Global to build the port at Ras Laffan. Ambassador, Embassy of India. Competitiveness Report 2014-15’ Japan mainly exports to Qatar It was also well attended by by World Economic Forum. Qatar vehicles, industrial materials, major Japanese companies who has extending the 2014-15 budget electric and cables. 70 percent have relationships in Qatar. for 9 months to December 31, 2015 of cars on the roads of Qatar are Speaking at the event bank as it will follow a new January-to- Japanese. Japan imports mainly CEO Dr R Seetharaman gave December fiscal year from 2016. crude oil and gas from Qatar. insight on Global economies. He $18bn has been has been ear- Other imports from Qatar were said: “Qatar’s economic growth is marked for mega development aluminum, organic chemicals, expected to rise to 7 percent this projects in the budget.” iron and plastics and fertilisers.” year. Qatar Central Bank’s foreign He also gave insight on Qatar– He also highlighted the bilateral currency reserves are more than Japan bilateral trade. He said developments between Qatar and $40bn and the sovereign wealth “Bilateral trade between Japan Japan in the hydrocarbon as well fund Qatar Investment Authority and Qatar has increased from as non-hydrocarbon segments. has about $160bn surplus. The $31.1bn in 2011 to $35.3bn in 2014 THE PENINSULA Dignitaries who participated in the event in Tokyo. SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Samsung Electronics Commerzbank The tech giant is likely to see January-March earnings slip for the sixth straight quarter, Samsung may help Apple but investors are betting on a rebound this year on healthy chip sales and have high hopes for its new flagship smartphones. avoids conviction

OPERATING PROFIT Trillions of won in $1.45bn deal 12 Forecast operating profit get rid of $533m verdict 9 after court nod 5.3

6 WASHINGTON: Samsung fight with Smartflash patent likely to help Apple 3 Commerzbank AG won court approval of its $1.45bn deal to 0 WASHINGTON: Samsung of judges will consider arguments from The patent office’s reviews, created 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 defer prosecution for violating Electronics Co may end up sav- both Samsung and Smartflash before as part of a sweeping change to US pat- US sanctions on doing business ing arch nemesis Apple Inc about reaching a final decision in about a year. ent law that took effect in late 2012, MOBILE SEGMENT REVENUE with Iran and Sudan. Trillions of won $533m. That’s how much Apple was The odds of Smartflash winning the allow challenges for data processing 40 The bank and its New York told to pay after a jury in February case aren’t good, based on the agency’s patents related to financial products unit accepted three years of com- said its iTunes service infringed pat- prior reviews. In the small number of or services. They allow a more expan- 30 pliance monitoring as part of the ents owned by Texas licensing firm cases based on claims that the inven- sive investigation than the popular type agreement with the US Justice Smartflash LLC. tion was an abstract idea, 100 per- that is allowed for any type of patent. 20 Department. Samsung, which is being sued over cent were found ineligible for patents, Samsung didn’t file the petitions The deferred prosecution deal 10 the same technology, convinced US according to a study by the Fitzpatrick to save Apple — its own fight with signed by bank officials and law- regulators to review whether two of law firm. Smartflash is scheduled for an August 0 yers for both sides last month was Smartflash’s patents should have been Smartflash’s lawyer said the com- trial in Tyler, Texas, though Samsung 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 accepted by US District Judge issued in the first place. pany has been through this fight before. may ask that it be put off until the SHARE PERFORMANCE Beryl Howell in Washington. If a review board at the US Patent The district judge that presided over patent office completes the reviews. In Percentage change since Feb. 2010 Samsung KOSPI Germany’s second-largest lender and Trademark Office tosses those pat- the trial already considered the same the suit, Tyler-based Smartflash claims 100 agreed to pay penalties to almost ents, it will not only benefit Samsung issue and sided with Smartflash, said Samsung’s Media Hub uses the tech- 80 a half-dozen government agen- but also Apple — the company it spent Jason Cassady of Caldwell, Cassady & nology without paying royalties. cies, including the Manhattan 60 four years battling over smartphone Curry in Dallas. In all, six Smartflash patents were District Attorney’s office, the technology on four continents. “Can “This is just the institution” of the asserted against both Apple and 40 Federal Reserve and the Treasury Apple put off paying any damages review, Cassady said. “It’s a little dif- Samsung. The patent office has already 20 Department. until there’s resolution of the Samsung ferent than most cases and we feel agreed to review five of them. Some 0 “Commerz New York violated case?” said Justin Oliver, who heads confident.” were based on Apple petitions, and the -20 the Bank Secrecy Act designed to Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto’s Working against Smartflash is a most recent on Samsung petitions. A 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 prevent the movement of money, office for contested patent office pro- US Supreme Court decision last year Samsung petition to invalidate the Sources: Reuters; Company often with nefarious intent,” Diego Staff, 03/04/2015 ceedings. “If it’s forced to pay damages, that scaled back the type of software third patent involved in the Apple case Rodriguez, the FBI’s assistant it’s very difficult to get that back.” inventions that are eligible for patent is still pending. director in charge in New York, Smartflash’s patents cover ways protection. The high court said that Officials with Suwon, South Korea- said in a statement when the deal of controlling access to digital data merely having a generic computer do based Samsung didn’t immediately was announced on March 12. through payment systems. The inven- an established business method isn’t return messages seeking comment. Teardown of new Galaxy In the agreement, the tor, Patrick Racz, originally sought to really an invention. The agency’s pre- The patent office review sets up a Frankfurt-based bank conceded commercialise the invention in 2002 liminary decision put Smartflash’s sort of race against time for both Apple smartphone suggests the criminal allegations, which with pop singer Britney Spears, accord- patents squarely within the Supreme and Smartflash. Apple needs to either included aiding accounting fraud ing to the complaint. Court’s ruling. win on its own or stretch out the civil at Olympus Corp. A patent agency review board issued “Once that determination is made, case until the patent office rules on the deeper loss for Qualcomm Commerzbank’s representa- preliminary findings this week that the it’s a very high burden to reverse that Smartflash patents. The appeals court tives and attorneys didn’t imme- patents aren’t eligible for legal pro- in trial,” Oliver said. Smartflash’s pat- that specializes in patent law will hear SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd used more of diately respond to phone and tection because they cover abstract ents “puts them in a category of patents both Apple’s appeal and consider the its own chips to power the new Galaxy S6 smart- e-mail messages seeking com- ideas, not actual inventions. A panel that are more susceptible to challenge.” patent office review. BLOOMBERG phone than it did for the predecessor S5, according ment. “We take these violations to an early teardown report, in a blow to U.S. chip very seriously and deeply regret supplier Qualcomm Inc. the actions that led to today’s Samsung is not only using its own Exynos mobile announcements,” Commerzbank processor, as had been widely reported, but also Chief Executive Officer Martin decided to rely on its in-house semiconductor busi- Blessing said in a March 12 ness to source other parts, including the modem and statement. power management integrated circuit chips, Ottawa- The accord doesn’t require the based consultancy Chipworks said in a web posting bank to plead guilty. If prosecu- dated April 2. tors agree after three years that it Samsung is counting on its new flagship Galaxy S6 has met its obligations under the and S6 edge phones to help revive earnings momentum agreement, they will ask the court after a disappointing 2014. Strong sales of system chips to dismiss the charges. such as its Exynos processor could also help boost The US can resume prosecu- earnings, analysts and investors say. tion of Commerzbank if it vio- The Galaxy S6 also comes with Samsung’s Shannon lates the agreement, including a modem chip, U.S. phone carrier AT&T said on its requirement to cooperate in fed- website. eral investigations. “It’s pretty clear if they’re using Shannon for the New York’s Department of modem for AT&T that they’re trying to use all- Financial Services, a party to Samsung silicon,” said Jim McGregor, an analyst at the deal, previously ordered Tirias Research. “With their market share going down Commerzbank to hire an inde- they’re under pressure to increase profit margins.” pendent monitor and fire four The findings suggest a deeper loss of business for employees, according to a March Qualcomm in the new generation of Samsung’s flag- 12 statement by Superintendent ship handsets than anticipated previously. Teardown Benjamin Lawsky. The head of reports of the predecessor Galaxy S5, released last compliance in the bank’s New year, showed the U.S. chipmaker supplied several com- York branch resigned as a result ponents that Samsung has supplanted with its own of the state regulator’s probe. this year, based on the phone Chipworks investigated. From at least 2002 to 2008, the Samsung and Qualcomm did not immediately reply bank used a series of measures, to requests for comment. REUTERS including stripping out informa- A worker works on a Samsung outdoor advertisement installed atop an office building in central Seoul. tion identifying sanctioned clients, to process transactions valued at more than $250bn on behalf of Iranian and Sudanese entities, according to US authorities. Weak economic growth and low Suzuki plans to build second plant in Myanmar soon interest rates in Europe are mak- ing it more difficult to reach the bank’s targets, Blessing has said. TOKYO: Japanese automaker Yangon for the new plant, the At the new plant, Suzuki plans process began and now churns out decades of junta-led government. The bank is expanding lending Suzuki plans to invest tens of Nikkei business daily said. to produce some 10,000 cars some 150 of its Carry mini-trucks Myanmar desperately needs to German consumers and com- millions of dollars to build a sec- Construction is expected to a year, including the Ertiga, a a month at the country’s only car investment to drive its much- panies while winding down soured ond plant in Myanmar, seeking start later this year, with the facil- seven-seat compact, by assembling factory. Immediate confirmation anticipated economic revival, after shipping and real estate loans. to make quick inroads in the ity slated to come online in 2017, imported parts. Suzuki initially of the report was not available. the installation of a nominally Blessing has also pledged to cut country’s growing market, a the newspaper added. began production in the country Foreign companies have piled civilian government. at least 5,200 staff as he seeks to report said yesterday. Suzuki is expected to invest in 1999 through a local joint ven- into Myanmar since the instal- Unlike its Western allies, Japan reach profitability targets set for The small-car maker has several billion yen and hire about ture but pulled out in 2010 due lation of a nominally civilian gov- maintained trade ties and dialogue 2016. The company posted profit already secured a roughly 20-hec- 300 staffers, aiming to increase partly to its military regime. The ernment in 2011, eager to make with Myanmar during junta rule, of €264m in 2014, up from €81m tare plot at the Thilawa spe- Suzuki’s output in Myanmar by firm resumed production there the most of opportunities in the saying a hard line could push it a year earlier. cial economic zone southeast of more than five times, it said. in 2013 after the democratisation country as it opens up following closer to China. AFP BLOOMBERG

Gulf Air flight Qatargas sells first disruption due to bad weather LNG cargo to Pakistan DOHA: Qatargas sold its first as it continues to play a key role in DOHA: Following the extreme cargo of liquefied natural gas the Middle East and positions itself weather conditions that affected (LNG) to Pakistan State Oil as a world leader in the supply of Bahrain and other GCC states Company Ltd (PSO). The LNG energy to global and new markets. on April 1, Gulf Air apologised cargo was sold on a free-on- Qatargas is committed to reli- to all passengers whose flights board basis and loaded at Ras ably supplying more countries with were affected as a result, the Laffan Port on to the LNG vessel a clean, safe and highly efficient airlines said in a stetement Excelerate Exquiste on March 21. source of energy. Both parties, yesterday. The cargo was secured to com- Qatargas and PSO are in discus- A severe sandstorm impacted mission the Excelerate Exquiste, sions for a longer term sales and a number of Gulf Air flights, dis- which will become the Floating purchase agreement. rupting schedules due to diverted Storage and Regasification Unit, One of the key strengths of and grounded aircraft across the when it is moored in Port Qassim, Qatargas has been the development airline’s GCC network. The air- Pakistan as part of the Elengy LNG of considerable expertise in sup- line is currently in the process terminal which is the first Pakistan porting the commissioning of new of managing the resulting delays LNG import terminal. LNG receiving terminals globally. and all affected passengers are This is the first LNG agreement To date the Company has helped being accommodated and regu- between Qatar and Pakistan. commission 14 LNG terminals lar updates are being shared with The delivery of LNG to PSO is across the Americas, Europe and them. THE PENINSULA important milestone for Qatargas Asia. THE PENINSULA The LNG cargo ship. SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Turkmenistan Motorola’s sale effort hits hurdles to diversify Fails to find buyer after private-equity funds and large industrial firms show no interest economy after NEW YORK: Motorola International Inc. and Tyco constant access to communi- knowledge of the matter said to run on household electricity. oil price slump Solutions Inc has failed to find International Plc, without gain- cations networks, said Keith at the time. Spokesmen for The breakup, which came after a buyer after seeking to drum ing any traction, another person Housum, an analyst at Northcoast Motorola, Honeywell and Tyco investors led by billionaire Carl up interest from private-equity said. Some companies were con- Research in Cleveland. declined to comment. Icahn sought to shake up the ASHGABAT: The president of funds and large industrial com- cerned that Motorola’s technology Another option for Motorola Based in Schaumburg, Illinois, company’s performance, resulted energy-rich Turkmenistan said panies, people with knowledge may become obsolete too quickly now — a share buyback — will Motorola makes radio equipment in its mobile-phone unit being in comments broadcast yes- of the matter said. to justify a large purchase price, only increase debt and make it for emergency workers. Its cus- spun off as Motorola Mobility terday that his energy depend- The maker of two-way radios this person said. less attractive to private-equity tomers include the US govern- Holdings Inc. That business was ent country has been hit hard and other communications equip- Motorola has struggled firms, he said. Funds are finding ment, with 8 percent of sales, later sold to Google Inc, which by low oil prices and he urged ment has proved too large a tar- recently, with per-share profit it difficult to obtain financing for and automakers Volkswagen AG, then itself sold the handset busi- the government to diversify the get for any single buyout fund, one excluding some items tumbling 45 large deals, and so-called club Ford Motor Co and Bayerische ness to Lenovo Group Ltd. in economy. of the people said, asking not to be percent last year, and sales this deals among teams of firms have Motoren Werke AG, according 2014. The company has continued In a rare admission of the ex- identified discussing private infor- year projected to be unchanged largely disappeared. to a data. to divest units, selling its enter- Soviet nation’s economic trou- mation. Motorola fell 6.2 percent to slightly lower. Bloomberg reported in early Motorola Solutions is the prod- prise business — which makes bles, President Gurbanguly to $62.51 in New York trading on The company may be able to February that Motorola had uct of a 2011 breakup of Motorola bar-code scanning and radio- Berdymukhamedov said the coun- Thursday, giving it a market value find interest from wireless car- hired investment banks to find Inc — a company that was founded frequency identification technol- try needed to boost earnings and of about $13.2bn. riers that want to deepen rela- a buyer. At that point a sale in 1928 as Galvin Manufacturing ogy — to Zebra Technologies Corp urged officials to cut spending. Motorola also approached stra- tionships with emergency- service process had already been under Corp to make a device that for about $3.5bn last year. “The problems of the world econ- tegic buyers including Honeywell providers who need reliable and way for months, people with allowed battery-powered radios BLOOMBERG omy have had a negative impact,” Berdymukhamedov told govern- ment officials at a cabinet meeting on Friday, although the comments Turkish labour protest were only aired on state television yesterday. “These difficulties are Turkey’s inflation jumps increasingly affecting our country, (and) to a certain extent are sti- fling economic growth.” “In such conditions we are more than expected forced to transform our economic policies,” he told the cabinet meet- ISTANBUL: Rising food costs Minister Mehmet Simsek told ing, urging officials to revise the pushed Turkey’s consumer broadcaster NTV in an interview, state budget. prices sharply higher in March, adding the trend could be helped Efforts have been made to boost data showed on Friday, which by lower oil prices. domestic industries not related to may encourage the central bank The Turkish government is oil and gas, he said, adding that to resist political pressure for maintaining its target of 4 per- exports from these industries only aggressive rate cuts in the run- cent growth this year despite the amounted to $1bn. up to elections in June. economy’s performance falling He demanded that the govern- Faced with flagging growth somewhat below its expectations ment increase this figure to $5bn and parliamentary elections, in 2014, Prime Minister Ahmet by 2020. “Our country has rich President Tayyip Erdogan has Davutoglu said on Wednesday. reserves of natural resources,” demanded lower borrowing costs, He told a news conference in Berdymukhamedov said. raising concerns about the inde- Ankara that a package of meas- “In this regard, I believe that pendence of the central bank. ures to boost employment, indus- we can create a lot of enterprises The central bank kept rates trial investment and production able to produce high-quality prod- on hold at its last meeting, citing would cost 7.5bn lira ($2.9bn) and ucts no worse than the imported the impact of a sliding currency that it would not have a negative products we are now using hard on inflation. March’s rising food impact on the budget. currency to purchase.” prices also highlight the pressure A nuclear deal with Iran would The government of the Central on living costs for ordinary Turks be positive for Turkey’s exports, Asian country does not typically Members of Turkish labour unions carrying Turkish flag march to protest against the government’s new bill — something Erdogan and the AK he added. make public comments about the on work security, new payrolls and economy policies in Ankara yesterday. Party he founded want to avoid Compared with the same country’s economic problems. ahead of elections. month last year, the consumer Turkmens were shocked The inflation outlook “is far inflation rate rose to 7.61 per- when authorities devalued the from justifying” a resumption in cent. Domestic producer prices national manat currency by a interest rate cuts, Finansbank rose 1.05 percent on the month, fifth at the beginning of the year. Pfizer stops kid’s vaccine sale in China economist Gokce Celik said in a for an annual rise of 3.41 percent, Berdymukhamedov said at the note. “We see the bank remaining the data showed. However, sepa- time that the “extraordinary step” on hold in its April meeting, as it rate data on auto sales for the was triggered by low prices for gas NEW YORK: American phar- operations in China at this time, which employs about 9,000 people did in March.” month gave a somewhat brighter and oil, which make up more than maceutical giant Pfizer has effective immediately,” a spokes- in China, were not affected. China Consumer prices jumped 1.19 picture of consumer health, show- 90 percent of the country’s exports. stopped selling one of its lucra- woman said in an email on is one of Pfizer’s largest markets percent month-on-month, the ing a rise of 75 percent from the Turkmenistan has the world’s tive vaccines for children in Thursday, adding that the drug’s after the US and Canada. Turkish Statistics Institute same period last year, when sales fourth largest known reserves of China, the company said. import license had expired. About 200 positions at the com- said, well above the 0.89 percent were battered by a tax increase natural gas but limited export Pfizer gave no explanation for Pfizer anticipates a shortage of pany will be affected by the end of increase forecast in a poll. and tougher credit regulations. infrastructure and few reliable stopping its sales of the Prevnar Prevnar in China before the sale the vaccine sale. Food prices contributed to The Automotive Distributors partners. The main importer of vaccine, which helps prevent of a new vaccine can begin. The setback comes as pharma- half that increase. Unlike core Association said forthcoming Turkmen gas is China, which is infections such as pneumonia, Prevnar vaccines generated ceutical companies have strug- inflation, also closely watched elections and expected structural committed to expanding its con- which killed an estimated 935,000 $4.5bn in revenue last year for gled to gain Chinese authorities’ by economists, consumer prices reforms would have a “decisive” sumption of gas relative to carbon- children under the age of five Pfizer. They are the second larg- approval for many of their drugs. include food and energy costs, impact on the auto industry in the intensive fossil fuels such as coal. globally in 2013, according to the est contributor to the company’s Pfizer said it is in talks with which are beyond the control of coming year. Crude oil has lost around 60 World Health Organisation. revenues, according to Pfizer’s Chinese regulators to register and central banks. Markets brushed off the data, percent of its value since June due “Based on a careful assessment annual report. provide an improved vaccine “as “We are face-to-face with an with the lira little moved at 2.5930 to oversupply, with a strong dollar of this situation, we have decided The spokeswoman said that the soon as possible.” inflation dynamic that does not sit and the main stock index flat. and a weak global economy damp- to cease our Vaccines commercial other activities of the company, AFP with the trend we desire,” Finance REUTERS ening demand. AFP Obama touts solar energy as good for jobs, climate

UTAH: President Barack McConnell called Obama’s United Obama said the US economy Nations plan “job killing and likely is being buffeted by slowdowns illegal,” in a statement on Tuesday. overseas and made a pitch for He warned other nations against his proposals on infrastructure, accepting the plan since it had not education and energy as the been approved by Congress. remedy to sustain growth. Obama’s trip to Utah is his lat- Appearing before an array of est stop in a tour across mostly solar panels at Hill Air Force Base Republican states to tout initia- in Utah, Obama said his adminis- tives backed almost exclusively by tration is setting a goal of train- Democrats. In the last month, he ing 75,000 workers for the solar has travelled to Alabama to call industry by 2020, with a special for more regulations on payday emphasis on military veterans. lenders, pitched free community “We have had the strongest college in South Carolina and economy but we’re impacted by called for student loan relief in what happens around the world,” Georgia. Obama said. On Thursday in Louisville, US economic security, he said, Kentucky, Obama said can be assured by rebuilding and Republicans were cutting fund- repairing the nation’s transpor- ing for job training while propos- tation system and by spurring ing to eliminate the estate tax for the growth of alternative energy wealthy Americans. US President Barack Obama takes a tour of a solar power array with US Air Force Colonel Ronald Jolly at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. sources. The solar industry is The solar initiative announced adding jobs 10 times faster than includes a plan to make funding the rest of the economy, he said. from the GI Bill available for vet- The initiative on solar energy erans pursuing solar workforce is the latest in a series of unilat- training. A new “Solar Ready eral actions Obama has taken to Vets” programme will provide US economy is still missing 3 million jobs advance his clean energy agenda. installation training for veterans On Tuesday, Obama submitted to at 10 military bases in the US, the NEW YORK: The US Federal Reserve must been the longest streak of outsized monthly The headline numbers, though, don’t fully the United Nations a plan to slash White House said in a statement. answer a tough question in deciding when job gains in a decade. Nonfarm employers reflect the damage still left over from the greenhouse gases by more than a Obama’s trip to Utah is his first and how quickly to remove stimulus from the added just 126,000 jobs in March, the Labour financial crisis and recession of 2008. Millions quarter over the next decade. as president. He has now visited US economy: How much more can employ- Department estimates, bringing the three- have left the workforce for lack of opportu- Republicans in Congress and in every state except for South ment grow before it becomes an inflationary month average down to 197,000. The unem- nities, or are stuck in part-time jobs. If the state legislatures have fought to Dakota. In the 2012 election, Utah force? Judging from the labour market data ployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent, a few unemployment rate counted those people, it block several of Obama’s climate delivered Obama his worst loss, as for March, US economy is still a few million tenths of a percentage point above the level would be at least a couple percentage points initiatives, saying they cost jobs by the president garnered less than jobs away from that point. The Fed can do economists define as “full employment” — the higher, according to a recent analysis by the requiring cuts to carbon dioxide 25 percent of the vote against plenty more to get people back to work. point beyond which the demand for goods and economists David Blanchflower and Andrew from coal-fired power plants. Mitt Romney. The employment report ended what had workers tends to stoke inflation. Levin. BLOOMBERG Senate Majority Leader Mitch BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 African oil producers Iraq’s Fakka oil field seek production cut African countries had to cut budgets after dip in prices

ABIDJAN: The African African countries from Angola in the organisation, Saudi Arabia, Petroleum Producers to Nigeria to Equatorial Guinea is opposing any reduction in out- Association, which represents have had to cut their budgets in put. “The current prices are unfair oil and gas producers from recent months after the plunge and are having an impact on the Algeria to South Africa, called in oil prices affected the amount economies of African countries,” for a cut in oil output globally. of income they will get from their Mashallah Zwai, oil minister for The group also includes the biggest exports. Countries, includ- the Tripoli-based Islamist govern- continent’s biggest producers, ing the continent’s biggest econ- ment in Libya, said through an Nigeria and Angola. It’s start- omy Nigeria, have slashed growth interpreter. “We will ensure our ing an initiative, led by Angola forecasts. voice is heard about this crisis so and Algeria, to seek collaboration “We are very concerned by the as to emerge from it as soon as between members of Opec and drop of the price,” said Gabriel possible.” other oil producers to reduce out- Lima Obiang, oil minister for Zwai said Africa accounts put and stabilise oil prices, which Equatorial Guinea, after the meet- for about 8 percent of global oil have halved since the end of June. ing. “We are revising already our production. Libya is split with a APPA wants “to set up a budget because of the price and we separate government, based in platform of commitment at the have been welcoming an initiative the eastern town of Tobruk, rec- international level from the pro- by Angola and Algeria to study a ognised by the United Nations. ducing countries,” said Ousmane way we can work together to sta- “It has been a drastic reduc- Doukoure, director of exploration bilize the price in the future.” tion” in the oil price, Obiang said. and production at Ivory Coast’s oil Of the African producers only “What we need to do is think of ministry, as he read out a state- Algeria, Libya, Nigeria and Angola new initiatives, for example the ment on Friday at the end of an are members of Opec. While some diversification of our economies, APPA meeting in Abidjan, Ivory members of Opec have called for so as we don’t depend on oil.” Iraqi oil workers working at one of the Al Fakka oil wells at the border between Iraq with Iran outside Coast’s commercial capital. an output cut the biggest producer BLOOMBERG Amara, north of Basra and south of Baghdad. Iraq’s South Oil Company announced the completion of drilling 12 new oil wells in the Fakka oil field and the production will rise to 45,000 barrels per day. Indonesia plays hardball with smartphone manufacturers

JAKARTA: When Polytron smartphones has yet to truly Most mobile phones sold in Apple and Samsung, to produce a design through intellectual prop- The US Trade Representative became the first Indonesian take off. Indonesia are made in China. certain percentage of ‘local con- erty fees in addition to manufac- is raising these concerns with the company to produce 4G-capable Assembling far from China’s There was no phone manufactur- tent’ in Indonesia. turing of handsets, Rudiantara Indonesian government and the smartphones last year, it electronics supply chain means ing industry in Indonesia until last Apple did not immediately said. He declined to give further WTO. But Polytron is optimistic changed the ‘Manufactured in it costs up to 50 percent more to year when 15 companies submit- respond to requests to com- details on the way the percent- about the move, and expects its China’ inscription on its hand- manufacture a mobile phone in ted plans to the Industry Ministry ment on the local content rule. age of local content would be mobile division to make its first sets to ‘Made in Kudus,’ a town Indonesia, according to Polytron, a to start production. Among them Samsung declined to comment. calculated. profit since it started in 2011 by in Central Java. smaller player among local phone was Samsung Electronics Co It is unclear as to whether this Around a fifth of local content the end of the year. Polytron relocated production brands. “Honestly, we are doing it Ltd, which opened a factory near regulation will replace existing would have to be research and “Our support from the govern- from China to comply with ‘local- because of the regulation, to be in Jakarta. The regulations require requirements or how local con- development, meaning compa- ment is the promise that other 4G content’ rules introduced in 2012. compliance,” Polytron spokesman importers of smartphones to tent will be measured. nies would need to have a design brands cannot sell in Indonesia if The regulations have raised con- Santo Kadarusman said. manufacture in Indonesia or have Indonesia needs a bigger development centre in addition local content is not 30 percent. cerns about higher manufacturing The government ramped up their import licenses revoked by share of the $3bn in annual to manufacturing, said Industry Polytron is already at 35 percent. costs and hung question marks enforcement of the rules last 2016 or 2017, depending on when phone imports to reduce its Minister Saleh Husin. If Polytron gets to 40 percent over an industry championed by year. The regulations are part they received their license. trade deficit, said Minister for Critics of the ‘Made in local content, [the government the Indonesian government. of a push under President Joko The ministry is working on Communications Rudiantara, who Indonesia’ rule, including the told us] there is a possibility the The United States has pressed Widodo to transform Indonesia a new regulation targeting 4G like many Indonesians goes by one American Chamber of Commerce, local content requirement will go Indonesia to relax the rules, from an economy that consumes smartphones. It is expected to be name. “This phone is $600-$700, say the requirement is confusing to 40 percent,” Polytron spokes- which it says will hamper efforts products into one that produces completed in June and come into so we want $250-$300 of that to and could increase costs, restrict man Kadarusman said. of tech giants such as Apple Inc them, in his attempt to boost eco- force on January 1, 2017. The rule go to Indonesia,” he said, pointing access to technology and vio- He declined to comment on to expand into one of the world’s nomic growth and eliminate the will require all companies that to his iPhone. late World Trade Organisation how the local content percentage last big markets where use of country’s trade deficit. sell 4G-capable devices, including Local content could include (WTO) obligations. was calculated. REUTERS Debt forgiveness scheme Consumers withdraw Russia, case against Google Greece to

SAN JOSE: Plaintiffs in an that the consumers had failed to antitrust lawsuit against Google show that higher prices stemmed discuss EU Inc withdrew their case accus- from Google illegally forcing ing the search engine company restrictive contracts on handset of harming smartphone buyers makers. The plaintiffs were told sanctions by forcing handset makers using to amend their claims. Android operating system to Google said on Friday that MOSCOW: Russian President make Google’s own applications Android handsets could be used Vladimir Putin and Greek the default option. without Google, an argument it Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras The class action lawsuit, filed by had presented in its court filings. plan to discuss economic ties two smartphone customers in May “Since Android’s introduction, and the European Union’s sanc- 2014, was dismissed on February 20 greater competition in smart- tions against Moscow when by US District Judge Beth Labson phones has given consumers more they meet for talks this week, a Freeman in San Jose, California. choices at lower prices,” Google Kremlin spokesman said. The lawsuit argued that Google spokesman Aaron Stein said in an Russia wants the EU to lift the requires Android handset manufac- email. Lawyers for the plaintiffs sanctions imposed over Moscow’s turers such as Samsung Electronics did not immediately respond to role in the turmoil in Ukraine Co Ltd favour Google’s apps such requests for comments. and hopes to get support from as YouTube and restrict compet- Google also faces antitrust some EU member states, notably ing apps like Microsoft Corp’s Bing issues in Europe. The European Hungary and Greece. search. This illegally drives smart- Parliament in November urged The Kremlin spokesman, phone prices higher as rivals can- antitrust authorities to break up Dmitry Peskov, said it was too not compete for the “prime screen Google and called on the European early to talk about any possibil- real estate” that Google’s own apps Commission to consider propos- People walk past pictures of old drachma banknotes in Athens. Cash-strapped Greece has garnered a ity of Moscow providing financial enjoy, Gary Feitelson and Daniel als to unbundle search engines little over €147m via a debt forgiveness scheme designed to bolster the state’s near-empty coffers. The help to the cash-strapped Greece McKee had alleged. from other commercial services. Finance Ministry said over 150,000 private individuals and companies had hastened to settle or partially before the talks. But Freeman said in February REUTERS repay debts to the state dating to the 1970s. The ministry said that under normal circumstances, repay- “Relations between Moscow ment of such debts “is close to zero”. and the European Union will be discussed in the light of Brussels’s policy of sanctions and Athens’ quite cold attitude to this policy,” Peskov said. Greece’s new left-wing gov- Jakarta to impose palm oil export levy to subsidise biofuel ernment has said it will not seek aid from Moscow but has JAKARTA: Indonesia, the oil and to cut carbon emissions. development and human resources in the past year as a collapse in to $50 per ton while processed so far failed to reach a deal with world’s biggest palm oil producer, The country boosted the mandated development related to palm oil petroleum costs cut the appeal of palm oil in local market will fall its EU/IMF creditors to unlock will impose export levies to fund amount of palm blending in diesel industry.” cooking oils as biofuel. Global sup- by $30 per ton,” Ng said by phone. fresh funds. biodiesel subsidies, replanting, to 10 percent from 7.5 percent in The levy will be paid even when plies of soybeans, used to make an “In three to six months time if Putin and Tsipras will meet in research and development. 2013, and ordered power plants to the export tax is at zero and will be alternative oil, expanded to an all- the biodiesel program becomes Moscow on April 8. Shippers will pay a levy of $50 mix 20 percent in 2014. The biodie- “taken from export tax proceeds time high. Futures retreated 6.1 really successful then prices may It will be Tsipras’ first visit to a metric tonne for palm oil and sel subsidy was raised in February when prices are above $750,” Djalil percent in March, the most since recover.” the Russian capital after his left- $30 for processed products start- to 4,000 rupiah (31 US cents) a said on March 20. The govern- August, as soybeans and soybean Indonesia has maintained zero ist Syriza party swept to victory ing this month, Sofyan Djalil, coor- litre from 1,500 rupiah and the ment sets the tax monthly, based oil dropped on expectations of tax on most palm oil shipments in a snap election in January. dinating minister for economic mandated blending for diesel will on average prices in Jakarta, record planting intentions in the for seven months through April Tsipras visited Moscow in affairs, said in Jakarta yesterday. be increased to 15 percent in April. Rotterdam and Kuala Lumpur. US. because the reference price stayed May, 2014, and attended a con- The government will keep the “The funds will be used to Crude palm oil shipments attract Ivy Ng, an analyst at CIMB below the $750 threshold, the ference on ties between Russia threshold for application of a sep- compensate the price differ- no tax if the average is $750 or Investment Bank Bhd. in Kuala Trade Ministry said March 30. and Greece, as well as being arate export tax at $750 a tonne, ences between the regular diesel less over four weeks, with rates Lumpur, said the decision might The government decree regard- received by senior Russian state Djalil said. and biodiesel.” Djalil told report- at 7.5 percent to 22.5 percent at hurt Indonesian producers in the ing the new levy is expected to officials. Five other members of Indonesia has promoted biofuel ers, referring to proceeds from higher prices. short term as domestic prices be signed on April 6 or 7 and the the Greek delegation now also use to help absorb rising supplies the levy. “It will also be used to Palm oil futures in Kuala could decline. “Local prices of ruling will become effective upon hold senior government roles in of the world’s most-traded cooking help replanting, research and Lumpur have fallen 18 percent crude palm oil will fall by close signing, Djalil said. BLOOMBERG Athens. REUTERS SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Rethinking the emerging A long, hot summer looms markets asset class BY MOHAMED EL-ERIAN for automakers and UAW he concept of an “emerging markets asset class” may no longer be a sufficiently useful and accurate catch-all clas- BY EDWARD Having raised dues last year for tiers the raises they demand and say in decisions about produc- sification for investors. The implications of this shift are NIEDERMEYER the first time since 1967 in order “bridge the gap” between the two. tion, engineering and sourcing Timportant given the concept’s pervasive influence on asset to shore up its troubled finances, After all, the political dynamic investments. allocation methodologies, benchmarking and even the way invest- egotiations between union leadership is under increas- that put the two-tier system in Blaming the union’s troubles on ment companies (and their service providers) are organised. The the United Auto ing pressure to deliver real gains place has not changed. Until the the ineptitude of company man- category also determines how allocators of capital review their Workers (UAW) to its membership. And with its top-tier autoworkers — which agement may keep Williams’s portfolio decisions, especially at the beginning of a quarter. union and US auto- organising efforts at “transplant” have already enjoyed the last best membership supportive for now, To understand why EM may be losing it prominence as an ana- makers aren’t sched- factories across the South failing years of the US industry — put but the union’s demand for more lytical tool, let’s start with the three elements that typically define Nuled to begin until July, but the to gain traction, the very future solidarity before self-interest, the of a say in management is about an asset class: First, its components share similar characteris- pre-talk salvos have already begun of the union depends on winning UAW will continue to be poisoned as likely to make progress at tics: geographic location, for example, or much more importantly in earnest. attractive new terms. by a two-tier structure that makes negotiations as the automakers’ for investment purposes, economic and financial commonalities. Last week, on the day before The stakes may not be quite as a mockery of the union’s funda- third-tier proposal. As talks wear These similarities allow the investments to be modelled relatively the UAW’s bargaining convention high for the automakers sitting mental ideals. Yet there is no indi- on, the UAW will once again be coherently for expected return, volatility and correlations with opened, Ford and General Motors across the table, but they aren’t cation that they will voluntarily confronted with its intractable other asset classes. Yet these assets aren’t so completely homoge- floated the idea of opening a third about to return to the “good old make the sacrifice necessary to dilemma and may decide that its neous that they can be replicated via a single instrument, which “tier” in the UAW wage structure, days” of cozy labour relations, create a single, sustainable union only way forward lies in obtain- also opens the possibility of out-performance thanks to active which would create an even lower either. GM and Ford still have wage. ing major wage concessions, even management. entry wage for union workers. Not some of the highest hourly aver- This sets up a rather unpal- at the expense of the union’s first Second, the majority of the components of the asset class are only was the proposal an optimis- age wages in the US industry, at atable set of possible outcomes: post-bailout strike. With the sensitive to an external influence that is strong enough and suf- tic opening position, but it was $58 and $57 respectively, about Either the union strong-arms options so limited and the stakes ficiently encompassing to have a similar impact across the board. ultimately little more than the $10 per hour more than nonun- automakers into concessions so high, that scenario could be This can take the form of a single variable, such as the price of oil trolling of a union that is all too ion workers at Honda and Toyota large enough to “bridge the gap” more realistic than anyone wants for producers, or it can be linked to a policy, such as the effect of the aware of the deep divisions and and about $20 per hour more than between the two tiers or it accepts to believe. European Central Bank’s quantitative easing on sovereign bonds. inequality caused by its two-tier workers at Volkswagen’s plant in another Band-Aid and allows The UAW already has what Third, the actions of investors impose a self-reinforcing consist- system. Though the third-tier Chattanooga, Tennessee. With the two-tier poison to spread. amounts to a third tier: several ency in the way individual elements of the asset class relate to proposal will likely go nowhere, the US new-car market fore- Though GM’s $5bn stock buyback hundred GM parts assembly work- one another. This could be the case, for example, when the bulk of it’s a sign of how closely fought cast to flatten out in the coming deal with former auto task force ers who make less than the union’s investors use a predominantly top-down approach — which takes the upcoming battle will be. years, Detroit can’t afford to put member Harry Wilson has been entry wage. The Detroit Free Press into account the asset class as a whole rather than its individual The two sides are miles apart itself at an even greater disadvan- cited as evidence that automakers explains (sort of): “Those workers components — or when markets are overwhelmed by large tides on the issues, and the stakes tage going into a potential profit have cash to burn, a wage conces- do parts assembly work previously of capital, be they inflows or outflows. could hardly be higher. US auto- crunch. sion from the Detroit Three that done by suppliers. Therefore, it’s EM has grown markedly since its relatively modest beginnings, makers are more profitable now UAW President Dennis would be large enough to square not viewed as a third tier because and it now contains far too much diversity to meet the first require- than they were in any of last few Williams rejected the automakers’ the UAW’s political circle remains it doesn’t violate the UAW’s prin- ment of shared characteristics. It no longer qualifies for the second rounds of negotiations, and the “third tier” proposal out of hand unlikely. Instead, it seems that ciple of equal pay for equal work.” criterion, especially now that the comments and actions of a single UAW is anxious to reverse con- and led the ritual roasting of man- Williams may attempt an end Williams notes that top-tier work- policy-making body, such as the International Monetary Fund, cessions it made before and dur- agement, but he was hazy on the run around the two-tier issue ers have not had a raise in a dec- don’t move markets as they once did. The third characteristic — ing the GM and Chrysler bailouts. details of how exactly to give both altogether and demand a greater ade. BLOOMBERG the propensity of investors to look at such an asset class as a unit rather than as the sum of its parts — still plays a role, giving rise to interesting dynamics. Macro decisions to allocate or withdraw capital from EM — particularly through index and index-like vehicles — tend to be significant drivers of return, volatility and correlation behaviours, which too often leads to valuations that are decoupled from indi- vidual fundamentals. The resulting overshoots — on the way up or down — generate risks and opportunities not just for investors but also for the issuers of securities they transact in. It is important to note that these distortions aren’t caused by irrationality or malfunctioning markets. Instead, they reflect the evolution of an asset class that, at its inception, was underpinned by investor behaviours devised around common economic and financial attributes. It has since failed to keep pace with the increasingly diversified and divergent realities on the ground. In the case of EM, this phenomenon is amplified as the market influence of a relatively small base of dedicated investors is subject to the vagaries of less well-informed “crossover” funds (that is “tourist” capital that, rather than being attracted by the attributes of the asset class itself, is driven to invest by fluctuating circum- stances at home, and thus is far less stable). As a result, both investors and issuers should expect valuations to continue to decouple for more prolonged periods than would be warranted by fundamentals. They also need to attach bigger margins of error to their predictions for risk- adjusted expected returns and, in the case of borrowers, the cost of capital and ease of issuance. With long-term strategic positioning in mind, investors also need to take a more tactical approach to managing their expo- sures in relation to their fundamentally-based strategic portfolios. Borrowers should do the same when issuing new bonds. Today, this means recognising that EM is in a technical phase of unsettling volatility. It also means that individual components of the asset class will tend to trade cheaply relative to intrinsic values. Meanwhile, investor attitudes will tend to be overly influenced by news, for better and worse, from a few big markets (Brazil and Russia come to mind) as well as by the impact of advanced country central banks on the flow of tourist capital. Solid markets will at times be contaminated by the broader trends, even when their fundamentals are good. And the temptation to purchase the EM asset class via passive benchmarks will negate some important fundamental differentiation that is sure to emerge down the road and become an important contributor to superior performance. BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Russian economy frees itself from oil curse

BY LEONID BERSHIDSKY stabilised the economy,” says recovery “similar in nature, but not appreciate faster than the produc- doesn’t think growth will be as fast Europe, Asia and the US, Russia Birgit Hansl, the World Bank’s in magnitude, to the one after 1998.” tivity differential improved: as after the 1998 crisis is that he may well be the best place for igns are multiplying that lead economist for Russia. That year, Russia defaulted on That was Russia’s “Dutch dis- expects low oil prices, which will it (bond investors appear to be the Russian economy will In her latest Russia Economic its domestic debt, sharply deval- ease.” It became more profitable take the edge off the recovery and already aware of that). not die a painful death, but Report, presented in Moscow, ued the rouble and introduced to import than to produce locally put the upper boundary of expan- My optimism about Russia’s Sis just taking some long- Hansl is bearish on further growth capital controls — to disastrous again. “Russia should have been sion at about 3.5 percent next year. economic resilience doesn’t come overdue strong medicine. The prospects. The baseline scenario effect. Imports became even less about 30 percent more productive Both the relative pessimists, with admiration for Putin, or country posted unexpected growth is a 3.8 percent contraction this accessible than they are now. relative to its trading partners to such as Hansl, and the relative even for his highly competent in the fourth quarter of 2014, and year and a further 0.3 percent Gross domestic product dropped keep its external competitiveness optimists, such as Tchakarov, economic team, which has been it can now look beyond oil for driv- drop in 2016. Hansl and her team 5.3 percent. The following year, it at the same level as that in 1999,” see the same data and expect the forced to deal reactively with the ers of recovery. believe that Russia hasn’t yet fully rebounded by 6.4 percent — mainly Tchakarov wrote. same phenomena. They differ consequences of the dictator’s mil- The Federal Statistics Service absorbed the impact from lower because local producers and for- Russia’s current account sur- only on how much weight to give itary adventures and increasingly said the Russian economy oil prices, and they expect drops in eign investors saw the opportunity plus shrank from 20 percent of to various factors. That’s a mat- hawkish statements. expanded 0.4 percent in the final incomes and consumption because of filling the lacunas left by ebbing GDP in 2000 to 3 percent now. ter of economic modelling, but I These people did little for the three months of last year, while of high inflation (16.5 percent on imports in the domestic Russian The country approached the new side with the optimists for empiri- Russian economy while the coun- economists expected zero growth. average this year) and decreased market. Tchakarov describes this oil slump relatively unprepared. It cal reasons. Russia is a country try enjoyed high oil prices. They This could be what traders call a availability of consumer credit. in more technical terms. In 1999, does, however, still have the built- with a large domestic market that accumulated enough foreign dead cat bounce: At the end of last Investment demand will also he explains, the rouble’s real effec- in spring that uncoiled in 1999. has just seen a sharp decline in reserves to carry the country year, as the rouble took a plunge fall off sharply, according to the tive exchange rate aligned itself The chart shows that the rouble’s imports. Last time that happened, through a second economic crisis, in line with the sinking oil price, World Bank, though Hansl and with the difference in labour pro- real effective rate is again in line in the late 1990s, corporate Russia, but they didn’t improve the invest- Russians were hoarding imported her colleagues concede that “the ductivity between Russia and its with Russia’s relative productiv- still young and inexperienced, rose ment climate, stifle corruption or electronics and buying expensive weaker rouble could create incen- trading partners, making Russian- ity. Tchakarov argues Russia will to the challenge. Today, economic deregulate the economy. I strongly cars they didn’t need, expecting a tives for small-scale expansions in produced goods more competitive. probably also have enough free conditions inside Russia are just believe that the current poten- price hike. some tradable industries, financed That growth was not hydrocar- capacity, in terms of both indus- as oppressive as they were then, tial for a Russian rebound exists Another reason growth con- by profits.” Skeptics, however, are bon-driven, and it fuelled the trial equipment and labour, to but entrepreneurs are more expe- despite the president’s actions and tinued in that dark, panicky likely to be wrong about the scale emergence of successful Russian start filling the consumption gap rienced and have more resources: leanings. It’s the normal resilience quarter was that “the Russian of the non-oil-based expansion. In a companies, especially in the food left by imports — in part because The hundreds of billions of dol- of a rather open economy in a government and Central Bank research note, Ivan Tchakarov, chief industry and agriculture. of the beginning slump, which has lars that capital flight has taken highly sophisticated country. It’s were able to respond swiftly with economist at the Moscow branch In the years that followed, ris- been driving capacity utilisation out of Russia can be reinvested, the power of capitalism, not the policy responses that successfully of Citigroup, said it might herald a ing oil prices made the rouble down: The only reason Tchakarov and given current interest rates in Putin regime. BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Kim Sei-Young of South Korea plays Birdies lift Putnam past her second shot at the par 4, 7th hole during the second round of the ANA Inspiration on the Dinah Shore Mickelson in Houston Tournament Course on Friday PGA Tour rookie takes one-shot lead after flurry of birdies in California. HOUSTON: Phil Mickelson, Houston Open tuning up for a run at a fourth Kim grabs 2-shot lead, Masters title, had seven birdies on Friday but settled for a share Scores of second place behind Andrew HOUSTON: Leading second- Putnam after two rounds of the round scores on Friday in the Ko’s streak ends at 29 Houston Open. US PGA Tour $6m Houston Putnam nabbed six of his seven Open (USA unless noted, RANCHO MIRAGE, US: I was near Annika’s record last birdies in his last seven holes, his par-72) Rookie Kim Sei-Young seized week and even yesterday, and seven-under 65 vaulting him to 132 Andrew Putnam 67-65 a two-shot lead with a seven- then I tied it,” Ko said. the top of the leaderboard on 133 Phil Mickelson 66-67, Austin Cook under 69, while World No. 1 one “It was so cool that I’m tying 12-under-par 132. 68-65 Lydia Ko saw her consecutive with someone as amazing and as Mickelson’s seven birdies were 134 Graham DeLaet (CAN) 67-67, Luke under-par streak snapped at 29 great as her. I wasn’t counting, balanced by two bogeys in a five- Guthrie 66-68 in the first major championship but 29 under-par rounds is pretty under-par 67 that left him tied of the season on Friday. good in my book.” AFP 135 Shawn Stefani 66-69, J.B. Holmes for second on 133. The 22-year-old Kim of South 65-70, Jordan Spieth 69-66, Hunter He was joined on 11 under by Korea eagled her final hole to fin- Mahan 67-68, Mark Wilson 69-66, unheralded American Austin ish two rounds at a seven-under Victor Dubuisson (FRA) 67-68 ANA Inspiration Cook, who birdied his last four 137 at the LPGA Tour’s ANA holes in a seven-under 65. 136 Keegan Bradley 70-66, Chris Stroud Inspiration tournament. LPGA Scores It was a further stroke back to 68-68, Alex Prugh 67-69, Michael Ko missed a chance to break Canada’s Graham DeLaet, who Putnam 68-68, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 68- the LPGA record for consecu- RANCHO MIRAGE, United carded a 67, and American Luke 68, Charles Howell 66-70 tive rounds under par when she States: Leading second-round Guthrie, who signed for a 68 for 137 Russell Henley 69-68, Alex Cejka shot a one-over 73 at the Mission scores on Friday in the ANA 134. (GER) 65-72, Nick Watney 69-68, Hills Country Club course. Ko’s Inspiration, first major cham- Putnam, a PGA Tour rookie Tony Finau 69-68, Kelvin Day (ENG) one-under 71 on Thursday tied pionship of the LPGA season with just one top-25 finish on 68-69, Paul Casey (ENG) 68-69, Andrew Putnam waves to gallery after making a birdie on the eighth hole her with Annika Sorenstam for (USA unless noted, par-72): Justin Rose (ENG) 69-68, Charley his resume, teed off on 10 at the during the second round of the Shell Houston Open at the Golf Club of the most consecutive under par 137 Kim Sei-Young (KOR) 72-65 Hoffman 69-68, Scott Piercy 63-74, Golf Club of Houston and was one Houston on Friday in Humble, Texas. rounds with 29. 139 Morgan Pressel 67-72 Johnson Wagner 69-68 under through nine holes. Kim, who earned her first 140 Catriona Matthew (SCO) 71-69, But he caught fire coming in, career victory on the Tour ear- Brittany Lincicome 72-68, Jenny Shin stringing together four straight He punctuated his round with a wayward tee shot cost him a is looking for a boost heading lier this season at the Pure Silk (KOR) 71-69 birdies starting at the par-four two more birdies at eight and nine bogey at 17, but he regrouped for into the first major of the year at Bahamas Classic, finished with 141 Angela Stanford 72-69, Stacy Lewis third. – from the rough at the par-five a solid par at the last and held Augusta National next week. six birdies and the eagle while Ko 72-69, Feng Shan-shan 71-70, Lexi “I caught fire on the back nine, eighth and with a 15-foot putt at the clubhouse lead before Putnam He’ll have plenty of competi- ended her second round at even- Thompson 72-69, Ryu So-Yeon 69- started making a lot of putts,” the final hole. Mickelson had set stormed home. tion on the weekend. Rising star par 144 and is seven shots back. 72, Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) 71-70, Putnam said. the early pace. “The golf course is in great Jordan Spieth carded a 66 on “I feel really great because I Lee Mi-Rim 71-70 “These greens are so good out After going birdie-bogey at the shape as always. It’s fun tourna- Friday and headlined a group of was seven-under today,” Kim said. here, if you start rolling them on second and third holes, Mickelson ment, it’s going to be a shootout. six players sharing sixth place on “I really hit the ball good and my 142 Pat Hurst 71-71, Ai Miyazato (JPN) your line and seeing your line, added three more birdies on the There’s a lot of guys at eight- nine-under 135. putting was really good. I’m very 68-74, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 70-72, you can make a lot of putts. I’ve front nine. under, nine-under, 10-under par He was joined by fellow happy.” Danielle Kang 75-67, Caroline Hedwall played pretty good so far. I’ve His march continued with bird- that are right there,” Mickelson American’s Shawn Stefani, J.B. The 17-year-old Ko, of New (SWE) 75-67, Alison Lee 71-71, kind of been a little loose with the ies at 11, 13 and 15 – where he said. Holmes, Hunter Mahan and Zealand, said she was disap- Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 71-71, Lee driver, but this course is pretty rolled in a 22-foot putt. Mickelson, who has yet to Mark Wilson and France’s Victor pointed to see the hot streak end. Mi-Hyang 74-68, Charley Hull (ENG) wide open so you can do that.” Mickelson’s lead dwindled as post a top-10 finish this season, Dubuisson. AFP “It was pretty awesome that 70-72 Major Leagues set to pick up pace in 2015 race LOS ANGELES: The talent- electrifying effort from left- return to the post-season. They packed Washington Nationals, handed pitcher Madison start their campaign today, when hard-luck Cubs and Seattle’s Bumgarner, captured their third they host the Cardinals, with a maturing Mariners are among World Series title in five seasons, full slate of 14 Opening Day games the clubs tipped to contend as denying the Royals in their first to follow on Monday. A general the clock starts ticking on the playoff run in 29 years. In the American League, the view 2015 Major League Baseball Both teams eked into the post- Mariners are hoping a $57m during season. season as wild-card teams, and off-season investment in slug- a spring America’s pastime, famed as neither is a lock to battle for the ger Nelson Cruz – who hit an training a game ideally suited to the lazy championship again. AL-leading 40 home runs for baseball days of summer, will feature new Instead it’s the Nationals Baltimore last year – will pay off game rules this year designed to boost making noise, after adding Max with a first playoff appearance at Joker the pace of play. Scherzer to an already powerful since 2001 and perhaps a first Marchant A game clock will time breaks pitching rotation that includes World Series win. Stadium between innings and pitching Stephen Strasburg, Jordan But American League West between changes, and players could also Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez and division rivals the Los Angeles the Detroit face fines for time-wasting in the Doug Fister. Angels and their AL Most Tigers batter’s box as MLB tries to speed Can Washington finally live up Valuable Player Mike Trout will and the up games that last year averaged to their billing after last year’s pose a formidable challenge. more than three hours for the post-season flop? Expect Detroit, long the class New York first time in history. If not, look for perennial con- of the AL Central to be in the Yankees on Games themselves may unfold tenders St Louis, the big-spending mix. Thursday a bit more briskly, but it’s still Los Angeles Dodgers, the youthful The Boston Red Sox, having at a marathon and not a sprint to and talented Pittsburgh Pirates or lured sluggers Pablo Sandoval Lakeland, reach the World Series that starts even the longtime losing Chicago from the Giants and Hanley FL, USA. in October and could trickle into Cubs to contend in the National Ramirez from the Dodgers as free a November finish. League. agents, boast one of the best line- As the San Francisco Giants The Cubs are hoping their ups in baseball but may not have and Kansas City Royals showed revamped Wrigley Field will be the pitching to match. last year in their unlikely runs the backdrop to their first title In New York, it will be a season to a thrilling seven-game World run since 1908. of adjustment for Yankees fans, Rodriguez sat out Jeter’s fare- playing first base, where man- his rise up baseball’s all-time Series won by the Giants, almost The Cubs have added one of the after the retirement of respected well season serving a doping ban. ager Joe Girardi tried him in the home run list. With 654 homers, anything can happen in the course best managers in baseball in Joe captain Derek Jeter and the After vehemently denying pre-season. Rodriguez needs seven to move of that lengthy season. Maddon, and inked left-handed return of drug-tainted third base- and finally admitting his trans- He could also step into the past Willie Mays into fourth on The Giants, fuelled by an hurler Jon Lester as they try to man Alex Rodriguez. gressions, he could find himself designated hitter slot to resume the chart. AFP

NBA Results Bucks’ late surge sinks Celtics LA Lakers 77 Portland 107 Isaiah Thomas of San Antonio 123 Denver 93 the Boston NEW YORK: The Bucks as the Indiana Pacers defeated Bradley Beal 18 and Otto Porter Boston 101 Milwaukee 110 Celtics looks exploded for 36 points in the the Charlotte Hornets 93-74 to 17 for Washington. Brooklyn 114 Toronto 109 on during third quarter on their way to pump some life into their posts- Nets 114, Raptors 109 Sacramento 95 New Orleans 101 the fourth a 110-101 win over Boston that eason hopes. Thaddeus Young highlighted a Chicago 88 Detroit 82 quarter of the damaged the Celtics’ play-off Indiana (33-43) outscored 29-point showing by converting NBA game chances. Charlotte 48-22 during the mid- a go-ahead put-back layup with Memphis 100 Oklahoma City 92 against the Trailing by as many as nine in dle two quarters, and through 22.2 seconds remaining and the Minnesota 84 Orlando 97 Milwaukee the first half, and by two at the three the Hornets (32-43) were Brooklyn Nets ran their season- Indiana 93 Charlotte 74 Bucks at break, the Bucks opened the sec- shooting only 17 of 60 from the high winning streak to six games ond half with a 17-4 run to take field (28.3 percent). with a 114-109 win over Toronto. Washington 101 New York 87 TD Garden control and post their second Wizards 101, Knicks 87 Magic 97, Timberwolves 84 on Friday straight win. John Wall set a career-high The Orlando Magic got a in Boston. The Celtics charged back and with 18 assists as the Washington career-high 37 points and 17 NHL Results The Bucks cut the deficit to four with 10:29 Wizards outscored the New York rebounds from Nikola Vucevic in a Dallas 5 St Louis 7 defeated left but turned the ball over five Knicks 30-8 in the first quarter 97-84 victory over the Minnesota Anaheim 2 Colorado 4 the Celtics times in less than five minutes to on their way to a 101-87 victory. Timberwolves. 110-101 derail the comeback. The Wizards (43-33) have won It was Orlando’s second win in San Jose 3 Arizona 1 Pacers 93, Hornets 74 two straight and three of four their last 12 games and snapped a Buffalo 3 Chicago 4 Rodney Stuckey and C.J. after losing four in a row. 12-game road losing streak. Watson scored 15 and 13 points Marcin Gortat scored 19 points, AGENCIES New Jersey 3 Montréal 2 SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

McIlroy admits love for golf Djokovic and Murray to has diminished LONDON: World number one golfer Rory McIlroy (pictured) admits his love for the sport has diminished over the years. The Northern Irishman will meet again in Miami final complete a career grand slam if he adds the Masters, which starts on Thursday, to his British Open, The Serb will face the Scotsman in this event’s final for a third time US Open and PGA Championship titles. “I would be dishonest if I said MIAMI: World number one my love of golf now is as big as Novak Djokovic will face it was back then,” McIlroy was Britain’s Andy Murray in the quoted as saying by telegraph.co.uk final of the Miami Open for a on Friday. third time today after the pair “I still love the game, still love triumphed in their semi-finals. playing great courses and playing The pair have one win each with my friends and my dad. But against each other at Miami but then I don’t love golf as much as Djokovic will be looking for a when it was just pure joy to get repeat of his Australian Open win on to the course to play. over the Scot and to improve his “When I was a kid, if I spent 17-8 career record against him. a day away from the game, I Third seed Murray delivered couldn’t wait a controlled and precise per- to get back. formance to beat Czech Tomas Now I can’t Berdych 6-4, 6-4 while Djokovic wait for a week faced greater resistance in the off. There’s form of big-serving American just not the ‘I John Isner but still won 7-6(3) can’t wait to 6-2. get out of the The first set was on-serve house as quick throughout but the Serb emerged as I can to get victorious from the tie-break and to the course’ never looked back. The four-time feeling,” the Miami champion broke twice 25-year-old early in the second to open up said. a 4-1 lead and from then on the “Listen, this is not a job - let’s match was out of Isner’s reach. face it, I’ve never done a day’s The big-serving American work in my life. But it’s an intense was unable to create a single environment I play in and it’s break point in the game but the just nice to get away from it for a 29-year-old, ranked 24th in the while. When I was a kid, I never, world, will be encouraged by his ever wanted to get away from it.” run to the last four. McIlroy won his first major, the “It is always tough to play 2011 US Open, aged 22, and has someone who serves that well, since won the US PGA in 2012 at times it is frustrating,” said Andy Murray (right) of Great Britain shakes hands with Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic after winning his Miami Open semi-final match at the and 2014, and last year’s Open at Djokovic. Crandon Park Tennis Center on Friday. Royal Liverpool. “It is important to hang in But he insisted that he will there mentally, be patient and looked in charge throughout, The Scot feels comfortable at “I’ve obviously played some won’t really know,” Murray told never live up to the profile of make him play. I put a lot of pres- winning 80 percent of first-serve Miami where he won in 2009 and good tennis here over the years. reporters. “Because I practice on 14-time major winner Tiger sure on his second serves, moved points while registering four serv- 2013 and lost to Djokovic in the The reason for that is because I’m it all the time, I know how the Woods, who returns to the him around the court and always ice breaks. 2012 final. extremely familiar with the con- ball bounces in certain areas and Masters this year after a volun- made him play an extra shot. I am Berdych made a break in each Murray spends his off-season ditions, with the surface, the way which serves work into certain tary leave of absence. pleased with my performance.” set himself but with Murray’s practice time on the stadium the court plays,” he said. spots on the court and how the “People tell me I am the new Earlier, in bright sunlight and defence strong and the Scot mak- court at the Crandon Park Tennis “There are little things in the ball responds off different spins. face of golf. But that is a hard one Floridian heat, Murray broke ing few errors, the Czech was Center and has clearly acclima- court that maybe players that So that’s why I feel comfortable for me to fathom because, grow- Berdych early in both sets and unable to overtake him. tised to the heat and humidity. haven’t played on it that much on it,” he said. REUTERS ing up, I never even thought about being that,” he told telegraph.co.uk. “Tiger Woods is the face of the game to the wider public and I don’t think I’ll ever be that, just because of who I am, who he is, Clash of the titans with Chen Endurance series what he represents and the people he brought to the sport. I’m never going to do that, it’s gets rid of ‘grid girls’ not something that’s going to be and Lin in finals; Nehwal out possible.” IANS

KUALA LUMPUR: World LONDON: The World Toyota’s world champion number one Chen Long and Endurance Championship Anthony Davidson said it was his illustrious compatriot Lin (WEC), whose annual highlight about time things changed. Dan will clash in the finals of is the Le Mans 24 Hours sport- “I talk about this with my wife 30,000 tickets the Malaysian Open today after scar classic, is getting rid of the quite a lot, and we both agree both Chinese shuttlers over- ‘grid girls’. it’s actually pretty backward,” released for came their opponents at the In a move that will be the Briton, who has also raced in semi-final stage yesterday. applauded by many, and is sure Formula One, said. IPL opening Chen, the reigning world cham- to dismay those accustomed to “It’s old school to have such a pion, qualified after a command- seeing scantily-clad beauties pos- concept as grid girls. Surely the ing performance ousting fellow ing next to cars before a race, the world’s moved on? And motor jamboree countryman Wang Zhengming FIA-backed series is adopting a racing should follow quite closely 21-18, 21-16. more progressive stance. what the rest of the world’s doing KOLKATA: Around 30,000 Chen, who has yet to drop a “From Silverstone next week, in that respect. tickets have been released in the game in the tournament, worked you will see that for any race “I think that’s a really nice nearly one lakh capacity Salt Wang into deep pockets of the we will do — no grid girls like in touch, a modern touch as well, Lake Stadium for the Indian courts with his signature pen- the past,” WEC chief executive from the WEC to take that aspect Premier League opening cer- etrating drives and snapshot kills. China’s Lin Dan celebrates after defeating Denmark’s Jan Jorgensen in Gerard Neveu said after a presen- of racing away. It is a bit sexist.” emony on April 7, an official said “This was the first time I was the men’s singles semi-final of the Malaysia Open Badminton Superseries tation on Thursday for the open- Neveu said the cars would line here yesterday. playing my teammate in the tour- in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. ing Silverstone six-hour race. up diagonally opposite the pit wall The figure of 30,000 includes nament, and I was more relaxed “For me that is the past. The and grandstand as if for an old- the tickets for the hospitality box as compared to playing other and twice Olympic gold medallist, between us, rather it was between condition of women is a little bit style ‘Le Mans start’. as also the complimentary tickets shuttlers, where I tend to push has yet to win the Malaysia Open, me and the umpire who kept different now,” he said. In Le Mans of old, before safety being distributed by the Board of myself harder,” said Chen. one of the only titles missing from interrupting our rhythm and did The use of models, also referred concerns stopped the practice, Control for Cricket in India, said “I have another tough game in his glittering trophy cabinet. not let us play,” said Lin. to as ‘race queens’ or ‘umbrella drivers would run across the track IPL governing council member the final, but for now I don’t want After losing the first game, Lin “The second game was also hard girls’, to stand by cars with flags to the cars but at Silverstone and Cricket Association of Bengal to think about that and just get rallied to take the second game by as Jan had the crowd behind him or placards displaying drivers’ there will be a rolling start. joint secretary Subir Ganguly. some rest.” stamping his mark in the decider and I am happy to pull through.” numbers has long been a feature Neveu said the changes were He said gallieries in a large part Lin Dan was off the pace ini- with furious mid-court attacks Lin also did not dismiss the of Formula One. all part of catering for a new of the stadium have to be closed tially but managed to dispatch which forced the Dane to com- possibility of featuring in the It has also been a bone of con- audience. “The sport is sport, to the people because of the per- Denmark’s Jan Jorgensen 14-21, mit a flurry of unforced errors. Olympics next year. tention for those seeking more but around it we can do many formances on stage. 21-19, 21-17 after overcoming two Despite the win, the Chinese “If Lee Chong Wei goes, then equality and less sexism in a things,” he said. “We will have a Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar, service faults and a lethargic first shuttler was not pleased with the I am going as well. We would male-dominated sport, although DJ, entertainment, many things Shahid Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, game. umpire. probably be the oldest men’s sin- in some series where women on the grid. The show will start Pritam and Hrithik Roshan are Lin, a five-time world champion “I felt the first game was not gles playing in the Olympics,” racers have joined the grid the from the grid...but the star at the all set to light up the ceremony, he said, referring to his nemesis ‘umbrella’ role has been taken by end is the sportscars and the driv- which is taking place in Kolkata and Malaysia’s badminton ace a man. ers of the car.” REUTERS after a gap of two years. Lee Chong Wei, who is awaiting a All eight team captains will be hearing regarding doping charges. present to take the Marylebone Lee was suspended from com- Cricket Club (MCC) Spirit of petition after being informed Cricket pledge. Gautam Gambhir, by the sport’s governing body in captain of defending champions October that he had failed a drugs KKR, will put the trophy back test at last year’s world champi- in play, signaling the start of the onships. He faces a maximum 2015 season. two-year ban if found guilty. A Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight hearing is expected this month. Riders’ star spinner Sunil Narine, The women’s singles, mean- who underwent a repeat test for while, saw reigning world cham- his suspect bowling action in pion Carolina Marin defeat Chennai, skipped the IPL team’s China’s Wang Shixian 21-17, practice session for the second 24-22. consecutive day yestrday. The Spaniard will face Chinese “He has skipped the nets not India’s Saina Nehwal reacts after losing a point against China’s Li Xuerui shuttler Li Xuerui in the final because he is barred or anything during their women’s singles semi-final match at the 2015 Malaysia Open after she edged world number one The WEC has decided to adopt a more progressive stance and get rid of like that. Since it’s an optional Badminton Superseries in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Saina Nehwal in a closely-fought grid girls for all events, including Le Mans. practice, and probably he is jet 13-21, 21-17, 22-20 victory. AFP lagged,” a KKR official said. IANS SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Action from the handball match between Qatar and Oman at the GCC Beach Games yesterday at Al Gharafa Club. Qatar won the match 12-8, 22-18. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT

Qatar register back-to-back wins GCC Beach Games: Hosts beat Bahrain, Oman in handball; Ali Juma wins bronze

DOHA: Hosts Qatar consoli- dated their chance to win hand- ball gold medal at the GCC Beach Games after winning back-to-back matches at the Al Gharafa Club, yesterday. The home side faced stiff com- petition against Bahrain in their A Qatar player first match of the day, which they scored during won following a shoot-out after both the sides claimed one half the handball each. match against Bahrain held an upper hand, Oman at the Al winning the first half 19-16 but Gharafa Club Qatar fought back well in the sec- yesterday. ond half leveling the match with a RIGHT: A 13-10 victory in the final session, Qatari player in stretching the match to shoot-out action during which they won 7-6 in a thrilling the volleyball finish. match. Later, the hosts came back strongly and registered an easy victory over Oman in their second match of the day. They won the first half 12-8 and seal win by taking the last half 22-18. The hosts will meet Bahrain in their final match of the event tomorrow following a rest day The Qatar A team proved against Oman A after giving a In rowing, Qatar got the medal Today’s action at the GCC the ninth, gathers more than 300 today. too good for Bahrain A as they spirited show. Oman A won the when Ali Juma Hasan Bu Jaluf Beach Games includes football athletes from the six GCC mem- Meanwhile, Qatar’s outfits quashed their counterparts 2-0 first half 21-15 while Qatar B took bronze at the singles sculls. and volleyball matches apart from bers including Bahrain, Kuwait, experienced mixed fortunes in winning both the halves 21-15 and drew level by winning the next UAE won gold while Kuwait target sky diving contest. Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE quest for a medal in volleyball 21-18. half 21-19 before going down 12-15 secured silver medal in the five- The GCC Beach Games, which besides hosts Qatar. contest. In contrast, Qatar B outfit fell in the decisive session. nation event. began on April 3 and continue till THE PENINSULA In-form Guptill earns Test recall It was torture living WELLINGTON: Martin with cricket: Ajmal Guptill has been recalled to the New Zealand Test squad for KARACHI: Pakistani off- Australia. “I watched the World the two-match tour of England spinner Saeed Ajmal (pictured) Cup on television and for 45 days after the top-order batsman yesterday said he was delighted I wanted to enter the television finished top scorer at the recent his eight-month “torture” which and play alongside my teammates 50-over cricket World Cup. saw him suspended for an ille- and do my part,” he said. Guptill, whose last Test was also gal bowling action was finally “I felt they were missing me in England two years ago, scored over after being recalled to the as I was always effective in the 547 runs in nine matches at the national side. batting power-plays when I used event co-hosted by New Zealand The 37-year-old was named to to pick up wickets and that was and Australia, earning him a place the squad for all three formats of missing from our game.” in the squad announced by selec- the game for Pakistan’s upcoming Ajmal credited his family and tors on Saturday. tour of Bangladesh, eight months friends for helping him through New Zealand lost to Australia after his action was reported as the ordeal, and voiced hope he by seven wickets in the World suspect in Sri Lanka. would return to the form that Cup final on March 29. Ajmal was subsequently sus- made him the linchpin of the “This is a stable, established pended from all inter- Pakistani bowling Test side but there will be oppor- national cricket after attack. tunities for contenders,” coach a biomechanical analy- “I see no problems Mike Hesson said on the New sis showed his action with my remodelled Zealand Cricket website (www. transgressed beyond action as I have done blackcaps.co.nz). the 15-degree toler- enough work on it.” “Martin’s a classically styled ance limit allowed Before his sus- batsman and there’s really no rea- by the International pension in August, son why he can’t be as influential Cricket Council. Ajmal was ranked the in the longer game as he is in the “It was torture liv- number one bowler in short,” Hesson added of a player ing without cricket,” the world in one-day who averages just 29.62 in 31 test Ajmal said. cricket, and has 178 Test, 183 one- appearances. “I have endured eight months day and 85 Twenty20 wickets to Brendon McCullum has been of pain and it was the most dif- his name. named captain of the 15-player New Zealand’s Martin Guptill celebrates after reaching his double century in the ICC World Cup match against ficult time of my life.” The off-spinner, who admit- squad but will miss the two warm- the West Indies at the Wellington Regional Stadium in Wellington, in this March 21, 2015 file photo. Ajmal underwent remedial ted Pakistani cricket was going up matches ahead of the opening work on his action with the help through a difficult phase, never- test at Lord’s on May 21 due to of former Pakistan great Saqlain theless insisted the country, which domestic cricket commitments, with wicketkeeper BJ Watling “It’s another step up for Matt against South Africa, has been Mushtaq before being cleared hoisted the World Cup in 1992, taking charge of those contests. but we’ve been impressed by the picked in the limited-overs side following a reassessment test in had enough talent to recover. Paceman Matt Henry is the maturity and skill-set he’s already along with uncapped all-rounder February. “These are difficult times for NZ Test Squad only player in line to make his shown in the ODI format,” Hesson Mitchell Santner. He was unable, however, to Pakistan cricket but I am con- Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, Test debut on the tour, the right- added. Headingley will host the sec- join the national team for the vinced there is no dearth of talent Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Martin armer called up to replace injured Fast bowler Adam Milne, who ond Test from May 29 before five World Cup in Australia and New and in one year’s time the team Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Luke Ronchi, all-rounder Jimmy Neesham after was ruled out of the World Cup ODIs from June 9, ahead of the Zealand, where Pakistan made it will be settled through concerted Hamish Rutherford, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, also impressing at the World Cup due to a heel injury and replaced only T20 game of the tour at Old to the quarterfinals before being efforts and we all will do our best Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson. as a late replacement. by Henry before the semi-final Trafford on June 23. REUTERS ousted by eventual champions to lift our the team.” AFP SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Klose on target as Lazio keep pressure on Roma Serie A: Roma ends long wait with 1-0 win over Napoli

MILAN: Miroslav Klose ballooned over. Marco Parolo opened the scoring as Lazio made sure of the points with a secured a precious 3-1 away win piledriver of a free kick in extra- at Cagliari to keep the pressure time that left Brkic rooted to the on city rivals Roma yesterday as spot. they battle for Serie A’s second Pioli affirmed: “Today we automatic Champions League showed great character and fight qualifying spot. against a team that made life dif- Roma had earlier ended a four- ficult for us. month wait for victory at the “We’ll try to win every game Stadio Olimpico when Miralem left this season. At the end, we’ll Lazio’s Pjanic struck in the 25th minute look at how we’ve fared.” Miroslav to seal a 1-0 win for Rudi Garcia’s Elsewhere, AC Milan kept in Klose men over Napoli in the ‘Derby del the Europa League qualifying jubilates Sole’. hunt with a precious 2-1 win at after scoring The win closed the gap on lead- Palermo thanks to a fine late win- ers Juventus to 11 points but while ner from French forward Jeremy a goal it stretched their lead to four Menez. during the points over Lazio, Stefano Pioli’s Milan remain eighth but are Italian Serie men soon brought it back to a now six points off fifth-placed A game point with their seventh victory Napoli in the second and last against Barcelona’s players Argentine Leo Messi (left) and Sergi Roberto attend on the trot. league spot for the Europa League. Cagliari the team’s training session in Barcelona, Spain, yesterday. Lazio broke the deadlock on the It was Milan’s second succes- Calcio at half hour after some great work sive win but their first away since Sant’Elia by Felipe Anderson allowed an beating Verona 3-1 in October. Stadium unmarked Klose to tap in at the “We’ve taken three crucial in Cagliari, Messi fit for Celta trip back post. points and finally we’ve managed Sardinia Cagliari pulled level after the to win away. It’s a victory that Island, Italy, restart when Marco Sau fired a counts double,” said midfielder yesterday. deflected half-volley over ‘keeper Luca Antonelli. today after foot scare Federico Marchetti. City rivals Inter Milan, mean- Keita Balde came off the bench while, remain winless after five BARCELONA: Barcelona four-point lead over second- for Lazio and his first touch games. forward Lionel Messi is fit for placed Real Madrid in La Liga cut earned a penalty, with Lucas Coach Roberto Mancini and today’s trip to Celta Vigo in La to a point if Real beat Granada at Biglia stepping up to beat Zeljko Inter were booed by an unhappy Liga after a scare over a pos- home earlier today. Brkic. San Siro crowd following a dis- sible foot injury, coach Luis Luis Enrique’s men are in Keita won another penalty appointing 1-1 draw with crisis- Enrique said yesterday. with a chance of repeating 2009’s when he was brought down by hit Parma, who had Andi Lila to Messi, the top scorer in Spain’s unprecedented treble under Pep Modibo Diakite, who saw red thank for levelling Fredy Guarin’s top flight with 32 goals, did not Guardiola, when they won the for the foul, but this time Biglia deflected 25th minute strike. feature in either of Argentina’s Spanish league and Cup and the friendlies during the international Champions League. Inter sit in 10th place, three past Francesco Benussi. Roma’s break after sustaining a blow to Through to face Paris St points behind Milan, with nine first home win since a 4-2 defeat his right foot which caused swell- Germain in the last eight of games remaining this season. of Inter on November 30 was ing and inflammation. Europe’s elite club competition, “We weren’t clinical enough. welcomed by the Stadio Olimpico “He is perfectly fine, in perfect Barca will seek a record-extend- Tomorrow, the rest day is can- crowd, and Garcia told Sky Sport: condition from what we have seen ing 27th King’s Cup crown when celled. We’ll be training,” Mancini “Hats off to the lads, although we during training,” Luis Enrique they play Athletic Bilbao in the told Sky Sport. should have sewn it up by scoring told a news conference. final at the Nou Camp on May 30. Cesena, meanwhile, boosted a second goal early on. “Players are used to it and Leo “All the titles are nice and they their bid to stave off relegation Napoli have now suffered three and the rest of the strikers know all have their complicated side,” by securing a point in a stunning defeats in a five-game winless run that it is a part of their career in Luis Enrique said. 3-3 draw at Verona after the hosts that has severely dented their football,” added the former Spain “We just have to focus on con- had raced to a three-goal lead chances of Champions League and Barca midfielder. tinuing to do what we have been thanks to in part to a Luca Toni football. “This kind of knock can develop doing all season.” brace which took his tally for the Benitez refused to point the fin- positively so that the pain disap- Barca, who have won 18 of season to 15. ger of blame but admitted their pears in two or three days or it their 20 matches since the turn Cesena’s fightback was bid to seize the league’s second can get more complicated. of the year, also have La Liga launched by Carlos Carbonero automatic qualifying place was “But he has been fine since he games at home to Almeria and on 70 minutes and was truly on now “difficult”. arrived back. The knock is still away at Sevilla before they play when Franco Brienza hit a stun- “With nine points (deficit) it’s there but he has recovered.” their Champions League quarter- ning free kick on 75 minutes. now looking difficult, but we still When they run out at Celta, final, first leg at PSG on April 15. Verona were then left stunned have nine games to play,” said Barca could have seen their REUTERS Fiorentina’s Mohamed Salah runs for the ball during their Serie A match nine minutes from time when the Spaniard. “If we play as we against Sampdoria at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, yesterday. Davide Succi got to a through did today then I expect us to win ball into the area to poke the ball many of those games.” AFP PSG coach Blanc unhappy at scheduling of Marseille clash

PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc yester- day hit out at the decision to schedule his side’s crunch clash with Marseille, known as the Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez scores against Sevilla during a La Liga Classique, for the weekend match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, in this February immediately after an interna- 2015 file photo. tional break. “To play the Classique after this international break is not the best of ideas. I only had the whole Rodriguez to make squad available yesterday, includ- ing two Argentinians who came back yesterday morning with their heads all over the place,” Real Madrid return Blanc said ahead of tonight’s showdown. MADRID: Colombian World Santiago Bernabeu kicks off a “There is nothing we can do Cup star James Rodriguez will busy month for the European about it. They did three laps of start for Real Madrid against champions with seven La Liga the pitch.” Granada today after a two games in 27 days, as well as a PSG had 10 first-team regu- month layoff with a foot injury, Champions League quarter- lars away with their countries Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has final against city rivals Atletico over the last week, including confirmed. Madrid. Argentina’s Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodriguez fractured the fifth However, Ancelotti believes his Javier Pastore, who were involved metatarsal in his right foot during squad is fresher than at this time in friendly matches in the US. a 2-1 win over Sevilla at the start last season and can still overcome “A match like this deserves a Paris Saint-Germain’s French head coach Laurent Blanc (right) speaks to midfielder Marco Verratti (centre) next of February and his absence has Barcelona in the title race. week’s preparation. Everyone’s to forward Edinson Cavani during a training session, yesterday in western Paris. coincided with Real’s decline in “We are convinced that the expecting great football and goals recent weeks as they surrendered league is still wide open, but we in a game like this, but I don’t a four-point lead over Barcelona cannot slip up. We need to try to think the players will be in the the Ligue 1 title. PSG started the “We need to hold on to first games in the next 24 days for at the top of La Liga to now trail win all the remaining games.” best condition, especially the weekend a point clear of Lyon at place. When you are first, if you Paris, who had wanted next the Catalans by four points. “It is true that in January and South Americans. the top of the table, with Marseille don’t slip up you have your des- Wednesday’s French Cup semi- “He will start the game,” February we dipped, but the team “It’s a shame, but I think a lit- another point back in third. tiny in your hands. With eight final against Saint-Etienne to be Ancelotti said at his pre-match is fresh and desperate to win. We tle more coherence would have “Given how open the league is, games left it is not a bad position postponed until a later date but press conference yesterday. come into this period in better allowed the game to be scheduled one can imagine that the very last to be in,” Blanc added. saw their request rejected. “He is fine. Tomorrow I will shape than last year.” on another date.” match will be decisive. This will be Brazilian winger Lucas, who They face Bastia in the League give a rest to (Sami) Khedira Isco’s suspension means that The game at the Stade an important game between two has not played since mid-Febru- Cup final next Saturday and and (Dani) Carvajal, Isco is sus- Rodriguez’s return doesn’t Velodrome, the biggest fixture in contenders for the title but there ary, will again be missing for Paris then take on Barcelona in the pended for one game and the rest threaten Gareth Bale’s place in French football, could be crucial are only three points at stake,” but everyone else is available. Champions League quarter-final are available.” the side at least for this weekend’s in determining who goes on to win said the coach. This will be the first of eight first leg on April 15. AFP The visit of Granada to the matches. AFP SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring a goal against Aston Villa during a English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday. CENTRE: Chelsea’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois falls into his own goal after chasing back but failing to keep out a long-range shot from Stoke City’s Scottish midfielder Charlie Adam (not pictured), at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday. RIGHT: Arsenal’s French striker Olivier Giroud applauds the supporters after their match against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday. Chelsea survive Adam missile as Arsenal pummel Liverpool Herrera, regal Rooney send Man United to third while struggling QPR, Leicester win

LONDON: Chelsea weathered half-time. Arsenal manager Wenger. “It was at Old Trafford to claim third Rangers and Leicester City both Meyler sent off for a reckless foul an extraordinary 65-yard goal But Loic Remy gave Chelsea an important game today. We had place and move eight points clear improved their chances of avoid- on Kyle Naughton. AFP by Charlie Adam to re-estab- victory in the 62nd minute, tap- the chance to make a difference of Liverpool. ing relegation with victories, lish their seven-point lead at ping home a pass from Hazard with Liverpool and we took the Ander Herrera scored twice the former winning 4-1 at West the Premier League summit after Willian had intercepted chance.” for the hosts and Wayne Rooney Bromwich Albion and the latter English Premier with a 2-1 defeat of Stoke City Asmir Begovic’s throw, to leave Beaten 2-1 by Manchester found the net with a stunning beating West Ham United 2-1. yesterday. Jose Mourinho’s side seven points United before the international shot on the turn, while Christian Eduardo Vargas, Charlie League Results Arsenal had trimmed Chelsea’s clear with a game in hand. break, Liverpool have now lost Benteke replied for Villa with a Austin, Bobby Zamora, with an LONDON: English Premier lead to four points by blitzing Arsenal had earlier dealt twice in succession and were left tame effort that crept underneath exquisite lob from wide on the League results yesterday: Liverpool 4-1 and a twist appeared Liverpool’s Champions League seven points below the top four David de Gea. right, and Joey Barton scored for Arsenal 4 (Bellerin 37, Ozil 40, Sanchez in store when Adam cancelled out qualification hopes a massive blow after United beat Aston Villa 3-1. “We are still not certain about QPR at The Hawthorns, with sub- 45, Giroud 90+1) Liverpool 1 (Henderson Eden Hazard’s 39th-minute pen- with a stylish victory that lifted Liverpool manager Brendan Champions League qualification stitute Victor Anichebe heading 76-pen) alty in show-stopping fashion at Arsene Wenger’s side to second Rodgers admitted that it would — it is still a rat race,” said United in a consolation for West Brom. Stamford Bridge. place. be “very, very difficult” for his manager Louis van Gaal, whose Andy King gave Leicester vic- Chelsea 2 (Hazard 39-pen, Remy 62) Stoke A minute before half-time, the Arsenal scored three times in a side — previously unbeaten in side have won five games in a row. tory at the King Power Stadium 1 (Adam 44) Scottish midfielder picked up a dizzying eight-minute spell imme- 13 games — to secure a place in “But we have given a blow to in the 86th minute after Esteban Leicester 2 (Cambiasso 12, King 86) West loose ball deep inside his own half diately prior to half-time at the the top four and return to the Liverpool and Southampton also Cambiasso’s thumping opener Ham 1 (Kouyate 32) and launched a raking shot with Emirates Stadium, with Hector Champions League. lost. It is a big gap. Now we have for the hosts had been cancelled Manchester United 3 (Herrera 43, 90+2, his left foot that Chelsea goal- Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, from a direct “It was a game we needed to to wait to see if the gap is too big out by West Ham midfielder Rooney 79) Aston Villa 1 (Benteke 80) keeper Thibaut Courtois could free-kick, and Alexis Sanchez on take something from,” Rodgers for Tottenham, too.” Cheikhou Kouyate. Swansea 3 (Ki 18, Gomis 37, 90+1) Hull 1 only help into the net. target. told BT Sport. “Today is a big dis- While Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester remain bottom, but (McShane 50) It was a goal that brought to Jordan Henderson hit back appointment, but we didn’t defend a point behind Liverpool, visit are now four points from safety, Everton 1 (Jagielka 16) Southampton 0 mind David Beckham’s famous with a 76th-minute penalty, but well enough in key moments of Burnley on Sunday, sixth-place while QPR closed to within a point West Brom 1 (Anichebe 58) QPR 4 (Vargas lob against Wimbledon in 1996 after Emre Can was sent off for the game.” Southampton spurned a chance of fourth-bottom Sunderland. 15, Austin 37, Zamora 43, Barton 90+5) and Chelsea’s cause was further two bookable offences, Olivier Champions Manchester City to break into the top five after In the day’s other game, Sunday’s Matches harmed when Diego Costa limped Giroud slammed home Arsenal’s slipped to fourth place ahead of Phil Jagielka’s 16th-minute goal Bafetimbi Gomis scored twice to off with a hamstring injury 10 fourth in stoppage time. their trip to Crystal Palace on saw them beaten 1-0 at Everton. earn Swansea City a 3-1 win at Burnley vs Tottenham (1230 GMT), minutes after coming on at “It was a very great day,” said Monday after United sank Villa Meanwhile, Queens Park home to Hull City, who had David Sunderland vs Newcastle (1500 GMT) Atletico Madrid leapfrog Monaco and St Etienne lose Valencia in battle for third ground after stalemate

MADRID: Atletico Madrid PARIS: Monaco came back turned up the heat on Valencia to earn a 1-1 draw at home to in the battle for La Liga’s third Saint-Etienne on Friday as both automatic Champions League teams lost ground on the lead- berth when club top scorer ing trio at the top of Ligue 1. Antoine Griezmann set them on Two-time defending champions the way to a 2-0 stroll at bottom Paris Saint-Germain continue to side Cordoba yesterday. lead Lyon by a point, and today’s The victory for the champions opponents Marseille by two, at Cordoba’s El Arcangel stadium while Monaco climb within five in balmy Andalucia lifted Atletico of the capital club in fourth, hav- above Valencia and onto 62 points ing played the same number of from 29 matches. Valencia have 60 matches. points in fourth and can reclaim Saint-Etienne remain solid in third spot with a win at home to fifth and six points off the pace sixth-placed Villarreal today. having played a game more. France forward Griezmann “We have some regrets, yes. I struck his 15th league goal of the think we had the best chances, campaign in the fifth minute after the best situations, even before Monaco’s French forward Anthony Martial (right) celebrates after scoring a stealing the ball, surging forward scoring,” said Saint-Etienne coach goal against Saint-Etienne during a Ligue 1 match at the Louis II Stadium from midfield and cracking a Christophe Galtier. in Monaco on Friday night. precise low shot into the bottom Mevlut Erding put the visitors corner. in front 28 minutes from time top flight then locked up shop as but finally reached the summit Midfielder Saul Niguez, return- with a glorious glancing header neither team were able to find a after beating Lorient 3-1 in their ing from injury, nodded a second that stunned the home crowd late winner. last outing a fortnight ago. in the 39th before Cordoba had a following a cross from Franck “I’m disappointed because our Blanc’s side have dominated the couple of decent efforts in the sec- Atletico Madrid players celebrate during a La Liga match against Cordoba Tabanou. aim is always to win,” said Jardim. fixture known as ‘Le Classique’ in ond half but could not avoid slip- at the El Arcangel Stadium in Cordoba yesterday. Turkish international and “But we were up against good recent years, with their 2-0 win at ping to a 10th successive reverse. former Paris Saint-Germain opponents who knew how to get the Parc des Princes in November One more loss at Deportivo La since sustaining a painful blow behind leaders Barcelona. striker Erding, 28, met the ball in behind us. That created diffi- their sixth in a row against OM. Coruna on Wednesday and they to the kidneys in the Champions Real, who have lost three of perfectly as he ran into the box culties for us.” With their main rivals fac- will equal the worst run in Spain’s League game at Bayer Leverkusen their last four games in all com- and sent his header past the PSG can strike a major blow in ing each other, Lyon will hope to top flight of 11 defeats suffered by at the end of February. petitions, host Granada and Barca stranded Danijel Subasic and into the title race by continuing their take advantage when they go to Las Palmas in 1960. “The team is in good shape, you play at Celta Vigo on Sunday. the Monaco goal. impressive recent record against Guingamp on Saturday. “It was not an easy game at all can see in training that we have Europa League champions However, the lead was short- Marseille when the bitter rivals Elsewhere, Bordeaux, in sixth, and the rhythm was slow because the same excitement and desire Sevilla, the only side unbeaten lived as Leonardo Jardim’s men meet at the Stade Velodrome host Lens today, while bottom side of the heat,” Saul said in an inter- to win as always and that is the at home in La Liga this season, were back on level terms six min- today. Metz were scheduled to entertain view with Spanish television. most important thing.” have 58 points in fifth after they utes later when Anthony Martial Laurent Blanc’s side, who are fellow strugglers Toulouse and “But it was a good win for us Atletico also stayed hard on beat visiting King’s Cup finalists clipped the ball home when picked still in the running for four tro- Lorient were scheduled to host which we needed,” added the the heels of second-placed Real Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at the Sanchez out inside the area. phies, have spent most of the sea- Brittany rivals Rennes late yes- 20-year-old, who has not played Madrid, who have 64 points, four Pizjuan. REUTERS The two best defences in the son playing catch-up at the top terday night. AFP Sunday 5 April 2015 16 Jumada II 1436 Volume 20 Number 6391 Sport Price: QR2

Djokovic, Arsenal, United Murray set to keep up chase clash in final on Chelsea

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Sania, Martina in Miami Al Shahaniya postpone doubles final MIAMI: The Indo-Swiss ten- nis combine of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis reached their second successive wom- en’s doubles final when they Lekhwiya’s title party entered the summit clash of the Miami Open with a straight sets win at the Tennis Faint hope rekindled for Sadd as league leaders fail to wrap up trophy Center at Crandon Park here. The top seeds defeated the Hungarian-French pairing DOHA: Earlier last week Al of Timea Babos and Kristina Sadd coach Hussein Ammouta Mladenovic 6-2, 6-4 in exactly had hoped for a “gift” from Al an hour yesterday. Shahaniya in the form of a win Sania and Martina will against league leaders Lekhwiya. take on Russian second seeds Yesterday his wish half came Ekaterina Makarova and Elena true, as 13th-placed Al Shahaniya Vesnina in the final today whom pulled off an unlikely 3-3 draw they had defeated last month against Michael Laudrup’s side — in Indian Wells to win their thereby giving Ammouta’s team maiden tournament as a pair. an outside chance of winning the Though the top seeds served Qatar Stars League title. twice the number of double Al Sadd also did their part by faults, they were better in every thrashing Al Gharafa 5-1 yester- other aspect of the game than day to reduce Lekhwiya’s lead to their seventh seeded opponents. five points. Crucially, Sania and Martina Two goals by Hamza Haji and won five of the available break- strikes by Yousuf Ahmed, Muriqui points to that of two out of 10 and Grafite swayed the game in chances for Timea and Kristina. Al Sadd’s favour while Claudiu “We’re still learning to play Keseru pulled one back for Al with each other so it’s good to Gharafa. play against a tough team like After yesterday’s draw, that. They’re really good,” Sania Lekhwiya now have to wait until said. April 12, when they face Al Ahli, “We were down a break in the to try and wrap up their fourth first set so we’re happy we were league title in five years. able to get it back and win the Meanwhile, Al Shahaniya first set 6-2. We’re just happy to remain in 13th place, one point be in another final now.” behind Al Wakrah. Their opponents in the final THE PENINSULA — Ekaterina and Elena — over- came Czech ninth seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka QSL Results 6-4, 6-2 in the other semi-final. Al Sadd 5 (Y. Ahmed 5’, H. Alsenhaji 7’, H. Asked what they would be Alsenhaji 26’, Muriqui 64’, Grafite 71’) Al doing to defeat the Russian Gharafa 1 (C. Keseru 29’) girls, Sania quipped, “The Lekhwiya 3 (Y. Msakni 25’, L. Martin 40’, Y. same as we did last week! We Msakni 90+2’) Al Shahaniya (L. Vazquez 23’, just have to keep focused and F. Khalfan 53’, F. Khalfan 53’) fight for every point. I keep saying this — names don’t win Al Sailiya 3 (F. Aaish 8’, I. Jemaa 13’, H. A. Al you matches, neither does any 48’) Umm-Salal 2 (T. Sanli 49’, T. Sanli 72’) Al Sadd’s Luiz Guilherme Silva, popularly known as Muriqui, is tackled by Al Gharafa’s Hamed Shami Zaher during a Qatar Stars League (QSL) match at Al Sadd Satdium yesterday. RIGHT: Al Shahaniya’s Mahmoud Mohamed Attia and Lekhwiya’s Nam Tae-hee vie for possession of the ball during a result. Every day is a different Qatar SC 2 (H. Harbaoui 22’, L. Diaby 45’) Al day.” IANS Wakrah 1 (I. Belmaalem 18’) QSL match at the Lekhwiya Stadium in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: SALIM MATRAMKOT AND KAMMUTTY VP Lewandowski seals Bayern victory at ex-club Dortmund

BERLIN: Robert Lewandowski free-kick was superbly saved by Herrmann then claimed his Gladbach with a 3-1 win at home scored against his ex-club Manuel Neuer as Borussia suf- tenth goal of the season when to bottom VfB Stuttgart. Borussia Dortmund yesterday fered their first league defeat he netted after a quick thrown Swiss midfielder Ricardo to seal Bayern Munich’s 1-0 win since the start of February. on from Kruse with 51 minutes Rodriguez converted a penalty which keeps them on course for Bayern’s Spain midfielder gone. and a free-kick either side of half- a third Bundesliga title. Thiago Alcantara came on for Fourth-placed Leverkusen time before ex-Chelsea winger Lewandowski’s first-half header his first appearance since March also underlined their Champions Andre Schuerrle came off the clinched Bayern’s win which left 2014 following back-to-back knee League pedigree by putting bench to add their third. them 10 points clear at the top of injuries, but Germany captain Hamburg to the sword. Freiburg find themselves three- the table with seven games left. Bastian Schweinsteiger limped With the team third from bot- points clear of the relegation zone In recent years, the tie has been off with an ankle knock with 58 tom and on course for a first rel- after their 1-0 win at home to dubbed Germany’s ‘Der Klassiker’, minutes gone. egation from Germany’s top flight, Cologne while Hanover dropped but the defeat leaves last season’s Munich’s World Cup-winner Hamburg sacked Joe Zinnbauer to just above the bottom three runners-up Dortmund 10th, but Mario Goetze came on for the last ten days ago, but his successor with a 2-2 draw at Eintracht now 15 points from a Champions ten minutes against his former Peter Knaebel could only watch Frankfurt. League place after poor results club to a symphony of whistles at as his team was thrashed. Hanover’s Ivory Coast striker this season. Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion. Midfielder Gonzalo Castro Didier Ya Konan rescued his team “Bayern weren’t the better Earlier, Borussia gave Leverkusen the lead at the with a late equaliser, his first for team, but they were more effec- Moenchengladbach and Bayer BayArena by firing into an empty the north German club since tive and took their chances,” Leverkusen posted big wins as the net after Germany winger Karim his six month sojourn at Saudi said Dortmund captain Mats battle for third-place intensified. Bellarabi had pulled the Hamburg Arabian side Al Ittihad Jeddah. Hummels. The Bundesliga’s top three defence apart with only seven AFP “They only had a couple of qualify automatically for the minutes gone. chances and we were unlucky to Champions League. A diving header from Bundesliga Results lose.” With seven games now left, Leverkusen striker Stefan Their victory merely underlines third-placed Gladbach enjoyed Kiessling just before half-time German Bundesliga results Bayern’s domination in Germany an impressive 4-1 come-back win gave Roger Schmidt’s Bayer yesterday: and came without injured stars at Hoffenheim which keeps them a 2-0 half-time lead before Bayer Leverkusen 4 (Castro 7, Kiessling 44, David Alaba, Arjen Robben and two-points clear of Leverkusen, Kiessling added their third after 56) Hamburg 0 Franck Ribery. who posted a 4-0 win at home to a goal-mouth scramble with the VfL Wolfsburg 3 (Rodriguez 41-pen, 65, “It was tight up until the very over hapless Hamburg. Hamburg defence pulled to pieces Schuerrle 76) VfB Stuttgart 1 (Harnik 44) end,” said Bayern captain Philipp Hosts Hoffenheim took the lead on 56 minutes. Hoffenheim 1 (Schipplock 17) Bor. Lahm. at home to Gladbach when for- Just seven minutes later, Moenchengladbach 4 (Kruse 26-pen, “We defended well but we ward Sven Schipplock enjoyed a Leverkusen added their fourth Herrmann 31, 51, Raffael 36) didn’t do well with less posses- simple tap-in on 17 minutes, but when Kiessling’s pass found Werder Bremen 0 Mainz 05 0 sion than we are used to. It was a Gladbach proved their mettle Bellarabi to lay the ball off for Eintracht Frankfurt 2 (Madlung 27, Aigner 54) hard-fought win.” with three goals in ten first-half Castro, who hit the top corner Hanover 96 2 (Marcelo 69, Ya Konan 82) The visitors took the lead when minutes. and claimed his second of the Freiburg 1 (Frantz 37) Cologne 0 Thomas Mueller’s shot rebounded First Germany striker Max game. off Roman Weidenfeller’s foot and Kruse drilled home a penalty, Leverkusen host Bayern in the Borussia Dortmund 0 Bayern Munich 1 (Lewandowski 36) Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng (right) congratulates Robert Lewandowski Lewandowski headed home the then Patrick Herrmann added German Cup quarter-final on Sunday’s Matches after the latter scored a goal against Borussia Dortmund during a Bundesliga rebound on 36 minutes. a second before Brazilian striker Wednesday. match at the Signal-Iduna-Park in Dortmund yesterday. Dortmund’s best chance was Raffael scored on 36 minutes to Second-placed Wolfsburg Augsburg vs Schalke 04 (1330), Hertha Berlin when Marco Reus’ second-half make it 3-1 at the break. remain seven points clear of vs Paderborn (1530)