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SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 • 1 Jumada II 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6376 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir monitoring workers’ QFIS building opens welfare, says Blatter ‘2022 World Cup will be a catalyst for positive social change’ DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh actions on its preparations for Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is the 2022 event.” personally following up on the FIFA to change voting system “FIFA can send at any time steps being taken to improve individuals or committees to fol- the condition of workers in low up on the work progressing Qatar, says FIFA. to pick World Cup hosts on the ground,” said Blatter. Qatar does not only have FIFA DOHA: FIFA says the questions that were raised over Qatar Talking about the 2018 World 2022-related projects. It has winning the right to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 have Cup fixture in Russia, he called long-term infrastructure projects led it to introduce a slew of key reforms and ensure more for an end to “political interfer- as well, so it wants to improve transparency. ence in sports” by the European the situation of all workers, said “FIFA has taken this issue seriously — the issue of Qatar win- Parliament and said the 2018 fix- the FIFA chief. ning the 2022 bid by 14 to eight votes in a secret ballot voting,” ture will indeed take place there. These are long-term projects said Secretary-General of the world soccer governing body, Jerome “The World Cup will take place related to Qatar’s future and Valcke. in Russia in 2018, that’s sure,” that’s why the welfare of all work- FIFA is working to avoid issues that create suspicions, and said Blatter. “They are work- ers and not only those engaged in developing a new voting system to select hosts for the 2026 and ing very hard and a boycott of FIFA projects is important for 2030 World Cup tournaments. a World Cup or of any sporting the country, said Sepp Blatter. “In the general assembly meeting of FIFA in 2019 this new and event has never brought any “It is clear that Qatar takes transparent voting system will be developed,” Valcke was quoted solutions to anybody.” its responsibility as host (of 2022 by Qatar News Agency (QNA) as saying in Zurich yesterday. “On the contrary, in Russia, World Cup) seriously and sees There will be a new system in 2019 for holding both rounds of the World Cup will be able to the event as a catalyst for posi- voting that are needed to select the hosts of the 2026 and 2030 stabilise the situation this region tive social change,” he said. events. of Europe is suffering from. I am The head of the world soccer There will be transparency and a monitoring system in place sure football is stronger than any governing body was addressing a with extensive rules. “We must put the past behind,” he said of other movement.” news conference in Zurich yes- the recent controversies. Football is never affected by terday after a FIFA executive About the winter schedule of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be wars, Blatter said. committee meeting, Qatar News held in Qatar, he said all soccer clubs were important. About his election, he said he Agency (QNA) reported. “Without their involvement there wouldn’t be the 2022 FIFA was fully confident of victory and “During my visit to Qatar event. We must look at future with optimism. We at FIFA have would not be pressed into taking last Saturday and Sunday, I dis- agreed to hold the final on Qatar’s National Day in 2022.” decisions to suit others’ agenda. cussed a number of important THE PENINSULA Having been in senior admin- issues, including the November- Continued on page 3 istrative positions in sports for December schedule of holding 40 years, out of them 17 years as FIFA 2022.” preparations for the World Cup.” Things are going in the right FIFA president, Blatter said his Blatter said his meeting It was encouraging to hear the direction in all respects with long, unbeatable experience was with the Emir had a positive Emir’s personal commitment to regard to Qatar’s preparations his strength and consequently, H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, outcome. “During my stay in workers’ welfare and to get a sense for the 2022 World Cup, he said. his poll plank. touring the new building of Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) Doha I also discussed the issue of the improvements planned for “Qatar’s doors are open and THE PENINSULA in Education City yesterday. The building was inaugurated under her of workers who are involved in all workers in Qatar, said Blatter. it welcomes visits and follow-up See also page 22 patronage with the first Friday Prayer at the Education City Mosque. See also page 2 IS bombs mosques Deadlocked Iran nuclear in Yemen; 142 dead talks break off

SANA’A: Multiple suicide of Saada, a source close to the LAUSANNE: Iran and six bombings claimed by the Islamic militia said. world powers suspended nego- State group killed at least Only the assailant was killed, tiations on a nuclear agreement 142 people yesterday at Shia and tight security at the mosque and were set to meet again next mosques in Yemen’s capital. prevented the bomber from going week to break a deadlock over The killings were the first inside, the source added. sensitive atomic research and claimed by IS in Yemen. In an online statement, the lifting of sanctions, Western The blasts, which targeted sup- Sana’a branch of IS said the officials said yesterday. porters of the Houthi Shia militia attacks were “just the tip of the While the negotiations have that has seized control of the capi- iceberg”. made progress over the past year tal Sana’a. “Infidel Houthis should know and both sides appear deter- One suicide bomber struck that the soldiers of the Islamic mined to push for a deal, differ- inside Badr mosque in southern State will not rest until they eradi- ences on sticking points are still Sana’a while another targeted cate them... and cut off the arm wide enough to potentially prevent worshippers as they fled outside, of the Safavid (Iranian) plan in an agreement in the end. France witnesses said. Yemen,” the statement said. was demanding more stringent A third suicide bomber targeted The Houthis are accused of restrictions on the Iranians under Al Hashush mosque in northern receiving support from Iran. any deal than the other Western Sana’a, while a fourth struck out- Al Qaeda in the Arabian delegations, officials said. side the mosque, according to the Peninsula issued a statement say- On the sixth day of talks, Saba news agency, which is now ing it had nothing to do with the plans for the delegations changed controlled by the Houthis. bombings. repeatedly. At one point, the for- The bus that rammed into waiting passengers at the Al Ghanim bus terminal yesterday. Nashwan Al Atab, a member of “We stress that we abide by eign ministers of France, Britain the health ministry’s operations the instructions of Sheikh Ayman and Germany were expected to committee, said 142 people were Zawahiri, to avoid targeting join the talks today. killed and at least 351 wounded. mosques and markets... to protect But less than an hour later, the Another suicide bomber blew the lives of innocent Muslims,” it Iranian delegation informed their Five hurt in bus terminal crash himself up outside a mosque in said. AFP US, British, French, Germany, the northern Houthi stronghold See also page 5 Russian and Chinese counter- DOHA: At least five people area close to a cafeteria. The slowly, eyewitnesses said. The parts that they were return- were injured, some seriously, bus, sources said, was approach- barriers were moved by the force ing to Tehran due to the death when a Karwa bus rammed into ing the stand when the driver, of of the impact. of President Hassan Rowhani’s waiting commuters at the Al African nationality, lost control Soon after the mishap, Al 90-year-old mother yesterday. Ghanim main bus station last and rammed into the commuters. Fazaa and Civil Defence person- Tehran’s delegation checked out evening — the third accident in Some of the injured were sit- nel, as well as an ambulance, Arabic pledge sparks row in US school of the hotel and headed to the air- the terminus in two years. ting on concrete barriers in front came to the scene of the accident NEW YORK: It was intended to celebrate language and diversity. port. All sides agreed a resumption Two of the injured are said to of the waiting area. The barriers to take the injured to a hospital. But reading the pledge of allegiance in Arabic at a US high school late next week was likely. be African nationals while one were placed by the public trans- This was the third accident in sparked a furious backlash in upstate New York. Prior to the Iranian depar- is Indian. The two others are port company to protect wait- the bus terminus in two years. Wednesday’s incident at Pine Bush High School, 128 km northwest ture, US Secretary of State Bangladeshis working as drivers ing commuters in the wake of On August 11, 2013, 13 people of New York City, angered students, parents and residents. John Kerry, Energy Secretary in the state-owned transport the last accident three months were injured, some seriously, The initial plan to celebrate National Foreign Language week was Ernest Moniz, Iranian Foreign company. ago, which claimed four lives and when a public bus rammed into that students would read the daily American pledge of allegiance in a Minister Mohammad Javad The mishap, eyewitnesses injured two persons. waiting passengers. A similar different language each day. But when an Arabic-speaking pupil did Zarif and Iranian Atomic Energy said, happened at around 5 pm. The bus station was busy, it accident happened on December so, she was harassed and called a terrorist. Organisation chief Ali Akbar According to them, a bus bound being a Friday, but amazingly 12 last year, killing four people Pine Bush Central School District apologised and said that from now Salehi held another series of meet- for Al Khor ploughed into a group only a few people were injured and injuring two. on, the pledge of allegiance will be recited only in English. ings to break the impasse. of commuters in the waiting because the bus was moving THE PENINSULA AFP REUTERS SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Sheikha Moza inaugurates new building of QFIS Innovative architectural design inspired by Islamic heritage, values DOHA: Under the patron- age of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation of Education, Science and Community Development (QF), Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies (QFIS) officially opened its new building by holding its first Friday prayer at Education City Mosque, led by Sheikh Saleh Al Maghamsy. Sheikha Moza toured the www.swiss-belhotel.com building, starting from the five columns representing the five Tel pillars of Islam, the library and Fax classrooms. She was accompa- nied by Engineer Saad Ibrahim Al Muhannadi, President, QF, Dr Ahmad Hasnah, Provost Tel and Executive Vice-President, Fax Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Dr Aicha Al Mannai, Dean, QFIS, and architects. As a college of HBKU, a mem- ber of QF, QFIS was set up in Tel 2007. The opening of the new H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation of Education, Science and Community Fax building demonstrates its con- Development (QF), performs Friday prayers at Education City Mosque. tinuous growth and development to serve the higher education 47 countries, including 36 per- in Islamic Finance, Public Policy for Islamic Moderation and needs of Qatar and wider Islamic cent from Qatar. To date, some in Islam, and Islamic Studies. Renewal; Centre for Islamic Tel + 974 44298888 societies. 198 students have graduated, Faculty includes the Centre Economics and Finance; Centre Dr Hasnah said: “QFIS has including 64 last year. for Islamic Legislation and for the Study of Contemporary Fax worked to fulfil QF’s vision and QFIS programmes include Ethics (CILE) set up in 2011 to Muslim Societies; and mission by unlocking human Master’s courses in Islamic address Islamic legislation and Mohammed Bin Hamad Al potential. It strives to provide Studies in Contemporary Fiqh, ethics. Thani Centre for Muslim Tel the best education, help stu- Public Policy in Islam, Islamic It specialises in methodology, Contribution to Civilization. dents realise their potential and Finance, Study of Contemporary arts, environment, economics, Within the four-story build- Fax spread a culture of creativity and Muslim Thought and Societies, education, food, gender studies, ing, the QF Community will enlightenment that balances a Urban design and Architecture media, medicine and bioethics, experience an open and inviting commitment to traditions along- in Islamic societies, and migration and human rights, campus-like atmosphere at the Tel side innovation.” Islamic Studies in Comparative politics and psychology. that includes a library and study Fax QFIS has 114 students for the Religions. The college has five research facilities. 2015-2016 academic year, from It also offers three diplomas, centres: Al Qaradawi Centre THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax www.doha.hilton.com WISH calls for action on dementia DOHA: World Innovation together more than 400 poli- of new cases. Dr Shekhar Saxena, Director, Tel 44233333 974+ Summit for Health (WISH), cymakers, healthcare experts “Recognising this, Qatar Department for Mental Fax 44233000 974+ a global initiative of Qatar and NGOs from 80 countries was pleased to welcome some Health and Substance Abuse, Foundation (QF) sup- to address the increasing glo- of the world’s leading dementia WHO, and Mental Health ported the first Ministerial bal threat posed by dementia experts, many of whom are in Forum Co-chair, WISH, said, Conference on Global Action and its impact on health and this room, to Doha last month “Dementia is a burden and Against Dementia organised development. as part of the community of overwhelming not only for the by World Health Organisation The WISH team highlighted leaders convened by WISH. individual who has it, but also (WHO) in Geneva. QF’s mission to inspire and “Qatar whole-heartedly for their caregivers, families Following the recent pub- promote healthcare develop- embraces aspirations of this and society. There is often a lication of WISH 2015 report ment and reform through a conference. We applaud WHO lack of awareness and under- ‘A Call To Action: The Global global network of policymakers, for convening it, with support standing of dementia, resulting Tel Response To Dementia academics and industry leaders. of the UK and OECD.” in stigmatisation and barriers Through Policy Innovation’, a Noor Al Sada, Second Participants signed a call to diagnosis and care.” Fax WISH delegation took part in Secretary, Permanent Mission for action against dementia, No treatments are available the forum, also supported by of Qatar to UN Office, told including raising the prior- to cure or alter the progressive the UK’s Department of Health the meeting: “The incidence of ity accorded to global action course of dementia although and Organization for Economic dementia is rising at an alarm- against dementia on the agen- new therapies are being investi- Tel Cooperation and Development ing rate, most notably in lower- das of high-level forums and gated in various stages of clini- Fax (OECD). and middle-income countries, meetings of national and inter- cal trials. The two-day meeting brought which account for the majority national leaders. THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax Indian Cultural Festival concludes DOHA: The Indian Cultural A henna tattoo stall drew clothes from sari and Punjabi to the event. Tel Festival concluded yesterday a large number of young girls in bright colours and portraits A replica of India Gate, a Fax with a huge turnout of visitors as henna is considered a sign of yoga, which is not only a sport national edifice and a massive who enjoyed shows and activi- of joy, celebration and style in but also a means of achieving war monument in the heart of ties. The two-day event, ‘A India. One stall represented the mental clarity and relaxation, New Delhi, was erected at the Passage to India’, was organ- southern state of Karnataka, and good health. venue. Tel ised by the Indian embassy in where sari designs and stun- Folk shows and dances Built between 1921 and 1931, collaboration with Katara. ning photographs of India were depicted specific stories, the arch shaped gate commemo- Fax Opposite Katara displayed. happy occasions and official rates about 90,000 Indian sol- Amphitheatre were 40 stalls The Ponjaya stall exhibited celebrations. diers in the British-Indian that exhibited handicrafts, portraits and paintings on glass Some members of the Indian army, who sacrificed their lives clothes, food and services to and silk depicting the journeys community came to the festival in World War I and the Afghan Tel hundreds of visitors from vari- of silk and spices to India. in traditional clothes, adding War for the Indian Empire. Fax ous communities. There were traditional colour and festive atmosphere THE PENINSULA Handicrafts market

Tel Fax

Tel Fax www.marriottmarquisdoha.com

Tel + 974 44195000 Fax + 974 44195100

Visitors at the 12th handicrafts market at Katara yesterday. ABDUL BASIT SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar to host Condolences sent Plan to merge Police College, to Iran president global forum DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of condolences to on freedom Iranian President Dr Hassan training institute into academy Rouhani following the death of his mother, paying to Allah of speech the Almighty to rest her soul DOHA: Human rights in peace and grant her family experts from the US and Ministry of Interior to invite tenders soon, work to finish in two years and loved ones forbearance and Europe will talk about free- consolation. dom of speech in their socie- DOHA: Brigadier Mohamed Deputy Emir H H Sheikh ties at a global conference on Thani Al Almadhikha, Director, Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani the issue in the Arab world Building Affairs Department, also sent a cable of condolences that begins here tomorrow. Ministry of Interior, said there to Dr Rouhani. The two-day event is being is a plan to merge the Police Prime Minister and Interior held by National Human Rights College and the Police Training Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Committee (NHRC) and Institute into one academy, Al Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent Aljazeera Network’s Human Raya reports. a similar cable to the president. Rights and Public Freedom The department will soon invite Department at Ritz-Carlton. tenders for the project and their Leaders greet The event coincides with deadline will be May 4. Arab Day for Human Rights Work on the project will start Tunisia president and will focus on identifying within four months and scheduled and tackling challenges fac- to be completed in two years. DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh ing the practice of freedom of Brigadier Al Almadhikha said Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani expression in the Arab world. the total area of the college is one sent a cable of congratulations Experts from the West, in million square meters and the to Tunisian President Beji particular, will speak about building area 225,000sqm, with a Caid Essebsi on his country’s best practices in the area of capacity to accommodate 1,250 Independence Day. freedom of speech in their candidates. Deputy Emir H H Sheikh societies and tally notes with The project includes halls for Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani their counterparts from the training and computers and four also sent a cable to Essebsi. Arab world where the record multi-storey buildings with hav- Prime Minister and Interior of human rights and freedom ing 90 teaching halls. Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah of expression is not so enviable. Each hall can accommodate 50 bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani Also lined up for discus- students. It also has a library near sent a similar cable to Essebsi. sion are issues related to leg- education complex. islations in the Arab world to The project also includes four Qatar slams blasts protect people’s basic rights accommodation buildings with a and how far they are effective capacity of 200 cadres each. in Yemen, Bahrain and implemented and whether Each residential building has a changes are required. The role training field and the ground floor Brigadier Mohamed Thani Al Almadhikha (third left), Director, Building Affairs Department, Ministry of Interior, DOHA: Qatar denounced the of civil societies and national has four dining halls. explains the project to other officers. bombings which targeted Bader human rights committees of Each hall has a capacity to mosque in Al Safiah and Al Arab states in protecting and accommodate 200 candidates. of candidates. The administrative There are also halls for celebra- for transportation. Hashosh mosque in Al Jaraf enhancing basic rights will The buildings have a restau- building of the college includes tions and Olympic complex for All buildings are surrounded in Yemeni capital Sana’a yes- also be debated and opinions rant which can accommodate 800 three storeys. The college has swimming and physical education. by a wall with CCTV cameras terday that left many dead and exchanged. THE PENINSULA candidates beside a commercial training areas and sports facility The college has shooting and installed. wounded. centre to meet the requirements complex with many halls. equestrian fields and a building THE PENINSULA A Foreign Ministry statement said the bombings constitute a dangerous precedent and heinous crime that has no religion, and are contrary to values and morals and Islamic principles. It said such acts are a fla- College of Pharmacy hosts high school students grant violation of the sanctity of mosques and aim to spread DOHA: In one of a series the college and its programmes panic and chaos among innocent of its outreach activities for have an important mark of qual- worshipers. high school students, Qatar ity and standards,” said student The ministry renewed its call University (QU) College of Maha Alemadi. for all parties to complete dialogue Pharmacy hosted 21 grade In discussion with Dr Diab, and adhere to the Gulf initiative 12 Qatari students from Dean Dr Ayman Al Kadi and to contain violence, achieve the Umm Hakeem Secondary Assistant Dean, Student Affairs, requirements of the people and Independent Girls School to Alla El Awaisi, students learned contribute to Yemen’s security, orient them on the pharmacy about sponsorship opportunities stability and territorial integrity. profession and training, spon- open to Qatari pharmacy and It also condemned the explo- sorship, post-graduate study pre-pharmacy students from sion that injured two policemen and future employment oppor- QU, Supreme Council of Health, in Bahrain. tunities available to them. Hamad Medical Corporation, The ministry said Qatar is fully The outreach aims to engage Sidra Medical and Research behind Bahrain in its efforts to Qatari female students on the Center and Supreme Education combat violence and destabilisa- contribution of pharmacists Council, among others. They also tion attempts. and healthcare professionals to learned of changes and develop- the country’s development in ments in the profession and the Dental unit to line with the goals and values of college’s role in partnering with National Health Strategy and leading healthcare organisations close for work demonstrate the college’s teach- to implement them. ing/learning environment which Dr Diab said: “The college is DOHA: The Primary combines classroom theory and committed as a key partner to Health Care Corporation has on-site practical experiences at advancing the pharmacy pro- announced that the female its partner sites. fession in Qatar and encourag- dental unit at Airport Health The programme, led by Dr ing Qatari females to consider Centre will remain closed from Mohammad Diab, Associate it a meaningful career that has March 22 to 26 for installation Dean, Outreach & Engagement, a positive impact on the health of new equipment. included interactive skits in and welfare of society. We hope THE PENINSULA/QNA the college’s professional skills Dr Mohammad Diab, Associate Dean, Outreach & Engagement, with students from Umm Hakeem Secondary outreach programmes will engen- labs, a presentation by Teaching Independent Girls School. der a better understanding of the FIFA official: 2022 Assistant Reem Al Mannai on profession and the role the college ‘Top 10 Reasons to Become a college’s accreditation and a dis- and post-graduate students and “It’s great to know about the plays in the healthcare sector”. project workers’ Pharmacist’, information on the cussion with current bachelor faculty. accreditation as it means that THE PENINSULA situation satisfactory Continued from page 1 A special FIFA committee will decide the schedule of matches of the 2022 World Cup fixture. 3,126 students take part in Schools Olympic finals To a question about workers’ situation in Qatar, Valcke said DOHA: The eighth Schools programme but also fruits of eight FIFA President Sepp Blatter had Olympic Programme finals years of success and incremental talked about it in detail. ended yesterday with the par- improvement. Sport is a vital part “The situation is satisfactory. ticipation of 3,126 students from of education and the programme The standards Qatar has devel- 230 schools. aims to spread Olympic values, oped for conditions and safety The tennis finals took place develop healthy and responsible requirements for workers engaged on Wednesday at Khalifa members of society and ensure in stadium projects should actu- International Tennis and Squash sport becomes an integral part of ally be the standard conditions for Complex and the finals of other everyday life.” workers everywhere.” sports were held in Aspire Dome. On Thursday, 1,395 female ath- He said the way work on FIFA The programme for students letes from 112 schools took part projects in Qatar was progressing aged five to 18, was launched as a in the finals of 14 sports and 1,731 he was confident that the country legacy of the successful 15th Asian male athletes from 118 schools will be ready for 2022 World Cup Games in Doha in 2006. took part in the finals at Aspire at least four years in advance — Sports included tennis, shoot- Dome yesterday. by 2018. ing, athletics, handball, volleyball, Abdulla Al Sulaiti, 12, from FIFA is discussing with Qatar table tennis, basketball, football, Al Ahnaf bin Qais Preparatory about the number of stadiums in gymnastics, fencing, swimming, School, who won the gold medal which 2022 World Cup matches para-athletics and para-table in 10m air pistol event, said: “This will be played. tennis, and others. This year, was the first time I took part in Some opinions suggest there taekwondo was added, taking the the programme. It was so much will be about eight stadiums for number of sports to 14. fun and I’m still in disbelief over the purpose, said Valcke. Speaking at the med- my win! It was a very tough final He said FIFA’s relations with als ceremony, Sheikh Saoud and I’m incredibly happy to win. the Qatari 2022 organising com- bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, The programme has given me the mittee were close, warm and Secretary-General, Qatar opportunity to win my first medal cordial. Olympic Committee (QOC), said: as my friends and coach cheered “We expect a very exciting “It has been a pleasure to see the me on.” The programme has grown World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and competitive spirit and sportsman- from 7,000 participants from 300 the spectators will enjoy the event ship of so many finalists over the schools in 2007 to 29,319 students to the hilt. They will immensely last two days. “We have seen today from 544 schools this year. enjoy all 64 matches that will be The final of volleyball competition in progress. not just the culmination of the THE PENINSULA played.” THE PENINSULA SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Salim Matramkot

Rugby frenzy

Action from the final of ARFU West Asia Club Championship in Doha yesterday in which Abu Dhabi Saracens beat Doha Rugby Football Club. The Saracens won 26-20 after a hard-fought game. Playing in front of a boisterous crowd on their home turf, the club kicked off the proceedings with a promising start but the visitors took the game in the last four minutes to seal their win. Nicholas Hopton, British Ambassador, presented the winning trophy to Saracens captain before he handed over the Gulf Top Six cup to the Doha skipper. More pictures, story on page 18 SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 IS claims deadly Yemen mosque bombings White House condemns but says it is too early to pin blame on IS militants

DUBAI: The Islamic State jihadist to pin blame on Islamic State. group claimed responsibility for sui- Describing the attacks in Sana’a as cide bombings yesterday in the Yemeni unprovoked, White House spokesman capital that killed at least 126 people at Josh Earnest said there is not at this mosques attended by Shia militiamen. point a “clear operational” link between In an online statement, the previously Yemeni extremists and the Islamic unknown Sana’a branch of IS warned State in Syria and Iraq. that the bombings were “just the tip of Yemen is torn by a power struggle the iceberg”. between the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels “Infidel Houthis should know that the in the north and President Abdrabuh soldiers of the Islamic State will not rest Mansour Hadi, who has set up a rival until they eradicate them... and cut off power base in the south backed by Sunni- the arm of the Safavid (Iranian) plan in led Gulf Arab states. The mosques in Yemen,” the statement from the Sunni Sanaa are known to be used mainly by Muslim extremist group said. supporters of the Shia Muslim Houthi Shia Houthis, who overran Sana’a in group, which controls most of northern September, are accused of receiving sup- Yemen, including Sanaa. port from Iran. The rise to power of the Houthis since The statement claimed responsibility September last year has deepened divi- for bombings that targeted two mosques in sions in Yemen’s complex web of political Sana’a and another in the Houthis’ Saada and religious allegiances. stronghold, where an assailant detonated One witness said he heard two succes- his explosives belt outside a mosque after sive blasts at one of the mosques, known as failing to get in. the Badr mosque, in a busy neighbourhood It is the first time that IS has claimed in central Sanaa. any attacks in Yemen where Al Qaeda “I was going to pray at the mosque then remains the most prominent jihadist I heard the first explosion, and a second group. later I heard another one,” the witness Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, con- told Reuters. sidered by Washington to be the deadli- The United Nations Secretary-General est affiliate of the global jihadist network, Ban Ki-moon condemned “the terrorist remains strongly active in Yemen. attacks” in Yemen and called on all sides The White House yesterday said it “to immediately cease all hostile actions “strongly condemns” twin suicide bomb- and exercise maximum restraint,” accord- ings on Yemeni mosques that killed at least ing to a statement by UN. 142 worshippers, but said it was too early AFP A Houthi militant looks on after a suicide bomb attack at a mosque in Sana’a yesterday. Jerusalem at boiling point of polarisation: EU report

BRUSSELS: A hard-hitting report as the violent and polar- building in Jerusalem, claiming EU report on Jerusalem warns ised in the city in recent memory. the city as its “undivided capi- that the city has reached a dan- In addition the report blames tal”. Among the recommenda- gerous boiling point of “polari- tension over the status of the tions in the report are: Potential sation and violence” not seen Haram Al Sharif/Temple new restrictions against “known since the end of the second inti- Mount complex as well as violent settlers and those calling fada in 2005. heavy-handed policing and for acts of violence as regards Calling for tougher European punitive measures – including immigration regulations in EU sanctions against Israel over its evictions and home demolitions member states”. continued settlement construc- by Israeli forces – for the esca- Further coordinated steps to tion in the city – which it blames lating confrontation. ensure consumers in the EU are for exacerbating recent conflict The document is prepared able to exercise their right to – the leaked document paints a jointly every year by the heads of informed choice in respect of set- devastating picture of a city more mission of the European countries tlement products in line with exist- divided than at any time since represented in Jerusalem. The ing EU rules. 1967, when Israeli forces occupied group advises EU foreign poli- New efforts to raise awareness the east of the city. cymakers on the situation in the among European businesses about The report has emerged amid city while making recommenda- the risks of working with settle- Palestinian protestors throw stones at an Israeli army bulldozer during clashes against the expropriation of strong indications that the tions for action. ments, and the advancement of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Qaddum, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. Obama administration is also The disclosure of the 2014 voluntary guidelines for tourism rethinking its approach to Israel report — which suggests a series operators to prevent support for and the Middle East peace proc- of potential punitive measures settlement business. ess following the re-election of targeting extremist settlers and Some of the recommendations Israel army launches Gaza Binyamin Netanyahu as Israel’s settlement products — comes days in the EU report Some of the rec- prime minister. after Israeli elections which saw ommendations in the EU report According to reports in sev- Netanyahu emerge as the decisive According to well-informed eral US papers, this may include victor. European sources, the report — school shelling probe allowing the passage of a UN During the election campaign, now being discussed in Brussels security council resolution restat- Netanyahu vowed to continue set- — reflects a strong desire from JERUSALEM: The Israeli part, is pressing dozens of inter- attorney general) has ordered the ing the principle of a two-state tlement building in occupied east European governments for addi- army has launched an investi- nal probes into its conduct dur- opening of a criminal investiga- solution. Jerusalem in defiance of the inter- tional measures against Israel gation into the shelling of a UN ing the war, which killed nearly tion into the incident,” it said. The leaked report describes the national community, including over its continued settlement school in the Gaza Strip while 2,200 Palestinians, mostly civil- On July 30, during the height of emergence of a “vicious cycle of the EU and Washington, which building, and comes at a time dismissing several other alle- ians, and 72 on the Israeli side, Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza, violence … increasingly threaten- strongly oppose Jewish settlement when Europe is confronting “the gations of misconduct during a most of them soldiers. shells hit a school run by the ing the viability of the two-state construction in Jerusalem. new reality” of a new and poten- bloody war last July-August. “Factual findings... indicated United Nations refugee agency solution”, which it says has been Netanyahu has also been criti- tially more rightwing Netanyahu The Palestinians are threat- the existence of grounds for a for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, stoked by the continuation of cised in parts of the international government. ening Israel with action at the reasonable suspicion that the that was being used as a shelter “systematic” settlement building community for appearing to sug- The report also follows a period International Criminal Court strike (on the school) was not for the displaced, killing 17 people, by Israel in “sensitive areas” of gest his opposition to the creation of growing frustrations in the EU (ICC) over alleged war crimes carried out in accordance with according to the agency. Jerusalem. of a Palestinian state on the eve of over the moribund state of the during the conflict, a move that the rules and procedures appli- It was one of seven UNRWA Palestinian youth throw stones the vote — comments he appeared peace process, which collapsed could also open up the Palestinian cable to IDF (army) forces,” the schools hit during the war, during at Israeli forces during a clash at to row back from after winning last year, and pressure to adopt Islamist movement Hamas which military attorney general said in which a total of 83 schools were the entrance to Shuafat refugee the election. a harder line over issues such as runs Gaza to investigation. a report. damaged by fire. camp in Jerusalem in 2014. 2014, For its part Israel rejects settlement building. The Israeli military, for its “As a result, the MAG (military AFP a year characterised by an EU the charge of illegal settlement GUARDIAN NEWS Egyptian navy arrests nine Netanyahu’s backtrack fails to mollify US

fishermen off Gaza coast JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime that a two-state solution was now “They also discussed Prime “If you have a right-dominated Minister Benjamin Netanyahu irrelevant because the “reality has Minister Netanyahu’s com- coalition... and if there isn’t some GAZA CITY: Egypt arrested nine Palestinian fishermen off the has begun to tone down anti- changed.” ments about Israeli Arabs,” kind of settlement freeze, then coast of the Gaza Strip yesterday, the fishing union said, amid tense Palestinian rhetoric in order to But by Thursday, he was the official said on condition we are looking at an adminis- relations between Cairo and Gaza’s Islamist rulers Hamas. mend ties with a furious White emphatically denying having set of anonymity, referring to his tration that will not take active “The Egyptian navy arrested nine fishermen while they were out House but analysts say he will himself in opposition to decades comments about Israeli Arabs measures against Israel but will fishing on the line between Gaza and Egypt,” union official Nizar Ayesh have to do more. of US policy by going back on his voting in “droves.” certainly not help Israel in the said. They were taken ashore in Egypt and detained, he added. The White House has warned commitment to Palestinian state- White House spokesman way it usually does,” political A similar incident in 2013 saw five Gazan fishermen jailed for a year. that it might withdraw cru- hood. “I said that the conditions Josh Earnest said “steps that scientist Jonathan Rynhold said Relations have deteriorated between Egypt and Hamas, which con- cial diplomatic cover for Israel for that, today, are not achiev- the United States has taken at In particular, he mentioned the trols the Palestinian coastal enclave, since the Egyptian army ousted at the United Nations, even as able,” Netanyahu in a round of the United Nations had been traditional veto by permanent UN Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July that year. Netanyahu denied he had ruled remarks to US media. predicated on this idea that the Security Council member the And an Egyptian court declared Hamas’s armed wing a terrorist out the creation of a Palestinian “I haven’t changed my policy. two-state solution is the best United States on resolutions group in January. state. What has changed is the real- outcome. deemed hostile to the Jewish Cairo has kept the border crossing with Gaza, blockaded by Israel, But, as a senior Israeli offi- ity. I want a sustainable, peaceful “Now our ally in these talks state. Former Obama Middle almost completely shut since October, when a bombing in Egypt’s Sinai cial said yesterday, ties between two-state solution, but for that has said that they are no longer East strategist Dennis Ross said Peninsula killed 30 soldiers. the two long-standing allies are circumstances have to change.” committed to that solution. That the administration’s next step Under the Israeli blockade, fishermen are allowed to trawl the waters extremely strong and will con- But in Washington, an admin- means we need to reevaluate our would take some time to become up to six nautical miles offshore, but have complained of being fired at tinue that way. istration official said President position in this matter, and that is clear. by the navy before they reach that limit. On Monday, the day before he Barack Obama told Netanyahu what we will do moving forward.” “I would wait until there are A fisherman was shot dead by Israeli forces earlier this month. was reelected, Netanyahu was “we will need to reassess our Experts in Israel and the United some discussions before we leap Egypt accuses Hamas of supporting militants in Sinai. asked if it were true that there options following the prime min- States say Washington’s next step to conclusions about what exactly The army has also created a wide buffer zone along the Gaza border would be no Palestinian state ister’s new positions and com- will depend on the shape of the the White House is feeling,” he aimed at preventing infiltration by militants. were he to remain in office. ments regarding the two-state government Netanyahu forms and told Israeli public radio yesterday. AFP “Indeed,” he said, later adding solution.” his actions on settlements. AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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errorists hate peace because peace is the antithesis Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate of their mission. Peace in Tunisia must have been bothering terrorists for some time because it is Tthe only Arab Spring country where the seeds of democracy have been sown and people are enjoying the fruits. The terrorists reacted with their usual venom in Netanyahu sank into moral gutter their desperation and the result was that gunmen fired indiscriminately at a museum in the capital of Tunis on Wednesday, killing 21 people, 20 of whom were foreign and there will be consequences tourists. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND (spread over three decades) and con- mouthing the same old platitudes about the attack. A tourist place was chosen by the IS with the clude he was ever serious about either two states, not when we’ve heard Israel’s intent of targeting foreigners. The terrorists know that he result was not the worst equality or the pursuit of a two-state leader admit he has no intention of the value of lives of their own people has diminished due to of it. Indeed, buried in the solution. But now we have his explicit allowing any such thing. their industrial scale killings and the targeting of foreigners detailed numbers of this word, confirming that everything his The right response is surely to match would be more rewarding, and a better public relations week’s Israeli election were harshest critics said of him was true. Netanyahu’s honesty with our own. In odd crumbs of consolation. The result is despair – in liberal Tel this regard, the Obama administra- exercise. TNo, what made Binyamin Netanyahu’s Aviv, where Bibi’s Labor challenger, tion has already performed better than Tunisia is a regional example of post-revolutionary emphatic win so dispiriting were the Isaac Herzog, topped the poll; in foreign Europe. While EU diplomats greeted democracy. Amid the political turmoil in Arab countries depths he plumbed to secure victory. capitals, who will note that Netanyahu Netanyahu’s victory with the same tired following the fall of dictators, Tunisia was able to craft a He made two moves in his desper- has now officially disavowed the near- formulas, invoking a nonexistent peace democratic system in which secular groups and Islamic ate, and ultimately successful, effort universally preferred solution for the process, Washington voiced its displeas- moderates coexisted. The peace and stability in the country to woo back those Israeli rightists Israel-Palestine conflict; and in the ure at Netanyahu’s “divisive rhetoric” who had drifted from Likud into the Jewish diaspora, which has long clung and let it be known that it was ready to drew international attention and Tunis was touted as a hands of more minor nationalist par- to the hope that Israel at leastwants to make things uncomfortable. model for a successful transition to democracy. ties. Netanyahu reassured them that end the post-1967 occupation, even if it Until now, Washington has always The attack on the National Bardo Museum was possible they could forget the lip service of the has still not managed to do it. acted as Israel’s diplomatic protector, because of security shortcomings, past few years, the diplomatic niceties Mindful of the damage his win-at-all- blocking hostile resolutions at the UN Democracy but the government of President he had served up since returning as costs moves had wrought, Netanyahu and the like. Now the White House, still Beji Caid Essebsi cannot be blamed prime minister in 2009: there would be lost no time trying to unsay what he smarting overNetanyahu’s Republican no Palestinian state on his watch. had said. In his victory speech, he prom- address to a Republican Congress, wants in Tunisia is for the shortcoming because it On election day itself, he sank lower ised to be prime minister of all Israelis, to remind Netanyahu that such support didn’t expect the attack. Now that still. In a Facebook video, he posed in Jewish and non-Jewish alike. And in is not unconditional. The core message, strong enough Tunisia has appeared in the radar of front of a map of the Middle East, as a US TV interview on Thursday, he and it should not be delivered by the terrorists, the government needs to if in a war room, and used the idiom insisted that he does want a “sustain- US alone, would be simple. It would to defeat the act ruthlessly and beef up security. of military conflict to warn that “Arab able, peaceful two-state solution” after say, of course the world has to respect voters are advancing in large numbers all, so long as “circumstances” change. the decision of the Israeli electorate. Despite its desperate act, the disruptive towards voting places” and that this was But it’s too late. I know of at least one But if this is the path Israel is taking, Islamic State will fail miserably in its “a call-up order” for Likud supporters European leader who now says privately there will be consequences. If Israel is ideology of bid to disrupt democracy and peace to head to the polling stations. that Netanyahu’s “credibility is shot” effectively ruling out a Palestinian state in Tunisia because Tunisians are Imagine if a US president broadcast and that “no one will want to work with – and given that it rejects a one-state the Islamic peace-loving people and will never such a message, warning the white elec- him”. And in the fellowship of world solution whereby Israel absorbs millions let their soil to be used for disruptive torate that black voters were heading leaders, that will not be a minority view. of Palestinians and gives them the vote State. to the polls in “large numbers”. Or if a How then should those outside Israel – then it has committed itself to main- activities. Essebsi shot down the idea European prime minister said: “Quick, react? Some will seize on the disavowal taining the status quo, permanently that the democratic transition was the Jews are voting!” This is the moral of two states to push instead for their ruling over another people and denying under attack, saying the day after gutter into which Netanyahu plunged favoured option: a so-called one-state them basic democratic rights. And that the attack: “The process of implementing a democratic just to get elected. solution. It sounds both simple and is a position the world cannot accept. system is underway, well anchored. We will never move It worked. Not because it won fresh enlightened, everyone living together Such a stance might entail US with- backwards.” The coalition government, led by Essebsi’s recruits to the right camp, but because under one roof, with one person, one drawal of diplomatic cover. It might it summoned disenchanted hawks back vote. But as the Palestinian-Israeli mean tougher European sanctions of the Nidaa Tounes party and including moderate Islamists home. That’s the small consolation. writer Sayed Kashua argued powerfully kind proposed in Friday’s EU report on Ennahda, is united on this issue. Ennahda, which has The numbers suggest Israel did not this week, any conceivable path to such settlement activity in East Jerusalem. been accused in the past of being soft towards the radical lurch rightwards on Tuesday. Indeed, a destination would be “grounded in the It could mean a growing shift towards Salafist movement when it headed the first post-revolution the nationalist and religious right bloc trampling of the Palestinians”. divestment and sanctions, targeted at cabinet from 2011 to 2014, vowed that “this criminal attack merely held steady, gaining just one seat. The more obvious objection is the one the occupation, without the polarising Netanyahu’s success came by recutting summarised by the Israeli novelist and tactic of boycott that tends to alienate as will not break the will of our people nor will it undermine that pie to give himself a bigger slice. veteran anti-occupation activist Amos many potential supporters as it recruits. our revolution and our democracy”. But it is a cold comfort. For the Likud Oz: “After one hundred years of blood, Whatever form they take, there The attack sends a strong message to the government leader was able to siphon off votes from tears and disasters, it is impossible to will be consequences for Netanyahu’s that it must be on guard and root out the small network of the far right by absorbing its message of expect Israelis and Palestinians to jump actions. He was ready to sink to a new terror that has sprouted in the country. The attacks will belligerence and bigotry. Some will say suddenly into a double bed and begin a low to save his skin, but it will be Israelis not derail the democratic initiative, but there is a need to that’s hardly new. Only the naive could honeymoon.” – and their Palestinian neighbours – look at Netanyahu’s nine years in office And yet we cannot go back to who pay the price. THE GUARDIAN expedite the process and make the process irreversible• The other side Quote of Saulat Mirza’s ‘confession’ the day WO death-row prisoners got a Wednesday night. Mirza’s sensational Last week’s raid on Nine Zero and prisoner looking for any way to delay the last-minute reprieve in the early revelations, which have sent convul- recent allegations by the Rangers of inevitable — was conducive to manipula- hours of Thursday. But whereas sions through Pakistan’s fourth largest MQM’s culpability in the deadly Baldia tion. But in the eyes of the establishment, Tin Shafqat Husain’s case it political party, were followed by the fire have unfolded against rising ten- no stranger to Machiavellian tactics, there was civil society’s vocal campaign that announcement that his execution had sions between the law-enforcement is perhaps considerable political mileage earned him a brief stay of execution, far been stayed for 72 hours. agency and the party, which main- to be gained. What that is, is open to Events in more covert forces are clearly at work Saulat Mirza had already articulated tains it is being unfairly singled out in speculation, but the wholesale discredit- the southern behind Saulat Mirza’s eleventh hour the substance of his ‘confession’ in a the ongoing counterterrorism opera- ing of the party is surely only part of it. respite. Many individuals on the verge of statement before a Joint Investigation tions in Karachi. However, the latest However, while it is an open secret that Mediterranean being sent to the gallows – a punishment Team some years ago, the video of development raises several questions: the MQM employs heavy-handed tactics that Dawn does not support under any which is in the public domain. This time how did a camera find its way into the to maintain its grip on a city where poli- are dangerous for circumstances — would conceivably around, there are explicit details that have death cell? Why this modus operandi, tics and criminal networks often overlap, Europe. We have to have the desire to unburden themselves. brought not only Altaf Hussain but some especially when there are other ways of such an approach to bring it to account Not many, however, have been pro- of MQM’s most prominent names into the going after militants taking refuge? Why is in the long run likely to exacerbate offer everything we vided the opportunity to indulge in such dragnet. It is the latest salvo in the con- now? What is the long-term objective? the ethnic divide in Karachi, deepen the a cathartic exercise on national televi- certed push to tighten the noose around There is no legal value in a ‘confession’ sense of persecution, and augur ill for can to stabilise the Donald Tusk sion as did the MQM worker, convicted the party that controls much of the coun- not made in a magistrate’s presence. peace in the metropolis. situation in Tunisia. in 1999 for multiple murders, on late try’s largest city and its financial hub. Moreover, the situation — a condemned DAWN European Council President SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Israel unwilling to pay the price of hope

the Palestinians were in the mid- The Jewish dream of Zionism was dle of what then was quaintly called, without much irony, the always a nightmare for the Palestinian peace process. Back then we imagined that population of the region. The way it Israel was a nation of rational people living in a Western democ- racy. They could not fail to see has now played out finds the Israelis that their own best interest, as well as that of the Palestinians, themselves in a troubled sleep from would be served by peace — and two states. What could have been which they don’t seem able to awaken. more obvious? The situation was unfolding BY AMY WILENTZ and growth, but the bus they’re toward its inevitable, inexorable on might not get there? goal, we thought: peace in the understand why some The known is better for most Middle East. Bombs might go off Israelis, intending to vote for voters than the unknown, secu- but, nonetheless, progress toward Isaac Herzog and the Zionist rity today better than peace in a normalisation was unstoppable. IUnion went in and voted for distant tomorrow. The pragma- That’s not to say that Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud at tist in Israel today deals only with during the peace process was the last minute. reality — and votes for Bibi. The romantic and exciting. The last time that peace idealist deals with dangerous hope It was a much more compli- between Israelis and Palestinians — and votes for … Bibi, when the cated and realistic state than was a serious solution to what voting machine brings her back the ideal that Exodus had hinted many Israelis refer to as the situ- to reality. at. It was less and less egalitar- ation, the streets of Jerusalem Because of this, though, Israel ian, less socialist. Millionaires were not safe. As Israel moved is not the place most of its found- lived in windswept houses on the to normalise relations with the ers had dreamed of. Mediterranean coast and many Palestinians, during the peace The Israel of the Zionist move- Ethiopian and Russian immi- process in the late 1990s, extrem- ment and the earliest days of the grants and Thai transients lived Copies of ballots papers and campaign posters for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party lie ists on both sides of the green line state was the Israel of kibbut- in poverty. The kibbutzim had on the ground in the aftermath of the country’s parliamentary elections, in Tel Aviv. started fomenting campaigns of zim and chalootzim (early pio- fallen on hard times and were violence for which average citizens neers) seen in posters of the day. abandoning the communal model. because only a Jerusalemite could don’t live in Scandinavia, they like Though so many are tired of on both sides paid in blood. That The idealised new Israelis were From around the globe, reli- breathe a sigh of relief the way I to say. Netanyahu’s racially tinged, was a time of hope, and it was very brave, tall men and women, pio- gious and ultra-Orthodox Jews did when I visited my family in But Israel itself, it turns out, repetitive, reactionary fear-mon- difficult. neers in shorts and loose shirts (then entirely exempt from Manhattan. is also very much a part of the gering, no one wanted to vote for I guess it all depends on what who stood on (ostensibly) empty army service) were flooding to Compared to Jerusalem, New contemporary Middle East. Not Bougie and then lose a child in the peace really is. On how you define hills with their hoes, ready — with Jerusalem and had built and were York seemed laid back. A very because of “the neighbourhood,” first bus-bombing after the peace it. grit, determination and idealism building — over generations — a tough, war-hardened man was but internally. A fundamental- process starts up again. Is the occupation peace? Is peace — to build a new country. They large and powerful fundamental- prime minister. Yitzhak Rabin ist killed the prime minister, just In the aftermath of this dispir- a time when your streets are safe wanted to cause water to fall on ist voting bloc that was anathema, was leading the country toward to begin. In spite of this (and iting election, Israel will continue but you continue to build walls to arid earth, to create a land of milk culturally, to the Zionists who had peace. He was letting us continue because of it), Jewish fundamen- to be a harsh, militaristic place isolate yourself from your neigh- and honey and also to welcome fought for independence in the to believe that Israel was sane. talism is on the rise politically and without hope — but with a great bour and to control his movements the Jewish victims of Europe’s 1940s. Then a religious Israeli extrem- demographically. beach and lots of start-ups. That’s and to bomb the living daylights latest convulsions. Except for a God was becoming a major ist killed Rabin. What seemed in The secular population is how Likud has transformed the out of him when it suits? A time few tiny camels on the distant player in Israeli politics. While those days like a blip in an arrow- frightened about the future. The country under Netanyahu’s when the future down through horizon, nothing in these posters those religious families lived in straight timeline, an anomaly of country is its own ghetto, sur- stewardship. the generations looks dim, but the suggests an Arab presence. near-penury in Jerusalem, wealthy some kind, is now an event that rounded by walls and barriers. It’s The Jewish dream of Zionism present seems secure? This was the romantic, progres- and secular Silicon Wadi was itself reads as inevitable and logi- a weird place now whose culture was always a nightmare for the Or is peace a time when your sive country foretold in the 1958 about to emerge in Tel Aviv. cal. Of course a moderate consen- seems, more and more, to have Palestinian population of the own streets are not safe? When book and 1960 movie Exodus. Israelis were stressed out. The sus builder was assassinated by an been invented in reaction to its region. The way it has now played the road to good intentions is When I was living and work- costs of occupation were obvi- extremist. enemies, rather than created by out finds the Israelis themselves paved with hell? Is peace a time ing in Jerusalem during the late ous in people’s tense faces and in As conservative Israelis like its founders. in a troubled sleep from which when the future for your sons and 1990s, there was still something their notorious lack of politesse. to say about their neighbours: In the end, I think, many Israeli they don’t seem able to awaken. daughters may promise stability potential about Israel. Israel and I remember laughing at myself Welcome to the Middle East. We voters this week just lost courage. REUTERS How to help Syrian refugees Breaking a long trend, BY DAVID MILIBAND resettle before the end of 2016. created in 2014, thus avoiding of people who find refuge here world gets more violent All told, the US refugee reset- delays and denials to Syrians every year. That system strikes he brutal conflict in tlement programme currently who have committed no wrongs. an appropriate balance between BY PETER APPS Syria, which has entered helps some 70,000 people a year Absent such guidance, a Syrian securing the homeland and Tits fifth year, is a true from all parts of the world. The merchant could be denied refu- maintaining a commitment to f you were watching the news last year, it was hard to escape the impression horror. The death, destruc- United States can take three gee status merely for having sold freedom from persecution. the world was falling apart. Now the data is in. And yes, it turns out the tion and displacement, now essential steps to mobilise this flour on market day to a militant Every day, survivors of tor- Iworld’s most violent conflicts got a lot bloodier in 2014 — almost 30 percent extended into Iraq, constitute programme to help the most fighting the Assad regime. ture, women widowed by the bloodier, in fact. the defining humanitarian cri- vulnerable Syrians. Third, Syrian Americans Syrian conflict, children trau- According to an analysis of data from the world’s 20 most lethal wars last year, sis of this century so far. Yet First, in light of the dire in places such as California, matized by war and others at least 163,000 people died in conflict. That compares to just under 127,000 in it appears that the world has situation in Syria, it can raise Michigan and Pennsylvania tell the International Rescue the 20 worst wars the previous year, a rise of 28.7 percent. become desensitized to the the 70,000 cap specifically to desperately want to help their Committee and other non- That’s a pretty disturbing spike by anyone’s terms. And if you look at the first mounting human misery. accommodate Syrian refugees family members and friends governmental organisations few months of 2015, the violence doesn’t seem to be waning. UN appeals for humanitar- over the next two years. By his- reach the United States; these that they think the world has What’s even more worrying is that this seems to be part of an ongoing trend ian help are going increasingly torical standards, the United long-established communities of given up on them. The United that now goes back eight years. According to the Australia-based Institute for underfunded. The UN special States should be committing doctors, social workers, teach- States is in a position to help by Economics and Peace (IEP), global violence — as defined by a range of measures envoy to Syria has narrowed his to take around 65,000 — or ers and small-business owners swiftly expanding resettlement from conflict deaths, to displaced persons, to homicide rates — has been rising goal to a temporary ceasefire in 50 percent — of those identi- are ready to receive refugees. and encouraging other donor since 2007. one city. The rules of war and fied by the United Nations for The United States can expand states to follow its example. The This news is in many ways surprising because up to 2007, the data suggested norms of civilian protection resettlement by the end of 2016. resettlement options by estab- moral choice is clear. And so is the world was becoming a much safer place. have been torn to shreds. Achieving that would require lishing, through the refugee the historical lesson. According to the IEP, global violence had been broadly subsiding since the In the face of a dismaying an increase in resources to programme, a family reunifica- In 1960, the International end of World War Two. Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker traces it back even political stalemate on the big allow for swifter processing by tion mechanism enabling Syrian Rescue Committee won a com- further. Since the dawn of prehistory, Pinker’s research suggests, mankind has questions of war and peace, the Department of Homeland Americans to bring extended mitment from President-elect been becoming less violent. there is every reason to use one Security — including the more family to safety more quickly. John F Kennedy to admit 10,000 So what is going wrong now? And how bad could it all get? of the few tools to ease the suf- than 10,000 refugees waiting for The United States has long Chinese refugees to the country Conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, not surprisingly, top the list of high- fering of Syrians that is wholly a US resettlement interview, as provided haven for refugees flee- — up from a token 105. Today, est casualties, with their confrontations with Islamic State and Taliban — as within the power of the West. It well as the 1,000 new applica- ing persecution, and that proud their descendants are part of well as, of course, the ongoing fight in Syria between government and opposition is well past time for the United tions being received from the legacy should not be derailed by the rich fabric of American supporters. Nigeria’s battle with Boko Haram has sent it rocketing up the list to States and other Western coun- United Nations each month. those who would play on fear. society. Syrians whose lives number four. If Sudan and South Sudan had remained united, their combined tries to commit to a dramatic Second, it can ensure that The United States has instituted have been shattered by war death toll would push them to the number three spot, above Afghanistan. boost in the resettlement of DHS issues needed guidance an ever-more rigorous screening deserve the same chance. Of course, all this data shows is that a handful of the world’s more violent war Syrian refugees. on “material support” waivers system for the tens of thousands WP-BLOOMBERG zones are getting worse. In the developed world, by contrast, death by violence Resettlement will not end continues to fall. Indeed, British crime statistics have continued to slump despite the war, but it can rescue some a recession and fewer police officers. of the most vulnerable victims Even within the larger wars, an increasingly small group of people — particu- of the fighting — the raped larly the members of elements like IS or Boko Haram — are doing a larger amount and tortured, at-risk women of killing. While 20th century wars saw much of the general (male) population and children, those with acute mobilised and fighting, today more people seem content to sit on the sidelines. medical needs. A significant and growing percent of the population in many countries feels So far, the bulk of the bur- disenfranchised and sidelined by the way the world is developing. As the Arab den has fallen on Syria’s neigh- Spring showed, sometimes that sentiment is reflected in largely peaceful, pro- bours. Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey democratic action, but sometimes it isn’t. and Iraq have taken in around Eight years into the global financial crisis, the rise of nationalism many feared 4 million refugees combined. now seems to be showing itself. In Ukraine in particular, great powers are involved Lebanon’s population alone in proxy conflicts with massive repercussions for those living nearby. has climbed by 25 percent. Added to that, some experts warn, climate shifts are contributing to the rise Imagine the equivalent impact in violence. In Sudan, for example, changes in grazing habits and territories are of 80 million refugees fleeing to at the root of at least some of the recent violence. the United States. But Syria’s Yet even with the recent spike, things aren’t as bad as they were in the 1990s, neighbours have reached their when conflicts in Africa, the Balkans and elsewhere were killing tens if not limits. Health clinics, schools hundreds of thousands of people a year. Geographically, today’s violence is very and other infrastructure are patchy. The countries I’ve highlighted reflect a relatively small proportion of the badly strained. A backlash has world’s surface or population. started. Hopefully, things will start to improve. Already, there are promising signs that The United States has reset- the fight is turning against IS in Iraq and Syria. Even as those regions begin tled 546 Syrian refugees over to stabilise, however, other countries such as Libya appear to collapse further the past four years. Other into chaos. Western countries haven’t done What the US and its allies can or should do remains entirely unclear. It’s hard much better, though Germany to escape the awkward detail that many of the countries with the highest death has pledged to take 35,000 tolls are those where the US has made the strongest effort to shape events. of the 130,000 whom the UN German Development Minister Gerd Mueller (second left) talks to Syrian refugees at a camp of the United But we have to find a way of turning it around, somehow. And we’ve come a refugee agency has asked the Nations Refugee Agency in Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon. long way, after all. We don’t want to go back to battering each other to death international community to with rocks. REUTERS SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Museum gunmen trained in Libya: Tunisia EU leaders to visit Tunis to bolster anti-terror fight

TUNIS: Tunisia said two gun- having ties to the cell”. A presi- to be identified. Dozens more peo- men who killed 21 people at its dential source said soldiers were ple were wounded, in a massive national museum trained at a to be deployed in major cities. blow to Tunisia’s heavily tourism- militant camp in Libya, as the As international outrage grew dependent economy. country marked Independence over the attack on Tunisia — At least two major cruise ship Day in sombre fashion yesterday. hailed as a rare success story of operators suspended Tunis calls The Islamic State jihadist group the Arab Spring — Essebsi was after the attack. has claimed Wednesday’s attack defiant. “The process of imple- Prime Minister Habib Essid on foreign tourists in Tunis, the menting a democratic system is named the two gunmen killed by deadliest since Tunisia’s 2011 rev- underway, well anchored,” he told security forces at the museum olution, which sparked the Arab France’s TF1 television. “We will as Yassine Abidi and Hatem Spring regional uprisings. never move backwards.” Khachnaoui. Chelly said Abidi The two assailants “left the Essebsi was set to give a speech had been arrested before going country illegally last December for Friday to mark the anniversary to Libya, and that the pair had Libya and they were able to train of independence from France in been “from sleeper cells”. with weapons there,” Secretary 1956, amid muted celebrations Four of Khachnaoui’s relatives of State for Security Rafik Chelly after the carnage. have been arrested, the family and told Tunisian television. The daily La Presse’s front page police said Friday. IS, which includes hundreds of declared: “Tunisia will overcome” Essebsi said the gunmen also Tunisians in its ranks, threatened and the Assasbah newspaper had explosives and praised the more attacks in an online audio ran the headline: “The Second security forces for preventing message claiming responsibility Republic will prevail”. further bloodshed. for the National Bardo Museum The dead included four Italians, Abdelfattah Mourou, deputy massacre. three Japanese, three French, speaker of parliament, said Authorities say as many as two Spaniards, a Colombian, an guards supposed to be protect- 3,000 Tunisians have gone to Iraq, Australian-Colombian, a British ing parliament and the museum Syria and Libya to join jihadist woman, a Belgian woman, and a were having coffee as the assault ranks, raising fears of returning Pole, health ministry officials said. happened. battle-hardened militants plot- Two other Spaniards, a honey- “I found out there were only ting attacks. mooning couple, hid in a store- four policemen on security duty Tunisians wave banners and their national flag during a demonstration in Midoun, north east of Djerba, two days Chelly named locations of sev- room listening as the massacre around the parliament (com- after gunmen attacked the National Bardo Museum. eral suspected training camps for took place, the husband told pound), two of whom were at the Tunisians in violence-wracked Spanish national television. cafe. The third was having a snack Top EU officials said yester- chief Federica Mogherini will and on Friday Tunisia said the Libya, including second city “We hid in a storeroom and and the fourth hadn’t turned up,” day they would visit Tunisia this travel to the Tunisian capital two gunmen had trained at a mili- Benghazi and the jihadist strong- stayed there, listening to every- Mourou said. A retired Colombian month to back the fight against a on March 31 to show solidarity tant camp in neighbouring Libya. hold of Derna. thing that was happening and general whose wife and son, a growing Islamist militant threat after the attack in which sev- “Events in the southern President Beji Caid Essebsi’s waiting for it to be over,” Juan Colombian-Australian national, from north Africa after this eral European tourists were Mediterranean are dangerous for office said security forces arrested Carlos Sanchez said. were killed, lamented the “irony” week’s deadly Tunis museum killed. Europe,” Tusk told a press con- nine suspects —“four people A Tunisian policeman killed of losing them on holiday after attack. The Islamic State group has ference after a two-day European directly linked to the (terrorist) in the attack was buried on spending his life “fighting terror- European Council President claimed responsibility for the Union leaders summit in Brussels. operation and five suspected of Thursday. Three victims have yet ism” at home. Donald Tusk and EU diplomatic attack which left 21 people dead AFP

Libya rivals S Sudan govt, rebels kidnapping kids to fight face three days GENEVA: South Sudan’s army Veitch said UNICEF had “credible Machar, his former deputy, of of children were seized from the In Unity State the situation in of decisive and rebels have stepped up the and in some instances verifiable planning a coup. Since then tens village of Wau Shilluk in Upper opposition areas had also wors- kidnapping of children to fight information that forces aligned of thousands have died, two mil- Nile in an attack last month by ened significantly, with soldiers in the country’s civil war, with with the government and oppo- lion have been uprooted and four soldiers loyal to Major-General rounding up children and men talks: UN hundreds snatched from villlages sition have abducted or coerced million face starvation. Johnson Olony, who commands in their houses and elsewhere, in the last month alone, the UN hundreds of children into their The government and the rebels an ethnic Shilluk militia in the Veitch said. SKHIRAT, MOROCCO: UN children’s agency said yesterday. ranks in the past month alone”, have been accused of widespread northern Upper Nile state, an The comments came after both envoy to Libya Bernardino Leon Providing the most detailed a period coinciding with the col- atrocities and war crimes — oil-rich and fiercely contested the government and the rebels urged rival Libyan lawmakers account yet of the country’s lapse of peace talks. including gang rapes, massacres region. signalled clearly that they were meeting in Morocco yesterday to child soldier crisis, Unicef said “Our teams on the ground and attacks on aid organisations “Despite advocacy and appeals in no mood for peace following try to nail down a political agree- it believed there were now more and our partners are reporting a and peacekeepers. Earlier this to the government and the the collapse of talks in Ethiopia’s ment within days as they began a than 12,000 children in govern- strong upsurge in recruitment at month the UN Security Council Johnson Oloni militia which took capital Addis Ababa. weekend of “decisive” talks. ment and rebel ranks across the the moment and it is ongoing,” he passed a US-drafted resolution the children, no child has been On Thursday, the rebels said He said talks over the next country. told reporters in Geneva. creating a sanctions regime for unconditionally released,” he said. the civil war would likely drag three days will focus on security “It has become increasingly des- South Sudan is the the world’s South Sudan, although none have Some of the children were on and that “fighting will con- arrangements, the creation of a perate for boy children in many youngest nation, having broken yet been imposed. meanwhile allowed to return tinue until one side is defeated”. national unity government and areas of the conflict zone. They away from Khartoum in 2011 Veitch reminded South Sudan’s home during the day, but forced President Kiir earlier this week confidence-building measures. are being targeted. They are being after a long and bloody independ- warring factions that the resolu- to return to the training camps in also ruled out sharing power with “By Sunday, we would like rounded up and sent to the front ence struggle. tion “specifically lists the recruit- the evening, he said, adding that Machar, rejecting key elements of to have these three documents line. This is happening as I speak,” Civil war broke out in the new ment of children as soldiers as one UNICEF had “credible reports” peace deal proposed by regional ready and if possible, published, as Jonathan Veitch, UNICEF’s rep- nation in December 2013, when of the criteria for imposing sanc- that children were also being sent mediators. already agreed (as) part of what resentative in the country, said. President Salva Kiir accused Riek tions”. The official said “hundreds” to fight on the frontline in Kaka. AFP will be a final package,” he told reporters in the resort of Skhirat, near Rabat, where the talks are Flower show being held. Over 70 Syria regime forces Leon warned that unrest in Libya and a deadly attack in neighbouring Tunisia claimed killed in IS attacks: Monitor by the Islamic State group that killed 20 tourists and a policeman BEIRUT: More than 70 regime forces have been killed in “is another sign of alarm”. attacks by the Islamic State group in central Syria over the Tunisia said Friday the gun- past 24 hours, a monitor said. The attacks in Homs and Hama men who carried out the attack provinces targeted checkpoints and positions manned by govern- on the National Bardo Museum ment loyalists, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human were trained at a militant camp Rights said. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said in Libya. “There is a sense of “most of the dead, around 50, fell in the Hama countryside.” urgency and we believe this Several jihadists were also killed when clashes broke out, he should be a decisive round,” Leon added without giving a toll. The regime controls most of Homs said, urging both sides to work in and Hama, where IS has few positions in the eastern parts of the a “spirit of compromise”. provinces. The latest round of UN-mediated talks between the parliament elected in June Over 45,000 Egyptians flee Libya and based in the eastern city of Tobruk and the Islamist-backed CAIRO: More than 45,000 Egyptians have fled Libya since General National Congress seated jihadists published a video last month showing the beheading of in the capital was delayed for sev- Coptic Christians, most of them Egyptian, an official and state eral days to allow both sides to media said yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians work prepare, he said. in the restive country to the west and send money home to sup- GNC delegation chief port their families, but their exact number is uncertain because Mohammed Saleh Al Makhzoum, many enter illegally. at the outset of the talks, renewed Egyptian Copts have been increasingly targeted by Islamist mili- A Christian nun buys flowers at an exhibition in Byblos, north Beirut, Lebanon, yesterday. Byblos hosts the his side’s call for direct negotia- tants, who beheaded 21 hostages, most of them Egyptian, prompting annual three-day spring flowers exhibition that coincides with the Mother’s Day celebrated in various countries tions. AFP Cairo to carry out air strikes on a jihadist stronghold in Libya. on 21 March. By yesterday, 11,500 Egyptians had flown home via Tunisia, Libya’s western neighbour, since the beheadings were announced, said civil aviation ministry spokesman Mohamed Rahma. Another nearly 34,000 Egyptians have crossed into Egypt from Libya by land in the same period, state media reported. Obama presses Iran to return four US citizens

US, Saudi discuss countering IS WASHINGTON: US President coincide with Nowruz, Iran’s New rapprochement as they negoti- the Iranian island of Kish. Barack Obama yesterday urged Year holiday. The US and Iran ate a landmark deal to rein in The United States recently WASHINGTON: Officials from the United States, Italy and Tehran to return four US citi- have long been foes. Diplomatic Tehran’s nuclear program in announced a $5m reward — up Saudi Arabia met in Rome this week to coordinate plans to zens captive or missing in Iran, ties were snapped in the wake of return for an easing of global from $1m — for information lead- combat the financial activities of Islamic State militants, the in the latest direct appeal to the the 1979 Iranian Revolution and sanctions. Obama recently met ing to the return of the former FBI US Treasury said yesterday. Officials held an inaugural meet- country’s leaders and citizens. the subsequent hostage crisis in the wife of Abedini, a Christian agent. The 67-year-old Levinson ing Thursday and Friday of the Counter-ISIL Finance Group Obama called on Iran to “imme- Tehran, when US diplomats were pastor who has been jailed in Iran retired from the Federal Bureau of (CIFG), which the three countries will use to exchange informa- diately release Saeed Abedini, held hostage by militant students for more than two years, vowing Investigation 17 years ago. The US tion and develop countermeasures. Amir Hekmati and Jason Rezaian” for 444 days. to work to win his release. government has denied Levinson The next meeting of the CIFG is scheduled for May in Saudi and to “work cooperatively” to find The imprisonment and disap- Former US Marine Hekmati was working for the US govern- Arabia, the Treasury said in a statement. ISIL is an acronym often Robert Levinson “so that they all pearance of the four Americans and Washington Post journalist ment when he vanished, but news used for the militants, who control swaths of Iraq and Syria. can be safely reunited with their in Iran has been an added bone Rezaian are also in detention in reports have suggested the CIA had AGENCIES families as soon as possible.” of contention, even as the two Iran. Levinson disappeared on been paying him to gather intel- The message was timed to nations have begun a fledgling March 9, 2007 during a visit to ligence. AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 EU, Balkan states in Plane crash anti-jihadist campaign Effort aims to stem flow of fighters to Middle East VIENNA: The European Union “The numbers are increas- There is growing concern over and Balkan countries launched ing every day,” European the influence that turmoil in the a campaign yesterday aimed at Commissioner for home affairs Middle East may have in places stemming the flow of fighters Dimitris Avramopoulos told a like Bosnia and Kosovo, largely from southeastern Europe to news conference. Muslim states blighted by unem- join jihadists in the Middle East. He declined to specify par- ployment, poverty and corruption Interior and foreign ministers ticular “hotspots” for jihadists in since wars in the 1990s. from across the Balkans pledged the Balkans. He said they were Steps promoted at the Vienna at a conference hosted by Austria “almost everywhere and nowhere, meeting included communicat- to work with western European because if we were in a position ing basic rights more effectively, officials to crack down on what to answer your question we would working with companies like they called a growing threat. have already cracked down”. Facebook and Google to remove extremist material from the Web, and involving Balkan states more UK court seizes girls’ passports closely with an EU-wide reporting point for such material. LONDON: A British judge yesterday barred five teenage girls Other proposals included joint from travelling abroad amid concerns they would go to Syria to training for border guards and Uruguayan Navy Special Forces soldiers work to recover the bodies of those on board an Argentine twin- join Islamist fighters, in the second such ruling this week. more effective sharing of resources engine Beechcraft aircraft that crashed shortly after taking off from Laguna del Sauce airport, near the resort High Court judge Anthony Hayden made the girls from east from Europol and a new counter- city of Punta del Este, some 120 km east of Montevideo, yesterday. All 10 people on board are believed dead. London — two aged 15 and three aged 16 — “wards of court”, a legal terrorism network set up last year. move that prevents them leaving England and Wales. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica He confiscated their passports and also those of a number of adults Dacic said the problem went involved in caring for them, noting that in at least one other case a beyond the Balkans, adding that young girl travelled on a relative’s passport. during his six years as interior Pope under fire as Clinton asked In a ruling prompted by an application by the local authority, minister it was well known that Tower Hamlets in east London, Hayden said that despite signs the Vienna and Salzburg in Austria teens were becoming more radical, their relatives were not cooper- were centres for radical Islamists. to hand over ating with social services. This week a 16-year-old disgraced cleric quits “It seems to me that that must have been known to the parents Austrian turned himself in to and they deliberately did not share it with the authorities who were authorities after arriving home VATICA N CIT Y: Pope Francis court. email server keen to protect these vulnerable young girls,” the judge said. wounded from a stint with Islamic came under fire yesterday after “With this provision, His WASHINGTON: A Republican- Earlier this week, Hayden imposed a similar ruling on a 16-year- State fighters in Syria. Austrian accepting the de facto resigna- Holiness would like to mani- led US congressional panel has old boy amid fears he would follow his three brothers in joining Al Interior Minister Johanna Mikl- tion of a British cardinal dis- fest his pastoral solicitude to formally asked Hillary Clinton Qaeda linked fighters in Syria. Two of the brothers have been killed, Leitner thanked Turkish authori- graced in a sex scandal without all the faithful of the Church in to hand over her private compu- and the other wounded. AFP ties for helping bring him home. any follow-up on the allegations Scotland and to encourage them ter server, ramping up scrutiny REUTERS against him. to continue with hope the path of over her use of a personal email A statement from the Vatican renewal and reconciliation,” the address while secretary of state. said Francis had accepted British statement added. Clinton has come under pres- former archbishop Keith O’Brien’s SNAP, a global campaign group sure for using a private address resignation of the rights and on the issue of clerical sex abuse and email server rather than gov- privileges of a cardinal in a highly which counts many victims among ernment systems while the coun- unusual move for which the last its activists, said the pope’s han- try’s top diplomat from 2009-2013. Clashes intensify near Ukraine port precedent dates from 1927. dling of the issue was tantamount The revelations reinvigorated It came two years after O’Brien to a cover up. an investigation by a Republican- SHYROKYNE: Three pro- and claimed separatists had also fear the steel-making hub could stepped down as Archbishop of St “As it has done with dozens of led House of Representatives com- Russian separatists have been violated the peace deal by using be the target of a new rebel offen- Andrews and Edinburgh, having abusive prelates, the Vatican is mittee into the 2012 attacks on a killed in fresh clashes near the heavy Grad rockets for “the first sive as it would help form a land admitted inappropriate sexual disclosing nothing about O’Brien’s US facility in Benghazi, Libya. strategic Ukrainian-held port of time in a month”. bridge between Russian-annexed behaviour towards priests in the wrongdoing,” SNAP spokeswoman Republicans contend Clinton did Mariupol despite a shaky truce Monitors from the Organization Crimea and the border. 1980s. Barbara Dorris said. not do enough to prevent the aimed at ending nearly a year of for Security and Cooperation in Situated around 10 kilometres At the time of his resigna- “There’s no transparency here. incident. fighting, rebels said yesterday. Europe stationed on government- east of the city on the Azov Sea tion, O’Brien was the most senior Not one Catholic official has dis- Representative Trey Gowdy, “Three fighters were killed held territory near the village coast, Shyrokyne has been the Catholic churchman in Britain and closed anything of substance about who heads the Benghazi panel, and six wounded” in the village observed “three Ukrainian Armed scene of heavy clashes despite the an outspoken critic of homosexu- O’Brien’s misdeeds. said in a letter to Clinton’s law- of Shyrokyne, the official rebel Forces tanks firing approximately Minsk ceasefire. ality — which he described as a “And what of his clerical col- yer dated Thursday that she must news agency said on its website. 90 tank rounds” at rebel positions The village has sustained heavy “moral degradation” — and gay leagues? Not one of them knew respond by April 3 and agree to The separatists accused gov- in Shyrokyne. damage, particularly the 700- marriage. of or suspected that O’Brien was hand over the server. Otherwise, ernment troops of flouting a They also said 82mm mortar metre “no man’s land” that sepa- He was exposed as a hypocrite abusing others?” he would discuss additional steps ceasefire signed last month by shells were fired from rebel-held rates both sides, according to a when several priests who had The Vatican ruling allows for obtaining it with House of carrying out 33 attacks over the territory. journalist. been in his charge, one of whom O’Brien to remain a priest and Representatives Speaker John last 24 hours. In line with the Minsk cease- Separatists claim to control had left the priesthood, came for- keep the formal title of cardinal, Boehner. The attacks were mainly fire deal signed last month, fight- around 30 percent of the village, ward with testimony that he had but he is no longer allowed to take Clinton has given thousands of focused on Shyrokyne and the ing has died down along most of and a rebel commander said that made unwanted sexual advances part in any church forums, loses pages of work-related emails to airport in the rebel bastion of the frontline as both parties say fighting with artillery and tanks to them, often after late night his status as an adviser to the pope the State Department. But many Donetsk, according to the agency. they have withdrawn heavy arms took place on a daily basis. drinking sessions. and will not be eligible for any con- congressional Republicans want Donetsk fell under separatist con- to create a buffer zone ranging “The main road was supposed In a statement, the Vatican clave to elect a future pope. a neutral outsider to examine trol in January after months of from 50 kilometres to 140 kilo- to be the neutral zone, but they said the resignation had been The former archbishop is her email server and determine fierce fighting. metres, depending on the range (Ukrainians) bombard it con- presented “after a long period of spending his retirement living in whether she handed over all rel- Ukrainian military spokes- of the weapons. stantly so you can’t even attempt prayer” — a formulation which self-imposed exile from Scotland evant material. Gowdy also has man Andriy Lysenko said three Mariupol is the largest city still to approach it,” the commander, means the matter was dealt with in northern England in a house demanded emails from former Ukrainian troops had been under government control in the named Igor, said. by the pope personally, without reportedly paid for by the Church. Clinton aides and wants her to injured over the last 24 hours, conflict zone. Many Ukrainians AFP reference to an internal church AFP testify. REUTERS

Teen jailed for Napoleon bicentennial 10 killed in ambush on beheading plot LONDON: A British teenager federal police in Mexico was sentenced to 22 years in jail yesterday for plotting to behead GUADALAJARA: A gang to protect key economic sec- a soldier in London, a plan a mbush on federa l pol ice in west- tors from organised crime. hatched to imitate the hacking ern Mexico killed five officers, A gendarmerie commander to death of soldier Lee Rigby by three suspects and two bystand- deployed in Jalisco said the offic- two radical Islamists in the capi- ers in the deadliest day for the ers were checking on reports of an tal in 2013. country’s new gendarmerie. attack on municipal police when Muslim convert Brusthom The attack took place late on they were ambushed. Ziamani was arrested last August, Thursday as the seven vehicles The police statement said the then aged 18, carrying a 30-cm carrying the paramilitary gen- officers were on patrol around 9:15 knife and a hammer, wrapped in darmerie officers were on patrol pm when a vehicle approached the a black Islamic flag. in Ocotlan, Jalisco state, federal convoy and “without uttering a Ziamani, from Camberwell in police said in a statement. word, one of the individuals pulled southeast London, had told his ex- Eight officers were wounded, out a large weapon and shot at the girlfriend in graphic detail hours including one in serious condition federal agents.” before his arrest of his intention in the town of 93,000 people. The officers shot back and more to behead a soldier. It was the deadliest shoot- gunmen arrived in about 10 other His Facebook posts and text ing for the gendarmerie, a vehicles, firing in all directions. messages showed Ziamani, now 19, 5,000-strong unit modelled after The gendarmerie commander had “absorbed the twisted inter- European military-like police said the shootout lasted 30 min- pretation of the Holy Quran that forces that President Enrique utes and took place on several is the hallmark of the fanatical A man dressed as French Emperor Napoleon (second left) rides on horseback near the Pyramide du Louvre Pena Nieto launched last year streets. AFP Islamic terrorist,” Judge Timothy in Paris yesterday. This year marks the bicentennial of the return of Napoleon Bonaparte to France after nine Pontius said. REUTERS months of exile on the Island of Elba. Fifth arrest over Copenhagen attacks COPENHAGEN: Copenhagen police said yesterday they had Guardian names Kath Viner as new editor arrested a fifth man suspected of being an accomplice of gunman Omar El-Hussein who killed two people in deadly twin attacks last LONDON: British newspaper The Guardian years as editor-in-chief has helped transform editor-in chief of the four-year-old US digital month. announced yesterday that Kath Viner, the the paper from a traditional broadsheet to an edition. The man was “suspected of complicity in the perpetrator’s actions head of its US operations, had been appointed international digital operation. The Scott Trust, which owns the Guardian on February 14 and 15,” police said in a statement. to take over as editor-in-chief later this year. Since joining The Guardian in 1997, Viner has Media Group, chose Viner out of 26 candidates “Like yesterday, a number of raids are being carried out in connec- Viner, who becomes the 12th editor and the been a deputy editor, editor of the Saturday following an indicative ballot of editorial staff, tion with the arrest,” it added. first woman to run the left-leaning daily in edition, deputy women’s editor, editor of the G2 where she emerged the clear favourite. A fourth man was arrested on Thursday in an area of Copenhagen its 194-year history, said it was an “enormous supplement and the Weekend magazine. Viner becomes the first Guardian editor bordering the Noerrebro neighbourhood where El Hussein lived. privilege and responsibility”. She launched the newspaper’s Australian since the 1950s who was not educated at pri- Custody hearings held yesterday for the men, who cannot be named She will replace Alan Rusbridger, who in 20 operation in 2013 and last year became vate school. AFP for legal reasons, were not open to the public. AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA Mass grave Makati in chaos as mayors in stand-off outside town Suspended for corruption, Binay refuses to cede power to deputy Pena taken from MANILA: The Philippines’ of President Benigno Aquino’s country. They are sending the family against the suspension but The elder Binay capitalised financial capital Makati has Liberal Party. wrong signal to investors. Makati Pena continuing to receive the on this populist theme to propel Boko: Nigeria been plunged into chaos with Makati’s courts closed for a day is the financial centre of the Aquino administration’s support. himself to the country’s second two politicians claiming to be last week because of the crisis, country.” While the power struggle is highest post in 2010 and fortify NIAMEY: Troops from Chad mayor, forcing courts to close and some judges have continued From an adjacent old building, unlikely to affect big business in a political dynasty that includes and Niger have discovered what and delaying government busi- to postpone hearings to avoid the with hallways that reek of leak- the city in the short term, it could two other daughters elected to appears to be a mass grave out- ness during a bitter stand-off crush of Binay supporters outside ing toilets, Pena issued a memo- affect the Philippines’ image as parliament. side the northern Nigerian town triggered by graft claims. the building, family spokesman randum on Friday to all city hall a safe investment destination, True to the family’s populist of Damasak, liberated from the Surrounded by hundreds Joey Salgado said yesterday. employees asserting his authority. Richard Javad Heydarian, a polit- touch, the Binay’s have attracted Islamist group Boko Haram at of supporters, Makati mayor He also warned there was “All ordinances, official docu- ical science professor at the De La supporters to the vigil at the city the weekend, Niger military Jejomar Erwin Binay has been a looming crisis over who had ments and official actions must Salle University in Manila, said. hall grounds with film showings sources said yesterday. holed up in city hall since the the authority to sign the city’s be submitted and referred to the “Business can’t be tied to politi- on giant screens and free Zumba The sources said investiga- ombudsman suspended him last cheques, while some welfare undersigned for approval and/or cal cycles,” he said. lessons. Media have also been tions were underway to establish week because of its investigation recipients said they did not appropriate action,” Pena said, Binay’s family has said the given free food. the number of bodies and that into his alleged corrupt practices. receive their benefits on time. referring to himself. mayor’s suspension is politically Balloon salesman Errol Bonba they were awaiting the arrival Insisting the graft accusations If banks do not honour cheques Makati is the country’s larg- motivated as his father continues waited outside Mayor Binay’s of Nigerian authorities to take are trumped up, Binay has refused signed by Binay, street lamps and est city in terms of revenue, with to dominate surveys to become office door yesterday, waiting for charge of the operation. to cede power to his deputy and traffic lights will be shut down, 11.9bn pesos ($265m) in earn- the next president in 2016 elec- the chance to give him a state- “Niger and Chad’s troops rival, Romulo Pena, who insists he taps in government buildings will ings from taxes and fees in 2013, tions, ahead of the Liberal Party’s ment of support from the city’s have discovered a mass grave at is now “acting mayor”. run dry and garbage collection according to government data. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas. disabled persons group. Damasak, which appears to con- The power struggle is widely will stop, according to Salgado. The city hosts the country’s The Binays have ruled Makati “I hope this standoff won’t delay tain the bodies of Boko Haram’s seen as a battle between the “This is a very dangerous situ- stock exchange, 82 embassies and since the restoration of democracy the delivery of my dentures. It will victims,” said one of the military nation’s ruling Liberal Party and ation, if their (national govern- consulates, 506 bank offices and in 1986, endearing themselves to give me confidence when dealing sources, who asked not to be main opposition. ment’s) actions result in delays in 246 business process outsourcing the masses with unparalleled with my clients,” the wheelchair- identified. Binay is the son of opposition salaries, utilities,” he said. and technology companies. benefits such as free college edu- bound 52-year-old said, flashing a The dusty streets of Damasak leader, Vice-President Jejomar “Any perception of instabil- The stand-off appears likely to cation, medicine, movies and toothless smile. were largely deserted following Binay, while Pena is a member ity would have an effect on the drag on for weeks, with the Binay birthday cakes. AFP its liberation on Saturday, after many inhabitants had fled the Islamists’ four-month rule. Shops and businesses were looted and Jumbo welcome for Solar Impulse in Myanmar Boko Haram’s black and white insignia were scrawled on build- 120,000 flee ings around the town. The military sources said they Philippines had requested Nigeria’s mili- tary to occupy the town, which violence: UN lies close to the border with Niger, but had yet to receive a GENEVA: More than 120,000 response. people have fled their homes “As far as I know, as of yester- in the impoverished southern day, the Nigerian army has still Philippines since fighting broke not arrived in the area. We are out between government troops waiting,” said one of the sources. and Islamic militants in late The regional offensive launched January, the UN refugee agency this year by Chad, Niger, said yesterday. Cameroon and Nigeria comes as “UNHCR is concerned about Africa’s most populous country the safety of civilians as the con- and biggest economy prepares flict spreads into local villages,” to hold presidential elections on spokesman Babar Baloch told March 28. reporters. At the start of this year, Boko The Philippines military Haram controlled around 20 local launched an offensive earlier this government areas, a territory the year against the Bangsamoro size of Belgium. With the help of Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), foreign allies, Nigeria’s army said a rebel group fighting for an inde- on Tuesday it pushed the rebels pendent Muslim homeland in the out of all but three districts. south. President Goodluck Jonathan The offensive, including has been criticised for not doing attacks with artillery and heli- enough to tackle the insurgency. copter gunships, has taken His challenger Muhammadu place in poor farming areas on Buhari has campaigned on a Mindanao island, where Muslim reputation for toughness gained rebels have for decades fought for when he was military ruler of independence. Nigeria in the 1980s. Baloch said an estimated 13 Myanmar students perform as they welcome the Solar Impulse 2 at Mandalay international airport yesterday. Solar Impulse 2 was met by dancers REUTERS municipalities in Maguindanao dressed in an elephant costume as it landed, completing the fourth leg of its landmark circumnavigation of the globe powered solely by the sun. and North Cotabato had been affected by the eight weeks of clashes. More than 120,000 had been displaced and sought shelter in schools, public buildings and Japan police arrest man after threats to US envoy madrasas, he said. But he acknowledged, “the TOKYO: Japanese police said “Bomb Camp Schwab (in between Okinawa, Japan’s poorest NTV reported on Monday that with the Japanese government estimated number of displaced yesterday they have arrested a Okinawa). Bomb embassy,” he prefecture, and the central gov- Japanese police were investigating on these reports, these threats,” could be higher, since it does not 52-year-old man for threaten- said in English on the phone, ernment in Tokyo. death threats made by an anony- State Department spokeswoman include people hosted by relatives ing to bomb the US embassy according to the spokesman. Kamiya admitted making the mous caller against her. Jen Psaki told reporters in and friends.” in Tokyo, days after reports Camp Schwab, a US military bomb telephone calls, the police A man speaking in English Washington. Baloch also warned that the emerged that ambassador base on Okinawa, is the site of spokesman said. He has not pres- phoned the embassy “multiple “The Japanese police arrested numbers were “expected to grow Caroline Kennedy had received a planned air station relocation ently been charged with threaten- times last month, saying he would a 52-year-old individual from as the fighting extends to the local telephone death threats. which will see it hosting half of ing to kill the ambassador. kill Ambassador Kennedy,” NTV Okinawa for making threatening communities ... already hosting Officers took Mitsuyoshi the 47,000 American military Kennedy, the last surviving television reported. phone calls against the embassy... many of the displaced.” Kamiya into custody on the south- personnel in Japan. The plan has child of assassinated US president US officials said they had not just related to the ambassador,” The volatile security situation ern tropical island of Okinawa on attracted vociferous opposition John F Kennedy, took up her post been co-operating with Japanese Psaki said. The arrest was “a posi- is meanwhile blocking UNHCR Thursday, on suspicion of making from many islanders, who feel in Tokyo in November 2013 as the authorities on the bomb and tive step,” she said, adding the State from accessing many of the three calls to the embassy men- that it is too heavy a burden. first woman US ambassador to death threat calls for some time. Department would stay in close affected areas, he said. tioning bombs earlier this month, Mired in protests for years, it is Japan. “We are working and have touch with Japanese authorities. AFP a police spokesman said. the focus of much of the friction Japanese television station been working for several weeks AFP

Elderly Thai jailed for ‘royal insult’

BANGKOK: An elderly Thai But his wife struggled to hold elected government. man was jailed by a military back her tears. Speaking after They argue that draconian lese court yesterday for scrawling sentencing, Ophas said he was majeste legislation is increasingly graffiti in a shopping mall toi- relieved that the sentence had being used as a tool to stifle politi- let critical of the country’s junta been reduced for his guilty plea. cal opposition. leaders and its revered king. “Soldiers told me when I was Under martial law, political Thailand’s monarch Bhumibol detained that if I didn’t like some- gatherings of more than five people Adulyadej, 87, is protected by one one I should keep it in my heart. are banned, criticism of the junta of the world’s toughest royal defa- I shouldn’t have done it,” he said. is outlawed and civilians can be mation rules under which anyone During the brief hearing the tried in military courts for national convicted of insulting the king, judge read out what the market security or lese majeste offences. queen, heir or regent faces up to vendor had written on the wall. In a separate hearing yesterday, 15 years in prison on each count. The majority of his comments two brothers and a close relative Ophas Chansuksei, a 67-year- were critical of Thailand’s junta of former princess Srirasmi were old pin-badge vendor, received a chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who also jailed on charges including year and a half sentence for writ- imposed martial law and then lese majeste, extortion and false ing anti-monarchy and anti-gov- seized power in a coup last May. imprisonment. They are the lat- ernment messages in an eastern But one sentence made refer- est close relatives of Srirasmi — Bangkok mall last October. ence to the king. who was until recently married The judge described the com- Reporting lese majeste cases is to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn ments as “false” and said they fraught with difficulty and media — to face legal proceedings after “lowered the value of the king”. must heavily self-censor. Even a corruption scandal involving her His sentence was cut from three repeating details of the charges family erupted late last year. years because he pleaded guilty, could mean breaking the law. The scandal centred around now the judge added. Rights groups say basic jailed relative Pongpat Chayapun, A reporter inside the military freedoms have fallen off a cliff the former head of Thailand’s elite court said Ophas, grey-haired and since the military took over Central Investigation Bureau, who dressed in rose coloured prison last May following the oust- was accused of running a sprawl- clothes, remained impassive as ing of former premier Yingluck ing criminal network. Ophas Chansuksei, 67, is escorted by prison officers as they arrive at the military court in Bangkok yesterday. the sentence was read out. Shinawatra’s democratically AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Afghan leaders head to US ahead of fighting season Peace bid, aid in focus as Ghani, Abdullah leave today

KABUL: Afghan President another key point: the financial Western diplomatic source. Ashraf Ghani and his Chief support to Afghanistan, which “We have addressed Pakistani Executive Abdullah Abdullah has been secured until 2017, but concerns by leading operations travel this week to Washington needs to be confirmed for the fol- in eastern Afghanistan that dis- where they are expected to lowing five years. rupted the Pakistani Taliban,” focus on reconciliation with the “This support will be crucial, added the senior Afghan official. Taliban as the annual “fighting because it will take some years “In return, we are expecting season” begins. for our economy to stand on its Islamabad to hold on its promises Diplomatic efforts to bring the feet alone, organise a proper tax to bring the Afghan Taliban to the Taliban to the negotiating table collection,” he continued. negotiating table with our govern- have gained pace recently, even The trip is also seen as an ment. We are hopeful — and more as security forces have launched important step toward mend- now than in recent years because offensives against the insurgent ing relations between the US Pakistan has signalled a stronger group without Nato assistance for and Afghanistan, which deterio- interest in committing to peace in the first time since 2002. rated towards the end of former the region — but are still waiting Ghani and Abdullah leave President Hamid Karzai’s ten- to see concrete progress on this today for an official four-day trip year rule. issue.” to Washington, where the presi- “The first goal to achieve is the According to a Pakistani official dent will address a joint session rehabilitation of the relationship who asked not to be named, rep- Volunteers transport the body of a blast victim after a bomb explosion in Karachi yesterday. of Congress. Both men will then with the USA. US-Afghanistan resentatives of the Afghan gov- visit Camp David and New York. relations were tough during the ernment and the Afghan Taliban Besides the US, Ghani also vis- past government,” Javid Faisal, a have recently met in Pakistan. Bike bomb kills two in Karachi ited Saudi Arabia this week, while spokesman for Abdullah said. The two sides agreed to “form Abdullah was in India to try to Since coming to power in committees that will meet to dis- obtain a “regional consensus” on September, Ghani has focused on cuss the way forward”, the source KARACHI: At least two peo- mosque after Friday prayers and shattered windows. reconciliation with the Taliban, improving relations with neigh- said. Officially, however, Kabul ple were killed and seven others when there was a huge blast and In a separate incident a suicide according to Afghan officials. bouring Pakistan, a key partner continues to deny that dialogue wounded after a bomb planted many people fell to the ground. bomber on Friday evening rode a The Afghan leaders will also in the peace process, which his has formally begun. on a motorcycle exploded out- “I was inside the mosque when motorbike into a vehicle carrying be seeking renewed support predecessor had refused to do. “So far we have been able to side a mosque in Karachi yes- the bomb exploded and I saw paramilitary troops in the east of from Washington over the issue, Pakistan has often been pave the ground for peace, we terday, police said. people falling to the ground,” Din the city killing two paramilitary a source close to the government accused in the past of covertly are at the very initial stages, The blast took place in the said. soldiers. said. “One of the factors which is supporting the Taliban to coun- we hope we will start negotia- congested Aram Bagh area of Umer Khatab, a senior officer “A suicide bomber riding on motivating President Ghani to act ter the influence of its rival India tions in the future, but till this Pakistan’s biggest city, outside a at the police Counter Terrorism a motorbike hit the mobile van now could be trying to make as in Afghanistan. But Islamabad moment the negotiations have not mosque belonging to a sub-sect Department, told reporters that of (paramilitary) rangers in the much progress as possible before has insisted that is no longer the began,” Afghan Foreign Minister of the minority Shiite Muslim about two kilogrammes of explo- neighbourhood of North Nazimabad the fighting season begins, but case, and that both countries have Salahuddin Rabbani told parlia- community. sives were used in the bomb, killing two soldiers,” senior police it’s not the only factor,” said a shared goals. ment on Wednesday. Pakistan has been hit by a ris- which was detonated with a timer. official Faisal Noor said. Western diplomat. “President Ghani is trying to He also assured lawmakers his ing wave of sectarian violence in “The bomb was planted to tar- He said three other soldiers in The visit will also include establish a peace process, trying government “will not compromise recent years, most of it carried get the people coming out of the the vehicle were injured and one an economic component, with to begin talks... He recognises the achievements of the last 13 out by militant Sunni Muslim mosque,” Khatab said. was in critical condition. In January, planned discussions on the future that in order for that to happen years for peace”, especially over groups targeting Shiites. Many worshippers in blood- 61 people were killed in a suicide of cooperation between the two it will be important to have a new the issue of women’s rights. A police spokesman said two stained clothes gathered out- bombing carried out by a Taliban countries. relationship with Pakistan and to The growing role of China in were killed in the blast and seven side the mosque, searching for splinter group at a Shiite mosque, A senior Afghan official who build closer ties with China, Saudi the peace process has also added wounded. relatives. the deadliest sectarian incident to requested anonymity said: “The Arabia, and to some extent the a new dimension. Saif-ud-Din, a witness, said The blast ripped through the hit the country since 2013. meetings in the US will focus on United Arab Emirates,” said the AFP people were coming out of the shutters of several nearby shops AFP

US air power in Afghan cleric defends lynching of woman in Kabul Afghanistan at KABUL: An Afghan cleric the crowd had a right to defend Islam. “This (person) thought, It added that the government killing, which took place just a and a police official yester- their Muslim beliefs at all costs. like several other unbelievers, “also condemns in strong terms short drive from the diplomatic five-year low day defended the lynching of a “I am warning the government that this kind of action and insult any action that causes disrespect quarter. woman in central Kabul after a not to arrest those who did this, will get them US or European to the Holy Quran and Islamic Heather Barr of Human KABUL: The United States’ mob was filmed stamping on the because it will mean an uprising,” citizenship. But before reach- values”. Rights Watch urged foreign use of air power in Afghanistan woman and smashing a brick on said the cleric at the Wazir Akbar ing their target, lost their life,” Anger among Afghans over embassies, which often swiftly in the first two months of 2015 her head after she was accused Khan mosque. Hashmat Stanekzai wrote on his desecration has boiled over into condemn violence linked to the was its lowest in five years, as of burning a copy Holy Quran. Another Afghan man boasted Facebook page. violence several times. In 2011, Taliban, to publicly denounce the reduced international mili- The woman’s body was set on on Facebook of participating in President Ashraf Ghani’s office riots killed seven U N staff after the attack, to “make it clear tary coalition sharply cut bat- fire and thrown onto the banks of the lynching, saying that “pious said the killing would be inves- an American pastor broadcast a that this kind of complete lack tlefield aid to Afghan security Kabul’s main river on Thursday. people of Kabul, including myself, tigated by both the Ministry of video of himself burning a Holy of rule of law represents a shock- forces. It was unclear whether she had killed her and then burnt her. Her Interior and a committee of reli- Quran. ing failure”. The reduction reflects the actually burned a Holy Quran, place is in hell.” gious scholars. Foreign donors that have The United Nations mission in smaller US role in its longest war, but during Friday prayers at a A spokesman in the Kabul “No individual is allowed to poured billions of dollars into Kabul late on Friday condemned even as Washington mulls slowing mosque in a smart area of Kabul, police chief’s office also appeared make oneself a judge and use vio- promoting the rule of law and the killing “in the strongest down the planned drawdown of a cleric’s sermon broadcast by to justify the killing, saying the lence to punish others,” Ghani’s human rights programs did terms”. American troops. loudspeaker told devotees that woman had deliberately insulted statement said. not issue statements on the REITERS None of the 503 air support sorties by American air assets this year have been flown to sup- port Afghan security forces in UN water warning battle, a coalition spokesman said. “The vast majority of those Husbands can’t deny missions were in support of the US counter-terrorism mission,” Colonel Brian Tribus, a spokes- man for Resolute Support, the paternity: Apex court new non-combat Nato mission that launched in January, wrote ISLAMABAD: The Supreme introduce DNA evidence. When in an email. Court of Pakistan yesterday the court turned down the The US-led coalition recorded ruled that the Muslim Personal request, he took the matter to 36 “weapon releases” by aircraft Law did not vest husbands with the high court which granted his in February and 40 in January. the right to casually deny the request. That compares with a peak of paternity of a child bore to them The woman moved the 1,043 weapon releases in October by their wives. Supreme Court which accepted 2010, military data show. “Children born during the her appeal eight years later. Of the roughly 10,000 American subsistence of marriage are pre- “While the presumption of troops left in Afghanistan, most sumed to be legitimate,” said a legitimacy attached to children are in a training and advising role, judgment issued by a two-judge born during marriage is a long- with about 1,800 designated for bench comprises Justice Jawwad standing rule of Muslim Personal missions to hunt down Al Qaeda S Khawaja and Justice Sarmad Law, some confusion seems to and other jihadist militants. Jalal Osmany.while overturning a have been created in this regard The reduced US air support Lahore High Court verdict. by Article 128(1 a) of the Qanun- puts pressure on the fledging “Except under extremely lim- i-Shahadat Order (QSO), 1984,” Afghan Air Force, which has just ited circumstances and within a the SC judgement said. a fraction of Nato’s former air A girl filling a can with water from a hand pump in a slum area of Lahore. A new UN report launched in New very limited period after birth, The provision suggests that no power, to support Afghan ground Delhi ahead of World Water Day on March 22 warned of an urgent need to manage the world’s water more this presumption cannot be such presumption remains in a case troops. sustainably. rebutted by any evidence, includ- where “the husband had refused, or Afghan security forces faced ing DNA test,” the verdict said. refuses, to own the child”. heavy casualties last year, and The eight-page judgment nar- The apex court clarified that are bracing for their first spring rates the story behind the case. Article 128(1 a) of the QSO must fighting season after NATO’s In 1997, Ghazala Tehseen Zohra, be read in line with letter and 13-year combat mission officially Islamabad residents told to stay home the appellant, became the first spirit of Section 2 of the West ended in December. wife of a local landowner, Mehr Pakistan Muslim Personal Law President Barack Obama is Ghulam Dastagir Khan, and sub- (Shariat) Act, 1962. expected to decide in the next few ISLAMABAD: As the who said the announcement will venue, so that residents could sequently bore him two children. This statutory provision stipu- days whether to slow the pace of Pakistan Day parade inches take a toll on their routine life. move freely,” said Fahad Khan. When the husband took a sec- lates that in issues of “legitimacy or the US troop withdrawal, possi- closer, the Islamabad Capital “I had booked a marriage hall The ICT Administration has ond wife, the first wife went to the bastardy”, where the parties con- bly by next week, when Afghan Territory (ICT) Administration in Sector I-8 Markaz for my wed- already beefed up security in court claiming a secure monthly cerned are Muslim, the courts shall President Ashraf Ghani travels has advised citizens to avoid ding but was asked to cancel the the capital by deploying police, maintenance for her and the apply rules of Muslim Personal Law to Washington. taking to streets unnecessarily. event,” said Muhammad Ali. Rangers and army personnel. two children. But the husband derived from the Shariah. US bases in Kandahar and The ICT Administration has Almost all living close to the The police have established check divorced her, refused to own the Under these rules, a father Jalalabad are likely to remain decided to hold a rehearsal on parade avenue shared the same posts in different parts of the city children and sought a declaration cannot deny the paternity of open past the end of the year, a March 21 (today) and all roads story, saying the citizens were to carry out checking of vehicles. to this effect from a local court. children bore to him by his wife, senior US official said, addding leading to Parade Avenue will unnecessarily made to suffer Police has already asked trad- Seven years later, just before even though evidence, unless he that conditions had changed remain closed, said an official. ahead of the event. “I am aston- ers to close up shop to ensure fool the paternity trial was about to expressly makes this denial within since the president announced The closure of roads may create ished to understand why the proof security on the day. conclude, the husband sought 40 days after the child’s birth. the drawdown timeline. problems for Islamabad residents, event is not being held at the old INTERNEWS permission from the court to INTERNEWS REUTERS SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA No scope ever Six killed in for third party in talks with attack on J&K Pakistan: India NEW DELHI: India yesterday rebuffed Pakistan’s attempts to involve the separatist Hurriyat police station in talks on Jammu and Kashmir, saying that it has always stood for resolving all bilateral issues, Chief Minister blames ‘non-state actors’ including on Kashmir, peace- fully and there would never be JAMMU: A civilian and three Danish Rana announced the “any scope” for a third party security personnel were killed death of the two militants. The coming in. yesterday when two heavily- others dead were a policeman, two External affairs ministry armed militants stormed a CRPF personnel and a civilian. spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin, police station in Jammu and The injured included seven addressing a media briefing, said: Kashmir before being gunned CRPF men, a deputy superin- “Does India permit or coun- down, police said. tendent of police, a police con- tenance involvement of third The attackers were killed over stable and a civilian, Rana added. parties other than the two gov- seven hours after they barged The deputy superintendent was ernments in issues relating to into the Rajbagh police station identified as Diwakar Singh, who India and Pakistan? complex in Kathua district after sustained a bullet injury on his “The answer is: We have stated gunning down the lone guard at shoulder. repeatedly that our position has the main gate, police officials said. The injured were hurriedly been that we are committed to Armed with automatic weap- shifted to Jammu for treatment. resolving all issues including the ons and grenades, the militants, Police, paramilitary and army issue of Jammu and Kashmir dressed in military fatigue, car- reinforcements rushed to the bilaterally with Pakistan, through ried out the sudden attack at site once the attack became a peaceful bilateral dialogue, and around 6 am. known but they had to be cau- Security personnel stand in front of bullet-marked walls of a police station after a gunfight against militants at that there was never and will be Once the attackers sneaked tious as many CRPF personnel Rajbagh in Kathua district, some 65km from Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir yesterday. never any scope whatsoever for into the complex, about 65 km were caught up inside the building involvement of any third party,” from Jammu on the highway to which the militants had entered. As the gun battle between the of the AFSPA,” Sayeed said, refer- the Peoples Democratic Party and he said. Pathankot and just 15 km from Amid covering fire provided militants and security forces ring to the first terror strike since the Bharatiya Janata Party took To another question on the the Pakistan border, they opened by security forces from the out- raged, traffic on the highway was he took charge of the state on power on March 1. The attack Pakistan High Commission’s invite fire at a building occupied by the side, the trapped CRPF personnel halted. All schools in Kathua dis- March 1. “It is time Pakistan real- rocked the state assembly. Deputy to the separatist Kashmiri leaders Central Reserve Police Force managed to leave the building. trict were hurriedly ordered shut. ised this as they are also battling Chief Minister Nirmal Singh to attend the Pakistan Day func- (CRPF), killing two of its men. This took time. It was finally All school examinations scheduled these elements in their country,” made a statement in the house. tion on March 23 here, he said: A civilian was also killed but around 1.30 pm that the authori- in the district were postponed. he told the media. Twelve people were killed on “There is still some time away (for it was not clear in what circum- ties made the final assault on the Jammu and Kashmir Chief “It is likely that the attack- September 26, 2013 when guerril- March 23); I think surprise is an stances. Ten others, almost all of now isolated building, killing the Minister Mufti Muhammad ers crossed the Pakistan border las had attacked Hiranagar police element that needs to be taken into them security personnel, suffered two attackers. Sayeed blamed “non-state actors” recently,” an intelligence officer station also in Kathua district and consideration.. Wait and watch.” varying injuries in the audacious “Searches are on to ensure that for the terror attack. “This was said. This was the first terror then entered an army camp on Moderate Hurriyat Conference attack. no other militant is hiding there,” carried out by non-state actors attack in Jammu and Kashmir the Jammu-Pathankot highway. chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Inspector General of Police an officer said. who are against peace and lifting after a coalition government of IANS is to lead a delegation of the Kashmiri separatist leaders to attend the Pakistan Day function here next week. In a statement, the Hurriyat has said that the delegation will hold “a detailed deliberation with Anti-black money bill tabled in Lower House Pakistan over the resumption of dialogue with India and various other political issues connected NEW DELHI: A bill on Under the proposed legisla- for prosecution with punishment against 60 account holders. ones range from $466bn to $1.4 with the Kashmir dispute”. unearthing black money and tion’s provisions, concealing for- of rigorous imprisonment up to India has strongly advocated trillion. Last year, India had called punishing those with ill-gotten eign income and assets will be seven years. the fast implementation of “In its crusade against black off the foreign secretary level wealth stashed abroad was non-compoundable and offenders The bill will now be taken up the automatic exchange of tax money and with a view to hav- talks set for August 25 after the tabled in the Lok Sabha yes- will not be permitted to approach for discussion after Lok Sabha information globally, within the ing credible deterrence against Pakistani High Commissioner terday, the last day before par- the Settlement Commission for resumes sittings next month and time-frame agreed to by the G20 generation of black money, the Abdul Basit met Kashmiri sepa- liament goes into its scheduled resolving disputes. could thereafter be referred to countries, in the backdrop of government has shifted its focus ratist leaders ahead of the talks, month-long recess. The new legislation will pro- the parliamentary standing com- media reporting names of Indian to successfully prosecuting the ignoring India’s request not to do The Undisclosed Foreign vide that income in relation to mittee for scrutiny before being account holders in HSBC Bank’s offenders in the shortest possible so. Basit is to meet the Mirwaiz on Income and Assets (Imposition of any undisclosed foreign asset or taken up for passage. Swiss branch. time,” the finance ministry said in Sunday and is expected to discuss New Tax) Bill, 2015, proposes a undisclosed income from any for- An Indian Express report last At the G20 Brisbane summit a statement last month. efforts to bring back the stalled short window to overseas income eign asset will be taxable at the month said that 1,195 Indians last November, leaders endorsed “During 2014-15 (up to India-Pakistan dialogue process. tax assesses to declare their maximum marginal rate. were in the list of clients who held a new global transparency stand- December 2014), the income The Pakistani envoy had assets, pay tax and a penalty and A beneficiary of foreign assets accounts in HSBC Bank’s Geneva ard by which more than 90 juris- tax department had conducted earlier met hardline Hurriyat thus avoid imprisonment. will be mandatorily required to branch from 2006-2007. dictions will begin automatic searches in 414 groups and seized leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani It provides for a maximum of file returns, even if there is no Reacting to the report, exchange of tax information, undisclosed assets of Rs.582 and updated him about the talks 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment taxable income. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley using a common reporting stand- crore,” the statement added. between Indian Foreign Secretary for evading tax on foreign assets. It also seeks to make non- said the government has com- ard by 2017-2018. Undisclosed income of Rs.6,769 S. Jaishankar and his Pakistani There will also be a penalty at filing of income tax returns or pleted assessment of 350 for- India has no official esti- crore has been admitted by the counterpart Aizaz Ahmad the rate of 300 percent of taxes on filing returns with inadequate eign accounts while tax evasion mates of illegal money stashed taxpayers during such searches. Chaudhry in Islamabad earlier the concealed income and assets. disclosure of foreign assets liable proceedings have been initiated away overseas, but the unofficial IANS this month. IANS

Early morning catch Sushma Action sought against travelling to South Africa, lawyers for derogatory Tanzania remarks on women NEW DELHI: External NEW DELHI: The Supreme of their fundamental rights to Affairs Minister Sushma Court Women Lawyers work with dignity and without Swaraj would be interacting Association yesterday sought gender bias. with her counterparts from action against two lawyers — Seeking to be shielded from South Africa and Brazil during M L Sharma and A P Singh any gender bias, the petition by a meeting of the IBSA trilateral — for making derogatory women lawyers said that their ministerial council on March 31. remarks against women in petition was necessitated due Sushma Swaraj, who is also BBC documentary ‘Daughter to the “ignominy and the direct travelling to Tanzania, will be co- of India’ on the December 16 attack on the dignity of women, chairing the India-South Africa gangrape case. especially women lawyers prac- joint commission too during her A bench of Chief Justice H L ticing in Supreme Court who March 29-31 South Africa visit. Dattu, Justice M Y Eqbal and have suffered due to the state- She will be in Tanzania from Justice Arun Mishra agreed to ments made and publicized by March 28-29, being the first hear the plea next week after two male lawyers, and specially Indian foreign minister to visit the association mentioned their the respondent no. 1 (Sharma), the east African country since petition seeking action against who regularly practices in the 2003. Sharma and Singh including Supreme Court”. In Johannesburg, Sushma restrictions on their entry in the The petition described as Swaraj will meet her South Supreme Court premises. “inhumane, scandalous, biased, African counterpart, Maite Seeking action against the outrageous” the remarks made by Nkoana-Mashabane and Brazilian two who had also appeared two lawyers in the documentary, Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira for the accused in December and an affront to the dignity of at the 8th India-Brazil-South 16 gangrape case, the woman women lawyers. Africa Trilateral Ministerial Fishermen are silhuetted by the rising sun as they prepare for an early morning catch at the banks of Narmada lawyers sought the protection IANS Commission (ITMC). river in Nemawar district Dewas, 200km from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, yesterday. The trilateral IBSA Trilateral Ministerial Commission is expected to review the achieve- ments and challenges of the forum and chart out a forward path. Sushma Swaraj had met Nkoana- Revolver for women proves a hit among men Mashabane during the 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) LUCKNOW: A lightweight show that just 28 of around 450 about women’s safety. revolver at this price is nothing “Rape is essentially not a law in Gandhinagar in January. She revolver launched in the wake orders received so far have been No one at the factory was avail- but a cruel joke,” said Madhu and order problem and a revolver is also expected to pay homage of a deadly 2012 gang rape in for women. able for comment, but women’s Garg, the local head of the All in a woman’s purse is not going to at sites associated to Mahatma Delhi and billed as India’s first The revolver was developed rights campaigners said that at India Democratic Women’s prevent it,” she said. Gandhi in Johannesburg. gun designed for women has by a state-run weapons factory 140,000 rupees (around $2,300) Association. “What is needed is a reformed The bilateral trade between the proved a hit — but only among in the northern city of Kanpur the weapon was unaffordable Activist Roop Rekha Verma mindset, stricter laws and two nations stands at $11bn, with men. after the death of a young stu- for the vast majority of Indian said guns were not the answer to a speedier justice delivery it in favour of South Africa. Sales figures for the Nirbheek, dent who was gang-raped in the women. the problem of violence against mechanism.” IANS which means “fearless” in Hindi, capital sparked widespread fears “Expecting them to buy a women in India. AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 32 killed as train derails in UP Over 100 passengers injured as railway officials blame train driver for the mishap

LUCKNOW: At least 32 people were killed when the engine and two crowded coaches of a pas- senger train derailed after the driver overshot a signal early yesterday in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. More than 100 others were injured, many seriously, in the ghastly accident at Bachharwan railway station near Rae Bareli when the Dehradun-Varanasi Janata Express was proceeding to Varanasi. The train was to halt at Bachharwan, a small station. But the driver didn’t stop. When he realised the folly and applied the emergency brakes, the engine and the coaches went off the tracks, officials said. An official statement said the derailment took place when the train hit a sand bump. One of the two coaches which derailed was a sleeper class. The other was a general coach. Both were packed with commuters. As the badly injured passen- gers screamed in pain, the first to reach the site were people from nearby villages. But one of the two coaches was so mangled that rescue work could not take place until officials arrived. When journalists too reached A damaged coach of a passenger train is removed from the site of an accident at Rae Bareli district in Uttar Pradesh yesterday. the place, furious locals raised slo- gans against the state and railway about 65 km away. “The number mourned the loss of lives. applied the emergency brakes, announced similar compensation. passengers. As news of the acci- authorities, saying official rescu- of casualties is likely to increase Mahesh Gupta, the divisional leading to the derailment,” one The accident disrupted train dent reached Lucknow, around ers took a long time to start pull- as the general coach has been commissioner of Lucknow, said official said. The railways ordered services on the important New 100 beds were reserved in the ing out the bleeding passengers. completely flattened,” an official that 27 people perished in the a probe into the accident. Delhi-Lucknow-Varanasi sector. city’s hospitals to cater to the Some bodies were taken out earlier said. disaster. The railway ministry A special relief train was injured, officials said. from under the coaches, strewn President Pranab Mukherjee, Northern Railway officials said announced a compensation of rushed from Lucknow. Officials Twenty-two people were killed on the railway tracks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that prima facie the train driver `200,000 to families of each of said six doctors and 20 ambu- when a passenger train rammed Each injured passenger was Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu seemed to be at fault. the dead, `50,000 to the seriously lances were also sent to the acci- into a stationary train in Sant put on a stretcher and rushed to and Congress president Sonia “The train was to stop at the injured and `20,000 to those who dent site. Kabir Nagar district, also in ambulances, to be ferried to hos- Gandhi, in whose Lok Sabha con- Bachharwan station but it did not. suffered minor injuries. Buses were also despatched to Uttar Pradesh, on May 26, 2014. pitals in Rae Bareli and Lucknow, stituency the accident took place, When he realised this, the driver The Uttar Pradesh government the place to ferry the stranded IANS

Police directed to Make in India in focus during Emir’s visit file FIR against SRK NEW DELHI: The Narendra senior officials and captains of The talks are to focus on comprising the largest expatriate Modi government’s ‘Make in industry. Father Emir H H Sheikh investment opportunities from community in the country. Qatar India’ would be in focus during Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, had Qatar to India, especially in the is also the largest source of India’s MUMBAI: The Maharashtra that Khan engaged in fisticuffs the visit of Qatar Emir H H visited India thrice: in 1999, in light of the unveiling of the Make LNG imports, at 86 percent. State Commission for Child with some security personnel Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al 2005 and in 2012, while then Prime in India programme in India as Bilateral trade stands at $16bn, Rights (MSCCR) has asked and when they intervened, he Thani to India next week, dur- Minister Manmohan Singh had well as possible Indian opportu- heavily weighted in favour of police to file an FIR against threatened them. He was also ing which India would also seek visited Qatar in November 2008. nities — for engineering, procure- Qatar due to the LNG imports, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh hurling dirty abuses in the to invest in major infrastruc- The Emir will meet President ment, construction opportunities, said Akbaruddin. Both sides are Khan for using foul lan- presence of small children. ture projects in the Gulf coun- Pranab Mukherjee, who will host in Qatar in the light of major infra- expected to sign several agree- guage in the presence of chil- Mumbai Police had regis- try which is hosting the FIFA a state banquet for him, while Vice structure projects that they are ments on “working out a legal dren after an IPL match at tered a non-cognisable offence World Cup in 2022. President Hamid Ansari will call undertaking keeping in mind the architecture to ensure that people- Wankhede Stadium in 2012. against Khan and three others The Emir, who arrives on on him. He will hold talks with World Cup in 2022, said external to-people flows between India and “A N Tripathi, Secretary, and the actor was banned from Tuesday on a two-day visit, will Prime Minister Narendra Modi affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Qatar are regulated in a manner MSCCR issued the orders entering the MCA premises for be accompanied by a high-level and also meet External Affairs Akbaruddin here. Around 600,000 that is in accordance with inter- two days ago (March 18) to five years by a panel headed by delegation comprising ministers, Minister Sushma Swaraj. Indian nationals work in Qatar, national law”, he added. IANS investigate the matter after late union minister Vilasrao registering an FIR under rel- Deshmukh. evant provisions of the Indian Social activist Amit Maru Penal Code and Juvenile Justice had lodged the first com- World Water Day tomorrow (Care and Protection) Act plaint with the MSCCR as 2000 (as amended 2006), Sec. the matter was serious and US-made arms 23 and submit a copy to the infringed the United Nations Commission,” Abha Singh, an Convention on the Rights of ammunition activist-lawyer pursuing the Child, Singh said. matter, said. In the complaint, Singh said seized in “An enquiry has also been Maru detailed the law with ordered for not registering the reference to acts where filthy FIR in the matter.” abuses would mentally hurt a Mizoram Singh said in view of the child and the act tantamounted AIZAWL: Assam Rifles troop- commission orders, police to cruelty to children. ers and Mizoram Police in a joint would have to file the FIR “After months of efforts, operation seized US-made arms against Khan for hurling ultimately justice is prevailing and ammunition in Mizoram, filthy abuses in public, threats, on Khan who seriously vio- police said here yesterday. One assaulting on-duty public serv- lated rights of small children person was arrested in connec- ants and illegal assembly. by uttering very dirty abuses tion with the case. The arms and Besides, the state home before such innocent children ammunition were smuggled from department must immediately in the Wankhede brawl mat- Myanmar, a police official said. launch a detailed probe into ter,” Singh said. “Seven US-made carbines, why the FIR was not regis- “He could run away from jus- one AK-56 assault rifle and 500 tered in the matter, she added. tice because police who ought rounds of ammunition have On May 16, 2012, Khan got to have complied with the law been seized on a road between into an ugly spat with offi- violated that very law which it Champhai and Zote villages (in cials of the Mumbai Cricket was required to implement.” Mizoram bordering Myanmar) on Association (MCA) after an Singh said: “Hence, it is of Thursday night,” the official said. IPL match between Mumbai outmost necessity that law He said: “The arms and ammu- Indians and Kolkata Knight need to takes its course exactly nition were concealed in a plastic Riders here. the way our law-makers con- A boy washes himself from a roadside water tanker in Faridabad, a suburb of New Delhi. A new UN report bag in a two-wheeler bearing no MCA officials had alleged templated.” IANS launched yesterday ahead of World Water Day tomorrow warned of an urgent need to manage the world’s registration number. 38-years-old water and highlight the problem of groundwater over-extraction, particularly in India and China. Thangdeihpianga, who was carry- ing these arms and ammunition, was arrested.” Thangdeihpianga told police that a Myanmarese national Sonia favours CBI probe into Karnataka IAS officer’s death handed over the arms to him. Police were yet to find out NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: party general secretary and in- minister may announce the deci- found hanging by a ceiling fan state met him and demanded that the destination of the weapons Congress president Sonia charge of the party’s state unit sion to seek an CBI inquiry into in his bedroom. The state gov- the CBI should probe Ravi’s death. while the intelligence officials Gandhi yesterday advised Digvijay Singh told the media Ravi’s death on the floor of the ernment has refused to hand Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, did not rule out the possibility of Karnataka Chief Minister in Delhi. assembly on Monday,” the party over the sensational case to Siddaramaiah briefed Governor Bangladeshi rebels belonging to Siddaramaiah to hand over the A Congress party source also sourcesaid in Bengaluru. the CBI (Central Bureau of Vajubhai Vala on the status of the the Chakma tribal community probe of IAS officer D K Ravi’s confirmed that Gandhi’s politi- Ravi, 36, was found dead on Investigation) even after the investigation being conducted by being involved in the smuggling. death to the CBI in view of the cal secretary Patel has called on March 16 in his official apart- central government agreed to it the CID. On several occasions ear- public demand. Siddaramaiah in the evening and ment in upscale southeast sub- on Thursday. “I have briefed the governor on lier, huge number of arms were “The party president has conveyed her advice on trans- urb of Bengaluru by his wife “We are ready for an CBI the developments in Ravi’s death recovered and foreign nationals advised the chief minister ferring Ravi’s death case to the Kusuma. inquiry if the state government case and told him that the CID were arrested in different parts through her political secretary country’s premier investigating Police prime facie termed wants,” union Home Minister was investigation the case on pri- of Mizoram, which shares an (Ahmed Patel) to hand over agency. Ravi’s death as a suicide for per- Rajnath Singh told lawmakers in ority,” Siddaramaiah told report- unfenced international border of the inquiry into the death of “As the budget session of the sonal reasons, as there was no the Lok Sabha during the zero ers outside Raj Bhavan. 404 km with Myanmar and 318 IAS officer Ravi to the CBI,” state legislature is on, the chief injuries on his body, which was hour after BJP MPs from the IANS km with Bangladesh. IANS SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Spanish bank Sabadell buys Britain’s TSB

LONDON: Spanish lender future growth prospects.” Sabadell clinched yesterday a It added that “TSB will be able £1.7bn takeover of TSB, a unit to further enhance its growth of Britain’s bailed-out lender strategy and efficiency, benefit- Lloyds, marking its entry into ing from Sabadell’s resources, the UK retail banking sector. experience in SME lending and The two banks announced in a experience gained in the Spanish statement that they have agreed banking market”. Juncker flags EU cash for Greece terms on the bid which was Sabadell also launched plans pitched at 340 pence per share to raise ¤1.6bn via a rights issue and worth ¤2.3bn or $2.5bn. to shore up its balance sheet, but Merkel sets tough terms for aid; Tsipras vows to quicken reforms The takeover strengthens stressed that the takeover was Spain’s hold on British bank- not conditional on the move. BRUSSELS: German institutions spoke of a “spirit of have the same effect. The insti- to receive ¤1.9bn in profits that ing following rival Santander’s The deal remains subject to Chancellor Angela Merkel, the mutual trust” and Tsipras said he tutions and then the Eurogroup the European Central Bank made acquisition of Abbey, Alliance & approvals from British regulatory eurozone’s main paymaster, now felt more optimistic, but it must decide whether they do have last year on its holdings of Greek Leicester and parts of Bradford authorities, shareholders and the said yesterday Greece would remained uncertain whether he and the same effect,” she said, not- government bonds. & Bingley. European Commission. only receive fresh funds to ease Merkel were talking about the same ing that Ireland had made such The Greek Finance Ministry “The boards of directors of “Today’s offer by Sabadell to a cash crunch once its creditors reforms, and how far Greece would changes with EU backing. said it would respond in a “con- Banco de Sabadell SA and TSB acquire TSB is a real vote of confi- approve a comprehensive list have to start implementing them Tsipras told a news confer- structive spirit” to a list of Banking Group plc are pleased to dence in TSB, our 8,700 employees of reforms it has promised to before it receives any new cash. ence he and Merkel had agreed requirements on reforms being announce that they have reached and the straightforward, trans- present soon. The risk of a continued stand- to forget the previous Greek gov- drawn up by a team of techni- agreement on the terms of a rec- parent approach we’re bringing However, she signalled some off, exactly a month after Greece ernment’s commitments, notably cal experts from the creditors - ommended cash offer for TSB to banking in the UK,” said TSB flexibility on what reforms secured a last-gasp four-month on the level of a primary budget a contrast to an atmosphere of by Sabadell,” the pair said in a Chief Executive Paul Pester, who Athens would have to make, and extension of an EU/IMF bailout, surplus, which excludes debt pay- mutual mistrust which marked statement. will continue in his post. European Commission President was highlighted by comments ments, expected this year. encounters with EU officials in Lloyds, which is 23-percent “I’m looking forward to work- Jean-Claude Juncker offered left- from Merkel and Tsipras. He said he had no deadline for Athens this week. state-owned after a bailout at ing with Sabadell to continue to ist Greek Prime Minister Alexis “The agreement of February 20 submitting the comprehensive list Finance Minister Yanis the height of the global finan- bring great banking to consum- Tsipras a sweetener by saying is still valid in its entirety. Every of reforms and insisted Greece Varoufakis, whose comments cial crisis, will sell its remaining ers across Britain, accelerate ¤2bn from the European Union paragraph of the agreement faced no short-term liquidity and behaviour have offended 50-percent stake in TSB, which it the expansion of our services to budget were available to ease the counts,” Merkel told German problem, contradicting comments many of Greece’s partners, espe- floated on the London stock mar- business customers and to con- humanitarian impact of five years journalists who questioned by EU officials that Athens could cially Germany, joined the call for ket nine months ago. tinue to bring more competition of austerity measures. whether she was now offering run out of money in mid-April. immediate implementation of the The announcement means that to UK banking.” The announce- Both leaders were speaking cash for promises. Tsipras will make a much antic- Feb. 20 extension agreement. investors who bought the stock at ment comes one week after the after Tsipras promised eurozone Tsipras appeared to differ. “It ipated first official visit Berlin on “First, we should work towards the offer price of 260 pence will Barcelona-based bank confirmed leaders in overnight talks on the is clear that Greece is not obliged Monday. Asked whether Greek ending the toxic ‘blame game’ and receive a 31-percent premium. its takeover plans. sidelines of an EU summit that to implement recessionary meas- demands for reparations for the the moralising finger-pointing which The Spanish bank described the As part of its turnaround his government would move ures,” he told reporters. “Greece World War Two Nazi occupation benefit only the enemies of Europe,” deal as “strategically attractive” and strategy and in order to meet swiftly to present a full economic will submit its own structural would be on the agenda, Merkel he said in a blog post yesterday. added that it marked a “continua- European Union state aid rules, reform package in a drive to avert reforms, which it will implement.” said Berlin had addressed the The meeting involved Tsipras, tion of Sabadell’s successful growth Lloyds relaunched TSB as a stan- bankruptcy. Merkel, facing strengthening issue in the past but she was Merkel, Juncker, summit chairman strategy” to expand globally. It said dalone lender in 2013, rebranding After two months of growing resistance at home to continued keen to discuss bilateral German Donald Tusk, Eurogroup chairman the acquisition would bring ben- more than 600 branches ahead of frustration on both sides since lending to keep an erratic part- assistance programmes. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, ECB President efits through enhanced scale and a its IPO in 2014. Tsipras was elected with a man- ner in the euro, insisted that only EU officials said that if Greece Mario Draghi and French President broader funding and capital base. Lloyds had been obliged to dis- date to end austerity, he held the completion of approved meas- came up with a convincing plan, Francois Hollande. “Sabadell believes that the UK pose of its remaining TSB stake three hours of talks with the ures would satisfy the creditors, the Eurogroup could meet as In a brief joint statement, banking market, including the by the end of this year. leaders of Germany, France and including the Eurogroup of euro early as next week to release at Juncker, Tusk and Dijsselbloem market serving UK retail and “I am delighted to confirm we the main EU institutions to try to zone finance ministers. least some funds. said: “The Greek authorities will SME (small and medium-sized have agreed terms for the sale break an impasse that risks send- “The Greek government has the Merkel too said Greece could have the ownership of the reforms enterprise) customers, is attrac- of our remaining stake in TSB ing Athens stumbling out of the possibility of replacing individual get some payment sooner if it and will present a full list of spe- tive, having a well-defined and to Sabadell,” added Lloyds Chief euro zone. reforms outstanding from Dec. fulfilled the requirements faster. cific reforms in the next days.” stable regulatory framework, Executive Antonio Horta-Osorio. A joint statement by the EU 10 with other reforms, if these ... Greece is pressing in particular consistent profitability and good AFP

Pemex’s new jackup rig Australia warms up Putin calls for currency union to China-based AIIB with close allies ASTANA: Russian President TOKYO/SYDNEY: Australia Jiwei said the bank would be set Vladimir Putin yesterday called said on Friday there was a lot up by the end of the year and for a single currency with the of merit in the China-led Asian would complement rather than Kremlin’s closest ex-Soviet Infrastructure Investment compete with other institutions, allies despite fraying ties in the Bank (AIIB) while Japan’s including the World Bank and the region which is struggling with finance minister signalled cau- Asian Development Bank (ADB), the fallout from Moscow’s eco- tious approval of the institu- the Manila-based multilateral nomic crisis. tion that the United States has institution dominated by Japan Putin urged closer integra- warned against. and the United States. tion for his flagship Eurasian However, other top officials “All parties will by the middle Economic Union — which also in Tokyo were more sceptical, of this year complete talks and includes Belarus, Kazakhstan and reflecting a split in the govern- sign the charter for the AIIB, and Armenia — as Moscow scrambles ment of Prime Minister Shinzo by year-end will make the charter to limit the damage from Western Abe over whether joining an effective and officially establish sanctions over Ukraine and tum- institution launched by Japan’s the AIIB,” Lou said in an inter- bling oil prices. main rival would help or hinder view with state media, adding “We think the time has come its interests. that Beijing was “maintaining to discuss opportunities to form a The Sydney Morning Herald communication” with the United potential currency union,” Putin newspaper reported that States and Japan. said at a meeting with his Kazakh Canberra could formally decide Asked about Australia, South An aerial view shows a new KFELS B Class jackup rig acquired by state-owned petroleum giant Pemex during and Belarusian counterparts in to sign up to the AIIB when the Korea and Japan joining the bank, the 77th anniversary of the nationalisation of Mexico’s oil at the port of Dos Bocas in Tabasco. Kazakhtan’s capital Astana. full cabinet meets yesterday. China’s Foreign Ministry said it “Working shoulder to shoulder, Japan, Australia and the South was “open” to it. “They have all it is easier to react to external Korea, all major US allies, are the already expressed that they are financial and economic threats, notable regional absentees from the contemplating the issue at hand,” and protect our common market.” AIIB. The United States, worried ministry spokesman Hong Lei told Political and economic ties about China’s growing diplomatic a daily briefing. “We are open to Oil jumps on weaker dollar between Moscow and the bloc’s clout, has questioned whether the them making the relevant decision.” two other founding mem- AIIB will have sufficient standards Japanese Finance Minister NEW YORK: Oil prices jumped of the expiration of its front- relationship between oil and cur- bers, Belarus and energy-rich of governance and environmental Taro Aso said Tokyo could con- yesterday, heading for their month contract. rencies the past few days,” said Kazakhstan, have been strained and social safeguards. sider joining the China-led bank first positive week in three, as Oil could gain further in the Joseph Posillico, senior vice-presi- by the recent economic woes and But the opposition to the AIIB if it could guarantee a credible the dollar fell on interest-rate afternoon if US oil rig count data dent of energy futures at Jefferies jitters over Russia’s alleged mili- began crumbling after Britain mechanism for providing loans. uncertainty, lifting demand from private firm Baker Hughes in New York. tary involvement in Ukraine. said earlier this month that it “We have been asking to ensure for dollar-denominated com- at 1pm EDT (1700 GMT) shows The dollar was lower yester- “Major trials have befallen our would join the institution, main- debt sustainability taking into modities from holders of other another sharp decline, which may day on expectations, spurred by union,” said Kazakh President taining it was in its national account its impact on environ- currencies. point to lower production in the a Federal Reserve statement Nursultan Nazarbayev at the out- interest. France, Germany and ment and society,” he told report- Benchmark Brent oil was up future. A smaller-than-expected on Wednesday, that US interest set of the summit, while arguing Italy swiftly followed suit. ers after a cabinet meeting. more than one percent, while US count could undercut yesterday’s rates will rise more slowly than for deeper cooperation. Australia now appears close to “We could (consider to partici- crude jumped more than four per- rally. expected. The euro rose against The economic union — a pet joining, although no formal deci- pate) if these issues are guaranteed. cent in New York morning trade, “The Baker Hughes num- the dollar after the leaders of project of Putin’s — has been sion has been made, and Beijing There could be a chance that we shrugging off weakness from the bers could certainly be pivotal Greece and Germany struck a slammed by the West as an said Japan and South Korea were would go inside and discuss. But so European session. to afternoon trade, but for now, conciliatory note over efforts to attempt by the Kremlin to revive also considering the possibility. far we have not heard any responses.” Traders said US crude was all eyes are on the dollar and the keep Greece in the eurozone. its Soviet empire. China’s Finance Minister Lou REUTERS showing more momentum ahead euro, keeping with the stronger REUTERS The debate over whether Ukraine would opt for closer ties with Europe rather than the Russian-led bloc is at the heart of the current crisis. Nazarbayev said the trio were Europe power grids keep lights on through solar eclipse “interested in Ukraine becoming a strong, stable, independent state with territorial integrity,” at the FRANKFURT: Electrical Of 89 gigawatt (GW) of demand reductions from industry gigawatts (GW) since the region’s said. The speed of feed-in was treble conclusion of the meeting. grids in Europe succeeded in installed European solar capacity, including four aluminium plants. last notable eclipse in 2003, so the normal maximum, which could The summit, which followed managing the unprecedented it has 38.2 GW, which in theory is “Good preparations paid off, the country — which borders have caused disruptions. bilateral meetings between disruption to solar power from enough to meet half of its maxi- we were able to handle all swings nine nations — needed to prove At Germany’s national mete- Nazarbayev and Belarusian Friday’s 2-1/2-hour eclipse that mum demand. in production,” said Ulrike its power market and network orological office in Offenbach near leader Alexander Lukashenko brought sudden, massive drops The initial 15GW drop in Hoerchens, spokeswoman for handling centres could function Frankfurt, some 50 people were and Putin was initially scheduled in supply. Germany was less than opera- one of the four high-voltage grid under extraordinary conditions. gathered on the roof of a six-sto- for March 12 but was cancelled Germany, Europe’s leading tors had feared. They were able to firms, TenneT, which operates in German solar output right before rey building equipped with home- by Russia during a 10-day disap- economy and boasting the world’s draw on alternative power sources the region with the highest share the eclipse totalled 21.7GW, then made viewing devices - among pearance by Putin from public biggest solar-powered instal- including coal, gas, biogas, nuclear of photovoltaic units. dropped to a low point of 6.2GW, fol- many people across the region view that had sparked rumours lations, was at the heart of the and hydroelectric energy pumped Solar power output has lowed by an addition of 15GW again stepping out to see the event. over his health. event. from storage and were helped by expanded sharply to 38.2 within the following hour, TenneT REUTERS AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Philippine power cirisis India owes Saudi looking Iran $8.8bn for oil: Trade beyond oil minister

NEW DELHI: India owes about $8.8bn for oil imports price slump from Iran, India’s trade min- ister said yesterday, as eco- nomic sanctions imposed over Opec leader steps up drilling Tehran’s nuclear programme have cut its access to the global DUBAI/AL KHOBAR: As the rig count of 155, up from 150 in banking system and hit its oil global energy industry stares January and 146 in December, revenue. transfixed at a spectacular drop according to data from Opec and Iran and Western powers in US rigs, Saudi Arabia is ram- US oil services company Baker are in talks to reach a frame- ping up the number of machines Hughes. Since 2010, the number work agreement ahead of an drilling for oil and gas despite a of US-registered rigs has doubled end-March deadline to curb sharp fall in the price of crude. from 67. Tehran’s most sensitive nuclear Industry sources and analysts Sadad Al Husseini, a former activities in exchange for a say the Opec kingpin is looking senior executive at Aramco and gradual end to sanctions on the beyond the halving of global oil now an energy consultant, said Opec member. prices since June 2014 to a time the rise in the Saudi oil rig count India refiners settle 45 percent when crude could again be in had been evolving over a long of Iranian oil payments by depos- short supply. period. A Filipino electrician inspects electric metres and wires in Manila yesterday. According to reports, the iting rupees in Tehran’s commer- Riyadh is therefore keen to “You need to drill more wells if Philippines power producers stressed the needs for more power plants in the country by 2017 as a solution cial banks’ account with UCO preserve what is known as its you are producing 10 million bar- for the continual power shortages. Bank, and withhold the remain- spare capacity — the kingdom’s rels per day and maintaining your ing 55 percent. Iran taps funds in unique ability to raise oil output spare capacity,” he said. the rupee account to import goods quickly at any given moment. “It is also a natural phenom- from India. But to achieve that, Saudi enon in the oil business, that the The balance in Iranian com- Arabia has to drill much more more you produce, the more you Two years on, BoJ chief says war mercial banks’ accounts with than in the past, after boosting deplete your reserves and the UCO Bank was Rs178.955bn output to record levels to com- more rapidly your field capacity ($2.86bn) as of March 16 while pensate for global supply outages declines. You need to drill more refiners owed Tehran $5.943bn in the past four years. wells more frequently, simply to on deflation very challenging as on February 28, Nirmala “The Saudis are probably wor- maintain production capacity.” Sitharaman told lawmakers in a ried about everyone else reducing Maintaining Saudi Arabia’s TOKYO: The head of the Bank increasingly slim. “Over the last kickstart the world’s number written reply yesterday. capex as a result of low oil prices spare-capacity cushion for oil is of Japan yesterday acknowl- 20 months, the inflation rate has three economy. Refiners usually release funds and about non-Opec output fall- costly. The country is effectively edged that Tokyo’s attempt to been positive but I think deflation, Growth picked up in the begin- for Iran from the 55 percent ing off a cliff at some point. We all investing in something it cannot conquer years of deflation had or I should say the deflationary ning, but Tokyo’s decision to hike payment as and when the West know that supply disruptions are monetise immediately, but it sees been “very challenging”, but mindset, has not been completely sales taxes last year hammered allows Tehran access to frozen unpredictable but they are certain,” the strategy as a pillar of its stat- said it was a key test case for eradicated,” he told the Foreign consumer spending and pushed funds overseas. said Gary Ross, executive chairman ure as the most important global other central banks. Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Japan into a brief recession. New Delhi is keen to narrow its of New York oil consultancy PIRA. oil player and a G20 member. The unusually downbeat com- adding that his job was only “half- Worries spiked again Tuesday trade gap with Tehran, and has “The increase in Saudi rig num- In 2008, Oil Minister Ali ment from Haruhiko Kuroda way” done. when the central bank said tum- allowed India exporters to import bers is like a signal to the industry Ibrahim Al Nuaimi said produc- underscores the scale of the task “We have enough tools to bling world energy prices could non-sanctioned goods into India - let’s be rational. We will need tion capacity would rise to 15 mil- he and Prime Minister Shinzo combat deflation and achieve push inflation to zero, or even for sale to Iran. supply growth in the future.” lion bpd from 12.5 million but the Abe face as they look to revive price stability...but it’s been very negative. “The Ministry of Finance has State oil giant Saudi Aramco plan was put on hold after the glo- Japan’s fortunes with a vast mon- challenging.” That stirred speculation that decided that payments to the used a record-high 210 oil and bal financial meltdown of late 2008 etary easing programme and gov- While deflation may sound the BoJ will expand its easing extent of $100m per month for gas rigs in 2014, up from around saw oil plunge below $40 a barrel. ernment spending blitz, dubbed good for Japanese consumers, programme again this year, as such third-country exports to 150 in 2013, 140 in 2012 and some Subsequent events such as Libya’s Abenomics. it means people tend to put off the European Central Bank kicks Iran would be allowed from the 100 in 2011, according to previous 2011 civil war tested the Saudi abil- The scheme, launched in 2013, buying because they do not expect off its own quantitative easing 45 percent rupees vostro account industry estimates. ity to ramp up output to help soothe kicked off a sharp decline in the prices to rise and hope they might scheme to ward off deflation in held with the UCO Bank,” Amin Nasser, Aramco’s sen- global supply outages and showed yen and a stock market rally, but even get goods cheaper down the the eurozone, while other central Sitharaman said. ior vice-president for upstream that spare capacity could not be efforts to drag the country out of line. banks from Australia to Sweden Payment over and above $100 operations, said this month his eroded if Riyadh wanted to continue years of deflation have been met That, in turn, hurts producers also loosen monetary policy. million per month would be met firm had yet to decide whether playing a key role. with mixed success — and growing and holds back their expansion Japan’s struggles, and the BoJ’s from the 55 percent component to increase the rig number in 2015 Saudi Arabia’s refusal to cut doubts among many economists. and hiring plans — bad news for response, will be a crucial lesson held by refiners, she said. from the 212 currently in use. output last year has played a part Kuroda, who marked two years the wider economy. for the world, Kuroda said. India, Iran’s top client But data shows the numbers in the most recent oil price slump, in the job yesterday, said the bank The BoJ’s stimulus plan — “If there is a risk of deflation, after China, has been reduc- are still rising. as Riyadh fights to maintain its would press on with its plan to which scoops up bonds and other policy authorities should make ing its imports from Iran Excluding non-US-registered market share against competing hit a two percent inflation tar- assets at a rate of about 80 trillion every effort to prevent the econ- under pressure from Western rigs such as Chinese or Russian, sources of crude. get, though hopes to reach that yen ($679bn) annually — is aimed omy from falling into it,” he said. sanctions. February 2015 saw a total Saudi REUTERS goal within the next year look at changing that psychology and AFP AFP

Ireland’s Malin raises up to €330m in IPO Investors fret over exit as

DUBLIN: Malin has raised up to certain conditions, primarily cannot guarantee. It has com- and the Irish state’s new strate- to ¤330m in one of Europe’s by its largest investor, Woodford mitted ¤100m to seven such gic investment fund will own 19.5 India start-up prices soar biggest life science IPOs, the Investment Management, at the firms, from a US disinfection percent and 15.4 percent of the Irish company said yesterday, 10 euros per share issue price. technology company to a Pan- stock respectively. MUMBAI: As billions of dol- comparison, e-commerce veteran surpassing its target range of Reuters reported on Thursday African distributor, with a fur- The additional commit- lars flow into India’s booming Ebay trades at roughly equal to ¤275 to ¤325m as it prepares to that Malin had raised ¤330m, ther ¤130m promised subject to ted investment would bring online economy, some investors its GMV, according to its website. invest the cash in smaller, pre- topping the ¤200m Circassia contingent commitments being Woodford’s stake up to 28 per- are beginning to fret that soar- Flipkart did not respond to an IPO companies. raised a year ago in the biggest met. cent, Malin said. ing valuations could hamper email and call seeking comment. Malin, set up by a number of London market biotech debut in Malin will use the rest of the To match its strategy, Malin market listings and limit their Three of the leading brick and executives from former Irish years. funds to make a number of fur- had set out to attract long term options when it comes to turn- mortar retailers in the country — stock market stalwart Elan, said Malin has said it will invest ther acquisitions and investments investors and said on Friday it ing paper profits into cash. Future Retail, Shoppers Stop and that ¤302m will be raised through in companies for which an ini- after its flotation. sold 13.9 percent of the shares India’s rising number of smart- Pantaloons Fashion and Retail — the issue of new ordinary shares tial public offering (IPO) or sale Malin said yesterday that its to Reedy Creek Investments, 9.3 phone users, cheaper Internet only manage a combined valuation on its admission to Ireland’s ESM is premature and provide the cornerstone investors Woodford percent to Britain’s costs and a vast middle class of less than $1.5bn, according to market on Wednesday. long term capital and indus- Investment Management, the firm Pension Protection Fund and have turned it into one of the Reuters Data. It added that up to a further try experience it says venture set up last year by leading British 7.7 percent to insurer Aviva Plc. hottest markets for investors “Valuations are obviously quite ¤28m had been committed subject capital and private equity funds fund manager Neil Woodford, AFP such as Singaporean wealth fund high,” said Raja Lahiri, a partner Temasek Holdings, venture capi- at advisory firm Grant Thornton talists Accel Partners and Japan’s in India. “If you are a late-stage SoftBank Corp. investor, then the exit and return Electrolux banks on auto industry production But several advisers and par- risks become higher ... The risks US mall king ticularly later stage investors say are always on exits.” they are concerned that optimis- PE firms typically exit invest- Simon raises tic estimates and already sky- ments via IPOs, and most of the high prices implied by privately local companies look to overseas bid for Macerich sold stakes could make initial markets, mainly NASDAQ OMX public offerings hard to pull off. Group, where a greater number NEW YORK: US mall king “Public markets will have a of comparable firms trade. Simon Property Group raised completely different perception to The Indian regulator is also its bid yesterday for Macerich the excitement in the private mar- looking to make it easier for them Co by five percent, saying it was ket,” said a banker with an Indian to list on domestic bourses. “its best and final offer” for the firm, which advises investors in About half a dozen online com- smaller shopping center owner. the online sector. “Investors are panies are in talks to raise fresh Simon, which announced a hos- now taking a pause and asking funds, and reports of negotia- tile bid for Macerich on March if these valuations will stand the tions surface in local media daily. 9 after friendly overtures were scrutiny of stock markets.” Softbank in October said it would rebuffed, raised its previous $91 Investors have pumped $4.5bn invest $10bn in the Indian e-com- a share offer to $95.50, worth into the Indian Internet space in merce sector. $16.8bn. the 13 months to February, with “There is a fear (among inves- That came after Macerich online marketplaces Flipkart and tors) of missing out, which is responded last week to the $91 Snapdeal getting almost 60 per- partly driving up valuations,” offer by erecting defences to make cent of the funding since 2007, said Amit Patni, co-founder of Simon’s “coercive” bid more diffi- according to Morgan Stanley. Nirvana Venture Advisors, which cult and costly, including barriers Analysts value Flipkart, India’s invests in early-stage firms. to Simon placing its own nomi- biggest e-commerce company, at High valuations of mid-sized nees on the board. around $11bn. That would amount companies also make them pricey Macerich though also said at to roughly three times estimates targets for larger rivals, poten- the time that the offer “substan- of their gross merchandise vol- tially closing another exit option tially undervalues” the company. ume (GMV), or the value of goods for investors. Several bankers, Simon said its new half-cash, they sell. Snapdeal CEO Kunal angel investors and PE firms also half-shares offer values Macerich A man walking past an Electrolux shop in Riga. After years of moving much of its factories into low-cost Bahl said his company is cur- said they were worried about the at $23.2bn, when including taking countries, Electrolux is banking on auto industry production ideas to cut costs and give it the flexibility to rently valued at slightly over $5bn rate at which some of these firms on Macerich’s $6.4bn debt load. thrive in a fiercely competitive home appliances business. and is expected to end the finan- were burning cash. AFP cial year with $3bn in GMVs. By AFP SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CLASSIFIEDS

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Abu Dhabi Saracens win title in Doha

World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia meets fans after a practice session during day eleven of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. Murray cruises,

Team members of Abu Dhabi Saracens celebrate winning the ARFU West Asia Club Championship in Doha yesterday. Saracens beat Doha Rugby Football Club Djokovic gets 26-20 to lift the title. PICTURES: SALIM MATRAMKOT Gutsy Saracens edge free pass into the semi-finals

INDIAN WELLS, past Doha to claim title United States: Andy Murray set a record for Open Era wins by a British man with Abu Dhabi outfit wins ARFU West Asia Club Championship a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Feliciano Lopez to reach the Indian DOHA: Abu Dhabi Saracens Wells ATP Masters yesterday beat hosts Doha semi-finals yesterday. Rugby Football Club 26-20 to Fourth seed Murray win the ARFU West Asia Club booked a showdown Championship final. with defending cham- The visitors - led by Ali pion Novak Djokovic, Thompson - avenged their loss to who won his match the same side in their Gulf Top in a walkover when Doha Six game a few weeks ago, leaving Bernard Tomic with- the home team disappointed after Rugby drew from their sched- a gruelling battle last evening. Football uled quarter-final in Playing in front of a boisterous Club the WTA and ATP crowd on their home turf, DRFC celebrate hardcourt tournament. kicked off the proceedings with a winning the Murray now has 497 promising start but the visitors Gulf Top match wins, surpassing took the game in the last four Six title Tim Henman for the minutes to seal their win. in Doha most in the Open Era It was key player Liam Frost’s yesterday. by a British player. final game for the Doha side The 27-year-old Scot which was at full strength for the continued his domina- Andy Murray of Great Britain is seen in action one-off clash. tion over the Spanish during his quarter-final match against Feliciano “We were always confident that lefthander Lopez, hav- Lopez of Spain in the BNP Paribas Open at we would come here and per- ing won all 10 career the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Murray won form,” Thompson said after the matches between the 6-3, 6-4. final. “The boys were relishing a two. chance to show how badly they “His game style as well. wanted to win this,” he added I think matches up quite well “Maybe if one of those things after watching his side clinch the “You can win a league consist- game. It was a massive difference. missed. Family (priorities) take against mine,” said Murray, now wasn’t there I could have played, issue minus their influential skip- ently over 10 weeks and you come It would have had an impact in over for him which is great. Every just three wins shy of the 500-win but having two is not good,” he per Jaen Botes. to a final and then lose like this the game. It was a great to see so year players come in and go. He milestone. “I don’t have as much said. “The club has come a long in the last four minutes. That was many people turn up today. All was a big part of our side,” Palmer trouble with the lefties. Tomic said his status for the way in four years. The club has it - it was a gone. It was a hard pill enjoying themselves. These people said. “I was able to deal with his Miami tournament is up in the big ambitions. People talk about to swallow. They were fantastic,” are passionate about rugby. These Palmer said the club would be difficult spins today, but it was air. the big-spending Abu Dhabi Palmer said. are amateur players. They work looking at welcoming a new bunch tough because he fought right to “I’d like to play it, but if there is Saracens but when you think “The guys didn’t play to our 40 hours a week and then play the of players in the summer. the end.” an opportunity to get that wisdom about it that’s not true at all. The plans. I don’t know if it was game on weekends and they come “Every year you get players in, Murray blasted four aces and tooth out before Miami, I prob- club have actively gone out and nerves or was it that older fellows down here. This is what we do. players out and we don’t know won over 70 percent of his first ably won’t play in Miami. But it recruited players. It’s just trying couldn’t provide it - I don’t know “It would be great if the game who would turn up. We would and second serve points in the one will come down to next few days to gain parity with Harlequins what it was,” the New Zealander is televised. Any bit of promotion look to fill up good rugby players hour, 32 minute match. before I decide,” he said. and attract players to a new club wondered. would be great. The fact that this in the summer. We might have Lopez came into the match Djokovic will get an extra day’s in the city,” Thompson said. “But we didn’t play to a pat- community club puts on a great five or six or even eight who would leading the tournament in aces rest before he faces Murray. He It was Saracens’ first official tern and we gave away too many show for about 500 people is just move on,” he said. with 46 in three matches. But leads their career contests 16-8. game in over two weeks but the penalties. They put us in a corner magnificent,” he said. Nicholas Hopton, the British the 12th seeded Spaniard man- But Murray has had some of visitors played to their strength and they used their strength. It Palmer said Frost would be Ambassador to Qatar, presented aged just five against Murray on his biggest career wins against against the home side backed by is hard (to digest the loss),” he hard to replace. the winning trophy to Saracens Thursday. Djokovic and is playing with a vociferous crowd. added. “Liam Frost is a good friend of captain before he handed over Murray ended his historic 2013 plenty of confidence right now. Doha coach Aaron Palmer was “We missed a few shots and you mine for the last five years here,” the Gulf Top Six cup to the Doha -- where he became the first “Until last year our head to disappointed after the loss. know kicking is important in any Palmer said. “He will be sorely skipper. THE PENINSULA British man to win Wimbledon in head was pretty close,” Murray 77 years -- when he had back sur- said. “You know, last year was a gery. The rehab took time and he tough year for me, especially the was not the same player in 2014. first six, seven months. Ali Thompson of Abu Dhabi But Murray began to get back “He’s played extremely well into form at the end of last year here in the past. He will be totally Saracens and is now eager to win his first fresh as well and ready for the “If you think about what epitomises a cup final, Indian Wells title this week. His semis. that was it. We defended for large chunks of the best finish is a runner-up in 2009, “But I feel like I played well this game and they showed real character to come when he lost to Rafael Nadal in week and if I can keep that level away with the final try of the game which proved the final. up and for a sustained period on to be the crucial one. They were battering us but I He was also runner up at Saturday, I’ll have a chance.” knew there was going to be an opportunity for us. I January’s Australian Open and REUTERS sensed we’d get back into there 22 at least once in lost in the quarter-finals this year the remaining 10 minutes and it was just whether in Dubai and Rotterdam. we could score a try or not. Lots of questions were World number one Djokovic ATP and WTA asked of us and we had an answer for them all. advanced to the semis without We’re getting an earlier flight to Abu Dhabi and lifting his racquet after a bad Indian Wells we’ll take the trophy back with us and celebrate in back and painful wisdom tooth our home town.” forced Tomic to pull out. Results Australia’s Tomic made his Liam Frost of Doha Rugby decision to withdraw several Men - Quarter-finals: Novak hours before his match was to Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Bernard Football Club open the evening session, allow- Tomic (AUS x32) walkover; “It just goes to show the level of Gulf rugby at the ing Djokovic a free pass. Andy Murray (GBR x4) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x12) 6-3, moment is special and the best two teams were Tomic hopes to get the tooth 6-4. playing out here today. We were still buzzing a bit taken care of in Miami where another prestigious hardcourt from the Gulf Top Six but it just didn’t happen for Women - Quarter-finals: tournament starts next week. Jelena Jankovic (SRB x18) bt us today. Credit to Saracens. They’re a great side. Action from the ARFU West Asia “I’m on medication the last few Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 6-1, 4-1 It was right down to the death. Somebody’s got to days for the infected area, my wis- retired; Sabine Lisicki (GER win and unfortunately it was them.” Championship final in Doha yesterday. dom tooth,” he said. x24) bt Flavia Pennetta (ITA “I’m scared to run on the back, x15) 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/4). SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Zahrah wins QMMF Racing Team’s chief Umm Al Afai Moto2 rider Anthony West of Cup in thriller Australia takes a bend on DOHA: Umm Qarn’s Zahrah settled Nadirah a handy fourth – his bike (Maidaan - Areej) saddled by fifth till the bend and started to Alban de Mieulle posted a thrill- move up steadily. With about 250 during ing victory in the Umm Al Afai metres left from home, Nadirah pre- Cup, a Local Thoroughbred took charge and kicked on well season Conditions race for Fillies and till the finish. Thurayya finished testing Mares, which featured the second ahead of Franchisco. at Jerez eight-event card at the Qatar Umm Qarn’s Mujidd (Pier Circuit, in Racing and Equestrian Club Convertino up) ran on strongly Spain. (QREC) on Thursday. inside the last 100 metres to win Zahrah galloped on resolutely the Pure Arabian Handicap for in the final stretch to come from horses rated 50 to 80. the mid position and pass all the Heytham was second ahead of top contenders in full flight and Muhim. won by a neck from Sraab and Zakhir Stud’s Free Spin was Amirat Al Qaloob. Jockey Gaetan ridden to victory by jockey Alberto Faucon rode a well-judged race on Sanna in the Thoroughbred the winner. Graduation Plate. Al Murqab Stud’s Peter The Mohammed Salama- Anders was brilliantly ridden by trained Free Spin held on gamely Simon, West improve at Adrian Nicholls to victory in the to win by a neck from Great Thoroughbred Conditions race. White Eagle. Hymenaios and Zuhair Mohsen-trained Peter Charlie’s Wish finished third and Anders was in a handy second fourth respectively. position as the field straightened Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari- out for the home stretch. Once owned The Blue Eye (Pier final session in Jerez put into top gear, Peter Anders Convertino up) clinched a com- stretched away nicely and later fortable victory in Thoroughbred warded off the challenge from Conditions for three years olds. Rain greets riders on all three days of testing in Spain Janoub Nibras to win by a three The Jassim Al Ghazali schooled quarters of a length. three-year-old colt settled in Zakhir Stud owned Namaah third-fourth positions till the final JEREZ, SPAIN: Wind and our performance on a half-dry was ridden to victory by jockey bend and moved freely to surge rain on all three days turned track on the morning of day two,” Gerald Avranche in the Local ahead and win by one and half the last Moto2 pre-season test Simon said. Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. a length from Itorio. Lieutenant at Jerez into a difficult exercise. QMMF “For the second and third ses- Mohammed Salama trained Kaffee was third while Mind of QMMF Racing Team riders Racing sion that day, the rain came back Namaah held on gamely to win Madness took the fourth place. Julian Simon and Anthony West Team’s and I preferred to stay in the by half a length from Batel A thrilling finish was witnessed made the best possible use of Anthony garage rather than taking unnec- to take her maiden win in 14 in the Thoroughbred Handicap the treacherous conditions on a West essary risks. starts. Bint Al Akaber and Zeer for horses rated 70 to 90. track that never completely dried talks to “But on day three, I went out Al Wasmiya finished third and Hussain Aashoor trained up and made crucial steps with backroom again. We made another change fourth respectively. Carina Palace (Pier Convertino the rain set-up of their Speed Up staff in to the settings, because they Umm Qarn’s Nadirah trained up) staved off the challenge of bikes, that were fitted with WP Jerez, were too soft for me as I need a by Alban de Mieulle shed her Peace Accord to win by half a suspension systems for this year. Spain. bit more support, and my feeling maiden status with an impressive length while Northen Water and Twenty-year-old Simon found with the bike in the wet improved win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Rock Up completed the frame. a good solution on the first day of even further. Plate. Jockey Gaetan Faucon THE PENINSULA testing, which allowed him to sit “Unfortunately, the testing out most of the second day before conditions overall were not the taking to the track again on the time of 1.46,573, said after yester- and I am happy with that. best, so I arrive at the season- third and final day of the test. day’s practice session. “Due to the lack of dry track opening race in Qatar with less West, 33, took longer to find “Over the last three days, we time, we haven’t been able to test kilometers than I had hoped for,” out where his lack of feeling and tried everything to figure out why all the other new parts that the Simon added. speed came from, but he also I didn’t get the right feeling from team brought for this test, so we “But I am happy with the bike managed to get to the source of the bike and we finally discovered will fit them when practice starts in general. his problems in the end. the problem,” he said. for the Grand Prix of Qatar. “I just need a little more feed- Now, both riders are confident “As it turns out, it can be fixed “If these parts work the way we back when I open the throttle at for the first race of the season in with a change to the inside of the expect, we will be quite strong. I the exit of the corners. Qatar next week, which is also the suspension that will be done in hope to be in the top ten. This is “I hope that I can adapt the home Grand Prix of their QMMF the WP factory and that will give my goal,” West said. bike and myself to the Losail Racing Team. me more feeling in the wet. Simon, who finished 9th fastest track without any problems. “I was about three seconds “It was frustrating not to be with a time of 1.46,020, said he “I want to start the season with slower than I am normally here able to go at my usual pace in the was pleased with his performance. a strong performance at the home at Jerez in wet conditions,” West, wet, but we know how to fix our “I was happy with my improve- Grand Prix of my new team,” he who finished in 14th spot with a issues if a wet race is coming up ments on day one and also with said. THE PENINSULA

ABOVE: Zahrah ridden by Alban de Mieulle wins QMMF Racing Team’s the in the Umm Moto2 rider Julian Al Afai Cup Simon generates at the Qatar speed on his bike Racing and during one of three Equestrian Club pres-season testing (QREC) in Doha. sessions in the Moto2 LEFT: Winners category at Jerez in the Umm Al Circuit, Spain. Afai Cup with their trophies at the presentation ceremony. PICTURES: JUHAIM Timberwolves edge Knicks; Rockets post win

NEW YORK: The Minnesota “So if at any point you embrace losing, to a 118-108 NBA victory over Denver. an 8-1 scoring run to take a 65-49 lead. Timberwolves edged the New York I don’t think that works out very well Harden made four three-pointers and The Rockets closed out the third quar- NBA Results Knicks 95-92 in overtime yesterday in for you.” went 22-of-25 from the free-throw line as ter with another burst, as Harden con- Minnesota 95 NY Knicks 92 a duel between the two worst teams in Minnesota came into the contest reel- the Rockets notched their third straight tributed six points in the 9-1 run to give the NBA. ing from a spate of injuries, only a last- victory. Houston a 90-73 lead. Houston 118 Denver 108 The outfits came into the contest with minute acquisition giving them the eight Harden had scored at least 40 points The Nuggets wouldn’t go away how- Phoenix 74 New Orleans 72 matching records of 14-53. players in uniform required by the league. 11 times in his career, including six prior ever, opening the fourth quarter on an Utah 80 LA Lakers 73 Zach LaVine made four free throws in Half their roster, including veteran times this season. 11-2 run. the final 10.7 seconds of the extra session star Kevin Garnett, were sidelined. And With yesterday’s performance he Denver narrowed the gap to 99-91 NHL Results for the Timberwolves, who improved to with a special hardship dispensation from topped his previous career high of 46 with 5:06 remaining before the Rockets 15-53. the league to give them an extra roster points, set in 2013. He scored 45 against responded with five straight points to San Jose 4 Toronto 1 The Knicks, who fell to 14-54, at least spot they inked Sean Kilpatrick from Indiana on January 19. rebuild their cushion. Montreal 4 Carolina 0 had the consolation of knowing that yet the Delaware 87ers of the Development Trevor Ariza added 17 for Houston and Meanwhile, Center Marcin Gortat of Ottawa 6 Boston 4 another defeat at least boosted their League yesterday. Josh Smith chipped in 12. the Washington Wizards has been fined Florida 3 Detroit 1 chances of a higher pick in the NBA “We had to go find someone that was Wilson Chandler and Randy Foye each $5,000 by the NBA for violating the draft. within a train ride away,” Coach Flip scored 23 points for the Nuggets, who league’s anti-flopping rules for the sec- Washington 3 Minnesota 2 Knicks coach Derek Fisher, whose Saunders said before the game. have dropped two straight following a ond time this season. Winnipeg 2 St Louis 1 team stunned reigning NBA champions Kilpatrick played 10 minutes, missing four-game winning streak. The incident occurred with 4:31 Dallas 2 Pittsburgh 1 San Antonio on Tuesday, nevertheless his only field-goal attempt. Houston led by as many as eight points remaining in Washington’s 88-84 victory Calgary 4 Philadelphia 1 insisted he wanted his players to try to In Houston, James Harden scored a in the first quarter, and took a 33-27 lead over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, NBA Columbus 6 Vancouver 2 win. career-high 50 points and pulled down into the second period. officials announced yesterday. “You can’t practice losing,” Fisher said. 10 rebounds to lift the Houston Rockets The Rockets finished the first half on REUTERS Colorado 5 Arizona 2 SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Smith, Watson hold nerve

Australia’s Shane Watson celebrates after scoring the winning runs against Pakistan during a World Cup quarter- final match at the Adelaide Oval yesterday.

Angry Pakistan fans smash Australia down Pakistan TVs, stage mock funeral

ISLAMABAD: Angry Pakistan cricket fans smashed TVs and to set up India semi-final staged a mock funeral for the team yesterday after poor bat- ting and sloppy catching saw Co-hosts survive fiery Wahab spell as dropped chances prove costly them dumped out of the World Cup. A limp display with the bat saw ADELAIDE: Australia over- clash against defending champi- on four. The all-rounder hooked Pakistan bowled out for just 213 came a fiery spell from fast ons India at the Sydney Cricket Scoreboard a bouncer high to fine-leg where and co-hosts Australia chased the bowler Wahab Riaz to record Ground on Thursday. Rahat got under the ball but target down with relative ease to an entertaining six-wicket win Pakistan’s defeat ended the PAKISTAN 10-1-35-4 (1w); Johnson 10-0-42-1 (2w); dropped the catch to loud groans win by six wickets despite a fiery over Pakistan in the World Cup one-day international careers of Ahmed Shehzad c Clarke b Hazlewood ...... 5 Maxwell 7-0-43-2; Watson 5-0-17-0; Faulkner from the Pakistani fielders and spell from fast bowler Wahab quarter-final at the Adelaide two veterans in captain Misbah-ul Sarfraz Ahmed c Watson b Starc ...... 10 7.5-0-31-1. supporters in the packed stands. Riaz. Oval yesterday. Haq and all-rounder Shahid Haris Sohail c Haddin b Johnson ...... 41 AUSTRALIA The pressure eased as a tiring News channels showed foot- The co-hosts, chasing Pakistan’s Afridi. Misbah-ul-Haq c Finch b Maxwell ...... 34 D Warner c Rahat b Riaz ...... 24 Wahab was taken off after his age of fans smashing up a televi- modest 213 all out, were reduced Pakistan, who won the toss and Umar Akmal c Finch b Maxwell ...... 20 A Finch lbw Sohail ...... 2 sixth over, allowing Smith and sion set in anger at the team’s to 59 for three in the 11th over elected to bat, were shot out for Sohaib Maqsood c Johnson b Hazlewood ... 29 S Smith lbw Ehsan ...... 65 Watson to build a partnership. elimination. before Steve Smith (65) and 213, with one ball to spare, as fast Shahid Afridi c Finch b Hazlewood ...... 23 M Clarke c Maqsood b Riaz ...... 8 The pair stayed together till In the central Pakistani city Shane Watson (64 not out) swung bowler Josh Hazlewood grabbed Wahab Riaz c Haddin b Starc ...... 16 S Watson (not out) ...... 64 the 27th over, taking the total to of Multan around 50 fans organ- the match around with a fourth- four wickets and Mitchell Starc Ehsan Adil c Starc b Faulkner ...... 15 G Maxwell (not out) ...... 44 148 for three, when seamer Ehsan ised a symbolic funeral procession wicket stand of 89. and Glenn Maxwell took two each. Sohail Khan c Haddin b Hazlewood...... 4 Extras (W-9) ...... 9 Adil broke through by having through the streets, complete Glenn Maxwell smashed an Haris Sohail’s 41 was the top Rahat Ali (not out) ...... 6 Total (for 4 wkts in 33.5 overs) ...... 216 Smith leg-before as the batsman with a coffin with bats on top. unbeaten 44 off 29 balls with five score. Three other batsmen set- Extras (LB-5, W-5) ...... 10 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-49, 3-59, 4-148. missed an attempted flick. Multan’s residents are much fours and two sixes as Australia tled down to reach 20 but were Total (all out in 49.5 overs) ...... 213 Bowling: Sohail 7.5-0-57-1 (2w); Adil 5-0-31- Wahab, returning to the attack given to protests and staged a recovered to coast home in the unable to build on their starts. Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-24, 3-97, 4-112, 1; Rahat 6-0-37-0 (1w); Riaz 9-0-54-2 ( 6w); in the 29th over, almost claimed similar event after Pakistan’s 34th over in front of a full house If Australia expected an easy 5-124, 6-158, 7-188, 8-188, 9-195, 10-213. Afridi 4-0-30-0; Haris 2-0-7-0. another wicket with his second humiliating 150-run defeat to of nearly 47,000 spectators. chase, Wahab provided a rude Bowling: Starc 10-1-40-2 (2w); Hazlewood Result: Australia win by six wickets. delivery back as Maxwell top- the West Indies earlier in the Watson hit the winning shock with a hostile opening spell edged a pull, but Sohail Khan tournament. boundary after a tense start to of two for 24 in six overs. delivery by having the dangerous captain fended at a short ball and failed to hold the ball at third Downcast fans in Islamabad Australia’s chase saw left-armer However, it was right-arm Warner caught at third man. lobbed an easy catch to Sohaib man. slammed the side’s poor fielding, Wahab remove David Warner seamer Sohail Khan who gave Warner made 24 off 23 balls Maqsood close to the wicket on Maxwell sent Australia cruis- after two simple chances went and skipper Michael Clarke in his Pakistan an opening by trapping when he attempted to slash a the on-side. ing to victory with a typically down at crucial stages in the first two overs. But two dropped Aaron Finch leg-before in the short ball and Rahat Ali took a Watson was greeted to the aggressive knock before Watson Australian innings. catches cost Pakistan dearly. third over. well-judged catch running in from wicket with a barrage of short- hit the clinching boundary, with “They did their best but they Australia’s eighth consecutive Wahab, brought into the attack the boundary. pitched deliveries from the fired- Pakistan left ruing the lack of get pressurised easily, that’s why win over Pakistan on their own in the ninth over as the fourth Wahab removed Clarke in up Wahab, one of which nearly runs on the board by their bats- they made a lot of mistakes in soil set up an enticing semi-final bowler, struck with his third legal his next over as the Australian cost him his wicket when he was men. AFP their fielding,” Mubashir Khan said. “Two men dropped catches, that’s the main reason for our Bitter end for Misbah and Captain Clarke hails loss.” But there was praise for Riaz and the other bowlers, particu- larly as the side lost several key Afridi’s one-day careers whirlwind Wahab players to injury and suspension in the months leading up to the ADELAIDE: A crushing quar- ADELAIDE: Australia cap- over, words exchanged and the World Cup. ter-final loss to Australia at tain Michael Clarke lauded Pakistani even sarcastically “I’m really disappointed. But the World Cup yesterday was Pakistani fast bowler Wahab applauding the batsman for play- our bowlers played really well and a heart-breaking swansong in Riaz (pictured), saying his side ing and missing. we reached the quarter finals,” one-day cricket for Pakistan was lucky to survive the left- “Shane Watson and Wahab fan Jahanzeb said. captain Misbah-ul-Haq and fel- armer’s torrid spell to win the Riaz charged for breaching ICC “This team is our B-team. low veteran Shahid Afridi. World Cup quarter-final. Code of Conduct. Details to be Our main players are not there. Though Pakistan grafted hard “That spell by Wahab was as announced on Saturday,” tweeted Overall it’s a good performance, to reach the knockout rounds, good as any I have faced in one- the game’s governing body. but today, it’s really bad.” Australia ruthlessly exposed their day cricket after a long time,” Clarke said the loss of early The defeat was set to bring batting frailty, which will be fur- Clarke said. wickets did not worry him. the curtain down on the one-day ther undermined by the seasoned “Left-armers are always tough “No, I was not worried by international careers of captain pair’s retirements. to face for right-hand batsmen that start,” he said. “That’s the Misbah-ul-Haq and big-hitting Over eight Pakistan batsmen because the ball comes way the game goes all-rounder Shahid Afridi. scored 10 or more runs in their on to you. when there are two The hashtag #ThankYouMisbah modest total of 213, but none “If that catch off new balls. Thankfully, was trending on Twitter in could build on it, and both Misbah Watson had been we have depth in the Pakistan in the hours after the and former skipper Afridi were taken, who knows what batting.” match as fans hailed the 40-year- among those who failed to convert Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi hugs Ahmed Shahzad (right) after the World Cup would have happened. Clarke praised the old captain, whose steadying their starts. quarter-final against Australia at the Adelaide Oval yesterday. This game would have batting contributions influence has pulled the side out Forty-year-old Misbah, who fin- been closer for sure. of Smith, Watson and of trouble more than once. AFP ishes his one-day career without “We are not up to the mark, I think we need to really improve “Fast bowling defi- Maxwell, but said the a century, slog-swept straight to up to the standards, international that, otherwise we’re going to suf- nitely played a part win was set up by Josh a fielder at deep midwicket to be standards. We need to really fer in the future.” in this game for both Hazlewood’s four for out for 34. The explosive Afridi’s improve that. Misbah said his failure to score teams. If Watson’s 35 that restricted the dismissal for 23 was a carbon copy “And also fielding is another a one-day hundred would have to catch had been taken maybe Pakistani batsmen. of his captain’s demise. aspect where all the other inter- remain a regret. Pakistan’s 213 may have been “I think all our bowlers Misbah lamented his side’s poor national teams are really going “It was my wish (to score a enough. deserve credit, especially Josh shot selection and forecast a grim up to a higher level, and we one-day hundred) but it didn’t “But credit must go to the way who claimed four important future for Pakistan if administra- really need to improve that, and come about,” said Misbah, who we found a way to see through wickets,” he said. “It really was tors failed to crack the whip in obviously that comes with the has the most runs in all one-day that spell. There was a bit of a good job by all.” the domestic leagues to improve fitness. cricket — 5,122 in 162 matches — luck but it also showed Watson’s Australia now face defending standards. “A lot of steps have been taken without scoring a hundred. experience.” champions India at the Sydney “Especially we need to improve by the cricket board and just try- “I put my whole effort into it It emerged later that Watson Cricket Ground on Thursday. our batting. This has been now ing to develop that sort of sys- but that didn’t come and it will and Wahab would face charges And skipper Clarke said he was A Pakistani fan reacts during a problem for almost three, four tem, fitness culture in Pakistani be a disappointment but I enjoyed after their fiery confronta- looking forward to the challenge. the match at the Adelaide Oval years,” he told reporters after domestic cricket. my career and I am satisfied.” tion which saw tempers boil AFP yesterday. scoring his 3,000th run as captain. “But still, we are not there, and AGENCIES SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

FACTBOX New We attack, attack, attack Zealand vs West Indies WELLINGTON: Factbox on the fourth World Cup quarter-final between New cause it works: McCullum Zealand and West Indies at the Westpac Stadium. It’s great for the game, says New Zealand great Hadlee NEW ZEALAND Rohit Sharma Captain: Brendon McCullum Coach: Mike Hesson WELLINGTON: New Zealand Squad: McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Dhoni opens will stick with their crash, Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham, Grant bang, wallop brand of cricket in Elliott, Corey Anderson, Daniel Vettori, Luke today’s World Cup quarter-final Ronchi, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tim up about against West Indies because Southee, Adam Milne, Trent Boult, Mitchell it gives them the best chance McClenaghan. of winning, captain Brendon Results so far at 2015 World Cup: McCullum said yesterday. run-hungry Beat Sri Lanka by 98 runs (A solid batting The 33-year-old McCullum performance from the batsmen saw New has electrified the tournament Zealand post 331-6, which the bowling Rohit with his belligerent attacking attack easily defended by bundling out style, both with bat in hand and Sri Lanka for 233); beat Scotland by three SYDNEY: India captain through his tactics in the field, wickets (New Zealand skittled Scotland for Mahendra Singh Dhoni said as New Zealand reached the last 142 but then lost seven wickets in a nervous promoting Rohit Sharma to eight unbeaten. chase to win by three wickets); beat England open the innings had been the “I think it’s safe to assume that making of the batsman after we’ll still try to play an enter- by eight wickets (Tim Southee picked up his latest hundred helped see taining and attacking brand of seven wickets for 33 as England were all the defending champions into cricket,” McCullum told reporters out for 123. Brendon McCullum then blasted the semi-finals of the World at the Basin Reserve yesterday. 77 in 25 balls as the co-hosts reached their Cup. “We want to play that brand of target in 12.2 overs); eat Australia by one The 27-year-old’s superbly cricket. We’ve identified that that wicket (New Zealand held their nerve to constructed 137 laid the plat- is what is going to make us a team beat trans-Tasman rivals Australia by one form for India’s 109-run quar- which is going to be tough to beat wicket in a low-scoring thriller. Boult took five ter-final win over Bangladesh (and) I can’t see that changing. wickets for New Zealand while Starc did the on Thursday. “Just because there’s pres- damage for Australia with six wickets); beat It was just the right-hand- sure on a game, it shouldn’t take Afghanistan by six wickets (Daniel Vettori New Zealand players gather in a huddle during a training session at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday stifled Afghanistan with four wickets for just er’s seventh hundred in 128 you away from what’s your best — ahead of their World Cup quarter-final match against the West Indies today. one-day international innings opportunity to win.” 18 runs off his 10 overs and then McCullum but his haul has seen Rohit McCullum has received plau- including Brendon himself. balls came against England at up with their team in such good hit 42 off 19 balls as New Zealand chased become the only batsman in dits from around the cricketing “We’re attacking and playing Wellington Regional Stadium. form and the business end of the down the 187-run target with six wickets history to make two ODI dou- world for his captaincy, including an aggressive, bright, entertain- “The cricket we have played World Cup approaching. in hand); beat Bangladesh by three wickets ble hundreds. Richard Hadlee, New Zealand’s ing style of cricket that’s good for has... made people around the McCullum said the squad were (Mahmudullah’s 128 took Bangladesh to Dhoni said it had to be finest ever cricketer, who was television and the fans that come world sit up and take notice,” he feeding off the excitement but 288-7 but it was not enough as Martin Guptill remembered that Rohit, who the first man to take 400 Test along. added. were not letting it affect their scored 105 to help his team to victory after made his debut in 2007, had wickets. All these things are progres- “That style of cricket that we’re preparations for the quarter-final. early hiccups). batted in the middle-order “It’s great for the game,” he sive and we’re well respected in playing has obviously served us “The guys are certainly enjoy- Top performers: Guptill (261 runs): With for much of his international said. “It’s what our game needs. all forms of the game now.” well and if things don’t always go ing this tournament and the one hundred and a fifty, Guptill has been career. “Brendon is explosive with the McCullum’s batting — three according to plan then you obvi- involvement we have had in it and the ideal opening partner for the aggressive “If I have to go back four bat, very proactive in the field, half-centuries at a strike rate of ously have to move into Plan B. the success we have had along the McCullum. He has carried on when the years, it won’t be a realistic very attacking in the field, backs 187.59 — has also captured the “But I think we’ve got the play- way,” he said. captain has departed early. comparison, the reason being his bowlers to do a job. public’s imagination. ers, not just skill-wise but also the “We will go out there and McCullum (257 runs): The New Zealand he was not really opening for “We’ve got a couple of very good Most notably for New Zealand’s characters within the group that enjoy the moment we have captain has scored three fifties and has us at that time. bowlers now and we’re excep- chances of advancing to a semi- can quickly adjust to that.” been presented in a full house mauled opposition bowlers, with a strike rate “We felt it was a bit of a tional in the field with people final against South Africa, his Expectations in rugby-mad in Wellington and hopefully we of almost 188 per hundred balls. waste of his talent if he was putting their bodies on the line, highest score of 77 from 25 New Zealand have been ramping perform accordingly.” REUTERS Boult (15 wickets): The left-arm paceman batting at six for us because, has been unplayable on occasions with the more often than not, he was new ball and his partnership with Southee not getting enough chances West Indies at the start has been very fruitful for New to bat, and our top order was Holder coy over Gayle fitness Zealand. quite fixed. name Simmons Southee (13 wickets): Southee has been “That’s one of the reasons WELLINGTON: West Indies “Johnson came in the last game accurate and has swung the ball in both why if you see the first 40 captain Jason Holder remained and got a half-century and looked as coach directions, tormenting top order batsmen games, you may think he has coy on whether injured star the part. So we’ve got people to alongwith Boult. not done enough,” said wicket- batsman Chris Gayle will play fill his boots but obviously having WELLINGTON: West Indies Vettori (13 wickets): The former captain has keeper/batsman Dhoni. in today’s World Cup quarter- Chris there is a plus for us.” have named former opening ensure that his team have picked up wickets “But out of those 40, there final against undefeated New Gayle smashed a small section batsman Phil Simmons as their in the middle of the innings after the opening were quite a few times when he Zealand. of the fence at the Basin Reserve, head coach on a three-year con- burst from Boult and Southee. The left-arm went in to bat in the last four Gayle trained for the first where the West Indies trained tract, the West Indies Cricket spinner has also been very economical, overs or five overs. time this week yesterday morn- Friday, with a typically powerful Board said yesterday. conceding just above three runs an over. “It’s difficult, in a five-match ing, batting in the nets two days blow and afterwards told a New Simmons, 51, will take charge of series if you’re playing and your after receiving an injection in his Zealand television crew: “I’m hit- the team for next month’s three- Key to beating West Indies: Will need to get top order is batting really well lower back. ting it sweet, man.” Test home Gayle out early and see off the opening spell in India, at times you don’t The injury forced him out of Meanwhile Holder acknowl- series against from fast bowler Taylor. really get a chance to bat. the West Indies’ six-wicket win edged playing the undefeated New England facing WEST INDIES “You may get a chance in the over the United Arab Emirates Zealanders in front of their home the huge task Captain: Jason Holder last maybe couple of matches on Sunday, when they squeezed fans was a different prospect to of returning Coach: Stuart Williams with 10 overs to go, and it into the final eight despite their facing the UAE, saying it was the once dom- Squad: Holder, Marlon Samuels, Sulieman all counts as chances,” added erratic form in pool games. time to “go big or go home”. inant force in Benn, Johnson Charles, Jonathan Carter, Dhoni, whose supreme skills as Holder said Gayle would face a With the West Indies relish- world cricket Sheldon Cottrell, Chris Gayle, Nikita Miller, an ODI batting ‘finisher’ saw late fitness test for today’s final ing their underdog status, Holder to the top of Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Andre him guide India to victory over eight clash in Wellington, the win- said he was looking for an aggres- the interna- Russell, Darren Sammy, Lendl Simmons, Sri Lanka in the 2007 World ner of which will face a rampant sive but disciplined performance tional game. Dwayne Smith, Jerome Taylor. Cup final in Mumbai. South Africa in the semi-finals. against Brendon McCullum’s “We are thrilled with the Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Lost “That was the time we “He’s had an injection and a men. appointment of Phil and we to Ireland by four wickets (A fine hundred decided we’ll try to make him scan. The scan didn’t show any- “People pretty much wrote us believe he is the right individual from Lendl Simmons was not enough as the an opener, and he accepted thing major, so we’ll just see how off at the beginning of the tourna- for our team and our region at bowlers failed to defend a score of 304-7); that. he pulls up today and make a ment. “They didn’t expect us to this time, so we want to welcome beat Pakistan by 150 runs (A fiery spell from “He did open for us in the decision tomorrow morning,” the get to the quarter-final stage and him back home,” WICB CEO the fast bowlers reduced Pakistan to 1-4, T20 World Cup (where India skipper said. now we’re here,” he said. Michael Muirhead said. chasing 311 for win, and West Indies bundled lost in the final to Sri Lanka in But Holder insisted his team “We’re just going out all guns “Phil has a proven ability to Pakistan out for 160); beat Zimbabwe by Bangladesh last year). could win even without Gayle, blazing tomorrow and giving it develop players, while cultivat- 73 runs (Duckworth/Lewis method)(Gayle “From that point, we thought pointing to the impressive 55 our all. ing great team spirit and a win- smashed the World Cup’s highest individual it will be good to have him as scored by Johnson Charles. “New Zealand can be beaten. ning culture. We have a number Chris Gayle of the West Indies score of 215 and Samuels also hit 133 as an opener because he cuts and “Obviously, (Gayle) has been a We beat them in the last series of young, talented players about practices during a training session West Indies posted 372-2. Zimbabwe were pulls well, and he’s a natural very good player for us over the when we played them and no whom he is excited to be coaching at the Basin Reserve in Wellington all out for 289 in reply); lost to South Africa stroke-player. AFP years but we’ve shown we’ve got doubt we will be looking to beat and we believe he is the right fit.” yesterday. by 257 runs (AB de Villiers’ 66-ball 162 gave people to fit the bill,” he said. them tomorrow.” AFP REUTERS South Africa a taotal of 408-5, which proved too steep for West Indies who were all out for 151); lost to India by four wickets (West ICC chief blasts own President over ‘fix’ claims Indies just managed 182 after opting to bat first and India chased down the target with 10.5 overs to spare, losing six wickets; beat SYDNEY: International 50-50 call. The spirit of the game who was caught close to the made his feelings known to his UAE by six wickets (Captain Holder took four Cricket Council (ICC) chief dictates that the umpire’s decision boundary rope. fellow administrators before air- wickets to bundle out UAE for 175. West executive David Richardson is final and must be respected,” The match was the biggest in ing them in public. Indies chased it down in 30.3 overs with six yesterday slammed his organi- the former South Africa wicket- the history of the cricket-mad “I wish he could have taken all wickets in hand) sation’s Bangladeshi President keeper added. nation, marking the first time these issues on the ICC platform for questioning the integrity of “Any suggestion that the match that Bangladesh had made the during the ICC meetings,” said Top performers: Gayle (279 runs): The umpires, saying allegations of officials had ‘an agenda’ or did World Cup quarter-finals. Anurag Thakur, the Indian board powerful left-hander is capable of destroying fixing were “unfortunate” and anything other than perform to Many fans wept only after secretary. any attack on his day and he showed it “baseless”. the best of their ability are base- the defeat while protestors also “The (reality) is we’ve won against Zimbabwe by hitting 215, the World Mustafa Kamal (pictured) less and are refuted in the strong- burned an effigy of Dar, who hails against Bangladesh and India has Cup’s highest individual score. claimed decisions made by offi- est possible terms,” Richardson from Bangladesh’s great rival won all the previous matches in Taylor (14 wickets): The fast bowler is the cials during Bangladesh’s 109-run insisted. Pakistan. the league stage. I think it’s time leader of the pace attack and is Holder’s go- loss to India in their World Cup Kamal said he was considering Kamal, whose position has been to move ahead...we can discuss to man when the team are in need of wickets. quarter-final in Melbourne on quitting his post in protest. largely ceremonial since India’s and debate these issues in the Key to beating New Zealand: Gayle will be Thursday seemed to have been “As the ICC President, what- Narayanaswami Srinivasan next meeting.” the key to West Indies’ success against a “pre-arranged”. and Gould from all accusations of ever I have to say I will say it became the body’s chairman last Bangladesh’s exit dominated very potent New Zealand attack. But the left- Kamal was angry that India’s biased officiating. in next meeting. It could hap- year, said the ICC’s acronym the country’s front-page headlines hander would need to see off the burst from Rohit Sharma, who top-scored “The ICC has noted Mr pen that maybe I will resign,” seemed to stand for the Indian on Friday with, many commenta- Southee and Boult with the new ball. with 137, had not been given out Mustafa Kamal’s comments, Kamal said in comments aired Cricket Council. tors blaming shoddy umpiring for New Zealand vs West Indies head-to- when he was on 90. Rohit had which are very unfortunate but on Bangladeshi television. “I cannot represent the Indian the defeat. head been caught at deep mid-wicket made in his personal capacity. “There was no quality in the Cricket Council. If someone has “Tigers fall to controversial Total played: 60 off the bowling of Rubel Hossain, As an ICC President, he should umpiring. It looked like they took imposed a result on us, in that calls,” read the lead in the Dhaka West Indies won 30, New Zealand won 23, but umpires Aleem Dar and Ian have been more considerate in his the field after it (the outcome) case no one can accept it,” added Tribune, while the headline of the no result 7 Gould signalled a no-ball for what criticism of ICC match officials, was pre-arranged,” he alleged. Kamal, who is a minister in the mass-circulation Bengali daily appeared to be a legitimate waist- whose integrity cannot be ques- Bangladeshi fans were also furi- Bangladeshi government. Kaler Kantha said: “The dream Never met at Wellington Regional Stadium high delivery. tioned,” said Richardson. ous at the dismissal of star bats- Meanwhile the Indian cricket run ends in umpiring scandal.” Last match: Jan. 8, 2014 - West Indies won But Richardson defended Dar “The no-ball decision was a man Mohammad Mahmudullah board said Kamal should have AFP by 203 runs in Hamilton. Most Popular Bangladeshi Newspaper

SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 PROTHOM ALO WEEKLY SPORT Published every Thursday 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Available in all leading stores in Qatar       Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected] Real to face Atletico in FIFA to pay clubs $209m for World repeat of 2013-14 final Cup ‘collaboration’ ZURICH: FIFA has announced have to be jointly discussed and Barca draw PSG in Champions League quarter-finals a threefold increase in the agreed,” the ECA said. amount of money it pays as “In serious and fair negotia- part of a collaboration agree- tions, the ECA has agreed with NYON, Switzerland: Atletico ment with clubs who release FIFA on a transparent economic Madrid were handed a chance to players for the World Cup and and organisational cooperation avenge last season’s Champions the ruling body will hand out until 2022,” ECA president Karl- League final defeat by city rivals $209m in both 2018 and 2022. Heinz Rummenigge said in a and record 10-times winners Clubs will also be given a statement. Real after the two sides were greater say in drawing up the “For the first time, the drawn together in the last eight international match calendar, European clubs will have a direct yesterday. which allocates the dates for club say on the international match Paris St Germain and and national team matches, fol- calendar, which was very impor- Barcelona were paired together lowing the agreement between tant to me personally. having met in the group stage, FIFA and the European Clubs’ “As a result, the ECA will be with the French side winning in Association (ECA). actively involved and contribute Paris and the Catalans coming out The move appeared to placate constructively to the design of on top in Spain. the European clubs who had said the calendar, especially for 2022. Porto will face 2013 champions they would demand compensa- “Moreover, the World Cup Bayern Munich and Juventus take tion if the 2022 World Cup in club benefits will triple from on Monaco in the other ties. Qatar was staged in November $70m to $209m for the World The fixtures will be played on and December. Cups in 2018 and 2022. April 14/15 and April 21/22, with Those dates, which will force “These payments will benefit PSG, Atletico, Porto and Juventus the European season to be clubs from around the world playing the first legs at home. stopped for nearly two months, who release World Cup players Real won last year’s final 4-1 were confirmed by FIFA during to their respective national asso- after extra time against their an executive committee meeting ciations. From an ECA perspec- local rivals, but Atletico’s superb on Thursday, with the final to be tive, this agreement is a great recent record against their more staged on December 18. achievement. illustrious neighbours will give “FIFA and the European Club “It marks another milestone them huge cause for optimism. Association (ECA) are pleased to for club football as a whole” The teams have met six times Real Madrid’s Institutional Relations Director Emilio Butragueno (left) shakes hands with Atletico Madrid’s announce an extension to their FIFA President Sepp Blatter in all competitions this season General Manager Clemente Villaverde in front of the UEFA Champions League trophy after the draw ceremony collaboration agreement, which said: “We are taking a huge step with Real Madrid yet to regis- at the UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, yesterday. was established for the first forward in promoting relations ter a win, while last year’s final time for the 2010 FIFA World between FIFA and the clubs in a was Real’s only victory in the last Real’s recent form has also “Atletico are a very competi- Cup,” FIFA said in a statement spirit of mutual and constructive eight derbies. been less than impressive having tive team,” Real director Emilio Champions League yesterday. cooperation.” Carlo Ancelotti’s side have ceded the advantage in La Liga Butragueno told Canal Plus. “A total of $209m will be dis- FIFA uses a complex formula drawn three and lost four of to Barcelona and suffered a sur- “But we are Real Madrid, we tributed among the clubs releas- to determine how much each those eight games while the last prise wobble in the last 16 against are defending the title and we will Quarter-finals ing players to the participating club receives, depending on the Madrid derby ended in a 4-0 win Schalke 04 when they slumped to try to perform well enough to get teams in the 2018 FIFA World amount of players released and for Atletico, their biggest victory a 4-3 defeat at the Bernabeu to through the tie.” Fixtures Cup (in Russia),” FIFA added. the number of days they partici- against their rivals since 1987. squeeze through 5-4 on aggregate. Porto’s clash with Bayern is a Fixtures for the Champions “The same amount has been pate in the competition. repeat of the 1987 final when the League quarter-finals after agreed for the 22nd edition to be “The agreement puts the Portuguese side came out on top yesterday’s draw at UEFA head- staged in Qatar in 2022.” emphasis on fundamental prin- 2-1 in Vienna. quarters in Nyon: A total of $70m was distrib- ciples such as the promotion of Bayern will start as over- First leg uted to clubs who released play- training and player development whelming favourites, however, ers for last year’s World Cup in as well as the sporting integrity against an inexperienced Porto Tuesday, April 14 Brazil. of the competitions, in the inter- side, with the Germans offering a Atletico Madrid (ESP) vs Real Madrid (ESP) “We have secured a direct ests of the game and its appeal to potent reminder of their pedigree Juventus (ITA) vs Monaco (FRA) say on the international match the public,” FIFA added. in a devastating 7-0 drubbing of Wednesday, April 15 calendar — changes thereto will REUTERS Shakhtar Donetsk in the last 16. “There are certainly more Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) v Barcelona (ESP) uncomfortable opponents,” Porto (POR) v Bayern Munich (FER) Bayern captain Philipp Lahm Return leg said. Tuesday, April 21 “But they (Porto) have showed their class. We will try to get in Barcelona (ESP) vs Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) our away match an even better Bayern Munich (FER) vs Porto (POR) Former German footballer Karl-Heinz Riedle, ambassador for the UEFA result than in the last 16. We Wednesday, April 22 are Bayern and we know what Champions League final in Berlin, shows the ticket of FC Barcelona during Real Madrid (ESP) vs Atletico Madrid (ESP) the draw ceremony in Nyon yesterday. we have achieved in the last few years.” REUTERS Monaco (FRA) vs Juventus (ITA) Platini happy Kharaitiyat stun Qatar SC as with World Cup final date FIFA President Sepp Blatter attends a press conference at the FIFA Al Wakrah beat Al Sailiya headquarters in Zurich yesterday. PARIS: UEFA President DOHA: Less than a week Michel Platini (pictured) yes- after their high-flying victory terday said the decision to play over second-placed Al Sadd, the 2022 Qatar World Cup final Qatar SC were stunned by Al on December 18 suits Europeans United is my last Kharaitiyat at the Suheim Bin as it comes before Christmas. Hamad Stadium here yesterday. “It’s a good date, maybe Qatar SC, who are third in the December 23 was a little too late QSL standings, went down 3-2 to because it would be difficult for job, says Van Gaal eighth-placed Kharaitiyat. people to get home in time for Although striker Hamdi December 24,” he explained. LONDON: Manchester United can say that.” Van Gaal said. Harbaoui gave Qatar the lead in “So December 18 is good for manager Louis van Gaal (pic- The Dutchman said he always the 17th minute, Kharaitiyat lev- UEFA, and we can accommo- tured) will retire from football set goals for himself. “Everything elled though Hasan Abdel-fattah date changes to when he leaves his job at Old that I’ve reached I’ve set in Mahmoud just at the stroke of the Champions Trafford, he was quoted as say- advance, that I go to the Premier halftime. League pro- ing by The Daily Telegraph on League for example,” he added. Kharaitiyat played a great sec- gramme too,” he Thursday. “I said it a year before (the ond half with Yahia Kebe scoring said. “This is my last job. For sure,” World Cup) to my federation, in the 56th minute and Mahmoud But Platini said he said. “I have to pay attention and everybody was ‘aghhh, it is doubling the advantage in the that FIFA needs to my kids, my grandchildren but not possible’. I said: ‘I go after the 72nd minute. Qatar SC tried to to respect the also to my wife. They deserve it. championships’. One experience get back into the game but could existing interna- Now I cannot pay that in the world champion- only find the back of the net tional windows attention.” ship is, for me, enough.” in the 90th minute through Y. in which qualifying matches for The 63-year-old, Regarding retire- Mohamed. And Kharaitiyat held major tournaments and friendlies whose United con- ment, Van Gaal added: on for a famous victory. are played by national teams. tract runs until 2017, “My wife (Truus) wants In the day’s other match, Al “There are four international has managed some to quit now already! Wakrah beat Al Sailiya 3-2. dates that need protecting and of the world’s top Five years ago! I’m not THE PENINSULA could be affected, and these are teams including Ajax married to my job. vital for the national associations. Amsterdam, Barcelona, “Of course, I am 24 FIFA needs to look at the calen- and Bayern Munich hours a manager, but QSL Results dar and make sure they are pro- as well as guiding the I am also 24 hours a Al Wakrah 3 (W. Hamzah 42’, A. Fadel 45+1’, tected,” explained Platini. Netherlands to the father of my children, W. Hamzah 49’) Al Sailiya 2 (Y. Ilunga 57’, Y. Meanwhile the Qatar organis- World Cup semi-finals in Brazil. grandfather of my grandchildren Ilunga 67’) ing committee expressed relief “It is an honour and a challenge and I am always 24 hours lover Qatar SC 2 (H. Harbaoui 17’, Y Mohammed and satisfaction that the debate to be coach of United because I of my wife. I am married to my 90’) Al Kharitiyat 3 (A. Hassan 45+1’, Y. Kiepi on the timing of their 2022 World was trainer-coach of No. 1 (team) profession, more than with her. 56’, A. Hassan 72’) Cup had been brought to a satis- in the Netherlands, No. 1 in Spain I see my PA more than my wife. factory conclusion. and No. 1 in Germany,” he said. “I have a paradise in Portugal. I Today’s Matches TOP: Qatar SC striker Hamdi Harbaoui (left) tries to dribble past Al Kharaitiyat’s Saied Elhag Eisa during a Qatar Stars League (QSL) match It added that even with the “I had a choice to be manager want to quit to go there, play golf, Umm Salal vs Al Ahli at the Qatar SC Stadium switch away from the Qatar of different clubs (like Tottenham eat fantastic food. There are very from 6pm in Doha yesterday. BELOW: A moment from yesterday’s QSL match summer, they would nevertheless Hotspur). I have chosen the No good wines in Portugal. There Al Gharafa vs Al Shamal at Al Gharafa between Al Wakrah SC and Al Sailiya SC at Al Wakrah Stadium. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT AND SALIM MATRAMKOT continue their project to build air 1. I am very proud. I don’t think is the beach, the very beautiful Stadium from 8.15pm condition stadiums. AFP there are many other coaches who weather.” REUTERS SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 BREAK TIME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

NOVO SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER TV LISTINGS TEL: 444933989 444517001 SCREEN 1 Cinderella (2D/Drama) 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 & 11:00pm SCREEN 2 Insurgent (2D/Adventure) 11:30am, 2:00, 4:30, 7:00, 9:30 & 11:55pm SCREEN 3 The Gunman (2D/Action) 12:30, 5:20, 7:40, 10:00pm & 12:20am 13:50 Killer Iq: Lion 12:00 Bandhan Insurgent (2D/Adventure) 10:00am & 2:50pm 08:30 The Island With Bear 08:00 News vs Hyena 13:00 Joker SCREEN 4 Winx: The Mystery of The Abyss (2D/Animation) Grylls 08:30 Earthrise Secret Neeli Chatri 10:40am, 12:40 & 2:30pm Run All Night (2D/Action) 4:30, 9:10 & 11:00pm 09:20 Tethered 09:00 Al Jazeera World 15:40 16:00 SCREEN 5 The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2D/Action) 10:10 Survive That! 10:30 Inside Story Creatures Of Waale 12:30, 2:50, 7:20, 9:40 & 11:55pm Focus (2D/Action) 10:30am & 5:15pm 11:00 American Muscle 11:00 News Jao 17:00 Maharakshak SCREEN 6 Fast...Er (2D/Action) 3:00pm 11:50 American Muscle 11:30 The Stream 16:35 Queens Of The Devi Behaving Badly (2D/Comedy) 11:00am, 5:00 & 9:30pm 12:40 American Muscle 12:30 104 East Savannah 18:00 Servicewali Suite Francaise (2D/Drama) 1:00, 7:00 & 11:30pm 15:10 American Muscle 13:00 NEWSHOUR 17:30 The Lion Queen Bahu SCREEN 7 Cinderella (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 2:20 & 7:00pm 16:00 Gold Rush 14:00 News 18:25 Leopard Fight 18:30 Bandhan The Gunman (2D/Action) 12:20 & 4:40pm 16:50 Gold Divers: Under 14:30 Inside Story Club 19:00 Hello Pratibha Youm Maloush Lazmah (2D/Arabic) 9:20 & 11:30pm The Ice 15:00 Struggle Over The 19:20 Killer Iq: Lion 19:30 Jodha Akbar SCREEN 8 The Lazarus Effect (2D/Horror) 17:40 Alaska: The Last Nile vs Hyena 20:00 Jamai Raja 10:00am, 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00, 10:00pm & 12:00midnight Frontier 16:00 NEWSHOUR 20:15 Tigerfish: 20:30 India Poochega Fast...Er (2D/Action) 2:00 & 6:00pm Africa’s Piranha Sabse Shaana SCREEN 9 Insurgent (IMAX 2D/Adventure) 18:30 The Island With Bear 17:00 News 21:10 Zombie Sharks Kaun 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 & 11:00pm Grylls 17:30 The Stream 22:05 Alaskan Bush 21:30 Satrangi SCREEN 10 The Gunman (2D/Action) 1:30, 6:30 & 11:30pm 19:20 Tethered 18:00 NEWSHOUR Insurgent (2D/Adventure) 11:00am, 4:05 & 9:00pm 20:10 Man vs Weird 19:00 News People Sasural 21:00 Backroad Bounty 19:30 Fault Lines 23:00 Ivory Wars 22:00 Chennai MALL 21:25 Backroad Bounty 20:00 News 23:55 Jurassica Express 21:50 Backroad Bounty 20:30 Inside Story SCREEN 1 Cinderella (2D/Drama) 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00pm 23:05 Street Outlaws 21:00 NEWSHOUR The Gunman (2D/Action) 9:00 & 11:15pm 23:55 American Muscle 22:00 News SCREEN 2 The Lazarus Effect (2D/Horror) 2:30pm 00:45 Hellriders 22:30 Letter From My Suite Francaise (2D/Drama) 4:30pm How It’s Made Child The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2D/Drama) 6:30 & 11:15pm 01:35 13:00 Kong Return To 12:00 Struck By The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2D/Comedy) 9:00pm 02:00 How It’s Made 23:00 Once Upon a Time The Jungle Lightning How It’s Made in Punchbowl SCREEN 3 The Gunman (2D/Action) 2:30pm 02:25 14:30 Back To The 14:00 Syrup Run All Night (2D/Acton) 4:45 & 11:15pm Sea 16:00 RV The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2D/Comedy) 7:00pm 16:15 A Turtle’s Tale 18:00 Free Samples- The Lazarus Effect (2D/Horror) 9:15pm 2: Sammy’s PG15 Escape From 19:30 The Heat LANDMARK Paradise 18:00 Khumba 22:00 John Dies At The SCREEN 1 The Divergent Series: Insurgent(2D/Drama) 2:30 & 11:15pm 21:45 Back To The End Suite Francaise (2D/Drama) 4:45pm Girl Meets World My Name Is Earl Sea 00:00 Mystery, Alaska- The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2D/Comedy) 6:45 & 9:00pm 13:30 13:00 SCREEN 2 Run All Night (2D/Acton) 2:30 & 6:45pm 13:55 Liv And Maddie 13:30 My Boys 23:30 A Turtle’s Tale PG15 Cinderella (2D/Drama) 4:45pm The Gunman (2D/Action) 9:00 & 11:15 14:20 H2O: Just Add Water 14:00 New Girl 2: Sammy’s 02:00 RV SCREEN 3 Cinderella (2D/Drama) 3:00 & 7:00pm 14:55 Hank Zipzer 14:30 Black-Ish Escape From 04:00 The Heat The Lazarus Effect (2D/Horror) – 5:15 & 11:30pm 15:20 Binny And The 15:30 The Daily Show With Paradise The Divergent Series: Insurgent(2D/Drama) 9:15pm Ghost Jon Stewart 15:45 Jessie 16:00 The Nightly Show 16:10 Austin & Ally With Larry Wilmore ROYAL PLAZA 17:25 Dog With A Blog 16:30 Til Death 17:50 Hank Zipzer 17:00 Late Night With Seth SCREEN 1 The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2D/Drama) 3:00 18:15 Jessie Meyers The Lazarus Effect (2D/Horror) 5:15pm 18:40 Binny And The 18:00 Enlisted 12:45 Foodfight! 13:00 Big, Bigger, The Gunman (2D/Action) 7:00 & 11:15pm Cinderella(2D/Drama) 9:15pm Ghost 19:00 2 Broke Girls Biggest SCREEN 2 Dilli Waali Zaalim Girlfriend 2:30 & 11:15pm 14:30 The Great 19:05 Cars Toons 19:30 Cougar Town 15:00 Apocalypse Suite Francaise (2D/Drama) 4:45pm Gatsby Compilation The Tonight Show World War I The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2D/Drama) 6:45pm 20:00 17:00 Upside Down- 19:55 Dog With A Blog Starring Jimmy 16:00 Expedition Wild The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2D/Comedy) 9:00pm PG15 20:20 I Didn’t Do It Fallon 18:00 Is It Real? 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HYPER C RSO S W O RD 1234567 891011121314 64 A wild card is 28 They’re clutched unlikely to beat during some 15 16 one speeches 29 Sharp or flat 17 18 DOWN 32 Mies van der ___ 1 Hybrid on the 34 Anderson of 19 20 21 road? “Nurses” 2 Lovingly, on a 37 Dessert 22 23 24 25 music score preference

26 27 28 29 30 3 Greek goddess of 38 Told, as a secret vengeance 39 Rough housing 31 32 33 34 4 170 is its max 40 Test the strength score of, in a way 35 36 5 Minute beef 41 Where snowbirds 6 Really long? flock Yesterday’s answer 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 7 First 42 Corral How to play Hyper Sudoku: 8 Closes a session 43 Cadet, e.g. A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 45 46 47 48 9 Rostock bar stock 44 Under Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all 10 “Bravo” preceder 47 Like a guitar regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like 49 50 51 52 string a normal Sudoku. 11 Optical separator 12 Like some 50 Indian chief, once 53 54 55 56 57 famous frescoes 54 Prefix with john How to play Kakuro: 13 Secretary of state 56 Suffix with switch The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 58 59 60 before Dulles size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells 57 Refuges like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 14 Neighbor of the 59 Southeast Asian 61 62 some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some Adam’s apple temple cells will contain two numbers. 18 Where Sotheby’s 60 Metrosexual sort However, in a crossword the numbers reference 63 64 is BID clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 24 “NCIS” actor Joe They denote the total of the digits in the row or 27 Spanish muralist column referenced by the number. ACROSS 31 Things that ties never Within each have collection of cells 1 “___ Style,” first video LENDS MCAT LUSH - called a run - any with a billion YouTube 33 Last part of the numbers 1 views 35 Mythical predator ADOUT ARCH AS I A to 9 may be used 8 Goes for enthusiastically 36 Vietnam’s ___ Dinh Diem but, like sudoku, DITSY NOCOMMENT 15 Home to “alabaster cities” 37 Excellent, in slang each number may 16 Like Saudi Arabia ISIT JUSTMEOR only be used once. 41 Quintet comprising 17 “Hmmmmm …” [as “Ode to the West Wind” DOOM OPS MUN I S Yesterday’s hinted at by the three 45 See 51-Across groups of black squares in answer 46 “It was you,” operatically ANN I KA STORAGE the middle of the grid] 48 Dictator’s beginning 19 It may contain mercury TACKI ER MOW 49 ___ angle 20 One of its flavors is Mud ARETHEREOTHER 51 With 45-Across, Thor’s Pie Baby Blues By Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman co-creator 21 Starwort, e.g. FLU INSPIRE 52 Many a base player 22 Sounds from some mall SANREMO K I SSER 53 Like 19-Across temps 55 No sophisticate 23 Those south of the UNSET C I A GAYE border? 57 Ovid’s others ANAGRAMS OFEM 25 ___ soup 58 Best Picture of 1954 [see 17-Across] 26 Medical suffix KATESPADE ITISI 61 Hardly the assertive type 28 Bests FLAW AGRA VIRUS 62 Gander 30 “___ am your father” (classic “Star Wars” line) 63 As part of a series CABS SEEN STEPS ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE SATURDAY 21 MARCH 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME High-flying

Fajr (Dawn) 4:21 Shorook (Sunrise) 5:38 Zuhr (Noon) 11:41 Asr (Afternoon) 3:08 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:46 Isha (Night) 7:16

WEATHER

Today Sunday Monday Weather Conditions: Mostly Sunny Partly cloudy Showers Will be cloudy with light to scattered High: 31° High: 30° High: 23° rain, thundery at Low: 23° Low: 21° Low: 17° times.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 05:36 17:45 06:30 & 19:15 00:15 & 13:00 04-02/5 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 33/24 Partly cloudy 33/24 Sunny MAKKAH 31/21 Partly cloudy 31/21 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 26/18 Scattered Thunderstorms 21/11 Partly cloudy BAHRAIN 28/22 Mostly sunny 29/18 Partly cloudy SANAA 24/12 Scattered Thunderstorms 24/12 Isolated Thunderstorms RIYADH 30/20 Scattered showers 31/15 Partly cloudy DUBAI 32/24 Mostly cloudy 35/26 Mostly sunny BAGHDAD 23/12 Sunny 19/08 Scattered showers A pigeon flies past the Big Ben clock tower in central London yesterday. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER ATHENS 16/08 Sunny 16/12 Partly cloudy This fish changes colour to fool its prey WASHINGTON 17/03 Mostly sunny 12/-1 Partly cloudy SYDNEY 22/19 Cloudy 27/19 Partly cloudy SYDNEY: A small fish that small predatory fish that is found developed a theory, Xinhua news protect it from its own predators. LONDON 08/03 Cloudy 09/01 Partly cloudy lives in the Australian Great throughout the Indo-Pacific and agency reported. “This strategy is very similar to PARIS 12/06 Mostly cloudy 10/03 Cloudy Barrier Reef preys on smaller has the ability to change colour. The zoologists are now able to the classic example of the wolf in ISTANBUL 08/06 Showers 12/08 Mostly sunny fish by changing colour and pre- Its ability to vary in coloura- show that dottybacks can quickly sheep’s clothing. However, while MANILA 32/24 Partly cloudy 31/22 Partly cloudy tending to be an adult of their tion has baffled scientists until an change their colour in order to the wolf may be found out eventu- DHAKA 31/21 Sunny 35/22 Sunny own species, according to a international research team led mimic other fish species and ally, dottybacks are able to change DELHI 30/18 Sunny 31/18 Sunny study released yesterday. by evolutionary biologists Fabio chase their prey. again,” Cortesi said in the journal ISLAMABAD 28/13 Sunny 29/13 Mostly sunny The dusky dottyback Cortesi and Walter Salzburger The dusky dottyback fish col- Science. (Pseudochromis fuscus) is a from the University of Basel our changing ability also helps IANS

‘I just got Intrepid eclipse chasers swoon over awesome views shot!’ US boy LONGYEARBYEN: Thousands of 45 seconds,” he explained. But elsewhere, people flocked for a glimpse of the solar those who headed outside to watch the posts bloody eclipse yesterday, with the most intrepid partial eclipse on show had to contend enthusiasts swooning over spectacu- with cloud cover. An eclipse of varying lar sights in a frozen Arctic archipelago degrees was first visible across northern selfie online and aboard a plane above remote Nordic Africa, most of Europe, northwest Asia islands. A group of 50 die-hard Danish and then the Middle East. NEW YORK: A 20-year- eclipse watchers paid 15,800 kroner each In the Swedish capital Stockholm, old US student who was shot (¤2,121, $2,261) to watch the event miles a watery crescent-shaped sun peered in the shoulder decided to above the Faroe Islands from a Boeing 737 Nine exposures joined into one image showing the different phases of the solar eclipse as through overcast skies as temperatures post a smiling selfie with chartered by a science magazine. dropped, prompting people in the city’s the bleeding gunshot wound seen in the archipelago of Svalbard, Norway, yesterday. Below: A combo of three pictures “It was so beautiful, I think it was the business district to stop and take pictures on social media rather than shows the progression of a partial solar eclipse over Strasbourg, eastern France. most beautiful solar eclipse I’ve ever seen,” with their smartphones. calling for medical help. John Valentin Mikkelsen, a 63-year-old In many places observers were disap- Arizona-based restaurant teacher from the Danish city of Aarhus pointed by the grey skies that marred the worker Isaac Martinez was said. “We saw Baily’s beads,” he said, refer- view. “We will be resuming our regularly shot during the deadly Arizona ring to a light show caused by the moon’s scheduled broadcast of ‘watching paint rampage this week. rugged surface allowing sunlight to shine dry’ right after the eclipse,” tweeted Joe Instead of calling 911, the through in some places during a total Costello from Britain. first thing he did was reach eclipse. In London, where the moon covered for his smartphone and post “It was beautiful, it was awesome,” he approximately 84 percent of the sun, a a bloody selfie on social media added, with almost spiritual reverence. lively crowd of around 500 people had app Snapchat, Mirror.co.uk The Faroe Islands and Norway’s Arctic gathered in Regent’s Park to savour the reported. Svalbard archipelago were the only places moment. As with previous eclipses experts The selfie-savvy college stu- on Earth where the less than three-minute warned the public not to look directly at dent did not just stop there total eclipse was visible yesterday. the sun due to the danger of eye dam- and continued updating his “We had clouds... but it was still fantas- age, and a police officer handed out special harrowing ordeal online as he tic,” said Ole J Knudsen, an astrophysicist To a soundtrack of yelping sled dogs, gazers began scrambling back inside glasses. A related celestial phenomenon was being taken to the hospi- from Denmark’s Aarhus University, who Kathy Biersdorff, from Calgary, Canada, nearby busses and a warming tent serv- also occurred yesterday, when the moon’s tal, posting a series of bloody watched from hills high above the Faroes’ and her companions gleefully yelled the ing steaming cups of hot chocolate. alignment with the sun coincided with its selfies. Once in the hospital, capital Torshavn.“For 20 to 30 seconds the names of the eclipse phenomena into Meanwhile, over Iceland, a group of perigee — the point of closest proximity he shared another selfie which sky was covered and it became dark and the bracing -20 Celsius (-4 Fahrenheit) eclipse chasers from around the world our planet. The gravitation pull created showed him lying in bed bare- there was a collective shock that you could morning air. “Crescent shadows! Diamond watched the event from a chartered plane. by those orbital forces are expected to chested with a white dressing hear from all the spectators,” he said. ring! Chromosphere! Moon’s shadow!” they Michael Jackson, a Canadian watching create “super tides” on Saturday. Those on his bloodied shoulder. More than 8,000 tourists had gathered yelled. his second total eclipse, described how the will be most dramatic in Canada’s Bay of A friend even turned one of in the Faroes, a Danish autonomous ter- “Oh man... this is so amazing! I’ve plane tried to chase the moon’s shadow. Fundy, on the French Atlantic coast, in the his hospital snapshots into a ritory in the North Atlantic. never seen so many phenomena during “Because we were in a plane we were English Channel and North Sea, though meme, showing Martinez with The views were equally breathtak- an eclipse,” she gushed. trying to keep up with the shadow... we even levels the Mediterranean will reflect a painted-on cigarette and ing in remote Svalbard’s main town When the sun re-emerged from behind couldn’t keep up with it but still we were the high point in the 18-year lunar cycle. dark sunglasses along with the Longyearbyen, where the population of the dark side of the moon, a huge roar able to extend the totality (of the eclipse) But yesterday, all interest was centred on caption that read “Thug Life”. 2,000 had tripled ahead of the event. resounded from the crowd and some from about 2.5 minutes to 3 minutes and the eclipse. AFP After being released from the hospital, Martinez again updated his condition, say- ing that the bullet struck him from behind and exited out of his collar area. Forests shrink; 70pc now less than 1 km from edge “I was the only one injured. Everyone else was unharmed. OSLO: Farms, roads and become fragmented. nations, human activity steadily 18 percent by 2050 from the cur- by 13 to 75 percent, with the larg- Overall, I’m glad it went the towns are fast slicing up the “We found the results sur- encroached on other huge forests. rent 1.53 billion hectares (3.78 bil- est negative effects found in the way it did rather than any world’s wilderness, leaving 70 prising and frightening,” Nick Overall, the scientists wrote lion acres) to feed a rising world smallest and most isolated frag- other way,” the 20-year-old percent of the world’s remain- Haddad, a professor of biologi- that “70 percent of remaining for- population. ments of habitat,” it said. posted. Police have arrested ing forested land less than one cal sciences at North Carolina est is within one km of the for- And other estimates indicate Deforestation is a threat to Ryan Giroux, 41, who is sus- km (half a mile) from a forest University who led the study, told est’s edge”—equivalent to a few that urban areas will also have animals ranging from jaguars in pected of killing a man and edge, a US-led study showed Reuters. “The signs are all still city blocks. to expand sharply, to 0.18 billion Brazil to orangutans in Indonesia, injuring five others, includ- yesterday. downwards.” “The expansion of human pop- hectares by 2030. as well as other creatures such ing Martinez during the The report, by two dozen The Amazon and Congo basins ulations will inevitably continue The study said animals and as birds, butterflies and frogs in rampage. researchers on five continents were the main areas where vast to reduce and fragment natural plants are under threat from addition to many rare plants. Martinez was on his way and using data the covers the tracts of forests remained far areas,” they wrote, unless there fragmentation which puts for- In 2010, governments agreed a to the eatery where he works past 35 years, said a rising human from human activity, according were gains in agricultural yields ests in range of humans, chang- goal of setting aside 17 percent of part-time when Giroux alleg- population was putting more to maps published with the study and efficiency. ing micro-climates and new, rival the world’s land area in wildlife edly confronted him in the pressure on forest animals and in the journal Science Advances. Another scientific report in species from outside the forests. parks and other protected areas parking lot and demanded his plants, which suffer greater risk In Asia, New Guinea, 2011 projected that the world’s “Fragmented habitats reduce by 2020, up from 12.7 percent in car, the report added. IANS of extinction as their habitats Russia, Canada and the Nordic cropland would have to expand by the diversity of plants and animals 2010. REUTERS