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A United Nations Gulf stock markets Russian Athletics delegation visited consolidated yesterday Federation chief Valentin Qatar Red Crescent after seesawing in line Balakhnichev confirmed headquarters to with oil prices over the his resignation from the enhance cooperation. last few days. post yesterday.

WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 • 29 Rabial II 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6345 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Owners may Emir meets Saudi King keep existing A/Cs: Official Traders to be allowed to sell old stocks

BY MOHAMMED OSMAN are using now. They can continue to use them as long as they want. DOHA: People will not be asked However, if people want to buy to dispose of their air condi- new A/Cs after the ban is fully tioners when the proposed ban implemented, they will not find on conventional A/Cs is finally the conventional ones in the mar- imposed, a senior official of the ket,” he added. Ministry of Environment has He said the decision to phase clarified. out the conventional A/Cs was They can continue to use their taken in September 2013 but was old A/Cs but will not find a con- withheld following a request from ventional product in the market if suppliers and traders. It has been they want to buy a new one. further delayed for another six Dr Mohammed bin Saif Al months. Kuwari, assistant undersecre- He said yesterday’s was a pre- tary for standards and specifica- liminary announcement about Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia tions at the Ministry said that his implementation of the ban and a in Riyadh yesterday. Also seen are Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and Foreign Minister H E reported statement on Monday final decision is yet to be taken. Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah. Report on page 2 about a decision to phase out all “We have made a detailed study conventional air conditioners in on the issue and the decision will six months had created some con- be implemented in a way that fusion among the public. does not harm the interests of The report carried by sev- the people nor disrupt their daily eral local newspapers including lives,” said Al Kuwari. Meeting in Riyadh to discuss IS war The Peninsula quoted Al Kuwari He said the ministry is going as saying that conventional air ahead with plans to phase out all RIYADH: Military chiefs from of information” and a chance deployed fighter jets in the king- The Pentagon announced last conditioners will be replaced by conventional A/Cs from the mar- around the world will gather for co-ordination, rather than a dom to support the anti-IS air month that the first of nearly energy-saving and environment ket by September. in the Saudi capital today to forum for major decisions. campaign. 1,000 US military personnel would friendly A/Cs by September this However, traders will be assess the battle against Islamic The talks among defence chiefs Also Monday, the state news soon begin deploying to Saudi year. allowed to dispose of their old State extremists, diplomatic and their deputies coincide with agency in the United Arab Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. “We have received different stocks, even after the ban comes sources said. the rise of IS in Libya, which has Emirates said its Jordanian-based They will train moderate types of reactions to the report. into force. The two-day meeting, a fol- heightened concerns in the region warplanes hit oil refineries run by Syrian rebels to take on IS. Some people went to the extent “We have taken all the issues lowup to earlier talks, will after the group seized parts of the jihadists. Among Western nations, of saying that the country is going into consideration. We in col- gather “all the countries that are Iraq and Syria last year. The same day, Egypt carried Australia, Belgium, Britain, back to the old era when there laboration with Kahramaa have involved” in the United States- Arab states have intensified out its first announced military Canada, Denmark, France and were no air conditioners. Some talked to suppliers and manufac- led fight against IS, including Gulf their bombing of IS targets since action against IS in Libya, after the Netherlands have carried expressed fears that we will go tures to provide the market with nations, one of the sources said. the jihadists in early February the militants released a video out air strikes against IS in Iraq, and knock at every door to check sufficient quantities of air condi- “I think it’ll be sort of a gen- claimed to have burned alive showing the beheading of 21 alongside the United States. their air conditioners,” Al Kuwari tions meeting the new specifica- eral appraisal of where we’re at, the Jordanian fighter pilot Maaz Egyptian Coptic Christians. Germany said in December it told this daily last evening. tions. A few stocks are already what needs to be done,” added the Al Kassasbeh, whose plane went Regional powerhouse Saudi would send about 100 soldiers to “All these fears are base- available,” he said. source, who asked for anonymity. down over Syria last year. Arabia has since September been northern Iraq to train Kurdish less. We will not ask anyone to Continued on page 4 Another diplomatic source said Jordan’s information minis- participating in the air strikes peshmerga fighters battling the replace the air conditioners they THE PENINSULA the meeting is “more an exchange ter on Monday said Bahrain had against IS in Syria. extremists. AFP

INSIDE Page 9 Sheikha Moza opens

Saudi Arabia leads the way for GCC world health summit By Jaber Al Harami BY FAZEENA SALEEM Salma of Morocco, Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, and Princess Gulf states should DOHA: The second World Ghida Talal of Jordan. “Health care not help those who Innovation Summit for Health and health care access go to the heart opened here yesterday to dis- of human rights. We cannot overcome are ungrateful cuss new solutions to global health our health care challenges unless we By Dr Mohammed challenges. begin to invest in solutions that link Saleh Al Misfer The summit, opened by H H health and education, as they are Sheikha Moza bint Nasser at the intrinsically connected. Innovation Qatar National Convention Centre, in education lead us to innovation in will discuss advanced care for illnesses health. It is our wish to promote the like cancer and diabetes, and also take causes of both access to basic primary Egypt calls for UN up children’s mental health problems. education and universal health cover- In her welcome speech, Sheikha Moza age,” Sheikha Moza said. intervention in Libya praised experts for their commitment to “Providing basic health care for uncovering vital new solutions to some all is not the only concern we share CAIRO: Egypt called yesterday of the world’s biggest health crises. More globally. Collective challenges include for UN-backed international than 1,000 world leaders, policy mak- the emergence of new and serious epi- intervention in Libya after ers and health care experts including demics such as Ebola. These illnesses, launching air strikes on Islamic Prime Minister and Interior Minister stemming from unconventional ori- State targets in retaliation for H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser gins, are outside our traditional health the jihadist group’s beheading of H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser speaking at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2015. She bin Khalifa Al Thani attended the care concerns,” she added. Egyptian Christians. said: “It is our belief that the people of Qatar deserve excellent care here at home. For Qatar, WISH makes two-day event. Continued on page 3 The matter will be taken up an important contribution to improving our health system.” (AL-BAKER) Also present were Princess Lalla THE PENINSULA by the UN Security Council today after a request by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi said “there is no choice” but to create a global coalition to con- front the extremists in Libya, in 22 schools in Qatar to give power conservation lessons an interview aired by France’s Europe 1 radio. Shoukry was in DOHA: Qatar, a country with schools are being involved in opportunities for conservation. record 12,000 megawatt to meet being waged in the 22 schools is New York seeking backing from high per capita usage of precious energy efficiency initiatives and The idea is to engage not only increasing demand by 2022, when known as T22 (T from the Arabic the Security Council for military utilities, is launching energy more schools are to be roped in students but also teachers and the coveted FIFA World Cup is to word ‘Tarsheed’, which means intervention and to demand “full and water conservation efforts as part of the initiative. parents and other members of be held here, Qatar is accelerating conservation, and 22 refers to the support” against the jihadists, a at grassroots level by making it An energy audit of the 22 the society. efforts at conservation, too. number of schools). ministry spokesman said. AFP part of school curriculum. schools is on to assess their As the country’s electricity The Phase I campaign of elec- Continued on page 6 See also page 7 To begin with, some 22 primary usage of utilities and to identify production is tipped to reach a tricity and water conservation THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Emir visits Saudi leaders RIYADH: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and discussed regional developments and exchanged views on all that could achieve regional stability and peace as well as latest international developments. During talks at King Salman’s palace in Arqa in Riyadh, they also reviewed means of developing relations in various fields for the benefit of both countries and brotherly peoples. Talks also dealt with joint Gulf action and means of enhancing it to fulfil Gulf peoples’ expectations and aspirations. The session was attended by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Emir’s delegation. Saudi Crown Prince and Deputy Prime Minister Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, www.swiss-belhotel.com Deputy Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Prince Tel Mohamed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Riyadh Fax Governor Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of National Guard Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani is welcomed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Abdulaziz Al Saud, Minister of Defence, Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and other officials at King Khalid International Tel Chief of the Royal Court and Custodian Airport in Riyadh. Fax of the Two Holy Mosques’ Special Adviser Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State and Cabinet Member The Emir attended a luncheon banquet Al Thani. An official welcome ceremony was Dr Musaad bin Mohamed Al Ayban and hosted in his honour by King Salman. The accorded to the Emir. Minister of Finance Dr Ibrahim bin Premier and the Emir’s delegation were The Emir also met Deputy Crown Tel Abdulaziz Al Assaf were present. present among with Crown Prince Muqrin Prince Mohammed at the latter’s farm in Fax The Emir visited late king Abdullah’s and other top officials. Al Thumamah and discussed latest Arab sons in the afternoon and offered condo- Emir was welcomed at King Khalid and international developments and ways lences to Prince Miteb, Prince Faisal, Prince International Airport by King Salman, of further strengthening relations. Prince Turki, Prince Saud, Prince Mansour and Crown Prince Muqrin, other princes, Mohammed hosted a dinner banquet in Tel + 974 44298888 their brother princes on the death of King military and civilian officials and Qatari honour of the Emir and his delegation. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamir QNA Fax

Tel Fax UN team reviews QRC projects in Somalia

Tel DOHA: A United Nations Fax delegation visited Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) headquar- ters to enhance cooperation and discuss issues of common Tel interest. Fax The delegation com- prised Nicholas Kay, Special Representative of the Secretary- www.doha.hilton.com General for UN Assistance Tel Mission in Somalia, and 44233333 974+ Noboru Fernandes de Abreu, Fax 44233000 974+ Special Assistant to Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia. They were received by Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Secretary-General, QRC, Hamad Al Fayyad, The UN delegation with QRC officials. Communications Adviser, and Izedeen Elglal, Head, Africa country. Kay said the situation projects for them, especially as towns. Office, Relief and International in Somalia has largely improved the situation is improving in The UN officials praised Tel Development Department, in terms of security, economy, capital Mogadishu. efforts of humanitarian organi- QRC. health care, education and new He said QRC has imple- sations working in Somalia, Fax Al Mohannadi highlighted jobs, thanks to cooperation mented relief and development particularly in terms of building QRC’s relief and development between authorities, Qatar and projects through its office in schools, employing more teach- interventions in Somalia on UN agencies, including Office Somalia, the latest of which ers, collecting garbage, rehabili- its own and in tandem with of the United Nations High being the opening of a health tating hospitals and launching Tel Qatari Charitable Alliance Commissioner for Refugees centre in Awdheegle district, vaccination campaigns. Fax for Solidarity with the Somali (UNHCR) and Unicef. Lower Shebelle, in partner- Refugee conditions are diffi- People, culminating in an MoU Al Mohannadi stressed the ship with Qatar Charity. The cult, and there is a dire need to with its Somali counterpart as importance of enabling local QR280,000 health facility will rebuild and rehabilitate infra- a legal framework to execute communities to return home serve the district’s 30,000 popu- structure, mainly roads. Tel humanitarian projects in the and establishing productive lation as well as neighbouring THE PENINSULA Fax

Tel Fax QF, QCS mark World Cancer Day

Tel Fax

Tel Fax

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Children taking part in the event. Tel DOHA: Qatar Cancer Society (QCS) efforts to increase awareness about cancer Relations, QCS, said, “The event aims to Fax marked World Cancer Day, with Qatar and its impact on society.” achieve objectives such as raising awareness Foundation (QF) under the theme ‘Not The event was part of efforts of about the disease and spread the culture of www.marriottmarquisdoha.com beyond us’ to raise awareness about can- Community Services, QF, to provide activi- a healthy lifestyle to prevent it. cer and disseminate information in view ties to help improve the health of QF mem- “It also aims to activate the community’s Tel + 974 44195000 of the increasing number of deaths from bers and the community. role in providing support to cancer patients the disease every year. “We would like to make this a day to financially and morally and develop capacity Fax + 974 44195100 Rodha Al Saadi, Acting Manager, reflect on the journeys each one has under- of different age groups to acquire skills to Community Services Department, QF, taken, share experiences with members of deal with the disease. said, “Today is another memorable day as the community, educate people, raise aware- “The event aims to highlight health serv- we continue to celebrate efforts to fight and ness about the disease and push the com- ices related to the disease available in Qatar prevent cancer. munity to take action to prevent it,” said and encourage early detection of cancer and “I am happy to acknowledge the presence Al Saadi. treatment of the disease.” of QCS management and staff and their Abdullah Al Kaabi, Director, Public THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Innovation Award, Call for global Challenge 22, partners with WISH DOHA: In an effort of col- laboration with healthcare healthcare innovators, Challenge 22, an innovation award to inspire and challenge the region’s bright- est minds, has partnered with World Innovation Summit for solutions Health (WISH). Initiated by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Silatech and Five innovators showcase findings Qatar National Research Fund, Challenge 22 is an innovation for first time in WISH history award borne out of a desire to celebrate the 2022 FIFA World Continued from page 1 fluid global borders we face a Cup Qatar as a regional event. The summit, a Qatar crossroads in world health that “We are proud to take part in Foundation (QF) initiative, presents a unique dilemma for the second WISH as Challenge discusses pressing healthcare us all. 22’s involvement further high- issues, including making a call “We must act urgently to lights our commitment to for a global response to demen- share our experiences, combine platforms of innovation,” said tia through policy innovation, our insights and progress solu- Fatma Al Nuaimi, Project Lead improving mental health and tions together. Only through and Human and Social Legacy well-being of children, prevent- collaboration can we be sure to Manager, SC. ing and managing Type 2 diabe- find the right answers and only “Panels and forums in WISH tes, transforming patient safety with innovation can we deliver H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser with other high-level government and royal delegates, at the opening session of will benefit our ‘Sports and and delivering universal health the outcomes needed. WISH World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2015. Health’ theme as part of the coverage. provides the platform for such award.” Professor Lord Darzi of action and I am proud to be wel- history of the summit, five young hosting a panel on genomics, and maternal health hosted Professor Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair, coming the world’s experts to innovators from around the looking at the future of per- with the Bill and Melinda Gates Denham, Executive Chair, WISH, WISH, said, “In the face of Doha today to create a healthier world showcase their findings to sonalised medicine and ethical Foundation, Harvard University said: “Today we welcome over growing health concerns, reduc- future for all,” he said. improve and provide advanced dilemmas it could bring. There and Save the Children. 1,000 healthcare leaders from ing budgets and increasingly For the first time in the healthcare. WISH 2015 is also is another panel on newborn THE PENINSULA over 80 countries to confront some of the biggest health chal- lenges facing countries and com- munities the world over. “With support of committed Report on universal health coverage released partners like Challenge 22, we can celebrate innovation and inspire DOHA: A new report call- the brightest minds.” ing on universal health cover- Challenge 22 is seeking appli- age (UHC) to be implemented cants in the GCC, with solu- across the globe was released tion-based proposals related to and debated yesterday at World three key themes that address Innovation Summit for Health challenges faced by Qatar and (WISH). the world, when hosting major UHC is the basic concept that sports events. The three themes every person everywhere should for the inaugural award are have access to healthcare without Sustainability, Event Experience, suffering financial hardship. This and Sports and Health. Successful essential human right is a corner- applicants have the opportunity stone of sustainable development to win a cash prize of $20,000 dur- and global security. ing Phase 1 of the competition and The policy report, based on a a grant to further develop their review of available evidence, high- idea into a proof of concept during lights substantial benefits UHC Sir David Nicholson, author of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Dr Muhammad Khoshaim, Saudi Minister of Health, Professor Srinath Reddy, President, Phase 2 of the competition. can deliver for individuals, coun- Public Health Foundation, India, Hussein Reka, Manager, Health Insurance, Supreme Council of Health and other experts during a panel discussion. THE PENINSULA tries and politicians and provides a solid framework to support poli- “No one is pretending that implemented in their countries. cymakers in transitioning their improving health systems is easy They also discussed about nations’ health services to UHC. but case studies from around the the ‘Cost Challenge’ faced in Lead author, Sir David world show it is possible. Complex implementing public insurance Nicholson, former chief execu- issues need to be discussed and schemes. tive of National Health Service difficult decisions made at the “Even the rich countries have in England, launched the report highest level. My message to poli- challenges, because the expenses ‘The Next Billion: How to Deliver cymakers is to be brave and bold,” are high. We are not looking at Universal Health Coverage’. Sir David added. the burden of the disease. Unless “Evidence shows that in any Experts and policymak- we do early diagnosis, burden of country it’s important that the ers, including Dr Muhammad the disease will increase,” said whole population is covered with Khoshaim, Saudi Minister Khoshaim. a priority health package provid- of Health, Professor Srinath Speaking about the National ing good quality primary, com- Reddy, President, Public Health Health Insurance Scheme in munity and some general hospital Foundation, India, Sir Julian Le Qatar, Reka said that Qatar has services. Grand, Professor of Social Policy, actually made public health serv- “When it comes to financing, London School of Economic, ices available for people at very our research suggests that the Professor Li Ling, Professor of low coast since 1980. most effective mechanism is a Economics, China Centre for However he said, “That’s not publicly governed compulsory Economic Research, and Hussein good enough, so that why we financing system. Reka, Manager, Health Insurance, decided to improve the system, “Above all, strong political lead- Supreme Council of Health, took and introducing a mechanism to ership, careful monitoring and part in a panel discussion held give an increased choice of pro- strong institutions are needed to universal health coverage. vider, more transparency and by see successful implementation of They shared experience improving by quality.” health reforms. and public insurance policies THE PENINSULA HMC cardiac surgery innovation on display DOHA: Many innovations in healthcare are being showcased at World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). One of them is Q Stent from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). Q Stent is an innovation to be used in cardiac surgery and was invented by doctors at Heart Hospital, in collaboration with Qatar Science Club. The Q Stent project was started by a doctor at the hospital looking for a solution to a problem that occurs in prolonged cardiac sur- geries, where the heart expands and it is not possible to close the patient’s chest immediately. Q Stent acts as a stable sterile device to hold or prop the patient’s chest open, maximising patient safety. It is expected to replace the currently used, hand-crafted, suboptimal solutions for stenting the sternum for delayed closure. Q Q Stent being used in a cardiac surgery. Stent’s ergonomic design provides firm stenting of the sternum, with “All over the world doctors have Cardiothoracic Surgery at the provision of maximum space for a problem with the heart expand- hospital, said the most common accommodating the swollen heart. ing after long surgeries and then use of the device would be in pae- Its solid block fabrication, without having to try to come up with diatric heart surgery. “Children any moving parts, would decrease make-shift solutions to prop the have much smaller rib cages and risks of injuries and infections patient’s chest open. Dr Rashid the problem of their heart swell- after such procedures. Mazhar decided to find a solution ing after a long surgical proce- Dr Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi, Chair, and came up with the design for dure is more prevalent,” he said. Cardiothoracic, Heart Hospital, Q Stent. We have filed for pat- “We have made Q Stents in sev- said: “Often the best innovations ent rights for it with the GCC eral sizes so that they are suitable are when we can find a simple and IPT offices and believe it will in paediatric and adult surgeries. yet elegant solution to an every- help cardiac surgeons all over the I feel that Q Stent will help many day problem. With Q Stent that world.” cardiac surgeons in the future.” is what our team has invented. Dr Mazhar, Consultant, THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME QFF to launch two key projects in Japan

DOHA: Qatar Friendship Fund (QFF) has announced FM to open Qatar Science Campus, the launch dates for two major projects as part of its ongoing Qatar Sports Park in Tohoku region commitment to the rehabilita- tion of Japan’s Tohoku region. In doing so, it aims to culti- the community, with extended The first will see the open- vate the next generation of engi- health benefits for local resi- ing of Qatar Science Campus at neers and researchers and forge dents and serve as a venue for Engineering Graduate School development of new industries local competitions and other at Tohoku University in Sendai in the region. “In every society, activities. City on Saturday. youth have always held the key Foreign Minister H E Dr It will be followed by the to the future. Nowhere is this Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah launch of Qatar Sports Park in more evident than in Japan. Our will officially launch the project, Shirakawa (QSPS), Fukushima aim is to harness their poten- accompanied by Bilal. prefecture, on Sunday. tial and help them discover Bilal praised the extraordi- Despite its relatively ele- technologies that will shape not nary potential of sports and said, vated position, the university is only their future, but also of “The transcendent and unifying reported to have sustained dam- the world. I am confident and nature of sports is unique. It is age in excess of 48bn yen when excited about their ability and at the heart of all communities earthquake struck east Japan continued success,” said Yousef and has unparalleled capacity in 2011. To support the hub of Bilal, Qatari Ambassador and in bringing people together. In education in the area, QFF and QFF Chairman. collaboration with our Japanese partners launched $1.9m campus QSPS is expected to benefit friends, we have considered to establish an advanced scien- over 150,000 people of all ages. every aspect of QSPS to con- tific learning environment for The gymnasium in Shirakawa tribute to the region’s recovery FROM LEFT: WCMC-Q research team members Zahra Rahman, Nadeen Al Baz, Dr Mohamud A Verjee, Fathima the local community. was used as a refuge centre and the health of its residents. I Ameerudeen and Dr Alan S Weber. The campus is one of 11 initia- for families seeking shelter am proud that Qatar is able to tives undertaken by QFF to offer from the disaster at the nearby provide support for this project.” elementary, junior high and high Fukushima Daiichi power sta- Plans for QSC and QSPS school students in Miyagi pre- tion, but will now serve as the were announced in mid-2013. fecture the chance to experience source of inspiration for the After investment of nearly Qatar scores high in GCC e-Health advanced scientific research. region’s aspiring athletes. $8m in project funding, both By engaging in experiments The $5.8m project will com- facilities are ready to welcome that will fuel their interest prise a new complex, including their first students and athlet- readiness, website quality in science and manufactur- a sports centre, gymnasium and ics enthusiasts. Both events will ing technology, QSC will help stadium. be attended by senior officials DOHA: Qatar has scored English due to the large Asian penetration rates, planned broad- accompany them on the path QSPS, about 170km from from Japan and Qatar, project highly on its e-Health readi- expatriate populations of the Gulf, band infrastructure upgrades, a towards greater discovery and Sendai, will provide a safe and partners and local community ness and website quality in the sponsorships, site ownerships, positive youth attitude towards innovation. modern sporting facility for members. THE PENINSULA first comprehensive analysis and advertising policies should technology, and health sec- of Internet health information be disclosed clearly and privacy tor improvements are valuable in the GCC by researchers at and security policies need to be assets for future development of Weill Cornell Medical College implemented and disclosed. e-Health in Qatar. in Qatar (WCMC-Q) The research during 2012-14 D Verjee said, “Health has In eight out of 10 quality cat- retrieved all 925 functional health become a priority area in GCC egories measured by the authors, websites in the GCC and catego- government planning since new QRC provides QR727,692 Qatari websites scored higher rised information found on them. gas and oil revenues are under- than the GCC average. Dr Alan S Weber, Associate writing higher quality universal The study ‘Typology and Professor of English, Pre-medical care and new resources. Although Credibility of GCC Internet Department, and Dr Mohamud patients are increasingly seek- Health Websites’ appeared in A Verjee, Associate Professor of ing health information on the supplies to Gaza hospital World Health Organisation Family Medicine, led the faculty Internet, the physician should be (WHO) publication Eastern research. The student research the primary source of information DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent Palestine, receiving up to 200 department’s overall work has Mediterranean Health Journal. team comprised Zahra Rahman, on medical matters. Physicians (QRC) has provided techno- cases per month, 45 percent become better. All results are Experts have cautioned that Fathima Ameerudeen and Nadeen and websites should provide the logical supplies to the Preterm of whom are preterm babies. promising,” said Wael Samara, a serious deficiencies in health web- Al Baz, all third-year medical best possible information to the Birth Department at Al Shifaa Preterm birth care ranges from nurse. sites in Qatar and the GCC should students. patient without any commercial Medical Complex, Gaza. 25 to 28 weeks, depending on the He said the project helped be addressed, specifically, techni- The research team has stressed bias or potential conflicts of inter- Costing QR727,692, the supply condition of the neonate. improve the performance of staff cal medical information needs to that Qatar is uniquely placed to est.” The research won a grant of preterm birth monitoring sys- “In the past, we found difficulty and how preterm infants receive be updated, and the authorship take a leading role in Internet- from Qatar National Research tems is part of an urgent relief assessing the condition of pre- care. and credentials disclosed. based health information in the Fund under its Undergraduate programme to support Palestinian term babies, faced severe short- Dr Akram Nassar, Head, QRC Websites should be available in region. Factors such as Qatar’s Research Experience Programme. Ministry of Health hospitals in ages in physiological monitoring Office, Gaza, said the project was languages other than Arabic and high Internet connectivity and THE PENINSULA Gaza with medicines, consuma- systems, a long waiting list, and part of a portfolio conducted by bles and equipment to meet the had to accelerate baby turnover QRC to enhance healthcare for increasing demand. due to reaching full capacity. Palestinian patients. He said Dr Allam Abo Hamda, Director “I appreciate QRC’s role in the director of the department of the department, said QRC con- solving the problems and look received specialised training at tribution included 16 physiological forward to future expansions to Hamad Medical Corporation Home appliances to be energy-efficient and two central monitoring sys- offer better services to preterm under another QRC project. All tems to check the health of new- babies,” Dr Hamda said. these projects aim to advance Continued from page 1 environment friendly products in a phased manner. borns, regulate their heartbeats “As nurses, we ensure the best services in Gaza hospitals in “A neighbouring GCC country has been using such “This process may take two to three years to and balance their blood oxygen healthcare for neonates despite general and reduce mortality ACs for a year and they have been found very effec- complete. levels. scarce medical supplies. With rates among preterm babies in tive,” Al Kuwari added. “We don’t want to put people in a difficult situa- “The Incubator Department the advanced medical equip- particular. He said all other home appliances in the mar- tion,” said Al Kuwari. at the complex is the biggest in ment delivered by QRC, the THE PENINSULA ket will also be replaced by energy efficient and THE PENINSULA Envoy visits Msheireb Enrichment Centre

DOHA: South African Ambassador Saad Cachalia visited Msheireb Enrichment Centre, where he was wel- comed by Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties, and the senior management. Cachalia was given a tour of the centre, which documents Doha’s history and showcases its development plans. He saw a model of QR20bn Msheireb Downtown Doha project and was briefed on work progress at the development, seen as a benchmark in sustain- able urban re-generation. He praised the management South African Ambassador Saad Cachalia with Abdulla Hassan Al Mehshadi, CEO, Msheireb Properties, and for its continued success. other officials. THE PENINSULA

Contest for Ooredoo Mobile Money customers DOHA: Ooredoo has announced a new instantly through MoneyGram and com- It just a few moments and is free. Users competition for Ooredoo Mobile Money plete daily tasks such as Hala top-ups (with can send money for collection at 347,000 customers, offering users the chance to 10 percent extra credit) or pay Ooredoo MoneyGram agents in 200 countries around win prizes when they download and sign bills. the world, securely and reliably 24 hours. in to the new Ooredoo Money App. To be eligible for the draw, customers Users can deposit money into their Anyone who downloads the app and signs must download the app, register free for accounts using any of the 200 Ooredoo in is eligible for entry into the prize draw the Mobile Money service and sign in. Once self-service machines throughout Qatar. between now and March 7. signed in, they are entered for the draw Deposits can also be paid through Ooredoo In addition to a QR10,000 travel voucher, automatically. shops or direct transfer from QNB accounts additional prizes for the monthly draw Existing Ooredoo Mobile Money users using the QNB Mobile Payment service. include an iPhone 6 and 15 gold bars. are also entitled to enter the draw and For details, customers can ask about Available via the Google Play and iTunes can use their mobile number and six-digit Mobile Money in an Ooredoo shop or visit Store, the app gives Ooredoo Mobile Money mPIN to sign in to the app. the Mobile Money section on the Ooredoo users a facility where they can check Any Ooredoo customer with a Qatar ID website at www.ooredoo.qa/omapp. finance, transfer money around the world can register for Ooredoo Mobile Money. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Qatar to host GCC e-Government Qatar mid-term census on April 20, 21 panel meeting DOHA: The Ministry of Development Planning and DOHA: The Ministry Statistics has allocated April 20 of Information and and 21 to conduct the simplified Communications Technology mid-term census of population, (ictQATAR) will host the 15th housing and establishments. meeting of the GCC e-Govern- Minister of Development ment Executive Committee on Planning and Statistics H E Saleh February 18-19 in the presence Mohamed Salem Al Nabit made of executives and chairpersons the announcement yesterday, while of e-Government authorities opening a workshop on prepara- and programmes. tions for the census by the min- The meeting at Four Seasons istry’s staff and those of other Hotel Doha aims to enhance tech- ministries, government depart- nical cooperation and joint action, ments and the private sector par- fostering exchange of expertise ticipating in the census. Minister of Development Planning and knowledge in the field. “The ministry has chosen April and Statistics H E Saleh Mohamed Items related to the enhance- 20 and 21 to be the two days for Salem Al Nabit delivering the ment of e-Government services the mid-term census coming in the opening speech at the workshop. will be discussed, including GCC middle of 2010 to 2020,” he said. (RIGHT) A section of the participants. initiatives and setting standards “The purpose of the census is to ABDUL BASIT for GCC official web portals. make comparisons with the census The committee will also discuss of 2010 and measure development the GCC e-Government networks changes in the past five years.” the most populated areas depend- however with the level of increases economic growth in the country. of Population and Housing adopted integration and sectors that He said the next major census ing on economic, social and envi- and the April census will help the The workshop focused on equip- recently by the UN was to take would benefit from them. will be conducted in 2020. ronmental variables and survey ministry compare the projections ping the participants on the field national censuses at least once in The committee will review a He said censuses were conducted land use to identify architectural with the field data collected,” he data collection, tabulating and every 10 years. report from Qatar on developing in all developed countries to help changes in buildings, homes and said. analysing the collected data as Dr Ahmed Hussein, Statistical a knowledge management portal update some statistical variables in businesses, said Nasser Saleh He said a reliable census is well understanding the different Expert at the Ministry of among Gulf countries and work the field of national planning that Al Mahdi, Director of Censuses, important for a country to ade- data requirements of government Development Planning and progress on this regard. would be provided to governmental Household Surveys and Statistical quately plan growth, deliver departments, research institutes Statistics said that this year’s Reports and items on collabo- and research institutions and UN Methods Department. services and solve the country’s and international agencies. census authorities will be com- ration among member states in agencies. “There are always population problems. He also said that the Dr Ismail Labad, from the bining the recent technological the area of e-Government will be The objective of the census is estimates and sometimes they are application of statistics in monitor- Economic and Social Commission methods of data collection like the reviewed. also to measure changes in the all about increased population, ing service delivery and planning of Western Asia, said that among Geographic Information Systems. The panel will prepare the country’s demographics, identify there could be some differences had contributed to and sustained the recommendations for censuses THE PENINSULA agenda for the fourth meet- ing of the GCC e-Government Ministerial Committee to be held in Doha this March. QNA ‘Monster Makers Laboratory’ today Innovative tool to train doctors in psychosis care

DOHA: Qatar National Library DOHA: Hamad Medical gain a unique insight in order patients with severe depression (QNL) is to organise ‘Monster Corporation’s (HMC) to increase empathy and under- and bipolar disorder, who may Makers Laboratory’, a fun-filled Psychiatry Department has standing that will in turn con- also experience psychosis,” said children’s educational event, introduced an innovative tool tribute to better quality of care Dr Majid Al Abdulla, Consultant today. to train its doctors in the for people with this condition. Psychiatrist and Deputy Organised in collaboration with treatment and care of patients The equipment, known as the Chairman of the Psychiatry Qatar Foundation Community experiencing psychosis. Wearable, is an augmented real- Department. Services and Qatar Museums, the Psychosis is a symptom or ity cinema that allows users to He noted that schizophrenia, event will be held at the Aaqool state of mind that occurs as a perceive their direct surround- severe depression and bipolar Atrium at the Qatar Foundation result of other conditions. It is ings as if in psychosis. Through disorder are among the more Recreation Centre in Education often linked specifically, but not the Wearable, the doctors were severe illnesses diagnosed in City, from 4-6 pm. exclusively, to mental illnesses able to enter the mind of a fic- patients at the Psychiatry It will feature various activities, such as schizophrenia, bipolar tional character, a young woman Department. In addition, there including teaching children the disorder or severe depression. called Jamie who is experienc- are cases of patients with drug basics of monster making using There are two main symp- ing psychosis. Through this addiction who have developed simple materials and geometrical toms associated with psychosis; they can experience what she psychosis. The Department shapes. The event is open to all hallucinations and delusions, experiences – a ‘normal’ reality provides a Substance Misuse children aged between 3 and 11 which can both result in a per- that gets increasingly distorted. Service as part of its wider men- and their parents. son losing contact with reality. A Each participant’s experience is tal health services. “We look forward to welcoming psychotic episode can be a very different as the individual par- Training on the use of this Qatar’s community to the labora- distressing occurrence for the ticipant’s physical responses to tool is expected to be delivered tory which demonstrates QNL’s person experiencing it – affect- the hallucinations determine to approximately 60 doctors at continued commitment to its mis- ing their behavior, the way they how deep he or she enters into the Psychiatry Department. sion to spread knowledge, nurture think and how they feel. the psychosis. Participants can The activity was facilitated imagination, cultivate creativity, The new tool is called be filmed and later review the by Dr Ehsane Mohsen Gad, and preserve the nation’s Heritage Labyrinth Psychotica. It was footage HMC Psychiatry Consultant; for the Future,” said Dr Claudia developed as part of a prac- “Labyrinth Psychotica is well- Alexandra Landre and Natasja Lux, QNL’s Project Director. tice-based PhD project by established in Europe and is now Van der Horst, Project Managers “The laboratory’ also demon- Netherlands-based artist being introduced for the first of Labyrinth Psychotica; strates the diverse and innovative Jennifer Kanary, to investigate time in Qatar. We are using it and Katia El Masri, Medical ways in which QNL carries out its in more depth what it is like for the training of our doctors Representative for the Janssen mission, by tailoring its approach to experience psychosis. The with the aim of enhancing treat- Pharmaceutical Companies of to various age demographics project aims to give health- ment for patients experiencing Johnson & Johnson, which finan- The new tool, Labyrinth Psychotica, was developed as part of a practice- within the local community.” care providers and other target psychotic episodes; including cially supports the project. based PhD project by Netherlands-based artist Jennifer Kanary to investi- THE PENINSULA audiences the opportunity to schizophrenic patients and some THE PENINSULA gate in more depth what it is like to experience psychosis. QA partners with Aspire Academy to turn dreams of young football players into reality

DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) has partnered with Aspire Academy for Aspire Football Dreams programme to turn dreams of young football play- ers into reality. Aspire Football Dreams coaches, staff and more than 4,000 volunteers, assessed 400,000 13-year-old football players, at about 650 football fields in 14 countries over the last year. Those selected to enter the Academy this year, will form the QA & Aspire Academy – Some of the young fooballers at the event. Football Dreams Africa team, and will be flown to Barcelona Akbar Al Baker, said: “QA is are delighted and proud that of the players on the field as to play against FC Barcelona’s extremely proud to be part- QA partners up with us in this they worked together to defeat youth team, courtesy of the nering with Aspire Football unique initiative. Giving young RCD Espanyol 1-0 in the first airline. Dreams in Africa, a programme people in Africa the chance to match, and held them off during Each year, the programme that not only encourages sport, fulfil their potential and pursue the final match, walking off the selects up to 20 13-year-old which is in line with the Qatar their dream of playing football field nil-nil. boys who go through a rigor- National Vision 2030, but that on the world stage is an impor- Results of the Aspire ous assessment process in the also provides a life-changing tant objective for ASPIRE. They Football Dreams programme hopes of being selected to attend opportunity for youth that are will grow as individuals through have already been made evi- the Academy where they train, willing to work hard to nurture this special project,” said Ivan dent with a number of gradu- compete, study and learn to and develop their natural tal- Bravo, Director General of ating students being signed to manage their lives and careers ents. We are pleased to be able Aspire Academy, on the upcom- professional teams in Europe, successfully, with the goal of one to fly the QA & Aspire Academy ing game in Barcelona. including Diawandou Diagne, day playing for a professional – Football Dreams Africa team After flying in from all who signed with FC Barcelona club or their respective national to Barcelona to participate in a over the African continent to B team this past July. QA is also teams. Having already tested friendly match between the FC Senegal, the boys met with their offering fans a chance to fly to two million football players since Barcelona youth team, and wish new teammates and spent the Barcelona to watch the friendly the beginning of the programme both teams the best of luck.” week training before taking match between the QA & Aspire eight years ago, Aspire Football “The game in Barcelona is to the pitch in two matches Academy – Football Dreams Dreams is the largest-ever tal- going to be a great experience against Spanish youth team, Africa team and FC Barcelona ent search in football. for these youngsters, a once- RCD Espanyol. Coaches had youth team. QA Group Chief Executive, in-a-lifetime opportunity. We the opportunity to assess each THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Sidra to update Education Grant, Graduate Associate programme ‘T22’ to cover 22 primary

DOHA: Sidra Medical and studies and careers at Sidra to Research Centre’s (Sidra) date. National Development Team “We are constantly striving is to renew its commitment to towards building a world-class support local talent in pursuing graduate development pro- Independent schools careers in science and medicine gramme and providing students by offering updated Education with opportunities to learn from Grant and Graduate Associate some of pioneers in the medical programme this year. field,” said Dr Eiman Al Ansari, The Education Grant sup- Director, National Development, ports Qatari students (and Sidra. those with Qatari mothers) in The Graduate Associate pro- the study of medical and clini- gramme provides students with cal degrees in select universities development opportunities, throughout the world, while the including orientation, job rota- Graduate Associate programme tions in up to four departments, offers Qatari graduates who have corporate learning and develop- successfully completed their ment programmes, a mentor- Education Grants the opportu- ing partnership between the nity to train for a medical career Graduate Associate and a selected within Sidra. senior employee at Sidra, and a Through these programmes, month-long Emerging Leaders 165 Qatari medical students have programme. been sponsored to pursue medical THE PENINSULA Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, Chairman, Kahramaa, and other officials during the press conference to launch Tarsheed 22 at St. Regis Doha yesterday. BAHER AMIN

Continued from page 1 found an excellent partner in the Additionally, schools receive an about conservation and how It is interesting to note that Supreme Committee for Delivery energy audit and upgrades to their behaviours impact water Azerbaijan to mark 23rd the numeral 22 also reminds one and Legacy. water and electrical fixtures to and electricity use. On a regu- of 2022, the year in which FIFA “We believe the T22 Programme decrease consumption via faucet lar basis, students will engage in World Cup will be held. blends the right mixture of educa- aerators and energy-saving bulbs. fun activities, including the visit year of Khojaly genocide Utility distributor Kahramaa tion and fun, the building blocks “Legacy, innovation and sus- of football stars from the Qatar launched the National Programme for long-term conservation behav- tainability have always been at Stars League. DOHA: Azerbaijan is marking goals of the war waged against the for Conservation and Energy iour change. the forefront of our thinking An energy audit of all 22 this month the 23rd anniver- people of Azerbaijan. Efficiency, called Tarsheed, a few “Children will find the mate- since we bid to host the 2022 schools is under way, and will sary of what it calls the Khojaly “The policy of genocide has years ago. rials engaging, and learn that FIFA World Cup,” said Hassan continue for the next month. genocide, an embassy press become an integral part of the And, in partnership with the energy efficiency is critical to Al Thawadi, Secretary-General, This will provide a baseline for release said yesterday. Armenian aggression against Supreme Committee for Delivery their future, and the future of Supreme Committee for Delivery each of the participating schools, “For people of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan,” the statement adds. and Legacy yesterday, it launched our country. Schools will receive and Legacy. “We’re pleased to identifying conservation and effi- the region, the word ‘Khojaly’ has Every year, leaders of “T22”, initially to reach 22 pri- valuable upgrades to their meters, play a role in this important pro- ciency opportunities via retrofit of become synonymous with pain, Azerbaijan’s Christian, Jewish mary (up to the sixth standard) lighting and faucets to track and gramme by bringing the spirit of lights with dimmable LED lamps sorrow and cruelty. and Muslim communities issue Independent Schools. conserve energy.” football and sport to T22. Sports and lux controllers, presence “Over the night from 25 to 26 appeals on the eve of the com- The drive (to achieve energy The drive (T22), will roll out a have a key role to play in building detector controllers for meeting February 1992, the Armenian memoration of the ‘Khojaly efficiency and water conserva- tailored version of the Tarsheed a more sustainable community, rooms, toilets with delay timing troops supported by Soviet infan- genocide’ urging the interna- tion) will eventually be expanded programme initially in 22 inde- which makes it a perfect fit for and water efficient aerators on try regiment attacked the town tional community to condemn to all schools in Qatar by 2022. pendent schools in communities this effort.” faucets. with population more than 7,000 the February 26, 1992 bloodshed This was announced at a press throughout Qatar this academic The campaign is targeted at Taken together, these retrofits and razed it to the ground and and facilitate the liberation of the briefing yesterday. year. primary school level students and the educational content will massacred hundreds of civilians,” occupied territories and repatria- The new initiative aims at Additional schools will join the (aged six to 12 years), staff lead to energy savings in each of the release said. tion of the displaced communities. engaging Qatar’s youth on energy programme in subsequent years, and teachers, and parents and the schools for the long term. Khojaly is a town in the moun- But 23 years on, the world is conservation using the power of with the intention of reaching all families. T22 will culminate in an awards tainous Karabakh region of still oblivious to the suffering football. primary schools by 2022. They are reached through event recognizing the schools Azerbaijan. caused by the Armenian aggres- Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, Educational material and conservation and energy effi- that have best achieved the per- “The Khojaly genocide set a sion against Azerbaijan, which President of Qatar General challenges will educate chil- ciency curriculum and sports formance targets set for the pattern of destruction and ethnic resulted in the occupation of 20 Electricity and Water dren about electricity and water activities that teach and rein- programme based on Kahramaa cleansing methodically carried out percent of Azerbaijan territory Corporation (Kahramaa), told conservation, contributing to force conservation behavior at readings of the meters installed by Armenia and revealed to the and expulsion of 1,000,000 people reporters: “We sought a way to Qatar’s efforts to achieve envi- school, which will carry over into in the schools to check energy world the essence of Armenian from their homes. bring the successful Tarsheed ronmental sustainability as part the home. Students will have consumption, it was announced. ethnic expansionism and the real THE PENINSULA programme to schools, and of Qatar National Vision 2030. access to materials that teach THE PENINSULA

Fishing on the Corniche Ooredoo, W Doha begin online contests DOHA: Ooredoo and W Doha at Spice Market, the Southeast Public Relations, Ooredoo, said: Qatar as part of another year of Hotel & Residences have Asian-inspired restaurant by “Ooredoo keeps looking for new innovative and forward-thinking launched social media partner- Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. ways to delight our customers, initiatives. ship. The four-week initiative By following social media and the promotion with the hotel Dedicated to offering instant until March engages local cus- accounts of W Doha Hotel and will offer people luxury lifestyle communication, social media tomers, guests and global trav- Ooredoo Qatar, and using the surprises. Ooredoo’s social media competitions enable us to con- ellers to participate in weekly hashtag #OoredooAndWDoha, channels provide connections for nect to the local community, competitions on Instagram and Instagram and Snapchat, users our customers to ask questions, global travellers by offering our Snapchat. will have the opportunity to take learn about offers and update followers multiple chances to win Participants have the chance part in weekly competitions from their accounts and now, by fol- fabulous prizes.” to win prizes, including weekend February 15 until March 14. lowing Instagram and Snapchat, For details, visit Ooredoo’s stays at the five-star hotel, vouch- Every Saturday, free competitions they can also win prizes.” Facebook page facebook.com/oore- ers for a rejuvenating Bliss Spa will be announced and to enter Safak Guvenc, General dooqatar, or follow @ooredooqa- treatment, brunches at one of within the next five days. Manager of the hotel, said: “We tar and @wdoha on Instagram or the award-winning F&B venues, Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, are pleased to have launched #OoredooAndWDoha on Twitter. and Bento Box Express lunches Director, Community and our partnership with Ooredoo THE PENINSULA People seen fishing on the Corniche yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT Jewellery expo introduces online registration

DOHA: As the 12th Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition draw near, q.media Events, official organiser, is completing preparations, working with partner Fira Barcelona, a key European trade fair organisations. Hosted by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), the event promises visitors luxury, beauty and uniqueness. Working to facilitate visitors’ access, organisers have stream- lined processes further by intro- ducing online registration to help visitors complete the process from the comfort of their office or home. The accused with fake dirham notes. They will save time as they can enter directly upon showing their printed or digital entry, thus avoiding the need to queue up at Fake dirhams gang busted the entrance. For those unable to register DOHA: Police busted a three-member gang of Asians, including online, an onsite registration a woman, found circulating fake GCC currencies worth 35,000 desk will be available at the main dirhams. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the entrance and a team will provide Ministry of Interior acted on a tip-off from an unidentified source assistance for the needy. that a woman in GCC dress was circulating fake 500 dirham cur- Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, Official organiser q.media Events is completing preparations, working with partner Fira Barcelona. rencies in shops. Chief Enterprise Officer, q.media, The department launched an investigation which confirmed that the said, “The exhibition is a world- visitors. With online registration, future. social media pages on Facebook gang was behind the crime. They were arrested in a sting operation. class event and we are using people can pre-register and enter For more insights about the - www.facebook.com/DJWExpo, During interrogation, they confessed and said they had paid 60,000 technology to provide a very the venue in a matter of seconds”. exhibition, people can visit official Instagram and Twitter -@ rupees in their country to get the fake notes, the ministry said in a convenient service for exhibi- Online registration will be a website www.djwe.qa and regis- djwexpo-. statement yesterday. They were referred to public prosecution for tors, industry professionals and standard feature of the expo in ter online. They can also check THE PENINSULA further investigation and legal proceedings. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

IS committed Iran bans use genocide, Iraq tells UN Council UNITED NATIONS: Iraq told of Khatami’s the United Nations Security Council yesterday that Islamic State militants have committed genocide. “These terrorist groups have name in media desecrated all human val- ues. They have committed the most heinous criminal terror- Opposition leaders blacklisted too ist acts against the Iraqi people whether Shia, Sunni, Christians, TEHRAN: Iran’s media has is under house arrest, too. Turkmen, Shabak or Yazidis,” been banned from publish- It is not the first time the Iraq’s UN Ambassador Mohamed ing the name or images of authorities have banned men- Ali Alhakim said. Mohammad Khatami (pic- tions of Khatami in the Iranian “These are in fact crimes of gen- tured), the country’s former media. In 2010, a similar ruling ocide committed against human- reformist president, according was issued against publishing ity that must be held accountable to a senior judicial official. the names or images of Khatami before international justice,” he told Although the authorities have as well Mousavi, Rahnavard and the UN Security Council. Alhakim taken similar actions against Karroubi, but restrictions were did not give further details of the reformers and opposition fig- relaxed around the time of the crimes. He said Iraq needed more ures in the past, the latest move last presidential elections in 2013. help to liberate all areas under is significant because it is hap- Mohseni-Eje’i did not specifically Islamic State control. pening under the mention whether the UN Assistant Secretary- current moderate new round of censor- General for human rights Ivan president, Hassan ship also applied to Simonovic said in October that the Rowhani, who had the opposition lead- campaign of Islamic State militants promised greater ers but it is widely against Iraq’s Yazidi minority may freedoms. assumed that they be attempted genocide. UN envoy Gholam-Hossein are blacklisted too. to Iraq, Nikolay Mladenov, said Mohseni-Eje’i, the The Iranian agen- he was gravely concerned about spokesman for cies which report the safety of Iraq’s diverse eth- Iran’s judiciary, any developments nic and religious communities in said on Monday in the situation of A Jordanian woman holds a candle during a gathering in front of the Egyptian embassy in Amman yesterday. areas under Islamic State control, that Tehran’s jus- Mousavi, Karroubi People lit candles and prayed to show solidarity with Egypt after the killing of 21 Egyptian workers by Islamic particularly thousands of women tice department and Rahnavard State militants in Libya. and children still in captivity. had issued a rul- simply refer to their REUTERS ing which prohib- case as “the issue of its any mentions house arrest” with- of Khatami in the out publishing their Iranian media. names. Hezbollah fighting IS in Iraq: Nasrallah Iran’s judicial system, which is Unlike Mousavi and Karroubi, dominated by conservatives, oper- Khatami has not been placed ates separately from Rowhani’s under house arrest but faces BEIRUT: Lebanon’s Shia together to Syria,” said Nasrallah. currents must be fought, without Arabic acronym “Daesh” to refer government, meaning that the other restrictions, including being movement Hezbollah is fight- “I say, come with us to Iraq, distinction.” to IS. In August, a US-led coali- president’s hands are tied when it barred from leaving the country. ing the Islamic State group in and to any place where we can Nasrallah’s speech comes just tion launched strikes against IS comes to influencing its decisions. All the men have held high- Iraq, its chief Sayyed Hassan fight this threat that is threat- over a week after Hezbollah, the positions in Iraq. In September, “There is an order that bans profile jobs in the Islamic republic. Nasrallah revealed for the first ening our (Muslim) nation and Syrian army and pro-regime mili- the campaign was expanded to the media from publishing pho- Mousavi was prime minister in time late on Monday in a speech our region,” he added, referring tias launched a major offensive include targets in Syria. tos or reports about this person,” the 80s, Khatami led a reformist beamed to supporters. to IS and the Al Qaeda affiliated against rebels and their Al Nusra Nasrallah went on to call on Mohseni-Eje’i said, referring to administration between 1997 and “We may not have spoken Al Nusra Front. Front allies in southern Syria. Gulf states that support the Khatami without naming him, 2005, and Karroubi was a speaker about Iraq before, but we have a Both Sunni jihadist movements Nasrallah, meanwhile, said it Syrian opposition to help pave according to the semi-official of the parliament. limited presence because of the control large swathes of Syria, made no sense for unnamed Gulf the way for a political solution to Isna news agency. Isna, too, did During his presidential cam- sensitive phase that Iraq is going while IS is also present in Libya, countries as well as Jordan to fight a conflict that has claimed more not name Khatami in its report paign, Rowhani said he believed through,” Nasrallah said, refer- where on Monday it claimed the IS, while allegedly supporting the than 210,000 lives since 2011. of the spokesman’s briefing with the house arrests of opposition ring to ongoing clashes between beheading of 21 Coptic Christian Al Nusra Front. Hezbollah, like “In Syria, the game is over,” Iranian reporters but referred to leaders should be lifted but he Iraq’s army, militias and Kurdish Egyptian hostages. Assad’s regime, brands all those said Nasrallah, in reference to him as “the leader of the reform- has done little to address the forces against the IS jihadists. Nasrallah condemned the bru- fighting Damascus as “terrorists”. the ongoing fighting. “The gates ist government”. issue. This February marks four Hezbollah is already fighting in tal killings as “an awful, heinous Neither recognises the presence to a political solution should be Khatami has fallen foul of the years since Mousavi, Karroubi Syria, alongside President Bashar crime”, while branding the Al of non-jihadist groups seeking opened,” he said, “and the non- establishment because of his sup- and Rahnavard were placed Al Assad’s forces. Nusra Front and IS as having Assad’s ouster. extremist opposition... must enter port for Iran’s opposition leaders under house arrest without being Nasrallah’s speech comes two “the same essence, ideology, cul- “How can some countries into a settlement with the regime, and former presidential candidates charged or put on trial. A decision days after his leading Lebanese ture and methodology”. in the Gulf take part in the because the regime is ready for Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi to release them rests in the hands opponent, former prime minister “The only difference between (US-led) international coali- a settlement.” Nasrallah also Karroubi, who have been under of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Saad Hariri, called on Hezbollah them was over leadership, but tion against Daesh, while giving warned that “the region is going house arrest since February 2011. Ali Khamenei, who has the ulti- to withdraw from Syria. they are essentially one and money and weapons to the Al in the direction of more crises, Mousavi’s wife, Zahra Rahnavard, mate authority in Iran. “I say to those who call on us the same,” said Nasrallah. “All Nusra Front... How is that logi- more confrontations, and new also a prominent opposition figure, THE GUARDIAN to withdraw from Syria, let’s go the takfiri (extremist Sunni) cal?” he said, using the pejorative fronts are opening”. AFP

Snow in Istanbul Cyber attacks on Netanyahu chastised over Israel ‘traced’ ‘huge spending’ on homes to Gaza Strip JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime shekels ($54,521/¤47,825) in 2009 WASHINGTON: A series of Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to 458,000 shekels in 2012. And cyber attacks against Israel since campaigning for re-election while the house had a cook, more mid-2013 appears to be coming next month, was officially than 92,000 shekels was spent on from “Arab parties located in the rebuked yesterday over what food delivered from restaurants Gaza Strip” and elsewhere, US the country’s comptroller said in 2011, which Shapira termed as security researchers say. was excessive spending on “misconduct”. A research report by Trend running his private and public Shapira said the prime minis- Micro said the effort appears to residences. ter’s office spent 8,200 shekels a be using “spear phishing” emails In a report, Comptroller Joseph month on cleaning in Caesarea with an attachment disguised as Shapira stopped short of recom- even though the Netanyahus a pornographic video. mending a criminal investigation, spent most of their time in When a user clicks on the which is not within his remit, Jerusalem, and called the costs attachment, it installs malware but said he had turned evidence “extremely excessive”. that allows for remote access of over to State Attorney Yehuda He also said Sarah Netanyahu documents on the infected com- Weinstein for possible action on had called in an electrician for the puter, the report said. some cases. Caesarea home every weekend The researchers said in a The media has been circulat- for three months, including on a People walk near a tram under a heavy snow near Gezi Park on Taksim Square during a snowy day in Istanbul report that this highly targeted ing claims about a lavish lifestyle holiday when staff were off and yesterday. Some flights from the city’s airport had to be cancelled. campaign dubbed “Arid Viper” is ahead of the March 17 election could not assess whether work a sort of “smash-and-grab” first that opinion polls suggest will was urgently needed. seen in the middle of 2013, and return Netanyahu to office. A spokesman for the comp- which uses network infrastruc- Shapira’s report details how troller said his office had also ture located in Germany. spending on cleaning, food and recently handed over materials The security firm said those repairs at the official residence pertaining to the electrician at Criminal probe against Al Wefaq launched behind the scheme are using in Jerusalem and the premier’s Weinstein’s behest. sophisticated methods with the private home in Caesarea rose The report did not mention MANAMA: Bahrain has said the group had no details about as the country’s senior opposition goal of stealing sensitive data dramatically when the premier that, but did identify the man as opened a criminal investigation the case. “No one has been con- leader, went on trial on charges of from Israeli-based organisa- took office in 2009, but then a Likud central committee mem- of the country’s main opposition tacted or notified about a case promoting the violent overthrow of tions — government, transport, decreased in 2013. ber who was acquainted with the group, the Interior Ministry against the society,” Sayed Taher the political system. military and academia and one It also mentions alleged mis- Netanyahus, who had arranged said yesterday, accusing the Al Al Mousawi, head of Al Wefaq’s Earlier this week, an appeals organisation based in Kuwait. handling of funds from recy- to be their designated weekend Wefaq group of trying to under- media department, told Reuters. court upheld a six-month prison A similar campaign which uses cled bottles by Netanyahu’s wife electrician. mine national security. A rights activist said the move sentence against Jameel Kadhim, some of the same techniques and Sarah, as well as the purchase of Netanyahu’s Likud party said The Interior Ministry said was motivated by political consid- a former parliament member and infrastructure has also been hit- garden furniture for the weekend he “respects the findings” and had on its website that its General erations. “We do not believe at all president of Al Wefaq’s consulta- ting targets in Egypt. This less residence in Caesarea. already been implementing many Directorate of Anti-corruption and that such actions have any basis tive council. He was charged with sophisticated effort has been called Shapira said material relating of the recommendations, but tied Economic and Electronic Security rather than political grounds,” making false allegations that Operation Advtravel by Trend to the bottles and garden furni- the report’s release to an “ongoing had referred Al Wefaq to the pub- said Nader Al Salatna, act- undermined national elections. Micro. The researchers said both ture, “as well as other materials”, media campaign” to remove him lic prosecutor after it documented ing president of Bahrain Youth Al Wefaq says it is seeking campaigns are hosted on the same was handed to Weinstein earlier from office. violations that represent “criminal Society, a local rights group. political reforms through peace- servers in Germany and can be tied this month, because of possible According to Likud, expenses offences” under Bahraini laws. Bahrain has stepped up a crack- ful means, including having gov- back to activity from Gaza. criminal misconduct. “significantly increased” during It said these violations, published down on Al Wefaq after the group ernments chosen from within an The report suggests there will be Shapira said spending was con- a period when household mainte- on Al Wefaq’s Twitter account and and other smaller opposition par- elected parliament. The govern- an increase of such “cyber militia” trary to the principles of “pro- nance and operation were directed on its website, included “incitement ties boycotted elections held in ment says it has implemented activity in the Arab world, where portionality and reasonability, by Meni Naftali, “an embittered to hatred against the ruling sys- November and organised street wide reforms, including giving non-state actors fight against other savings and efficiency”. former public employee” who tem and circulating false news to protests to show their opposition parliament powers to oversee organisations that would tradition- The report showed that annual has sued Sarah Netanyahu for undermine civil peace and national to the poll. Last month, Al Wefaq’s government work. ally be considered enemies. spending on food at the Jerusalem mistreatment. security.” An Al Wefaq spokesman head, Sheikh Ali Salman, regarded REUTERS AFP home grew from 211,000 AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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OLLOWING in the footsteps of Jordan, Egypt too has Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate unleashed its airpower on Islamic State to avenge the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians by the militant Fgroup. Egyptian jets bombed Islamic State targets in Libya on Monday, a day after the group there released a video showing the beheading of Christians, drawing Cairo directly into the conflict across its border. The pre-dawn Why Merkel is firm on Greece strike hit militant camps, training sites and weapons storage areas in the neighbouring country where militia fighting has caused virtual anarchy and created havens for terrorists. The BY MARK GILBERT beheading of Egyptians is the price which the world is paying Greece and its creditors have become to keep Greece’s life-support fund- increasingly deadlocked, there’s almost ing switched on. Monday, though, for its dilly-dallying in the fight against IS. T’S ONE minute to midnight for zero evidence of contagion. Portugal, Finance Minister Michel Sapin stuck The beheading of Christians is not just another act of the euro. The standoff between typically viewed as the second- weak- to Europe’s official position that brutality by the IS, it speaks of the lawlessness in Libya. Greece and its creditors, led by est euro member, is enjoying 10-year extending Greece’s rescue program The IS has infiltrated states where are the governments are IGermany, looks increasingly like borrowing costs today that are only a is the only way forward. By holding either weak or almost non-existent, setting up trainings it could lead to the first nation exiting whisker away from the record lows of the line on austerity, Germany seems the common currency. The new Greek a few weeks ago. to have corralled its European Union camps and carrying out kidnappings and executions. In that government’s suspension of state-asset Here’s a thought experiment: the peers back onto the path of Teutonic sense, restoring order to Middle East becomes as important sales and plans to rehire government morning after the reintroduction economic righteousness. as wiping out this terrorist organization. Even if the IS is workers and increase wages hasn’t of the drachma, would the euro be 3) Germany isn’t interested in game defeated, the vacuum it leaves behind could be filled by some helped negotiations. But it’s German stronger or weaker based on its trad- theory. other terrorist group, existing or yet-to-be-born. This drives intransigence that’s forcing Greece ing levels in the foreign exchange mar- Much has been made of the game- home the importance of bringing stability to Arab Spring into a financial corner from which the ket? A couple of months ago, I would theory background of Greek Finance only escape may be Grexit. have argued that Grexit would be Minister Yanis Varoufakis and how it states which are unstable. It’s as difficult as exterminating IS, Why is German Chancellor Angela disastrous for the health of the euro might help Athens achieve a compro- but the responsibility lies primarily with strong Arab states to Merkel being so relentlessly uncom- project. Now, I’m not so sure. mise. But people are less rational and help others in the region. promising? Here The euro is up half a percent against logical in real-life negotiations than in As for Libya, there are calls for are three possi- the dollar Monday, even after talks theoritcal ones. As my colleague Justin As Abdel international intervention. For ble explanations. between Greece and the euro region’s Fox put it earlier this month: example, Egyptian President Abdel 1) Germany finance ministers broke down Monday “Greece’s negotiations so far with The standoff sees the “Grexit” night. That could be because investors the EU, though, have repeatedly Fattah Al Fattah Al Sisi called for a United between Greece as not just sur- expect a compromise. But it could also resulted in outcomes that leave both Sisi has Nations resolution mandating an vivable, but be that they’ve stopped caring whether sides worse off. They have gotten stuck international coalition to intervene and its creditors, desirable. Greece is in or out. in a prisoner’s dilemma -- which seems suggested, an in Libya after the massacre of At the begin- 2) Germany would sacrifice Greece all the more reason to try to shake up Egyptian Christians there. “There led by Germany, ning of the to keep everyone else in line. the negotiations.” year, Germany’s Germany has been steadfast in its In the Greek negotiations, two international is no other choice, taking into looks increasingly Spiegel magazine demands for fiscal discipline from implacably opposed ideologies are butt- coalition must account the agreement ran an incendi- its neighbors and its insistence on ing heads, the seemingly unstoppable of the Libyan people and like it could ary article say- economic austerity. Others aren’t so force of Greece’s democratic man- intervene in government and that they call on lead to the first ing Merkel’s keen. France has been whispering ever date meeting the immovable object of Libya to defeat us to act. We have to work together government had louder about the need to boost growth, German economic philosophy. In his to defeat terrorism,” he said. Sisi nation exiting decided a Greek while in Spain, the anti-austerity novel “Walking on Glass”, Iain Banks departure from Podemos party leads Spanish opinion suggested the only outcome in such a has made an important suggestion militants. the common the euro zone polls, with an election due by the end collision is that “the unstoppable force which is worth considering: send could happening of the year. Ceding ground to Greece stops, the immovable object moves.” weapons to Libya’s internationally currency. without damag- to keep it in the euro might encour- Right now, that’s not happening. recognised government, which is based in the eastern city of ing the broader age other countries to strengthen their Commerzbank now puts the chances Bayda after rivals seized power in Tripoli. Like in Syria, the currency project. “Grexit Grumblings: demands for more spending and fewer of Grexit at 50 percent, double what it international community, especially the West, has turned a Germany Open to Possible Greek budget cuts. Again, the Jan. 5 Spiegel was predicting last week. A one euro Euro Zone Exit,” said the headline. article seems prescient: bet on Grexit with the bookmaking blind eye to the developments in Libya. But the splintering Re-reading with the benefit of hind- “Berlin officials fear that giving in company Paddy Power will net you a of Libya or civil war will have more disastrous consequences sight, the article actually went further to a new, leftist government in Athens profit of less than 38 cents; last month, because of its strategic location in Africa. than that. The key passage is here: would further call into question con- you’d have made 3 euros. We may be At the same time, Western powers have called for a political “Officials in Berlin and Brussels no troversial austerity and reform poli- on the verge of finding out whether solution to the crisis in Libya. The “brutal” recent beheading longer subscribe to the so-called dom- cies -- an eventuality that would be a Greek exit from the euro is a self- ino theory,’ which held that a Greek welcome in France and Italy, countries contained explosion, or an existential of 21 Christians by militants demonstrated “once again the collapse would be followed by others. where reform has not been welcomed threat to the single currency. Here’s urgent need for a political solution to the conflict,” a statement It has been replaced by the `chain with open arms.” hoping the optimists are proved right. issued in the name of the United States, Britain, France, theory,’ which holds that the entire In the immediate aftermath of the — Mark Gilbert is a Bloomberg Germany, Italy and Spain said. But this is a vague statement. chain would become stronger were its Greek election on Jan. 25, France View columnist and a member of the The group needs to come forward with more concrete weakest link to be eliminated.” seemed to be making conciliatory Bloomberg View editorial board. suggestions, and speak about the role they can play to bring Even as the discussions between noises about reaching a compromise WP-BLOOMBERG peace to Libya. The other side Quote of Hazardous rail travel the day OME 18 of them were injured, train accidents in Pakistan, where rail If this indicates mobility, there are and the third one in the first week of including two Pakistan services remain a popular mode of areas that have to undergo some February. As in the case of the secu- Railways guards. However, travel and where much emphasis has speedy improvements to make the rity at the level crossings, Pakistan Saccording to the local been put in recent times on restoring railways a viable future option, for its Railways is dependent on district gov- administration in Hyderabad, only one to the national railways its rightful share managers as well as passengers and ernments for the safety of the rail tracks of the wounded needed to be admitted of goods transportation. transporters. Security is integral to that in the areas of their jurisdiction. We may not have to hospital. Some positive things have been must-do list. The railways department employs spoken about Iraq Considering that the two bogies of heard about the Pakistan Railways in Apart from the all-too-frequent acci- its maintenance staff to keep vigil on this top-of-the-line express train that recent times, like the increase in the dents, including a series of them this the tracks in the sensitive parts of before, but we have derailed in the accident were crowded number of locomotives at its disposal. winter at the level crossings, there have Balochistan, but there is no denying a limited presence with passengers, this will go down as Another aspect that rekindles hope been some instances in recent times that in the current circumstances it a lucky escape in a country that has, in some kind of a revival in the country’s where militants have targeted the rail- needs to invest more in the Railways because of the sadly, had many minor and major acci- once grand train system is that there way tracks in Balochistan. Police, just as it needs to work with dents on the rail tracks over the years. is apparently an urge to assemble There were many such attacks in responsive local-level administrations sensitive phase that Also read: 18 injured in Shalimar both the locomotives and the coaches the restive province last year and this to project theirs as a smooth, hassle- Iraq is going through. Express accident in Hyderabad locally, instead of blind reliance on fin- year there have already been at least free, and equally important, safe travel Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah There is a long history of unfortunate ished items from abroad. three such incidents — two in January choice. DAWN Hezbollah Chief WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Saudi Arabia leads the way for GCC in balancing the region by leading The present sensitive the way, whether it is at the GCC, Arab or regional level; it also plays period requires more a prominent role with regard to many global issues. communication Today, Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the and constructive Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may God protect work among GCC him, who is known for his wisdom, vision and foresight, can seriously countries. address regional issues with a new BY JABER AL HARAMI vision. of the Council of Economic Affairs. This is due to the constructive Prince Mohammed bin Salman steps taken by the Custodian of has outstanding academic and ecently, we were pleased the Two Holy Mosques, who has practical experience, which are with the visit of Prince brought young blood to leadership needed to make a quantum leap in Mohammed bin Nayef positions. This means that the the defence and economic spheres Rbin Abdulaziz Al Saud, kingdom is entering a new stage as Saudi Arabia pursues its devel- Deputy Crown Prince, Second of development at home, and its opment goals. Deputy Prime Minister and role is more important abroad. The Qatari people rejoice in any Minister of Interior of Saudi The Custodian of the Two Holy success, progress or prominent Arabia. This honoured guest came Mosques has formed new coun- position achieved by Saudi Arabia; to visit the Emir and all the people cils to boost development. Perhaps their success is our success, and of Qatar; the Emir’s guest is our the most prominent of these we cherish it. The same goes for guest. are the Council of Security and the other GCC countries, which This was the first visit abroad Political Affairs, which is chaired are a part of our regional home. by Prince Nayef after he assumed by Prince Mohammed bin Nayef We are confident that the wis- the post of Deputy Crown Prince bin Abdulaziz, and the Council of dom of the Custodian of the Two of Saudi Arabia. This gesture is a Economic Affairs, which is chaired Holy Mosques and his vision and confirmation of the deep-rooted by Prince Mohammed bin Salman. leadership will address all risks relations between the two coun- These two figures are known facing the region, since the king- tries that span several centuries, for their effectiveness and serious- dom always leads the way. whether it is the fraternal rela- ness in producing results. Prince Whether it is at the Gulf, tionship between the two royal Nayef had major accomplishments regional or Arab level, Saudi families or the brotherly relations at the Ministry of Interior, and Arabia has worked to consoli- of the two peoples, who interact dealt with many issues at home date the GCC, promote security with each other a lot. and abroad. and peace in the region, encour- The relationship between the He now chairs the Council of age respect and non-interference two countries is not just based Security and Political Affairs, in among neighbours, provide sup- Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani receiving Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al on diplomatic ties, as it is among addition to holding other posts, port for the stability of the region, other countries, but is wider which shows that he is most quali- and address issues related to Arab Saud, Deputy Crown Prince, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia, on his arrival in scope, and is exemplary and fied for the trust of the Custodian and Islamic nations. at Hamad International Airport for a recent visit to Qatar. unique. of the Two Holy Mosques due to The present sensitive period At a time of immense challenges his successes. requires more communication cohesion and better prioritisation. In Qatar, we greatly appre- Arab and Islamic nations. and multiple threats facing the The same goes for the young and constructive work among It also needs to avoid issues that ciate the role being played by I am confident that the relation- region, the visit of Prince Nayef leader Prince Mohammed bin GCC countries. Our Gulf is a uni- may prick sensitivities. I am sure the Custodian of the Two Holy ship between the two countries carries great importance, since Salman bin Abdulaziz, the defence fied entity, which today is in dire the GCC leaders know the threats Mosques and Saudi Arabia and their peoples will witness fur- Saudi Arabia plays a major role minister, who holds the presidency need of more integration, social facing the Council. in serving the interests of ther development and integration. Naturalised citizens must Gulf states should not help also get land and a loan

received an email message saying: “I those who are ungrateful am a Qatari citizen who was born and Iraised in this good and safe country, views through peaceful demonstrations. Is it befitting for a head of state to which I am proud of; however, my rights At the international level, Egypt has say that his people are hungry and in are unfortunately curtailed because I lost the prestige it once enjoyed. World terrible shape? Then isn’t it your role married a naturalised citizen. leaders watch every move by Egypt and as a leader to feed your people and “At that time I didn’t know that there take it into account. Once upon a time, transform your country into a devel- are several categories of Qatari nationals. the Egyptian media could shake other oped one? I have a humane, honest, kind and gentle countries and cause the downfall of Didn’t the Gulf states that you men- husband who has helped me after the loss governments. tioned pay more than $20bn on the eve of my father and made me very happy.” During a moment of “transfigura- of your assuming leadership? Where did On reading the message it became clear tion”, Sisi started a discussion with his that money go? Did it enter the military that she was writing about the housing office manager and other officials about budget to be exclusively enjoyed by sen- law. She added: “Because my husband the people of the Arabian Gulf and Gulf ior officers? is a naturalised citizen, he was granted leaders, using inappropriate words and Major General Abbas Kamel, director a housing loan but deprived of the land BY MUHAMMAD ALI KUBAISI phrases. of Sisi’s office, said: “The Qatar National where we were supposed to build our BY DR MOHAMMED SALEH AL He said: “We need 10 billion to be put Bank alone has 900 billion riyals in cash house. 4. Those born in Qatar or abroad to a MISFER in the army’s account... and we want 10 reserves,” and used obscene language “It is not my husband’s fault because Qatari father. like them from the Emirates, and from about the Qatari leadership. the guilt lies with those who created a law For provision of adequate housing to t is indisputable that the Egyptian Kuwait another 10, in addition to a cou- My response to him is: “Yes, Qatar that distinguishes between Qataris with- citizens, the law provides for: regime, led by Field-Marshal Abdel ple of pennies to be put in the central National Bank has more than that out thinking of the consequence, which is 1. Land for citizens through purchase IFattah Al Sisi, is facing big social, bank.” He used words that I am ashamed because no one among its staff and gov- repression of a certain category of people.” or grant. political and security dilemmas. Egypt is to repeat through any media channel. ernment officials is corrupt and would Before concluding her message, she 2. A housing loan (QR600,000, in addi- in a state of instability; there is a war in During their talk, they said that the steal from banks. And yes, we have raised a few questions, to which I don’t tion to QR600,000 from the Council of the Sinai desert against Egyptian nation- Gulf countries were semi-states with money like rice, thanks to God, who has have answers. She asked: “Why does a Ministers). als seeking citizenship rights, justice and huge amounts of money. blessed us. But we have not forgotten Qatari woman married to a foreigner not 3. A housing unit through purchase or equality. I ask Sisi and his aides: Who brought our people in Egypt; we didn’t lay siege have the right to land and a loan? I am lease. Sisi has waged many wars against Sisi to the top of the political power on Gaza, and gave generously, without Qatari, so why don’t they consider my Article 6 of the Housing Act contains a the people of Egypt: In Sinai, under the pyramid of Egypt? Is it not the oil seeking any favour in return, to every husband a Qatari citizen so that we may pretext of fighting terrorism, the prose- money and smart politicians of some needy Arab country, and this is God’s get a piece of land? Why is a naturalised Qatari cution of the Muslim Brotherhood, dem- Gulf states? Who paid billions of dollars blessing to us.” “Why does a Qatari man who marries olition of homes of Egyptian citizens on to establish Sisi’s rule from the day he In conclusion, I request all rulers in a foreigner have all rights while a woman given citizenship if the the Egypt-Gaza border under the pretext took over? And who chased the Muslim the Gulf not to give our money to those doesn’t? of preventing infiltration of Hamas mili- Brotherhood across the world, except who do not appreciate you and your “Why can a Qatari man build a house government does not want tants into Egypt, labelling of Al Qassam Gulf governments, in order to please people. on land granted by the state with an easy- Brigades as a terrorist movement, and Sisi? The Egyptian regime is a black- instalment loan, while the naturalised to recognise his rights? the arrest of the regime’s opponents in What did Sisi say about the great mailer without political morality, and Qatari and his wife have to work hard to Cairo and other major cities. people of Egypt? He said: “Behind us are is ungrateful to those who serve Egypt. get a house or land? strange statement, in which the Council Also, the courts don’t hesitate to hungry people engaged in earning a live- We, the people, demand that our “Why does our country build houses of Ministers “define the priorities and impose the death penalty on citizens who lihood, and my circumstances are worse, rulers act in response to those who and send unsurpassed aid to foreign coun- rules for using this scheme and to specify reject the Sisi regime and express their while you Gulf people are living lavishly.” insult us. tries and not give us a dwelling in our own the conditions and rules of its benefit for country?” naturalised citizens.” This tragic experience didn’t make Accordingly, the Council of Ministers her lose hope in God’s mercy, and she issued Resolution No. 3 for 2008. Its first concluded her letter by saying: “Since I article grants “naturalised Qatari male or believe in God’s decrees and hope for His female, who has been a citizen for at least mercy, I entrust the Almighty with set- fifteen years, the amount for the housing tling this matter.” loan specified in Article 2, Item 2 of Law This citizen has also not lost faith in No. 2 of 2007 or a suitable housing unit.” our leadership. She said: “I am confident This makes it clear that a naturalised that our young, humanitarian leader, the citizen is only entitled to the housing Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al loan of QR1.2m. Prior to 2008, a natural- Thani, will put an end to our problems.” ised citizen was granted land and a loan, I looked up Law No. 2 of 2007 regard- having been recognised as a full-fledged ing the housing scheme and found that citizen. Article 2 has a noble goal, which is to pro- In conclusion, it is not right to curtail vide adequate housing to citizens. It didn’t the rights of any Qatari citizen and we specify “original Qatari” or “naturalised must not allow those who formulate laws, Qatari”, and included all citizens. whether consultants or others, to frag- Thus, it is not specifically for those ment the Qatari community by differen- mentioned in Law No. 38 of 2005, which tiating between citizens. specifies who can get Qatari nationality: My simple question is: Why is a natu- 1. Resident of Qatar since 1930. ralised Qatari given citizenship if the gov- 2. Having proof of Qatari origin. ernment does not want to recognise his From left: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, the United Arab Emirates Prime Minister and Dubai Ruler H H Sheikh Mohammed 3. Those who have recovered their rights as set out by the constitution and bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting in Abu Dhabi. Qatari nationality. established laws? WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Helicopter crash Syrian forces launch Aleppo offensive kills four Two key towns also shelled Saudi soldiers RIYADH: A Saudi military DAMASCUS: Syrian govern- the situation is largely the helicopter crashed during a ment troops began a new offen- reverse, with rebels controlling night training exercise in the sive around Aleppo yesterday, much of the area west of the city northeast of the kingdom late on seeking to encircle rebels in and regime forces much of the Monday, killing its four-mem- the northern city and break the east. Government forces advanced ber crew, the defence ministry siege on two pro-regime villages. around the east of the city last said. The aircraft came down in Monitoring group the Syrian year, but the front lines had been a training zone west of the King Observatory for Human Rights relatively static in recent weeks. Khaled military base in Hafr Al said some 100 fighters on both On Monday, the Observatory Batin, some 100km south of the sides have been killed. reported an influx of regime rein- Iraqi border, the ministry said A Syrian military source said forcement and the Syrian daily in a statement carried by the government troops had seized two Al Watan, which is close to the official SPA news agency. It said villages north of Aleppo and were government, said regime forces an investigation was under way. engaged in fierce fighting for con- planned to encircle the city in trol of a third. a new offensive. “Aleppo is very Khamenei: Sniper The villages are strategically important for us,” a Syrian mili- located by a road that serves as tary source said. film anti-Islam a key supply route for the rebels, leading from the east of Aleppo to SERIOUS ESCALATION propaganda the Turkish border. “The main goals are to break As they launched the attacks, the siege of Aleppo and open the TEHRAN: Oscar-nominated government forces also began road to Nubol and Zahraa,” he movie American Sniper about an shelling two towns on the road added. The new offensive comes elite US Navy Seal is an example to Nubol and Zahraa, both gov- shortly after regime forces opened of anti-Islam propaganda, Iran’s ernment-held Shia villages. a new front in southern Daraa supreme leader Ali Khamenei Nubol and Zahraa have been province. “This military opera- was reported yesterday as say- under rebel siege for more than tion in Aleppo proves the ability ing. Veteran actor-director Clint 18 months, and pro-government of the Syrian army to open mul- Rebel fighters of the Al Furqan brigade prepare Grad rockets to be launched towards forces loyal to Syria’s Eastwood’s film, which was militants inside the villages have tiple fronts at once,” the military President Bashar Al Assad stationed in Salhab village yesterday. released on December 25 and has repelled several attacks. source said. garnered six Oscar nominations, The Britain-based Observatory Noah Bonsey, a Syria expert at tells the story of Chris Kyle’s four also said foreign pro-regime fight- the International Crisis Group, tours in Iraq as a sniper. Kyle, ers were among the dead in the said the offensive represented a US, Turkey agree ‘in principle’ played by Bradley Cooper in the fighting. “The regime troops have potentially serious escalation by movie, is officially credited with two goals in the area: To cut the the regime. “If the regime were killing 160 people in Iraq. “This road leading from Aleppo to the able to take these villages, and if Sniper film which has made so Turkish border, which is the key it can hold them and break the to train, equip Syrian rebels much noise... encourages a young supply road for the rebels, and siege on Nubol and Zahraa, these person, for example a Christian or to open the way to Nubol and would be very significant devel- WASHINGTON: The United More than 400 trainers would be “We will continue working non-Muslim, to harass a Muslim Zahraa,” Observatory director opments taken together,” he said. States and Turkey have agreed backed by a similar number of through all possible channels as much as possible,” the IRNA Rami Abdel Rahman said. “But those are big ifs.” “in principle” on a deal to train support troops that will provide to provide aid to those in need news agency quoted Khamenei The offensive began as UN and equip Syrian rebel forces, the help with logistics, communica- wherever they reside,” Clements, as saying. “That’s what they say FIERCE CLASHES envoy de Mistura prepared to State Department said yesterday. tions and intelligence, spokesman deputy assistant secretary for the about the film. I haven’t seen it The offensive in northern address the Security Council. He “As we have announced before, Rear Admiral John Kirby said. department’s bureau of popula- myself,” he added. Aleppo province was accompanied has advanced a plan for a “freeze” Turkey has agreed to be one of The total troop number “for tion, refugees and migration, told by renewed fighting inside Aleppo to the fighting in Aleppo, in a bid the regional hosts for the train- this mission could approach reporters in Geneva. Heavy fighting in city, which is divided between to ease the humanitarian situa- and-equip program for moderate 1,000”, Kirby said on January 16. Saying the “dire situation fac- rebel and regime control. tion and provide an example for Syrian opposition forces,” depart- “It might even exceed that.” The ing Syrians requires an urgent Juba oil zones The Observatory reported ceasefires elsewhere. ment spokeswoman Jen Psaki told US government hopes the effort collective response,” Clements fierce clashes in several parts But the proposal has gained reporters. can begin by late March, so the announced the aid as US officials JUBA: Warring forces in of the government-controlled little traction, and de Mistura “We expect to conclude and first rebel forces trained can be meet over the next two days in South Sudan battled yesterday west of the city as well as rebel drew criticism from the opposi- sign the agreement with Turkey operational by year’s end, accord- Geneva with key donors and the in the oil-rich Upper Nile state, rocket fire into several western tion last week after describing soon,” she said, without provid- ing to the Pentagon. The goal is to heads of international organisa- the defence minster said, claim- neighbourhoods. Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad ing any further details about the train more than 5,000 Syrians in tions responding to the Syria crisis. ing insurgents were trying to It said 45 rebels were killed as “part of the solution” to the train-and-equip program, which the first year of the programme. Clements said the US will capture a key town ahead of in Aleppo province and city, as conflict. is expected to begin next month. The United States also announce additional funding when peace talks. Heavy shelling was were 50 soldiers and other regime The rebels and opposition insist The announcement puts an end announced that it will provide it joins donors from Europe, the reported in several sites in the forces. It also reported 14 civil- Assad’s departure is a precondi- to months of difficult negotiations an additional $125m in emer- Middle East and elsewhere at a northern Renk region on both ians killed in areas controlled by tion for resolving the country’s between allies Washington and gency food aid for Syrians affected new pledging conference in Kuwait Monday and yesterday, Defence both sides. Once Syria’s industrial brutal war, which began in March Ankara on how to train Syrian by the civil war. The US State next month. Since the Syria cri- Minister Kuol Manyang said, powerhouse, Aleppo has been split 2011 with peaceful anti-govern- rebel forces to eventually take on Department’s Kelly Clements sis erupted four years ago, the US resulting in the “injuring of between rebel control in the east ment protests. It spiralled into a the Islamic State group. said the money will go to the UN has contributed nearly $1.6bn for many civilians... and destroying and regime control in the west civil conflict after a government Last month, the Pentagon World Food Programme, which humanitarian aid inside Syria and a number of houses.” There was since shortly after fighting began crackdown, and the violence has said it would send nearly 1,000 feeds nearly six million Syrians another $1.5bn for Syrian refugees no information on how many there in mid-2012. killed more than 210,000 people. troops to Saudi Arabia, Turkey inside and outside the country in neighbouring countries. might have been killed. In the surrounding countryside AFP and Qatar as part of the effort. every month. AFP AGENCIES

Western powers call for ‘political Judicial source denies Mursi will face new trial CAIRO: An Egyptian judicial source not stand trial on the new charge, explain- Muslim Brotherhood number two Khairat with militants to carry out attacks during solution’ in Libya said yesterday that former president ing that he was already under arrest and al-Shater “are not among those charged in a 2011 revolt that ousted veteran strong- Mohamed Mursi will not face a new trial cut off from the outside world at the time the matter of the Suez violence”. man Hosni Mubarak. Verdicts in two of the ROME: Western powers yes- for incitement to murder, contradicting of the alleged offences. Mursi was Egypt’s first democratically trials, which could result in a death sen- terday stressed the need for a a claim from the prosecution. The case referred to by the prosecution elected leader but his rule was divisive and tence, will be pronounced in April and May. political solution to the crisis in Earlier, a source in the prosecutors office related to protests that broke out in the the army overthrew him after millions of The constitution allows for military tri- Libya in a statement apparently said Morsi and 198 Islamist leaders and canal city of Suez on August 14, 2013 in people protested to demand his resignation. als of civilians accused of violence against distancing them from calls for supporters would face a military trial on which 31 people were killed. Hundreds of Islamists have since faced broadly defined military targets, which military intervention in the February 23 over deadly protests that fol- The demonstrations came on the same mass trials and dozens sentenced to death include public infrastructure such as high- north African state. lowed his overthrow. day police broke up pro-Mursi protest in a wide-ranging crackdown on the ways, state universities and bridges. The “brutal” recent behead- Mursi, an Islamist who was toppled by camps in the capital, during which hun- Brotherhood, once Egypt’s largest politi- Military tribunals have been used to ing of 21 Egyptian Christians by the army in July 2013, already faces four dreds of his supporters died in clashes. cal movement. sentence dozens of Islamists since Mursi’s militants affiliated to the Islamic trials and this would be the first before a At the time, Mursi had been under Mursi is already on trial for incitement to ouster, some of them to life in prison. Rights State group demonstrated “once military judge. Military tribunals have been arrest and incomunicado for more than murder in connection with clashes outside groups say more than 20,000 people, mostly again the urgent need for a politi- criticised for their harsh and swift verdicts. a month. The official MENA news agency his palace during his single year in power, alleged Islamists, have been imprisoned. cal solution to the conflict,” a State media reported that Mursi would said yesterday evening that Mursi and and for alleged espionage and collusion AFP statement issued in the name of the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain said, according to an Italian ver- Demonstration in Ramallah sion released by the foreign min- istry in Rome. Four arrested in 4 days Meanwhile, a Libyan commer- cial plane bound for Istanbul was forced to return to Tripoli yester- day after Egypt banned overflying for insulting Erdogan its airspace, airport and airline sources said. There was no imme- ISTANBUL: Turkey has charge during a protest against diate comment from Egypt. stepped up arrests of activists Kilic’s arrest. The ban will push Libya, bat- accused of personally insulting Arif Bugra Aydogan, a 20-year- tling to contain a violent power President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, old student, was arrested on struggle, further into isolation as detaining at least four people in Monday after police raided and Turkey was one of last countries the last four days on charges of searched his home in the town of where Libyan airlines were still slandering the Turkish strong- Gebze in Kocaeli province east of flying to. Foreign carriers have man, reports said yesterday. Istanbul. He was charged with left the oil producer. All of the latest arrests were insulting Erdogan after chanting Libyan airlines flying to Turkey related to nationwide demonstra- slogans against him during the need to cross Egyptian airspace tions on Friday, when secular protest in Gebze. to avoid Cyprus as the European Turks boycotted schools and took Another student, 24-year-old Union has imposed an overfly ban to the streets to demand a secular Safak Kurt, was also arrested on for security reasons. The Libyan education, the Dogan news agency Monday after police found a video Airline plane took off for Istanbul reported. showing him shouting “Thief, from Tripoli’s Matiga airport but Onur Kilic, 25, the organiser of murderer Erdogan!” during the returned after Egypt informed the the demonstration in the west- protest in the southern province carrier that it was not allowed to ern city of Izmir, was arrested of Manisa. enter Egyptian airspace, the airline on Friday for allegedly chant- Meanwhile, a 17-year-old stu- and airport said on their websites. ing “thief, murderer Erdogan”, dent was handed a seven-month Morocco earlier said that it referring to corruption allega- suspended sentence in Antalya on had suspended all flights between Relatives of Palestinian minors detained in Israeli jails hold placards during a gathering yesterday to ask for tions against the president and charges of “insulting a public offi- Moroccan cities and Libya for their release as part of a festival organised for children in the West Bank city of Ramallah. his inner circle. cial” in a 2014 anti-Erdogan speech, security concerns. Another protester, Kadir the Hurriyet daily reported. AGENCIES Yavas, was arrested on the same AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Court blocks Obama’s immigration plan Carnival float accident Govt may seek stay as judge temporarily blocks plan to protect undocumented immigrants kills at least WASHINGTON: A judge in whether to allow the action, Obama’s immigration actions helping 4.4 million people whose of Mexican migrants to the Texas has temporarily blocked which would grant temporary were nullified. children are US citizens or legal American economy and society.” President Barack Obama’s relief from deportation for 4.7 Hanen blocked the federal gov- permanent residents. Most of the illegal immigrants 18 in Haiti orders to shield millions of peo- million people who are in the ernment from carrying out execu- About 270,000 people would in the US come from Mexico and ple who are in the United States United States illegally, will ulti- tive orders announced by Obama be able to stay under the expan- other Latin American countries. PORT-AU-PRINCE: A high- illegally, backing 26 states that mately play out in courts. on November 20. The judge sion of a 2012 programme that The White House argues voltage cable fell on a float argued Obama had overstepped Hanen has previously issued hemmed in Obama’s exertion of offered deportation relief to peo- the executive action fell within during a Carnival parade in his legal authority. opinions critical of the Obama executive power that has drawn ple brought illegally to the United Obama’s presidential powers, Port-au-Prince early yester- The White House said yes- administration’s enforcement of the ire of Republican elected offi- States as children, allowing them but that the best solution is for day, killing at least 18 people terday that the Department of immigration laws. An appeal of cials who say he exceeded his con- work. The expansion was sched- Congress to pass meaningful as thousands watched. Justice would appeal the action by the judge’s temporary injunction stitutional authority. uled to begin today. immigration reform. Another 78 people were US District Judge Andrew Hanen would go to the majority con- “Judge Hanen’s decision rightly Obama’s administration billed Hanen issued an order in 2013 injured in the accident, which in Brownsville, a city along the servative 5th US Circuit Court stops the president’s overreach in the moves as the biggest shift criticising the federal government occurred shortly before 3am Texas border with Mexico. of Appeals in New Orleans. its tracks,” said Republican Texas in American immigration pol- for not prosecuting a mother who (0800 GMT), throwing Haiti US Attorney General Eric It was not immediately clear Governor Greg Abbott, whose icy since 1986 changes under had her 10-year-old daughter into mourning on the second Holder said that the Justice what impact the injunction state spearheaded the lawsuit. President Ronald Reagan. smuggled across the US-Mexico day of Carnival festivities, Department is considering seek- would have on the fight in the Obama’s executive orders would Mexico’s Foreign Ministry border. He also said taxpayers ordinarily a joyful high point of ing a stay to immediately reverse Republican-led US Congress let up to 4.7 million of the esti- lamented the ruling, saying should not bear the burden of mov- the year in this impoverished a Texas judge’s decision to block over legislation passed by the mated 11 million undocumented Obama’s moves provided “a just ing immigrant children around the Caribbean country. President Barack Obama’s execu- House of Representatives to immigrants in the United States migration solution for millions US to reunite them with family Family members besieged a tive action on immigration. allow funding for the Department stay without threat of deporta- of families and could reinforce members after they cross the bor- main hospital complex in Port- Holder said the decision over of Homeland Security only if tion. It was aimed mainly at the significant contributions der illegally. REUTERS au-Prince to find their loved ones as doctors struggled to treat the injured. Authorities cancelled the third and last day of the Carnival celebra- tions, and declared three days Greece gets of mourning. Prime Minister Icy storm pummels Evans Paul called on Haitians to pay homage to the dead by former minister dressing in white and marching silently at the Champ de Mars, as president eastern part of US the parade ground where the accident occurred. ATHENS: Greek Prime WASHINGTON: A deadly a very dangerous situation for sev- The float — carrying a Minister Alexis Tsipras nomi- winter storm paralysed much eral days,” McCrory said. popular rap group called the nated a former conservative of the eastern United States Authorities in Tennessee Barikad Crew — struck a power lawmaker and interior minister yesterday, snarling transit and reported at least three weather- line overhead as it made its way yesterday to be the country’s shutting down federal offices related highway deaths. Police through the Champ de Mars. next president. in Washington, and forecast- worked through the night to clear The group’s star singer, who Tsipras told lawmakers from ers warned of the worst cold in a 19km backup of vehicles on icy goes by the name “Fantom,” his radical left-wing Syriza party two decades from another arctic Interstate 40 west of Nashville. was struck directly by the fallen that he had chosen Prokopis front this week. Airlines cancelled about 1,400 cable and is in critical condi- Pavlopoulos, who served from The storm dumped snow and US flights, with the hardest-hit tion, the website Haiti Press 2004 to 2009 in a conservative spread ice from New England airports in North Carolina and Network said. New Democracy government, into the Carolinas after bat- Tennessee and at Washington. Many of the dead and injured as he wanted a unity candidate tering the Midwest and Ohio Commuter train service in north- were dancers and musicians on who was acceptable to all sides in Valley. Temperatures plunged to ern Virginia was halted, and bus the float. Thousands of people Greek politics. -30 Fahrenheit (-34 Celsius) in service in Washington shut down were watching the parade as Pavlopoulos, 64, is almost cer- Saranac Lake, New York, accord- until mid-morning. the disaster struck. tain to secure election by par- ing to the National Weather “It was bad at first,” said “Sharing in the grief of the liament in a process that starts Service. Washington snowplow driver families affected by this drama, today due to his broad appeal. He States of emergency were Calvin Taylor, 35, who started a the government has decided to has the support of Syriza and its declared in North Carolina, 12-hour shift at 3 am. “But it feels suspend all Carnival festivities coalition partner, the right-wing Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, like it’s getting a little warmer, so across the country,” the prime Independent Greeks while New Kentucky, Tennessee and the it’s clearing up.” minister’s office said. Democracy, which is now the District of Columbia. The federal About 28cm of snow fell near The period of national main opposition party, also said government shut down after about Richmond, Virginia, and state mourning would formally begin it would vote for him. 13cm of snow fell in Washington, police reported 825 accidents in 12 today, with flags to be flown at This contrasts to the last presi- and schools were cancelled hours. Two troopers were injured half-mast on all public build- dential election late last year, throughout the area and in much when their cars were struck by ings. National funerals were when a candidate nominated by of North Carolina. North Carolina other vehicles. At least 150,000 to take place on Saturday. former New Democracy prime Governor Pat McCrory urged resi- customers were without power in The area where the accident minister Antonis Samaras failed dents to stay off ice-covered roads. Tennessee and the Carolinas. occurred has been a focal point to win enough support. A 19-year-old woman died late on Another frigid front gathering of Haiti’s turbulent modern his- While the Greek presidency is Monday after losing control of her over the Great Lakes and northern tory — a witness to dictator- largely ceremonial, this forced a vehicle on a slick road in Hertford Great Plains is forecast to sweep to ships, revolutions and in 2010 parliamentary election on January County, he said. the eastern US coast by Friday, said a devastating 7.0 magnitude 25 when Syriza won power on “The extended low tempera- Bob Oravec, a meteorologist with A woman pushes a child in a stroller across the street as it snows yesterday earthquake that killed more promises to end austerity policies tures, which is very rare for this the National Weather Service in in New York City. than 300,000 people. AFP and renegotiate Greece’s debts area, and black ice will make this College Park, Maryland. REUTERS with its European Union and IMF creditors. REUTERS Bishops criticise parties in first Danish police thought gunman not likely to attack COPENHAGEN: Danish intelligence services concluded synagogue, killing a guard, before comment but the paper said travelling as ‘holy warriors’ to UK poll message authorities had a Copenhagen there was no risk of an attack even police killed him in Sunday morn- Muslim inmates have joint Friday Syria and Iraq.” gunman in their sights even as prison officials raised the alarm ing shootout. Police said the man prayers at the prison, regularly The son of Palestinian immi- before his attacks on Saturday that his behaviour was changing. appeared to have acted alone and followed by discussions in Arabic. grants, El-Hussein was not known LONDON: Church of England but did not consider him a The man first attacked a cafe was not part of a cell, although Police released no new information as an Islamist radical and his reli- bishops yesterday urged “a new threat, police said yesterday, hosting a free speech event, prob- they also arrested two people on about the case yesterday and the gious devotion was average, his kind of politics” in Britain in even as reports emerged that he ably trying to kill Lars Vilks, a Monday accused of helping him. government also declined to com- father told Danish TV2. their first ever pre-election had served time in prison with a Swedish artist who has received Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet ment. “People who support crimi- An avid kick boxer in his message, calling for more atten- Muslim radical. death threats for drawings of the said El-Hussein served time with nal activity like terror and fraud younger years growing up in a rela- tion to the country’s poor and The gunman, reported in Danish Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Danish-Moroccan Sam Mansour, should have their citizenship taken tively poor immigrant community, condemning income inequality. media to be Omar Abdel Hamid Though Vilks was unharmed, a convicted several times for incit- away,” Peter Skaarup, the deputy El-Hussein was known as a good The bishops said many peo- El-Hussein, was known for vio- 55-year-old film maker participat- ing terrorism with Facebook com- chairman and justice spokesman student who had a short temper ple feel “detached from politics” lence and gang activity, and served ing in the event was killed. ments like “Jihad is a duty.” for the Danish People’s Party and grew increasingly frustrated and that political parties were time in jail for stabbing a man. But The gunman also attacked a Prison officials declined to said. “The same goes for people over personal issues. REUTERS focusing on debates about how to “manage the existing system best” rather than changing it. In a bid to counter figures like comedian Russell Brand, who has called for people to show their Ukraine truce unravels frustration with the political sys- tem by abstaining, they stressed that people should vote on May 7. The comments came in a pas- as arms pullback stalls toral letter from the Church of England’s House of Bishops which NIKISHINE: Pro-Russian had fought their way into the town will go out to parishes across the rebels and government forces and captured some of its troops country. The letter predicted fought street-to-street in a stra- defending it. Both sides had been that the general election cam- tegic town in east Ukraine yes- due to being withdrawing heavy paign would “entrench the apathy terday and refused to pull back guns yesterday, but Kiev says it can- and cynicism with which many their heavy guns, all but scup- not do so as long as the rebels show people approach politics today.” pering hopes that a European- no sign of halting their advance. “We are subjected to sterile argu- brokered peace deal will end Journalists near the snowbound ments about who might manage months of conflict. front line said artillery rounds the existing system best. There Two days after a truce went into rocked Debaltseve every five sec- is no idealism in this prospectus.” effect, the agreement reached at onds and black smoke rose sky- The bishops insisted they were all-night talks in the Belarussian wards as Grad rockets pounded not steering churchgoers to vote capital Minsk last Thursday was the town. “Eighty percent of for any particular party, with unravelling rapidly. Debaltseve is already ours,” said opinion polls suggesting a tight The Moscow-backed rebels say Eduard Basurin, a rebel leader. “A race between Prime Minister the ceasefire does not apply to the cleanup of the town is under way. Cameron’s Conservatives and the main battle front at the town of Kiev’s military denied the town, centre-left Labour party. The let- Debaltseve, astride a railway hub, which had a peacetime population ter covers a wide range of often where they have a Ukrainian mil- of 25,000 but is now a bombed-out politically sensitive policy areas Fighters with separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic army walk near a building damaged during itary garrison surrounded. They wasteland, had fallen but acknowl- including banking, poverty and fighting in the village of Nikishine, south east of Debaltseve, yesterday. have continued an all-out assault. edged losing control of some of it. Britain’s place in Europe. AFP Kiev acknowledged that rebels REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA Thousands rally against Boko Haram in Niger ‘Niger will be tomb of Boko Haram’ US army to give

NIAMEY: Niger’s President “nothing Islamic, nothing Muslim equipment, Mamahadou Issoufou yesterday about them,” Rafini said at the told thousands of people pro- head of the procession, which was intelligence in testing at deadly raids by Boko backed by trade unions, religious Haram that “Niger will be the bodies, student associations and tomb” of the Boko Haram from non-governmental organisations. Boko Haram fight neighbouring Nigeria. Muslims in Niger who were “Nobody attacks Niger with- previously “troubled, waiting to N’DJAMENA: The United out punishment and Boko see, are now free to say no to Boko States military will provide Haram learned that to its cost Haram,” he added. communications equipment last February 6,” Issoufou told a “Our army, our pride,” read one and intelligence to help African crowd after a rally in the capital of the many signs — sometimes nations in the fight against Niamey. “That day, our defence daubed in the green, white and Nigerian Islamist group Boko and security forces crushed Boko orange national colours — after Haram, the commander of US Haram.” the army joined the regional fight Special Forces operations in The radical sect struck across against the brutal sect. Africa said. the border into Niger for the first If “someone asks me to take up West African military com- time on February 6, launching a weapon, I’m ready for combat,” manders have long complained attacks on Bosso and near pro- said 18-year-old Jaafar Ousmane, that cross-border operations vincial capital Diffa, both south- an enthusiastic student union against Islamist groups, from Al eastern towns near Nigeria. official, who said that those he Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb A first official toll given by represented were “100 percent” (AQIM) in Mali to Boko Haram Defence Minister Mahamadou behind the security forces. in Nigeria, have been obstructed Karidjo said 109 militants had Boko Haram has waged an by lack of compatible commu- been killed, with four soldiers and insurgency aiming to create a nications equipment, making it a civilian. Niger’s army later said hardline Islamic state in north- hard to swap information and that more than 200 Boko Haram east Nigeria since 2009, a conflict coordinate. fighters were slain, while seven that has claimed some 13,000 lives. Aichatou (left) and Malika, wives of Niger’s President Mamahadou Issoufou take part in the protest in Niamey. Major General James Linder soldiers perished. In recent months it has extended said that, as part of the annual Several humanitarian sources its raids into neighbouring coun- US-backed ‘Flintlock’ counter- said that the militants had sus- tries, including Cameroon, Niger terrorism exercises this year in tained heavy losses in the first and Chad, as they formed a mili- Five soldiers, 86 Boko Haram Chad, the United States would raid on Diffa, which came three tary alliance with Nigeria. provide technology allowing days before Niger’s parliament Police said on Monday that they African partners to communi- authorised troops to enter Nigeria had arrested more than 160 people cate between cellphones, radios to take part in a regional struggle. suspected of having links to Boko militants dead in Cameroon clashes and computers. “Niger will be the tomb of Boko Haram in Niger’s Diffa region, a The system also incorporates Haram,” Issoufou said to heated border area with Nigeria that was MAROUA: The Cameroonian Rapid Intervention Battalion were being held in the town of a translation function that would applause from the crowd who had attacked by the Islamists earlier army said five of its soldiers (BIR), which is on the front line Maroua, also in the country’s Far allow commanders in francophone marched through Niamey in a this month. Some 3,000 troops are were killed in clashes with Boko in the fight against the Nigeria- North region. countries like Chad to commu- protest called by the ruling party posted along the frontier. Haram in the country’s far based Boko Haram group. “At the moment, the prison nicate by message with English- and joined by civic bodies. Some at the Niamey march north, which also left 86 of the A Cameroonian soldier, speak- of Maroua is holding more than speaking officers in Nigeria, a US Earlier, Prime Minister Brigi voiced fear of Boko Haram insur- militants dead. ing on condition of anonymity, 1,000 Boko Haram (suspects),” military officer said. Rafini led the marchers under a gents who might have sneaked The “series of clashes” took said “an ambush by Boko Haram” said Colonel Joseph Nouma, com- Chad’s military, which played a heavy police presence, with snip- into the city. “All we hope for is place in the Waza region near the led to nearly three hours of gun mander of a local operation to leading role in a French-led cam- ers posted on roofs of buildings that this ends well, that there are border with Nigeria, said Colonel battles. combat the Islamist militants. paign that ousted Islamist groups along the protest route, including no infiltrators,” a wary local jour- Didier Badjeck, a spokesman for More than 2,000 Cameroonian Boko Haram has grown from northern Mali in 2013, has parliament. nalist said. the Cameroonian defence minis- soldiers have been deployed in in power in the area, where already led attacks against Boko “Boko Haram is itself haram “Boko Haram scares me. We try. The Cameroonian army had Cameroon’s Far North region Cameroon and Nigeria are linked Haram positions in Nigeria’s bor- (forbidden),” read one sign, refer- want peace,” said Seydou Zamo, recovered one armoured vehicle since August last year. by a bridge. Militants have carried der regions. ring to the name of the group, 45, a photographer who added from Boko Haram and damaged Meanwhile, an army official out repeated massacres of civil- “The Lake Chad nations are which roughly translates as that he shared concern that the another, he added. announced on Monday that more ians and attacks on villages there, battling Boko Haram and we have “Western education is forbidden.” armed group, known for suicide The troops who were killed than 1,000 people suspected of but are now increasingly active a vested interest in that group of The Boko Haram fighters have bombings, was in the capital. AFP belonged to Cameroon’s elite being affiliated with Boko Haram against military targets. AFP nations’ collective success ... What Boko Harm is doing is a mur- derous rampage, about brutal- ity intolerance and subjugation,” Multiple bombs kill 8 civilians, 17 militants in Nigeria Linder said. At the Flintlock exer- cises, the US military will also be introducing a Cloud-based tech- MAIDUGURI: At least three off. “Everyone has been told to go comment. Nigerian soldiers recap- nology to allows African allies to bomb explosions killed eight peo- home due to apprehension about tured two towns on Monday as Former president quits ruling party quickly share intelligence across ple at a military checkpoint in the blasts,” he said. US and regional troops began war borders, such as mapping infor- the northeast Nigerian town of Biu has been repeatedly attacked games in neighbouring Chad in a LAGOS: Nigeria’s former president Olusegun Obasanjo has quit mation the location of potential Biu yestersday, witnesses and a by the Boko Haram and the use growing international campaign. the ruling party less than six weeks before a crunch general targets, Linder said. hospital source said. The mili- of multiple bombs planned to go In unrelated violence, five explo- election and after repeated criticism of incumbent Goodluck The ninth edition of Flintlock, tary fired back on the attackers off in quick succession is a trade- sions and a burst of gunfire hit an Jonathan. Obasanjo publicly ripped up his membership card grouping 1,300 soldiers from 28 and killed 17 insurgents, a secu- mark tactic. A nurse at Biu gen- opposition rally in the town of of the Peoples Democratic Party, two days after claiming that African and Western nations, rity source said. eral hospital said eight bodies had Okrika in southern Nigeria’s oil Jonathan was seeking to stay in power “by hook or by crook”. will emphasise the importance of Witness Auwalu Ibrahim, a local been brought in from the blast. Six producing Rivers state yesterday, The 77-year-old former army general led a military government troops fostering strong relations pro-government vigilante, said people were receiving treatment wounding several people, witnesses in the 1970s and served two terms as civilian president after Nigeria with local communities to gain there were children around the for wounds, she said. The military and the governor of the state said. returned to democracy in 1999. AFP intelligence on insurgent groups. checkpoint when the blasts went did not respond to a request for REUTERS REUTERS

World’s largest annual migration Minor tsunami Maoists, soldiers dead hits Japan in Philippine clashes after quake MANILA: Eight communist NPA unit on a police post in the TOKYO: A strong undersea guerrillas and four soldiers have southern town of Mati, 140km earthquake unleashed a small been killed in separate clashes northeast of Alabel, on Sunday, a tsunami yesterday off the same in the southern Philippines, a separate military statement said. coastline of northern Japan dev- hotbed of one of the world’s last The 50 guerrillas, who wore fake astated by a tsunami in 2011 Maoist rebellions, the military army uniforms, failed to capture that left more than 18,000 people said yesterday. the police post and suffered one dead. One female and six male mem- dead after it was reinforced by a The quake was followed by a bers of the New People’s Army local army unit, it said. series of tremors, the largest of (NPA) were killed in skirmishes However, a landmine set off by which was magnitude 5.8, but near Alabel on the south coast of the rebels killed three of the pur- there were no immediate reports Mindanao island, a military state- suing soldiers and wounded four of damage or casualties. ment said. The 4,000-member others. The rebels also killed an A wave of 20cm was recorded NPA is waging one of the world’s off-duty soldier who was passing off the city of Kuji at 9:07 am, way longest-running insurgencies, with through a roadblock that they had below the possible one metre tsu- about half its guerrillas based in set up. Repeated efforts by suc- nami that the Japan Meteorological the south, according to military cessive governments to arrange Agency (JMA) warned could hit. estimates. peace talks have failed to end the Waves of up to 10cm were recorded Passengers wait to enter Beijing railway station yesterday as millions of Chinese are returning to their home- Government forces meanwhile rebellion, which has claimed about along other parts of the coastline towns to celebrate the Lunar New Year with families in what is the world’s largest annual migration. The Lunar repulsed an attack by a separate 30,000 lives by estimates. AFP of Iwate prefecture. New Year falls tomorrow and marks the beginning of the Year of the Sheep. Aerial footage showed no per- ceptible rise in sea levels along the coast. There was no visible change at the ports in the area, where broadcaster NHK has cameras permanently stationed. Myanmar declares emergency in war-torn region The JMA said the 6.9 magnitude tremor struck at 8:06 am in the LASHIO: Myanmar yesterday declared “A serious situation has developed that as they tried to escape fighting in the area of continued heavy clashes in the remote Pacific some 210km east of Miyako, a state of emergency in a conflict-torn has put people’s lives at risk, so a state of yesterday morning, with one killed and hills along the frontier. at a depth of 10km. An official border region, where ferocious fight- emergency has been declared starting from another injured. A monastery in the Shan One 40-year-old woman, looking haggard told a Tokyo news conference that ing between the army and ethnic rebels today,” the ministry of information said in town of Lashio, some 140km south of the and exhausted after fleeing the violence with geologists regard the quake as an has sent thousands fleeing airstrikes and a statement outlining the measures in the conflict zone, has become a temporary her three-year-old son, said she had heard aftershock of the 2011 earthquake. fierce gun battles. Kokang region of Shan state, where conflict shelter for thousands who have fled the gunfire as the family made their escape. The US Geological Survey put the Civilians have come under fire in the has raged since February 9. violence, most with little more than a few “Every night we were afraid. I trembled magnitude at 6.7. deadly clashes between the army and Kokang In a separate announcement it said plastic bags of belongings. with fear,” she said, as she picked through a Another quake measuring mag- rebels in Shan state, local officials said, in Myanmar’s army chief was in full control On the Chinese side Beijing says it has pile of clothes donated by local people on the nitude 5.8 struck in the Pacific off fighting that has uprooted tens of thousands of “rule of law and stability” in the area. stepped up border controls after some 30,000 monastery compound. Clashes between the Iwate yesterday afternoon, the in the past week and sent a flood of refugees Sai Shwe Win, an official with the Lashio fled into its Yunnan province. ethnically Chinese Kokang and soldiers have USGS said. No tsunami warning into China, which has voiced alarm over the fire department, said dozens of civilians Streams of civilians continued to arrive centred on the settlement of Laukkai, a now was raised. AFP escalating bloodshed. crammed into a truck came under attack late into yesterday night, bringing reports near-deserted border town. AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Taliban attack kills 20 Afghan policemen Gunmen and suicide bombers launch assault on police headquarters south of capital Kabul

KANDAHAR: At least 20 Abdul Khaliq, who commands the out an ambush at an abandoned Afghan policemen were killed operation. building in the Maiwand province yesterday in a Taliban attack The Taliban’s spokesman was of southern Kandahar Monday near Kabul, bringing to 26 the not immediately available for night, killing six policemen after number of officers to die since comment. luring them to the site by setting the start of an army offen- The Defence Ministry said the off a bomb. sive aimed at weakening the assault, code-named “Zolfiqar”, “They fired as (police) arrived insurgents. was the first in a planned series of at the house. Unfortunately, six The assault saw Taliban gun- large-scale operations by Afghan police were martyred,” provincial men and suicide attackers strike forces after Nato ended its com- police spokesman Zia Durrani told police headquarters in Puli Alam bat mission in December. AFP. The US and its allies have city, south of Kabul. Provincial “This is not the first and will be reduced their military presence police chief Abdul Hakim Ishaqzai not be the last operation against in Afghanistan to a contingent told AFP that in addition to those the Taliban and their allies,” said of about 12,500 who are mainly killed, nine were wounded. ministry spokesman General focused on training and support The attack came as police Dawlat Waziri. for the 350,000 Afghan troops and troops, in their first major Experts and Afghan military and police. assault since US-led Nato forces officials anticipate a surge in Many have warned that the ended their combat mission last Taliban violence with the start Nato withdrawal will embolden December, began targetting of the traditional spring and the Taliban to beef up their insur- militants on Monday in restive summer fighting season in April gency, still resilient more than 13 Helmand province, a hotbed of or May. Some observers have years after the US-led invasion the Taliban insurgency and a hub warned that unusually early ousted them from power in Kabul. for drug trafficking. warm weather this year may have “We know it, the Americans The defence ministry said 76 already encouraged militants to know it, they have said that the insurgents were killed on Monday, venture out of their hideouts in Taliban will intensify their attacks the first day of the operation, the rugged mountainous area this year, now that most Western which will also target militants along the border with Pakistan. military forces have left,” retired in six districts in neighbouring Highlighting the dangers Afghan army General Atiqullah Kandahar, Farah, and Uruzgan to Afghan forces, at least 20 Amarkhail said. A police pick-up drives past the body of a Taliban attacker at the Logar police headquarters in Afghanistan yesterday. provinces. The offensive is policemen were killed in yester- “2015 will be a trying year for designed to hurt the Taliban day’s attack in Puli Alam. Niaz the Afghan armed forces as they before the start of the so-called Mohammad Amiri, acting gover- bear the full brunt of Taliban and military casualties the worst on 2013, while the Pentagon said after the Afghan parliament last “fighting season”. “This is a totally nor of Logar province where the efforts and they have to be highly since the 2001 invasion. nearly 5,000 Afghan soldiers and month rejected most of President Afghan-planned and Afghan-led attack took place, confirmed the prepared.” According to United Nations police were killed last year. Ashraf Ghani’s nominees for the operation. It will continue until provincial police chief’s toll. Violence across Afghanistan hit data, more than 3,000 civilians The country is also grap- new cabinet. success is achieved,” said General Taliban militants also carried record levels in 2014, with civilian were killed in 2014, up 18 percent pling with political instability AFP

Pakistan army Suicide bomber kills five near Lahore police HQ chief meets LAHORE: A suicide bomber killed five and killed or hanged”. “We want to make it people near police headquarters in the clear to the rulers that we will take revenge Afghan leaders eastern Pakistani city of Lahore yester- for the blood of innocent Muslims — our day, an attack claimed by a Taliban fac- operations will continue till Islamic sys- tion as revenge for the execution of their tem is imposed,” Ehsan said in an emailed on security comrades. statement. The blast hit just metres from an Yesterday’s bombing comes just days ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s entrance to the police headquarters in the after 22 people were killed in a gun and army chief General Raheel heart of the city, sending a column of black suicide attack on a Shia mosque in the Sharif held talks in Kabul smoke rising above buildings. northwestern city of Peshawar. yesterday with Afghanistan Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city The main TTP group claimed responsi- President Ashraf Ghani on and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s pow- bility for Friday’s attack in Peshawar, say- boosting security and continu- erbase, has largely escaped the worst of ing it was revenge for a militant known ing operations against Taliban the Islamist violence that has engulfed the as Doctor Usman who was hanged in militants, the military said. country in the last decade. December. Pakistan has stepped up its The two praised improved rela- Shuja Khanzada, home minister for fight against militants since Taliban gun- tions and pledged that they would Punjab province of which Lahore is the men massacred more than 150 people, most not provide a safe haven for mili- capital, said a policeman and four civilians of them children, at a school in Peshawar tants from each other’s countries were killed and 17 people were wounded. in December. to use to launch attacks, chief City police chief Amin Wains told report- Following the massacre, Prime Minister army spokesman Major General ers the police HQ complex, known as police Sharif ended a six-year moratorium on Asim Bajwa said in a Twitter lines, was the intended target. the death penalty. Doctor Usman, also message. “The bomber wanted to enter inside the known as Aqil, was one of the first to go to Pakistan accuses Afghanistan police lines but exploded prematurely,” the gallows. of protecting members of he said. He was convicted for an attack on the the Pakistani Taliban, while “Police lines was the target but the army headquarters in Rawalpindi in 2009 Afghanistan routinely accuses bomber did not succeed to go inside.” and was arrested after being injured. neighbouring Pakistan of provid- Television footage showed several vehi- In claiming Friday’s attack, the TTP ing shelter within its borders to cles on fire after the explosion, which left vowed to continue their campaign of vio- the Afghan Taliban. the street littered with broken glass and lence. Since June last year the army has Ghani, who came to power in debris from nearby buildings. been waging a major campaign against September, and Pakistani Prime The hardline Jamat-ul-Ahrar faction of strongholds of the TTP and other mili- Minister Nawaz Sharif have over- the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said tants in the North Waziristan tribal area seen an improvement in ties in they were behind yesterday’s attack. close to Peshawar. The military says the recent months. Spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan said the operation has killed more than 2,000 mili- General Sharif also visited A policeman uses a mobile phone to take pictures of the damage at the site of the explosion group dedicated the bombing “to all the tants, though the precise number cannot be Kabul in December of last year, outside the police headquarters in Lahore yesterday. martyrs who were dragged out of prison verified independently. AFP immediately after an attack on an army-run school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar where Taliban militants Turkish PM meets Sharif killed more than 150 people, most of them children. The general is hailed for step- 182 candidates to contest ping up operations against mili- tants and engaging with United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and other coun- in 52 Pakistan Senate seats tries to bolster the fight against terrorism. AFP ISLAMABAD: The Election From Punjab, 23 candidates will former finance minister Saleem Commission of Pakistan contest for seven general seats Mandwiwala, Islamuddin announced yesterday that 182 and two seats, one for women and Shaikh, Abdul Latif Ansari, Pakistan to candidates would run for 52 the other for technocrats. Gianchand and Sarfaraz Rajar seats in a senate vote to be held Federal Information Minister (PPP), Wasim Akhtar, Gul Faraz attend global on March 5. Senator Pervez Rasheed, Khan, Khushbakht Shujaat, According to the ECP, 42 can- Mushahidullah Khan, Lt Gen Nighat Mirza, Raza Zaidi, Mian security meet didates are vying for four seats retired Abdul Qayyum, Chaudhry Ateeq Sheikh and Babar Ghauri from the Federally Administered Tanvir Khan, Syed Nehal Hashmi, (MQM), Imamuddin Shouqeen Tribal Areas. All but PML-N Saud Majeed, Khawaja Mehmood and Mohammad Bux (PML-F) ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will nominee Sanaullah Khan are Ahmad and Saleem Zia are and Zafar Ali Shah (PML-N) join more than 70 other nations independent candidates. PML-N candidates for general have filed their nomination papers in the US capital today in an Those contesting include seats. for seven general seats. effort to thrash out a compre- Minister for Textiles Industry Two PPP candidates and four Sassui Palejo and Shama Arif hensive international strat- Senator Abbas Khan Afridi, independents are also in the field Mithani (PPP) and Khushbakht egy for combating violent former MNAs Akhundzada for general seats. Shujaat, Nighat Mirza, Seema extremism. Chitan, Munir Khan Orakzai Najma Hameed, Ayesha Zarmin and Tehseen Mashkoor US President Barack Obama is and Maulana Abdul Malik Raza Farooq and Kiran Imran Abidi (MQM) are candidates for hosting the conference to discuss Wazir; and Senator Malik (PML-N) and Sarwat Malik two seats reserved for women. “means of combating terrorism Rasheed Ahmad Khan. From (PPP) are vying for two women Former law minister Farooq and extremism” in the world, the Islamabad, Iqbal Zafar Jhagra seats. H Naek and Rehman Malik (PPP) White House said. and Chaudhry Ashraf Gujjar Raja Zafarul Haq and and Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada Interior Minister Chaudhary (PML-N), Raja Imran Ashraf Professor Sajid Mir are PML-N and Mohammad Ali Khan Saif Nisar Ali Khan is expected to (PPP) and Syed Zulfikar Ali nominees for two seats reserved (MQM) have filed nomination outline the National Action Plan (MQM) have filed nomination for technocrats, including Ulema. papers for two seats reserved for combating terrorism at the papers for a general seat and Malik Nosher Khan Langrial for technocrats. From Khyber conference. Rahila Magsi and Nargis Nasir (PPP) and Malik Abdul Rahman Pakhtunkhwa, 17 candidates “He will inform the partici- (PML-N), Shumaila Shahab and (independent) are vying for the including Jamaat-i-Islami chief pants of Pakistan’s efforts to Bisma Asif (MQM) and Nargis same seats. Sirajul Haq have filed papers for Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (right) with Turkish Prime Minister combat this threat and the sac- Faiz Malik (PPP) for a seat From Sindh, former inte- seven general seats. Ahmet Davutoglu during their meeting in Islamabad yesterday. rifices it has made,” a Pakistani reserved for women. rior minister Rehman Malik, INTERNEWS diplomat said. INTERNEWS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Cong to expel Modi assures full freedom of faith Goa lawmaker No religious group will be allowed to incite hatred against others, says prime minister for anti-party

NEW DELHI: Coming out Modi has been facing flak activities unequivocally for the first for not speaking out strongly time against recent attacks against saffron fringe elements PANAJI: The Congress’ Goa on churches and controver- of his Bharatiya Janata Party- unit yesterday resolved to expel sial utterances by right-wing led government who have kicked a sitting legislator for life for fringe elements, Prime Minister up a controversy by peddling the allegedly working against the Narendra Modi yesterday said Hindutva agenda and by their party in last week’s assem- his government will ensure comments on “ghar wapsi”, or bly bypoll, in which the party complete freedom of faith and return to the Hindu faith. received a drubbing at the will not allow any religious Addressing a function to hands of the ruling BJP. group to incite hatred against mark the ‘National Celebration Addressing a press conference others “overtly or covertly”. of the Elevation to Sainthood at the state party headquarters, He later also met a high-level of Kuriakose Elias Chavara spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar Christian delegation. and Mother Euphrasia’, he said that the state executive com- Addressing Christian leaders at said his government stands by mittee had formally resolved to a function here, the prime min- “every word” of the Universal expel St Cruz legislator Atanasio ister reached out to them, saying Declaration and of freedom of Monserrate for alleged anti-party he strongly condemned violence religion or belief. activity. against any religion. “India is the land of Buddha “This should send a strong “My government will ensure and Gandhi. Equal respect for all message to those who do not that there is complete freedom religions must be in the DNA of have the best interests of the of faith and that everyone has every Indian. We cannot accept party at heart,” he said, adding the undeniable right to retain or violence against any religion on that Monserrate had made sev- adopt the religion of his or her any pretext and I strongly con- eral statements to the media ask- choice without coercion or undue demn such violence. My govern- ing his supporters to vote for the influence. My government will not ment will act strongly in this Bharatiya Janata Party during allow any religious group, belong- regard,” Modi said. last week’s bypoll in Panaji. ing to the majority or the minor- He also appealed to all religious BJP’s Sidharth Kunkolienkar ity, to incite hatred against others, groups “to act with restraint, defeated Congress’ Surendra overtly or covertly,” he said. mutual respect, and tolerance Furtado by over 5,000 votes in “Mine will be a government in the true spirit of this ancient the bypoll which was necessi- that gives equal respect to all nation which is manifest in our tated after the elevation of then religions,” Modi said, breaking his Constitution and is in line with sitting legislator and chief minis- long silence on the subject. the Hague Declaration”. ter Manohar Parrikar as defence “We cannot accept violence Christian leaders immediately Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves as he walks with officials on their arrival at a conference organised by minister. against any religion on any pre- welcomed Modi’s remarks and Christian organisations at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi yesterday. text and I strongly condemn such hoped they would translate into Ferry runs aground violence. My government will act action. 13. It was the sixth incident of were being made to instil fear strengthens us. Division weak- strongly in this regard,” he added. Father Savarimuthu Sankar, of attack on churches and a school among them. ens us. I sincerely request all off Elephanta Isle Modi met the supreme head of the Catholic Church, said: “The in Delhi over a period of two The BJP also faced its first Indians, and all of you present the Universal Syrian Orthodox general feeling is that everyone months. electoral debacle after its winning here to support me in this huge MUMBAI: At least 78 pas- Church, an official release said is happy that finally he has spo- Modi had summoned Police spree in the general elections last task,” he said. sengers, mostly tourists, were here. ken. Although it’s late because Commissioner B S Bassi asking year when it fared miserably in Lauding the two saints for rescued from a ferry which ran Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem we wanted him to speak before him to speed up investigation in the Feb 7 Delhi assembly elec- dedicating their lives to the serv- aground in the Arabian Sea off II, who is currently on a visit to Christmas last year. We hope his the incidents of vandalism and tions, despite Modi being one of ice of God and fellow beings, he Mumbai coast last evening, offi- India, called on the prime min- words are translated into action.” bring the guilty to book. the main campaigners. described the lives and deeds cial sources said. ister. He was accompanied by a In the most recent attack, Following the attacks, Christian Modi said that to realize his of Saint Chavara and Saint The rescue operation was car- nine-member delegation, com- the Holy Child Auxilium school leaders claimed that their com- vision of a modern India and Euphresia as “inspiration” to ried out by a hovercraft of the prising senior members of the in south Delhi was ransacked munity was being subjected to to ensure development, unity is humanity. Indian Coast Guard near the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. by unidentified people February intentional attacks and attempts an essential ingredient. “Unity IANS world famous Elephanta Island when the regular tourist ferry, Navrang, suddenly ran aground. The incident happened around 4.45pm during its 11-km voyage Rosaiah draws from Nhava village on the main- Huge solar plant in northeast starts production land to the island. Following an SOS from the fire for praising state government, the ICG acti- AGARTALA: Northeast grid,” NEEPCO general manager up a 50-MW solar power plant just eight km from the Bangladesh vated its teams in choppers and Jayalalithaa India’s biggest and the first-of- S.R. Biswas told reporters here. in Madhya Pradesh and a two- border. a hovercraft and rescued all the its-kind 5MW capacity solar He said that to generate power, MW capacity plant at Lanka in The NEEPCO official said non- stranded passengers. All the pas- CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu power plant in Tripura has 23,616 solar panels were inte- Nagaon district of Assam. supply of gas by ONGC (Oil and sengers, including 20 women, 18 Governor K Rosaiah yesterday begun commercial production, grated with the Monarchak power Meanwhile, after overcom- Natural Gas Corporation) led to children and 40 men, are safe and faced fire from various opposi- an official said yesterday. project area, where NEEPCO has ing several impediments, the huge delay in commissioning the unhurt, and were dropped at the tion parties for praising former The state-owned North Eastern also commissioned a separate 101- 101MW-capacity power plant is power project resulting in the loss Belapur hover port by 6.30pm. chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Electric Power Corporation MW capacity power plant. expected to start experimental of Rs50m a month for the past The Elephanta Islands harbour In his customary address to the (NEEPCO) has commissioned the The official said: “Following generation from Friday. several years. “The ONGC, after the UNESCO World Heritage site state assembly, Rosaiah appreci- solar power plant at Monarchak the government policy, NEEPCO NEEPCO, a mini-ratna com- many negotiations and meetings, of Elephanta Caves comprising ated Jayalalithaa for her efforts in western Tripura. has initiated the process to set up pany under the union power started supplying gas to the power Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, in securing the rights of Tamil “The solar power plant was set more and more solar, non-conven- ministry, has set up the Rs9.5bn plant since earlier this month and, dating back to 4th century AD. It Nadu in various inter-state water up at a cost of Rs400m. The entire tional and renewable power plants (nearly $150m) gas-based power accordingly, we synchronised the is a major draw for both domestic disputes. power from the plant would be in various parts of the country.” plant in Monarchak, 70km south system,” Biswas added. and foreign tourists round the year. “It is only because of her per- transmitted to the Tripura power He said the corporation will set of Tripura capital Agartala and IANS AGENCIES severance and courage that the state could secure a historic verdict from the honourable Supreme Court declaring the Rhino’s day out Mullai Periyar Dam as hydrologi- cally, structurally and seismically Delhi, Mumbai airports safe, thereby enabling the state of Tamil Nadu to raise the water level to 142 feet,” he said. In his reaction, DMK President among top 5 in world M Karunanidhi, in a statement, said it was amusing to note that MUMBAI: New Delhi and awards are based, is the airport the governor has appreciated Mumbai international airports industry’s standard for measuring Jayalalithaa, who lost her chief have been rated among the top passenger satisfaction. ministership after she was con- five global airports in the world It rates each airport’s perform- victed and sentenced to a four- in terms of size by the Airports ance in 34 key service areas under year jail term and fined Rs10bn. Council International’s Airport eight major categories including PMK founder S Ramadoss Service Quality Awards-2014, offi- access, check-in, security, airport said there was nothing in the cial sources said here yesterday. facilities, food and beverage pro- governor’s address except praise This is the fourth consecu- viders, and more. of Jayalalithaa and the ruling tive award for the GVK-run The results of the survey AIADMK. The purpose of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International allow airports to track and ana- governor’s speech is to outline the in the 25-40 million passengers lyse their performance vis-a-vis projects to be implemented by the per annum category. other airports around the globe. government in the coming fiscal, The top five airports globally The ACI awards, regarded highly he added. include New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi by the world aviation industry, is International Airport, Taipei’s the latest feather in the CSIA’s Fire at Delhi’s Taoyuan, Chongqing, Shanghai achievements which includes the Hongqiao and Mumbai’s CSIA, Golden Peacock Award for its Ansal Plaza mall as per the ACI. Pranaam GVK Guest Services. A rhinoceros searches for food in water as an Adjutant Stork looks on at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon The ASQ Survey, on which the IANS NEW DELHI: A major fire district of Assam yesterday. broke out at famous shopping mall here last evening and was still raging, a fire service official said. No one has been reported injured. The fire was reported India’s Charlie’s Angels take on capital’s mean streets from Ansal Plaza mall, located at Andrews Ganj on Khel Gaon Marg in south Delhi, around 7pm. NEW DELHI: As dawn breaks high-profile attacks that has seen antics in the bud,” said Wadhwa. of responsibility while training 23-year-old student on a moving “The fifth floor of the Ansal over the Indian capital, a group New Delhi branded the rape capi- After months of such sessions, these cops. I feel like a warrior on bus in the capital. The attack and Plaza shopping mall engulfed in of policewomen are already tal of India, police chiefs decided the women are almost ready. a mission,” he said. “And my mis- the subsequent protests shook the flames. The situation is under hard at work practising their to form an all-women squad spe- Wearing plain clothes instead of sion is to make them like Charlie’s country and led to a wave of polic- control, but the operation is still punches, on a mission to rid the cially trained in martial arts. uniforms to blend in, they are set Angels, fearless and fearsome,” he ing and legal reforms. on,” said the fire official, adding city’s streets of sex ual predators. “We won’t tolerate any bad to be deployed in coming months said with a smile. Since then however, attacks that 15 fire tenders were rushed Dressed in white karate kimo- behaviour,” leader Bharti Wadhwa at busy bus and metro sta- Delhi, a sprawling city of some on women in Delhi have showed to the spot. nos, the constables knee and kick said after an intense two-hour tions, outside colleges and other 16 million, came under the spot- few signs of slowing. Last month “We rescued five people from their imaginary attackers with session with her 40-strong team, areas where women are thought light just over two years ago when women’s safety again made head- the mall... But, no one was luckily aggression, honing their skills dubbed Charlie’s Angels by their vulnerable. thousands took to the streets, lines when an Uber taxi driver injured in the incident,” said the in preparation for their debut trainers. Trainer Vishal Jaiswal, a black- enraged about violence suffered was charged with raping a woman official, adding the reason behind assignment to protect women and “It can start from a simple cat belt in Japanese Shotokan-style by women. passenger as she returned home the fire is yet to be ascertained. the vulnerable. call which then leads to stalking karate, is all praise for his prote- The tipping point was the from dinner in the city. AGENCIES Following a string of and then rape. We will nip such ges. “In fact, I feel a great sense horrific fatal gang-rape of a AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Haryana to Protests in India set up village as Hindu temple secretariats CHANDIGARH: With a full-fledged secretariat in state capital Chandigarh and vandalised in US mini-secretariats at district headquarters, the Haryana gov- ernment yesterday announced that it will set up rural or vil- Act a slur on America: Congress lage secretariats in villages to make delivery of services to vil- NEW YORK/NEW DELHI: a “slur” on the name of America lagers more effective. In the latest attack targeting and expressed surprise that “The Haryana government Hindu places of worship, a tem- the Indian government had not has decided to set up Gram ple in the US was vandalised reacted in the matter. Sachivalayas in the state to bring on the eve of the celebration “I am surprised that the United Gram Panchayat and village-level of Maha Shivaratri, triggering States president has not reacted functionaries of all departments strong reaction and protests in to this and am also surprised that under one roof for better func- India. the Indian government has not tioning and coordination and also Members of the Hindu Temple reacted,” Congress leader P C to ensure efficiency, transparency Cultural Center in Bothell, 36km Chacko said. and accountability in the work- from Seattle, in Washington state “It is a slur on the name of ing of Gram Panchayat and other were shocked to find a red swas- America,” he said adding: “It is agencies engaged in the process of tika spray-painted on the temple very shocking. US is a society rural development,” a state gov- wall along with the words “Get which claims to be inclusive. ernment spokesman said here. Out” scrawled in large letters on They would have surely reacted if The proposal has been approved Sunday. something like this had happened by Haryana Chief Minister The Bothell temple incident in India.” Manohar Lal Khattar. comes 10 days after President “What happened is totally “In the first phase, one village Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena (centre) prays alongside his wife Jayanti Sirisena (second left) during a Barack Obama criticised India at unacceptable, US authorities secretariat will be set up in each an inter-religious prayer meeting must take stringent action in the visit to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya yesterday. cluster of villages. There are 6,645 saying intolerance there “would temple vandalising incident and villages in the state which have have shocked Gandhiji.” come out with a statement,” he been clubbed in 2,294 clusters. The Bothell Reporter news- said. Each cluster consists of 3-4 vil- paper reported that the incident Rajan Zed, president of India, Sri Lanka should focus lages. One village secretariat in was under investigation but no Universal Society of Hinduism in one cluster would be developed in suspect has yet been identified a statement in Nevada, said that the village having largest popula- according to Shari L Ireton, a it was shocking for the hard- on closer ties, says Mukherjee tion,” the spokesman said. spokesperson for Snohomish working, harmonious and peace- All village secretariats will be County sheriff. ful Hindu community; who had set up within three years. The “The timing of this crime, made lot of contributions to the NEW DELHI: President countries,” Mukherjee said. by close contacts at the high- panchayat offices in nearly 3,000 occurring before a major Hindu nation and society; to receive such Pranab Mukherjee has said “The first FTA that India est political level, growing trade villages will be upgraded to con- festival, warrants special atten- signals of hatred and anger. India and Sri Lanka should signed with any country was with and investment, infrastructural vert them into village secretariats. tion from law enforcement,” said There has been a spate of anti- focus on “closer economic inte- Sri Lanka. It is time to take the linkages, cooperation in the “The Gram Sachivalaya will be Jay Kansara, Hindu American Hindu across the US in recent gration” by building on the Free economic engagement to the next fields of development, educa- set up over one acre of land at Foundation’s director of govern- months Trade Agreement (FTA) and level. There has been a resurgence tion, culture and defence as an estimated cost of Rs30 lakh ment relations. “We are encour- In August, a idol of Shiva at the promote cross-investments by in the Indian economy over the well as a broad understanding including the cost of furniture aged by the ongoing thorough Vishwa Bhavan Hindu Mandir in companies. last year, and Sri Lanka is well- on major issues of international and fixture. It will have enough investigation of the Bothell City Georgia state was desecrated with He was speaking at a banquet placed to take full advantage of interest.” space for housing the office of Police Department.” black paint. The phone lines of hosted for Sri Lankan President this,” he said. The president said India as panchayat members, gram sachiv In the US, white supremacists the temple in Monroe, were cut Maithripala Sirisena and his wife However, Mukherjee added a close neighbour has watched (village secretary) and data entry have adopted the Nazi swastika and graffiti with hate messages Jayanthi Sirisena at Rashtrapati that the issue of fishermen is developments in Sri Lanka operator-cum-accountant,” the as an ideological symbol. KING 5 were written on it. The local sher- Bhavan here yesterday. an “emotive one” that con- with deep interest and the end spokesman said. TV, an NBC-affiliated station in iff’s office arrested two people in Mukherjee said he appreci- cerns the livelihood of fisher- of the armed conflict in 2009 Adequate space will be given to Seattle, said: “In Hinduism, swas- connection with the attack. ated Sirisena’s decision of choos- men from both the countries was a historic opportunity to the office of village level function- tikas signified peace long before Between July and October in ing India for his first visit abroad and said that he had “no doubt” find a meaningful and last- aries of different departments like it became a Nazi symbol. In this Loudon County in Virginia, police after being elected president. that both the countries can ing solution to the issues con- revenue, agriculture, electricity case, temple leaders say it’s now documented 17 separate incidents “Trade between India and handle the issue with due care cerning the Sri Lankan Tamil board, public health, veterinary being used not just to hurt their of anti-Hindu vandalism, HAF Sri Lanka is more than $5bn. and sensitivity. minority. and others. The secretariat will believers but a neighborhood.” said. In response to these attacks, Both countries should focus He said relations between India Responding to Mukherjee, have notice board displaying the In Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur the US Justice Department has on closer economic integration and Sri Lanka were unique and the Sri Lankan president said time and date of visit. city, activists of the right-wing mandated the inclusion of anti- by building on the Free Trade based upon shared historical, his talks with Prime Minister The complex will also pro- Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Hindu hate crimes as a category Agreement and promote cross- cultural, ethnic and civilizational Narendra Modi were fruitful and vide space for bank, post office, and Bajrang Dal protested against in crime-reporting forms starting investments by companies. ties as well as extensive people- laid the foundation for an expan- model ration shops and facility for the temple vandalisation, while in January. India is keen to promote greater to-people interaction. sion in bilateral relations. Internet. the Congress said the attack was IANS connectivity between the two “This relationship is marked IANS IANS

CPM shouldn’t use saints’ photos to Coal auction giving exemplary results, says Jaitley get votes: Church NEW DELHI: The ongoing coal policy is evident from the auc- the end-use is power generation, indicated that revenue could be as signifies an annual income of auction of coal blocks whose tions. The last four days have given and forward bidding for produc- high as Rs15 lakh crore. Rs6,853 crore for states like ALAPPUZHA: The CPM existing allotments were can- exemplary results,” Jaitley said tion of steel, cement and genera- Poor states, which are home Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, West should not use the pictures celled by the Supreme Court addressing the valedictory session tion of power for captive use. to most of the country’s coal Bengal, Maharashtra, Jharkhand of Saint Alphonsa and Saint has been yielding “exemplary of the three-day ‘First Renewable While the criteria for calculat- resources, are poised to benefit and Chhattisgarh, Swarup said. Kuriakose Elias Chavara to results” and will lead to lower Energy Global Investors Meet and ing the floor price for bidding is from the ongoing auction of coal The mines up for auction get votes in Kerala, a Catholic power tariffs, Finance Minister Expo (Re-Invest)’ here. based on state miner Coal India’s blocks, he tweeted. “Coal block auc- Tuesday are Amelia (North) in church official said yesterday. Arun Jaitley said yesterday. “With the roadmap charted by (CIL) price of coal of the same tion gets underway on the fourth Madhya Pradesh reserved for the The Communist Party of India- “History has provided us a sec- him (Goyal) for the sector, the grade, the auction also has a ceil- day,” Swarup said. “Windfall in off- power sector where the lowest Marxist’s state party conference ond opportunity for the power auctions will moreover result in ing price for power sector bidders ing. Poor states to reap harvest of bidder will win, and Ardhagram will be held later this week and sector, and the professional way in lower electricity tariffs,” he added. to keep the lid on power tariffs. coal block auctions,” he added. mine in West Bengal and Chotia the roads leading to Alappuzha which (Coal and Power) Minister The auction is on the basis of Earlier, Coal Secretary Anil Coal blocks worth Rs.11,839 mine in Chhattisgarh. have been decorated, using red Piyush Goel has been going on the tariff based reverse bidding where Swarup said that auction trends crore have been auctioned, which IANS colours. The picture of Saint Alphonsa, who became the first Indian to be canonised in 2008, has been put near a church in Aroor here. No plans to join The picture of Father Kuriakose, Religious fervour marks who was elevated as a saint by the Pope last year, was also there. “If Modi govt, says this (putting pictures) is a move to get a few votes by the CPM, then it Shivratri celebrations TRS leader would be a hypocritical move,” Fr Paul Thelekkat, spokesperson of NEW DELHI: Hundreds of I went to a temple near my home HYDERABAD: The Telangana the Syro Malabar Catholic Church, thousands of devotees across and prayed at 6.30am today. I will Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is not said. the country celebrated Maha only eat fruits. I feel good after planning to join the National The should also accept the Shivratri yesterday with zeal offering prayers.” Democratic Alliance (NDA) teachings of these two saints and and religious fervour by observ- Among some of the promi- central government, a state not just use their pictures to get ing fast and offering prayers. nent Lord Shiva temples in the cabinet minister said yesterday. votes, Thelekkat said. The festival is celebrated to national capital are the 800-year- Energy Minister Jagdish Reddy He however noted that “one good mark the wedding of Lord Shiva old Gauri Shankar temple and the dismissed reports that the TRS is thing is that the CPM has come and Goddess Parvati. Devotees Sri Shiv Mandir. Both the temples planning to join the Modi govern- a long way on their policies from stay awake all night, singing witnessed long queues from 4 a.m. ment. “There is no such proposal. when they first started” and opined hymns and prayers, to seek Lord Sheila Mehrotra, a devotee, There is no truth in these reports,” that the Bharatiya Janata Party Shiva’s blessings. said that every year on Maha the minister told reporters. also should evolve the same way. Temples witnessed long queues Shivratri, her day begins a little Stressing there was no discussion Senior CPM legislator Raju of devotees since early morning to earlier than usual as she observes in TRS on joining the NDA govern- Abraham however denied the offer prayers, flowers and fruits. a fast on the occasion. ment, he said irrespective of which charges of hypocrisy, and noted the East Delhi based Mahi Mittal, “I do not even remember for coalition is in power, the central gov- party state conference is a vehicle who has been observing Maha how long I have been keeping a ernment should extend all coopera- where ideological issues are dis- Shivratri for the last five years, fast on Shivratri. I read the ‘Shiv tion to Telangana for its development. cussed and they have always kept said: “I am in the queue since 6 Chalisa’ and offer milk, Bel leaves Chief Minister K. pictures of social reformers and in the morning. I knew the queue and flowers to the Shivling,” said Chandrasekhar Rao’s meeting with such leaders cutting across reli- will be long so I came early to 57-year-old Mehrotra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in gions. “There is no hypocrisy in offer my prayers.” “It marks the day Shiv and New Delhi Monday had sparked this because we are not facing an Brijesh Chaturvedi, a civil serv- Parvati got married. Women fast off speculations in the political cir- election... instead it’s our confer- ice aspirant, said this is the first to ensure a good life for their hus- cles. The TRS chief had 45-minute ence where things are being dis- time he has kept a fast for Lord bands, and young girls observe meeting with Modi without any cussed. We have done this in the Shiva. a fast in the hope of a good life aides. There were also speculations past too and nothing more needs “As my friends told me that the partner, much like Shiva himself,” that Rao’s daughter K Kavitha to be seen into this,” Raju said. Hindu devotees take a dip in Sangam (confluence) to mark the birthday of queue in the popular Shiva tem- Mehrotra added. may join the union cabinet. IANS Lord Shiva in Allahabad yesterday. ples in Delhi will be crowded, so IANS IANS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Historical skiing

Fajr (Dawn) 4:50 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:07 Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 Asr (Afternoon) 3:04 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:30 Isha (Night) 7:00

WEATHER

Today Thursday Friday Weather Conditions: Clear Clear Clear Hazy to misty at places by early High: 28° High: 27° High: 31° morning becomes Low: 20° Low: 21° Low: 17° relatively hot and slight dust day time with some clouds.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:07 17:30 04:45 & 16:15 11:30 & 22:15 03-12/15 KT THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW People in historical ski dresses ride along a ski slope in Sankt Englmar, Germany, yesterday. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 29/25 Clear 29/26 Clear MAKKAH 34/21 Partly cloudy 33/18 Clear KUWAIT 22/13 Partly cloudy 23/11 Partly cloudy BAHRAIN 24/17 Clear 25/18 Clear SANAA 26/10 Clear 26/10 Clear Divers find trove of gold coins in Mediterranean RIYADH 28/15 Clear 30/18 Clear DUBAI 33/20 Clear 33/21 Clear JERUSALEM: Scuba divers said weighed 9kg but described and North Africa from 909 to “Another theory is that the BAGHDAD 22/09 Clear 22/08 Clear have discovered the largest as “priceless”. 1171. Kobi Sharvit, director of the treasure was money belonging to trove of gold coins ever found “At first they thought they marine archaeology unit at the a large merchant ship that traded THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW off Israel’s Mediterranean coast had spotted a toy coin from a Israel Antiquities Authority, said with the coastal cities and the — about 2,000 pieces dating game and it was only after they excavations would be carried out port on the Mediterranean Sea HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER back more than 1,000 years, the understood the coin was the real in the hope of shedding more light and sank there,” he said. country’s antiquities authority thing that they collected several on the origin of the treasure. The Israeli Antiquities ATHENS 04/-1 Cloudy 10/03 Clear said yesterday. coins and quickly returned to “There is probably a shipwreck Authority declined to put a cash WASHINGTON 00/-14 Chance of snow -7/-16 Chance of snow “The largest treasure of gold the shore in order to inform the there of an official treasury boat value on the coins, which it said SYDNEY 28/21 Partly cloudy 27/20 Chance of rain coins discovered in Israel was director of the dive club about which was on its way to the cen- had been exposed as a result of LONDON 11/04 Clear 11/04 Chance of rain found in recent weeks on the their find,” it said. tral government in Egypt with winter storms. The find was PARIS 08/01 Cloudy 11/06 Clear seabed in the ancient harbour in Experts from the author- taxes that had been collected,” “so valuable that its priceless,” ISTANBUL 01/01 Snow 03/02 Snow Caesarea,” the authority said. ity called to the site uncovered said Sharvit. “Perhaps the treas- spokeswoman Yoli Schwartz told It was by pure chance that “almost 2,000 gold coins in dif- ure of coins was meant to pay the AFP, adding the haul was now the MANILA 30/22 Partly cloudy 29/22 Partly cloudy members of a diving club in the ferent denominations” circulated salaries of the Fatimid military property of the state, and that DHAKA 29/18 Scattered T-torms 27/18 Scattered T-torms Roman-era port had come across by the Fatimid Caliphate, which garrison which was stationed in there was no finder’s fee. DELHI 26/14 Scattered T-torms 27/17 Partly cloudy the coins, which the authority ruled much of the Middle East Caesarea and protected the city. AFP ISLAMABAD 19/10 Scattered T-torms 17/10 Rain

Anti-smoking Bike exhibition Dragons, robots and trolls run drug helps reluctant tight race for animation Oscar quitters: Study LOS ANGELES: With the sur- often overshadowed by its more 2009’s The Secret of Kells, earned prise snub of a front-runner and flashy Disney sibling Pixar, a second Oscar nod for Song of MIAMI: A medication known five nominees featuring drag- fused Japanese influences into a the Sea about the Celtic selkie, as varenicline (Chantix) has ons, trolls, robots and mythical Marvel-inspired tale of boy genius a mythical creature that lives as been shown to help some smok- creatures, the Oscar for best Hiro who befriends a robot and a seal in water but as a human ers quit, even if they were not animated film may deliver the forms a superhero ensemble. on land. ready to give up cigarettes right most exciting race this year. “We’re reaching a broad audi- “The selkie story is not neces- away, international researchers Disney Animation’s Big Hero 6, ence without compromising,” sarily a happy story, it’s about the said yesterday. DreamWorks Animation’s How to said co-director Chris Williams. risk of falling in love with magi- The study in the Journal of the Train Your Dragon 2, Laika Studios’ “We’re making films that audi- cal creatures, and there’s parting American Medical Association The Boxtrolls, Studio Ghibli’s The ences want to come see, but and sorrow,” said Eric Beckman, (JAMA) was funded by pharma- Tale of the Princess Kaguya and they’re still products of passion.” president of GKids, the US dis- ceutical giant Pfizer, which makes Cartoon Saloon’s Song of the Sea The animated film Oscar is tributor of Song of the Sea and Chantix, but was led by doctors will compete for the Academy a relatively new category, inau- Princess Kaguya. at the non-profit Mayo Clinic in Award for animated feature. gurated in 2001 and dominated While animated films are aimed Rochester, Minnesota. But the exclusion of Time by Pixar, which has won seven at a young audience, Boxtrolls co- More than 1,500 smokers Warner Inc-owned Warner Bros’ Academy Awards in the category director Anthony Stacchi said enrolled. All said they were not The Lego Movie, last year’s top- for films including Finding Nemo they didn’t shy away from mak- ready to quit in the next 30 days, grossing animated film with and Up. ing edgier content with grotesque but did want to kick the habit more than $257m at the US box With no Pixar release this year little trolls and repulsive villains. within three months. Researchers office, stunned even those in the and Lego Movie shunned, the nom- “You do kids a disservice when randomly assigned some to industry. inees reflect stories that lie on the you hide too much from them and receive the drug for six months “It was a big shock to me. I saw fringes of animation, rather than don’t let them see stories that and others to receive a placebo. the movie and loved it,” said Dean targeting a mainstream audience. have a full range of darkness and After six months, those who DeBlois, co-director of Dragon 2, Japan’s Studio Ghibli has emotion,” he said. received varenicline were more about a Viking named Hiccup and earned Oscar nods for master- Stacchi’s sentiment is echoed than four times more likely to quit his dragon, Toothless. pieces such as Hayao Miyazaki’s across this year’s nominees, where than those who took a sugar pill With no clear favourite, the Spirited Away, which won in 2002, each film melds grown-up themes — 32.1 percent on the medication animation race is likely between and is renowned for delivering such as losing a loved one, be it stopped smoking, compared to 6.9 big-budget spectaculars such as mystical tales such as Princess Princess Kaguya’s parents facing percent of the placebo group. Big Hero 6 and Dragon 2, and Kaguya, about a moon princess her return to the moon, Saoirse’s After a year, those in the medi- A visitor tests the reproduction of a penny-farthing at the special exhibi- niche artistry of films such as who comes to Earth, by the stu- decision to stay on land or in the cation group were twice as likely tion ‘Airstream — The Cultural History of the Bike in the North-West’ at The Boxtrolls. dio’s co-founder Isao Takahata. sea in Song, or Hiro losing his to have quit than those in the pla- the Museum-Village in Cloppenburg, Germany, yesterday. The bicycle Big Hero 6, an ambitious Cartoon Saloon’s Tomm brother in Big Hero 6. cebo cohort. By that time, 27 per- work from an animation studio Moore, previously nominated for REUTERS symbolises the commercial use of bikes after World War II. cent on the medication had quit, versus 9.9 percent on the placebo. The drug comes with side effects, ranging from nausea to thoughts of suicide, and did not help most of the smokers quit. “This study is important because Life story of journalism legend ‘La Fallaci’ put on screen this opens the door to treatment for approximately 14 million ROME: The turbo-charged life of one of against Islam in the aftermath of the the journalist, the war correspondent ... Rome’s Dolce Vita set in the 1960s. But smokers who have no intention Italy’s most celebrated — and controver- September 11, 2001 attacks on New York, but also her human, more intimate and she soon changed direction, heading for of quitting in the next 30 days but sial — female journalists has been turned where she latterly lived for part of the year. sometimes more fragile side, which was Vietnam and producing a book of inter- are willing to reduce their smok- into a television film. Years earlier, she had made waves by rip- revealed in her relationships with men.” views with ordinary American soldiers. ing rate while working toward a L’Oriana, a two-part drama produced ping off her chador during an interview Fallaci had two great loves in her life: She later applied her interviewing talent quit attempt,” said lead author by public broadcaster RAI, hits the small with the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, French journalist Francois Pelou, whom to famously long and detailed interviews Jon Ebbert, associate director screen in Italy this week, introducing a new leader of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, to she met in Vietnam where he was AFP’s with world figures such as Indira Gandhi, for research in the Mayo Clinic generation to the life, loves and adventures protest over the requirement for women bureau chief, and Alexandros Panagoulis, Haile Selassie and Henry Kissinger. Nicotine Dependence Centre. of Oriana Fallaci, who joined Italy’s anti- to be veiled. a Greek anarchist and poet who was a After stints in Latin America and India, “Smokers should know that fascist resistance movement in World War “Telling the story of the life of Oriana leading figure in the fight against the her final reporting mission was the first varenicline can help them quit II then went on to become a war corre- Fallaci is a bit like telling the story of the “Colonels” military junta and was to die Gulf War, which lasted from 1990 to 1991. smoking if they want to reduce spondent, author and a famously provoca- 20th Century,” said Marco Turco, director in a car crash in 1976 three years after But she enjoyed a second burst of fame in their smoking prior to completely tive interviewer and polemicist. of the miniseries. “It is hard to imagine a they met. the aftermath of September 11 and her stopping,” he added. “It’s an effec- Born in Florence in 1929, Fallaci died more cinematic life than hers.” She told the story of their tumultuous publication of a polemic entitled The Rage tive and safe way to increase long- in 2006, her final years having been over- Vittoria Puccini, who plays her in the relationship in her novel A Man. Fallaci’s and the Pride. term smoking cessation.” AFP shadowed by controversy over her diatribes film, added: “We tried to portray Oriana first steps in journalism involved covering AFP Wednesday 18 February 2015 29 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6345 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar’s ETF to help pace of foreign fund inflow Masraf Al Rayan’s debut funds target foreign investors

BY SATISH KANADY regionas a whole which will help keep sukuk in strong demand. It is DOHA: A flurry of foreign money not Muslims alone who buy Islamic is expected to propel Qatar financial products; if an opportu- Exchange (QE) with the launch nity is expected to be lucrative it of its debut Exchange Traded will be of interest to all investors. Fund (ETF). Islamic lender There is a growing appetite Masraf Al Rayan announced for Shariah-compliant products it will be launching two debut across all sections of investors. funds. Of these, the Shariah- “Being Shariah-compliant is not a compliant Qatari equity ETF, to sales pitch. It essentially enforces be listed on the Qatari bourse, is a risk management framework targeting foreign investors. for the benefit of all investors. For A sukuk fund will be focused us, having a strong and consistent on sukuk in the GCC. Both funds performance track record, trans- will be managed by Masraf Al parency in terms of investor com- Rayan’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Akber Khan, Director, Asset munication and a well thought out Minister of Energy and Industry and Board Chairman of Qatar Electricity and Water Company H E Dr Mohammed Al Rayan Investment. Management, Al Rayan and prudent investment philosophy Saleh Al Sada (centre), addressing the General Assembly meeting. “Globally, ETFs are a $2.5 tril- Investment. Pic: BAHER AMIN are our key strengths”, he said. lion market and US and European Al Rayan Investment manages investors are very familiar with having both active and passive the Sharia-compliant Al Rayan them. However the product is rel- products is valuable. It is impor- GCC Fund which invests in select QEWC plays vital role: Al Sada atively new to this region. Foreign tant to have options for investors.” companies across the GCC based investors understand ETFs well The ETF will track the QE Al on a 24-month investment hori- DOHA: Minister of Energy and of century since its foundation, the implementation of new local and find it to be an attractive Rayan Islamic Index. zon. The fund has two classes, ‘Q’ Industry and Board Chairman in achieving a distinct positive projects, including expansion of means of gaining exposure to a On Al Rayan’s sukuk fund, and ‘F’. The Q-Fund is denomi- of Qatar Electricity and Water results at both operational and Ras Abu fontas ‘ (a-2) which is market. It may take a little longer Akber said:”There is an enor- nated in Qatari Riyal and is open Company (QEWC) H E Dr financial levels a matter which fully owned by the Company due for local retail investors to gain mous under-supply of Shariah- to Qatari individual and institu- Mohammed Saleh Al Sada said he said strengthens confidence to be completed soon, as well comfort”, Akber Khan, Director, compliant financial products tional investors, while the F-Fund the company had played a vital in the continuing and success- as the construction of a power Asset Management, Al Rayan in the market... 20 percent is denominated in US Dollars and and important role in support- ful investment plans towards and water plant in the economic Investment, told The Peninsula. of the world’s population is is open to all investors, resident ing the national economy, where more growth and prosperity, area, besides the construction of a “Given a lack of awareness, it Muslim yet just 2 percent of in any part of the world. it succeeded in meeting the whether within or outside the desalination plant and industrial may take some time before we see financial products, globally, are “Al Rayan GCC Fund has been steady increase in the demand State of Qatar”. water treatment in Ras Laffan significant uptake among local Shariah-compliant.” an excellent performer since it for electricity and water, which QEWC continued its pursuit of industrial city, and Abu fontas investors. An ETF is an index The balance sheets of Islamic was launched in 2010. Over the has been accompanied by the excellence in the field of electric- station expansion project (a-3) tracking fund that is listed on a banks are growing rapidly. As past three years, the Standard rapid pace of economic growth ity and water to become one of the for water desalination. stock exchange just like any other wealth across the Muslim world &Poor’s GCC Islamic index rose under the wise policy and vision region’s largest companies in this “In its endeavour to diversify stock. So by buying one stock, increases, Islamic investors are 13 percent while the GCC fund of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin sector, the minister said. sources of income and invest- investors are gaining access to all parking their money in banks. It was up by 60 percent over the Hamad Al Thani and the Father “It is still working to realise ment the company is expanding the stocks in the index that the is only recently that Qatar issued same period.” After more than Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin the aspirations for investment its foreign investment in power ETF tracks ”, he said. a sovereign sukuk and much of 40 percent growth last year, Al Khalifa Al Thani. in the electricity and water and water projects with balanced “ETFs are an important part of this was snapped up by Qatari Rayan Investment’s Assets under Speaking at the General projects within local, regional steps where it had launched our product strategy as currently and regional Islamic banks in no Management (AuM) are now in Assembly meeting of the and international markets by Nebras Power co. of which QEWC we offer clients an actively man- time. There is material under- excess of$850m. Company Dr Al Sada said: “The raising efficiency and improving owns 60 percent of its shares,” Dr aged mutual fund. We do think supply in sukuk in Qatar and the THE PENINSULA company succeeded in a quarter operational performance through Al Sada added. QNA

GM weighs claims after massive car recall

NEW YORK: The General that were deemed eligible Motors death toll from edged up to nine, out of 288 faulty ignition switches has filed. Eligible claims for hospi- climbed to 56 from 51 as the talization or outpatient medi- automaker’s independent cal treatment rose to 78, with compensation fund weighs 3,546 claims filed. claims after the massive car GM will pay a minimum recall. $1m in death compensation, The fund, in its latest report $300,000 for the surviving released on Monday, said it still spouse and another $300,000 is reviewing 1,388 total claims for each surviving dependent. for deaths and injuries linked Financial and medical to the ignition switch defect treatment compensation of that may allow the key to unin- at least $20,000 will also be tentionally switch to the off offered to those with eligible Deputy Chairman of Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah (third left), with other members of the board of directors and position, turning off electrical physical injury claims from an CEO Khalifa Abdulla Turki Al Subaey, at the AGM at the Four Seasons Hotel in Doha yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT components like airbag deploy- accident. ment while the car continues In January GM said it to move. had spent up to $1.9bn in It took GM nearly 11 years 2014 on recalls and victim QIC to raise capital up to QR1.85bn before beginning to recall the compensation. cars after hundreds of acci- The largest US automaker dents and deaths were report- recalled some 30 million DOHA: The annual gen- by Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Attiya, specialist insurance and rein- year-on-year increase of 59 per- edly linked to the flaw. vehicles last year to fix prob- eral meeting (AGM) of Qatar Deputy Chairman of the Board surance group operating in the cent over the same period in 2013. Kenneth Feinberg, the lems and compensate victims Insurance Company (QIC) of Directors of QIC, who reaf- Lloyd’s insurance market, and The net underwriting result for attorney in charge of the of accidents tied to faulty approved the board of directors’ firmed the Board’s commitment the establishment of a fully- the year was QR 664m, reflect- independent claims process ignitions. recommendation to raise the to develop and enhance the owned Malta-based subsidiary, ing an increase of 37 percent on set up by GM after recall- GM is under investigation company’s capital to QR1.85bn Group’s presence across the Gulf QIC Europe Limited, the Group the previous year. Investment ing 2.6 million cars over by Congress, regulators and from QR1.6bn. The AGM also Cooperation Council and MENA has further expanded its global income and other revenues were the ignition-switch problem the Justice Department over gave its nod to the recom- regions and to further expand its footprint. QR 1027m, providing an increase beginning last February, has why it waited more than a mended distribution of cash div- wider international operations in QIC Europe Limited is well- of 43 percent on the previous year. indicated it will take at least decade after first uncovering idends of 25 percent of the share pursuit of its strategic objective to poised to become a strategic Referring to the Group’s finan- a few months to process all the ignition-switch problem to par value and bonus shares of 15 establish QIC as a leading inter- platform for the Group for the cial performance in 2014, Group the claims received by the start recalling cars. percent of the share capital, i.e. national insurance and reinsur- underwriting of risks situ- President and CEO Khalifa January 31 deadline. Lawyers for many victims 3 shares for every 20 shares. ance group. ated throughout the European Abdulla Turki Al Subaey com- As of last Friday, accord- have already filed a number Approval was also granted The 2014 year was marked by Economic Area. mented: “We will continue to ing to the tally, the fund had of class-action suits that could for, amongst others matters, an the successful expansion of the QIC’s audited financial state- ensure that the QIC Group’s received 478 death claims and cost the company far more amendment to the Company’s QIC Group’s international busi- ments for the year ended expanding operations – both 165 remained under review. than its promised payouts Articles of Association to reflect ness which currently accounts December 31, 2014 highlight the domestic and international - to The number of claims for under the compensation pro- an increase in the level of per- for approximately 60 percent growth in its asset base to QR ensure that we maximise share- crippling injuries such as brain gramme. mitted non-Qatari investment in of its overall written premi- 16bn from QR 11.6bn in 2013. holder value and, ultimately, the damage or double amputation AFP QIC. ums. Through the acquisition Gross Written Premiums for 2014 success of the company.” The AGM was presided over of Antares Holdings Limited, reached QR 5614m, reflecting a THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Qatargas Gulf markets consolidate; participates Qatar index drops 0.4pc in METS 2015 DUBAI: Gulf stock markets Eastern Province Cement consolidated yesterday after dropped 3.4 percent. The stock DOHA: Qatargas is partici- seesawing in line with oil prices had tumbled 8.0 percent on pating as a ‘Platinum Sponsor’ over the last few days, while Monday after the company pro- in the ongoing Middle East Egypt pulled back further, hav- posed a 2.50 riyal cash dividend Turbomachinery Symposium ing previously outperformed for 2014, down from 3.50 riyals a (METS 2015). The bien- most markets in the Middle year earlier. nial event, organised by The East. Meanwhile, two companies Turbomachinery Laboratory Brent crude traded near focused on real estate develop- (Turbo Lab) of the Texas $62 per barrel yesterday as the ment in the Muslim holy city A&M Engineering Experiment International Energy Agency of Makkah, Jabal Omar and Station (TEES) is being hosted warned of supply risks in the Makkah Construction and by Qatar Petroleum and sup- Middle East, although some ana- Development, rose 3.8 and 1.7 ported by the Texas A&M lysts said that prices had risen percent respectively. University at Qatar. too far from six-year lows hit in Saudi Arabian newspapers Qatargas engineers are deliver- January. Arab News and Saudi Gazette ing two technical presentations Qatar’s index edged down reported on Monday that senior as part of the case study sessions 0.4 percent when it closed at officials were seeking to speed up being held as part of the sympo- 12,553.69 points from Monday’s the city’s development and would sium. Qatargas is also partici- position of 12,605.46 points. The hold an international conference pating in three discussion groups traded value today however on development of its low-income during the conference. A number increased to QR628.083m with a areas. of engineering professionals from Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada at the Middle East Turbomachinery Symposium. volume of 14,506,977 shares from Dubai’s stock index rose 0.9 Qatargas are attending the vari- 6,268 transactions compared percent as major developer ous sessions at the symposium. The event offers an oppor- of the latest technological Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), wet with QR 437.33m with a volume Emaar Properties, which tumbled As sponsors of the event, tunity for industry leaders to advancements in the oil and gas, vibration, gas turbines, surge, of 9,695,624 shares from 4,988 3.6 percent on Monday, climbed Qatargas is also participating in share ideas, exchange technical gas industry. and cavitation. Technical sessions transactions on Monday. 0.8 percent. the exhibition being held in con- knowledge and discuss ongoing METS 2015 features a world- will also cover topics on mainte- The main Saudi stock index Emaar reported a 14 percent junction with the symposium. industry related issues. As the class educational forum for tur- nance, design, and troubleshoot- was nearly flat as some stocks fell rise in fourth-quarter net profit The exhibition features industry world’s premier LNG Company, bomachinery engineers with a ing as well as short case studies on profit-taking or negative news. before Monday’s session, which leading companies with exhibits of Qatargas views its participa- total of 8 discussion groups, 10 describing in-the-field problems Petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic was slightly ahead of analysts’ the latest services and full-sized tion in the symposium as an tutorials, 12 lectures, and 18 case and their real-world solutions. Industries fell 1.0 percent, cutting estimates but triggered a bout of equipment. opportunity to keep abreast studies on various topics such as THE PENINSULA year-to-date gains to 14.3 percent. profit-taking. AGENCIES

Euro, stocks Greek premier rejects ‘blackmail’ recover on Greece would no longer be treated like a colony of a pariah in Europe, says Tsipras hopes of Greek deal BRUSSELS/ATHENS: A war Tsipras told lawmakers in his to Athens alone ... On February for the “loan agreement” to be the common currency, stuck to of words between Greece and Syriza party that the government 28, at midnight, it’s over.” extended as part of a “transi- his guns, saying Athens must seek NEW YORK: The euro EU paymaster Germany esca- — elected to scrap the bailout, tion” to a new deal. An “hon- an extension: “It’s really up to the rebounded on Tuesday and glo- lated yesterday with Athens’ reverse hated austerity meas- ‘UNREALISTIC’ ourable solution” was possible, Greeks. We cannot make them or bal equity markets recovered to new leftist prime minister ures and end cooperation with Seasoned Eurocrats com- Varoufakis insisted. ask them. We stand ready to work trade near break-even on signs refusing what he called “black- the “troika” of EU, ECB and IMF plained that Tsipras and his team His French counterpart, Michel with them, also (over) the next Greek banks will continue to mail” to extend an interna- lenders - would not compromise. were unprepared, unrealistic and Sapin aired a compromise idea to couple of days.” get emergency funding despite tional bailout and vowing to Greece would no longer be oblivious to the dangers they are let Greece run a smaller budget Schaeuble and others empha- a breakdown in debt talks rush through laws to reverse treated like a colony of a courting by refusing to roll over a surplus and said reaching a deal sised the unanimity Greek faced between Athens and euro zone labour reforms. pariah in Europe, Tsipras said. ¤240bn credit deal and demand- was largely a matter of phrase- across the table, with some finance ministers. Financial markets held their He accused “certain circles” ing easier terms. ology, since there was consensus ministers from eastern Europe Stocks on Wall Street pared nerve after the latest talks among in the euro zone of seeking Tsipras, 40, said he was in no that there would be no write-off noting that a minimum wage early losses on news Greece said euro zone finance ministers to undermine his government rush and would not give in to of Greek debt. Tsipras plans to raise is as high it intended to ask Wednesday for broke down late on Monday and and German Finance Minister “blackmail” from technocrats — But it was not clear that as average salaries in some coun- an extension of its loan agreement EU partners gave Greece until Wolfgang Schaeuble of losing a new hint that he hoped hitherto Sapin’s ideas had any backing tries where taxpayers funded the with the euro zone that would be the end of the week to request his cool and making comments unresponsive EU leaders would from Germany or other euro zone bailout. apart from a full bailout program, an extension or lose financial that degraded Greece. step in and clinch a political hardliners. Some other ministers said the a source in Brussels said. assistance. Schaeuble, 72, hammered home agreement with him, which they Tsipras raised the stakes by new Greek government did not US equities have been grinding Many investors believe that a take-it-or-leave-it message, declined to do last week. vowing to move fast to scrap seem to grasp the gravity of the higher lately, with major indexes whatever the rhetoric, both sides wondering sarcastically whether EU officials were trying to work labour market deregulation situation or put forward coherent notching a second week of solid will find a face-saving deal before Tsipras and his “famous econo- out whether his fierce rhetoric brought in by his conservative proposals in writing. gains last week and the S&P Athens’ credit lines expire in 10 mist” of a finance minister knew was aimed at bolstering domes- predecessor to meet international “It is troublesome that Greece 500 setting a new closing high days. If they fail, Greece could what they wanted or were making tic support to avert any backlash creditors’ demands for less pro- has twice explained its goals on Friday. Much of the advance rapidly run out of cash and need the right choices for the Greek against eventual compromise, or tection for workers’ rights. orally, but no written presentation came on signs of progress for a its own currency. people.“The question still remains signalled he was retreating from His statement contrasted with has been given yet,” said Finnish Greek debt deal and reduced ten- However, the European Central if Greece wants a programme a deal. Varoufakis’ apparent readiness in Prime Minister Antti Rinne, one sions between Russia and Ukraine Bank is not about to cut off emer- at all or not,” he told reporters Greek Finance Minister Yanis Brussels to postpone measures to of the euro zone hawks. despite continued clashes in some gency funding for Greek banks in Brussels after another day Varoufakis — an academic econo- unpick the bailout programme for Time is running short and areas. Traders said the market this week, a source familiar with of meetings in Brussels. “All of mist — dismissed suggestions his several months in return for con- investors marked down Greek was pricing in the prospect of a the situation said. And both sides us... want the euro zone to stay only option was to ask for the tinued funding. stocks and bonds after Monday’s last-minute deal on Greece. continued to insist that Greece together. bailout to be extended. He said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch debacle, some saying the risk of “The costs of a Greek exit will remain in the euro. “But everyone must do their he had been ready to sign a text finance minister who chairs the Greece exiting the euro had risen. (from the euro zone) are so great Greek Prime Minister Alexis part and it’s a decision that’s up that Greek officials said called Eurogroup of 19 countries using REUTERS for Greece, they will eventually strike a deal. Yesterday’s meeting should not be seen as a failure, but more part of a necessary process,” said James Butterfill, global equity strategist at Coutts in London. High-quality transportation key to MSCI’s all-country world stock index rose 0.08 percent, rebound- ing from earlier losses, while the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 Qatar’s development: US expert index closed up 0.18 percent at 1,504.86. DOHA: As part of Discover On Wall Street, the Dow America — USA Week Qatar, Jones industrial average rose the American Chamber of 27.04 points, or 0.15 percent, to Commerce in Qatar (AmCham 18,046.39. The S&P 500 gained Qatar) hosted Rodney Slater, 3.94 points, or 0.19 percent, former US Secretary of to 2,100.93 and the Nasdaq Transportation, at the organi- Composite added 7.78 points, or sation’s Distinguished Speaker 0.16 percent, to 4,901.62. Series yesterday. The event Even as Greek financial mar- was attended by approximately kets slipped, with the main Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R Seetharaman delivers lecture at the College 40 business leaders, including Athens stock index falling as of the North Atlantic—Qatar (CNA-Q). AmCham Qatar members. much as 4.7 percent before closing Slater, who was Secretary of down 2.5 percent, on the whole Transportation during President investors kept their composure on ‘Oil price fall not a reflection Clinton’s administration, spoke expectations a compromise would on US infrastructure and trans- eventually be reached. of demand and supply alone’ portation investment opportuni- Greek stocks cut their losses ties — a key topic in Qatar, as while Italian and Spanish 10-year DOHA: Doha Bank’s Group global level and that territorial the country continues to undergo government debt yields rose only CEO Dr R Seetharaman deliv- integrity is merely incidental. significant infrastructure devel- slightly. Earlier, safe-haven buy- ered a lecture yesterday on Global governance structures opments. He highlighted the ing of U.S. Treasuries on con- “Economic Integration Towards that transform the dynamics importance of high-quality trans- cerns about Greece and Ukraine a Borderless World’ to students of policy-making are becoming portation routes both locally and dissipated. at the College of the North imperative to achieving sustain- regionally, saying improved trans- Rodney Slater, former US Secretary of Transportation, during AmCham “The decline yesterday was in Atlantic — Qatar (CNA-Q). able economic growth.” portation routes will significantly Qatar programme. very thin trading. The market The lecture was hosted as part On the fall in oil prices, Dr increase trade with the business recognizes that Greece is fairly of Doha Bank’s ongoing efforts Seetharaman said the plunging community no longer relying on pressure on transport infrastruc- privileged to be receiving this isolated ... without much of a to engage Qatari students oil prices are not a reflection of one means of transportation. tures grow. With the completion invaluable insight from Slater..” contagion impact,” said Marc in dynamic discussions that demand and supply alone. In the Slater, also a Partner at Squire of the new Hamad International Discover America – USA Week Chandler, global head of cur- enhance their understanding of last six months, we have seen oil Patton Boggs, said: “Qatar is Airport (HIA), the build of the Qatar a week-long economic, rency strategy at Brown Brothers economic and financial issues. prices come down by 50 per cent undergoing some tremendously rail network is essential in order culinary, and cultural showcase of Harriman in New York. Sharing his insights on the – this does not mean that sup- exciting and ambitious infra- to reduce the number of cars on the US in Qatar, that started on US Treasury debt yields rose concept of global economic inte- ply has increased by 50 percent, structural developments which the roads, which again will have a President’s Day 2015 . AmCham on growing expectations the gration, Dr Seetharaman said: or that demand has reduced by are only going to improve all big impact on traffic safety.” Qatar aims to make the USA Federal Reserve could change “Today, there is greater recog- 50 percent. Yes, there indeed is aspects of transportation in the Robert A Hager, Chairman, Week Qatar an annual tradition, the language in its next monetary nition that, as we move towards excess supply, but what really has country. With an increasing AmCham Qatar said: “As Qatar celebrating the multifaceted part- policy statement to flag a possible a borderless world, politics and changed is the currency. number of immigrants arriv- continues its monumental devel- nership and friendship between the interest rate increase as early as economics have to converge at a THE PENINSULA ing in Qatar on a daily basis, the opment projects, we are very two nations. THE PENINSULA June. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Brent hits new 2015 year high British inflation LONDON: Oil futures ral- lied sharply yesterday after- noon, with Brent crude hitting hits record low a 2015 high of $63 a barrel as short-covering returned to the market, which was depressed earlier by worries about euro Falling fuel prices push inflation down zone stability. Brent oil’s front-month con- LONDON: Britain’s annual throttling demand and causing tract for April delivery was up inflation rate slowed to a record companies to lay off workers. $1.44 at $62.84 a barrel by 2:23 low of 0.3 percent in January on “As expected, UK inflation p.m. EST (1923 GMT), rebound- the back of plunging oil prices fell in January to 0.3 percent, its ing from a session low of $60.27. and lower food costs, official lowest level since the Office for The session peak was $63, the data showed yesterday. National Statistics began to pub- highest for this year. US crude “The Consumer Prices Index lish the Consumer Prices Index futures for March rose 96 cents to (CPI) grew by 0.3 percent in the in 1997,” said Ben Brettell, sen- $53.74 a barrel, versus the intra- year to January 2015, down from ior economist at stockbroker day low of $50.81. Options expiry 0.5 percent in December,” the Hargreaves Lansdown. in March futures was slated for Office for National Statistics said “Predictably, the main contrib- Tuesday, ahead of Friday’s con- in a statement. utors were falling fuel and food tract expiry. REUTERS “Falling prices for motor fuels prices. In the year to January food and food were the main contribu- prices fell by 2.8 percent and fuel tors to the slowdown in the rate prices by 16.2 percent. Together Singapore’s NOL of inflation,” it added. these factors depressed the over- Inflation in Britain could all rate of inflation by 0.9 percent- A stall worker bags up fruit for a customer at a market in Soho, central London, yesterday. Britain’s annual inflation sells logistics arm meanwhile turn negative within age points.” rate slowed to a record low of 0.3 percent in January on the back of plunging oil prices and lower food costs. months and interest rates cut, A basket of goods and services to Japan’s Kintetsu Bank of England governor Mark that cost £100 ($154, 135 euros) forecast that 12-month CPI infla- bout of deflation is expected to be A fragmented vote in which no Carney said last week, signalling in January 2014 would have risen tion will average at about zero in short-lived,” Scott Corfe, an ana- party wins an overall majority is SINGAPORE: Singapore con- fresh risks to the economy before by only 30 pence by last month. the second and third quarters of lyst at the Centre for Economics seen as the most likely result, tainer shipping firm Neptune the country’s election. Crude oil prices slumped 60 2015, before climbing at the end and Business Research, said in meaning smaller parties will Orient Lines (NOL) said yes- While a sustained period of percent between last June and of the year. the wake of yesterday’s data. probably have to prop up either terday it is selling its logistics falling prices may sound good for January, resulting in cheaper pet- “Unlike in the eurozone, where Britain, presently governed by Prime Minister David Cameron’s business to Japanese freight consumers, deflation can trigger a rol and lower manufacturing costs there is a risk of a negative spiral a Conservative-Liberal Democrat Conservatives or the main opposi- company Kintetsu World vicious spiral in which businesses generally. of falling prices and weakening coalition, holds a general election tion Labour. Express, Inc. for $1.2bn. and households delay purchases, The Bank of England has economic performance, the UK’s in May. AFP NOL said in a filing with the Singapore Exchange its decision to sell APL Logistics would allow it to focus on its core liner ship- ping business. Proceeds from the sale will Half of projects in Cairo investment meet to be in energy sector be used to strengthen the com- pany’s financial position, includ- ing repaying debts, said NOL, CAIRO: Half the projects four years of turmoil. repayment plans has led to an subsidies by 2019. But Ahwany investment that Egypt hoped to Southeast Asia’s biggest container Egypt will propose at a March Securing financing for Egypt’s unexpected resurgence in oil and said the government did not want attract. Ahwany instead focused line. investment summit will be in energy sector, which has seen an gas exploration and supply deals the energy sector to divert atten- on the conference’s symbolic value NOL, which is 65 percent the energy sector, the minis- increase in foreign investment in previously delayed by political tion from other potential invest- as an opportunity to present Egypt owned by Singapore state- ter of international cooperation past months, will be a major part upheaval. ment opportunities in transport, as an attractive destination after linked investment firm Temasek said yesterday. of the conference, international In January alone, Egypt agriculture and a Suez Canal the uncertainty that has hung over Holdings, reported a net loss of The government of President cooperation minister Naglaa El clinched 15 new exploration deals, logistics hub. the country since two leaders were $260m last year, widening from Abdel Fattah Al Sisi sees the con- Ahwany said in an interview. amended two more, and closed “Energy is very important, but ousted in 2011 and 2013. the $76m loss it reported in 2013. ference, partly supported by Gulf “I would say half of them, half major tenders to import liquefied we would also like to diversify “The main objective of this The transaction is expected to allies and due to be held in the of the projects we’ll propose” will natural gas (LNG) from Algeria the investments in the country,” conference is to send a strong be completed by mid-2015, the resort town of Sharm Al Sheikh, be in energy, Ahwany said. to Russia, opening up to global she said, while declining to spec- message to the whole world that company said. as playing a key role in turning Egypt’s willingness to push fuel energy pricing norms as the gov- ify how many projects would be Egypt is back,” she said. AFP around an economy battered by market reforms and stick to debt ernment seeks to scrap crippling presented, or a dollar amount of REUTERS

Taxi drivers protest

Italian taxi drivers take to the streets in a nation-wide action to protest against the online taxi-hailing company Uber in the centre of Turin yesterday. Taxi unions say Uber violates a 1992 law which states that hired drivers can only be ordered from the garage where their business is based. European car sales recovery gains momentum in January MILAN: The recovery in data) does get slightly more depreciation of the euro, the pol- Europe’s car market gathered challenging over the coming two icy of the ECB and improved con- momentum in January, indus- months before easing through the sumer confidence among families try data showed yesterday, as second quarter.” The strength of and businesses,” he said. an improvement in consumer the January increase partially Mass-market and selected pre- confidence, retail incentives and reflects weak figures for the same mium brands were big beneficiar- new product launches boosted month a year ago. ies of the pick up in demand. demand for most brands. New registrations increased European sales of Volkswagen’s New passenger car registra- in almost all of Europe’s main and Renault’s namesake brands tions in the European Union and markets in January and were rose 8.3 percent and 11.4 percent, European Free Trade Association the rise was particularly strong respectively, while those for GM’s trading block rose 6.2 percent in Portugal and Spain, where Opel/Vauxhall brand increased during the month to 1.03 million they were up around 28 percent. 15.1 percent. vehicles from 968,451 in the same Spanish sales benefited from Fiat Chrysler deliveries grew month last year, according to data a government subsidy scheme, by 5.8 percent, thanks to a 164 from the Association of European which offers price cuts on new percent jump in Jeep sales, follow- Carmakers (ACEA). low-emission vehicles. ing the launch of the Renegade, Europe’s car industry is turn- In Italy, where sales rose 10.9 a small model targeting the ing the corner after a six-year percent, Gian Primo Quagliano, European market. slump during which sales fell to president of industry group Improving consumer confi- their lowest in decades. Centro Studi Promotor, said there dence also lifted sales of German “January was another strong was more upside to Europe’s premium brands, with regis- month,” George Galliers, an ana- fourth-largest car market. trations of Daimler’s Mercedes lyst with Evercore ISI, said in a “Things in Italy could improve vehicles and BMW cars increas- note. “We remain constructive substantially through positive ing 12.7 percent and 4.9 percent, on the European auto market, boosts to our economy expected respectively. though note the (comparison from a drop in crude prices, the REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Libyan oil exports shut off as violence spreads No oil tankers have left in past week; two small offshore platforms still exporting

LONDON/CAIRO: Libya’s oil exports level since the 2011 civil war is another October. Most of the oil it is managing to led to the overthrow and death of leader investments in the Middle East,” the have collapsed to just a trickle from illustration of how the country is on the extract is consumed by the Zawiya refin- Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. International Energy Agency’s top econo- two small offshore platforms, officials brink. ery near Tripoli, which is struggling to A number of Islamist movements have mist, Fatih Birol, said on Tuesday. and industry sources said yesterday, “I’ve not seen any Libyan exports in produce enough fuel for domestic use. taken hold in Libya, with some declaring Italian state-controlled ENI, the big- as violence in the country has shut all over a week,” one trader at a company Only 70,000 to 80,000 barrels per day ties to the Islamic State militant group gest foreign oil producer in terms of vol- major ports. that buys oil from the country said. are being exported from the two offshore and claiming high-profile attacks in what umes in Libya, said it had withdrawn all Not a single crude oil tanker has Brent crude oil rose above $62 a barrel platforms of Bouri and Al Jurf, which a appears to be an intensifying campaign. expatriate employees apart from those departed Libya in the past week, indus- this week to its highest price of 2015, sup- spokesman for the National Oil Corp Gunmen said to be linked to Islamic working offshore, though some oil and try sources say and ship tracking shows, ported by disruptions to Middle Eastern said were working normally. They can State killed 12 people in early February, gas production was continuing. with supplies to the last operating port and North African supplies. take between five and 10 days to produce including foreign oil workers, after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al of Hariga disrupted over the weekend by Libya, which relies on oil revenue for enough oil to fill a single tanker. storming a remote oilfield in southern Sisi called for a United Nations resolu- a pipeline fire. almost its entire budget, is producing Libya is riven by conflict, with two Libya. tion mandating an international coalition While the sabotaged line to Hariga less than 200,000 barrels per day, down rival governments operating their own “The security problems caused by to intervene in Libya after Egypt’s air may be repaired in the coming days, from 1.6 million bpd before the civil war armed forces under separate parliaments, Daesh (Islamic State) and others are force bombed Islamic State targets there. the collapse in oil exports to the lowest and around 900,000 bpd as recently as nearly four years after the civil war that creating a major challenge for the new REUTERS

Increasing demand Bank Dhofar working with two advisers on capital plans DUBAI: Oman’s Bank Dhofar is working with National Bank of Abu Dhabi and Standard Chartered as it studies options for rais- ing its reserves including selling a capital-boosting bond, banking sources said yesterday. The sultanate’s second-largest lender by assets said last month it was mulling options for raising up to $300m of capital at the earliest opportunity, with a bond which enhanced its Tier 1, or core, capital the preferred method. The two advisers have been working with Bank Dhofar for around six months, one of the banking sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information isn’t public. Calls to Bank Dhofar’s chief executive, its chief financial officer and a spokesman all went unanswered. A number of Gulf banks, including Qatar’s Doha Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have said in recent weeks they are planning to boost their capital reserves after a period of strong growth. Many are looking at the bond or sukuk route, although should Bank Dhofar complete such a transaction it would be the first by an Omani lender. The sultanate’s central bank has yet to clarify how such instru- ments would be treated under Basel III regulations, which is impacting on Bank Dhofar’s thinking, it said last month. Another potential complication is the possible merger with Bank Sohar, which Bank Dhofar first approached its smaller rival about in July 2013 but has yet to come to any formal conclusion. A second banker said such uncertainty would play on investors’ minds when they were conducting due diligence. Bank Dhofar had a total capital adequacy ratio (CAR), a key indicator of a bank’s financial health, of 13.82 percent at the end of 2014, down from 14.09 percent at the same point of the previous year. By comparison, Bank Muscat and National Bank of Oman, the sultanate’s largest and third-largest lend- A worker picks up a raw cricket bat from a stack of bats kept out for drying at a factory in Bijbehara, south of Srinagar, in India yesterday. Kashmiri ers by assets, had respective CARs at the end of 2014 of 15.92 percent bat makers said that the sale of their willow cricket bats has increased since the start of the Cricket World Cup tournament currently played in and 14.6 percent. REUTERS Australia and New Zealand. Booming Nestle USA strips artificial bits from chocoloate candy US shale oil WASHINGTON: No more major US candy manufacturer more than an 60 percent of Yellow 5 in Butterfinger’s crunchy The revamped products will artificial flavors and colors in to make this commitment,” said Americans said the absence of center. Natural vanilla flavor begin appearing on store shelves output set for Butterfinger, Babe Ruth or Doreen Ida, president of Nestle artificial colors or flavors was will replace artificial vanillin in by mid-2015, labeled “No Artificial any Nestle chocolate candies USA Confections & Snacks. important to their food pur- Crunch. Flavors or Colors”, the company slowdown: BP in the United States, because The unit of the world’s lead- chase decisions. Nestle USA said “We know that candy consum- said. And all newly launched choc- Americans want them gone, the ing food company said its cus- it would replace the artificial ers are interested in broader olate and non-chocolate candy LONDON: Booming US shale Swiss food giant said yesterday. tomer research on brands like flavors, and colors certified as food trends around fewer artifi- products marketed by Nestle USA output, which helped spark Nestle USA pledged to remove Butterfinger showed US consum- safe by the US Food and Drug cial ingredients. As we thought will be made without artificial fla- slumping oil prices, will con- artificial flavors and government- ers prefer candy that is free of Administration (FDA), with about what this means for our vors or colors, it pledged. tinue over the next 20 years certified colors from all its more artificial flavors and colors. ingredients from natural sources. candy brands, our first step has The company also said it is but start to slow, increasing than 250 products by the end of The company also cited For example, annato from the been to remove artificial flavors working on removing caramel demand for Opec crude, BP the year. Nielsen’s 2014 Global Health & seed of the fruit from the achi- and colors without affecting taste coloring, used in nine of its choco- forecast yesterday. “We’re excited to be the first Wellness Survey, which found ote tree will replace Red 40 and or increasing the price.” late products. AFP The British energy giant revealed its verdict in an annual global Energy Outlook report which covers the period 2013-2035. “The current weakness in the oil market, which stems in large Somali airspace part from strong growth in tight oil production in the US, is likely to take several years to work through,” BP said in the report. draws competition World oil prices have collapsed by 60 percent between last June NAIROBI: Regional carri- that once had the market to and January, hit by a global sup- ers Daallo Airlines and Jubba themselves. ply glut exacerbated by surging Airways profited independently Turkish Airlines now offers US shale production. In reac- for years in one of the world’s a daily service to Mogadishu, tion, the global energy sector has toughest markets, competing while Ethiopian Airlines flies slashed investment. on routes to war-torn Somalia to Hargeisa in the self-declared “At a time when our industry that most avoided. state of Somaliland in the north, a is focused on the rapid response Yet as the guns fall silent, destination flydubai plans to serve to a dramatic fall in oil prices, the rivals face a new battle from March. Kenya-based African it is instructive to look at events that has pushed them to merge: Express also serves Mogadishu from a longer term perspective,” competition from big interna- and other Somali cities. said BP Chief Executive Bob tional carriers such as Turkish Turkish Airlines said it had Dudley. Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines and increased flights to Mogadishu in “Today’s turbulence is a return flydubai, muscling into Somali January to seven a week from four to business-as-usual. Continuous airspace. but said it had “no near future change is the norm in our indus- “The odds are against us, but plans” to add other destinations try. The energy mix changes. The that is the reason we are making in Somalia. balance of demand shifts. a merger,” Mohamed Yassin, chief Daallo and Jubba, which offer “New sources of energy emerge, executive officer of Daallo, said. domestic flights within Somalia such as shale gas, tight oil, ultra- “We are not sitting back. We are but face more competition on deepwater oil or renewables. trying to put our forces together international routes, will tomor- Daallo Airlines staff prepare to offload cargo after the airline operated by Air Mediterranee, arrived at Aden Economies expand and contract. ... to face the new challenges.” row launch African Airways Abdule International Airport in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu yesterday. . . Energy companies need to Hardy entrepreneurs running Alliance, a merged entity owned adapt.” airlines, money transfer firms and equally by founders of the former US shale oil production hit mobile phone companies inno- rivals. 2014 and generated revenues of Yassin described Somalia as a because we were the lifeline for a record 1.5 million barrels per vated and thrived in Somalia for “We are trying to attract other more than $75m, the airlines said “home market” for both airlines Somalis in the last 20 years,” said day (mbpd) in 2014, weigh- more than two decades, keeping carriers to join the alliance to in a statement. By comparison, after they acted as a “lifeline” in 62-year-old Yassin. But he said ing on demand for crude from Somalis connected to the world as scale the business, to help growth Turkish Airlines carried 54.7 mil- the war. they were not in a position to dic- the 12-nation Organisation of the state was torn apart by war- and sustainability,” said Yassin in lion passengers in 2014. But he said the Somali authori- tate terms: “If anybody comes to Petroleum Exporting Countries lords and Islamist militants. an interview in Nairobi with one- Daallo is the privately owned ties had offered little support for them, they cannot reject (them).” (Opec) cartel. Now Mogadishu’s Western- time rival and now partner, Jubba national carrier of Djibouti, north Daallo and Jubba on issues such Yassin said this put the regional “The strength of tight oil and backed federal government is Chairman Said Qailie. of Somalia, while Jubba is regis- as flight frequencies or capacity carriers at a disadvantage to big- the relative weakness of demand slowly extending its control and He said the two airlines would tered in next door Kenya to the of planes used by new entrants, ger international players with have reduced the market require- imposing a semblance of politi- still use their Jubba and Daallo south. There is no official Somali topics typically negotiated in larger fleets and access to cheaper ment for Opec crude in recent cal order, which is also changing brands after the merger. flag carrier after Somali Airlines air agreements between two financing. “There should be fair years,” added BP. the commercial landscape for Together, Daallo and Jubba car- halted services in 1991 when war territories. competition,” he said. AFP firms such as Daallo and Jubba ried about 250,000 passengers in flared up. “They sympathise with us, REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,553.69 0.41 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,842.68 0.41 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,397.03 0.59 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,250.34 0.37 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,265.94 0.10 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5822.313 -27.209 -0.47 5852.3 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 4,022.52 0.30 % QR143.4450 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,468.22 0.00 % Cac 40 Index/D 4745.71 -6.24 -0.13 4779.54 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,532.93 1.13 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5676 QR 5.6452 QE All Share Insurance 4,084.8 0.22 % Dj Indu Average 18019.35 46.97 0.26 18103.4 15855.12 QR 1.9776 Euro ...... QR 4.1369 QR 4.1944 QE All Share Telecoms 1,418.47 1.55 % CA$ ...... QR 2.9172 QR 2.9742 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,493.96 0.27 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24784.88 58.35 0.24 25048.26 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8887 QR 3.9450 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5684.55 -7.15 -0.13 5781.83 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0304 QR 0.0310 Aus$ ...... QR 2.8227 QR 2.8781 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 33801.1 4.66 0.01 35055.94 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 17-02-2015 16-02-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0580 QR 0.0591 Index 12,553.69 12,605.46 Nikkei 225 Index 17987.09 -17.68 -0.1 18074.26 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0356 QR 0.0361 Change 51.77 87.45 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0817 QR 0.0834 S&P 500 Index/D 2096.99 8.51 0.41 2097.03 1814.36 % 0.41 0.69 $ 61.89 SL Re ...... QR 0.0271 QR 0.0280 YTD% 2.18 2.60 Straits Times/D 3415.91 -11.25 -0.33 3448.96 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 14,506,977 9,695,624 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0365 QR 0.0372 Value (QAR) 628,083,263.41 437,339,842.96 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3109 QR 0.3171 Trades 6,268 4,988 $ 58.60 Up 11 | Down 26 | Unchanged 03 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 17-02-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A C C-A/D 1611.95 -12.35 32782 Cmc Ltd-A/D 1958.65 33.75 3710 Hind Unilever-/D 907.2 14.45 114643 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 367.9 5.9 4420 Rallis India-A/D 236 -1.85 23916 Imperial Tobac/D 3020 23 343599 Aarti Drugs-B/D 1336 52.7 7463 Colgate-A/D 1912 3.8 20389 Hind.Petrol-A/D 597.45 -29.15 296891 Lgb Broth-B/D 567.5 -4.5 2495 Reliance Indus/D 448.45 -3.45 63134 Kingfisher/D 341.8 -1.2 1852015 Aban Offs-A/D 482.4 3.05 191904 Container Cor-/D 1408.6 -18.7 3603 Hindalco-A/D 150.85 -2.65 540599 Lloyd Metal-B/D 8.98 0.06 2540 Ruchi Soya-B/D 41.1 1.05 190673 Land Secs Grou/D 1237 -6 415659 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 293.6 -2.7 43255 Dcm Financia-B/D 1 -0.01 2300 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1288.1 19.6 264199 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 13 -0.16 11278 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139.8 -4.5 23503 LONDON Tate & Lyle/D 576.3867 -0.5 790624 Canfin Homes-B/D 607.5 -9.6 15045 Gail-A/D 406.7 0.45 95245 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 129 4.65 1160710 O N G C-A/D 340.5 0.6 406117 Tesco/D 243.8 1.4 9265952 Caprihans-B/D 80 -1 4096 Galada Power-T/D 28.5 0.45 11915 Jmc Projects-T/D 169 -3.55 1912 Ocl India-B/D 565 -6.05 3812 3I Group/D 471.7 1.1 250208 Unilever/D 2761 12 778071 Castrol India-/D 484.1 -11.35 58035 Gammon India-T/D 19.2 -0.25 164421 Kabra Extr-B/D 88 -3.75 139592 Oil Country-B/D 35.1 -0.2 4956 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2936 10 186655 United Util Gr/D 937.5 -3 538817 Century Enka-B/D 159.5 -0.8 7106 Garden P -B/D 29.15 -0.45 11437 Kajaria Cer-A/D 820 12.55 4645 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.7 -1.75 189366 Barclays/D 256.6573 -2.15 11606285 Vodafone Group/D 230.8 0.8 10587218 Century Text-A/D 526.9 7.6 127739 Goodricke-B/D 152.9 0.7 10421 Kalpat Power-B/D 232.5 -4.4 17282 Orient Hotel-T/D 22.2 0.15 2463 Bg Group/D 969.9 4.5 2732802 Whitbread/D 4927 -83 184356 Chambal Fert-B/D 65.55 0.2 76883 Goodyear I -B/D 602.25 9.7 19296 Kalyani Stel-T/D 137.7 -1.35 40229 Orient.Carb.-T/D 500.9 6.5 5824 Bp/D 453.4 1.5 8944179 Chola Invest-B/D 557.95 -4.7 4273 Hcl Infosys-B/D 50.8 4.8 1485821 Kanoria Chem-B/D 36.9 -1.25 19526 Orient.Carb.-T/D 500.9 6.5 5824 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3600.5 6 579290 Chowgule St-T/D 23.3 -0.85 3986 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 16.2 0.1 1657101 Kg Denim-B/D 22.75 0 9110 Pacific Indu-B/D 256.4 3.1 51006 Bt Group/D 440.2 2.2 4117308 Cimmco-B/D 70 1.4 12620 Himat Seide-B/D 85.6 -2.9 28822 Kilburnengg-T/D 44.35 -2.1 33070 Punjab Chem.-B/D 113 0.4 2846 Centrica/D 278.8 0 3257586 Cipla-A/D 670.4 2.3 148122 Hind Motors-T/D 7.1 0.04 42369 Kinetic Eng-B/D 44.15 1.9 7452 Radico Khait-B/D 85.25 -0.9 49623 Gkn/D 375.1 -0.4 1007765 City Union Bk-/D 94.55 -0.15 55166 Hind Org Chem-/D 18.6 0.05 15462 Kopran-B/D 48.9 -3.75 267822 Rallis India-A/D 236 -1.85 23916 Hsbc Holdings/D 601.2 0.1 8508507 WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Russian athletics chief resigns Balakhnichev says he ‘failed to confront in full the rise of doping problems in Russia’

MOSCOW: Russian Athletics (RUSADA) for having abnormal Federation chief Valentin indexes of haematological profiles Balakhnichev confirmed his res- in their biological passports. Balakhnichev takes ignation from the post yester- Russian heptathlete Tatiana day following a string of doping Chernova, a bronze medallist scandals. at the London Olympics, and The 65-year-old Balakhnichev, the 2011 world champion in the parting shot at IAAF who has presided over athletics in 50km walk, Sergei Bakulin, were the country since 1991, announced also banned along with Vladimir MOSCOW: Russian Athletics earlier this month that he would Kanaikin, who was banned for Federation (VFLA) President step down and confirmed his res- life for a repeated doping offence Valentin Balakhnichev ignation at the federation’s execu- after serving a two-year ban from (pictured) criticised the tive board meeting. 2008 to 10. International Association of “I decided to resign,” A 60-minute documentary Athletics Federations (IAAF) Balakhnichev said. “I failed to Secret Doping Dossier: How Russia in his final address in the role confront in full the rise of doping produces its Winners aired by yesterday. problems in Russia. And I under- German broadcaster ARD in “I want to ask the IAAF to cre- stand that as the (athletics) fed- December, pointed the finger at ate a fairer balance,” he said at eration President I’m personally Balakhnichev amongst others. a VFLA session meeting before responsible for it. That was the The documentary featured officially stepping down from his reason of my decision. hard-hitting accusations by position. “I hand the federation into my 800m runner Yulia Stepanova, “When 90 blood tests are taken followers’ hands in good condition, who has also been banned for a from Russian sportsmen and just free of debts. Currently we have doping violation, and her husband nine are taken in Britain over only one serious problem — it’s Vitaly Stepanov, who had worked the same period, this is unfair,” he said. “Up until recently, they the doping problem.” for RUSADA between 2008 and Balakhnichev added. did not take on any responsibil- Balakhnichev has named his 2011. “The law of averages will work ity. For them, when someone got deputy Vadim Zelichenok as Meanwhile, the World Anti- against us. It is unfair to concen- caught taking illegal substances, the athletics federation’s acting Doping Agency (WADA) has also trate all your attention on just a it was always a surprise.” supremo until elections are held appointed an independent com- few countries.” One of Russia’s top coaches, to decide who his permanent suc- mission led by Richard Pound, Russia’s anti-doping agency Ivan Bitsenko, said responsibility cessor will be. a former head of the agency, to (RUSADA) announced last for doping offences lay with the Last month Olympic steeple- investigate the case. month that three Olympic athletes. chase champion Yulia Zaripova Balakhnichev, who is also the walking champions, Olga “Coaches are to blame around and three Olympic champions in treasurer for world athletics rul- Ukrainian pole vaulter Maksym Mazuryk trains in Donetsk, eastern Kaniskina, Valery Borchin, Sergei 10 percent of the time for dop- race walking - Sergei Kirdyapkin, ing body the IAAF, has tempo- Ukraine, on February 4. Banned from competing after choosing to stay Kirdyapkin, as well as 2011 world ing offences. The athletes have Olga Kaniskina and Valery rarily stepped down from that in the separatist east of Ukraine, Mazuryk, the 2010 world pole vaulting champion Sergei Bakulin and 2011 already learned what substances Borchin — were all banned by the position while the allegations are vice-champion, is contemplating exile to neighbouring Russia. world silver medalist Vladimir to take and can inject themselves. country’s Anti-Doping Agency investigated. AFP Kanaykin had been suspended The fridges and cupboards of ath- for doping infringements. letes at training camps are full Russian athletes involved in of suspect substances,” Bitsenko major doping incidents will face said. Marathons marked for doping crackdown disciplinary proceedings in the Balakhnichev confirmed his next three months as the sport decision to step down as president. PARIS: Athletics global gov- fastest women in history, and races on all the elite field, as we Shobukhova was banned for bids to deal with a “crisis”, the “I am handing over the reigns erning body is to launch a doping Kenya’s Rita Jeptoo, three time have been doing for the past two two years in April, 2014 over sus- IAAF said on Monday. to the vice-president, Vadim crackdown on elite marathon winner of the Boston marathon, years, but also urine tests out of picious blood values in her bio- The IAAF and the World Anti- Zelichenok, and the Federation runners after scandals involving sullied the name of one of the competition.” logical passport. Her three wins Doping Agency (WADA)begun a is in good health. There are no top Kenyan and Russian stars. original Olympic disciplines. Drug investigators would have at the Chicago marathon and probe into Russian race-walking debts,” he said. Organisers of the top races Jeptoo — who in the past two “more resources to follow a group one at the London race were all after a German television docu- “The only problem is doping. It in London, New York, Boston, years has achieved the Chicago/ of 100-250 elite marathon runners annulled. mentary, broadcast by ZDF/ARD is also my right to continue my Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin have Boston double — was one of 35 in the world,” Capdevielle added. The suspension was back- in December, alleged widespread legal battle against the ARD tel- agreed to finance extra testing of Kenyan athletes suspended over “So we will have like a sub- dated by the Russian federation drug use. evision channel. top runners by the International the past two years for taking group that we will very closely to January 2013 and Shobukhova The allegations have not “I have no regrets about step- Association of Athletics banned drugs. follow-up.” theoretically became free to run been verified by Reuters and ping down and I am not upset Federations (IAAF). The WMM “offered their con- He added that a new drug test- again last month. Balakhnichev denounced them about anything. Everything The finance from World tribution to our programme,” said ing laboratory to be opened in Capdevielle said marathon as “a pack of lies”. that has happened is my fault,” Marathon Majors (WMM) means Thomas Capdevielle, the IAAF’s Kenya within three months would runners are harder to monitor Balakhnichev did, however, Balakhnichev added. that the top 150 runners will face anti-doping manager, announcing be a “significant achievement.” for drugs as they compete less admit that the fight against dop- Valentin Maslakov, who stood tougher testing after races and the clampdown. Capdevielle called it a “priority often. ing in Russia was not successful down as head coach of Russian out of competition. He said it “basically means project” that would analyse blood But the IAAF had long been enough. athletics on Jan. 23, will take on Failed tests by Russia’s Liliya systematic ABP (athletes bio- tests on Kenyan, Ethiopian, and suspicious of Shobukhova’s per- “The main problem is working a new role in charge of the coun- Shobukhova, who was the second logical passport) testing at the Ugandan athletes. formances. AFP within the regions of our country,” try’s sprint teams. REUTERS Clarke set to be appointed Love to return as US Ryder Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Cup captain, says report

LONDON: It would be a champion has tasted defeat just MIAMI: Davis Love (pic- eighth man to captain the US major surprise if anyone but once in the seven times he has tured), who captained the US Ryder Cup squad more than former British Open champion been involved in the Ryder Cup, Ryder Cup team that lost a 2012 once, a list that includes Watson, Darren Clarke (pictured) was when the US won at Brookline in heartbreaker at Medinah, will Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Jack appointed Europe’s new Ryder 1999, and he appears to tick the return to guide the Americans Burke, San Snead, Ben Hogan Cup captain today. right boxes in terms of experience against Europe in 2016, Golf and Walter Hagen. Of those, only A five-man selection panel is and support from the players. Channel reported Monday. Burke lost his debut but received due to make an announcement on Media reports have incorrectly The report on the network’s a second chance. Paul McGinley’s successor after suggested in recent days that only website said the PGA of America Among others thought to be meeting at the European Tour’s the three former captains will will announce Love as the choice contenders for the job were Fred Wentworth headquarters on the have a vote, with O’Grady and to captain the US team next year Couples, a close friend of Love outskirts of London. Howell stepping in if the trio can- at Hazeltine on February 24 at its who has a 3-0 record as US cap- Clarke is one of three candi- not decide on their choice. Florida headquarters. tain in the Presidents Cup against dates for the 2016 role, along with The tour, however, has been at Love, 50, was selected after a non-European global squad, and Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez pains to point out that each mem- several meetings by an 11-man America had in the decision. Paul Azinger, who was captain for and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, ber of the panel has an equal vote. Ryder Cup task force charged In 2012, Love’s US squad led the most recent US triumph in and the Northern Irishman is The successful candidate is with improving US results in 10-6 entering Sunday singles 2008 at Valhalla. the odds-on favourite with the likely to be going head-to-head the wake of a divisive 16 1/2 to 11 matches only to have Europe The Golf Channel report said bookmakers to land the coveted with Davis Love III at Hazeltine, 1/2 US loss to Europe last year match the best last-day rally in Steve Stricker and Tom Lehman, role. 2010 and 2012, appears to have Minnesota next year after the Golf at Gleneagles with Tom Watson Cup history to keep the trophy both members of the US Ryder It seems almost inconceivable the backing of most of the team Channel reported on Monday that guiding the Americans. 14 1/2 to 13 1/2. Cup task force, are likely to be that McGinley, 2012 captain Jose that beat the United States in the 1997 US PGA Championship Americans have lost eight of Repeating captains has been involved in the 2016 matches Maria Olazabal, 2010 skipper Scotland in September including winner would be named American the past 10 Ryder Cups, includ- rare for the US side. Watson, who as well, possibly as assistant Colin Montgomerie, tour chief world number one Rory McIlroy. skipper next week. ing the past three in a row and six was captain at a 1993 US win at captains. executive George O’Grady and Four-times major winner It would be the second time of the past seven meetings with Gleneagles that is the most recent Love has won 20 PGA titles, his former Ryder Cup player David McIlroy said last month that Love, 50, has led the team after he Europe’s top players. for the Americans on European lone major among them coming at Howell will not opt for Clarke. Clarke would be a perfect fit in oversaw the “Miracle of Medinah” The task force met for four soil, had been the first repeat US the 1997 PGA Championship. His The 46-year-old, who played the US where he is a popular defeat in 2012 when Olazabal’s hours two weeks ago in San Diego, Ryder Cup captain since Jack most recent victory came at the in the biennial team event five figure. side stormed back to win from but it was unclear how much Nicklaus in 1983 and 1987. 2008 Children’s Miracle Network times and was a vice-captain in The 2011 British Open 10-6 down. REUTERS influence players or the PGA of Love would become only the Classic. AFP Mayweather fight ‘near’ as Pacquiao agrees to drugs tests

MANILA: Filipino boxer he tests positive. “(The fight) is Boxing fans have for years most lucrative, with a British In his comments on Monday, down to extraordinarily small Manny Pacquiao said a much- near. The negotiations are nearly been clamouring for a show- newspaper reporting at the week- Pacquiao declined to say how points”. Among the many factors anticipated fight with unbeaten finished,” Pacquiao told reporters down between Pacquiao and end that the pair had agreed to a much the deal would be worth that have prevented the two from American Floyd Mayweather on Monday during a break from Mayweather, the two “best $250m deal. However time is run- and gave few other details. getting into the ring in the past was “near” after he agreed to evening sessions in parliament, pound-for-pound” fighters of ning out for fans to see them fight However, he said a rematch was a demand by Mayweather a key demand to undergo drug where he represents one of the their generation. in peak form, with Pacquiao aged clause in the contract was for a bigger share of the fight’s testing. Southeast Asian nation’s poorest Pacquiao is 57-5 with two 36 and Mayweather 37. unlikely. revenues. The eight-division world cham- provinces. draws and 38 knockouts, while In a brief television interview Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, Mayweather had also demanded pion said negotiations were nearly “We agreed that this fight has Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 on Sunday, Mayweather denied last month ignited buzz over the strict Olympic-style drug screen- complete after he dropped his to happen. We are ironing out the knockouts. a deal had been signed but said fight occurring in Las Vegas in ing that would require blood tests opposition to drugs screening — kinks. He (Mayweather) said he The mega-fight could go down he was “hopeful” the fight with May when he said negotiations in 30 days before the fight, instead and even suggested a $5m fine if wants the fight to push through.” in history as boxing’s biggest and Pacquiao would happen. the contracts had been “narrowed of a few days. AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Tour Oman Australia looking Results Armstrong must pay $10m Stage to maintain 1. Andrea Guardini (ITA/AST) 3hr 45min 37sec, 2. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) s.t., team pursuit 3. Matteo Pelucchi (ITA/IAM)s.t., 4. Alexander Kristoff (NOR/KAT) s.t., 5. Ramon Sinkeldam (NED/TGA)s.t. dominance after arbitration loss Overall standings: SAINT-QUENTIN-en- 1. Andrea Guardini (ITA/AST) 3hr 45 min Yvelines, France: Australia 37sec, 2. Tom Boonen (BEL/EQS) at 04s, 3. will be going for a fifth men’s Patrick Konrad (AUT/BOA) at 05s, 4. Matteo team pursuit gold in six years American ‘used perjury and other wrongful conduct’ Pelucchi (ITA/IAM) at 06s, 5. Johann Van when the Track Cycling World Zyl (RSA/MTN) at 07s. Championships begin near Paris DALLAS: Lance Armstrong today. was ordered to pay $10m to To help boost their efforts, a sports insurance company Guardini strikes Jack Bobridge is taking a break after arbitrators ruled against from road cycling to try to claim him in a dispute over Tour de first in Oman gold on the track. It will be the France bonuses, according to 25-year-old’s first return to the court documents made available AL WUTAYYAH, Oman: track pursuit team since the yesterday. US rider Lance Italy’s Andrea Guardini Australians were eclipsed by Dallas-based SCA Promotions Armstrong of the US (Astana) sprinted to victory on Great Britain in 2012. had paid $12m in bonuses to Postal team during a Tuesday’s opening stage of the The Brits also pipped them to Armstrong but sued to get its press conference on a 2015 Tour of Oman. the Olympic title in London. money back after the disgraced rest day of the Tour de Guardini crossed the line first Bobridge comes into the event cyclist admitted to doping. France cycling race at in the mass sprint to claim his just two weeks after a failed The arbitrators, in a 2-1 rul- the Palais de Beaumont first win of the season ahead of attempt to break the world hour ing dated February 4, issued the Belgium’s Tom Boonen (Etixx- record on track, when he fell in Pau, France in this award to SCA after a multi-day QuickStep) and Italy’s Matteo 500-metres short of the mark file picture of July 23, hearing during which Armstrong Pelucchi (IAM Cycling). set by Austrian Matthias Brandle, testified. 2001. “My time finally came. I was although fellow Aussie Rohan “The case yet again before this really good in Qatar. I’ve been Dennis has since taken the record. tribunal presents an unparalleled in good shape since the start of Australia’s main competition is pageant of international perjury, the season in Dubai when I came set to come from the Olympic fraud and conspiracy,” the arbi- close to a win,” said the Italian, champions and Denmark. trators wrote in their ruling. who finished second twice in the Britain recently claimed victory “It is almost certainly the most Emirate and grabbed second and in the World Cup series ahead of devious sustained deception ever third-place finishes in Dubai. Australia and have picked a mix perpetrated in world sporting “The team worked for me per- of youth and experience for their history.” after he had won a series of Tour Armstrong “used perjury and arbitrator in the majority ruling fectly. We were a bit behind on world championship tilt. The bonuses were for three de France races. Armstrong had other wrongful conduct to secure made the “proper analysis of gov- the last turn but with the head- London Olympic gold medallist of Armstrong’s seven Tour de sworn under oath on numer- millions of dollars of benefits.” erning law.” winds and a false flat climb in the Steven Burke has made a rapid France victories. Armstrong was ous occasions in that proceeding “It is hard to describe how “This award is unprecedented. end, it was the perfect setting for recovery from a broken collarbone stripped of his titles and handed that he never used performance- much harm Lance Armstrong’s No court or arbitrator has ever a comeback. I followed Boonen’s to take his place alongside Ed a lifetime ban in 2012, after a US enhancing drugs during his web of lies caused SCA but this reopened a matter which was lead and went full throttle in the Clancy and Andy Tennant while Anti-Doping investigation. career. SCA subsequently settled is a good first start towards fully and finally settled voluntar- last hundred metres. This time, youngster Matt Gibson could ride During the hearing, arbitrators the matter for $7.5m in 2006. repairing that damage,” said SCA ily,” Herman wrote in an email to the timing was perfect.” one of the early rounds. considered whether Armstrong But Armstrong confessed in President Bob Hamman. reporters. Guardini will wear the leader’s Denmark, who took silver last should be punished for his wrong- 2013 that he cheated during his SCA filed a motion with a Dallas “Despite the absence of any red jersey after his victory in the year in Colombia, are likely to ful conduct in connection with his Tour de France victories. As a state district court on Monday to legal basis for the sanction, 161km stage from Bayt Al Naman put up a strong challenge with original dispute with SCA. result, SCA re-convened the arbi- have the award confirmed. Armstrong offered to pay SCA the Castle to Al Wutayyah. Rasmus Christian Quaade and That dispute, which took place tration proceeding. Armstrong’s attorney, Tim entire $10m in order to resolve Today’s stage two runs from Al Casper von Folsach surviving in 2005, involved whether the After an evidentiary hear- Herman, said the case is not the matter, but SCA refused.” Hazm Castle to Al Bustan over a from that quartet. firm owed Armstrong bonuses ing, the arbitrators found that closed and that the one dissenting REUTERS distance of 195km. AFP New Zealand, bronze medallists in 2012 and last year, and Russia could also put in a medal chal- lenge but it is the Commonwealth Contador faces Froome in early season showdown Games champions Australia, who beat an England squad featuring MADRID: Former Tour Giro d’Italia and the Tour de “I am a rider that likes to Kenyan-born Froome has also The race should therefore pro- Bradley Wiggins in Glasgow last de France winners Alberto France in the same season. compete. We will see what shape stressed that the Tour de France vide an early season pointer as to year, which will begin as favour- Contador and Chris Froome Contador was too good for I am, perhaps I will be a little remains his priority after he too which man is in better shape with ites, particularly given the boost will go head-to-head in their British rider Froome as he slower than last year with this had to retire just five stages into Contador and Froome expected to of Bobridge’s return. first outing of the 2015 season stormed to a third Tour of Spain great Giro-Tour challenge I have the defence, of the race he won in battle it out for the general clas- In the women’s team pursuit, in the five-stage Ruta del Sol in triumph in September, but is des- planned. 2013, last year. sification victory. Britain will be looking to defend Andalucia starting today. perate to make up for the disap- “Obviously, when you plan Last year’s Giro champion A split stage on Wednesday will their title led by Olympic cham- Spain’s Contador announced on pointment of having to retire something it is because you Nairo Quintana misses out provide the first test with a short pions Laura Trott and Joanna Monday that he intends to retire during the 10th stage of last year’s want to win. I don’t settle and I after crashing at the Colombian 118km stage followed by an 8.2km Roswell. Britain, whose team after two more seasons at the top. Tour de France after suffering a wouldn’t sign for anything other national championships last individual time trial. includes Katie Archibald and However, he also hinted that broken leg in a heavy crash. than first place in both. It doesn’t week and his Movistar team- However, the real intrigue will Elinor Barker, are bidding for a date could be moved forward “I start my season in two days mean I am going to win or that mate Alejandro Valverde is skip- come on stages three and four fifth consecutive gold medal in should he succeed in becoming and I am desperate to get going, I it will be easy, to win one will be ping the event despite winning with steep mountain climbs to the event. They also won the only the first man since Italian Marco have trained a lot,” Contador said really difficult, much less both of in Andalusia for the past three the finish on Friday and Saturday. two rounds of the World Cup they Pantani in 1998 to win both the on Monday. them.” years. AFP started. AFP

Espanyol, Osasuna deny Vijayan says ‘sleeping giant’ can bounce back match-fixing BY ARMSTRONG VAS DOHA: Football’s ‘sleeping allegations giant’ India can bounce back to the top only if they concentrate MADRID: Espanyol and on the grassroots programmes Former Indian Osasuna have denied wrong- in a more aggressive and profes- captain I M doing after reports in Spanish sional way, former captain I M Vijayan speak- media said their La Liga game Vijayan said yesterday. ing to journal- at the end of last season was The 45-year-old, who rose from ists in Doha being investigated for alleged humble backgrounds and formed yesterday. The match-fixing. one of the deadliest forward lines Kerala-born The game at Espanyol’s sta- the Indian football team had ever striker was dium in Barcelona on the penul- seen with Baichung Bhutia, said the on a two-day timate matchday in May last year recently concluded Indian Super visit to Doha. ended 1-1, with Espanyol taking League (ISI) is the best thing to RIGHT: Vijayan a 21st-minute lead and Osasuna have happened for the game in a poses for a levelling a minute before halftime. cricket-crazy country of 1.2 billion. picture with his Reports said the two rivals had “ISI (Indian Super League) has former state agreed beforehand on a draw. given a new dimension to football Osasuna were subsequently rel- in the country. We have not seen team-mate Asif egated even though they won at so many people come for matches Saheer. home to Real Betis on the final and all the venues across India. PICTURES day, while Espanyol finished just We need to build the momen- BY: SALIM above the drop zone despite losing tum. The ISI itself cannot take MATRAMKOT 3-1 at Real Madrid. “We want to make it abso- I M Vijayan lutely clear that RCD Espanyol Date of birth: 25 April 1969 of Barcelona has had no part in Place of birth: Thrissur, India any matchfixing or any irregular- Height: 1.77 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in) ity,” Rafael Entrena, an Espanyol Playing position: Striker vice president, said on the club’s us to the World Cup. We need to Robert Pires, Alessandro Del away basis, which was won by existing Indian I-League” he said. website yesterday. Senior career* have youth programmes. All the Piero, David James, Luis Garcia, Atletico de Kolkata. The striker rued the fact that he “We defend the purity and the 1987–1991 Kerala Police teams have promised to launch and Nicolas Anelka, were some of Vijayan, who was one of the did not get a chance to play in a sporting nature of the competi- 1991–1992 Mohun Bagan AC the grassroots programmes but I the players whom we had watched most sought after striker on the foreign league. tion, now and always,” he added. 1992–1993 Kerala Police have been impressed by what the only on TV, but it was a great feel- Indian circuit in a career which “During my time there were “RCD Espanyol will collaborate 1993–1994 Mohun Bagan AC Mumbai team is doing for the ing to see them action on Indian began with Kerala Police in 1987 no good player agents in India. actively and resolutely, both with youngsters,” said Vijayan, who football pitches,” the striker, who and ended with West Bengal’s Compatriot Baichung Bhutia, is 1994–1997 JCT Mills Phagwara the public prosecutor and all the scored 40 goals for the national retired from international football East Bengal in 2005, said an my good friend, he had people sporting authorities, to take the 1997–1998 FC Kochin team in 79 appearances. in 2003 said. aggressive marketing campaign around him who promoted him,” investigation of these facts to its 1998–1999 Mohun Bagan A.C. Vijayan was one of the thou- ISL, organised by IMG- by ISI made the league a huge said Vijayan, who played for clubs conclusion. “And if the investiga- 1999–2001 FC Kochin sands of Indians who were bowled Reliance and backed by the All success in terms of record crowds. in Indian states of West Bengal, tion shows that someone com- 2001–2002 East Bengal Club over by the ISI show, which saw India Football Federation (AIFF), “People came to see the top for- Goa and Punjab besides Kerala. mitted any irregularity they will 2002–2004 JCT Mills Phagwara the involvement of cricketers and was played among eight clubs eign stars play but also we have In 1999, Bhutia became only the have to face the consequences.” 2004–2005 Churchill Brothers SC Indian movie actors as owners - Atletico de Kolkata, Kerala also to give credit to the market- second Indian footballer to play Osasuna president Luis Sabalza, and co-owners of franchise teams. Blasters FC, Delhi Dynamos FC, ing people. Not many foreign stars professional football in Europe 2005–2006 East Bengal Club who was not in charge of the club “It was great opportunity to North East United FC, Team of repute have played together in after Mohammed Salim. Bhutia at the time, told a news confer- National team: 1989–2004 India 40 goals watch some of the world greatest Pune, Team Mumbai, Team Goa one league in India, which made turned out for English club Bury. ence yesterday. AFP in 79 appearances players in action. David Trezeguet, and Team Bengaluru on a home it a success compared to the THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Ireland soar Shaky New Zealand down despite England defections SYDNEY: England captain brave Scotland in Dunedin Eoin Morgan could have been forgiven for thinking about what might have been after A low-scoring game as hosts made to fight for three-wicket victory his former Ireland team-mates made a fine start to the World Cup as his miserable run of form DUNEDIN: New Zealand partnership in a Scottish innings continued. limped to a three-wicket win that featured five ducks -- four of New Zealand batsman Morgan was out for a duck over Scotland yesterday, main- them golden. -- his fourth in five innings -- as taining World Cup momentum Corey Anderson and Dan Grant Elliott sweeps a England started their World Cup only after the minnows gave the Vettori took three wickets apiece ball during his team’s campaign with a 111-run thrash- co-hosts’ much-vaunted batting as Scotland folded after 36.2 2015 Cricket World ing by arch-rivals Australia in line-up a bloody nose. overs, with Trent Boult and Tim Cup match against Melbourne on Saturday. New Zealand skittled Scotland Southee coming close to snatch- Scotland in Dunedin By contrast fellow left-handed out for 142 after putting them ing hat-tricks. yesterday. batsman Ed Joyce -- who went into bat, effectively ensuring there New Zealand made hard work from Ireland to England and would be no repeat of Monday’s of chasing 143 on pitch were they back to Ireland again -- made 84 match when Ireland, another scored 360 against Sri Lanka last as the Irish enjoyed their latest non-Test nation, downed the month, with Iain Wardlaw and taste of World Cup success with a West Indies. Josh Davey both taking three four-wicket victory over the West While the Black Caps over- wickets for Scotland. Indies in Nelson on Monday. hauled their target in 24.5 overs, The win was not pretty but Joyce, 36, made the switch to they could have been in trouble if man-of-the-match Boult told pursue a bid to play Test cricket set a stiffer chase after a strong media New Zealand “got the job -- something he couldn’t do as an effort with the ball saw Scotland done”. Ireland player. take seven wickets. McCullum (15), Martin Guptill He was followed across the A rash of New Zealand bats- (17) and Ross Taylor (9) all went Irish Sea by Morgan, who like men threw away their wickets cheaply, leaving New Zealand 66 Joyce -- now with Sussex -- went chasing glory with wild shots, for three early in the innings. to Middlesex, for whom he made showing none of the controlled Kane Williamson made a good a debut aged 19, before featuring aggression that has made them start and reached 38 before he in the lucrative Indian Premier one of the tournament favourites. too suffered a rush of blood to League Twenty20 competition. Captain Brendon McCullum the head. Joyce made his England ODI said they could not afford to be so Luke Ronchi, who scored an debut against Ireland in 2006. wasteful in Wellington on Friday, unbeaten 170 against Sri Lanka He then went on to score a hun- when they face an England side at the venue last month, managed dred against Australia in Sydney desperate to bounce back from a just 12 before he was dismissed and was a member of England’s 111-run loss to Australia. trying to cart Davey out of the Scoreboard squad at the 2007 World Cup. “It was a really good perform- ground. Black Cap Boult But following a lacklustre ance with the ball -- with the bat, Scotland skipper Preston SCOTLAND NEW ZEALAND showing by his adopted country in we showed glimpses but we have Mommsen, who was among those K Coetzer c Elliott b Southee ...... 1 M Guptill c Cross b Wardlaw ...... 17 keen to forget the Caribbean, Joyce was dropped. to improve,” he said. dismissed without scoring, said C MacLeod lbw Boult ...... 0 B McCullum c Cross b Wardlaw ...... 15 He was granted special dis- “England will be a challenge -- the poor start derailed his side’s H Gardiner lbw Boult ...... 0 K Williamson c Cross b Davey ...... 38 Scotland scare pensation by the International they’re hurting, they’ll be tough to chance of an upset win. M Machan c McCullum b Anderson ...... 56 R Taylor c Taylor b Haq ...... 9 Cricket Council to again rep- beat and we’ll have to play incred- “Matt and Richie batted well P Mommsen lbw b Southee ...... 0 G Elliott c Cross b Wardlaw ...... 29 DUNEDIN: Trent Boult denied resent his home nation shortly ibly well.” and showed what they are capa- R Berrington c Milne b Anderson ...... 50 C Anderson c Wardlaw b Davey ...... 11 an unconvincing New Zealand before the 2011 World Cup. The Black Caps fielded an ble of, but we couldn’t go on from M Cross c Ronchi b Anderson ...... 14 L Ronchi c Gardiner b Davey ...... 12 display against minnows Joyce said he had qualified unchanged line-up from their there and were below par,” he J Davey (not out) ...... 11 D Vettori (not out) ...... 8 Scotland yesterday had dented to play for England because he 98-run win over Sri Lanka, deter- said. R Taylor st Ronchi b Vettori ...... 4 A Milne (not out) ...... 1 the co-hosts’ reputation as gen- wanted to play Tests, but that mined not to drop their standards “Unfortunately we couldn’t get M Haq c Taylor b Vettori ...... 0 Extras (LB-1, W-5) ...... 6 uine World Cup contenders. as a “born and bred Irishman” against unfancied opposition. the final three wickets, but I’m I Wardlaw lbw Vettori ...... 0 Total (for 7 wkts in 24 5 overs) ...... 146 Man-of-the-match Boult con- he was eager to again represent They appeared set for a crush- very proud of the performance.” Extras (B-1, W-5) ...... 6 Did not bat: Tim Southee, Trent Boult. ceded the three-wicket win at his country. Morgan, 28, did play ing win in perfect conditions at The loss leaves Scotland still Total (all out in 36 2 overs) ...... 142 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-48, 3-66, 4-106, Dunedin’s University Oval was Test cricket, making his debut in Dunedin’s University Oval, claim- searching for a World Cup win Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-12, 4-12, 5-109, 5-117, 6-133, 7-137. tighter than expected but said it 2010 and went on to score two ing early wickets to leave Scotland in their third appearance at the 6-117, 7-129, 8-136, 9-142, 10-142. Bowling: Wardlaw 9 5-0-57-3 (1w); Taylor was still “job done” for the Black hundreds. reeling at 12 for four. tournament. Bowling: Southee 8-3-35-2; Boult 6-1-21-2 4-0-27-0 (2w); Davey 7-0-40-3 (2w); Haq 4-0- Caps. But a stuttering Test career Matt Machan (56) and Richie Their next World Cup match is (4w); Milne 7-0-32-0 (1w); Vettori 8 2-1-24-3; 21-1. “Yeah, it got a little scarier has so far yielded just 16 appear- Berrington (50) were the stand- against England in Christchurch Elliott 2-0-11-0; Anderson 5-1-18-3. Result: New Zealand win by three wickets. than we wanted, I guess,” the ances in all, the last in 2012, and outs with a 97-run fifth-wicket on Monday. REUTERS New Zealand paceman said after a modest average of just over 30. the Black Caps made it two wins Ireland’s chief selector Alan from two Pool matches following Lewis -- a former Irish captain a 98-run thrashing of Sri Lanka. and international rugby referee, “When I’m rushing around the made his annoyance clear in an Kiwi pace ace Boult tests his changing room trying to chuck interview with podcast ‘The Slog the pads on it means we might Sweep’ last week. be in a little bit of trouble. “I look at the England set up “But we got there in the end. and over the last 10 years, three We got the points and we got people from this little island abilities on the one-day scene the job done, so, yeah, pretty where cricket is the fourth or fifth satisfying.” sport are playing for a country DUNEDIN: Trent Boult would New Zealand dominated with whose national sport is cricket,” be used to seeing a field packed the ball after Boult set the tone by Lewis said. with slips and a gully in his first taking two wickets in two deliv- “It is a wee bit irritating to over of a match, particularly for eries but struggled with the bat, think where we could be if Eoin a hat-trick delivery. losing seven wickets in pursuit of and Boyd were available; obviously Probably not so much in a one- Two pipers a modest 143-run target. we’ve got Ed back now. day international. take a The 25-year-old said New “I wouldn’t want to deprive The 25-year-old had just Zealand’s batsmen, most of whom Eoin Morgan the opportunity break from trapped Scotland’s Calum threw away their wickets cheaply with the ability he has, I’d want playing the MacLeod and Hamish Gardiner with rash shots, would not be to play at the top level...It’s a great on successive deliveries in New bagpipes dwelling on their shortcomings story, but it’s a great frustration. Zealand’s World Cup clash with as New against the unfancied Scots. “To get our players back, that’s Scotland at University Oval Zealand “We got the points,” he said. part of the next step.” Former in Dunedin. With his control play “Let’s move on to Friday (when Australia captain Ricky Ponting of swing and seam position, Scotland New Zealand play England in has argued Ireland shouldn’t be a New Zealand captain Brendon during Wellington)... we bowled well and ‘feeder nation’ for England. McCullum had packed his field their 2015 set the game up and got through “I’m very sympathetic to coun- behind the wicket sensing his Cricket with the bat.” tries like Ireland that could keep left-armer could achieve what World Cup Boult said he was thrilled to losing their best players. It’s England’s Steven Finn did last match in have transformed himself into a something that I feel shouldn’t Saturday and take a World Cup Dunedin limited-overs threat after initially happen,” Ponting said. “If the ICC hat-trick. yesterday. being considered a Test-match look at that and are serious about The delivery, however, swung specialist. “I put a lot of focus into Ireland continuing to grow as a too early and Matt Machan was my game with the white ball, so nation and maybe one day being able to leave it and let it go behind it’s nice to be contributing and a Test-playing nation then they to wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi. to get some accolades like I have can’t afford to have their better “When we get conditions like recently is something I wasn’t players going off at a young age.” that where it does swing, and we necessarily expecting.” AFP REUTERS get that little bit of assistance out of the wicket then the wickets 2014. He was then recalled for kind of come,” Boult told report- the one-day series against South ers after the tense three-wicket Africa, which signalled he was in win for New Zealand. Mike Hesson’s World Cup plans Long haul paying off: Khurram “It’s about putting pressure on and justified the work he had been them and myself in turn trying doing with the white ball. MELBOURNE: Cricket has always been a the idea of retiring but the lure of playing at contributions with the bat. Khurram was the to keep it as simple as possible.” “Everyone knows that test sport that has rewarded patience, even in the World Cup proved irresistible. leading runscorer at the World Cup qualify- Boult was named man-of-the cricket is my passion and there the souped-up version of the one-day game, There were no guarantees the UAE would ing tournament in New Zealand, piling up 581 match for his opening spell of two is no doubt about that,” he said. but few players at the World Cup have had qualify this time. The only previous time the runs at an average of 72.62. for 21 from six overs, though less “There’s nothing better than to wait longer for their big break than the UAE had appeared at the World Cup was Then in November, he became the oldest than six months ago it was debat- winning a Test match and a Test evergreen United Arab Emirates batsman almost two decades ago in 1996, but Khurram player to score a ODI hundred, making an able whether he would be at the match series with the black cap Khurram Khan. rolled the dice and pushed on, keeping himself unbeaten 132 against Afghanistan, and mov- World Cup. He has been an auto- on. At 43, he and UAE captain Mohammad fit by doing push-ups on long-haul flights when ing to the top of a distinguished list of oldest matic choice in New Zealand’s “(But) this World Cup was Tauqir are the oldest players in the he wasn’t attending to passengers. centurions that includes Sanath Jayasuriya, test side with his ability to swing always going to be a big goal of tournament. Born in Pakistan, he moved to UAE in 1999 Geoff Boycott and Sachin Tendulkar. the ball both ways at genuine mine and something I’d love to be Unlike most of the teams at the World Cup, and made his ODI debut for his adopted coun- Despite having captained UAE for the last pace. That seemed to have pigeon involved in. I felt like I put a lot of the UAE side is made up of amateur players, try in 2004. By the start of 2014, he’d only decade, the Emirates Cricket Board wanted holed him as a test bowler, where focus into the white ball. who fit their cricket training and matches played four fully recognised ODI matches, a locally-born player to skipper the side at the he is able to bowl a fuller length “So it’s nice to be contributing, around their full-time jobs. such are the limited chances for countries World Cup, so demoted to Khurram to vice- and get the ball to do the work for like I said, and to get some acco- Opportunities are few and far between and with associate status. captain and gave Tauqir the top job. Unfazed, him, and he was picked for just lades like I have recently is some- only the most determined and dedicated sur- Unperturbed, he pressed on and his perse- Khurram said he was just happy to have real- one limited-overs match from thing that I wasn’t necessarily vive. Khurram, who works as a flight purser verance finally paid off when UAE qualified ised his lifelong dream by getting the chance to November 2012 until October expecting,” he said. REUTERS for Emirates airlines, has often flirted with for the 2015 World Cup, largely thanks to his compete at cricket’s greatest spectacle. AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

FACTBOX Gutsy Afghanistan eye rare Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Factbox today’s World Cup Pool A match between Bangladesh and Afghanistan at Manuka Oval, Canberra: BANGLADESH win against Bangladesh Captain: Mashrafe Mortaza Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha Squad: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim This is a game that can bring Afghanistan together: Mohammad Nabi Iqbal, Anamul Haque, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Nasir Hossain, Sabbir CANBERRA: Afghanistan last two World Twenty20 tourna- Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Al-Amin Hossain, offer the World Cup a fairy- ments in 2010 and 2012 but lost all Nasir Hossain Rubel Hossain, Arafat Sunny, Taijul Islam. tale story if they can upset their matches, however this will and Mushfiqur Results so far at 2015 World Cup: First Bangladesh and launch their be their first time in the 50-over Rahim wait their match debut tournament with a vic- tournament. AFGHANISTAN tory at Canberra’s Manuka Oval A loss would be an embarrass- turn to bat during today. ment for the Bangladeshis, who nets in Canberra, Captain: Mohammad Nabi The Afghans want to give their must negotiate Afghanistan if yesterday. Coach: Andy Moles war-weary homeland something they are to make a run for the Squad: Mohammad Nabi, Nawroz Mangal, to cheer and they hold hopes of quarter-finals as one of four Asghar Stanikzai, Samiullah Shenwari, upsetting Test-playing national teams out of Pool A. Afsar Zazai, Najibullah Zadran, Nasir Jamal, Bangladesh after shocking them Bangladesh, coached by Sri Mirwais Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib, Hamid in the Asia Cup in Dhaka last Lankan Chandika Hathurusingha, Hassan, Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran, year. will need a dramatic turn in for- Aftab Alam, Javed Ahmadi, Usman Ghani. “For Afghanistan to play the tunes to ensure another World Results so far at 2015 World Cup: First 50-over World Cup is our dream,” Cup does not cause more misery. match captain Mohammad Nabi said. Bangladesh failed to register Only previous meeting Nabi said that too often the wins for most of 2014 until fellow March 1, 2014: Afghanistan won by 32 runs news involving Afghanistan wooden-spooners Zimbabwe came in Fatullah related to conflict. calling at the end of the year and “If there is positive news like were thrashed 3-0 in Tests and the cricket players of Afghanistan 5-0 in the one-dayers. in the World Cup, it totally Bangladesh have struggled at changes the minds back home and Test level -- winning just seven of also in the world as well,” he said. their 88 Tests since their debut in Clarke return has team’s ‘full “The meaning for the country 2000 -- but have always appeared to play in the 50-over World Cup more suited to the shorter format is a big opportunity for cricket where they have recorded credit- and also for the nation. able wins. “This is a game that can bring A five-wicket win over support’, says star Johnson Afghanistan together and be Australia at Cardiff in 2005 was a very good tool for peace and their moment of glory until they MELBOURNE: The return stability.” knocked India out of the 2007 of regular Australia captain Apart from fellow Associate World Cup to move beyond the Michael Clarke for the sec- Australia’s Glenn nation Scotland, Bangladesh is first round for the only time in ond World Cup match against Maxwell (left) and team- Afghanistan’s big opportunity the tournament. Bangladesh has the team’s “full mate Mitchell Marsh for a win as they also have hosts “The kind of squad we have, I support” even if it will be tough Australia, New Zealand, Sri am confident we can reach the to change a winning side, fast have a drink delivered Lanka and England to contend quarter-finals,” skipper Mashrafe bowler Mitchell Johnson said by injured team captain with in Pool A. Mortaza said. yesterday. Michael Clarke (second “The biggest challenge is going The focal point of Bangladesh’s On the comeback from ham- right) and James to be how the batsmen handle campaign will be the skilful string surgery, Clarke is expected Faulkner (right) during the quicker bowlers. Playing in 27-year-old all-rounder Shakib Al to pad up for Saturday’s match the Cricket World Cup Australia is going to be quite Hasan, who has been the team’s in Brisbane, meeting the dead- match against England brutal for some of these guys who mainstay ever since his interna- line to prove his fitness or sit out at the Melbourne aren’t used to those conditions,” tional debut eight years ago. the World Cup entirely. Clarke’s Cricket Ground (MCG) in their English coach Andy Moles The left-hand batsman and return is likely to mean stand-in this February 14, 2015, said. left-arm spinner goes into his skipper George Bailey is tipped file photo. “I will work hard to get them third World Cup as the ICC top- from the side after leading them as much confidence as possible, to ranked all-rounder in all three to a 111-run demolition of England play without fear of failure and, formats. in the opener in Melbourne and if they see an opportunity at any Shakib is the only player in scoring a useful half-century. stage in a game, to take it. the team who has experienced “I love the captaincy that he warm-up match against United month alleged a rift between the the plan is. He is doing what he “I’d like them to enjoy the chal- Australian conditions recently, (Clarke) brings,” Johnson told Arab Emirates. That prompted 33-year-old, his players and the needs to do. He is not making it a lenge that lies ahead of them,” he having turned out for Melbourne reporters in Brisbane yesterday. pundits to question why he was country’s cricket board. distraction for us. Whenever that said. Renegades in the Big Bash “He has got so much experi- rested for England. Lehmann, Clarke and seasoned chance is when he gets back in we With experienced players like Twenty20 tournament. ence and George does as well. Coach Darren Lehmann said all-rounder Shane Watson all will be ready for him.” Nowroz Mangal, Mohammad Another player to watch is But Michael Clarke has been the Clarke needed to do more tests dismissed the innuendo in recent Australia’s big win over Nabi, Samiullah Shinwari, 22-year-old left-arm spinner captain for a number of years this week, particularly in the field, weeks, while Johnson said the England reinforced their status Najibullah Zadran, Shapoor Taijul Islam, who grabbed eight now. I know he has the boys’ full to prove himself ready. captain’s rehabilitation had not as favourites to seal a record fifth Zadran and Hamid Hasan, for 39 against Zimbabwe in Dhaka support.” Clarke’s race to be fit has distracted the team. World Cup title, and Johnson said Afghanistan will hope they can in only his third Test to record Clarke played his first match been something of a soap opera “I know that he is ready to go,” it would be hard for selectors to show their talent in the big league. the best Test figures ever by a with the team in two months last in Australia and an unsourced Johnson said. “But I don’t know change the lineup for Bangladesh. Afghanistan qualified for the Bangladeshi bowler. REUTERS week, top-scoring with a 64 in a report by Fairfax media last from a playing point of view what REUTERS India probes world cricket Tendulkar says Scotland batsman boss over IPL Matt Machan acknowledges SA dangerous the applause after broadcast fee reaching a half century against New NEW DELHI: Cricket icon powerful and their outfielding ... (pictured) MUMBAI: India’s top financial Zealand during their Sachin Tendulkar they cover the area much better policing agency is probing world 2015 Cricket World has issued a warning to trium- than Pakistan.” Tendulkar singled cricket boss Narayanaswami phant India about their upcom- out South Africa’s spearhead Dale Cup match in Dunedin Srinivasan and others over an ing World Cup match against Steyn as the man India’s batsmen yesterday. New alleged $69m “facilitation fee” South Africa, saying the Proteas needed to fear. paid over broadcast rights for Zealand won by three were “far, far superior” to arch- “Without any doubt he’s their the Indian Premier League, an wickets. rivals Pakistan. strike bowler. He’s bowled unbe- official said yesterday. Batting superstar Tendulkar lievably well,” he said. The Enforcement Directorate helped India win the World Cup “You can’t pre-decide how to has issued “show cause notices” four years ago with play Steyn, he could to Srinivasan, disgraced former victory over Sri Lanka also have a bad day, you Indian Premier League (IPL) at his Wankhede have to decide in the chief Lalit Modi, the country’s Stadium home ground moment but you have cricket board and foreign media ($69m) facilitation fee, the direc- as BCCI chief amid a Supreme in Mumbai and also to respect Dale Steyn, companies over the fee for the torate said in a tweet on Monday. Court probe into betting and played in six World you need to be watch- 2009 tournament, the official said. The Multi Screen Media other scandals involving the 2013 Cups before retiring ful upfront but take Part of the fee was allegedly (MSM) of Sony Entertainment edition of the lucrative IPL. from international your opportunities.” illegally siphoned off to unknown paid the fee to the Mauritius arm Last month the court found cricket in 2013. Tendulkar also individuals, sparking the probe of World Sports Group (WSG) as Srinivasan guilty of a conflict of India started the backed India opener into the Board of Control for part of a contract for taking over interest for having commercial defence of their Rohit Sharma to Cricket in India (BCCI) of which the broadcast rights of the IPL, dealings in the sport while head- title with a convinc- come good at the both Srinivasan and Modi were the popular Twenty20 tourna- ing the BCCI by owning an IPL ing 76-run win over World Cup, despite senior members, according to ment overseen by the BCCI, local franchise. Pakistan in Adelaide managing just 15 runs local media reports yesterday. reports said. The players’ auction for the lat- last Sunday, with Virat Kohli -- against Pakistan, along with cap- “Srinivasan, Modi and the The BCCI, Srinivasan, the est edition of the IPL was held on the new idol of his country’s ador- tain Mahendra Singh Dhoni who BCCI have been issued the show WSG and MSM were unavailable Monday. ing fans in Tendulkar’s absence recently led the side on a misera- cause notices,” an enforcement for comment. The IPL, a domestic tourna- -- making a brilliant 107. ble three-month tour of Australia. directorate officer said on condi- Modi was removed as IPL head ment which began in 2008, fea- However, Tendulkar said India “I wouldn’t put any pressure tion of anonymity. in 2010 and later banned for life tures the world’s top players would need a strong opening on Rohit. Next time you’ll get it Former IPL chief operat- for holding any positions in the signed up for huge fees by com- partnership and careful running right,” said Tendulkar. ing officer Sunder Raman and sport over corruption allegations panies and high-profile indi- between the wickets to beat South ‘The Little Master’ also insisted president of Sony Pictures Home involving a separate case. viduals in a mix of sport and Africa, one of the pre-tourna- India could retain the World Cup Entertainment Manjit Singh were Modi, the founder of the entertainment. ment favourites, in this coming trophy, saying “definitely we can also under the agency’s scanner, money-spinning IPL, now lives International news organisa- Sunday’s clash at the Melbourne match up” to the standards of co- the officer said. in London. tions including Agence France- Cricket Ground. hosts Australia and South Africa. “Notice issued to BCCI, MSMS Srinivasan, who was last year Presse have suspended on-field “It won’t be so easy to pick sin- “(But) To win the World Cup Singapore, WSE Mauritius, Lalit elected International Cricket coverage of matches hosted by the gles,” Tendulkar told Headlines the whole team will have to play Modi & others” over alleged Council chairman, was a senior BCCI since 2012 after the board Today TV yesterday. consistently play well... It’s not breach of foreign currency regu- member of the BCCI at the time. imposed restrictions on picture Narayanaswami Srinivasan “They (South Africa) are much just about a couple of individuals.” lations over the 4.25 billion rupee Last year he was forced to quit agencies. AFP faster, their throwing arm is more REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Ganasekaran Sathiyan (left) of India serves against Abdulhussein Mohammed of Qatar during their first qualifying men’s singles match at the 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open at the Qatar Women’s Sports Community Hall in Doha, yesterday. RIGHT: Whang Zhixu of Denmark returns the ball to Floras Robert of Poland during their qualifying round match. PICTURES: BAHER AMIN

ITTF World Tour Li, Persson off to winning Qatar Open Results Men’s Singles Cassin Alexandre (FRA) bt Li Hon Ming (HKG) 4-1; Aliyev Sanan (AZE) bt Liao Cheng-Ting (TPE) 0-4; Groth Jonathan (DEN) bt Jafarov Ramil (AZE) 4-0; Shemet German (QAT) bt Hung Ka Tak (HKG) 2-4; Ho Kwan Kit (HKG) starts as Qatar Open begins bt El Tawil Malek (LIB) 4-0; Floras Robert (POL) bt Floras Robert (POL) 3-4; Zhai Yujia (DEN) bt Yigenler Abdullah (TUR) 4-0; Kwan Man Ho (HKG) bt Brossier Benjamin Al Mohannadi exhibits brave show before going down in qualifying stage (FRA) 1-4; Hung Tzu-Hsiang (TPE) bt Ismayilov Farhad (AZE) 4-0; Presson Jorgen (SWE) bt Al-Naggar Abdulrahman (QAT) DOHA: Singapore starlet 4-1; Duran Marc (ESP) bt Hashimli Khayal Isabelle Siyun Li and vet- (AZE) 4-0; Gnansekaran Sathiyan (IND) eran Jorgen Persson, yester- bt Abdulhussein Mohammed (QAT) 1-4; day collected victories in their Fertikowski Pawel (POL) bt Alhajjai Waled respective qualifying matches Nasser (QAT) 4-0; Monteiro Thiago (BRA) bt as the 2015 ITTF World Tour Bannout Mohamed (LIB) 4-0; Labbiet Florent Qatar Open offering a record (BEL) bt Nielsen Claus (DEN) 4-0; Robinot prize money got under way Action during Quentin (FRA) bt Omotayo Olajide (NGR) -; at the Qatar Women’s Sports the first round of Yang Zi (SIN) bt Almughanne Fahed (QAT) Community Hall in Doha. a men’s singles 4-0; Seo Hyundeok (KOR) bt Yang Heng- Li who leapfrogged to 101 from qualifying match Wei (TPE) 4-0; Hachard Antoine (FRA) bt 130th spot in the world rankings, at the 2015 Harb Ahmad Hussein (LIB) 4-0; Soderlund within the span of a month, reg- ITTF World Tour Hampus (SWE) bt Menge Gencay (TUR) 4-0; istered an easy win over Huang Qatar Open, Szudi Adam (HUN) bt Hamie Mohamad LIB Yu-Chiao of Chinese Taipei 4-1, at the Qatar 4-2; Petiot Jeremy (FRA) bt Al-Mohannadi in the first preliminary round to Women’s Sports Ahmad (QAT) 4-2; Ionescu Ovidiu (ROU) enter the next stage. Community bt Al-Bahrani Husain (KUW) 4-0; Sternberg As many as six more matches Hall in Doha, Kasper (DEN) bt Cheon Minhyuck (KOR) 4-1; of the preliminary round were yesterday. RIGHT: Nuytinck Cedric (BEL) bt Al-Hasan Salem contested in the women singles Promising Qatari KUW 4-0; Kojic Frane (CRO) bt ONAOLAPO category with Maha Ali failing to Ojo NGR -; Saive Jean-Michel (BEL) bt player Ahmad give breakthrough to the hosts Kazeem Makanjuola (NGR) -; Geraldo Joao Al Mohannadi as the Qatari player fell on first (POR) bt El Boubou Rachid (LIB) 4-0; Robinot hurdle. prepares to serve Alexandre (FRA) bt Lu Po-Hsien (TPE) 4-2. in his match She lost to Bernadette Szocs of Women’s Singles against Petiot Romania in straight games. Li Isabelle Siyun (SIN) bt Huang Yu-Chiao Jeremy of France. Meanwhile, the first qualify- (TPE) 4-1; Liu Yu-Hsin (TPE) vs Molnar ing round of men’s singles at Monika (SRB) 4-0; Szocs Bernadette (ROU) $500, 000 championship, saw the bt Ali Maha (QAT) 4-0; Huang Yi-Hua (TPE) 48-year old Persson making a suc- bt Zeng Jian (SIN) 4-1; Benaouich Boutayna cessful return to the prestigious (MAR) bt Yoo Eunchong (KOR) 0-4; Bilenko tournament. Tetyana (UKR) bt Huwang Jina (KOR) 4-1; Li The Swede who featured in Chang Wan (HKG) bt Lee Zion (KOR) 4-0. the inaugural edition of Qatar Open in Doha, back in 1997 over- came 17-year-old local player games 11-8, 11-8, 11-6 and 11-5 and Ahmad Al Mohannadi los- fighting Qatari. After Jeremy won the lead again by taking the next it 11-4 to seal hard-fought win. Abdulrahaman Al Naggar after an to advance. Five more Qatari ing against their respective the first two games 11-4, 11-7, Al game 11-6 before Al Mohannadi The qualifying rounds of both early scare. Promising Al Naggar players lost their first qualifying opponents. Al Mohannadi, how- Mohannadi staged a brilliant bounced back again to win the the categories will continue today won the first game 8-11 but later matches with German Shemat, ever, displayed a gallant effort fightback winning the next game fifth game 7-11. with the women singles matches experience prevailed over talent Abdul Hussein Waled Nasser as Frenchman Petiot Jeremy 12-10 on tie-breaker. Jeremy , however showed accu- scheduled to start at 11am. as Persson took the next three Al Hajjai, Fahed Almughanne had to stretch fully to beat the The French player extended racy in the next game, winning THE PENINSULA

Marseille Open Men’s Singles Results MARSEILLE: Results from the second day of the ATP Marseille Veteran Venus enjoying revival in form Open yesterday Round One: Vasek Pospisil (Canada) bt Robin Haase (Netherlands) 4-6 6-3 6-4 ; Jeremy Chardy DUBAI: Venus Williams, in as many juniors, she could have (France) bt David Guez (France) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 ; Andrey Kuznetsov (Russia) bt Andrey Golubev her finest form since turning played a bit longer. (Kazakhstan) 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; Dominic Thiem (Austria) bt Joao Sousa (Portugal) 7-6(6), 6-4. 30 more than four years ago, Venus Williams “So for longevity it is impor- is hoping her revival can help of the USA tant to pace yourself,” Venus said, her retain the title at the Dubai returns the adding another dimension to the Rio Open Women’s Singles Results Open this week. ball to Belinda theme. “I have never spent a ton RIO DE JANEIRO: Results from the ATP/WTA Rio Open The seven-time Grand Slam Bencic of of time on the practice court. Not yesterday. champion attributes her widely Switzerland that I don’t get the work in, but welcomed revival at least partly during their I stopped practising twice a day Round One: Roberta Vinci (Italy) bt Lucie Hradecka (Czech Republic) 7-6(4), 6-3; Dinah Pfizenmaier to a careful schedule, to genetics, second round when I was about 20 or 21. (Germany) bt Estrella Cabeza Candela (Spain) 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4; Julia Glushko (Israel) bt Andreea and to what she did as a teenager. match at the “It’s not normal to hit, you Mitu (Romania) 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4; Bethanie Mattek-Sands (US) bt Danka Kovinic (Montenegro) 6-4, Or more exactly what she know, a thousand forehands a Dubai Duty Free 6-3; Veronica Cepede Royg (Paraguay) bt Paula Goncalves (Brazil) 6-2, 7-5; Beatriz Haddad Maia didn’t do. day.” Tennis WTA (Brazil) bt Maria Irigoyen (Argentina) 6-1, 6-1. According to the elder of But how her athleticism has the two sisters, she and Serena Championships been maintained may have a dif- Dubai Women’s Singles Results Williams now reap the physical in Dubai, United ferent explanation, Venus believes. benefits from not having played Arab Emirates, “Genetics,” she asserted, raising Results from the Dubai Championships Women’s Singles matches junior tournaments more than a on Tuesday. a laugh by adding: “Thanks mom, yesterday decade and a half ago. thanks, dad. Venus also suggested that her “I think a lot of that comes Round Two: 2-Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) bt Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2; 10-Flavia decision not to join Serena in an natural, but I have to work on it. Pennetta (Italy) bt Wang Qiang (China) 6-3, 7-5; 3-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) bt Samantha emotional return to Indian Wells understand,” she said. “I’ve got to again make a strong challenge to As a tall person it’s easy for me Stosur (Australia) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5; Tsvetana Pironkova (Bulgaria) bt 16-Peng Shuai (China) 3-6, 6-4, – next month should be the first go home, and, you know, there’s retain the Dubai title and perhaps to get slow if I don’t work on it. 7-6(5); 6-Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) bt Kateryna Kozlova (Ukraine) 6-3, 6-3; 7-Angelique Kerber time either has gone back since only a little time and then I have win it for a fourth time. So I’m constantly working on my (Germany) bt Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia) 7-6(9), 6-4; 11-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) bt Casey their hostile treatment from to start training again. So I’m The benefits of not playing agility and my movement.” Dellacqua (Australia) 6-7(6), 7-6(4), 7-5; 4-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) bt Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-0, spectators in 2003 -- is due to the going to go ahead and take care junior tennis all those years ago But can she enjoy it as a 6-3; 17-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Czech Republic) 6-4, need to control her schedule and of myself.” have been reinforced by Mary Jo 34-year-old as much as when she 6-2; Zarina Diyas (Kazakhstan) bt 9-Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 7-5, 6-3; 5-Agnieszka Radwanska maintain her remarkable recov- Venus’ willingness to discuss Fernandes, the US Fed Cup cap- was 17? “At a young age I just (Poland) bt Caroline Garcia (France) 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; 15-Alize Cornet (France) bt Cagla Bueyuekakcay ery from chronic illness. the reasons for her accelerating tain, she said. expected it,” she said. “Now it (Turkey) 6-2, 6-4; 13-Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) bt Camila Giorgi (Italy) 6-3, 6-4; Garbine Muguruza “I’ve got to stay home. I deserve improvement well into her 30’s “I was talking to Mary Jo and feels good getting wins, because Blanco (Spain) bt 12-Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) 6-3, 6-1. to go home. I think they will indicates she believes she can she said, yeah, if she hadn’t played everyone is playing so well.” AFP WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Asian Cup was free from Kroos wary of Real Madrid match-fixing, says AFC

SINGAPORE: The Asian Football Confederation gave complacency at Schalke itself a proud pat on the back yesterday after declaring that January’s Asian Cup in Australia Champions League: Stepping-stone clubs Basel and Porto clash today was free of match-fixing. “It is extremely encouraging to see that the detailed integrity GELSENKIRCHEN, planning and collaboration for our Germany: Having routed premier tournament, the AFC Schalke on their last Asian Cup, was a success,” AFC Gelsenkirchen visit, Real general-secretary Alex Soosay Madrid return to Germany for said in a statement. today’s Champions League last “This would not have been 16, first-leg, clash with Toni possible without the support and Kroos warning the Spanish focused efforts of each stakeholder giants against complacency. and in particular Australian law Real ran riot at Schalke’s enforcement and Sportradar, who Veltins Arena at exactly the worked hand-in-hand with AFC’s same stage of the competition last Integrity Unit throughout the February when Karim Benzema, tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth “The effective implementa- Bale each scored two goals in a 6-1 tion of this action plan could be a thrashing as part of a 9-2 aggre- blueprint for other Asian sporting gate victory. events and sports governing bod- It was Schalke’s heaviest ies,” the Malaysian added. European home defeat until A large bulk of the 47 members the margin was matched when in the AFC have been hit with Chelsea drubbed the hosts 5-0 in match-fixing scandals in recent Gelsenkirchen in the group stages years. last November. The AFC has employed Swiss- Madrid have won only three based Sportradar, a supplier of of their 27 trips to Germany, but sports and betting-related data two of victories came last year services, to help tackle the prob- when they smashed Schalke, lem, which has hit the sport’s then routed Bayern Munich FC Basel’s forward Breel Embolo (right) jokes with FC Basel’s midfielder Luca Zuffi during a training session in Basel, on the eve of the Champions credibility in the region, with 4-0 at home in the semi-final, League match in Zurich yesterday. RIGHT: FC Basel’s forward Marco Streller (centre) and FC Basel’s defender Philip Degen during a training ses- seemingly solid results. second-leg. sion in Basel. The AFC has encouraged their Holders Real will arrive in members to do the same, but Germany with a lengthy walking- not all have signed up with the wounded list with Sergio Ramos, with the patella tendon injury in step for what’s ahead.” Fourth- League tie against Porto today Stadium and Porto’s much- Malaysian Football Association, Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, his left knee that affected him placed Schalke stumbled to a 1-0 pits two clubs who have mas- acclaimed youth academy before another to be hit by match-fixing Sami Khedira and Fabio Coentrao towards the end of last season defeat at mid-table Eintracht tered the art of nurturing the heading elsewhere. issues, querying the cost. all out injured. and at the World Cup. Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on talent of little-known footballers However, they have managed Meanwhile Chung Mong- Carlo Ancelotti’s Spanish The Ballon d’Or winner has not Saturday. and selling them on to Europe’s to keep replenishing their tal- gyu, the president of the South league leaders are struggling for scored in the last three games and It was the Royal Blues first top teams. Unable to compete ent pool and now boast the likes Korean Football Association, has form after being hammered 4-0 has come under-fire since being defeat in six league games, but with the financial power of the of Colombia forward Jackson announced that he will stand for a at Atletico Madrid ten days ago sent off last month in the narrow nevertheless they are relishing biggest clubs, both have instead Martinez in attack and Algeria seat on FIFA’s all-powerful execu- and laboured to a 2-0 home win win at Cordoba. the challenge been happy to accept a role as midfielder Yacine Brahimi in tive committee. over Deportivo La Coruna on He was heavily criticised for “We know we got swatted away stepping-stones for players hop- midfield. The 53-year-old chairman Saturday. hosting his 30th birthday party last year and that Real Madrid is ing to make their way to one of Porto have won the Primeira and chief executive of Hyundai “You don’t win anything by hours after Real were thrashed by currently one of the best sides in the leading five leagues. Liga seven times in the last 10 sea- Development Co submitted his going through the motions, that Atletico. But attacking midfielder the world, but teams like that are Both have been highly suc- son and reached the Champions candidacy with the Asian Football also goes for Real Madrid,” said Isco says Real are at their best beatable,” insisted Schalke cap- cessful at what they do and have League knockout stages five times. Confederation on Tuesday, the their Germany midfielder Kroos. when under pressure. tain Benedikt Hoewedes. managed to remain competitive Basel’s model is slightly differ- Yonhap News Agency reported. “If we have two good days, we “What’s great about this team Schalke will have Dutch goal- despite allowing a succession of ent as they place more empha- The AFC have three seats on can go very far, but only then.” is that it’s able to pick itself up ace Klaas-Jan Huntelaar avail- top footballers to walk through sis on generating revenue from FIFA’s executive committee and Real defender Pepe is rated from the tough situations,” said able after missing their last the exit door. ticket and hospitality sales and one vice-presidency position with as doubtful as he recovers from the 22-year-old who scored two Bundesliga matches with Twice European champions regard income from transfers as a all four up for election at a vote in a rib injury. Madrid superstar against Deportivo. suspension. Porto have raked in more than welcome extra. Even so they have Bahrain on April 30. Cristiano Ronaldo is struggling “I think that having been Fabian Giefer could be set to half a billion euros from selling an impressive record and, in the AFC President Salman Bin brought down to earth is going return from injury after third- players, many of them bought for last few years, have turned the Ibrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain Champions League to do us good and now we’re going choice teenage shot-stopper a pittance from South American likes of Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit is standing for re-election and if, (Kick off Doha time 10.45pm) to move forward. Timon Wellenreuther has started clubs, in the last 10 years. Xhaka and Yann Sommer into as expected, he is voted in again Today’s Fixtures “Now we have to go to Germany, the last two games with first- The likes of Radamel Falcao, Bundesliga material and helped will also assume the FIFA vice- to a difficult ground, but we’re choice Ralf Faehrmann out with Hulk, James Rodriguez, Raul Egypt forward Mohamed Salah presidency position currently held FC Basel vs FC Porto Real Madrid and we go for it. a knee injury. Meireles, Pepe and Anderson earn a move to the Premier by Prince Ali bin Al Hussein. Schalke vs Real Madrid “This week will be an important In Zurich, Basel’s Champions all passed through the Dragao League. AGENCIES AGENCIES United subdue Preston Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (cen- tre) celebrates scor- ing their third goal to avoid FA Cup upset with Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera PRESTON, United Kingdom: delight of the home fans. Preston’s (right) during the Manchester United survived a English FA Cup players were also encouraged and FA Cup Fifth Round scare against third tier Preston London: English FA Cup result on Monday they enjoyed attacking flurries of match on Monday North End to reach the FA night: their own. night. Cup quarter-finals with a hard- Fifth round Joe Garner, Preston’s top fought 3-1 win at Deepdale on Preston 1 (Laird 47) Manchester United 3 scorer with 14 goals, hit a low Monday night. (Herrera 65, Fellaini 72, Rooney 88-pen) shot straight at David De Gea Louis Van Gaal’s star-studded before heading over from Paul Played on Sunday side were in danger of an embar- Gallagher’s inswinging free-kick. rassing fifth round exit when the Arsenal 2 (Giroud 27, 29) Middlesbrough 0 No team has won this compe- unheralded hosts took a shock Aston Villa 2 (Bacuna 68, Sinclair 89) tition more times than United lead early in the second half Leicester 1 (Kramaric 90+1) but their 11th and most recent through Scott Laird. Bradford 2 (O’Shea 3-og, Stead 61) triumph came in 2004, and none Balotelli agent, Lineker hit Not for the first time this sea- Sunderland 0 of the current squad has won son, United lacked cohesion for Played on Saturday the Cup during their time at Old long periods of the game, but Blackburn 4 (King 36, 50, 55, Gestede Trafford. Yet Preston reached they responded to the indig- 45+7) Stoke 1 (Crouch 10) half-time with relative comfort nity of Laird’s goal with enough and things got even better two Crystal Palace 1 (Campbell 15) Liverpool 2 out at Sacchi comments composure to finally subdue the minutes after the break when (Sturridge 49, Lallana 58) underdogs. Ander Herrera’s for- they took the lead. Derby 1 (Bent 61) Reading 2 (Robson-Kanu MILAN: The agent of Mario A growing number of sports Frank Rijkaard, a Dutchman of tuitous strike levelled the scores Garner’s pass found Laird over- 53, Yakubu 82) Balotelli led the growing criti- personalities, including former Surinamese origin, when he was just after the hour mark before lapping from left-wing back and cism of former Italy and AC England international Gary coach at Milan. Marouane Fellaini put United West Brom 4 (Ideye 20, 57, Morrison 42, his shot hit Antonio Valencia’s Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi fol- Lineker, hit out at the comments. But the 68-year-old insisted ahead after 72 minutes. Berahino 72) West Ham 0 outstretched leg and squirmed lowing remarks criticising the But the agent of Italy star that ‘too many coloured players’ Wayne Rooney made the tie past De Gea in off the far post. number of “blacks” playing at Balotelli, born to Ghanaian featured for Italian youth sides safe with a late penalty to set well, just as Yeovil and Cambridge, Van Gaal waited until the hour youth level in Italy. parents but adopted by white at the famous Viareggio tourna- up a fascinating last eight tie at United’s lower league opponents mark to make the tactical change Sacchi, a renowned football Italians, called Sacchi “ignorant” ment, known in footballing cir- home to Arsenal on the weekend in the previous two rounds, had that shifted the momentum of coach and innovator who nota- and, in ironic tones, said the com- cles as the Viareggio Cup World of March 7 and 8. also refused to buckle against the tie. Falcao was again ineffec- bly helped Milan to back-to-back ments had given a bad impression Football Tournament. “I was reasonably satisfied. The supposedly superior rivals. tive and he made way for Ashley European Cups in 1989 and 1990, of Italians. “I’m certainly not racist, as my fights between Kevin Davies and One criticism levelled at Young. Five minutes later, Young has claimed he is “not racist”. “Italian Football too many igno- coaching history demonstrates the defenders were difficult but United under van Gaal is a lack set up Herrera whose shot under But comments made on rant people in power so we’re in with Rijkaard,” added Sacchi. we didn’t give anything away,” van of panache in attack and the trait pressure from near the edge of Monday, when he said “too many the s... Ashamed to be Italian “But look at the Viareggio tour- Gaal said. was evident in the first half as the area beat Stuckmann. blacks” played in Italy’s under- when I hear Sacchi’s declaration. nament. I would say that there “Preston’s goal was a little bit Grayson’s team kept them at bay. Fellaini who had been deployed 20 leagues, have attracted wide- Bella figura (great impression),” are too many coloured players, unlucky but we showed an unbe- Angel Di Maria’s dipping free- in an advanced midfield role spread criticism on social media. said Raiola. also in the under-20 teams in lievable team spirit. We changed kick went wide after John Welsh’s moved further forward and it paid “Italy now has no dignity or Lineker posted a Twitter Italy.” the shape and that was the heavy challenge on Radamel dividends as United took the lead. pride, because we have too many comment yesterday which said: He later claimed his comments solution. Falcao 25 yards out and that was The Belgian saw his header foreigners playing in the under-20 “There are too many racists in were misinterpreted, adding: “I’ve “We scored fantastic goals. I about as close as the visitors came from Valencia’s cross blocked by leagues: in our youth sectors there Italian football.” been misinterpreted, you think liked the second goal a lot, we to troubling Preston goalkeeper Stuckmann but the North End are too many blacks,” Sacchi Sacchi, a former director of I’m really racist? All I said was I have trained that a lot.” Thorsten Stuckmann before the goalkeeper was powerless to pre- said during an awards ceremony Italy’s national team at under-21 saw a game featuring a team who There was little sign of infe- break. Promising moments ended vent Fellaini from sweeping the in Montecatini Terme late on level, claimed he was not racist fielded four coloured players. riority from Preston in the first when Rooney and Daley Blind loose ball home from inside the Monday. because he signed a player like AFP half as they acquitted themselves overhit final passes, much to the six yard box. AFP Wednesday 18 February 2015 29 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6345 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Ecstasy for Al Sadd, agony for Jaish Wolves enter AFC Champions League group stage as Naft Tehran knock out El Jaish

ABU DHABI: Former AFC Ibrahim then scored for Al goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani. Nadir Belhadj’s corner broke to Player of the Year Khalfan Sadd in the first half of extra- Al Hosani was beaten again in Ibrahim on the edge of the penalty Ibrahim scored a hat-trick and time only for Ismail Matar to the 66th minute as a long ball for- area, and although he miss-hit his goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb saved equalise for Al Wahda and send ward found Hasan Al Haydos on first effort, the ball broke to the a crucial shot by Hussain Fadhel the tie to penalties, which eventu- the right wing and the forward Qatar international for a sec- during the penalty shootout as ally saw Al Sheeb emerge as the cut inside before rolling the ball ond time and this time his effort Al Sadd edged out Al Wahda hero in sudden death by denying across the edge of the penalty soared into the top right corner of the United Arab Emirates Fadhel. area for the onrushing Ibrahim to take the match to extra-time. (UAE) 5-4 on penalties follow- Al Sadd, who won the AFC to sweep home a first-time effort Eight minutes into the first ing an enthralling 4-4 draw Champions League title in 2011 into the bottom corner. half of extra-time Ibrahim com- after extra-time in yesterday’s having started in the play- The scores, though, were level pleted his hat-trick as a deft flick AFC Champions League play- offs, will now take their place just six minutes later as Diaz on the edge of the penalty area off here. in Group C alongside Iran’s teed up Amer Omar on the right from Brazilian substitute Grafite But Amir Motahhari broke El Foolad Khouzestan, Uzbekistan’s hand side of the area to flash a played in the striker and he made Jaish hearts as his solitary strike Lokomotiv and last year’s run- shot across Al Sheeb into the far no mistake with a composed finish was enough to earn Naft Tehran ners-up Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia. corner. past Al Hosani. their first-ever spot in the group Al Wahda had made the ideal With both sides going for the But three minutes into the sec- stage of the AFC Champions start as the home side opened the winning goal, Al Wahda thought ond period Matar, having hit the League after the Iranian side reg- scoring after just eight minutes they had taken the crucial lead wall with two similar set-pieces istered a historic win in the AFC as a long ball from the back sent two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half, guided Champions League play-off at the Sebastian Tagliabue free down as Matar’s driven free-kick from the ball expertly over the Al Sadd Azadi Stadium in Tehran. the right wing after beating the 25 yards out fell at the feet of Al wall and into the top corner. Mohamed Al Shehhi appeared offside trap and the Argentinean Shehhi inside the area and he With neither being able to to have secured victory for Al striker eventually cut into the unleashed a rasping drive past Al make further inroads, the penalty Wahda — who had been reduced penalty area before squaring the Sheeb and into the roof of the net. shootout went to sudden death as to nine men following a second- ball for Damian Diaz to fire into A mass coming together of Grafite missed for Al Sadd and half clash which also saw Al the unguarded net from the edge players shortly after saw Al Omar missed for Al Wahda. Sadd’s Mohammed Kasola dis- of the six-yard area. An Al Sadd player (right) fights for possession of the ball against an Al Wahda’s Diaz and Adil Hermach But in the first round of sudden missed — as the midfielder net- Al Sadd did make a better start Wahda player during an AFC Champions League play-off match in Abu receive red cards while Al Sadd’s death Abdelkarim Hassan found ted in the second-half of stoppage to the second half and equalised Dhabi yesterday. Kasola was also given his march- the target and Kuwaiti defender time only for Ibrahim to score his just 10 minutes after the restart ing orders. Fadhel saw his penalty saved by second of the night to dramati- as a superb slide-rule pass from his own half played in Yusef held off the challenge of Khalid But there was still time for Al Al Sheeb to hand Al Sadd the vic- cally send the tie into extra-time. Talal Al Bloushi from well inside Ahmed, and after the striker Bawazir, he fired under advancing Sadd to equalise in added time as tory. THE PENINSULA