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The Peninsula has Brent oil was on track Anna Cavallaro started work on the for its sharpest loss in a yesterday produced a second edition of its month, falling 5 percent near-perfect routine in Workers’ Book, which will yesterday, and US crude the individual female be launched on May 3. gave back early gains. class at CHI Al Shaqab.

TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 • 12 Jumada I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6358 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Advisory panel Deputy Emir honours students nod for trade licensing law Online, street trade rules planned

DOHA: A draft law to regulate citing reasons. An applicant must licensing procedures for online be told the same day when he trading as well as shops, fac- applies for licensing whether tories, other such businesses he would get the license or not, and permissible street vending according to the provisions of the activities has been approved by draft. the Advisory Council. The licence is to be issued for a The draft is to be sent back to year and would be renewable for Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani honoured students for excellence in education at the eighth edition of the Education Excellence the State Cabinet which is likely another year or more. Day at Sheraton Doha yesterday. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister and Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Education Council to take steps to get it issued soon. The draft has 34 articles, five H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and a number of ministers and ambassadors. See also page 3 The Minister of Economy and of which pertain to street vending Commerce will issue executive activities. regulations or bye-laws after the Earlier, during a debate some legislation has been put in force. members suggested that fish and For any violation of the pro- livestock vendors (those breed- INSIDE visions of the proposed law the ing and selling camels and sheep, PM lays foundation for Um manager of these businesses will for instance) be kept out of the 9 be held legally responsible, says purview of the law. Page the draft. But others opposed the idea The Council has sought to clip and said their licensing and health Al Houl Economic Zone Shias, Sunnis have the powers the draft suggested certification were must since they same foes, so why for the Minister of Economy and could directly impact the health DOHA: Prime Minister and commence in 2016. Addressing distinct effort in planning them in fight? Commerce to waive some condi- of consumers. Interior Minister H E Sheikh an event to mark the stone-lay- order to allow the opportunities of tions for licensing of businesses. The draft was referred to the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa ing ceremony, the Premier said expansion and investment for the By Dr Faisal Al The Council has recommended Advisory Council after the Cabinet Al Thani laid the foundation the government is focusing on a private sector. The State of Qatar Kassim that criteria for waiving some approved it on November 12, 2014. stone for an economic zone near large number of initiatives that has established, for the first time, conditions by the Minister should The Council handed it to its Finance the new Doha Port (Hamad Port), help improve investment climate new areas for the development of We must prepare for be fixed so that no business could and Economic Affairs Committee to south of Al Wakra, yesterday. and increase chances of projects production and service activities like future without oil be favoured out of the way. study and give its suggestions. The upcoming zone, one of the available to the private sector. storage, industry and logistics. The Cabinet normally listens The panel held two elaborate three free-trade zones being set “This groundbreaking ceremony Qatar established the economic By Khalil Ali Haidar to the Council’s recommendations sessions and gave its report which up by Qatar, will be spread over an of Um Al Houl special economic zones company “Manateq” to about laws and other such key was discussed by the Council, area of 33.52sqkm and will cater zone is testament to the firm resolve develop and operate three special The future of Saudi- issues. The Council has also sug- Qatar News Agency (QNA) to varying businesses and sectors and unwavering commitment of the economic zones that provide infra- gested that the Economy Ministry reports. such as petrochemicals, building State of Qatar to towards strategi- structure in accordance with the Iranian relations must cite reasons if it rejects a Applicants whose requests for materials, maritime, metals, logis- cally and fully diversified economy”, highest international standards in By Dr Muhammad Al request for licensing so that the licensing are rejected can appeal tics, food processing and automo- said Sheikh Abdullah order to reach new levels of eco- Salmani applicant tries to fulfil the condi- to the Economy Minister within a biles, tools and machinery. One the most important ini- nomic diversity and promote the tions and apply again. month can be made and the min- The zone is to be known as ‘Um tiatives towards this end was the growth of the small and medium- The original draft suggested ister has to reply within 15 days, Al Houl Special Economic Zone’ launch of Special Economic Zones sized companies and private sector. that the Ministry had the right to suggests the draft. project, in Um Al Houl area. Its projects for whom the Ministry Continued on page 6 reject a licensing request without THE PENINSULA first phase of development will of Economy and Trade exerted a THE PENINSULA Dust winds to cause low Solar plane in night flight visibility from Traffic safety to become today: Met office part of curriculum DOHA: Strong dust winds could hit the country again by this afternoon causing low vis- DOHA: Traffic safety will be made part of the curriculum of all ibility in some areas and a slight Independent and private schools in Qatar by the next academic year, fall in temperature. a senior official of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) has said. The windy weather is expected The project was first launched in four schools on a trial basis dur- to continue until Saturday. This ing the 2013-2014 academic year and currently 25 schools including has been attributed to the impact some private schools are giving traffic safety awareness lessons, a of a high pressure extending from local Arabic daily reported yesterday quoting Reema Abu Khadeeja, Saudi Arabia. director of curriculum standards office at SEC. During this period, tempera- She said the SEC will soon set up traffic villages in six schools as part ture would drop by two to four of the project. This will help impart practical knowledge and awareness degrees from the monthly aver- to children about traffic rules and road safety. age settling at 14 to 17 degrees The Curriculum Standards Office has a team of specialists to follow at the minimum. The expected up on implementation of the project. Traffic safety will not be taught maximum temperature would be as an independent subject but it will be incorporated in the curriculum between 23 to 25 degrees Celsius. as part of other subjects and through contextual learning. Mercury would dip further in The project targets all schools — independent, private and interna- the southern parts of the country. tional — from KG to Grade 12 levels to raise traffic safety awareness The night and early hours of the Solar Impulse 2 during its night test flight in Abu Dhabi, yesterday. The Solar Impulse 2 made the night test among children, both as pedestrians and future drivers, said Khadeeja. day would be colder due to fresh with pilot Bertrand Piccard. The only solar single-seater plane able to fly day and night without a drop of fuel The project has been developed and implemented in collaboration winds, said the department. will attempt the first round-the-world solar flight on Saturday. with the Ministry of Interior and Shell company. The Curriculum Strong northwesterly winds Standards Office plays a major role in developing the study material would blow at speeds ranging and supervising its implementation. The SEC recently sent a circular between 12-22 knots up to 28 to all schools seeking their opinion about establishing traffic villages in knots at times. This could lead their premises. The response was very encouraging, added Khadeeja. to dusty conditions especially in Kerry cautions Israel over Iran talks There is a joint committee with representatives from the SEC, the open areas and highways and a National Committee for Traffic Safety and Traffic Department to decrease in horizontal visibility. set up the standards for traffic villages in schools. THE PENINSULA “The winter is not yet over MONTREUX, Switzerland: U of Montreux about restraining Human Rights Council, which but it is on the way out,” an S Secretary of State John Kerry the Iranian nuclear program in Washington has long accused of expert at the department told quietly cautioned Israel not to exchange for relief from economic anti-Israel bias, and also suggest- Palestinians to file ICC case this daily last evening. He said undercut Iran nuclear negotia- sanctions. ing the Israelis not undermine the the expected dust winds may tions that resumed yesterday as The two men, along with US talks. against Israel in April: PLO not lead to a significant fall in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz “We are concerned by reports temperature. Netanyahu prepared to make and Iranian atomic energy chief that suggest selective details of RAMALLAH: The Palestinians are to lodge their first complaint According to a weather forecast the case against his diplomacy Ali Akbar Salehi, shook hands the ongoing negotiations will be against Israel for alleged war crimes at the International Criminal issued by the department temper- before the US Congress. and then met for about 50 min- discussed publicly in the coming Court on April 1, a senior official said yesterday. ature in Doha today would hover Kerry and Iranian Foreign utes late on Monday afternoon. days,” he said, apparently alluding “One of the first important steps will be filing a complaint against between 16-30 degrees Celsius. Minister Mohammad Javad Speaking to reporters in to Netanyahu’s planned speech to Israel at the ICC on April 1 over the (2014) Gaza war and settlement It has forecast strong winds and Zarif held the first of what could Geneva before the meeting, US lawmakers. activity,” said Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of the executive com- high seas by afternoon with scat- amount to three days of meet- Kerry struck a balance between REUTERS mittee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). tered clouds. ings in the Swiss lakeside town defending Israel before the U N See also page 7 AFP THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Navigator leadership programme announced Qatar Shell, QBIC, SDC and Silatech sign agreement to host ‘Common Purpose’ programme for emerging leaders

DOHA: As part of efforts the Qatar National Vision 2030, to inspire young Qataris, we are delighted to sponsor the Qatar Shell, Qatar Business ‘Second Entrepreneurship in Incubator Centre (QBIC), Social Economic Development Forum’ Development Center (SDC), and to continue supporting the and Silatech have signed an development of a robust private agreement to host a ‘Common sector that will help diversify Purpose’ programme for emerg- Qatar’s economy.” ing leaders named ‘Navigator’. Munther Al Dawood, Projects The first edition of the event and Investment Manager and will be held here from May 24 Acting CEO at SDC, said: “We at to 28, according to a statement SDC are delighted to join hands yesterday. with major organisations who The announcement came share with us the same mission on the first day of the ‘2nd to inspire Qatari youth to take Entrepreneurship in Economic initiative and contribute inno- Development Forum’, which aims vatively to a more diverse Qatari to foster the new generation of corporate culture and economy.” entrepreneurs in Qatar and During the 2nd the region. Hundreds of entre- Entrepreneurship in Economic preneurs attended the two-day Development Forum, Qatar Shell forum hosted by the Ministry highlighted its increasing support of Economy and Commerce and to existing SMEs in recent years sponsored by Qatar Shell. owing to its successful partner- The primary focus of ship with Qatar Development ‘Navigator leadership pro- Bank. gramme’ in Doha will be inno- In 2013, QDB and Qatar Shell vation and entrepreneurship, launched the “SME Business and it will help both develop Opportunity Workshop,” which the leadership capabilities of the enables Qatari SMEs to com- Officials after the agreement signing ceremony. participants and generate new pete for business opportunities ideas which have the potential to within Qatar Shell’s supply chain. qualification requirements to ten- of Qatar Shell’s efforts to encour- opportunities to the private sec- 2013-14. In addition to its efforts be prototyped in the ‘real world’ Three SMEs were awarded with der to become suppliers of choice age SMEs to bid and win con- tor; five new Qatari SMEs were to support existing local SMEs, beyond the programme. contracts. to the Pearl GTL, the world’s larg- tracts with Pearl GTL. awarded with contracts for Pearl Qatar Shell seeks to inspire young Wael Sawan, Chairman and Qatar Shell’s team of experts est gas to liquids plant delivered In 2014, Qatar Shell in part- GTL last December. This brings Qataris to consider entrepreneur- Managing Director of Qatar Shell, explained to participants at the by Qatar Petroleum and Qatar nership with QDB presented the total number of awarded ship as a career option. said: “In line with our support of forum the tendering process and Shell. The presentation was part seven new specific business SMEs to eight for the period THE PENINSULA

Qatar committed to supporting sustainable water resources: Minister

DOHA: Under the wise lead- of water to achieve sustainable great importance to raise aware- of the highest in the world. responsibility requiring everyone Water Corporation (Kahramaa) ership of the Emir H H Sheikh development”, the Minister of ness of the importance of ration- Qatar is working according to a to stop wasting water and follow works to consolidate a culture Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Energy and Industry H E Dr alising the use of water as one of clear policy as part of its strategy the proper habits of its usage as a of water conservation through Qatar is committed to support- Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada the effective means to maintain the for the management of natural daily practice and a culture of the its national programme for con- ing sustainable water sources, said. country’s water resources, which resources, which is considered a community so as to ensure sus- servation and energy efficiency its conservation in consistent Marking Arab Water Day, form the basis of the state and its road map to achieve sustainability tainable development , he added. “Tarsheed”, which it launched with the Arab Water Day under which falls on March 3 every year, progress, especially since the per and preservation of generations’ The Minister explained that under the patronage of the Emir the theme of ‘Rationalising use Al Sada said that Qatar attaches capita consumption of water is one rights , while saying it is a shared Qatar General Electricity & in April 2012 . QNA

ISL organises family food festival

International School of London (ISL) Qatar organised Family Food Festival on February 28. Nearly QR20,000 was raised for charity during the community gathering of nearly 80 different nationalities. Depression and anxiety common among children

DOHA: Prevalence of depres- in the Mena region is relevantly it. The report says “Early inter- sion and anxiety are more com- high. But the pattern of preva- vention is crucial. Mental health mon than other mental health lence is similar to other regions problems need to be tackled when disorders among children in the with a high rate of depression and they first appear. They need to Middle East and North Africa anxiety, according to the report. be recognized by parents, doctors (Mena) region, according to a In Asia at least seven percent and teachers, and our whole soci- report recently revealed in Doha. of children under the age of 19 ety needs to become much more Around eight percent of chil- years suffer from depression and open and matter-of-fact about dren under the age of 19 years anxiety. what is a common part of life. suffer from depression and Children’s mental wellbeing is Our schools need to adopt chil- anxiety, two and half percent affected by every aspect of their dren’s wellbeing as one of their children have behaviour disor- lives — by their physical health major objectives – both in their der and hyperactivity disorder and quality of nutrition, by their ethos and their teaching. Life (ADHD)and one and half percent wealth and poverty, by discrimi- skills can and should be taught suffer from autism and asperg- nation, by war and conflict – and as professionally as mathematics ers, says ‘Healthy Young Minds a whole range of other social and or literature.” Transforming The Mental Health economic factors. But it is also The report further suggests that Of Children,’ a report released at affected by more personal factors. two things could make a real dif- the World Innovation Summit ‘Healthy Young Minds ference as mental health should recently. Transforming The Mental Health appear explicitly in the post-2015 Although the report doesn’t Of Children,’ focus is on how to sustainable development goals and specify any country based data it reduce mental illness by directly countries could have a Cabinet reveals that prevalence of mental addressing the personal factors Minister for Mental Health. health disorders among children that have caused or are sustaining THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Deputy Emir honours outstanding students Annual Education Excellence Day held BY FAZEENA SALEEM their views and aspirations for country and its people to the future. have good dental health.” DOHA: Meritorious Qatari Souvenir photos were also Celebrating the Education students, a distinguished taken for the outstanding stu- Excellence Day is aimed at teacher and an outstanding dents with Deputy Emir and contributing to the promotion school were yesterday hon- Minister of Education. of innovation and entrench oured at the annual Education The celebration of the a culture of excellence in Excellence Day held under the Education Excellence Day was the Qatari society, espe- patronage of the Emir H H attended by ministers and state cially in the education field Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al dignitaries in addition to some and deepening its concepts Thani. heads of universities and regional by adopting global stand- The outstanding awardees, educational organizations oper- ards of excellence, and the comprising 27 primary and second- ating in Doha, academics and implementation of specific ary school students, 12 university a group of educational leaders, programs, in preparation graduates, three PhD students, school administrators, teachers, for the integration of indi- one teacher, one school and two parents and students. vidual efforts and institu- scientific research, received “The Education Excellence tional capacity to improve their awards from the Deputy Day is seeing number of stu- outcomes of the educational Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin dents getting honored and the process in Qatar. Hamad Al Thani. number of applications for the THE PENINSULA Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani presenting awards to two students. Education Excellence Day awards has increased, which includes the assessment of aca- is a good symptom,” said D Al demically outstanding Qatari Hammadi. students, celebrate them, Fouziah Ahmad A Al encourage them to develop Ghadi, of Al Wakrah Primary their performance, and pro- Independent School for Girls, mote positive attitudes towards who received the platinum knowledge and creative scien- award under the outstanding tific research. teacher category speaking to During the event held in the this newspaper said: presence of Prime Minister and “By receiving this award I Interior Minister and Chairman have got responsibility in doing of the Supreme Education Council my duties, I will have to be more (SEC) H E Sheikh Abdullah bin outstanding. Speaking about Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and her future endeavors she said, the Minister of Education H E “I want to obtain a masters Dr Mohammed bin Abdul Wahed degree in school administration Al Hammadi, the winners of and serve my community and education excellence were given country better.” platinum and gold medals and Noura Saeed Saif Al certificates of excellence in addi- Yafei of Al Nahdah Primary tion to cash prizes. Independent School for Girls, The Deputy Emir also received the platinum award in received the outstanding stu- the outstanding primary stu- dents and gave them in an dents category said: “It a happy exclusive audience tips and day for me. I’m very proud of guidance and exchanged with what I achieved. I want to them cordial talk and listen to become a dentist and serve my Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and other ministers attendng the ceremony.

Sheikh Joaan attends royal wedding

On behalf of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has greeted Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, representative of the UAE president, on the occasion of the wedding of his son Sheikh Dr Hazza bin Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Al Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Sheikh Joaan also greeted a group of members of Al Nahyan royal family during the ceremony. Qatar Airways doubles inflight entertainment shows

DOHA: Qatar Airways has the Oscar for Best Actor. board Qatar Airwaysincluding announced yesterday it will Other Oscar-winning and Whiplash starring J K Simmons, double the number of movies Oscar-nominated movies debut- who won the Academy Award and TV shows on board over ing on board in March include, for Best Supporting Actor, the coming months, increas- The Imitation Game star- and Boyhood, starring Patricia ing the choice of entertain- ring Oscar nominee Benedict Arquette, winner of the Oscar ment channels from 950 to Cumberbatch; Interstellar, which for Best Supporting Actress. 2,000. This comes on top of the scooped the Academy Award Other blockbusters debut- already wide selection of more for Special Effects; Foxcatcher ing on board Qatar Airways in than 200 audio options and 50 featuring Oscar nominee Steve March 2015 include The Hunger games to entertain both chil- Carell; and Wild starring the Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and dren and adults during their Oscar nominated-actresses family favourites Paddington and journey. Reese Witherspoon and Laura Penguins of Madagascar. Passengers on board Qatar Dern. In addition, Two Days, One Arabic movie premieres deb- Airways flights in March 2015 Night, starring French actress uting on board Qatar Airways in will also be able to enjoy an Marion Cotillard, who was nomi- March include Geran El Saad, a eclectic line up of Oscar-winning nated in the Best Actress cate- family comedy featuring Sameh movies including Birdman, which gory, will also premiere on board Hussien and Kuwaiti box office won Academy Awards for Best in March. hit Elisa Khatafha Jameel, as Movie and Best Director, and These star-studded movies well as Rock the Casbah starring The Theory of Everything star- join other 2015 Oscar-winning Omar El Sherief and Nadeen ring Eddie Redmayne, who won movies already available on Labaky. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME HMC honoured with IT healthcare awards Dr Hanan Kuwari receives Leadership and Education award

DOHA: Hamad Medical in introducing and applying state- annually to healthcare pioneers Corporation (HMC) has been of-the-art technologies to health- and leaders in the Arab countries. honoured with the Excellence care in Qatar, notably its recently Al Khater described the awards Award in IT healthcare dur- introduced Clinical Information won as additions to a series of ing the 16th annual Congress of System (CIS) — a comprehen- accolades the corporation has the Arab Hospitals Federation sive system-wide change, which been receiving in recent years due (AHF) held recently in Cairo, has been designed in collabora- to its commitment to providing Egypt. tion with clinicians. During the the best and quality standards of During the congress, HMC go live, the hospitals and clinics healthcare treatment and serv- Managing Director Dr Hanan Al implementing CIS are replac- ices to people of Qatar. Kuwari was bestowed with the ing their existing paper patient “Hamad Medical Corporation Leadership and Education award clinical records system with a has obtained various distinctive for 2015. new electronic CIS. This process regional awards and international Mohamed Mubarak Al Noimi, is being implemented in phases accreditations for most of its serv- Chief of Communication and across HMC and Primary Health ices throughout the past years. Chief of Staff for the Managing Care Corporation. These achievements confirm Director’s Office at HMC The Leadership and Education that our main aim is to continue and Ali Abdulla Al Khater, Award for 2015 conferred on Dr Al to progress towards excellence Executive Director of Corporate Kuwari was described as a token and improving our services up Communications Department of appreciation from the AHF to international standards,” Al at HMC received the awards on in recognition of her efforts in Khater said. behalf of the corporation and Dr supporting advanced healthcare Several HMC’s leaders were Al Kuwari. and medical education programs speakers at the Congress and The excellence award in IT at HMC. The leadership awards associated events. A top Egyptian health ministry official being honoured at the 16th annual Congress of the Arab Hospitals Federation Healthcare affirms HMC’s efforts are presented by the federation THE PENINSULA (AHF) held recently in Cairo. Advances in metabolomics discussed Ooredoo continues to drive Mobile Connect service DOHA: The role of the metabo- disseminate knowledge of the lat- lism in complex disorders such est developments in medical tech- DOHA: As part of the rising Mobile Connect service announced as diabetes, kidney disease and nology, research and best practice. by the GSMA at Mobile World Congress yesterday, Ooredoo Group cardiovascular conditions was Using state-of-the-art compu- continues to drive its successful trials across three markets in its explored by a leading biomedical ter technology, Dr Suhre and his global footprint — Indonesia, Qatar and Algeria. researcher in the latest install- team at WCMC-Q have been able Following the successful Indonesian trial with Indosat in December ment of Weill Cornell Medical to analyze blood and urine samples 2014, Ooredoo and the GSMA continue to work to establish Mobile College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q) from patients to create so-called Connect as an industry standard. Mobile Connect enables customers to Grand Rounds. ‘metabolic maps’ of the many create and manage a universal identity that will securely authenticate WCMC-Q Professor of thousands of chemical reactions them and allow them to safely access mobile and digital services via their Physiology and Biophysics Dr that collectively form the human mobile phones, through greater privacy and robust data protection. Karsten Suhre, who is at the fore- metabolome. Through analysis of “Ensuring the security of our customers’ personal data and privacy front of research into the rela- genetic material, the team has is our first priority. Providers in industries such as e-commerce, banking, tively new field of metabolomics, been able to match genetic vari- health and digital entertainment, as well as e-government portals are explained the role of genetic vari- ance to metabolic processes that benefiting from Mobile Connect authentication, enabling stronger security ance in human metabolism, which are thought to be responsible for for consumers. The continued success reflected in the extension of this influences the ways in which dis- a variety of diseases, including Mobile Connect ecosystem demonstrates that we are here to support eases develop and means that dif- diabetes, kidney disease and car- customers in their quest for safer and more secure access to mobile and ferent patients will react to drugs diovascular disorders. other digital services,” said Dr. Nasser Marafih, Group CEO, Ooredoo. and environmental factors in dif- Dr Suhre said: “Understanding The service, as announced by the GSMA yesterday, now includes ferent ways. the metabolic processes of dis- 17 mobile network operators (MNOs) who have launched the service Speaking before an audience eases in depth is useful because in 13 countries, with plans for additional launches and beta trials to of fellow researchers, physi- it means physicians may be able follow in 2015. cians, students and healthcare to intervene in more sophisticated Initial trials in Indonesia introduced customers of Indosat’s e-com- professionals at WCMC-Q, Dr ways. For example, many health merce market place, Cipika, to a highly secure and convenient way to Suhre said: “Metabolomics is an disorders are caused by a com- purchase regional food, handicrafts and products online. The service extremely exciting field because it bination of genetic variance and will expand into other verticals such as mobile phones, electronic can provide us with a holistic view environmental factors — metabo- gadgets and digital entertainment vouchers. of how the entire metabolism of lomics can help us to understand Partnering with Ericsson which provided the underlying platform a person functions on an individ- the interaction between the two for digital authentication, Ooredoo customers in Qatar and Algeria ual basis. Just as genomics is the and then direct the patient to through a recent pilot program can now also access self-care functions study of the whole human genome, avoid certain environmental fac- by Mobile Connect authentication, instead of entering in a username metabolomics is the study of the WCMC-Q Professor of Physiology and Biophysics Dr Karsten Suhre at tors by, for example, following a and password. In partnership with GSMA, Indosat along with Ooredoo whole human metabolism.” Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q) Grand Rounds. special diet, which will reduce Qatar and Algeria are currently running live trials at Mobile World The Grand Rounds, devel- their likelihood of developing the Congress 2015 at The GSMA Innovation City to showcase the truly oped by WCMC-Q’s Division Development, provides a plat- can engage with healthcare pro- disease.” global service and inter-operability between operators and service of Continuing Professional form from which expert speakers fessionals in the community to THE PENINSULA providers. THE PENINSULA

Qatar Steel participates in UK Career Fair Second STEM

DOHA: Qatar Steel par- Educator of the ticipated in the 8th Annual Career Fair, held in the UK Year competition recently, and organised by Qatar Embassy in London. A announced number of Qatari companies took part in this fair, which DOHA: Texas A&M University was attended by over 350 at Qatar and Maersk Oil Qatar Qatari students studying in continue their partnership for different universities and col- educational outreach in science, leges in the UK. technology, engineering and The two-day event aimed math by launching the second to attract ambitious and high annual STEM Educator of the performing Qatari students Year award and cash prize for and graduates, who are pur- Qatar’s top high school teacher suing their studies in the UK, of math and sciences. and familiarise them with the The STEM Educator of the job opportunities available after Year competition is designed to graduation, in addition to the recognise outstanding teachers scholarships and training pro- for excellence in educating young grams offered by the companies Qataris in STEM disciplines — to potential students. science, technology, engineering Qatar Steel’s delegation, Qatar Steel’s HR Manager Mohamed Saleh Al Mahdi handing a and math — which are essen- from HR and Learning and memento to Qatar’s Ambassador to UK Yousef bin Ali Al Khater. tial for advancing Qatar’s devel- Development dept. met many opment of a knowledge-based national students, briefed them in the career fair in the UK as a platform for Qatari com- economy, said Dr Hamid Parsaei, about the company, and intro- comes in line with the com- panies to introduce their job Director of Academic Outreach duced them to the various pany’s Qatarisation strategy, opportunities; scholarships and professor of mechanical engi- career opportunities available aiming at attracting the tal- and internship programs that neering at Texas A&M at Qatar. in different departments. ented nationals, taking part they can offer to students, to Parsaei, who chairs the award Mohamed Saleh Al Mahdi, in various career fairs and meet the job market require- selection committee, said the Qatar Steel’s HR manager forums, in order to introduce ments through recruiting tal- competition builds on last year’s declared that the number of the our job opportunities, train- ented national manpower. The contest for the STEM Educator job applications received was ing and scholarship programs. event is also a good opportunity of the Year prize, which was 102, and that working contracts Our company is also keen to for the national companies to awarded to Faiza Musa, an edu- were signed with 7 national boost the career potentials of communicate with Qatari stu- cator for more than 25 years who students. While 75 students its employees through giving dents, who are studying abroad, teaches chemistry at Al Bayan who applied for scholarship them the right and on job train- encourage the most potential Educational Complex for Girls. programs have to complete the ing and development courses, and capable ones to work with A selection committee will required procedure, prior to as required in their various them, or to avail themselves review nomination packets and finalising the agreement with careers and disciplines.” Al of the prospective scholarship choose the winning teacher, them at a later stage. Mahdi added. programs they offer. who will receive a cash prize of “Qatar Steel’s participation The career fair is considered THE PENINSULA QR20,000. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 The Peninsula to launch Workers’ Book in May

DOHA: The Peninsula news- Al Sharq, the sister newspa- companies for improving the has won appreciation and sup- Peninsula has invited a number has begun applying strict monitor- paper has started work on the per of The Peninsula launched living conditions of expatriate port from government and pri- of bodies concerned to take ing system to protect their rights, second edition of its Workers’ the first edition of the Workers’ workers in Qatar. vate sectors. part in the project by sending through inspection campaigns Book. The book will include Book in May last year, under the The conference was attended The book will include impor- their reports and enriching the targeting companies, investiga- reports about government bod- patronage of the Prime Minister by representatives of interna- tant reports prepared by local content with suggestions and tion of complaints and punishing ies, international organisations and Interior Minister H E tional organisations such as the and international bodies on the opinions on how to improve the violators of the labour law and the and local companies’ initiatives Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin UN Human Rights Regional initiatives, achievements and workers’ condition. residency law. and practices to improve the Khalifa Al Thani and in the pres- Office for West Asia and the efforts carried out by these enti- Qatar currently hosts more The book with 350 A4 size living conditions of expatriate ence of the Minister of Labour Amnesty International. ties to improve the living and than one million workers from pages will be published in Arabic workers in Qatar. and Social Affairs H E Sheikh In this context Dr Khalid Al working conditions of expatriate Asian countries taking part in and English. Translators from Al The book will be launched at Abdullah bin Saleh Al Khulaifi. Jaber, editor- in- chief of The workers in Qatar, he added. development projects. In the past Sharq newspaper will prepare the second “worker’s conference” The one-day conference dis- Peninsula said that initiative Babaker Osman, the book’s years many controversies had the Arabic version as an inde- to be held on May 3 to mark cussed the achievements, trends aims to provide a platform for editor said that this year the been raised about the worker’s pendent book that will be distrib- the International Worker’s Day and future plans of different discussing the situation of expa- reports will be under the situation and the sponsorship sys- uted to all the bodies concerned. observed every year on May 1. government entities and private triate workers in Qatar and it title ‘Progress Achieved’. The tem. Since then the government THE PENINSULA Rota meet to draw 450 young leaders 7th annual Empower conference from March 12 to 14 BY RAYNALD C RIVERA have been chosen from 1,400 who currently celebrating a bilateral applied online after a thorough Year of Culture with Qatar. DOHA: A total of 450 young screening process which included Catered for young leaders aged leaders from 24 countries are interviews, said Abdullah Al 16 to 26, the event features panel taking part in Reach Out to Bakri, Rota’s Community discussions, keynote speeches, Asia’s (Rota) seventh annual Development Manager. lectures, group workshops, off- Empower conference to be held This year’s event, which will be site visits and a student pub- from March 12 to 14 at the supported by Qatar Petroleum, lic debate focusing on personal Hamad Bin Khalifa University will focus on youth development leadership, service learning and (HBKU) Student Centre. for peaceful societies. global citizenship. Seminars and “We are absolutely thrilled to “Recent events around the workshops will be streamed live see how Empower, which started world have challenged notions online. with around a hundred people of peaceful societies and forced a Popular Kuwaiti recording art- in 2009, has become an influen- fresh look at what communities ist Humood Al Khader, who will tial force for change, resulting in can do to improve human secu- perform for the youth delegates powerful declarations crafted by rity, prosperity and happiness. on March 13, will be among the the youth, which have grabbed Rota’s annual youth-led confer- public figures who will attend the the attention of leaders well ence aims to tackle this pressing conference. after the event’s conclusion,” issue by encouraging youth to The event, which serves the Mohammed Saleh, Director of take a more active role in promot- dual purpose of preparing youth National Programs at Rota told ing peace within their societies for the World Humanitarian a press meet yesterday at HBKU and across borders and encour- Summit, is guided by United to announce the details of Qatar’s ages them to think about their Nations development goals that largest youth-led summit. role in creating a more peaceful address education for sustain- The participants coming from world,” said Saleh. able development, human rights, FROM LEFT: Abdullah Al Bakri, Rota’s Community Development Manager; Mohammed Saleh, Director of National Middle East, North Africa, The organisers have placed a equality and peace. Programmes and Reem Al Khayyat, Empower 2015 Planning Committee Member during the press conference at Europe, Asia and North America special focus on Turkey, which is THE PENINSULA Hamad Bin Khaifa University yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT CID arrests man with Over 100 professionals to attend Qumra fest DOHA: The Doha Film Institute very closely with over time international film bodies include (DFI) will welcome more than through our grants and develop- executives from major film funds 100 film industry professionals ment programmes. We are in a Eurimages, Hubert Bals Fund, QR6m in fake currency for the first edition of Qumra, unique position to catalyse their Medienboard, the Sarajevo City an event dedicated to the devel- work to the next stage through of Film Fund and Srfond;K film DOHA: The Criminal opment of emerging local and this intensive programme which labs including the Binger Film Investigation Department international filmmakers, tak- has been designed with each of Lab, Torino Film Lab, Rawi (CID) has foiled one of the big- ing place from March 6 to 11. their individual needs in mind.” Screenwriters’ Lab and the Cannes gest bids to circulate fake cur- Twenty-nine projects at vari- Artistic Directors and key Residency Programme; and rep- rency bills worth QR6m. This ous stages of production have selectors from leading regional resentatives from national film includes US dollars as well. An been selected to benefit from the and international film festivals organisations including Creative Arab national involved in the experience of international film include representatives from: England, the Danish Film Institute crime has been arrested. industry professionals in bespoke Venice Film Festival; Karlovy and Cinemas du Monde. About 6 million dollars and mentorship labs and meetings Vary International Film Festival; All participants, with a focus Qatari riyal were recovered while designed to propel their projects Toronto International Film on work-in-progress projects, will he was trying to exchange them to the next stage. Festival; Busan International Film be connected with international with 3 million original Qatari Projects in development will Festival; International Film Festival sales and production companies riyals. participate in group and indi- Rotterdam; Sarajevo Film Festival; including Elle Driver, Fortissimo The Economic Crime Prevention vidual sessions for legal, sales, Clermont-Ferrand International Films, Memento Films, Open City Section at the CID received tip- marketing, production and script Film Festival; Abu Dhabi Film Films, Picture Tree International, off from its sources that an Arab consultations along with one-on- Festival; Dubai International Film Sikhya Entertainment, Urban national was circulating fake cur- one match-made meetings while Festival; Festival del Film Locarno; Distribution International, rency and attracting people to get projects in post-production will International Documentary Film WIDE, Wild Bunch and Visit rich and wealthy overnight. participate in a series of rough-cut Festival Amsterdam; and from the Films alongside key distribu- Following investigations he and work-in-progress screenings Cannes Film Festival, representa- tors from the Mena region confessed to the crime. He has and feedback sessions which will tives from multiple sections and including Gulf Film, Front Row been referred to the Public present excerpts of their projects. sidebars including Cinéfondation, Filmed Entertainment, Teleview Prosecution for further inves- DFI CEO, Fatma Al Remaihi said: Court Métrage, Critics’ Week and International, Moving Turtle and tigation and legal proceedings. “The projects selected for Qumra Directors’ Fortnight. MC Distribution. Arab national with fake currencies. THE PENINSULA are by filmmakers we have worked Representation from THE PENINSULA

FM meets UN official in Vienna Qatar joins global database of e-passports VIENNA: Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin DOHA: Qatar has joined the countries the organisation. This action comes as Mohammed Al Attiyah met that are part of international database a continuation of the development plans here yesterday with Yuri that ensures authentication of electronic of Qatari e-passports, aimed at improv- Fedotov, Executive Director of passports (ePassports) for airport and ing and enhancing electronic and direct the United Nations Office on aviation security. verification of passport biometric data Drugs and Crime(UNODC). A delegation from the Ministry of and facilitate passage of e-passport hold- Al Attiyah affirmed Qatar’s Interior delivered Public Keys of Qatari ers through border control points of PKD keenness to promote joint action e-passports to upload in Public Keys participants. to combat drugs and organised Directory (PKD) system of International PKD Board of the International Civil crime and strengthen crimi- Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Aviation Organization (ICAO) works to nal justice systems as part of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a achieve maximum accuracy and verifi- the preparations for 13th UN global system for ePassport validation via cation of physical and barometric data Congress on Crime Prevention exchange of PKI by countries that issue for e-passports and travel documents all and Criminal Justice which will ePassports. On this occasion, a ceremony over the world through joint work on the be held in Doha next month. was held in Montreal, Canada, on February improvement and development of encryp- The minister also stressed 19 and 20 that was attended by Brigadier tion technologies and mutual support and that the goal of the conference Abdullah Saad Al Buainain, Director exchange of expertise among experts and lies in the importance of building of Nationality and Travel Documents specialists participating in the board. stable societies based on the rule Department, Brigadier Abdul Rahman It worth mention that Qatar repre- of law and human rights. Ali Al Maliki, assistant director general sented by Ministry of Interior has joined Foreign Minister also asserted of General Directorate of Information ICAO PKD that consist of 45 countries the country’s commitment to Systems and Captain Ahmed Khaled Al include European Union, USA and China. working closely with Member Hamr, from the Directorate General of Qatar was the first Gulf Country that States to make the Doha Information Systems. issued e-passport in 2008 as per the specifi- Declaration a starting point Christina, Director of the Certification of cation of ICAO, an interior ministry release Brigadier Abdullah Saad Al Buainain (second right), Director of Nationality and Travel Documents towards achieving justice for all. Centre of ICAO attended the programme said yesterday. Department, delivers public key to Christina, Director of the Certification of Centre of ICAO. QNA accompanied by a number of officials of THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 HOME 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

First phase to commence in 2016 Continued from page 1 Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani said that the third quarter of 2015 will see the ministry receive request from inves- tors regarding the Umm Al Houl economic zone, QNA reported. The Minister added that the second quarter of 2016 will see the launch of the first development phase of the zone. The minister said that today is another milestone for Manateq Economic Zones Company. Fahad Rashid Al Kaabi, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani being briefed about the Chief Executive Officer of project. www.swiss-belhotel.com Manateq, the developer Tel and operator of Qatar’s develop and operate. Um Alhoul is a 33.52 sq km and features a dedicated canal Fax new economic zones, “In our relentless and unwaver- light manufacturing zone that to accommodate marine related commented: ing pursuit of a vision to create adjoins Hamad port, just south industries. “Today marks another a future with sustained growth of Wakrah. Land allocation for investors significant milestone in for everyone by making it easier To take full advantage of at Um Alhoul will be received by Tel the history of Manateq as for companies to do business, pro- its key features, this area has the third quarter of 2015, while we break ground into the viding access to growing markets, been designed to cater to busi- lands for the first development Fax second special economic using resources wisely, we have ness involved in Petrochemicals, phase will be delivered to inves- zone, after Ras Bufontas, completed the design phase of Um building materials, maritime, tors in the second quarter of that the company has Alhoul and are new ready to fully metals , logistics, food processing 2016. been tasked with to implement our plan..” and auto, tools and machinery; THE PENINSULA Tel Fax

Tel + 974 44298888 Fax Cost of living rising: Survey

Tel Majority believe their financial position will improve in six months Fax DOHA: A m aj o r it y of r e s p o n d- that it has remained the same, televisions (14%). Overall, 38% that their financial position will ents to a survey in Qatar say and another 23 percent believe of respondents believe that the improve in the next six months. Tel they expect the cost of living that it has become worse. Qatar economy has improved in This is, of course, primarily Fax to keep rising in the country. However, 49 percent of the last six months, while 33% linked to the fact that a slew Half the surveyed, though, say respondents expect their finan- claim that it has remained the of megaprojects – such as the they hope their financial posi- cial position to get better in the same. A notable 58% expect UAE’s Expo 2020 and Qatar’s tion to improve over the next next six months. things to get better in the next 2022 Fifa World Cup – are set Tel six months. But more than a A majority 87% believe that half a year. to help boost the GCC econo- Fax third (40 percent) of respond- the cost of living will increase Furthermore, 45% believe mies and bolster the demand for ents have claimed that their or remain the same in Qatar that present business conditions skilled workers. Of course, this savings have decreased as com- within the same time period. are either very good or good; a is taking place in the midst of www.doha.hilton.com pared to last year. The survey Interestingly, 41% of Qatar remarkable 65% expect business rising inflation. Tel shows that Qatar’s job market is respondents revealed that their conditions to improve in a year’s Both employers and job seek- 44233333 974+ filled with opportunities as some savings have decreased in com- time. In Qatar, jobs are consid- ers must take into account these Fax 44233000 974+ 61 percent of respondents said parison to last year. ered to be plentiful according factors in order to adequately there are plenty of jobs available In terms of purchases, almost to 61% of respondents, and 59% meet their desired outcomes. across industries. half (49%) of Qatar respond- expect a surge in the number of While job seekers are encour- These are the findings of the ents are hoping to buy a new job opportunities in Qatar in the aged to build their online pres- latest Bayt.com Middle East car in the coming year, with next six months. ence in order to stand out, and North Africa Consumer 42% planning to purchase a According to 45% of Qatar employers are urged to fight Confidence Index survey, con- brand new vehicle, and 44% respondents, their companies the war for talent by offer- ducted by Bayt.com looking to buy second-hand. have grown in terms of the ing competitive packages that Bayt.com, a job site, and mar- More than one-third (37%) of number of employees in the last can adequately cover the ever- ket research agency, YouGov, Qatar respondents are plan- six months. Still, 21% state that increasing costs of living.” Tel both Dubai-based, have con- ning to invest in property, with their companies have fewer peo- Data for the YouGov and Fax ducted the survey. apartments (43%) being the ple now. 48% expect the number Bayt.com Middle East and It shows that while almost investment of choice, fol- of employees in their company to North Africa Consumer half of Qatar respondents lowed by villas/townhouses/ increase in the next half year. Confidence Index Survey for believe that their financial posi- bungalows (29%), and com- For the most part, job satis- January 2015 was collected tion will improve in the next six mercial properties (20%). faction levels remain relatively online from January 19-31, Tel months, a majority (69%) are 55% are keen on buying a new stable across the country. Qatar 2015, with the participation of Fax also expecting the cost of living property, while 27% intend to professionals are generally happy 4,263 respondents aged 18 years to rise. buy a pre-owned property. In with their career growth oppor- and above. Respondents were Some 29 percent of respond- terms of smaller purchases, tunities (41%), compensation from the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, ents in Qatar consider their Qatar respondents are looking (30%), non-monetary benefits Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon, Tel personal financial situation to to purchase desktop or laptop (45%), and job security (49%). Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Fax have improved in the last six computers (30%), furniture Moreover, half of GCC Algeria, and Tunisia, according months, while 37 percent claim (23%), and LCD or plasma respondents (51%) are convinced to a release. THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax Almuftah Trading launches Sharp Assistant Foreign Minister meets Tel eco-friendly air-conditioning units Nato official Fax DOHA: Almuftah DOHA: Assistant Foreign Trading, one of the lead- Minister for Foreign Affairs ing home appliance dis- H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Tel tributors in Qatar, has Al Rumaihi met yesterday launched a new lineup of with Nato Deputy Secretary Fax environment-friendly air General Alexander Vershbow, conditioners from Sharp who is currently visiting the at a recent seminar held country to attend the annual at the Radisson Blu Hotel Nato Conference on Weapons in Doha. of Mass Destruction, Arms During the seminar, Control, Disarmament and Managing Director of Non-proliferation 2015. Almuftah Group Ibrahim They discussed issues related Tel Almuftah expressed his to disarmament which aims excitement for the prod- to reach the desired goals and Fax uct launching, saying that Ibrahim Almuftah, Managing Director of Al Muftah group, with Sharp officials achieve a quantum leap in “in line with our efforts during the launch of Sharp eco-friendly air conditioning units in Doha the field of disarmament and to provide the best prod- yesterday. ABDUL BASIT non-proliferation. Tel ucts to the local market, Al Rumaihi explained that the we are proud to be part saying that “As an environment- Development, articulated in his achievement of peace and security Fax of the global movement conscious company, Sharp aims presentation that the new air in the region depends on States’ to tackle climate change to meet the latest global stand- conditioners utilizes eco-friendly cooperation and their commit- www.marriottmarquisdoha.com – the new line of eco- ards on energy efficiency and be R410A refrigerant instead of the ment to the resolutions of inter- friendly air conditioners part of the drive to protect the ozone-depleting R22 refrigerant, national legitimacy, while saying Tel + 974 44195000 from Sharp will not only environment. We are fully com- thus giving consumers not only the conference represents a very help Almuftah Group con- mitted to the stipulations of the savings in their energy bills but important step in this regard. Fax + 974 44195100 tribute to these goals, but Montreal Protocol, which sets also contribute to a cleaner envi- He stressed the importance of our customers as well.” legally-binding standards on car- ronment. Sharp is taking the lead taking effective measures to con- Sharp Middle East Free bon emissions. The technology in in bringing the latest air condi- tribute to the promotion of world Zone Deputy Managing our products reflects those volun- tioning products to Qatar which is peace through constant eagerness Director Mr. Shogo Hara tary obligations.” designed specifically for the Qatar to fulfill their pledges to the main- also conveyed the brand’s Masataka Ohnishi, General environment. tenance of international peace commitment to innovation, Manager Air Conditioning THE PENINSULA and security. QNA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Netanyahu says ties with US on solid ground Israel PM addresses Israeli lobby group AIPAC in Washington; new Iran talks begin in Switzerland

WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime and abroad accuse him of endan- the Magic Wand and the Arrow 3 Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gering the special relationship missile intercept systems. warned Washington yester- with the United States in order “The report is false,” said day that an emerging nuclear to further his policy agenda. National Security Council spokes- deal with Iran could threaten Similar criticism has been person Bernadette Meehan. his country’s very survival, levelled at Obama’s Republican At yesterday’s conference, but insisted Israel-US relations opponents in the US Congress. Netanyahu won thunderous remain solid. “Our commitments to our part- applause and a standing ovation “You are here to tell the world nership with Israel are bedrock for his speech and his closing that reports of the demise of commitments rooted in shared sentence: “Thank you AIPAC, the US relationship is not only fundamental values cemented thank you America. God bless premature, but it is wrong,” the through decades of bipartisan you all.” Israeli leader told delegates to a reinforcement,” Power said. House Foreign Affairs packed pro-Israel conference in “This partnership should never Committee chairman Ed Royce, Washington. be politicised,” she added, vowing who was in the audience, said Netanyahu goes to Capitol Hill that the joint commitments “can- Netanyahu struck the right tone today to address a joint meet- not and will not be tarnished or with a “very strong” speech. ing of Congress on the perils of broken.” “The issue here is about Iran, President Barack Obama’s ongo- Netanyahu is running for ree- about Iran getting undetectable ing efforts to reach agreement lection in a March 17 general nuclear breakout capability,” he with Iran to curtail its nuclear election. told AFP. programme. Top-selling Israeli daily Yediot “We’ve been gradually lifting “My speech is not intended to Aharonot, already fiercely critical sanctions, releasing the pressure show any disrespect to President of his campaign, was spitting fire on Iran while Iran continues to Obama or the office that he holds. again yesterday. move forward.” I have great respect for both,” he “Netanyahu is going to told 16,000 activists at lobby group Washington less in the role of a New Iran talks AIPAC’s annual conference. prime minister who is concerned Meanwhile, Top diplomats “The purpose of my address to for his citizens’ security and more from Iran and the US began a Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is shown on a video screen as he waves at the end of his speech to Congress tomorrow is to speak up in the role of a pyromaniac,” its new round of marathon talks on about a potential deal with Iran the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington yesterday. veteran political analyst Shimon a nuclear deal late yesterday. that could threaten the survival Shiffer wrote. US Secretary of State John of Israel. will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear bomb are heading toward indicate the source of the infor- “In practice, there is no chance Kerry and Iranian Foreign “Israel and the United States nuclear weapon, period,” she said. an easing of international sanc- mation but said Netanyahu would of preventing the agreement at Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif agree that Iran shouldn’t have And she insisted that Obama tions without the ironclad safe- elaborate in his congressional the advanced stage that the talks met in a Swiss lakeside hotel for nuclear weapons. But we disagree would stand by US allies “whether guards the Jewish state says address. have reached.” a series of sessions which are on the best way to prevent them the negotiations collapse or pro- are essential to deny Iran a That apparently prompted US Meanwhile, the White House scheduled to stretch into tomor- from developing those weapons,” duce a diplomatic solution that nuclear bomb. Secretary of State John Kerry denied reports that it would curb row afternoon. he added. meets our bottom line. “We know a great deal about the to comment that he was “con- US aid to Israel in response to the They were accompanied by US Speaking before Netanyahu, Netanyahu aides say Israel has emerging agreement,” an official cerned by reports” that “selec- duel with Netanyahu. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz Washington’s ambassador to the “excellent information” that talks told journalists on Netanyahu’s tive details” of the deal aimed at Israeli media alleged the Obama and Iranian nuclear chief Ali United Nations Samantha Power between the Islamic Republic flight to Washington Sunday. “In curbing Tehran’s nuclear pro- administration could trim some of Akbar Salehi, who according to sought to counter his opposition and the so-called P5+1 group our view, it is a bad agreement.” gramme would be revealed in the the roughly $100bn in existing aid the Iranian news agency IRNA to the emerging deal with Tehran. negotiating a deal meant to pre- The official, who spoke on con- coming days. and drag its feet on requests for had first met earlier for about 90 “The United States of America vent Tehran from developing a dition of anonymity, would not Netanyahu’s opponents at home more help with programmes like minutes. AFP

Martial spirit Iraqi troops start offensive to retake Tikrit from IS

KIRKUK, IRAQ: Some 30,000 IS — was also called in. Iraqi troops and militia backed Both Iraqi and Iranian media by aircraft pounded jihadists said Qassem Soleimani — the in and around Tikrit yesterday commander of the Al-Quds Force in the biggest offensive yet to covert operations unit of Tehran’s retake one of the Islamic State elite Revolutionary Guards — was group’s main strongholds. in Salaheddin province to help Government forces have bat- coordinate operations. tled their way north for months, Abadi urged the security forces notching up key victories against to spare civilians during the offen- IS, but Tikrit has been their sive, a message echoed by the UN toughest target yet with the and responding to fears of repris- jihadists having resisted them als against the area’s Sunnis. several times. Hadi Al Ameri, the Popular Commanders voiced hope the Mobilisation units’ powerful com- broadest operation since IS over- mander, on Saturday urged Tikrit ran swathes of the country last residents to leave their homes year would be a step towards the within 48 hours so government liberation of Mosul, the jihadists’ forces could “wrap up the battle main hub in Iraq. of the revenge for Speicher”. “Security forces are advanc- Speicher is a military base near ing on three main fronts towards Tikrit from which hundreds of Tikrit, Ad-Dawr (to the south) new, mostly Shia, recruits were and Al-Alam (to the north),” a kidnapped before being murdered Fighters from Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine ‘DFLP’ attend a rally marking the 46th anniversary of the group’s founding, in central senior army officer on the ground execution-style in the early days Gaza City. told AFP by telephone. of the IS offensive that swept The operation began early through much of the Sunni Arab morning after being announced heartland north and west of by Prime Minister Haider Al Baghdad in June. Abadi the previous evening. Shia militias in particular have Hadi is legitimate The army officer said the forces vowed to avenge the murders, British rights group condemned involved were from the army, sparking fears of mass killings president, says police, counter-terrorism units, against Sunnis if Tikrit were to a government-controlled volun- be recaptured. US ambassador teer group known as the Popular Some Sunni tribes have been over ‘Jihadi John’ comments Mobilisation units and Sunni accused of direct involvement in ADEN: The US envoy to Yemen tribes. the Speicher massacre. LONDON: A rights group in recruit him. Emwazi had com- Sunday Telegraph. threw his support behind Military sources said war- Abadi appealed to residents to contact with the man thought plained of harassment between Amnesty International, which President Abdrabuh Mansur planes were involved but it was turn against the jihadists, who to be Islamic State group exe- 2009 and 2012, had been stopped has in the past jointly called for Hadi after talks in the southern not immediately clear whether have suffered a string of losses cutioner “Jihadi John” before from going on a safari trip and an investigation of British involve- port city of Aden yesterday, say- foreign air support — Iranian or since Iraq’s foreign partners he left Britain for Syria is fac- prevented from pursuing a job ment in the CIA’s controversial ing he remains the “legitimate” from the US-led coalition fighting stepped up their support. AFP ing a backlash after accus- and a marriage in Kuwait, the rendition programme with Cage leader. ing intelligence services of group said. The group’s comments and other bodies, has also spoken Ambassador Matthew Tueller radicalising him. prompted a furious response out. “I can’t condemn strongly was the latest high-profile diplo- Cage, whose leading figures across the board in British poli- enough anybody in any context mat to travel to Aden, Hadi’s base include former Guantanamo tics and media, with many argu- who seeks to find some justifica- since he fled effective house arrest detainee Moazzam Begg, describes ing that “Jihadi John” — believed tions somehow for why you can in the capital last month following its work as supporting people to be responsible for beheading at kill a civilian,” Steve Crawshaw, a power grab by the Shia Houthi arrested or raided as a result of least five Western hostages — was director of the office of the sec- militia. “President Hadi remains the “war on terror” following the the only person accountable for retary general at Amnesty, told the legitimate president of Yemen 9/11 attacks in 2001. his own actions. BBC radio. and the key person to ensure that When Mohammed Emwazi, a Cage’s views were dismissed as At a press conference in London Yemen moves forward on a peace- Kuwait-born London IT worker, “reprehensible” by the office of on Thursday, Qureshi seemed at ful and stable path,” Tueller told was identified by the Washington Prime Minister David Cameron, times choked with emotion. reporters after meeting Hadi. Post as “Jihadi John” last week, “very false” by a former head of “There are several young The United States closed its Cage held a press conference at MI6 and an “apology for terror” Britons whose lives were not embassy in Sana’a indefinitely last which its research director Asim by London Mayor Boris Johnson. only ruined by security agencies, month and evacuated diplomats Qureshi described him as a “beau- “Being turned back on his trav- but who became disenfranchised and staff due to the worsening tiful young man” and blamed els and questioned by the secu- and turned to violence because security situation. British intelligence for radicalis- rity services had, it seemed, left of British counter-terrorism The Houthis, who had long ing him. Emwazi with no alternative but policies coupled with long-stand- fought the Sana’a government Iraqi government forces and allied militia take position in the northern part It claimed that MI5 had been to join Islamic State and behead ing grievances over Western from their northern stronghold, of Diyala province as they take part in an assault to retake the city of Tikrit tracking Emwazi since at least seven innocent people,” wrote foreign policy,” he said in a overran the capital in September. yesterday. 2009 and had even tried to Andrew Gilligan in this week’s separate statement. AFP AFP TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial An election game S-IRAN talks on a nuclear deal have gathered Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate momentum amidst fresh threats from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Secretary of UState John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met twice in a Swiss lakeside hotel at the start of a series of sessions which are scheduled to stretch into Wednesday afternoon. At the same time, Netanyahu started a controversial visit to Washington with the sole aim of scuttling any deal. While a victory for the Netanyahu’s gamble Israeli PM will be bad for our region, a victory for US and Iran will not be good either if it doesn’t take into account the BY JACKSON DIEHL Israel should not take military action Congress might help him. His electoral concerns of Iran’s neighbours, mainly the Gulf countries. against Iran without US support — strategy has been aimed at poaching The nuclear talks are running against time and the HREE times in the past 20 and 54 percent in a recent poll were voters from small parties to the right negotiators are under pressure to arrive at a deal before years, an Israeli prime min- critical of Netanyahu’s decision to of Likud. the March 31 deadline. The urgency and importance of the ister has headed into an elec- speak to Congress. While even the far right in Israel talks are evident from the layers of negotiations. Iranian Ttion while openly battling a To be sure, Israelis also oppose is strongly pro-American, national- US president. The first two times the Obama’s policies: A majority says he ist voters are more likely to support negotiators Abbas Araghchi and Majid Takht Ravanchi also incumbent lost, establishing the Israeli is wrong about Iran and about the con- Netanyahu’s tough stand on Iran. held talks with US Under Secretary Wendy Sherman as well political maxim that endangering flict with the Palestinians. This presi- Moreover, Rynhold says, the personal as the EU’s deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid. Kerry relations with Washington was ruin- dent’s popularity in the Jewish state nature of the Obama-Netanyahu feud and Zarif first met for about 50 minutes yesterday, and after ous. In 1999, the loser was Benjamin has never approached that of Clinton, has meant that Israelis aren’t con- a short break, held a second 25-minute meeting before calling Netanyahu, who calculated, wrongly, or George W. Bush. But Obama’s vinced that the overall relationship is it a night. They are due to resume their talks early today for that he could outmaneuver President administration hasn’t changed under- at stake. Bill Clinton by appealing to Congress. lying attitudes. Only the Israeli army They — and Netanyahu himself what US officials have said would likely be ‘a flowing meeting Remarkably, a politician known for his outranks ties to the United States in — may be wrongly supposing that that runs into another.’ caution has now bet his career, and the importance when Israelis are asked Americans are as united as Israelis According to reports, an agreement appears likely and future of the US-Israel alliance, on the what guarantees their safety. in supporting the alliance. In reality, it’s this possibility that has same strategem. “A big majority of Israelis don’t Rynhold’s research shows a wide gap By opposing angered Netanyahu, who is on a Netanyahu may view his address to like Obama’s policy,” Rynhold said opening between the US parties on collision course with the Obama Congress on Tuesday primarily as a last week during a discussion at the Israel even before the furor over the Churchillian appeal against President Washington Institute for Near East speech. For example, while 62 percent Iran nuclear administration on the issue. More Obama’s prospective deal with Iran. Policy. “But they do not support break- of Republicans say the United States deal, the than a genuine fear of any nuclear But it is also ing with the United States over it.” should support Israel if it attacks Iran, deal, the Israeli leader is driven by a calculation The White House undoubtedly is only 33 percent of Democrats agree. Israeli PM is political ambitions – he is cashing that something aware of those numbers; they help Similarly, 68 percent of Democrats say in on Israelis’ fear to improve his fundamental explain why national security adviser the United States should “get tough” has changed in Susan Rice and Secretary of State with Israel over its settlement con- exaggerating reelection prospects. Netanyahu Israeli politics, John Kerry have directly attacked struction in the West Bank vs. 29 per- threats and has a history of exaggerating and in US-Israeli Netanyahu in the past week. Obama cent of Republicans. threats and manipulating the fears While 62 relations, in the clearly is hoping that, like Clinton Netanyahu’s speech may well get cashing in on of citizens when he sees political percent of past 15 years. and George H.W. Bush in 1992, he him the votes he needs to form a new fears of his advantage in doing so. Netanyahu’s can swing an Israeli election against government. But he may also widen Kerry has warned the Israeli Republicans gambit supposes a right-wing incumbent. Netanyahu, that gap between US Democrats and that Obama’s who made no secret of his support Republicans. Already, some Democrats leader against torpedoing the talks people. say the United Mideast policies for Mitt Romney in 2012, can hardly who have been sympathetic to the and against selective leakage of have so alienated complain. Israeli view of Iran, such as Sen. Tim the details of the deal during the States should Israelis that he Netanyahu, however, may have a Kaine of Virginia, have said they won’t latter’s US visit. “We are concerned by reports that suggest will be rewarded better grasp of Israeli politics. Victory attend the speech; those could be swing selective details of the ongoing negotiations will be discussed support Israel if rather than in elections there depends not on a votes in any attempt by Congress to publicly in the coming days,” he said. punished in the party winning a majority of votes but block a deal. it attacks Iran, March 17 elec- on finishing first in a crowded field and If Netanyahu is defeated, US-Israeli Despite his aggressive posturing, Netanyahu is unlikely tion for a fron- then assembling a coalition. relations may return swiftly to comity, to succeed in his mission and an actual deal would depend only 33 percent tal attack on the At the moment, polls show as happened after the 1999 and 1992 on the progress of talks in Geneva than the Israeli of Democrats White House. Netanyahu’s Likud Party running neck elections. If the election produces a leader’s sabre-rattling. But in the same way as the Obama By some and neck with the leftist bloc led by centrist coalition of the Likud and administration is expected to take into consideration the agree. measures, the Isaac Herzog, but the two combined Labor parties, tensions might also wager looks probably will capture fewer than 50 drop. But if Netanyahu succeeds in concerns of Israel before signing an agreement, it should also risky. According of the 120 Knesset seats. Either might breaking the past pattern and forms listen to the concerns of the GCC countries. to research be able to cobble together a coalition another right-wing coalition, an A slew of high-profile events and conflicts in the region are by Jonathan from the nine other parties and blocs alliance that has been the heart of upending the current regional balance and keeping leaders on Rynhold of Israel’s Bar Ilan University, expected to win seats. So it’s crucial American engagement in the Middle edge. The Gulf countries need to move more intelligently and 90 percent of Israelis say close rela- which one wins more seats and the East will, like the US relationship with cautiously to consolidate their positions. tions with the United States are “vital first chance to cut deals. Iran, be headed toward an upheaval. to Israel’s security.” A majority says That’s where Netanyahu’s speech to WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Minorities’ dilemma the day

MONGST the predicament of While ethics is being taught in other provinces. infusion of religious material across the minorities in Pakistan is the provinces, it is shocking that it took KP In order to create a more tolerant academic spectrum is mostly the work fact that youngsters belonging so long to offer an alternative to non- and inclusive society, it is essential that of Ziaul Haq’s ‘Islamisation’ project. It Ato faiths other than Islam Muslim students. Even the ANP, which non-Muslim students are not forced to must be realised that Islamiat is a com- either have to study the religion of the ruled the province before the PTI’s rise study the religion of the majority. With pulsory subject in Pakistan, hence there majority, or learn about Islamic themes to power, did not rectify this anomaly. the addition of KP, ethics will now be is little reason to include religious teach- that are included in the textbooks of As reported in this paper, many non- taught nationwide, hence there needs ings in other subjects. Doing so poses We are all focused unrelated subjects. As some scholars Muslim students in KP are forced to to be a trained cadre of instructors in two major problems: it forces non- simultaneously on have pointed out, forcibly teaching study Islamiat due to the lack of ethics all provinces that can teach the subject Muslim students to study Islam and non-Muslim students Islam — either textbooks and instructors who could to non-Muslim pupils. Moreover, minori- where Muslim pupils are concerned, the need to elicit because of the lack of alternatives or teach them the subject. This brings us ties must be consulted so that their this approach can result in diluting the from Iran answers to through inducement — violates their to another major problem: while the respective religious beliefs are taught focus of the lesson. Both the issues of constitutional rights. In this regard, it is province has done well to formulate to youngsters instead of ethics should non-Muslim students and the inclusion questions about their welcome that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa an ethics textbook, who will teach the they so choose. Then there is the issue of religious topics in unrelated subjects nuclear programme. Textbook Board has begun developing subject? As our report indicates there is of including Islamic topics in subjects must be considered in future curriculum ethics books for the province’s minority a shortage of qualified ethics teachers as varied as general knowledge, social reform efforts. John Kerry students. in KP. This problem also exists in other studies and English. Of course, this DAWN US Secretary of State TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 ARAB VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Shias, Sunnis have same Preparing for a future without oil foes, so why fight? ne of the biggest deficien- that we will be able, in the near cies of our development Will we have the future, to develop the educational arge numbers of Shias O— particularly in the Gulf systems in the Gulf and Arab and Sunnis in the Arab countries — is that we do not give same standard region, focus on developing our and the wider Islamic a thought to our future while we human resources, or imitate the Lworld are under the enjoy wealth and high incomes of living if the oil Asians in this field. impression that the US has today. We rarely have alterna- Meanwhile, our media outlets become a strategic ally of Shias tives ready when push comes to will start a new blame game, because of Sunnis. shove. That’s the status of the price declines to even as they continuously warn Some cite the negotiations Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) that no organisation or person between Iran and the US on the and many Arab and Muslim $30 a barrel or in charge is attending to this Iranian nuclear programme and, countries today, following the problem. more generally, on the reconcilia- sudden and continuous decline BY KHALIL ALI HAIDAR lower? And what if Indeed, people in the Gulf are tion between Iran and the West. in oil prices. not the only ones who are going Some also think that America BY DR FAISAL AL Unfortunately, it is a part of this scenario lasts to face this crisis, as other Arab presented Iraq on a platter to KASSIM our culture to think that prob- countries are sinking into civil Iran, and that the US has let Iran lems can be solved by talking and develop an economy that is not wars, like in Libya, while still do whatever it wants in Syria, in arguing. We rarely take initia- based on oil alone; an economy 10 years or more? others are busy fighting terror- the sense that after Baghdad Iran is focused on Damascus. tives to change our lives and eco- that has financial resources that ism, like Iraq, or trying to find a Not only has Iran controlled Lebanon via Hezbollah, its influ- nomic condition and thereby find are more stable and less risky way out, like Algeria. ence has reached Yemen, where Sana’a has fallen to Iran’s allies, the solutions to our problems. than oil. increased, as has happened in the Marwan Salama, an expert Houthis. How many lectures and work- Will we have the same stand- past, the money piled up in safes at the Al Sharq Centre for Moreover, Shias in the region began thinking that they must fight shops we attend to find solutions ard of living if the oil price in Asia and Europe, to be spent Consultancy, said: “Nigeria the Sunnis, as a result of America encouraging them to expand. to our problems! By the time they declines to $30 a barrel or lower? at random. is contorting due to the huge On their part, the Sunnis have the impression that America is are over we forget their content! And what if this scenario lasts Our economies will be in a very decline in oil prices, since the oil allying with the sect that opposes them in the Arab and Islamic How many suggestions and rec- 10 years or more? Will we wait tragic situation if these warnings sector provides 80 percent of the world. No doubt America is very happy with this environment ommendations are signed in this to fix our situation until we find come true. government’s revenues.” of mistrust; this makes things very clear to those able to read regard, but none see the light of ourselves on the edge? Probably It is not easy to find a Salama also commented on between the lines. day! no one would respond to such a resource that can compete with Iran, saying: “It would need to Modern history hasn’t witnessed a sectarian war like the one So, if solutions to our social worrying issue, not Saudi Arabia, oil, especially one whose price risk its regional status or it may taking place between Sunnis and Shias. If you surf social media and cultural problems can be Kuwait, or any other Arab oil will increase significantly with launch wars, which definitely sites visited by millions of Arabs every day, you will find that most delayed, how is this procrasti- exporting country. demand. Also, not every country will lead to a big increase in oil Sunnis consider Shias their main and worst enemy. nation, which has been going on People in our region have in the Gulf can be turned into an prices.” Similarly, Shias started to fight Sunnis considering them their for decades, helping us? We need heard these warnings more than emirate like Dubai. This is a card in Iran’s hand, enemy. The proof are the brutal operations against the Syrians, to come up with more ideas to once before. When the prices Moreover, there is no sign but Russia is better at this game, Lebanese, Iraqis and Yemenis launched on a sectarian basis. since the latter is a key interna- The question is, when will the Sunnis and Shias realise that they tional player. Russia, as Salama are being used as pawns in a new political game? When will they noted, has been under siege for understand that America does not favour one Islamic sect against a long time, with the economic the other unless its interest are allied with one of them, no matter sanctions imposed on it by the what Sunnis and Shias do to each other? West squeezing it hard, causing When will the Sunnis and Shias know that they are the same in a major decline in the Russian the eyes of the superpowers and that there is no difference between currency (Source: Al Qabas, them except that one can better serve the superpower? December 28, 2014). When America pretends that it supports Shias against Sunnis, The question is, is the decline this does not mean it loves Shias and hates Sunnis or vice versa, in the former superpower’s econ- but it means that it basically wants to foster hatred and enmity omy and currency a consolation between them. America does manage to achieve this goal very well, for us? Oil and gas constitute and we can feel this in our region, which is built on sectarian strife. around 16 percent of the total When will the Islamists understand that they are seen as ter- income of Russia, and 52 percent rorists, scum, backward and extremist? I want to tell Shias and of the revenues of its federal gov- Sunnis that the enemies of Muhammad (PBUH) and Ali are one ernment. With the decline of the and the same; their bombs and guns do not differentiate between Russian currency, its revenues Sunni and Shia. will increase. O Sunnis and Shias, it is not only Muslims who have sects and In any case, Russia does not religious groups, Christians do, too, but they stand together in use all its influence or play all its hardship. The Vatican is their sole direction, whether they are regional and international cards. Catholic, Protestant or evangelical; the Jews are the same. The oil crises have not yet pro- By God, did you ever hear that a Jew allied with a Muslim against duced Gulf research centres to a Jew, even if the latter was following a devilish sect? Did you ever find advanced ways of developing hear that a Catholic allied with a Muslim against an evangelical or petrochemicals, or a Gulf univer- a Protestant? Does an American Jew or Christian accept being a sity that would be renowned in tool used by Muslims to kill or fight another American Christian? the field of oil. So why do we kill each other based on our sect and identity? Why Instead, our oil-based economy do we engage in wars to fulfil their plans and plots? When will we is being eaten up by our luxuri- become open-minded and mature so that we can stop fighting and ous lifestyle; it is being wasted risking our souls, blood, wealth and beliefs? A rusty oil barrel lies in the middle of a road in the largely empty new township built for workers of a petroleum instead of being put to good use. The author is a columnist and presenter on Al Jazeera TV complex in Pengerang, Malaysia. A collapse in oil prices is making it harder to attract investment. The author is a researcher channel and writer King Salman and the future of Saudi-Iranian ties BY DR MUHAMMAD AL less as at present. This is the best SALMANI case scenario for the short term. Most current analyses support ike other countries around this scenario. the world, Iran has reacted The third scenario is of gradual Lto recent developments in improvement in relations, based Saudi Arabia. If we look deeper at on developments in the region and Iranian politics in relation to the negotiations between Iran and the developments in Saudi Arabia, we P5+1 group. In addition, both par- will notice three scenarios being ties have offered compromises on highlighted in the Iranian media their stands regarding Iraq, Syria about the future of Saudi-Iranian and Yemen. relations. Supporters of this scenario The first scenario comes from believe that a realistic view of those hoping for an improvement the future of relations between in relations between Riyadh and Riyadh and Tehran should be Tehran. They consider the visit of considered in any discussion of the Iranian foreign minister to the regional issues, since most of the Kingdom to deliver condolences disagreements between them are on the death of King Abdullah related to other states. and congratulate the new ruler The third scenario is the clos- as a sign of a better future. This est to reality and the most logical. scenario is not being promoted as There is no doubt that the much as the other two. soured relations between these Some people believe in the sec- two countries are linked to the ond scenario, that the Custodian geopolitical developments in our of the Two Holy Mosques King region, besides Iranian inter- Salman bin Abdulaziz will follow vention in Arab affairs. The the same policy as his predecessor, Iranian leadership, therefore, King Abdullah, especially regard- has a great opportunity to open a ing relations with Tehran. new chapter with the new Saudi Supporters of this scenario leadership. believe that foreign factors affect However, whenever Tehran is Saudi-Iranian ties, among them ready to take this step, it must the issues of the Islamic world. remember that any break- The other factors stem from dif- through in relations between ferences in views between these these two countries won’t come two countries on burning issues from attractive speeches or media in the region and on the politi- campaigns by the Iranian regime cal changes taking place in the and military. Middle East. This is where the It would depend on concrete US Secretary of State John Kerry shakes hands with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Jawad Zarif as they arrive to resume nuclear negotiations in interests of these two countries steps to restore trust and build collide, as is the case of Iraq, Syria bridges for strong relations based Montreux, Switzerland, yesterday. The Iran nuclear talks are one issue having a bearing on Tehran’s ties with Riyadh. and Yemen. on good neighbourliness and non- This situation, which has been interference in others’ internal Tehran and Riyadh can play Finally, in Saudi Arabia, peo- by bonds of religion, geography to actions that encourage the new created over the past four years, affairs. Also, it would need ridding a vital role in bringing stability ple should not look at Iran and and history. leadership in Riyadh to extend its makes things more complicated foreign policy of sectarian think- to the Middle East, but this will Iranians as enemies. Yes, there The question that will always hand towards the eastern shore of between these two countries. ing, and not dealing with regional need a political administration are major disagreements with arise in our minds is, will we wit- the Arabian Gulf? This can only The supporters of this scenario issues with an agenda of expan- that takes serious steps to save Iran, but we do not look at any ness real change, even if gradually, be answered by Tehran. think relations between these two sion, which would not benefit any the region from the challenges neighbouring country as an in the Iranian stand? Will there be The author is a researcher countries will continue more or state. and threats it faces. enemy. Rather, we are connected a shift from just giving speeches specialising in Iranian affairs TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Blast near top Teachers’ strike court kills two in Cairo Second attack near Supreme Court

CAIRO: Two people were killed people last October. and nine wounded, including Yesterday’s explosion came seven policemen, in a bomb days after a series of bombings explosion yesterday outside the in Cairo in which one person was Egyptian Supreme Court in killed. Cairo, the health ministry said. Five bombs struck within Ministry spokesman Hossam hours, four of them near mobile Abdel Ghaffar told AFP that a phone service companies and a 22-year-old man “died of injuries police station. sustained in his backbone” in Most of the bombings in the the attack. capital have been rudimentary Another man, aged 24, who and caused no casualties. had suffered head injuries and But several have killed police- internal bleeding, also died of his men, including two senior officers wounds, he said. who died while trying to defuse Hospital officials earlier said bombs planted outside the presi- that a man was in critical condi- dential palace last June. Students walk out of Sadiki high school as teachers go on strike in Tunis yesterday. Tunisia’s main teachers’ union launched a week-long strike tion as the blast blew away part Those bombs and several oth- yesterday to demand pay hikes in another challenge to the recently installed government. of his skull and brain. ers that killed policemen in Cairo The explosion appeared aimed were claimed by the Ajnad Misr at a police checkpoint near the (Soldiers of Egypt) jihadist group. court, a hospital official said. The deadliest attacks since Anti-Islamist The latest attack came a day Mursi’s overthrow have been West needs soul-searching over after two civilians died in a bomb- launched by the Islamic State ing outside a police station in group’s affiliate in Egypt, Sinai- general named southern Egypt. based Ansar Beit Al Maqdis, A worker in a nearby cafe which has killed scores of soldiers Libya army chief home-grown terrorists: Zarif in Cairo said he ran out into and policemen. the street after hearing a loud The organisation set up GENEVA: Western democra- explosion. branches in the Nile Delta, tar- BENGHAZI, LIBYA: A once- cies should ask themselves some “I found three people lying on getting police headquarters in retired general leading a sweep- tough questions about why they Iran slow in cooperating: IAEA the ground covered in blood.” Cairo and other cities before a ing offensive against Islamist have produced some of the Police sealed off the area and police crackdown last year. forces has been named Libyan extremists wreaking havoc in VIENNA: The UN nuclear put to bombmaking in return swept it with bomb detector dogs Jihadists, who have focused army chief, the speaker of the the world today, Iran’s foreign watchdog chief said yesterday for the lifting of international as ambulances tried to reach the their attacks on security forces, country’s internationally rec- minister said yesterday. Iran was being slow to coop- sanctions that have hammered site through a crowd of onlookers. are also believed to be planning ognised parliament announced In a speech before the UN erate with his agency (IAEA) the oil-based Iranian economy. Militants have regularly set attacks on embassies of coun- yesterday. Human Rights Council in Geneva, investigation into the Iranian When asked about a time off bombs in the capital, mostly tries that have backed the former “I’ve chosen Major General Mohammad Javad Zarif accused atomic programme and that frame for the UN inquiry run- targetting police, after the 2013 army chief and now President Khalifa Belgacem Haftar for the the West of “selectivity and dou- the inquiry could not continue ning parallel to the higher-level military overthrow of Islamist Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, according post of commander-in-chief of ble standards” in its dealings with indefinitely. negotiations, International president Mohammed Mursi to officials. the army after promoting him to the Muslim world, suggesting a Diplomats have voiced doubt Atomic Energy Agency chief unleashed a deadly crackdown Sisi was elected to office in the rank of lieutenant general,” bit of “soul-searching” would be over whether the outstand- Yukiya Amano said: “It depends on his supporters. May 2014 pledging to eradicate Aguila Salah told AFP, adding in order. ing issues in the UN investiga- on the level and pace of coopera- It was the second time a bomb the militants, but he has had lim- that Haftar would be sworn in Western democracies, he tion would be resolved before a tion from Iran, I cannot tell by went off near the supreme court, ited success, especially against the before parliament. said, should ponder “why quite broader diplomatic agreement when... after an explosion wounded 12 Sinai insurgency. AFP The internationally backed leg- a sizable number of individuals is reached between Iran and the “We have asked questions islature created the post of army and groups espousing extremist United States, Britain, France, and the questions are clear, so chief under a new law passed ideologies and engaged in acts China, Russia and Germany. (Iran) can answer.” The Islamic last week. of brutal terror and heinous The seven countries have set Republic has yet to address two A member of parliament said violence... happen to be second a deadline of late March for a outstanding issues relating to at the time that the law was generation citizens of Western framework deal and June for a alleged explosives tests and other adopted to “legitimise” Haftar, democracies.” comprehensive final settlement measures that might have been who calls himself chief of the “It is frightening that Daesh that would curb Iran’s nuclear used for nuclear bomb research. Libyan National Army. terrorists, beheading innocent activity to ensure it cannot be REUTERS Last May, Haftar launched an civilians, speak European lan- offensive against Islamists in the guages with a native accent,” he homelands to join extremist global players,” he said. country’s east, prompting the said, using the Arabic acronym groups in the past few years — In a veiled swipe at the United then-government to accuse him for the Islamic State (IS) group. including an estimated 4,000 since States and its allies, he charged of trying to stage a coup. Widespread recruitment of 2012 from western Europe. that countries had used human But after Islamists seized the radicalised youths fighting with Zarif also insisted that the rights as a “disguise for broad capital following elections in IS and other extremists groups, “organisations of mass murder” social, political and strategic engi- June and the parliament fled to he warned, is a consequence of terrorising the Middle East had neering to transform the region the country’s far east, the inter- “a systematic failure, which has initially emerged as “freedom and undermine governments nationally recognised authorities led to marginalisation, aliena- fighters” to counter foreign inter- deemed to be unfriendly.” have gradually allied themselves tion and disenfranchisement ventions in a range of countries in “Make no mistake, the so-called with him. of individuals and groups born, the region. Islamic State of today, which is Last month, they formally raised and educated in Western “These groups owe their incep- neither Islamic nor a state by the requested that he and 129 democracies.” tion and growth to the shortsight- way, is composed of the so-called Egyptians help an injured man after an explosion outside the Supreme other retired officers return to Observers say some 20,000 edly defined security and strategic freedom fighters of only a couple Court in Cairo yesterday. active service. AFP foreign fighters have left their interests of certain regional and of years ago,” he said. AFP

Jordan PM Erdogan in Riyadh as Saudi seeks Sunni unity RIYADH: Turkish President Obaid told AFP. reshuffles Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived He was referring to the king- in Riyadh yesterday for a visit dom’s hosting of Islam’s holiest at the King’s invitation in sites, the size of its economy, and cabinet what is seen as a Saudi bid to its position as the world’s largest unify Sunnis against Iran and oil exporter. AMMAN: Jordan’s Prime jihadists. “Clearly, things are shap- Minister Abdullah Ensour Erdogan’s meeting with ing up in a very different way announced a cabinet reshuf- Custodian of the Two Holy than they have been in the last fle yesterday that will solidify Mosques King Salman comes several years.” his mandate to accelerate eco- a day after Egyptian President Salman acceded to the throne nomic reforms seen as crucial Abdel Fattah Al Sisi held talks in January after the death of to meet the US-allied country’s with the monarch, and pre- King Abdullah, aged about 90. challenges. cedes a visit by Pakistan’s Prime Erdogan arrived in Riyadh The move affected the plan- Minister Nawaz Sharif later this after performing a weekend ning, tourism, labour, energy, week. pilgrimage in the holy city of industry, telecommunications The Turkish and Saudi leaders Makkah and visiting Madina. and higher education portfolios. discussed “means of enhancing Cairo has accused Turkey of It left the key interior, finance bilateral cooperation in various interfering in Egypt’s internal and foreign ministers in place and fields, issues of common interest” affairs and of supporting the maintained a lineup dominated by and external developments, said Muslim Brotherhood. a mix of technocrats, conserva- the official Saudi Press Agency. Sisi and Erdogan have had tive politicians and tribal loyal- Top leaders from neighbour- strained relations since Sisi ists. Until reform-minded Ensour ing nations Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan ousted president Mohammed was appointed by King Abdullah and the United Arab Emirates Mursi in 2013, launching a crack- in October 2012, the country was have already visited King Salman down on his Muslim Brotherhood. beset with constant government since mid-February, and other But Obaid said keeping Turkey changes that critics say have Arab heads of state will fol- “on the sidelines” only weakens hampered decision making. low, said Nawaf Obaid, a visit- the Sunni world, which accounts Some officials say the reshuffle ing fellow at the Belfer Center for about 90 percent of Muslims. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) at Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (also known as the Prophet’s (PBUH) was a sign the king, who appoints at Harvard University in the “So as long as you can start prime ministers, was happy with United States. having a serious sustained dis- Mosque) in Madina. the performance of the govern- “Saudi Arabia is drastically cussion between the major Sunni ment of the US and French- going to re-energise its foreign powers then you can come up Islamic State group jihadists who the burning alive of a caged conducting air strikes against trained economist. Ensour took policy to bring the kingdom with some form of policy at have seized large parts of Iraq Jordanian fighter pilot. the jihadist group. office at the height of an economic back to its natural role as the some point down the road, deal- and Syria. IS has claimed atroci- Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Shia-dominated Iran competes crisis when the indebted country main unifier of the Sunni world ing with Iran and dealing with ties including the beheading of Arab neighbours are part of with Saudi Arabia for influence came close to the brink of insol- because of its unique attributes,” ISIS,” he said, referring to the foreigners and Christians and a US-led military coalition in the region. AFP vency. REUTERS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Police risk losing New details in Nemtsov’s murder tech arms race Killing may have been the work of low-level criminals; girlfriend barred from leaving Russia with criminals, says Europol MOSCOW: Russian investi- gators scrambled yesterday AMSTERDAM: Austerity and to track down the killers of funding cuts threaten to place outspoken opposition figure police at a technological disad- Boris Nemtsov as fresh details vantage against increasingly emerged about the most shock- innovative and high-tech crimi- ing political assassination of nal organisations, Europe’s Vladimir Putin’s rule. policing agency warned The 55-year-old former deputy yesterday. prime minister, a longtime Putin Europol said criminal gangs critic and renowned anti-cor- had a new array of technological ruption crusader, was shot dead tools at their disposal, ranging shortly before midnight Friday from hard-to-trace virtual cur- while walking across a bridge rencies like Bitcoin to commu- just a short distance from the nications systems that allowed Kremlin. organisations to become looser Shocked opposition figures in and more decentralised. Russia and Western leaders called “Sustained austerity threatens for a full and transparent probe to leave law enforcement behind into the murder of Nemtsov, who the curve and unable to close the served as Boris Yeltsin’s deputy gap to criminal actors, who con- prime minister in the 1990s. tinuously innovate and invest,” On Sunday, about 70,000 peo- the Hague-based organisation ple joined a memorial march in said in a report. Moscow for Nemtsov, numbers Scattered crime groups would not seen since the mass anti- increasingly do deals in a “virtual Putin rallies of 2011 and 2012. criminal underground,” carry- Putin himself vowed to spare ing out transactions using vir- no effort to bring the killers to tual currencies and leaving little justice, ordering law enforce- A portrait of murdered Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov above flowers at the site of his killing, with St. Basil’s Cathedral in the background, in organisational footprint for police ment chiefs to personally take on central Moscow, yesterday. RIGHT: File picture of Ganna Duritska, Nemtsov’s girlfriend and the main witness in his murder. to target, Europol said. the case. Europol’s warning echoes con- A reward of three million assassination may have been Kommersant said, citing sources. killer fired from inside a car, but 23-year-old Ukrainian model at cern in national intelligence agen- rubles ($48,000) is on offer for the work of low-level criminals, It quoted a law enforce- witness statements later estab- Nemtsov’s side when he died, but cies. Last year, the Netherlands information on Nemtsov’s death, rather than a “meticulously ment source as saying the kill- lished he walked up steps onto who was not injured. said Islamist radicals in Europe a substantial amount in a country planned” murder by professional ers appeared to have “collected the bridge and fled in a light- Nemtsov had just given a live were increasingly organis- where the average monthly salary hit-men as originally believed. together (the bullets) from all coloured car. He was around 1.70 interview on Echo of Moscow ing themselves online, becom- is 60,000 roubles ($960). “Participants in the investiga- their pockets,” suggesting poorly- metres tall (five foot seven) with popular opposition radio station ing an elusive and decentralised Various motives for the mur- tion are only sure of one thing armed second-rate criminals. short dark hair, wearing blue where he urged listeners to the “swarm”. der have been floated, including — that the killers were not pro- The weapon may have been a jeans and a brown sweater, Life Sunday opposition rally called Cracking such networks would Nemtsov’s opposition to Russia’s fessionals,” said Kommersant busi- Makarov pistol of the type used News website reported, citing a to demand an end to the war in need skills few police forces cur- role in the Ukraine conflict, ness daily. by Russian armed forces, or an law enforcement source. Ukraine. rently had, Europol said, adding as well as his condemnation of It said they used ammunition easily-acquired Izh gas pistol, But many questioned how a Nemtsov had a car with a that if budgets did not rise, vic- January’s killings at the Charlie that was years old and possibly converted to fire live rounds, murder could be committed in driver waiting but the couple tims of cybercrime might have to Hebdo satirical weekly in Paris an unreliable home-made weapon. Kommersant reported. one of the most secure places in decided to walk the short distance step up themselves, “crowdsourc- by Islamist gunmen. The murderer — or mur- A converted weapon of this type Moscow and how the killer could to his flat — despite icy rain — Life ing” the funding to investigate It was also suggested the kill- derers — fired four bullets into was used in 2006 to kill journalist escape. News reported, citing law enforce- incidents. ers wanted to destabilise Russia, Nemtsov’s back as he was walk- Anna Politkovskaya, the Kremlin Nemtsov died just metres from ment sources. The agency said that the shift- which is facing its worst standoff ing with Ukrainian model Ganna critic shot in her entranceway in Kremlin walls bristling with secu- The website said Duritska, ing balance of the global economy with the West since the Cold War Duritska, and several more were a contract hit which has never rity cameras, yet cameras in the who has protested that she has would also bring about changes in over Ukraine. found at the scene. been elucidated. area reportedly gave unclear been blocked from leaving Russia, the nature of the crimes faced by As fresh details of the crime The bullets were made by a But he had received numerous recordings or were broken. helped draw up a photofit of the police in Europe. emerged in Russian media, how- variety of different manufactur- death threats. Speculation also centred on killer during a long interrogation. As the continent’s relative ever, there were suggestions the ers, the oldest dating back to 1986, Investigators first said the the testimony of Duritska, the AFP prosperity declined, the streams of economic migrants trying to enter the continent via the Mediterranean and the Balkans would slow or change direction. REUTERS Kerry, Lavrov say Ukraine ceasefire on the right track Argentina forest GENEVA: The US and Russian the right track, despite repeated French and German leaders holding. Both sides have also developments in the country. foreign ministers expressed breaches of the peace deal that agreed to hold four-way telephone begun to pull back some heavy “More than 6,000 lives have fires arson: Govt cautious optimism after holding have left hundreds dead. talks on the crisis last evening, weaponry from the frontline, but now been lost in less than a year talks in Geneva yesterday to The Russian foreign minister the Interfax news agency quoted monitors from the Organization due to the fighting in eastern BUENOS AIRES: Fires that end fighting in Ukraine, where welcomed “tangible progress” a Kremlin advisor as saying. for Security and Cooperation in Ukraine,” UN High Commissioner have ravaged some 20,000 hec- the UN says more than 6,000 in the implementation of the But Kerry cautioned that there Europe have said it is too early to for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al tares of forest in Argentina’s people have died in less than agreement reached in Minsk last so far had been “a kind of cherry- confirm a full pullback. Hussein said in a statement. remote Patagonia region were a year. month, saying “the ceasefire is picking, a piecemeal selectivity “I underscored this morning The report detailed how the deliberately set, according to The meeting between John being consolidated, heavy weap- to the application of the Minsk that if there continues to be this conflict was affecting civilians, Argentine officials yesterday. Kerry and Sergei Lavrov in ons are withdrawn.” agreements.” broad swathe of non-compliance... pointing to arbitrary detention, “It is a clear case of arson. Geneva was just one of several Kerry, meanwhile, said he was While fighting has broadly then there would be inevitable torture and enforced disap- The fires were set,” said Anibal attempts at mediation on the “very hopeful” that his talks with halted along much of Ukraine’s consequences that would place pearances committed mainly by Fernandez, President Cristina conflict yesterday, as high-stakes Lavrov would help bring about frontline, several incidents took further strain on Russia’s econ- armed groups but also in some Kirchner’s cabinet chief, who said talks to resolve a bitter gas dis- the change needed to end fighting. place over the weekend, with press omy,” Kerry said, referring to fur- cases by Ukrainian law enforce- authorities suspect real estate pute between Kiev and Moscow “Our hope is that within the photographer Sergiy Nikolayev ther sanctions that the US and ment agencies. speculation as the motive. took place in Brussels. next hours, and certainly not killed by a mortar shell and eight EU are working on. The swelling violence and dire More than 400 firefighters Speaking separately after more than days, this (cease- soldiers injured by rebel fire. The United Nations, mean- living conditions have forced worked over the weekend to their 80-minute meeting, Kerry fire) will be fully implemented,” Ukraine’s army said yesterday while, cast a cloud on hopes increasing numbers of people to contain some of the fires at the and Lavrov both cautiously said he said. Underlining this momen- that one soldier had been killed, raised by the talks with a report flee. southern end of Argentina. a February 15 ceasefire was on tum, the Russian, Ukrainian, but the ceasefire was still broadly that painted a bleak picture of AFP AFP US woman faces death Castro meets five spies freed by US HAVANA: Former Cuban President Fidel Castro, 88, over husband’s murder finally met with all five of the Cuban spies who returned WASHINGTON: The only obtain his life insurance payout. home as heroes after serving US woman on Georgia’s death The Gissendaners had sepa- long prison terms in the United row was scheduled to be exe- rated several times and even States, 73 days after the last of cuted late yesterday for con- divorced before remarrying. them were freed in a prisoner spiring to murder her husband The boyfriend, Gregory Owen, swap. nearly two decades ago. pleaded guilty and testified It had been highly anticipated Kelly Gissendaner’s team had against Gissendaner in 1998, as a reunion of Cuba’s most still not filed an appeal early thus avoiding a sentence of life vaunted heroes. Cuban officials yesterday at the US Supreme in prison. have not explained why it took so Court, her last possible recourse, Gissendaner’s lawyer had told long to arrange. court sources said. her not to plead guilty since The meeting took place on Barring a last-minute stay, she was a woman and had not Saturday, Castro wrote in an arti- Gissendaner would be the 16th killed her husband with her own cle about the visit that appeared female prisoner to be executed hands. in official media yesterday, accom- in the United States since the Last week, the Georgia Board panied by photos of the get- death penalty was reinstated of Pardons and Paroles denied together. Castro goes by the title nationwide in 1976. her clemency, despite having of “historic leader” in retirement In comparison, 1,387 men heard 21 testimonies in her and the five intelligence agents have been executed during that favour, including from two of were recently honored as Heroes period, according to the Death her children. of the Republic for spying on Penalty Information Center. Gissendaner’s legal team has anti-Castro extremist groups in Gissendaner, 46, was due to asked the board to reconsider the United States and withstand- receive a lethal injection at 7pm its decision. ing prison, unjustly according (0000 GMT today) at Georgia Georgia has executed 57 pris- to Cuba. “The five antiterrorist Diagnostic and Classification oners since 1976, including two heroes, who never did any damage Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro (centre) with Gerardo Hernandez (left) and Rene Gonzalez, two of the “Cuban State Prison in Jackson. so far this year. to the United States, were trying Five”, in Havana. It had been delayed by sev- Prisoner complaints from the to prevent and impede terrorist eral days due to a snowstorm in southern state had led to the acts against our people that, it is December 17, when Cuba and the other two had already returned years in jail. In addition, Cuba the area. Gissendaner was sen- 1972 moratorium on the death well known, were organised by United States completed a pris- home after completing their freed imprisoned American aid tenced to death for recruiting penalty, before it was re-estab- US intelligence services,” Castro oner swap as part of the deal in sentences. worker Alan Gross on humanitar- her then-lover to kill her hus- lished four years later. wrote. which they agreed to restore dip- In exchange, Cuba freed ian grounds plus 53 people that band Doug in February 1997 and AFP Jailed since 1998, the final three lomatic relations after more than a Cuban man who spied for United States considered political of the agents returned home on five decades of confrontation. The Washington and spent nearly 20 prisoners. REUTERS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA

Philippine army Dhaka arrests suspect in blogger killing seizes rebel Suspect had threatened Roy through Twitter and Facebook, says Rapid Action Battalion bomb factory

DHAKA: Bangladesh authori- with the machetes. as peace plan ties announced they had The RAB paraded Farabi arrested a radical Islamist yes- before the press at its headquar- flounders terday over last week’s machete ters in Dhaka where another murder of an atheist American RAB spokesman, Mufti Mahmud, MANILA: Philippine soldiers blogger, accusing him of being described him as a member of the have seized a Muslim rebel base behind earlier death threats on banned pan-Islamist outfit Hizbut and bomb factory in the south, social media. Tahrir. a spokesman said yesterday, A spokesman for the elite Rapid “On different occasions, he as a shaky peace process with Action Battalion (RAB) said Farabi exchanged (Roy’s) location, his the largest Muslim rebel group Shafiur Rahman had been arrested identity and his family’s pho- presents President Benigno at a bus station in the capital tographs with various people,” Aquino’s with his toughest Dhaka over the gruesome killing Mahmud told reporters. political test. of Avijit Roy, describing him as the “He wrote: ‘Avijit Roy lives Howitzer batteries pounded prime suspect in a crime that trig- in America. So it’s not possible positions of the splinter gered international outrage. to kill him at this moment. But Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom “He is the main suspect,” RAB when he’ll return to the country, Fighters (BIFF) on the southern spokesman Major Maksudul he’ll be murdered’,” Mahmud said. island of Mindanao, near where Alam said. A source within the RAB, 44 police commandos were killed “He is a fundamentalist blog- which is mainly tasked with in January. ger,” the spokesman said, add- tackling religious militancy in The army launched an offensive ing that according to “primary the Muslim-majority nation, said against the splinter group two information” Farabi had threat- correspondence between Farabi weeks ago, a potential spoiler in ened Roy through Twitter and and another person about killing the government’s peace process Facebook. “(Roy’s) family told us Roy had been discovered. with the Moro Islamic Liberation that he got threats from Farabi A former physics student Front (MILF). several times,” he added. at a top university, Farabi was On January 25, police comman- The American, who earned detained in 2010 after he joined dos sneaked into a rebel area to fame for his blog pieces and for Hizbut Tahrir and was arrested “neutralise” Zulkifli bin Hir, alias authoring a series of books includ- again after the murder of another Marwan, an Al Qaeda-linked ing the best-selling The Virus of atheist blogger Ahmed Rajib bombmaker with a $5 US bounty the Faith, was hacked to death Haider in February 2013, but was Bangladeshi Rapid Action Battalion personnel produce Farabi Shafiur Rahman (centre), arrested over the machete on his head. with a machete in downtown released on bail. murder of an American blogger in Dhaka yesterday. The mission went disastrously Dhaka last Thursday. Roy was the second atheist wrong for the government when Roy was the founder of the blogger to have been murdered in doing enough to protect humanist spokeswoman Jen Psaki told to protect him despite repeated members of the police Special Mukto-Mona (Free-mind) blog. Bangladesh in the last two years writers. reporters. threats on his life. Action Force were ambushed by He was born in Bangladesh to a and the fourth writer to have The United States condemned Roy’s father, Ajoy, said he had “I am speechless at this moment combined MILF and BIFF forces family of scholars but moved to been attacked since 2004. the killing as a “shocking act of warned his son he could face of mourning. When the funda- and 44 were killed. It has become Atlanta in the southern US state His killing was greeted by violence” and an assault on the problems in Muslim-majority mentalists threatened, I informed Aquino’s toughest test in his five of Georgia around 15 years ago. uproar both at home and abroad country’s “proud tradition” of free Bangladesh, where secular activ- the Inspector General of Police years in office, casting doubt on He and his blogger wife, who with hundreds of secular activ- speech. ists have expressed concern about and Deputy Inspector General of his policy to talk peace. was also badly injured in the ists holding protests for days to “This was not just an attack the rise of Islamism. Police,” Ajoy Roy said, referring to Aquino has promised the attack, had been returning from demand the immediate arrest of against a person, but a cowardly On Sunday, Ajoy Roy reiter- the national police chiefs. MILF autonomy in a southern a book fair when they were both the perpetrators. assault on the universal princi- ated that Islamist militants were “This murder has proved their region known as Bangsamoro hauled off their rickshaw by two They also slammed the coun- ples enshrined in Bangladesh’s responsible for his son’s death, but utter failure.” in exchange for peace in the assailants who then slashed them try’s secular government for not constitution,” State Department also blamed the police for failing AFP country. “Our troops captured an enemy camp,” military spokes- man Colonel Restituto Padilla told a news conference in Manila. “The area yielded a lot of bomb- making materials. The rebels Infant among Australian suspect’s abuse victims: Manila fled, breaking up into smaller groups.” MANILA: An 18-month-old sexually,” NBI regional chief in the impoverished southern that they were forced by Scully to well as Interpol were assisting in Spokesmen for the rebel groups girl was among the children Angelito Magno said, referring Philippines, using offers of food dig their own graves but escaped the investigation. were not immediately available allegedly sexually abused by to the young girl. and money to lure children into before they could be killed, Sarit Law enforcement officials have for comment. an Australian man arrested Magno, whose unit originally having sex with him and then sell- said. warned that the Philippines has Sacks of ammonium nitrate, in the Philippines last month, arrested Scully on February 20 ing the footage on the Internet. He added that investigators become a key hub of a billion-dol- mortar fuses, blasting caps, wires government investigators said in the southern Philippines, said He faces human trafficking were now looking into the for- lar global child cybersex industry, and other material used as shrap- yesterday. the infant’s parents apparently charges and could get life in jail eigners who paid Scully for the with operators aided by wide- nel were found at the base, Padilla Law enforcement officials are knew about the abuse, adding that if convicted. footage of girls being abused. spread poverty and legal loop- said, adding troops also detected now hunting people overseas the government’s Social Welfare He is also being investigated for “We recovered receipts of holes that allow them to remain five foreigners in the area, an who apparently paid 51-year-old Office was now caring for the the suspected murder of a girl of $5,000 and $1,000. He changed anonymous. Arab and four Indonesians. Gerard Peter Scully for the foot- child and her parents. about 12 years, whom he allegedly houses a lot and we could only get Most people who pay to view “We received reports these five age of the children being abused, He declined to give more infor- strangled and then buried under documentary evidence from his the activity are from the US and foreign militants, belonging to al Manila’s National Bureau of mation on the infant. his rented house, said Basset last place of residence,” he said. Europe, with potentially thou- Qaeda, have been teaching the Investigation said. Scully fled from Australia to Sarit, the executive officer of the Sarit said they had traced sands of children being abused, rebels on the latest bomb-making “It was a video shown on the the Philippines to escape fraud NBI’s anti-human trafficking unit. clients from the United States, often with the connivance of their techniques,” he said. “They are Internet, (of him) allegedly tor- charges in 2011. The NBI has said Two other girls that he alleg- South America and Europe, and parents, authorities have said. with the BIFF.” turing the child physically and he set up his cybersex operations edly abused last year have said added that Australian police as AFP REUTERS

Myanmar student protest Sri Lanka seeks Myanmar leader holds foreign help in war crimes probe talks with Suu Kyi COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s new YANGON: Myanmar President spokesman and information min- government yesterday formally Thein Sein had a rare meet- ister Ye Htut said on his Facebook asked the international com- ing yesterday with opposition page late yesterday. munity for “advice, technical leader Aung San Suu Kyi to Thein Sein approved a con- support and assistance” for a discuss constitutional changes stitutional referendum law last proposed domestic probe into and the first election under the month following domestic and war crimes under former leader country’s new democratic sys- international pressure to reform Mahinda Rajapaksa. tem, a minister said. a political system long stacked Foreign Minister Mangala It was the fifth round of talks in favour of the military. The Samaraweera told the UN Human between the two since the Nobel army oversaw 49 years of brutal Rights Council that the new gov- laureate’s release from house rule and left the southeast Asian ernment, unlike its predecessor, arrest in 2010 and coincided with a country impoverished and chroni- will cooperate with the interna- sharpening debate over a constitu- cally underdeveloped. tional community to address rec- tion that grants a powerful politi- Suu Kyi and her National onciliation and accountability in cal role to the military but bars League for Democracy party want the island. Suu Kyi from becoming president. to change the constitution, which “The last few years when Sri “It was a one-on-one meeting the military drafted with a clause Lanka moved away from this and they discussed matters con- preventing anyone with a spouse cooperative approach was an cerning constitutional amend- or children of foreign citizenship aberration,” Samaraweera said ments and holding a free and from becoming president. Police block a road leading to the protest camp in Letpadan, Bago division, Myanmar, yesterday. Students in his address to the council in fair general election,” presidential REUTERS from universities across Myanmar are protesting against a ‘National Education Bill’ which is due to be passed Geneva, a copy of which was released in Colombo. by the parliament “The journey of reconciliation and accountability is one that the people of our country must embark upon, on their own,” he North Korea fires missiles in anger at South-US war drills said. “But we recognise that in this journey, there is much that we can draw from the experi- SEOUL: North Korea fired “If there is a particularly sharp from the western port city of posed to aviation and shipping, with the aggression and war by ence of others in the international two short-range ballistic mis- escalation, we could see the North Nampo and fell into the sea off while China urged the two Koreas the US imperialists and their community. We have much to gain siles into the sea and vowed orchestrating some kind of clash the east coast — a distance of to exercise restraint. Missile tests followers is neither dialogue nor from their advice, technical sup- “merciless” retaliation yester- on the maritime border,” said nearly 500km. have long been a preferred North peace. They should be dealt with port and assistance.” day as the US and South Korea Jeung Young-Tae, an analyst at UN resolutions ban any ballis- Korean method of expressing only by merciless strikes.” President Maithripala Sirisena, kicked off joint military drills the Korea Institute for National tic missile test by North Korea, anger and displeasure with what The largest element of the two who came to power in early denounced by Pyongyang as Unification in Seoul. and Seoul defence ministry it views as confrontational behav- South Korea-US drills that began January, has promised a probe recklessly confrontational. The missile launches came with spokesman Kim Min-Seok said iour by the South and its allies. Monday is Foal Eagle, an eight- into allegations that up to 40,000 The annual exercises always a stern warning from the nuclear- Pyongyang appeared intent on “The situation on the Korean week exercise involving air, ground ethnic Tamil civilians were killed trigger a surge in military ten- armed (North) Korean People’s triggering a “security crisis”. “We peninsula is again inching close and naval field training, with by troops under Rajapaksa’s com- sions and warlike rhetoric on the Army (KPA) that this year’s mili- will respond sternly and strongly to the brink of a war,” a spokes- around 200,000 Korean and 3,700 mand. The former strongman divided peninsula, and analysts tary drills would bring the penin- to any provocation,” Kim said. man for the KPA General Staff US troops. The other is a week- had refused to cooperate with a saw the North’s missile tests as a sula “towards the brink of war”. Japan said it had issued a was quoted as saying yesterday by long, largely computer-simulated UN-mandated probe. prelude to a concerted campaign The South’s defence ministry strong protest to the North given the North’s official KCNA news joint drill called Key Resolve. AFP of sabre-rattling. said the Scud missiles were fired the danger such missile launches agency. “The only means to cope AFP TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Two killed in Afghan blast Police arrest Pressure on two for plot to attack parade

Imran to return ISLAMABAD: Police in Pakistani capital Islamabad foiled a terrorist plot against the Pakistan Day parade, to to parliament be held on March 23 this year after a seven-year gap and may be attended by the Chinese president. PML-N-PTI detente on Senate polls Two men have been arrested and a heavy cache of weapons ISLAMABAD: In the wake of but didn’t go to the National seized. Police have sought a two- the apparent thaw between the Assembly to vote for the new act,” day physical remand from the ruling PML-N and PTI follow- an incumbent PTI lawmaker said. court to thoroughly interrogate ing their convergence on the Now, if the government decides the suspects, who confessed to issue of horse-trading in the to bring the 22nd amendment, planning an attack during pre- Senate elections, PTI Chairman which was originally proposed liminary questioning. Imran Khan appears to be at a by the PTI, “we should have no The primary suspect is said to crossroads, wondering whether qualms in going and voting for the be the son of a local real estate to carry on with his anti-gov- change”. developer who, among other prop- ernment stance or fall in line After a meeting of parliamen- erties, has heavily invested in as with the rest of his party, who tary party heads last Friday, PTI many as seven housing societies want to go back to the National legislator Dr Arif Alvi, in his per- in the federal capital. Assembly. sonal capacity, supported the idea Senior Superintendent of Police Until last week, the PTI chief of going back to the house to vote (SSP) Mirwaiz Niaz confirmed twice — once during an address to on the amendment. that two individuals were arrested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa inves- “Now that we have decided to An Afghan security official stands guard near the site of a bomb blast in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, yesterday. in the raid on a house in Ghori tors’ conference in the UAE and become part of the parliament Two civilians were killed and two others were wounded in the blast. Town. later in an interview with a pri- evident from the party’s decision “During initial questioning, it vate TV channel — had predicted to contest the Senate elections has emerged that the weapons that the next general elections from KP, what’s wrong with sit- were brought in from the tribal would be held in 2015. ting in the National Assembly areas. Police are trying to estab- This stance was based on his since both the houses comprise lish which extremist group the oft-repeated assertion that the parliament,” another PTI MNA Pakistan, Afghanistan likely suspects are linked to,” he said. current government came to said, refusing to speak on the An official said on condition power in rigged elections, and record. of anonymity that police had therefore had to go. Simultaneously, however, party received a tip that a large quan- However, other party lead- leaders not part of the parliament to relax travel procedures tity of weapons and ammunition ers in their interaction with oppose a return to the National was being stored in a house in the government have reportedly Assembly until such time that the the Ghori Town locality and that expressed a readiness to return government constitutes a power- ISLAMABAD: In the wake termed it beneficial for the coun- convicted in civil and criminal a plot to attack the upcoming to the National Assembly if the ful judicial commission to inves- of growing understanding and try. Travelling through Rahdari cases could also be shifted to their Pakistan Day parade was being government brings about the 22nd tigate the last general elections. coordination between Pakistan system between Pakistan and native country to serve out their hatched there. amendment to hold Senate elec- “Now, it’s up to the PTI chair- and Afghanistan, the two Afghanistan is not something remaining jail term. “The house, located in the Koral tions through open balloting. man to decide if the party is going neighbours are going to ease new but had been in vogue since Pakistani officials, diplomats police precinct, belonged to a very There are also indications the to return to the same house he travel procedures for their citi- the days of the Raj until it was and Pakistan-based Afghan influential person, who owns seven government might constitute a has been railing against since zens and ink a treaty on pris- terminated in the late ‘80s. envoys had since long been housing societies. Therefore, it judicial inquiry commission to August last year,” a PTI office- oner swaps. Under this system, a yellow demanding such treaties to be was decided that a search war- look into allegations of rigging in bearer said. “We are going to revive the card is issued to citizens of the inked as hundreds of prison- rant would be obtained before the the May 2013 general elections, Political analysts feel that system of travel between the two two countries on entry points, ers are languishing in different house was raided,” he said. paving the way for PTI’s return after failing to squeeze a judicial countries through Rahdaris,” which is inscribed with complete jails. “During the search operation, as to the National Assembly. commission of their liking out of a responsible civil officer in the data of the person along with Recently, Pakistani authori- many as six Kalashnikovs, one M-4 At the height of PTI’s protest the government and apparently political administration of Khyber address of his stay and perma- ties and diplomats in Afghanistan rifle, three 12 bore rifles, one 7mm movement in August last year, the receiving results from the elec- Agency at Torkham said. A nent residence. realised the importance of a rifle, an SMG, two Repeater guns, party resigned en-masse from the tion tribunals contrary to the Pakistani diplomat in Kabul also This card also indicates the treaty for exchange or extradition two 12 bore and two 9mm pistols National Assembly. party’s expectations, many in confirmed the in-principle deci- duration of the person’s stay in of prisoners, when the Afghan and 2,834 live bullets were recov- In background discussions, the PTI have realised that they sion for signing the treaty to swap the host country. government had captured at least ered. These weapons were con- more than one PTI source said should head back to the national prisoners. The Pakistani diplomats in six suspected militants, allegedly cealed in a cupboard under some that a majority of the party and provincial assemblies at the Besides, the government is Kabul said that in light of the involved in the December 16 bru- books and stationery,” he said. leadership, notably those who centre and in Punjab and Sindh. also working on a plan to allow recent shift in policies of both tal attack on Army Public School According to the police report, are members of the National If the PTI and PPP join hands those Afghans permanently resid- the countries, a treaty regard- in Peshawar. the two men in custody are Raja Assembly, could be heard fever- for the Senate elections in KP, ing in Pakistan who are engaged ing exchange of prisoners is now Afghan President Dr Ashraf Safeer Akbar and his gunman ishly arguing for a return to the which does seem to be a possi- in economic activities and own under consideration. Ghani on February 22 during Saghir Ahmed. Koral Station lower house of parliament. bility, there is very likelihood the properties. According to the proposed his informal chat confirmed the House Officer (SHO) Jamshed “Last month, PTI missed party lawmakers in the Punjab On Thursday, Khyber- treaty, not only wanted elements arrest of six suspects, including Khan confirmed that Raja Safeer a golden opportunity when it Assembly will vote for a PPP can- Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief could be handed over to the law five Pakistanis, after the APS Akbar is the son of the owner the supported the 21st amendment, didate, a PTI MPA said. Minister Pervaiz Khattak had enforcing agencies of the rele- attack. Ghori Town housing scheme. setting up of military courts IANS welcomed the proposed move and vant country but other prisoners INTERNEWS INTERNEWS

Police arrest parents for Epic cycle ride starts to help build orphanages ISLAMABAD: A British support them in this noble cause. whose parents have died, those who aid of this project which will be either support us or do their own refusing polio Pakistani charity worker has Mercy Worldwide Trust plans to cannot afford a decent upbringing overseen by me and Karamat charitable projects which could embarked on an epic cycle ride build a state-of-the-art orphan- or those children who have been Shah, the trustees. help the most vulnerable groups of to raise funds for an orphanage age in between Islamabad and abandoned in the streets. We will personally manage Pakistani society,” Shah explained. vaccine centre in Pakistan. On behalf of Jhelum and has already raised Shah, who has volunteered in the orphanage and help orphans It was after the 2005 earthquake, Mercy Worldwide Trust, Amer around £300,000 for this project. Pakistan for nearly four years, and vulnerable street children by he explained, that the group began PESHAWAR: Police in north- Nazir and his support cyclists The group leading the effort said that studies show Pakistan’s providing support and protection working in Pakistan for the first west Pakistan have arrested have started the first leg of the comprised high-class profession- orphans are amongst the most through shelter, food, and educa- time donating ambulances, medi- more than 450 parents for 12,000 mile charity ride from als and businessmen from various vulnerable and they are open to all tion.” He said that this facility will cine and temporary shelter. refusing to vaccinate their chil- Luton, planning to cross 33 bor- parts of the UK who are motivated kinds of abuses, including recruit- be built for 500 children but will British Pakistani philanthro- dren against polio, officials said ders, covering over 12,000 miles with their desire to help their ment for terrorist purposes. initially care for up to 100 orphans. pist Faisal Butt, who hails origi- yesterday. in about 10 months. motherland on tangible basis. “They are hit hard and there is “Once established, it will accom- nally from Lahore, said that he had Riaz Khan Mehsud, Deputy During the reception at the Syed Fariquain Hussain Shah, no one to look after their needs or modate orphans to its full capacity. decided to support the initiative Commissioner of Peshawar, the Pakistan High Commission over the chairman of the trust, has pay attention to them. The state We aim to expand the project because “it’s a unique project which main town of northwestern the weekend, friends, volunteers told this reporter in an interview is unable to help them. We have to big cities but first and foremost aims to help some of the most dis- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prov- and well-wishers came together to that the orphanage will be built received a generous donation of we have to set up a good model advantaged children of Pakistan. ince, said that 471 parents were send off the cyclists and vowed to to accommodate those children land from the Sohrab family in which will inspire many people to INTERNEWS detained and sent to jail for refus- ing the vaccine. Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world where Survivors’ trail polio remains endemic but years of efforts to stamp it out have Federation, provinces been badly hit by reluctance from parents, opposition from militants and attacks on immunisation teams. fight over heritage sites The virus is most prevalent in the country’s restive northwest ISLAMABAD: A battle looks Before its abolition on April 5, and a fresh immunisation drive shaping up between Pakistani 2011, the then Federal Ministry began on Monday aimed at vacci- provinces and the federation of Culture had devolved to the nating more than 2.7 million chil- over the control of museums provinces 403 sites and monu- dren in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. and heritage sites in the coun- ments on the Federal Legislative The government declared “war” try as the law ministry says List, which were protected and on polio last year and Mehsud said that constitutionally the control governed by DOAM under the officials would brook no refusal belongs to the federation. Antiquities Act 1975. from parents. “There is no mercy, In reply to a query from On January 29, 2015, the law we have decided to deal with the the Ministry of Information, ministry wrote to the the Ministry refusal cases with iron hands. Broadcasting and National Heritage, of Information and National Anyone who refuses (the vaccine) the law ministry stated that despite Heritage that ‘the touchstone is will be sent to jail,” Mehsud said. the 18th Constitution Amendment the word controlled or financed Those arrested yesterday were ‘all museums and similar institu- by the Federation‘. Therefore, all from suburban areas of Peshawar tions controlled or financed by the subjects of the Federal Legislative where militant groups regularly federation remain a federal subject‘. List fitting that description ‘can attack police and polio workers and Department of Archaeology be retained at the Federal level‘. where opposition to vaccination is and Museums (DOAM) had been Under this definition fall the relatively strong. Mehsud said agitating the thorny issue of con- Unesco world heritage sites of Lahore authorities have issued 1,000 blank trol ever since cultural institu- Fort, Shalimar Gardens, Mohenjodaro, arrest warrants so refuseniks Afghan survivors of an avalanche walk in the Abdullah Khil village of the Dara district of Panjshir province tions and sites were transferred Rohtas Fort, as well as other archaeo- could be dealt with swiftly. yesterday. More than 180 people have been killed in the worst avalanches for 30 years. wholesale to the provinces under logical sites and museums. AFP the devolution plan in 2011. INTERNEWS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Sayeed’s remarks on polls cause uproar CM gives credit to militants, Pakistan for smooth polls

NEW DELHI/JAMMU: the chief minister told the prime Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister?” Kharge said. Minister Mufti Mohammad Samajwadi Party leader Sayeed’s (pictured) controversial Mulayam Singh Yadav also sought r e m a rk s g i v i n g c r e d it t o m i l it a nt s a statement from Modi. and Pakistan for the smooth con- Sayeed told reporters in Jammu duct of elections caused a politi- that he stood by his comments cal uproar yesterday. and those raising a hue and cry The Congress demanded a par- over it were trying to make a liamentary resolution while the mountain out of a mole hill. government and the BJP dissoci- Referring to Pakistan and the ated themselves from the com- Hurriyat, Sayeed said they have ment. Sayeed and his party PDP, recognised that the voter slip is however, stood by the remarks. the destiny of the people, not bul- The Congress raised the issue lets or grenades. vociferously both inside and out- “This voter slip has been given side parliament and also posed to us by the Constitution of India. questions to the BJP, which is Rajya Sabha, with Congress The people of the state have more Students and a teacher wear protective masks during a class at a school in Ahmedabad yesterday. part of the alliance government member Shantaram Naik saying faith in this,” he said, adding that in Jammu and Kashmir. Congress Sayeed’s remarks had hurt feel- there had not been interference members in the Lok Sabha ings in the country. “The chief from elements who had been insisted on a statement from minister made a statement which doing so in the past polls. Over 1,100 dead due to swine flu Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was most controversial and hurt Sayeed’s daughter and Peoples who attended Sayeed’s oath-tak- the nation,” Naik said amid slo- Democratic Party (PDP) presi- NEW DELHI: Swine flu has cases of H1N1 in the past few isolation wards with extra beds ing function in Jammu on Sunday. gans of “shame, shame”. dent Mehbooba Mufti said her claimed more than 1,100 lives in weeks. With heavy rains in the in all districts. The Congress and some other Sayeed had ruffled many a father was not a person who India this year, while the number state in the past 48-hours there In a related development, opposition parties later staged a feather by saying at his media makes a remark and later denies of cases reported across the has been a steep drop in tempera- Maharashtra has decided to pro- walkout from the house. Home conference on Sunday that if having made it. “If the separatists country so far is 21,000, a health tures, a development which officials vide free treatment for swine flu Minister Rajnath Singh told the Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants have not gone from door to door ministry official said yesterday. fear could aggravate the virus and, across the state, following the Lok Sabha: “The government and tried to disrupt elections in the telling people to boycott those A total of 16 deaths were in turn, lead to new cases surfacing death of nearly 150 people due to the party fully dissociates them- state late last year, there would elections, we should acknowledge reported on Sunday, bringing the in the next few days. the viral disease, Chief Minister selves from the remarks.” The not have been good participation. that,” she said. toll due to the disease to 1,115, the The second highest number of Devendra Fadnavis said. The state minister, who faced repeated “If God forbid, the Hurriyat and National Conference leader official said. While the number swine flu infections (27) has been government will bear all medical interruptions, said he had come the militants tried to disrupt the Omar Abdullah, meanwhile, took of deaths has climbed across the reported from Noida and officials expenses related to treatment of to the house after talking to the elections, these would not have a dig at PDP leaders. “Has Mufti country, it has gone down in states suspect that the number in the city swine flu patients in government prime minister. “What I am say- been as participative as they had decided the Modi-Mufti accord like Rajasthan, he said. Rajasthan could steadily increase because of or private hospitals, Fadnavis said. ing, I am saying with deliberation been,” he had said. Referring to was a mistake? Are the father- has not recorded any death in the it being an information technology Fear of infections has grown in and with the consent of the prime Pakistan, Sayeed had said: “They daughter duo trying to force last two days. and commercial hub, with a large Maharashtra following unseasonal minister,” Rajnath Singh said. (Pakistan) also allowed these BJP to break off the alliance?” The health ministry will hold number of people from other states rains and a sharp dip in tempera- He said the assembly polls in elections to take place.” he tweeted. a high-level meeting on swine flu travelling to and fro. tures in most parts of the state in Jammu and Kashmir were held Congress leader in Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition in the today, chaired by union health Thirteen swine flu posi- the past three days. Over 600 cases in a conducive atmosphere. “I Mallikarjun Kharge said the gov- Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad secretary B P Sharma. Health tive patients were admitted in of swine flu have been reported want to give credit for this to ernment should bring a resolution. also demanded an explanation Minister J P Nadda is being Bareilly. Lucknow has reported from across the state, with 90 the Election Commission, the “He (Sayeed) will know that from the central government briefed about the situation twice 37 of the 45 fresh cases of H1N1 in percent of the cases in big cities armed forces and the paramili- the entire house is against his over Sayeed’s remarks. Congress a day, the official added. the state. Health officials said that and districts like Mumbai, Pune, tary forces,” he said. remarks. It (smooth elections) spokesperson Randeep Singh Meanwhile, swine flu has a major consignment of over 1.4 Nagpur, Aurangabad and Latur. The home minister said there happened because of the peo- Surjewala addressed a press con- spread to many new districts in lakh Tamiflu tablets has reached People in Mumbai, Pune and had been no secret talks between ple of the state, the government ference and posed questions to the Uttar Pradesh and the number of the state and 16,000 vaccines have other places were seen wearing the prime minister and the chief servants, but they are saying it BJP about Sayeed’s remarks and people infected has risen to 614 in also been procured. face masks or tying scarves and minister and no contentious issue happened due to Pakistan. The its stance on article 370 and the the last 24-hours, an official said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav handkerchiefs while commuting was discussed. prime minister should come and Armed Forces Special Powers Act. yesterday. The worst hit district has intervened and has directed or moving around in crowded The issue also figured in the condemn the remarks. What has IANS is Lucknow, with more than 505 health officials to ensure more localities. IANS

Heavy snow in Kashmir No ‘plan’ to December 16 gang rape: privatise Convict blames victim NEW DELHI: In a shocking beaten up and could not come to airports comment, one of the convicts of her rescue while the assault was the December 16, 2012 gang rape being carried out in the bus. The NEW DELHI: The government on a moving bus in Delhi, has two were later dumped naked yesterday said that currently blamed the 23-year-old woman and bleeding on the roadside. there is no proposal to privatise for the fatal sexual assault on her. The woman died 13 days after the airports in the country. Mukesh Singh, one of the attack which sparked widespread According to Minister of State convicts in the gang rape case protests. One of the attackers was (MoS) for Civil Aviation Mahesh said women who go out at night found dead in jail in March 2013. Sharma, the government had ini- had only themselves to blame if A juvenile member of the gang tiated the process for undertak- they attracted the attention of was sentenced to three years in ing operation, management and molesters. a reform home. development of Chennai, Kolkata, In an interview from jail for a Four attackers, including Ahmedabad and Jaipur airports BBC documentary to be aired on Mukesh Singh, were convicted through the Public Private March 8, Mukesh Singh said: “A and sentenced to death last year. Partnership (PPP) model. girl is far more responsible for Judge Yogesh Khanna said the Sharma informed the Lok rape than a boy.” He was quoted victim was “tortured till the very Sabha in a written reply that the as saying by British daily The end” and the case fell into the government had taken the PPP Telegraph that had the victim and “rarest of rare category”, which route on the recommendations of Kashmiris walk through a snow-covered road and trees on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. The Valley her male friend not tried to fight justified capital punishment. a task force on financing plans for remained entirely cut off from the rest of the world with the National Highway 1A remaining closed for vehicular back, the gang would not have The Supreme Court has stayed airports during the twelfth five- traffic, flights cancelled and train service suspended. resorted to a savage beating. the death sentences, considering year plan period, set up by the Describing the gruesome inci- appeals filed by the four men. erstwhile planning commission. dent as an “accident”, he said: Mukesh Singh, who was 26 at The Airports Authority of India “When being raped, she shouldn’t the time of the attack, was driv- (AAI) issued a request for quali- fight back. She should just be ing the bus. “You can’t clap with fication documents Dec 30 last silent and allow the rape. Then one hand — it takes two hands,” year for private players who are they’d have dropped her off after he was quoted as saying in the interested in participating in the Fourth navigation satellite to ‘doing her’, and only hit the boy.” interview. “A decent girl won’t development and operation of the The interview will be aired roam around at 9 o’clock at night. Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad by BBC Four on its Storyville A girl is far more responsible for and Jaipur airports through PPP. programme India’s Daughter rape than a boy. Boy and girl are “The government has asked AAI be launched on March 9 on Sunday to coincide with the not equal. Housework and house- management to evolve a mecha- International Women’s Day. keeping is for girls, not roaming nism for protection of the interests CHENNAI: India will move nod for the rocket’s flight. The LAB orbit and two on the ground as The physiotherapy student was in discos and bars at night, doing of the employees deployed at the closer to its own satellite navi- meeting is slated for March 6. The stand-by - the navigation services raped and assaulted with an iron wrong things, wearing wrong above four airports,” the minister gation system with the launch 59 hour countdown is expected could be made operational with rod after she was tricked into clothes. About 20 per cent of said in the written reply. of its fourth satellite tentatively to begin on March 7 morning. four satellites, ISRO officials had boarding an unregistered private girls are good.” He also claimed The minister further informed slated for March 9, a senior offi- Weighing 1,425kg, the fourth of said earlier. bus to go home after watching a that executing him and the other parliament that the government cial of the Indian space agency the Indian Regional Navigation Each satellite costs around movie with a male friend. convicted rapists will endanger had framed a draft civil aviation said yesterday. Satellite System (IRNSS) satel- Rs150 crore and the PSLV-XL Her male companion was badly future rape victims. IANS policy which envisages listing of “The launch is tentatively lite-IRNSS-1D would be flown into version rocket would cost around AAI and Pawan Hans Helicopter planned for March 9 evening space in an Indian rocket called Rs130 crore. The seven rockets Ltd. in the stock exchanges. around 6.35pm. However final Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL. would involve an outlay of around The development assumes sig- green signal for the launch will After its successful launch Rs910 crore. The entire IRNSS Largest, tallest flag to be unfurled nificance as the employees union of be given days ahead of the satel- and commissioning IRNSS-ID constellation of seven satellites is AAI has called for a countrywide lite launch,” M Y S Prasad, direc- is expected to make India among planned to be completed by 2015. NEW DELHI: The largest and tallest Indian flag will be unfurled strike March 11 to protest against tor, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, select group of countries having The first satellite IRNSS-1A by BJP president Amit Shah in Faridabad today. A member of the government’s move to hand part of Indian Space Research its own satellite navigation sys- was launched in July 2013, the the event’s organising committee said yesterday that the flag over airports to private operators. Organisation. He said the satellite tem. The satellite has a life span second IRNSS-1B in April 2014 weighing 48kg will be hoisted at a height of 250 feet, making it Airports Authority Employees has been tested and mated with of around 10 years. and the third one October 16, the largest and the highest hoisted Indian flag in the world. Union’s general secretary and the rocket and the heat shield will Currently India is knocking at 2014. Once the regional naviga- “The flag has a dimension of 96 feet by 64 feet and has a weight joint forum member Balraj Singh be closed soon. “The rocket will be the door step of an exclusive space tion system is in place, India need of 48 kgs. The event is organised by Nav Chetna Trust,” the mem- Ahlawat had stated earlier that moved to the second launch pad club - navigation satellite system not be dependent on others. ber said adding that the event is an initiative by Faridabad MLA AAI employees will start an agi- on March 4,” Prasad said. owing club - that has the US, The IRNSS will provide two Vipul Goel. Along with Shah, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal tation by going on a strike on According to him, the space Russia, China and Japan as mem- types of services — standard Khattar and the entire state cabinet is expected to participate in March 11. agency’s Launch Authorisation bers. Though the full system com- positioning service and restricted the event. Actor Ranbir Kapoor is also expected to attend. IANS IANS Board (LAB) has to give the final prises of nine satellites - seven in service. IANS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Holi festival No change in Congress appoints retirement age in govt: Chandy

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy clarified new state chiefs yesterday that his govern- ment has no plans to increase the retirement age of state Ajay Maken to head Delhi, Chavan in Maharashtra government employees. The current retirement age is NEW DELHI: Congress yes- been appointed working president election from Sadar Bazar con- 56. Some media reports sug- terday effected an organisational of the state unit. stituency, he is seen to be artic- gested earlier that when the reshuffle bringing in new faces in Former Congress member of ulate and a organisational man budget for the next fiscal four states and a union territory, parliament Sanjay Nirupam has with a grassroots connect. 2015-16 will be presented on ahead of a possible elevation of been made chief of the Mumbai The Congress had finished March 13, the retirement age the party’s vice-president Rahul regional Congress committee. The fourth in Jammu and Kashmir would be raised to 58 and it Gandhi as Congress chief. changes are also being seen to have assembly elections in February is being done to tide over the With the new appointments an imprint of Rahul Gandhi, who and the change of guard in the financial crisis. “Let me make approved by party president Sonia has been pushing for performance- state was seen as imminent. Mir it very clear, the reports to Gandhi, former union minister oriented system in the party. has replaced Saffidun Soz as state this effect are baseless and Ajay Maken has been brought The young leader is on “leave” to unit chief in the state. unfounded. No such things in as party chief in Delhi, where reflect and chart a future course of In Gujarat, the party had failed have been thought of. As and the party failed to even open its action of the party. Speculations to open its account in the Lok when this is thought of, first account in the assembly polls held are rife in the party about his being Sabha polls last year and Solanki talks will be held with the last month. elevated to the post of party chief will have a hard task to revive the various youth organisations,” Former state minister Ghulam in next month’s session of All India party’s fortunes in the home state the chief minister said. As per Ahmed Mir has been appointed Congress Committee. of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. official estimates, a record party chief in Jammu and Meanwhile, Maken’s name had In Maharashtra, Chavan four million youths are reg- Kashmir and former union minis- been doing the rounds for last few replaced Manikrao Thakre, who istered with the state owned ter Bharatsinh Solanki made head days for heading the party’s Delhi headed the party for seven years Employment Exchanges, of the party in Gujarat. unit. Maken, who heads the com- and Nirupam took over from Dalit waiting for a job. Hence, it is In Maharashtra, the party has munications department of the leader Janardhan Chandurkar, most unlikely that the retire- replace Manikrao Thackeray Congress at present, is credited who headed the Mumbai Regional ment age can be raised after with former chief minister Ashok with making the party more Congress Committee for two years. reaching a consensus with Chavan. Uttam Reddy, a former social-media savvy. The party is also keen to revive its the youth organisations. Andhra Pradesh minister, will Though Maken was projected support base in Telangana, which head the party in Telangana. Mallu as the face of party’s campaign had been party’s stronghold once. Students of the Rabindrabharati University dance as they celebrate the Railways launches Bhatti Vikramarka, a legislator, has in Delhi and lost even his own IANS Holi festival at Tagore House in Kolkata yesterday. complaint app NEW DELHI: Indian Railways yesterday became the first company in the country to provide customer complaint services on a PM surprises many, has lunch at parliament canteen mobile app besides providing the facility online by launch- NEW DELHI: In a rare move, come for lunch in the canteen. But the lunch, and union minister Modi gave a Rs100 note and was common Indian has. Moreover, ing a complaint management Prime Minister Narendra Modi that is how he is, he is very natu- Piyush Goyal joined them later. returned Rs71, according to can- there have been complaints about system (Coms). The Coms had lunch at the parliament ral and humble,” Shankarbhai N The prime minister first asked teen officials. Modi later wrote the canteen food by some MPs. comprises the mobile app, canteen yesterday, surpris- Vegad, one of the MPs who shared for a glass of water. Canteen in- in Hindi in the visitor’s book: Now that they know the prime an online portal backed by a ing the staff and many people the table with the premier, said. charge B L Purohit rushed forward Annadata sukhi bhava. (May the minister can come any time, the centralised grievance redres- present there. Modi had some Chhedi Paswan, a Lok Sabha and asked the prime minister what giver of food be happy). food will be better.” sal monitoring system and fruit salad and a vegetarian member from Bihar who was he would like to eat. “We were all surprised. I have Asked what the prime minis- a mobile network messag- thali at a total cost of Rs29. also at the table, said it was “The prime minister said jo hai never seen any prime minister ter talked about with the MPs, ing facility. “Passengers can The prime minister went to unexpected. “We MPs eat at the wahi khilaiye... kuchh bhi. Alag se come for lunch here,” said a can- Vegad said: “He talked as any one also SMS their complaints the canteen at Room No. 70 of canteen every day, but who would intezam karne ki zaroorat nahi hai teen staff member who said he was would chat over lunch. He talked on the mobile number,” the Parliament House around 1pm think the prime minister himself (give me what has been cooked, working there for the last 13 years. about the weather, and that he railway authorities said. when the canteen was bustling will come there. We feel lucky no need to do anything special),” Paswan said: “After the prime was worried the unexpected rain Railway Minister Suresh with activity. The canteen man- that he sat on our table,” he said. a canteen official said. minister left, a canteen staff told has caused damage to crops.” Prabhu yesterday said the agers as well as MPs were sur- “He did it several times in The prime minister, a vegetar- us this is the first time in history The parliament canteen run by app and the web portal will prised when he came and sat at Gujarat too. He would go to the ian, then had some fruit salad, that a prime minister has eaten Indian Railways is the most sub- act as a suggestion forum as a table occupied by two other canteen where the legislators ate,” followed by a vegetarian thali in the MPs canteen. They were sidised canteen in the country. It the complaint can be tracked parliamentarians. Paswan told IANS. (platter) consisting of sarson ka very happy. This sends out a very serves parliamentarians, parlia- once the supplicant registers “We were surprised, no one Paswan and Vegad accompa- saag, aloo subji, rajma, rice, roti strong message. The prime min- ment staff and journalists in dif- with the app or online. Indian expected the prime minister to nied the prime minister through and curd. The bill was of Rs29. ister had the humble food every ferent sitting areas. IANS Railways said the mobile app was launched on the Android platform and will be soon available in Windows phones. Bhagoria fair Rs7 lakh crore to CPI elects Rajendran be collected as IT KOLKATA: India will meet its projected target of collect- as Kerala secretary ing Rs.7 lakh crore in income tax in the ongoing 2014-15 KOTTAYAM: After hectic candidate Paniyan Ravindran was fiscal, an income tax official parleys, the central leader- chosen as the secretary. said here. “I am sure we will ship of the Communist Party CPI is the second biggest party meet this target of collect- of India (CPI) yesterday man- in the Left Opposition after the ing Rs7 lakh crore in income aged to avert a poll to elect its CPI-M. Of the 65 legislators (in tax by the end of the fiscal,” Kerala secretary securing the the 140-member Kerala assembly) principal chief commissioner unanimous selection of veteran in the Left opposition, CPI has 13 for West Bengal and Sikkim CPI trade union leader Kannam legislators. C L Denzongpa said on the Rajendran for the post. The only CPI Lok Sabha mem- sidelines of a CII organised After the new 89-member state ber of the party in the country event. According to the tax council was elected yesterday, is C N Jayadevan, who won the official, only three percent the central leadership, compris- Thrissur Lok Sabha elections of the population was reg- ing national general secretary last year. istered with the income tax Sudhakar Reddy besides other Sixtyfour-year-old Rajendran, department, of which only 1.5 leaders, spoke individually to who hails from this district percent were taxpayers. former state minister K E Ismail began as a student leader and (who had expressed his desire to is a two-time legislator. But for Uber case hearing contest) and Rajendran, and pre- the past several years he has vailed upon the former to with- confined his activities to party adjourned draw from the fray. organisational work. NEW DELHI: A court here Tribal women react to the camera while attending the Bhagoria fair in Alirajpur, about 450km from Bhopal, Ever since the 22nd state party Popular media analyst S yesterday adjourned the hear- yesterday. Bhagoria is an annual tribal festival of marriages. At the festival young members of the community conference of the CPI began here Jayasankar said Rajendran ing in the rape case against a are allowed to mingle freely to choose their life partner. last week, it was all about hec- becoming the new secretary is the driver of the Uber cab com- tic parleys as both Ismail and best thing that could have hap- pany after the defence coun- Rajendran harboured intentions pened to the CPI. sel informed the judge that of becoming the new secretary. “He should have been appointed he will not be able to attend The CPI state conference is the secretary at the last confer- proceedings due to injuries held once in three years and ence itself. His organisational suffered by him after he fell Senior AAP leaders may face action Rajendran’s name had come up in skills are an asset for the party from the stairs. Additional the last state conference also. But and he is also a very good parlia- Sessions Judge Kaveri Baweja NEW DELHI: Peeved at its sen- authorities, some of whom are the PAC or assume non-active following the intervention of the mentarian,” said Jayasankar. adjourned the matter till ior leaders Yogendra Yadav and with the media, Singh said the roles, party sources said. national leadership, compromise IANS March 4 for further hearing Prashant Bhushan’s criticism party would discuss the recent Sources said the party won’t on final arguments. IANS of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s turn of events, including the leak- ask them to leave but if they chose approach, the party here yes- age of letters in its national exec- to do so, they won’t be stopped. terday hinted at acting tough utive meeting. “The continuous Party lokpal Admiral L Ramdas, against the duo in the national leakage of letters written by party in a letter which was leaked to the executive meet tomorrow. members has made the party look media, had pointed to two camps LS passes bill to amend Citizenship Act The party’s official stand became like a joke,” he said. emerging within the top leader- clear a day after a joint letter by Asked whether the duo would ship and had asked the AAP to NEW DELHI/JAMMU: The among other things, for “registra- Intervening in the debate, Home Yadav and Bhushan was leaked to be sacked from the Political reconsider the ‘one man, one post’ Lok Sabha yesterday passed a tion of overseas citizen of India Minister Rajnath Singh said the the media which questioned the Affairs Committee (PAC), the arrangement. Efforts were on to bill that allows the central gov- card-holder and also that the per- government intended to give ben- Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) “one highest decision making body of contain the differences among the ernment to notify that Persons of sons of Indian origin card-holders efits to overseas Indians before the person-centric” approach and the AAP, Singh said: “I have only party members with former jour- Indian Origin (PIO) card-holders shall be deemed to be overseas day marking the 100th year of the criticised it on various fronts. announced the date for the meet- nalist and party member Ashutosh shall be considered Overseas citizen of India card-holders”. return of Mahatma Gandhi to the “The attempts were being made ing. Have I announced the deci- tweeting that the developments Citizen of India card-holders. Participating in the debate, country and had brought an ordi- to remove Kejriwal as the national sions that will be taken there?” were just a “clash of ideas”. The Citizenship (Amendment) N K Premachandran of the nance for the purpose. convener of the party,” AAP leader AAP founding members Yadav Yogendra Yadav has slammed Bill, 2015, which was passed by a Revolutionary Socialist Party The bill also provides for con- Sanjay Singh said, obliquely refer- and Bhushan, who have been rais- reports about the crisis in the voice vote, seeks to replace the said the government had brought ferment of rights on overseas ring to Yadav and Bhushan at a ing the issue of “one man, one party. “Voters in Delhi have given ordinance brought by the govern- the ordinance to fulfill the prom- citizen of India card-holder, press conference here. post” and the party becoming us a huge mandate and this is the ment in January. ise made by Prime Minister renunciation of the card and Talking about the letters being “person-centric”, might be asked time to work more with a large The bill seeks to amend the Narendra Modi to overseas cancellation of registration of the written by members to party to step down from their posts in heart,” Yadav tweeted. IANS Citizenship Act, 1955 and provide, Indians during his visit to the US. card-holder. IANS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

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THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

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MUSCAT 30/23 Clear 27/22 Clear MAKKAH 35/24 Clear 34/23 Clear A man walks past a so-called Lightmobile based on a Karl model by Opel ahead of the 85th International Motor Show in Geneva yesterday. KUWAIT 27/13 Clear 25/11 Clear BAHRAIN 26/18 Clear 25/17 Clear SANAA 26/11 Clear 26/11 Partly cloudy RIYADH 27/16 Clear 26/15 Clear DUBAI 29/19 Clear 26/18 Clear Human retina is built backwards: Scientists BAGHDAD 22/11 Partly cloudy 21/17 Partly cloudy LONDON: For the first time, the wiring of the human eye — a and astronomy techniques to these metabolic cells. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW researcher have confirmed product of our evolutionary bag- improve the ability of scientists They used confocal microscopy that the human retina is built gage — does not make a lot of sense. and ophthalmologists to view the to produce 3-D views of the reti- HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER backwards, with the neurons In vertebrates, photo-receptors are retina at high detail. nal tissue and found that the cells ATHENS 17/09 Clear 21/10 Partly cloudy in front of the photo-receptors, located behind the neurons in the Previous experiments with mice were indeed concentrating light rather than behind them. back of the eye - resulting in light suggested that Muller glia cells, a into the photoreceptors. The team WASHINGTON 05/07 Scattered clouds 12/00 Rain “The retina is not just the sim- scattering by the nervous fibres type of metabolic cell that crosses is now planning to use water-filled SYDNEY 29/18 Partly cloudy 25/14 Clear ple detector and neural image and blurring of our vision. the retina, play an essential role goggles to reduce corneal aberra- LONDON 08/02 Partly cloudy 11/01 Partly cloudy processor as believed until today. “New research has confirmed in guiding and focusing light scat- tions, allowing observers to gain a PARIS 11/02 Chance of rain 10/02 Partly cloudy Its optical structure is opti- the biological purpose for this tered throughout the retina. finer view of the retina at depth. ISTANBUL 11/04 Chance of rain 09/04 Clear mised for our vision purposes,” seemingly counter-intuitive To test this, Ribak and his col- Ribak and study co-authors are MANILA 32/23 Partly cloudy 30/22 Clear explained Erez Ribak, professor setup,” Ribak added. Ribak’s leagues ran computer simulations set to describe their work dur- DHAKA 28/19 Partly cloudy 28/17 Clear at the Technion-Israel Institute interest in the optical structure and lab experiments in a mouse ing the 2015 American Physical DELHI 24/14 Clear 26/15 Clear of Technology. of the retina stems from his pre- model to determine whether col- Society meeting in San Antonio, ISLAMABAD 18/09 Partly cloudy 15/09 Chance of rain From a practical standpoint, vious work applying astrophysics ours would be concentrated in Texas, on March 5. IANS

Madonna plans global tour Opera of sci-fi classic Solaris creates strange world PARIS: To turn the science it’s a great story about the alien- Hence the scientist Kris Kelvin year. Le Riche has grown close to because we are dealing with for new album fiction classic Solaris into an ness which is deep within every arrives in Solaris only to be tor- Teshigawara over the years and strangeness,” he said. In the opera, the Japanese composer human being,” he said. Fujikura is mented by meeting his late wife danced in October 2013 to his piece case of the character of the dead NEW YORK: Madonna yester- Dai Fujikura and choreogra- known for his innovation of “spatial Hari, who had committed suicide. “Darkness is Hiding Black Horses.” wife Hari, she is portrayed as an day announced concerts across pher Saburo Teshigawara set separation” in which he rejects the She turns into a sort of avatar of “Saburo is a conceptual art- “innocent girl, singing beauti- North America and Europe to out to create for the audience a traditional seating structure of an the invading scientist’s memory, ist and you shouldn’t expect an fully” but the effect “gives her support her new album, her world of strangeness. orchestra and places musicians in or indeed of his subconscious. extremely narrative opera, even if something strange, because she first extensive shows since a Solaris, whose world premiere various spots of the concert hall for To bring Solaris to the stage, the text is quite explicit,” Le Riche has been dead for years!” high-grossing and controversy- takes place on Thursday at the musical effect. the opera employs duos — one said. “The singers are explaining Fujikura worked on the project filled global tour in 2012. Theatre des Champs-Elysees in For Solaris, his first full-length singer, and one dancer — to por- the action and the dancers are with technicians from Ircam, the The pop superstar will start a Paris, is based on the celebrated opera, Fujikura seeks to emulate tray each of the main characters: there to give body, texture, sub- Paris research institute on the sci- 35-date tour to accompany her novel of Polish writer Stanislas the strangeness of the planet by Kelvin and Hari, as well as Snaut stance and colour to personify ence of music that was founded by Rebel Heart album on August 29 Lem about a planet covered immersing the audience inside a and Gibarian, fellow human scien- this story,” he said. contemporary music giant Pierre in Miami, with concerts across entirely by ocean. wall of sound, similar to the sen- tists on the station that is observ- The Ensemble Intercon- Boulez, a strong supporter of the North America as well as a show The novel, a philosophical sation in a pitch-black cinema. ing Solaris. temporain, the French chamber younger Japanese composer. in Puerto Rico before she heads exploration on human intelligence Lem’s novel was not the sci- The audience is introduced to orchestra that focuses on con- Solaris will run from Thursday to Europe in November. and its limitations, has inspired ence fiction of little green men. the mysterious planet through a temporary music, performs the to Saturday at the Theatre des Madonna’s last scheduled numerous adaptations including Instead, the ocean-planet Solaris three-dimensional video, which score in the pit but Fujikura will Champs-Elysees, the institution concert is on December 20 in a cult film by the Russian Andrei possessed a mysterious, extra- requires special glasses for the be present at the soundboard to behind the revolutionary 1913 Glasgow, but a statement from Tarkovsky and, more recently, by terrestrial form of intelligence first 15 minutes of the opera. add a subtle electronic layer. “The Rite of Spring” composed concert promoters said that she US director Steven Soderbergh. that baffled human visitors. In The dancers include Rihoko A computer will pick up ran- by Igor Stravinsky and cho- would soon announce additional “I’ve been drawn to this story a counter-attack to the humans Sato, a favourite performer for dom segments of the singing for reographed by Vaslav Najinsky. dates in Asia and Australia. for years,” said Fujikura, a that reach the planet’s surface, Teshigawara, as well as the cho- a couple of seconds at a time, and Solaris will head later in March If they go ahead, the concerts 37-year-old rising figure in avant- Solaris confronts them with visi- reographer himself and Nicolas send the sound “flittering away” to Lille in northern France and in Australia would be her first in garde classical music. tors from the depths of their own Le Riche, the former star of the in the concert hall, Fujikura said. the next month to Lausanne, more than two decades. She can- “I don’t think it’s science fiction; memory. Paris Opera Ballet who retired last “We needed electronics Switzerland. AFP celed dates in Australia in 2012 as part of her “MDNA” tour. The “MDNA” tour — in which Madonna played 88 shows across Dawn spacecraft North America, Europe and Asia, as well as Latin America — Smog film goes viral with grossed more than $300m. It also generated frequent con- troversy, with the Material Girl 155m views in one day using the platform to raise her voice on issues from gun control to BEIJING: An online documen- air pollution after her daughter gay rights and Europe’s far right. tary on China’s notorious smog was born with a benign tumour, The announcement of the latest has become a viral sensation the Global Times said. tour comes after the 56-year-old with more than 155 million views China’s cities are often hit by Material Girl prepares for the just one day after it was released, heavy pollution, blamed on coal- March 9 release of her 13th studio state media said yesterday. burning by power stations and album, “Rebel Heart,” in which Under the Dome, a documentary industry, as well as vehicle use, her sound moves increasingly in privately produced by Chai Jing, a and it has become a major source a hip-hop direction. former anchor with state broad- of popular discontent with the Madonna abruptly released caster China Central Television, ruling Communist Party, leading six songs from the album in detailed causes of atmospheric the government to declare a “war December after early versions pollution in the country. on pollution” and vow to reduce leaked online in what the singer They included slack government the proportion of energy derived described as “artistic rape” in supervision and lenient penalties from fossil fuels. comments on Instagram that she for polluters. The 103-minute film Retired senior officials have later deleted. AFP was first uploaded on domestic acknowledged that pollution may websites on Saturday and had been kill as many as half a million peo- viewed more than 155 million times ple a year. The documentary set a day later, the Global Times said. off a firestorm of criticism over It included interviews with offi- the government’s failure to act on cials from London and Los Angeles, the issue in a timely and effective two formerly heavily polluted cities, manner. “The government needs Nasa’s Dawn spacecraft heads toward the dwarf planet Ceres as seen in this undated artist’s conception. The on how they have sought to control to be pushed for more action and Dawn science satellite on Friday will wrap on a 7.5-year journey to Ceres, an unexplored dwarf planet in the the issue. Chai, a former anchor the people need to have their main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, scientists said yesterday. with state broadcaster China awareness raised about what they Central Television, said the film can do to fight against pollution,” was her “personal battle” against the China Daily said. AFP Tuesday 3 March 2015 12 Jumada I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6358 Price: QR2

India sets inflation target in policy overhaul

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QUANT e-Sportlimousine Oil tumbles, FDI in Qatar Brent down more than 5pc

NEW YORK: Brent oil was on track for its sharpest loss in a touches month, falling 5 percent in the afternoon trade, and US crude futures gave back early gains to turn negative as worries about high oil supplies resurfaced. Brent down was down $3.16, QR111.8bn or 5.1 percent, at $59.42 a bar- rel by 1922 GMT. The last time it fell that much in a day was on February 4. US crude was 20 Mining, quarrying attract huge funds cents lower at $49.56 a barrel. The fall was mainly on specula- DOHA: The size of foreign in the previous year. tion of a nuclear deal that could direct investment (FDI) inflow The Foreign Investment boost Iran’s oil exports. to Qatar has touched QR111.8bn Survey, conducted with the Iranian Foreign Minister at the end of 2012, a 1.2 per- support of Qatar Central bank Mohammad Javad Zarif said a cent increase from a year ago. (QCB), has also revealed that deal on Iran’s nuclear programme Though the FDI has targeted total outward direct investment could be concluded this week if various economic activities from Qatar at the end of 2012, the United States and other in Qatar, four major sectors recorded QR73.9bn, an increase Western countries had sufficient accounted for 90.7 percent of of 19.8 percent compared to the political will and agreed to remove the Qatar’s total inward FDI at previous year and 56.2 percent sanctions on Tehran. Iranian oil the end of December 2012. jump from the year 2010. exports have been restricted by These sectors include mining The financial and insurance sanctions for several years. and quarrying; manufacturing; sector accounted for the maxi- REUTERS building and construction; pro- mum outward direct investment The QUANT e-Sportlimousine by nanoFlowcell AG at the 85th International Motor Show in Geneva yesterday. fessional, scientific, technical, from Qatar worth a total of administrative and supportive QR27.7bn in 2012. service activities. In 2012, Qatar targeted its Mining and quarrying sec- major investment in five coun- tor attracted maximum FDI tries, accounted for 63.4 per- Industries Qatar grows despite challenges: Al Sada inward stock worth a total of cent of total outward FDI by the QR49.4bn in 2012, up from end of the year. Indonesia was QR44.2bn recorded in the pre- Qatar’s top target during the year. DOHA: The Minister of Energy several competitive advantages. Industries Qatar is working on vious year. Manufacturing sec- Indonesia attracted QR14.6bn in and Industry, H E Dr Mohammed The most notable of them is being maximising the value of its cur- Saad Al Ka’abi is tor attracted QR24.5bn, while terms of Qatar’s outward fund, bin Saleh Al Sada, said that in an excellent cost positioning, rent operating assets through building and construction sector followed by Kuwait (QR12.6bn), Qatar Industries recorded profits largely due to competitively priced various efficiency improvement new chairman attracted QR15.5bn, the Ministry France (QR8bn), UAE (QR6.7bn), of QR6.3bn for the year of 2014, natural gas and, in the case of programmes. DOHA: Qatar Petroleum of Development Planning and and US (QR4.9bn). with an increase of 12 percent. Qatar Steel, long-dated iron oxide The group has already com- issued a decision regarding the Statistics (MDPS) noted in The survey was aimed to cover He said that the profits were pellet and competitively priced menced a number of these ini- restructuring of the Board of its “Qatar Foreign Investment all major establishments, both made despite of many challenges electricity supply agreements, tiatives, targeting improving the Directors of Industries Qatar, Survey 2013”, yesterday. private and public, operating in facing the industry, particularly product and end-market diversi- operational efficiency and effec- QNA reported. Saad Sharida The FDI inwards stock to the national economy. But the the sharp decline in oil prices in fication, positive debt metrics and tiveness throughout the entire Al Ka’abi is the new Chairman. Qatar recorded highest from the information could be gathered the final quarter of the year. a very important public policy role. value chain in order to achieve Mohamed Nasser Al Hajri US with a QR38.5bn in 2012, up only from privately owned com- Speaking during the 12th Annual Dr Al Sada said such com- operational excellence, growth and is the Deputy Chairman. from QR34.5bn record in the panies and public corporations. General Assembly Meeting, he said petitive edges were recognised by value for all stakeholders. Abdulaziz Mohammed Al previous year. Netherlands con- All the international financial the company has turned into one two international credit rating The Board of Directors approved Mannai, Dr Mohammed Yousef tributed QR17.1bn, while Qatar transactions made by individu- of the region’s industrial giants. agencies, Standard & Poor’s and profit dividends the year ended Al Mulla, Khalifa Abdulla Al attracted QR11.9bn from France als as well as those made by He said Industries Qatar was Moody’s, that rated Industries December 31, 2014 worth QR4.2bn, Suwaidi, Nasser Jeham Al and QR9.0bn from Saudi Arabia. Government were also not cov- well-placed to face the current Qatar at AA- and Aa3 respectively, equivalent to a payout of QR7 per Kuwari and Ali Bin Hassan Al Inward flow from Italy amounted ered, the Ministry stated. downturn in oil and key commod- a stable outlook. share and representing 70 percent Muraikhi are also on the board. to QR7.1bn, a jump from QR6.3bn THE PENINSULA ity prices as the group maintains On the future, Dr Al Sada said of the nominal value. QNA

Greece talks on Low oil prices to weigh on banking sector

DOHA: The significant drop in particularly true for the GCC coun- World Cup 2022 and Dubai Expo around 30 percent -40 percent of oil prices could lead to higher tries, where government invest- 2020, are also likely to remain insu- deposits coming from government credit losses and lower liquidity ments account for a large share of lated from the mounting pressure and its related entities. Nigerian for banking systems in Qatar. total investments. on government budgets. bank’s funding profile is moder- Exposure to government and its S&P believes the most vulnera- S&P believes low oil prices will ately concentrated, with around related entities is significant in ble banking systems are in Bahrain result in decreased government 15 percent of deposits coming from some of the GCC countries and and Oman, whose economies are revenues and exports, and will the oil sector and 20 percent from particularly Qatar, Standard & highly dependent on oil and the hamper banking systems’ liquidity. government.” Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) budget breakeven prices is sig- Government deposits account for Following the significant drop in noted. nificant. “But on a positive note , 28 percent on average of total bank oil prices over the past few months, The S&P said yesterday that we think both countries will ben- deposits for the 10 oil-exporting S&P has revised its price assump- almost one third of Qatar’s banking efit from disbursements from the countries-the six GCC countries tions. “We now expect Brent’s price system’s loan portfolio is exposed to GCC development and Fund pro- plus Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, to stabilize around $55/bbl in 2015 government and its related entities viding $10bn to each country over a and Nigeria. and increase slightly to around $65/ as of November 2014. 10-year period, which would offset “In our view, the low loan-to- bbl in 2016. “While our base-case In most of the oil-exporting any capital expenditure cuts and deposit ratio and strong net exter- scenario assumes this drop will not countries, government spending act as a key growth contributor”. nal creditor position of the Brunei significantly affect the performance and investment projects remain Fiscal buffers accumulated over banking system mitigates such of oil-exporting countries’ banking among the main generators of the past years, as well as invest- risks. Banks in Qatar, Oman and systems, a few of them could suf- economic growth and opportuni- ment projects that are part of UAE display significant concentra- fer higher credit losses and lower ties for the banking system. That is strategic initiatives, such as Qatar tion in their funding profiles, with liquidity.” THE PENINSULA Bill Gates tops Forbes rich list, Michael Jordan joins NEW YORK: Bill Gates stands atop Amancio Ortega, the Spanish founder of Of the record 197 women, the highest- Forbes magazine’s annual list of the world’s Inditex SA, which includes clothing retailer ranked was Wal-Mart Stores Inc heiress richest people, as Facebook Inc’s Mark Zara, was fourth at $64.5bn, while Oracle Christy Walton, who was eighth at $41.7bn. Zuckerberg joined the top 20 and basket- Corp Chairman Larry Ellison was fifth at France’s Liliane Bettencourt, who got ball star Michael Jordan plowed new air by $54.3bn. much of her wealth from cosmetics company making the list for the first time. The United States had the most billion- L’Oreal SA, was 10th at $40.1bn. Gates’ net worth rose to $79.2bn from aires, with 536, followed by China at 213, Zuckerberg, 30, rose to 16th place from 21st $76bn a year earlier, putting the Microsoft Germany at 103 and India at 90. last year, as his net worth grew to $33.4bn. Corp co-founder at the top for the 16th year Russia, which has struggled with currency The youngest billionaires were Evan in the last 21, Forbes said yesterday. and oil market turmoil, saw its collection of Spiegel, 24, and Bobby Murphy, 25, who co- Greek national flags are displayed for sale at the entrance of a one Euro Mexico telecommunications mogul Carlos billionaires fall to 88 from 111, Forbes said. founded mobile messaging app Snapchat, and shop in Athens yesterday. Greece’s international creditors could pay Slim Helu ranked second, worth $77.1bn, Forbes identified a record 1,826 billionaires, are each worth $1.5bn. part of the €7.2bn remaining in its bailout pot as early as this month if while Berkshire Hathaway Inc chief Warren up from 1,645 last year, worth a combined Meanwhile, Jordan ranked 1,741st with a Athens starts adopting necessary reforms, the head of the eurozone Buffett was third, at $72.7bn. $7.05 trillion. $1bn net worth. REUTERS finance ministers’ group said. TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Entrepreneurship key to development Russia still violating Keen on enhancing private sector role: Minister Qapco sponsors Entrepreneurship gas deal: DOHA: The Minister of sector and SMEs, investing in an to diversify the economic pillars’ Economy and Commerce entrepreneurial eco-system and was held with Dr Nitham Hindi, in Economic Development Forum H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim human capital, as well as creat- Dean, College of Business and DOHA: Qatar Petrochemical Company (Qapco), one of the lead- Ukraine Al Thani said yesterday that ing a knowledge economy in order Economics, Qatar University act- ing petrochemical powerhouses in the region and the pioneer entrepreneurship will play an to support economic develop- ing as moderator. Among those in petrochemical production in the Middle East, is honoured to BRUSSELS/KIEV: Ukraine’s important role in economic ment and prosperity in line with who provided their insights dur- support the 2nd Entrepreneurship in Economic Development state energy firm Naftogaz said development in the country. the goals expressed in Qatar’s ing the discussions were entre- Forum, held under the theme ‘Fostering the New Generation of Russia’s Gazprom is violat- Speaking at the second National Vision 2030 Plan. preneur-consultant Dr Aisha Entrepreneurs in Qatar and the Gulf’. ing the terms of an EU-backed Entrepreneurship in Economic Chief Executive Officer of IBN Netto, Consulting LLC (RAC), The forum is held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Ahmed bin winter gas supply agreement, Development Forum, he said Raed Chehaib, Deputy President, Roberta Annan, CEO of Roberta Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, organised by ahead of EU-mediated talks in that many countries in the world Qatar University Saif Al Sowaidi, Annan, CEO of Qatar Business Qatar University College of Business and Economics (QU-CBE), in Brussels on the issue. looked to empower the private CEO, QDB Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa Incubation Centre, Aisha Al collaboration with the Qatar Ministry of Economy and Commerce Russia did not comment but sector as a core component of sus- and Managing Director and Mudehki, Chief Planning & and the Interactive Business Network (IBN). its energy minister said after tainable development. The minis- Chairman, Qatar Shell Companies Business Development Officer of Commenting on the sponsorship of the Forum, Dr Mohammed an initial bilateral meeting with ter added that Qatar will look to Wael Sawan also addressed the Manateq Mohamed Al Malki, and Youssef Al Mulla, Vice Chairman and CEO of Qapco stated, “The EU officials that Moscow and employ similar policies in its bid forum. Director of Research and Policy, 2nd Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum serves Kiev could begin discussions on a towards achieving Qatar National The forum is being organ- Silatech, Dr Nader Kabbani. as a valuable platform to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit in “summer package” for gas supply. Vision 2030. ised by Qatar University College This session was then followed Qatar and the region by bringing together the academia, the pri- Naftogaz Chief Executive He stressed on the importance of Business and Economics by the second keynote mes- vate sector and the next generation of entrepreneurs. Through Andriy Kobolev said in a state- of education to entrepreneur- (QU-CBE), in collaboration with sage delivered by social entre- our participation, we look forward to advancing the development ment: “In February, the agree- ship saying that education helps the Qatar Ministry of Economy preneur, Next Move - Jordan, of entrepreneurship by fostering dialogue, encouraging innovation ment was violated by the Russian polish the abilities and enhance and Commerce and Interactive Maher Kaddoura, who touched and discussing some of the challenges that the young entrepreneurs side. Gas for which we had paid in the knowledge of individuals, ulti- Business Network (IBN). on the subject of ‘Imagine the may face”. advance was not delivered in full mately aiding in development. The first keynote message was possibilities’, and the third key- Dr Al Mulla said, “Our aim is to ensure the next generation of last month. The deal is continu- With a main theme of delivered by Dr Saad Al Barrak, note message from Ambassador leaders is equipped with the relevant skills and capabilities to pursue ing to be violated this month. This ‘Fostering the New Generation CEO, ILA Group - Kuwait, who of Sweden to Qatar Ewa Palano, their aspirations and to drive the ambitions of our industry and of violation needs to be balanced by of Entrepreneurs in Qatar and talked about entrepreneurial cul- who discussed about Sweden’s our country. We are proud to participate in empowering the Qatari an increase in gas deliveries to the Gulf’, the two-day event ture. The first panel session on Success Story of Innovation and youth and to shape the leaders of tomorrow”. Ukraine from the EU.” aims to emphasise on the impor- ‘Developing the private sector in Entrepreneurship. THE PENINSULA Naftogaz has said the imple- tance of developing the private Qatar and other GCC countries THE PENINSULA mentation of the winter agree- ment, concluded four months ago, and a preliminary discussion of a summer deal would be the main ValuStrat anniversary topic of talks. Russian Energy Minister Salman Al Muhannadi Alexander Novak told reporters in Brussels after meeting EU offi- cials: “The agenda for the (trilat- eral) consultations will mainly be is Group CEO of Barwa on fulfilment of the ‘winter pack- age’...We’ll also discuss the pos- DOHA: Barwa Real Estate his experience as a consultant for sibility of concluding a ‘summer Group announced the appoint- mergers and acquisitions in finan- package’.” ment of Salman Mohamad cial, real estate and transporta- Ukrainian Energy Minister Ahmad Al Hasan Al Muhannadi tion fields. He is also a member of Volodymyr Demchyshyn arrived as its CEO. the board of directors and com- for bilateral talks with the EU Salman Al Muhannadi has 24 mittees in local and international mediators after Novak con- years of experience in finance, companies. Al Muhannadi was also cluded his meeting. All three sets administration, asset manage- part of a number of deals between of negotiators were due to begin ment and strategic planning. Al Barwa Real Estate & Qatari Diar. three-way talks later. Muhannadi elevated through a Barwa Real Estate Chairman, Moscow cut off supplies to Kiev number of positions in differ- Salah Bin Ghanem Al Ali, and last June and restored them in ent national organisations, last members of the Board of Directors December in a dispute over pric- of which was the CEO of QNB welcomed Al Muhannadi to his ing and unpaid bills that marked Capital, the investment arm of new role and expressed their trust the third such clash in a decade. Qatar National Bank, Barwa said in his capability to use the suc- According to the winter agree- in a regulatory filing to Qatari cess which Barwa accomplished ment, Kiev has to pay in advance bourse yesterday. recently to further strengthen the to receive gas from Russia. Salman previously handled financial situation of Barwa, seize Gazprom last week warned that financial and strategic restruc- more business opportunities and Qatar Central Bank Governor H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani (fourth from right) at the anniversary Ukraine needed to prepay for turing of many organisations and maximise shareholders returns. reception of ValuStrat (Qatar), a Dubai-based valuation and advisory services provider. Present were several future deliveries in March or it real estate portfolios; in addition to THE PENINSULA senior officials of Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority; ValuStrat Qatar’s Business Partner Ali Saleh bin would stop supplies. REUTERS Ajlan Al Marri and Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the consulting firm Bilal Moti. Doha Bank Egypt foreign investment to double, promises more sops introduces first DUBAI: Egypt expects the “supportive investment” as the depreciation has halted since then. deficit to 10 percent of gross domes- sanitation and power, he said. amount of foreign investment it economy recovered. A lower pound could convince tic product this fiscal year, still very “The big question is, will we Tablet banking attracts to double to $8bn this fis- Egypt expects to pull in $8bn of investors that the currency is fairly high, from 15 percent last year. To get the implementation? As we all cal year and is preparing a string foreign direct investment in the valued and encourage them to bring help cover the deficit, Egypt plans know, implementation in Egypt DOHA: Doha Bank announced of reforms to raise that further current fiscal year through June, up more money into the country. to launch a $1.5bn sovereign bond has been a challenge. Will you get yesterday another innovation in coming years, its investment from $4bn last year, Salman said. Salman said Egypt also aimed issue by June —its first Eurobond the hand-off from public sector- in the banking industry to minister said yesterday. He said one problem which Cairo to clear a backlog of business dis- issue after a five-year gap — and led growth to private sector-led enhance customers’ experience Ashraf Salman was speaking in was working to resolve was the putes that had emerged since the then possibly another sovereign growth? If so, the future is very with a digitised account open- Dubai ahead of an international country’s hard currency shortage, 2011 uprising. Of 25 corporate dis- bond issue in September, he said. bright.” ing solution, another proud first conference in the Egyptian resort which was still making it difficult putes handled by the prime minis- Mohamed El-Erian, chief eco- Meanwhile, Egyptian foodmaker for Qatar. town of Sharm el-Sheikh on March for foreign portfolio and industrial ter’s office, 11 were resolved in the nomic adviser at insurer Allianz Edita said it would put up to 30 per- The new account opening was 13-15 that will seek to tempt invest- investors to repatriate profits. “The past six months and the rest will be and former chief executive at cent of its ordinary shares on the engineered with a contempo- ment back to the country after foreign reserves of Egypt are now addressed soon, he said. bond giant Pimco, told a financial Egyptian stock market in a second- rary twist and will attend to the years of political and economic $15bn...which cannot support the Meanwhile, Egypt plans a raft of conference in Abu Dhabi that he ary public offering. customers’ banking needs from turmoil. flows into and out of the country. new laws to modernise the invest- was encouraged by Egypt’s reform The company is making a com- March onwards, whereby cus- Gulf money is likely to feature We are addressing the issue by ment environment, Salman said. plans. For the first time in dec- bined offering that includes an tomers can open an account and heavily among those flows. Saudi starting to devalue the Egyptian They will cover mining, industry, ades, Egypt has a comprehensive institutional offering of ordinary receives their debit card instantly Arabia, the United Arab Emirates pound over the past three weeks.” renewable energy and labour, and policy framework that aims for shares on the Egyptian bourse and at Doha Bank branch. and Kuwait have provided Egypt The central bank allowed the the government is studying plans to higher growth, an understanding global depository receipts (GDRs) This service is in line with with $23bn of aid. Salman told pound to drop to around 7.63 fix tax rates for 10 years. of the need to foster the private to be listed in London. There would ongoing digital transformation reporters that the nature of the from 7.15 against the US dollar in One big constraint on the gov- sector, and programmes that have also be a separate domestic offer- ventures at Doha Bank, which Gulf’s aid to Egypt would shift the official market between late ernment is its finances; Salman both economic and social objec- ing of ordinary shares, it said in a cater to tech savvy consumers from grants and free oil towards January and early February, though said it was aiming to cut its budget tives in education, healthcare, statement. REUTERS and their need for a drastically reduced time for banking. The newly streamlined account opening process is designed with minimal input requirements and its technology platform has been Novel lift techniques to reinforced with profound secu- rity measures to protect the cus- tomer’s personal information and identity. cut energy field losses Doha Bank CEO R Seetharaman said: “Our legacy in introducing DOHA: Premature abandon- technical solutions and their com- state-of-the-art banking solutions ment of mature energy fields that mercial impact. has a new highlight today with the still contain significant oil and The SPE (Qatar), which is introduction of the instantane- gas reserves can often be avoided chaired by Sheikh Faisal bin ous welcome kit with the fastest through the application of novel Fahad Al Thani, Deputy Manager account opening in Qatar.” technology and approaches in Director of Maersk Oil Qatar, Suresh Bajpai, Doha Bank’s particular artificial lift tech- held the latest in the series of Head of Retail Banking, said: niques, said an industry expert Distinguished Lectures on March “Within the entire digitisa- here recently at an event organ- 1. The event was attended by tion strategy we have unified ised by the Society of Petroleum scores of local oil and gas profes- the account opening experience Engineers (SPE), Qatar Section. sionals and students. and we plan to extend it to our Siegfried Muessig, Technology The SPE is the largest individ- cross-border network making it and Quality Manager at RAG, ual member organisation serving a regional experience. The new Vienna, Austria, in his presenta- managers, engineers, scientists solution with seamless integra- tion titled “Moving the Frontiers and other professionals world- tions and inbuilt processes are not in Artificial Lift Technology in wide in the upstream segment of only designed to eliminate human Mature Field Operations” provided the oil and gas industry. More than errors, but also enabled with 4G a case study showing the process 124,000 members in 135 countries connectivity to make your next of combating the loss of reserves participate in 190 section and 295 generation banking effortless.” and valuable energy resources and university chapters. Officials at the meet. THE PENINSULA gave a detailed insight of potential THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Job fair in Weifang Qatar stock Nasdaq tops index edges up 0.04pc

DOHA: Qatar Stock Exchange 5,000 after index closed slightly higher by 5 points, or 0.04 percent, when it closed yesterday at 12,450.34 points from the previous posi- tion of 12,445.34 points. The market capitalisa- 15 years gap tion decreased to QR675.08bn from QR675.34bn registered on Thursday. The traded value Index fell to 1,200 level in 2002 increased to QR509.16m with a volume of 10,074,849 shares from NEW YORK: The Nasdaq stream of merger announcements, 5,959 transactions compared Composite Index bolted above including the $16.7bn acquisition with QR454.27m with a volume 5,000 for the first time in 15 of Freescale Semiconductor by of 9,653,186 shares from 5,631 years yesterday, recovering NXP Semiconductor, in a deal transactions last Thursday. nearly all the ground since the that links two Nasdaq companies. Indices of all sectors ended in massive dot-com crash of 2000. NXP jumped 16.6 percent, the green zone barring real estate The tech-rich Nasdaq last saw while Freescale rose 11.2 percent. which declined 0.19 percent to the 5,000 level on March 27, 2000, Othe big gainers included tech- 2,449.61 points. as it began a steep plunge to below nology titans Cisco Systems (+2.0 Transport sector gained most, 1,200 two years later as the bub- percent) and Intel (+1.1 percent). with a 1.24 percent gain to close ble in technology industry stocks Apple, by far the biggest US com- Jobseekers crowd at a job fair in Weifang, China’s Shandong province yesterday. Wages in China have at 2,471.25 points. imploded. pany by market capitalisation shot up in recent years as the economy matures, a trend exacerbated by an ageing population and a Shares of 27 companies closed The index touched 5,000.33 with $754bn, rose 0.6 percent. shrinking labour force. higher while 13 dropped and one near 1530 GMT, before retreating The surge in Nasdaq has remained unchanged. a bit. Near 1600 GMT, the index reignited debate on the likehood Meanwhile, other Gulf stock was at 4,994.40, up 30.87 points of a repeat of the tech-sector markets diverged yesterday on (0.62 percent). crash that occurred after the mixed corporate news. The benchmark for the Nasdaq start of the millennium. Barclays to set aside more for fines Saudi Arabia’s main index exchange is led by Apple, the While some analysts believe climbed 0.4 percent as prop- country’s largest listed com- equities are at or above fair value, LONDON: Barclays is expected Barclays pulled out of a settle- less reliant on investment banking erty stocks dominated trading pany by market value, Google, others see more running room to set aside more money for ment between US and UK author- and improve its capital strength and Makkah Construction and Microsoft and Facebook. for the US market, especially for potential foreign exchange fines ities and six banks in November and profitability. “We think execu- Development was the main sup- It remained about 1 percent technology companies. and to add to its compensation because it had not reached a deal tion was good last year, but believe port, jumping 4.8 percent. below the alltime closing high of Unlike in 2000, many leading tab for UK customer mis-selling, with New York’s regulator, and that the market still struggles ... to Dubai’s index fell 1 percent to 5,048.62, on March 10, 2000, and Nasdaq companies are now prof- eating into an expected slim rise it still wants to conclude most be confident that Barclays is the 3,789 points. But the benchmark the intraday peak of 5,132.52, itable and many are in lucra- in profits. regulatory settlements together, master of its own destiny as far found support after moving below reach that same day. tive emerging industries, such Barclays last year set aside sources have said. as future returns are concerned,” 3,800 points, the lower bound of The gains came on a strong as mobile technology and social £500m to cover potential fines The British bank is also likely said Deutsche Bank analyst Jason the narrow range in which it had day for US equities following a networking. AFP and litigation for foreign exchange to follow rivals and top up the Napier. Tougher UK and US regula- traded for the last two weeks. manipulation, but Chief Executive amount it sets aside as compensa- tions and low investment banking Abu Dhabi’s bourse edged down Antony Jenkins has already said tion for mis-selling of loan insur- returns could encourage Jenkins to 0.4 percent as heavyweight tel- that will not be enough. ance, possibly by about £300m, prune the investment bank beyond ecommunications firm Etisalat Rivals including HSBC and analysts said. last year’s targets to shed more lost just as much, having jumped Telecoms M&A helps European Royal Bank of Scotland last week The provisions will be part than 40 percent of its assets and axe 5.2 percent in the previous two put more aside for the issue and of Barclays’ 2014 results, where 7,000 jobs. The investment bank’s sessions on fourth-quarter results shares to fresh 7-year highs Barclays will more than double its investors will want to see costs income is likely to fall in the fourth and dividends. provision in results due today, Sky have fallen significantly — a core quarter after a grim end to the year Egypt’s index climbed 1.9 per- LONDON: Europe’s top European indexes made fresh multi- News has reported. part of Jenkins’ plan to become for bond trading. REUTERS cent. QNA/REUTERS year highs yesterday as a boost from merger activity in the tel- ecoms sector more than offset falls in media group Vivendi. The French media group said on Friday it had agreed to sell its remaining stake in telecoms company Numericable-SFR to Altice at €40 per share, well below Numericable-SFR’s share price of €55.40 on Friday. Shares in Altice surged 9.9 percent to be the top riser on Turkey to explore for oil in Kurdistan: Minister the FTSEurofirst 300 index of pan-European shares, which was up 0.2 percent at 1,565.83 points at 0839 GMT. The FTSEurofirst set a fresh seven-year high in early deals after ANKARA: Turkey said it has long been the base of Turkish burgeoning links with Iraqi Kurds the best start to the year since they started trading in late 1986, clinched deals to explore for oil Kurds fighting for a separate in recent years. Turkish export dips driven by the prospect of the European Central Bank’s quantitative in Iraqi Kurdistan, a venture state in bordering southeastern Baghdad took legal action last easing programme set to start in March. made possible by agreements Turkey, but the move comes as year when Ankara revealed it was ISTANBUL: An apparent Germany’s Dax and Britain’s FTSE 100 hit new all-time highs, leav- with the central Baghdad gov- momentum gathers for a historic helping Iraqi Kurds to export oil surge in Turkey’s gold sales ing them in “overbought” territory based on some market indicators. ernment and the autonomous peace accord to end the separa- independently to international limited a general decline in the Merger speculation boosted shares in Telecom Italia, up 2.3 percent region. tist conflict that has claimed some markets via Turkey. country’s exports in February after the chief executive of France’s Orange said the two companies “We own blocs in the foothills 40,000 lives. Ankara’s new move to prospect driven by weak European had been discussing a possible alliance. Orange’s shares were flat. of the Qandil mountains as part Turkey, which is dependent on for oil in northern Iraq’s Hindirin Union growth, preliminary Aside from M&A, Spanish lender Bankia rose 4.3 percent after of contracts we concluded with Russia and Iran for its growing and Coman fields could also make ministry data indicated yester- reporting a 22 percent rise in net profit. “European markets remain Baghdad and northern Iraq,” energy needs, is seeking alterna- waves in Baghdad despite the con- day. Exports fell 4.36 percent buoyant, not just because of low yields but it seems that finally eco- Energy Minister Taner Yildiz was tive sources of affordable oil and tracts and an agreement between from a year earlier to $12.24bn, nomic activity and confidence are ticking up from the lows,” said Lex quoted as saying by the state-run gas, and has increasingly seen Baghdad and the autonomous the Customs and Trade Van Dam, hedge-fund manager at Hampstead Capital. REUTERS Anatolia news agency. Kurdistan as the best option. Kurdish region over the budget Ministry said. REUTERS The inhospitable region has Turkey’s leaders have developed and oil exports. AFP

Intel, Ericsson in deal Marks & Spencer No jockeying between Jain, to close five Abel for top post: Buffett Shanghai stores, Asia head quits NEW YORK: Warren Buffett (pictured), the billionaire chief LONDON: British retailer executive officer and chairman Marks & Spencer has decided to of Berkshire Hathaway, told close five stores in the greater CNBC yesterday that Berkshire Shanghai region following a executives Ajit Jain and Greg review of its plans for China that Abel were not angling for the will nevertheless see it stick to a top Berkshire job. commitment to expand into the In Berkshire’s annual report country’s other large cities. to shareholders on Saturday, M&S also said that Bruce Vice Chairman Charlie Munger Findlay, its regional director for hinted that Jain, a top insurance Asia, was quitting the firm after executive, and Abel, the head of less than two years in the role to Berkshire’s energy companies, take up a position with another were top candidates to succeed retailer. Buffett. “There’s no jockeying The company entered China position at all” between Jain and in 2008 with a store in Shanghai, Abel, Buffett said. and it now has 15 in the greater Speculation has mounted that he was writing that.” successor. Buffett told CNBC that Shanghai region. But it has strug- among Berkshire investors over “He’s right. They’re very, very, Rose was not out of the race for gled to make a major impact in a who will eventually succeed the very good, each one of them.” potential chief executive officer. country that it said remains one 84-year-old Buffett. Munger, whom Buffett In his letter on Saturday, of its priority international mar- The field was narrowed in the describes as “my partner,” is 91. Buffett said age would also be a kets along with India, Russia and annual Berkshire letter, when Asked if Abel, 52, and Jain, factor and that Berkshire might the Middle East. Buffett said he and the board had 63, were aware of who the next be better off if his successor were For the long term the group found his successor, and Munger successor would be, Buffett said: to stay on for at least a decade. is in the process of evaluating wrote that Abel and Jain were “No.” On investing, Buffett said potential local partners to expand “proven performers who would “We have a precise plan in Berkshire was continuing to in China, a path taken by other probably be under-described as mind, very detailed, as to what stick with IBM shares, the Dow British retailers such as super- ‘world-class.’” happens later today if I pass out Jones industrial average’s worst markets group Tesco and home “’World-leading’ would be on this show or something of the performer in 2014, “because I like improvements firm Kingfisher. the description I would choose,” sort,” he said. “It’s all in place, it.” As of December 31, Berkshire Updating on its plans for Munger said in a separate letter and it wouldn’t take 24 hours to held a 7.79 percent stake in IBM. the country following a review to shareholders, also on Saturday. implement.” “There have been no surprises announced last April, M&S said Intel’s CEO Brian Kraznich gestures during a presentation at the “In some important ways, each is Neither Buffett’s nor Munger’s at IBM since we started buying it it would continue to invest in its Mobile World Congress in Barcelona yesterday. Telecom equip- a better business executive than letters referred by name to a few years ago,” Buffett said. “We existing flagship store portfolio ment maker Ericsson and chipmaker Intel have agreed a partner- Buffett.” Matthew Rose, 55, executive expected revenue to come down. with the complete modernisation ship deal to help network operator customers build data centres, Buffett said: “When Charlie’s chairman of the BNSF railroad We expected a year like this where of its West Nanjing Road store in putting them on a more competitive footing against big, cloud- letter came in and it referenced unit, who has also been men- foreign exchange would take a Shanghai in the autumn. based firms such as Google, Facebook and Amazon. Greg and Ajit, it was news to me tioned by investors as a possible whack off revenues.” REUTERS REUTERS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS India sets inflation target in policy overhaul Historic changes mark victory for RBI Governor Budget unlikely to impact MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: government. That will be critical, for India to achieve sustainable India has formally adopted infla- given India’s inflation woes cannot long-term growth. In a break with tion targeting, a historic mone- be fixed by monetary policy alone. RBI practice, he first set targets credit rating: Agencies tary policy overhaul that marks “The monetary policy frame- at the start of last year after an a victory for Reserve Bank of work is clear: the objective is RBI commissioned report recom- MUMBAI: India’s new budget is unlikely to have an impact on the India Governor Raguram Rajan containing inflation,” Finance mended it — without the govern- country’s sovereign credit given the absence of meaningful fiscal (pictured), as the government Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi told ment’s formal buy-in. reform, credit-rating firms said yesterday, with Standard & Poor’s makes subduing chronically vol- reporters in New Delhi. In the decades before that, ruling out a rating upgrade for at least a year. atile prices a priority. India has suffered from almost interest rate policy took into The comments come after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on In a document dated February chronic price volatility, due in account several criteria aside Saturday announced a budget for the year through March 2016 pri- 20 but published on the ministry part to its dependence on energy from inflation, including the gov- oritising economic growth over reform, which is likely to slow the pace website yesterday, the government imports and the uncertain impact ernment’s borrowing needs and, of narrowing a fiscal deficit. and the central bank agreed to set of monsoon rains on its large farm at times, the stability of the rupee Jaitley set next fiscal year’s deficit target at 3.9 percent of GDP — a consumer inflation target of 4 sector, as well as the difficulties exchange rate and the need to pro- higher than analyst estimates — and said the deficit is likely to fall to 3 percent, with a band of plus or transporting food items to mar- tect exports. bang reforms of 1991 that saw percent of GDP in 2017/18, one year later than expectations. Standard minus 2 percentage points, from ket because of its poor roads and Rupa Rege Nitsure, group India open its up economy to for- & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) said the budget highlighted a commit- the financial year ending in March infrastructure. The government chief economist at L&T Financial eign investors. ment to keep the deficit low, but lacked structural reform. 2017. has also historically borrowed Services, who was part of the Any amendments will need to S&P and major peers Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings Rajan, an academic and former heavily to finance its spending, panel that proposed inflation tar- be approved by parliament, which rate Indian credit at the lowest investment grade with a “Stable” International Monetary Fund resulting in high fiscal deficits that geting, said the change marked a finance ministry officials have said outlook. “In terms of the structural effects of the budget, we see the chief economist who took the reins also push up inflation. “paradigm shift”. will come within months. improvement has been not as great as it could have been,” said Kim at the RBI in 2013, has champi- Fixing the infrastructure bot- “This framework will decrease The RBI is widely expected to Eng Tan, S&P senior director for Asia-Pacific sovereign ratings, in a oned the move to inflation target- tlenecks was a major part of the the uncertainty around the deci- continue cutting interest rates conference call. “We don’t see the rating going up in the next year or so.” ing, increasingly popular among central budget unveiled by the gov- sion-making process and there will after lowering the key repo rate Moody’s said the budget was “unlikely to materially change” a rating emerging market economies which ernment on Saturday. be limited possibility of any spec- by a quarter of a percentage point constrained by “weak fiscal metrics”, though it would be supported by typically struggle to contain price In return, however, Finance ulation,” she said. “Transparency to 7.75 percent on January 15. the focus on growth. rises that hurt their poorest Minister Arun Jaitley also asked and predictability in monetary The RBI governor will continue Fitch said the government’s medium-term fiscal consolidation strat- citizens. for an additional year to bring policy decisions are significant to determine those rates. He is egy was “less aspiring than in the past,” terming it negative for India’s The document showed the move down the country’s fiscal deficit progress.” currently informally advised by credit rating. “While the budget shows this government’s continued — the most significant change to its medium-term target of 3 The government will now need bank officials and an external orientation on implementation of structural reforms, it could have been in monetary policy since India percent of gross domestic prod- to amend the RBI Act to reflect a panel of advisers, which may be more ambitious on the fiscal front, especially given India’s high public opened its economy more than two uct, which it now intends to do new mandate for the central bank, replaced by a monetary policy debt burden,” said Thomas Rookmaaker, director at Fitch’s Asia-Pacific decades ago — had the support of by 2017-18. Rajan has long argued ushering in the biggest overhaul committee whose composition has sovereigns group. REUTERS Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s that inflation has to be subdued of monetary policy since the big yet to be agreed on. REUTERS

China economic growth HP to buy Wi-Fi gear maker expected to slow to 7pc Aruba Networks SHANGHAI: China’s economy research report published in the is expected to slow to an annual official China Securities News yes- for $2.7bn 7 percent in the first quarter terday. “As such, it will continue of this year, a top Chinese gov- searching for a bottom in the first NEW YORK: Hewlett- ernment think tank said in a quarter of 2015 and is preliminarily Packard Co said it would buy research report, a sign policy forecast to grow around 7 percent Wi-Fi network gear maker makers will have to roll out more in the quarter,” it said. Aruba Networks Inc for about stimulus to support faltering The think tank operates under $2.7bn, the biggest deal for the growth. the purview of China’s top economic world’s No. 2 PC maker since its The forecast by the State planner, the National Development botched acquisition of Britain’s Information Centre underscored and Reform Commission. Autonomy Plc in 2011. the rationale of Saturday’s move by China’s economic growth held HP has had a dismal record for China’s central bank to cut inter- steady at 7.3 percent in the fourth big acquisitions, having written est rates for the second time in less quarter of 2014 from a year earlier off multibillion-dollar acquisi- than four months as it steps up but still hovered near the weakest tions of Autonomy and technol- efforts to ward off deflation. “Our pace since the global financial cri- ogy outsourcing provider EDS, country’s economic growth still sis, reinforcing expectations that which it bought in 2008. With the faces relatively heavy downward policymakers will have to roll out purchase of Aruba, HP is boost- A worker installs a module of an oil rig at Offshore Oil Engineering (Qingdao) Co Ltd in east China’s Shandong pressure amid structure adjust- more support measures to avert a ing its share of the wireless local ments,” the think-tank said in its sharper slowdown. REUTERS area network (WLAN) market as province. China’s official PMI inched up to 49.9 in February, still in the contraction range. more companies allow employees to access work systems through their wireless devices. HP has a 4-5 percent share of the enterprise WLAN market, Eurozone prices, jobs firm but deflation threat remains compared with Aruba’s 10-13 percent, FBN Capital Markets analyst Shebly Seyrafi estimated BRUSSELS: The eurozone’s living, the EU statistics agency For the moment, lower prices deflationary cycle. Aiming to head target... and the risk of a sus- in a note dated on February 27. consumer price downturn eased Eurostat said. appeared to be giving consumer off the danger, the ECB in January tained bout of deflation remains The all-cash offer of $24.67 per and jobless figures picked up Energy prices alone were down demand a boost with “little evi- launched a massive 1.1 trillion euro significant.” share is a premium of 34.4 per- slightly yesterday but the modest 7.9 percent, slowing only slightly dence that eurozone consumers are stimulus programme to flood the The two latest reports show cent to Aruba’s close on February improvements were not enough after a fall of 9.3 percent in January, delaying purchases,” he added. financial system with cheap money clearly that the economy was not 24. Aruba shares fell 1.45 percent to dispel all fears of a deflation- Eurostat said. The eurozone economy has and so boost investment. growing fast enough to absorb all to $24.44 in morning trading. The ary spiral. The jobless figures were modestly recovered only slowly from its ECB head Mario Draghi said the the slack, McKeown said. stock had risen about 40 percent Analysts said the figures were encouraging, with unemployment prolonged debt crisis and virtually aim was to stimulate the economy Peter Vanden Houten of ING since the Bloomberg report. HP welcome although the European down to 11.2 percent from 11.3 per- stalled in the third quarter of 2014 enough to drive inflation back up to Bank said the oil price impact shares were up less than 1 percent Central Bank will still have to pull cent in December to hit its lowest with growth of just 0.2 percent, fol- the central bank’s target of close to would fade in time, easing the defla- at $34.88. out all the stops to prevent the level since April 2012. Howard lowed by a slightly better 0.3 per- 2.0 percent. tion threat, but the economy was HP, which has struggled to adapt economy stalling as oil prices con- Archer of IHS Global Insight said cent in the fourth. The ECB would continue the not out of the woods with unem- to the new era of mobile and online tinue to fall sharply, stoking the the two reports were “a double dose Analysts feared especially that extraordinary measures “until we ployment still some four percentage computing, plans to split into two deflation threat. of good news for the eurozone.” falling prices would see consum- see a sustained adjustment in the points above 2008 pre-crisis levels. listed companies this year, separat- Consumer prices in the 19-nation Improving price data “may dilute ers put off purchases to buy goods path of inflation,” he added. “The eurozone economy has ing its computer and printer busi- eurozone were down 0.3 percent in fears that pervasive deflation could when they are cheaper. This clas- Jennifer McKeown of Capital now been trapped in a stop-and-go nesses from its corporate hardware February, less than the drop of 0.6 become entrenched in the eurozone sic change in behaviour undercuts Economics said the ECB’s pro- recovery for years and it would be and services operations. HP’s cash percent in January when tumbling with long-term debilitating growth demand, which in turn hits company gramme “is unlikely to push infla- unwise to give the all-clear sign too pile stood at $12.9bn at the end of energy prices slashed the cost of effects,” Archer said. investment and jobs in a vicious tion to anywhere near the ECB’s soon.” AFP January. REUTERS US consumer spending falls

WASHINGTON: US con- sumer spending fell for a sec- Manufacturing slows to 13-month low ond straight month in January, likely as lower gasoline prices NEW YORK: The pace of US manufacturing growth fell in continued to weigh on receipts February to its slowest in 13 months, according to an industry at service stations. report released yesterday. The Institute for Supply Management The Commerce Department (ISM) said its index of national factory activity fell to 52.9 from said yesterdayconsumer spending 53.5 the month before. The reading was shy of expectations of slipped 0.2 percent after falling 53.1, according to a poll of economists, and was the lowest reading 0.3 percent in December. since January 2014. A reading above 50 indicates expansion in the Economists polled had fore- manufacturing sector. Most components of the index declined, cast consumer spending, which suggesting a slowing in growth in the factory sector, though the accounts for more than two- main index’s 50-plus reading marks the 28th consecutive month thirds of US economic activity, of growth in manufacturing. The new orders index eased to 52.5 dipping 0.1 percent in January. from 52.9 in January. The prices paid index was unchanged at 35, When adjusted for inflation, and the employment index fell to 51.4 from 54.1. REUTERS consumer spending increased 0.3 percent after December’s 0.1 to 5.5 percent, the highest since for consumer spending braked percent dip. Income increased December 2012. to show a 0.2 percent rise in the 0.3 percent after a similar rise in Lower gasoline prices contin- 12 months through January, the December. Income at the disposal ued to put downward pressure weakest reading since October of households after accounting for on inflation, with key consumer 2009. The personal consump- inflation advanced 0.9 percent, the price gauges slipping further tion expenditures (PCE) price largest increase since December below the Federal Reserve’s 2 index had increased 0.8 percent Shoppers roam the aisles at the Safeway store in Wheaton, Maryland. 2012. The saving rate increased percent target. A price index in December. REUTERS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

What would the Dow look Near Fed majority backs like if it included Apple? BY RODRIGO CAMPOS and CHUCK MIKOLAJCZAK June interest rate hike T MAY be by far the most valuable American company but BY HOWARD SCHNEIDER Apple Inc still can’t get into at least one exclusive club - the sentiment that the time is getting closer.” Fed has stripped the document of an out of 30-member Dow Jones Industrial Average. That may not be a The use of the word “patient” signals that date unemployment target, removed refer- Iproblem for the company behind the iPhone and the iPad, after ANET Yellen’s premium on consen- the Fed would wait at least two more meet- ences to a bond buying program as it wound all Apple shares recently hit record highs. It is, though, hurting sus may lead to a Federal Reserve ings before considering a rate hike. There to a close, and ditched the commitment that those who tie their investments to the performance of the vener- decision the chair hasn’t yet will be one more Fed meeting, in April, there would be a “considerable time” before a able Dow, which was first calculated in 1896 and is still probably endorsed, as a near majority aligns before June. If the Fed later this month says rate increase. Still, the Fed’s job is to promote the best-known stock index in the world. in favour of a possible June inter- it remains patient, then a June increase is job growth and control inflation, and there Since Apple split its shares seven-for-one last June 6, it’s deliv- est rate hike. Seven of the Fed’s off the table, likely pushing the decision to is no inflation. US data have slipped further ered investors a gain of more than 43 percent including dividend Jcurrent 17 members have now said they at September when the Fed is scheduled to hold from the Fed’s two percent target, and some payments, and that has contributed almost one third of the Nasdaq least want the option of a June tightening a press conference after its meeting. policy makers want more confidence inflation 100’s return of 18.6 percent, according to ETF.com. By comparison, on the table, or have pushed in general for Stockton said he personally expects a will rise before changing the fed funds rate. the Dow’s total return has been only 8.97 percent over that period, an earlier increase amid an expectation that September liftoff. But he regards it as “a Small data points could make a differ- and it has also underperformed the S&P500 — which does include wages and inflation will turn higher. close call” that could shift to June if either ence: U.S. core prices ticked up last week Apple - and has a 9.56 percent return. By contrast, there’s a dwindling core of wages or inflation begin to firm or if the Fed even as the fall in energy costs drove the Had Apple been substituted for 29 of the 30 Dow components officials who say publicly that the economy feels it needs to show markets it can tighten overall inflation rate lower, an outcome likely last June, the index would have been higher. The only Dow member and labour markets in particular still have policy. There is little difference between a to reassure Fed officials who consider oil’s that would have had more of a positive influence on the index than a long way to go — only four Fed members June or September start to a tightening impact to be transitory. Apple is Visa. If Apple had replaced a badly lagging stock such as have in recent weeks clearly said that rate cycle that is likely to evolve slowly over the Wal-Mart Stores Inc and other major IBM, which has dropped more than 13 percent since Apple’s split, hikes won’t be appropriate until much later next two years, and “maybe you just get retailers’ decision to raise starting wages the Dow would now be about 450 points higher than its Friday in the year or even into 2016. it out of the way,” said Jon Faust, a Johns is “a good sign,” and the type of evidence close at 18132.70 (and have gained 9.8 percent rather than the 7.1 The five members of the Fed’s Washington- Hopkins University economics professor and she expects to accumulate as the economy percent increase it has recorded, without dividends). based board of governors, including Yellen, former special adviser to the Fed board. improves, Yellen told a House committee last So why can’t a company that so dominates the consumer and have spoken less definitively, though gover- The Fed hasn’t raised interest rates since week. Those and other positive developments technology worlds, and whose share price has climbed an astound- nors including Jerome Powell have said they 2006, and Yellen’s career-long focus on labor have been emphasised by the Fed officials ing split-adjusted 3,500 percent since January 2000, get into an expected strong job growth to continue. Not all markets has led some including Stockton to who have honed in on June. index that has gained just 55 percent in that period. S&P Dow of the seven who point to June vote this year say she would resist an early rate increase, Historically, there is weight on their side: Jones Indices, a unit of McGraw Hill Financial Inc, rarely makes on the Fed’s ten-member policy setting com- risking higher inflation in favor of trying to The current near zero interest rate for over- changes to the index it owns, and often only when forced to by a mittee, but all participate in policy discussions. generate more jobs. Investors have generally night federal funds borrowing by banks is major corporate event, such as an acquisition of a component. The Fed is likely at its March 17th and expected the Fed to be later in its first rate out of line with the 5.7 percent unemploy- The last change was in September 2013, when Alcoa, Hewlett- 18th policy meeting to remove language say- hike and to move more slowly than policy ment rate, inconsistent with many of the Packard and Bank of America were replaced by Visa, Nike and ing the central bank will take a “patient” makers have indicated. Data on Fed funds formulas used to help set central bank policy, Goldman Sachs in one of the biggest shake-ups in the index for approach to raising rates, taking away the futures contracts collected by CME Group’s and is even below the minimal levels main- some years. That decision was triggered by the low stock prices of final verbal constraint to a June rate hike, Fedwatch have shifted between September tained during recessions, said Standard & the three companies that were removed and by a desire to diversify current and former Fed officials say. and October over the past week as the likely Poor’s chief U.S. economist Beth Ann Bovino. the industry groups in the index, according to a statement from “It’s likely they remove ‘patient’ in March,” month of the Fed’s initial increase. “They want to let go of the balloon and see S&P Dow Jones Indices at the time. said David Stockton, a former Fed research Yellen has been arguably laying the how markets respond,” said Bovino, who said director now at the Peterson Institute for groundwork for considering a rate hike the Fed would want to close out years at the GUIDELINES International Economics. “Even if Yellen through changes to the Fed’s policy state- zero lower bound and see how a new set of “S&P doesn’t comment on any pending index changes with respect might not, left to her own devices, be ready ment during her first year in office. tools for controlling rates works in practice. to any specific companies,” said David Blitzer, managing director to move on rates, there is probably a growing Since she took over in February 2014, the REUTERS and chairman of the index committee at S&P Indices in New York. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices’ guidelines on its website, a stock “typically is added to the index only if the company has an excellent reputation, demonstrates sustained growth and is of interest to a large number of investors.” Apple would certainly qualify on those criteria. In addition, S&P Dow Indices says that “adequate sector representa- tion within the indices is also a consideration in the selection process.” As of the end of January, 9.47 percent of the Dow was allocated to the technology sector, placing it fifth among the nine sectors that comprise the index. Given that technology makes up 19.9 percent of the broader S&P 500, that should also help Apple’s case. And given Apple has also more than earned its stripes as a consumer and media company it clearly has other claims on membership. Before June last year, it would have been much more difficult to add Apple because pre-split, the stock was trading at such a high price — it reached $705 back in 2012. The Dow is a price weighted index, which means a stock with a higher price has a greater influ- ence on the index. By contrast, the S&P and Nasdaq indexes are weighted by market capitalization. Many investors who tie their investments to a broad index will use the S&P 500 ($1.9 trillion of index funds) or the Nasdaq 100. But some do buy the Dow through vehicles such as the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF, which has a market value of about $12.32bn and is known as the Dow Diamonds. There are also lever- aged funds that seek to double or even triple its gains. Followers of the Dow have to get used to some odd influences because of its structure. For example, a 1 percent move in an index member like Visa with a share price of $271.30 has more than 10 times the impact of a similar change in a fellow Dow member such as General Electric Co, with a stock price at $25.99. Visa has risen 28 percent since the June split, lagging Apple, and has less than a quarter of Apple’s market value. However, it still contributed more to the index gains than Apple would have in its place because Visa’s shares are priced so high. That will change on March 18 when Visa itself does a four-for-one stock split. And the shares of two Dow components have just about matched Apple’s performance since last June with gains of about 42 percent each before dividends. But the impact of the two, Home Depot and UnitedHealth Group Inc, on the index is less than if they were replaced with Apple, this time because Apple’s $128.46 closing share price on Friday is a bit higher than theirs. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Venezuela swaps oil to import Nicaraguan coffee beans

BY LUC COHEN and Falling coffee production and inflation rate. As farmers are that does the coffee trades, did not Nicaraguan beans elsewhere too. and coffee and cocoa production IVAN CASTRO near-record demand has forced it squeezed, the quality of beans they respond to requests for comment. In the United States, Nicaraguan constituted its main economic to buy more higher-priced foreign can produce suffers. Coffee purchases likely spiked coffee has been trading at its high- activities. “Before Colombia even ENEZUELA, once beans, according to Nicaragua’s To keep up with rising demand, late in the year because the gov- est premiums to futures on ICE planted coffee, Venezuela was a proud exporter export figures and interviews Caracas imported almost 70,000 ernment wanted to make sure Futures US in eight months. already exporting coffee,” said of premium coffee, with producers and traders in bags of Nicaraguan beans in the families had enough for Christmas Venezuelans who cherish their Perez of Fedeagro. has been reduced to Venezuela and Nicaragua. last three months of 2014, more celebrations, a source familiar with guayoyo, a watered-down espresso While the discovery of crude oil swapping crude oil for The US Department of than any other country and more Venezuela’s coffee industry said. popular in the country, complain in the early 20th century shifted its Vgrowing volumes of Nicaraguan Agriculture expects Venezuela’s than 60 percent of the amount it “In order to secure the volume about shortages and what they say economic focus, small-scale farm- coffee beans to make sure wors- demand to reach 1.3 million 60kg brought in from Nicaragua in all they need, they had to pay a better is low quality coffee in the super- ers in the mountainous Andean ening economic turmoil does not bags in the crop season, which ends of the 2013/14 crop year, data from price than the one they’re offering markets. “For six months I’ve been region continued to grow smooth, prevent people from getting their in September, with the nation’s pro- Nicaragua’s Center for Export in the local market,” said Jose Angel feeling like what I drink is water mild high-quality arabica beans for caffeine fix. duction withering to just 660,000 Processing (Cetrex) show. Buitrago, president of Nicaragua’s that I flavour with sugar,” said domestic use and export to markets For the first time on record, cof- bags, its third-smallest crop on The purchases are carried Coffee Exporters Association. Francisco Naranjo, 55, in a coffee including the United States. fee imports this year will exceed record since 1960/61. To make up out under the Petro-Caribbean Cetrex data show Venezuela shop in the well-to-do east side It regularly produced more than the bean output of Venezuela’s cen- the difference, Venezuela will have Agreement, in which Venezuela paid on average $2.21 a pound of Caracas. 1 million 60kg bags between the turies-old coffee industry, accord- to import a record 685,000 bags, the ships subsidized crude oil to for its Nicaraguan coffee late last He paid 40 bolivars for his latte, 1970s and 1990s, roughly in line ing to US government estimates. USDA estimates. political allies like Nicaragua in year, 50 percent more than prices which is more than $6 at the offi- with production from coffee export- The South American country’s A leaf disease has ravaged crops exchange for basic goods, traders paid by US buyers. cial exchange rate, higher than a ers Costa Rica or Tanzania today, shift from net coffee exporter to and low domestic retail coffee and other sources familiar with But despite the higher prices, similar coffee costs in the United and in 1998/99 exported 550,000 substantial importer has altered prices set by the Venezuelan gov- the arrangement said. the quality of Nicaraguan coffee States. He recently bought a kilo bags, about as much as El Salvador flows in regional markets, boosting ernment are prompting farmers to Nicaragua received 27,000 sent to Venezuela was lower than of price-controlled, state-produced today, according to USDA data. prices for some varieties of coffee. abandon coffee production. They barrels of crude oil and refined that arriving in the United States, coffee at a supermarket for just 7 Plentiful crops helped foster It is also another sign of how are switching to cattle or leaving products a day from Venezuela in said Vicente Perez, executive direc- bolivars ($1.11), but he had to wait a rich coffee culture with peo- the collapse in crude oil prices, and agriculture altogether and moving 2013, according to the most recent tor of Venezuela’s Fedeagro, which in line for 45 minutes, he said. ple drinking both at home and resulting pressures on an already to cities, sources familiar with the data from state-run oil company represents the country’s farmers. The spike in imports marks a in cafes, but falling supplies and deeply troubled Venezuelan econ- Venezuelan coffee industry say. Petroleos de Venezuela. Some of the beans had already been new low in a decade-long decline quality are forcing some to change omy, has forced the government of Prices for key farming materi- PDVSA, the state-owned oil rejected by US importers. for Venezuela’s coffee industry. habits. “I’ve already started to the Opec member to take extraordi- als like fertilizer have skyrocketed company, could not be reached for The spike in Venezuela’s Two hundred years ago, it was drink more tea,” said Ricardo nary measures to keep supermarket due to the collapsing Bolivar cur- comment. Albalinisa, a PDVSA- bumper-priced imports has the world’s third-largest cof- Perez, 56, at an upscale coffee shop shelves stocked with basic goods. rency and the resulting 68-percent controlled Nicaraguan company boosted the premium for fee exporter by some estimates, in the capital. REUTERS TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,450.34 0.04 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,930.85 0.63 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,465.13 0.79 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,263.25 0.57 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,313.69 0.60 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5926.33 27.846 0.47 5917.1 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 4,079.77 0.80 % QR142.4768 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,471.25 1.24 % Cac 40 Index/D 4922.83 -28.65 -0.58 4951.48 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,449.61 0.19 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.5730 QR 5.6518 QE All Share Insurance 4,128.14 0.55 % Dj Indu Average 18132.7 -81.72 -0.45 18244.4 15855.12 QR 1.9494 Euro ...... QR 4.0638 QR 4.1203 QE All Share Telecoms 1,438.94 1.04 % CA$ ...... QR 2.8862 QR 2.9435 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,289.91 0.19 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24887.44 64.15 0.26 25101.96 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7846 QR 3.8381 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5971.01 -6.02 -0.1 5977.03 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0301 QR 0.0307 Aus$ ...... QR 2.8089 QR 2.8641 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 33213.58 -418.61 -1.24 35055.94 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 02-03-2015 26-02-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0583 QR 0.0594 Index 12,450.34 12,445.34 Nikkei 225 Index 18826.88 28.94 0.15 18865.39 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0363 Change 5.00 26.62 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0818 QR 0.0835 S&P 500 Index/D 2104.5 -6.24 -0.3 2119.59 1814.36 % 0.04 0.21 $ 62.12 SL Re ...... QR 0.0271 QR 0.0280 YTD% 1.34 1.30 Straits Times/D 3403.89 1.03 0.03 3458.14 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0472 Volume 10,074,849 9,653,186 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0367 QR 0.0374 Value (QAR) 509,163,340.76 454,266,970.50 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3074 QR 0.3135 Trades 5,959 5,631 $ 59.23 Up 27 | Down 13 | Unchanged 01 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 02-03-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A C C-A/D 1764.35 81.1 60196 City Union Bk-/D 99.9 0.4 35515 Hind Org Chem-/D 17.95 0.35 33532 Kilburnengg-T/D 45.5 -0.25 26002 Reliance Indus/D 452.2 0.65 84683 Imperial Tobac/D 3208 15 740937 Aban Offs-A/D 470.7 0.35 155093 Colgate-A/D 1972.05 28.95 18028 Hind Unilever-/D 935.25 25.45 142402 Kinetic Eng-B/D 48 0.95 14928 Ruchi Soya-B/D 44.2 0.95 339930 Kingfisher/D 374.528 9.1 2535827 Aegis Logis-B/D 422.3 7.1 4462 Container Cor-/D 1540.85 -0.95 4926 Hind.Petrol-A/D 657.1 37.25 334550 Kopran-B/D 46.7 2.5 152705 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 635.1 10.15 4867 Land Secs Grou/D 1274 18 1012972 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 272.55 0.5 39438 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 155 3.7 2844 Hindalco-A/D 156.5 3.45 432579 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 354 16.3 3798 Samtel-T/D 9 0.15 8300 Legal & Genera/D 280.4 0.9 2439017 Alembic-B/D 38.2 -0.35 70929 Dhampur Sugar-/D 39.35 -0.75 12733 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1340 3.85 146296 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 12.7 -0.4 24050 Saur.Cem-B/D 41.25 1.65 74458 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 79.28 0.28 75197330 Alok Indus-A/D 8.88 -0.01 1250500 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3384 34.35 11308 I F C I-A/D 37.7 -0.8 1335594 Lupin-A/D 1797.8 50.85 67445 Savita Oil-B/D 538 -20 5298 Marks & Sp./D 509.1032 5 1185191 Apollo Tyre-A/D 178.65 3.4 464912 E I H-B/D 110 0 26087 Idbi-A/D 73.6 -0.4 565930 Lyka Labs-T/D 45.7 -0.2 215524 Tanfac Indust-/D 19.5 -0.15 11892 Next/D 7525 30 78537 Asahi I Glass-/D 137.9 1.45 6575 E.I.D Parry-A/D 176.45 0.4 10251 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 505 -7 18433 Mah.Seamless-B/D 212 -1.7 4958 Tanfac Indust-/D 19.5 -0.15 11892 Pearson/D 1425 5 683833 Ashok Leyland-/D 72.9 3.15 4154863 Eicher Motor-A/D 16515.85 289.25 8516 India Cement-A/D 107.9 8.05 892002 Mangalam Cem-B/D 302.4 32.5 72020 Thirumalai-B/D 79 -1.75 5296 Prudential/D 1624 -5.5 835294 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1393 0.7 3791 Electrosteel-B/D 17.85 0.25 81974 India Glycol-B/D 101 1.7 20751 Maral Overs-B/D 29.05 -1.85 19748 Til Ltd.-T/D 497 2.4 4608 Rentokil Initi/D 138.5 3.4 1526820 Ballarpur In-B/D 14.93 0.33 351236 Emco-B/D 39 0.5 65234 Indian Hotel-A/D 110.85 -1.15 226206 Mastek-B/D 439.6 20.3 166754 Timexgroup-T/D 18.6 2.08 285109 Rolls Royce Pl/D 934.5 -14.5 1857640 Bata India-A/D 1274.85 -9.05 23621 Escorts Fin-B/D 5 -0.16 16090 Indo-Tcount-T/D 394.7 -3.2 23141 Max India L-A/D 470.7 10.2 92840 Tinplate-B/D 59.8 -0.45 31352 Rsa Insrance G/D 432.2 3.3 1404020 Beml Ltd-A/D 976.15 -1.05 100743 Escorts-A/D 135.85 1.75 421592 Indusind-A/D 943.95 28 205931 Mrpl-A/D 63 0.8 64582 Ub Engineer-Z/D 6.94 0.33 3599 Sainsbury(J)/D 271 -1.1 4564163 Bh Electronic-/D 3654.3 -73.6 44792 Essar Oil-T/D 108.9 0.6 39453 J.B.Chemical-B/D 188.4 -0.2 18201 Nahar Spg.-B/D 95.6 -0.35 24758 Ucal Fuel-B/D 122.1 4.7 22236 Schroders/D 3077 2 112250 Bhansali Eng-T/D 18 0.5 3909 Eveready Indu-/D 222.4 13.7 152065 Jagson Phar-B/D 27 -0.6 15436 Nation Alum -A/D 46.75 -0.45 92438 Ucal Fuel-B/D 122.1 4.7 22236 Severn Trent/D 2037 6 185289 Bharatgears-B/D 74 0.9 2459 F D C-B/D 156.9 3.55 12117 Jamnaauto-B/D 245.7 40.9 16806 Navneet Edu-B/D 111.1 0 13366 Ultramarine-B/D 69.3 1.65 10240 Smith&Nephew/D 1198.25 12 1105769 Bhel-A/D 273.8 11.65 825415 Federal Bank-A/D 150.2 7.8 532492 Jbf Indu-B/D 229.4 9.5 173814 Nepc India-T/D 2.89 -0.05 11553 Unitech P -A/D 20.2 -0.45 18100503 Smiths Group/D 1166 11 450454 Bom.Burmah-B/D 442 16.6 97228 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.25 -0.34 39544 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.54 -0.06 92966 Neuland Lab-B/D 322.1 -6.1 4108 Standrd Chart /D 987 -4 3409357 Bombay Dyeing-/D 81 8.3 2411934 Finolex-A/D 281.6 -6.95 11581 Jct Ltd-B/D 3.45 -0.1 132001 Nrb Bearings-B/D 141 0.3 6507 LONDON Tate & Lyle/D 593 -2.5 242316 Camph.& All-B/D 265 12.1 6257 Gail-A/D 409.05 -4.45 94181 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 5.01 -0.1 29056 O N G C-A/D 320.3 -4.65 518552 Tesco/D 245.9 0.5 4503339 Canfin Homes-B/D 621 6.5 5691 Galada Power-T/D 27.95 -1.4 7574 Jik Indust-T/D 0.89 -0.04 6018 Ocl India-B/D 487.6 7.35 26638 3I Group/D 495.6 2 848824 Unilever/D 2883 17 667881 Caprihans-B/D 75.5 -1.5 5627 Gammon India-T/D 23.3 0.35 222192 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 116.8 -0.35 339966 Oil Country-B/D 34.3 -0.65 8845 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3086 -39 231017 United Util Gr/D 947.7 1.5 494591 Castrol India-/D 476.25 9.95 52390 Garden P -B/D 28.35 -0.55 3924 Jmc Projects-T/D 175 11.9 25856 Orchid Chem-B/D 63.55 0.2 94801 Barclays/D 261.7 4.8 14587193 Vodafone Group/D 226.15 1.75 16586896 Century Enka-B/D 159.2 0.6 17131 Godfrey Phil-B/D 463.15 -8.45 5906 Kabra Extr-B/D 82.2 2.25 3199 Orient.Carb.-T/D 461.8 12.8 6589 Bg Group/D 949.9 -8.1 2471467 Whitbread/D 5310 55 127961 Century Text-A/D 567.85 37.5 323312 Goodricke-B/D 144.2 3.7 19991 Kajaria Cer-A/D 819.7 17.7 11592 Orient.Carb.-T/D 461.8 12.8 6589 Bp/D 446.669 -1.35 7152024 Chambal Fert-B/D 63.2 0.6 164462 Goodyear I -B/D 586.75 -6.25 21083 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 131.8 4.8 8723 Pacific Indu-B/D 153.4 -0.1 2201 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3755 -27 778497 Chola Invest-B/D 582.85 14.15 18144 Hcl Infosys-B/D 50.35 0.15 397194 Kalpat Power-B/D 244.05 8.7 274322 Punjab Chem.-B/D 108.4 1.4 3504 Bt Group/D 456 0.3 4446025 Chowgule St-T/D 24.5 0.3 11193 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 15.3 -0.2 1430138 Kalyani Stel-T/D 146.4 -0.6 54259 Radico Khait-B/D 88.25 1.45 53783 Centrica/D 245.07 0.7 5485577 Cimmco-B/D 94.95 8.6 133555 Himat Seide-B/D 81.85 -1.85 14054 Kanoria Chem-B/D 37.75 0.1 26610 Rallis India-A/D 249.15 4.4 42365 Gkn/D 364.8 -0.4 1234380 Cipla-A/D 715.3 33.8 396221 Hind Motors-T/D 7.8 0.02 53308 Kg Denim-B/D 21.65 -0.1 20773 Rallis India-A/D 249.15 4.4 42365 Hsbc Holdings/D 579.3 2 9061742 TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Paul powers Clippers past Bulls Point guard scores 28 points for Clippers; Rockets surprise Cavaliers in overtime

CHICAGO: Chris Paul tallied finished with 33 points, eight 28 points and 12 assists as the NBA Results rebounds and five assists as Los Angeles Clippers won their LA Clippers 96 Chicago 86 the Houston Rockets edged the second straight NBA game with Houston 105 Cleveland 103 Cleveland Cavaliers 105-103 in a 96-86 victory yesterday over Portland 110 Sacramento 99 overtime yesterday. the injury-hit Chicago Bulls. Terrence Jones tallied 19 points Golden State 106 Boston 101 DeAndre Jordan grabbed 17 of with seven rebounds and Donatas his 26 rebounds in the first half Indiana 94 Philadelphia 74 Motiejunas scored 16 points for and Spencer Hawes finished with Charlotte 98 Orlando 83 the Rockets, who won all their 14 points and nine rebounds for Oklahoma City 108 LA Lakers 101 five-game homestand NBA the Clippers, who seized the lead New Orleans 99 Denver 92 contests. for good on a Jamal Crawford LeBron James struggled at jumper with seven minutes left lineup after missing Friday’s win times, missing two free throws in the fourth quarter. Crawford over Minnesota with an illness, that cost Cleveland the game late finished with 16 points. but Taj Gibson was out after suf- in overtime. He finished with a “It is our defence,” Paul said. fering an ankle injury against the game-high 37 points despite “They got us going there in the Timberwolves. shooting 15-of-35 from the floor second half. We got stops when “The most important thing with and three-of-11 from beyond the we needed to and it was a good our team is whenever something arc. game for us.” happens here we are together and Kevin Love had 21 points and The Clippers have won six of we really try to find a way,” said Tristan Thompson recorded their last nine since all-star for- Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic. 14 points with a season-high 19 ward Blake Griffin went down Late in the fourth Los Angeles rebounds for Cleveland. Patrick with a staph infection on his went on a 15-4 surge which was Beverley drained a three-pointer right arm. The infirmary list powered by Paul’s six points and before Josh Smith made two free on the other side of the court is capped by his free throw for an throws to give the Rockets a 104- even more extensive as the Bulls 11-point lead with just over a 100 lead with 2:21 left in over- continue to cope with the loss minute to go in front of a crowd of time. James hit a wide open three of former most valuable player 21,600 at the United Center arena. pointer with under a minute left, Derrick Rose. Rose is expected to The Clippers improved to 9-1 in then he squandered an opportu- miss up to six weeks after having their last 10 games at the United nity to win the game late. surgery two days ago to repair a Center since the 2004-05 season. James was fouled by Smith torn meniscus in his right knee. Mirotic paced the Bulls with with four seconds left, but the Yesterday, All-Star guard 29 points off the bench. Aaron four-time MVP missed both free Jimmy Butler exited early after Brooks scored 14, Tony Snell throws and Harden made a free injuring his left elbow. had 13 points and Joakim Noah throw at the other end with under Butler was hurt when he ran finished with 13 points and 11 a second on the clock to close out into Jordan and was attended by rebounds. the scoring. trainers before heading to the Chicago fell to 3-2 on its seven- “I didn’t come through for my Isaiah Thomas (4) of the Boston Celtics drives past Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors during the locker room. game homestand.A teammates tonight,” James said. third quarter at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday. The Warriors defeated the Celtics 106-101. Pau Gasol returned to the Bulls’ Meanwhile, James Harden AFP

Lahiri confident Bracy, Bartoletta entering WGC defend 60m Doral test national titles

MIAMI: India’s Anirban Lahiri, BOSTON: Sprinters Marvin who has jumped to 34th in world Bracy and Tianna Bartoletta rankings after two wins last successfully defended their month, makes his first start in crowns by winning the 60 meter the World Golf Championships events on the final day of the event at Doral this week. USA Track and Field Indoor And the 27-year-old Asian Tour Championships yesterday. number one hopes his debut at the Bracy took advantage of an Cadillac Championship signals the early stumble by Ryan Bailey to start of greater things in America win in a time of 6.55 seconds. Joe as he dreams of becoming his Morris (6.57) finished second and homeland’s first major winner. Clayton Vaughn placed third in “It’s quite amazing so much has 6.60. changed,” Lahiri said. Bartoletta claimed her second “I didn’t expect to be in this sit- consecutive national title with a uation that I am now. I’m happy it time of 7.08 seconds. Her time was has come and it’s a fantastic time. the second fastest in the world I’m at a point in my career where and the fastest by an American I hope to move westward and the over the first two months of 2015. wins have helped. I’m excited.” “To come here with a great field Lahiri won the Malaysian Open Padraig Harrington of Ireland poses with the trophy after winning the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort & Spa - Champion Course in Palm Beach and win, especially to repeat my and Indian Open in a span of Gardens, Florida, yesterday. RIGHT: Harrington celebrates with his caddy Ronan Flood after winning the the Honda Classic. national title, it’s a great accom- three weeks, giving him four titles plishment,” Bracy said. in the past 10 months, and his Bartoletta said she gained ranking now puts him in position inspiration from her ill father. to play all four majors and grab a “My dad has been in hospital. spot for the International team in He taught me the last few weeks this year’s Presidents Cup. Harrington ends seven-year what it means to fight. At the end This week will give Lahiri a test of the day, you have got to know of how he stands against the US what is in you,” she said. PGA elite. In his first WGC event, Demi Payne claimed her first the HSBC Champions in Shanghai national title by clearing 4.55 last year, Lahiri shared 28th. wait with Honda Classic win meters to win the pole vault. “There will be a lot of firsts for World record holder Jenn Suhr me,” Lahiri said. “I’m really eager PALM BEACH GARDENS, wasn’t delivering,” Harrington Berger, who closed a final- was forced to withdraw after for all that. It’s exciting times United States: Ireland’s said. “Last week I found some- round 64 with back-to-back bird- Honda Classic Scores two attempts at 4.60 meters. ahead and I will approach them Padraig Harrington won his thing in the mental game, which ies, would have been the youngest PALM BEACH GARDENS, Suhr injured her heel in a recent in a similar manner. I’m trying first US PGA title in seven years is what has been going wrong. winner in the event’s 43-year his- United States: Leading scores swimming mishap but had hoped to get better every day and will yesterday, defeating 21-year-old “I felt a lot better on the course. tory and matched the second-best yesterday after the final round it would be well enough to allow continue to work hard at improv- American rookie Daniel Berger I came out this week and 50 per- 18-hole victory comeback in PGA of the weather-disrupted US her to compete. ing my skills. in a playoff to capture the cent of the time I was at peace history at nine shots adrift had he PGA Tour Honda Classic “I really wanted to compete but “One of the main things is to storm-hit Honda Classic. with myself. My mindset is maybe managed to win. A major thun- (USA unless noted, par 70, it didn’t work out,” Suhr said. “My gain the experience of playing The 43-year-old Dubliner, I can do it better in the future.” derstorm on Saturday pushed the Harrington wins with par on training was going well but this in the Majors and WGCs, play- a three-time major champion Englishmen Ian Poulter finish to Monday morning, when second playoff hole): is a stupid injury. You expect to ing well in them and in different who has fallen to 297th in the and Paul Casey and Scotland’s sunny skies greeted players for a 274 Daniel Berger 68-71-71-64, Padraig get hurt pole vaulting not in the conditions. It’s all about learning world rankings, withstood a dra- Russell Knox missed the playoff thilling back-nine title battle. Harrington (IRL) 67-66-71-70 swimming pool. I just have to take as I go along and hopefully maybe matic morning shootout for the by a stroke, sharing third on 275, Harrington and Berger were 275 Paul Casey (ENG) 69-70-68-68, Russell time to recover.” I can get into the top-10 and vie $1.098 m top prize at the $6.1m with Welshman Jamie Donaldson not the only leaders to stumble Knox (SCO) 69-68-70-68, Ian Poulter Michelle Carter earned her third for the number one spot. tournament. another shot adrift and England’s down the stretch, with Poulter, (ENG) 71-64-66-74 national title by winning the shot “I just need to keep playing well “The last nine holes I felt like Luke Donald joining Americans Reed and Casey also faltering 276 Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 68-71-71-66 put with a world leading toss of and keep playing more in the big a different person,” Harrington Jeff Overton, Jim Herman and over the final holes. 19.45 meters. Chaunte Lowe domi- 277 Jeff Overton 71-68-69-69, Jim events to build up my confidence said. “I think I’ve found that men- Patrick Reed on 277. Play resumed with Poulter nated the women’s high jump with a Herman 65-72-71-69, Luke Donald and ability to compete against the tal edge I’ve been lacking the past Harrington won the 2007 and and Casey on seven-under, Reed leap of 1.88 meters to beat runner- (ENG) 69-67-74-67, Patrick Reed top players.” couple of years. Hopefully this 2008 British Open and 2008 PGA one stroke adrift and six others up and five-time Olympian Amy 67-67-70-73 India golf trailblazers Arjun isn’t an isolated win.” Championship, the last of those within four of the lead. Acuff, who cleared 1.82 meters. Atwal and Jeev Milkha Singh Harrington found the water at being his most recent PGA vic- Poulter sank a 14-foot birdie 278 Joost Luiten (NED) 71-71-67-69, George Acuff is attempting a comeback McNeill 72-70-68-68, Rory Sabbatini have won events in Europe and the par-3 17th in regulation for a tory, although he also won the putt at the par-4 eighth to start after three years away from the (RSA) 68-75-69-66, Brendan Steele the United States. Lahiri hopes to double bogey but sank a tension- Asian Tour’s Indonesian Open last his day and when Casey made sport. Matthew Centrowitz won 66-69-71-72 follow that path and takes his first packed 15-foot birdie putt at the December. Berger, whose father bogey at 11, Poulter made the turn the mile in a pedestrian time of crack at a major title next month par-5 18th hole to force the play- coached the 2012 US Olympic ten- leading by two. 279 Camilo Villegas (COL) 73-71-67-68 four minutes, 01.40 seconds. His at the Masters, but he is realistic off, matching Berger on six-under nis squad and is helping guide the But Poulter found water on his 280 Jason Dufner 71-69-70-70, John Huh time was almost 12 seconds slower about his expectations. 274 over 72 holes. US Davis Cup team in Scotland approach at 11 on the way to a 70-73-68-69, Daniel Summerhays than the US record of 3:49.89 set “No doubt, there’s massive Both began the playoff this week, missed a 13-foot birdie double bogey and twice more at 71-68-70-71, Phil Mickelson 71-67- by Bernard Lagat in 2005. room for improvement,” Lahiri with pars at 18 and then at 17, putt on the first playoff hole for the 14, sinking a 20-foot putt to sal- 69-73, Martin Flores 67-71-74-68 There was just one US record said. “A huge area to make big Harrington put his 5-iron tee win in only his 12th PGA start. vage a triple bogey and end the 281 Zac Blair 71-71-69-70, William McGirt set yesterday in the little run 600 strides is with my short game shot four feet from the cup while “That putt on 18 was the most nightmare. 71-71-69-70, Steve Wheatcroft meters and none in the marquee and I want to take my fitness level Berger found the water. That nervous I’ve ever been,” Berger “It’s back to the drawing board,” 74-70-69-68 sprint events. The American men’s up as well. I know that I need to allowed the Irishman to two-putt said. “I played a great final round. said Poulter. “If I hit a soft shot, I 282 Sean O’Hair 70-71-71-70, Ryan Palmer 60m hurdle record (7.36) has stood learn to be comfortable when I am for the title. I did the best I could but I couldn’t have a tendency of pushing it. Soft 71-72-71-68, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) since 1987 and the women’s 60m playing in different conditions.” “I was pretty keen on my own quite win. It was a great learning shots have gotten me into a lot of 69-71-71-71, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) sprint record (6.95) since 1993. AFP form at different stages but I experience.” trouble this week. AFP 74-65-72-71 AFP TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Dalmiya Changes demanded after seals comeback as BCCI chief

England’s latest Cup flop NEW DELHI: Jagmohan Dalmiya, who turned India into cricket’s financial powerhouse We have to have a strategy. We have to improve: New ECB chairman before being unceremoniously dumped by his peers, returned as board president yesterday in MELBOURNE: The incoming Stadium, their bowlers managed place of the sport’s scandal-hit chairman of England’s cricket to take just a single wicket as global supremo. board has flagged a review of their opponents reeled in the total Dalmiya was elected unop- the team’s approach to the one- with overs to spare. posed as president of the Board day format after a third crush- Their pace attack, all right- of Control for Cricket in India ing loss at the World Cup. arm seamers, have been treated (BCCI) as part of a deal which England slumped to a nine- with contempt by opposing bats- England’s observers say will allow the embat- wicket defeat to Sri Lanka on men while number three Gary Morgan tled incumbent Narayanaswami Sunday, leaving their hopes of Ballance has scored a total of 46 leads his Srinivasan to stay on as head of making the World Cup’s quarter- runs from his four matches in the team off the the International Cricket Council. finals hanging by a thread. tournament. field after “Jagmohan Dalmiya has been Having beaten only Scotland Despite that, selectors have their World elected as the president of BCCI,” in their first four pool matches, stuck with the same misfiring Cup match said Gokaraju Gangaraju, who a loss to lowly Bangladesh or lineup throughout. loss to Sri was himself elected vice-president a wash-out of the match in England’s under-fire captain of the board at the meeting in the Lanka in Adelaide on March 9 would end Eoin Morgan dodged questions southern city of Chennai. Wellington their tournament. on whether changes would be “We look forward to working “In ODIs we have underper- made for the Bangladesh game on Sunday. under his leadership.” formed. In Tests we are on the on Monday. The election caps a remark- up, we have some fantastic young Former players have called for able comeback for Dalmiya, who players coming through and have a shakeup of England’s attack helped bring about a massive got to have some faith in them,” and said the team is too hung up expansion in the BCCI’s financial Colin Graves, the incoming chair- on statistics, citing the plodding muscle in the 1980s and 90s by man of the England and Wales middle overs of England’s batting negotiating mega television deals Cricket Board, told the BBC. innings against Sri Lanka and before being ousted a decade ago “We have to have a strategy Morgan’s insistence their total over allegations of misappropria- and in One Day Internationals was above par at the Wellington tion of funds. we have to improve. ground. England’s Lanka loss worse His return was made possible “The main thing is, you look “From what I’ve heard over the after Srinivasan’s camp mobilised at the World Cup and it’s very last year or two, that culture has to thwart another former BCCI aggressive early on, are our play- been driven by premeditated plans President, Sharad Pawar. ers as aggressive as the others? and statistics when it should be than Kiwi crushing: Atherton Pawar had been angling for a We need to talk about those gut feeling and instinct,” former return but failed to persuade any things.” captain Nasser Hussain wrote in LONDON: England may have Kookaburra as others have done. regional association to nominate England have performed poorly the Daily Mail. been utterly humiliated in their This looks, at the moment, like a him. at World Cups since their run to Former England spinner second World Cup pool match one-day tournament too far for Srinivasan had been forced to the final in 1992 but have appeared Graeme Swann added: “It was a against co-hosts New Zealand him,” he said. stand aside after the Supreme especially stodgy and predictable very self-congratulatory 310, eve- but Sunday’s nine-wicket defeat “Not that Stuart Broad is any Court found him guilty of a con- at the current tournament. ryone was saying ‘brilliant’. These to Sri Lanka was much more more incisive: between them in flict of interest over his ownership Having set Sri Lanka 310 days that’s about average and not damaging, according to former almost 60 overs they have taken of a team in the Indian Premier to win at Wellington Regional a great score.” REUTERS England captain Mike Atherton just four wickets at 92 runs League, the BCCI’s money-spin- (pictured). apiece. And this was supposed to ning Twenty20 tournament. Tim Southee claimed 7-33 be England’s strong suit.” His position had become and skipper Brendon McCullum Morgan and his team face increasingly precarious ever blasted the fastest half-century in Bangladesh in their next Pool A since his son-in-law was accused tournament history as the Kiwis and confident teams in the tour- match on March 9 and Atherton, of betting on matches involving shot out England for 123 and nament,” the former opener said who played 115 tests in the 1989- the Chennai Super Kings, a team romped home in the 13th over in of the earlier defeat. 2001 period, advocated a top order owned by Srinivasan’s company a ridiculously one-sided match in “This was worse. It lasted re-jig. India Cements. Wellington. longer and therefore England’s “Alex Hales must be given a go However observers say that By comparison, Eoin Morgan defects were plain to see, and at the top of the order alongside Srinivasan, who cut his teeth and his team put up a better bat- against a team who most would (Moeen) Ali, with Ian Bell mov- under Dalmiya, will remain a ting display against Sri Lanka, have said are slightly past their ing to first drop,” he said, con- powerful figure behind the scenes posting 309-6, even though it was best and unfancied.” trasting England’s match to the in the BCCI and the board will not enough to avert a nine-wicket England, who registered their slugfest between New Zealand use its influence to ensure he can defeat. only win in four outings against and Australia that took place in extend his tenure as president of “In some ways, this was a more lowly Scotland, can still progress Auckland a day earlier. the ICC, the game’s Dubai-based damaging defeat than the one to the quarter-finals of a tourna- “As England’s World Cup hopes world governing body. against New Zealand,” Atherton ment they have never won but hang by a thread, doing nothing The 74-year-old Dalmiya, who wrote in the Times newspaper. the weaknesses are too glaring is not an option. If Australia and hails from the eastern city of England’s captain Eoin Morgan (right) speaks with his fast bowlers Chris “It was possible to park that for Atherton. New Zealand gave us a glimpse of Kolkata, is credited with helping Woakes (centre) and James Anderson during their 2015 World Cup Group match out of the mind: an aber- “...(Paceman) James Anderson the future this weekend, it is past to turn the game into a lucrative A match in Wellington on Sunday. ration, a one-off calamity, and looks a shadow of his potent failings that are staring England global sport. against one of the most fancied self, unable to swing the white in the face again.” REUTERS He shot to fame when he, along with bureaucrat Inderjit Singh Bindra, broke Australia and England’s hold on the ICC to win the right to host the 1987 World Watson draws flak for latest false start Cup on the sub-continent. He went on to become ICC SYDNEY: Australians might President from 1997-2000 and have been stunned by the col- BCCI president from 2001 to lapse of their much-vaunted Maxwell mocked for 2004, a period which also saw him batting line-up in the face of secure another World Cup for the brilliant New Zealand bowling sub-continent. at the weekend but the fall of Kiwi ‘choke’ gesture Television revenue expanded one particular wicket was no massively under Dalmiya’s ten- SYDNEY: surprise to anyone. Australia’s Australia’s Glenn Maxwell was both mocked and ure and the boards of smaller Shane Watson, batting at praised yesterday after video emerged of him making a ‘choking’ Test-playing nations -- desperate Shane Watson number three, had scrapped his gesture just moments before Kane Williamson launched the giant to attract tours by India so they walks off the way to 23 runs off 30 balls in six that won Saturday’s World Cup clash for New Zealand. could sell the television rights -- three-quarters of an hour when field after being Maxwell, a controversial batsman dubbed ‘The Big Show’ by would usually fall in line behind he took an almighty heave at a dismissed by Australian media, was fielding in the deep when he turned to a sec- the BCCI when it came to key Daniel Vettori delivery and picked New Zealand’s tion of the 40,000 crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park and jokingly placed decisions within the game. out Tim Southee fielding on the Daniel Vettori his hands around his throat to suggest that the home side were about While Dalmiya effectively legside boundary. during their to fail chasing their modest 152-run target. handpicked his successor, Ranbir The big Queenslander was World Cup But the Kiwis, who had lost five wickets for 15 at one stage, had Singh Mahendra, he was margin- certainly not to blame for the match in the last laugh and claimed a place in the quarter-finals when, with alised the following year when skittling that followed but exas- Auckland, in the last pair at the wicket, Williamson sent his match-winning six Pawar beat Mahendra to become peration at his ability to throw this February high into the stands. The video clip was uploaded to Facebook by New the president after a bitterly- away a solid start to an innings 28, 2015 file Zealand fan Sam Holt and by Monday afternoon had attracted more contested election. was soon surging through the photo. than 173,000 views, liked by 65,000 people and shared 3,000 times. Later the same year, Pawar Twittersphere on a wave of bile. “This was Maxwell just before Kane Williamson tonked that 6 to got Dalmiya expelled from the Watson used to take flak for win it... How’s that for crowd / player banter?,” wrote Holt. BCCI for alleged misappropria- his inability to convert half cen- Maxwell scored just one in the game having made 66 in Australia’s tion of funds and for his refusal turies to centuries but recently opening win over England, but he won some sympathy online with to provide documents pertaining his problem has been progressing fans praising him for his interaction with the crowd. to hosting the 1987 World Cup. from scores in the 20s and 30s, “I sat right behind maxwell and he was awesome. So interactive Dalmiya challenged the deci- when a batsman is considered to with the crowd,” wrote one of the spectator. AFP sion and in 2007 both the Bombay have played himself “in”. High Court and Supreme Court The 33-year-old all-rounder cleared him of any irregularities. divides his compatriots like no of choice, but Mitch Marsh and record for the fastest 150 in the side. “His past performances about his skills as a cricketer. He returned as president of the other player and calls for him to James Faulkner are now genuine one-day internationals that AB suggest that at some point in time Watson banked a cool A$4.5m Cricket Association of Bengal in be dropped from a side expected, threats to Watson’s position as de Villiers bettered with his 162 he is going to come good.” ($3.51m) last year as Australia’s 2007 and was back in the BCCI by Australians at least, to win a Australia’s premier all-rounder, from 66 balls against West Indies The barrel-chested righthander best paid cricketer, according to fold. fifth World Cup next month have in the 50-over format at least. on Friday. won the Allan Border medallist as business magazine BRW, and will Insiders say Dalmiya’s elevation reached fever pitch. It is no blind loyalty, however, Watson’s right-arm medium Australia’s best cricketer in 2010 perhaps be forever tainted by his was also due in part to the fact Australia’s selectors, however, and his career figures since his pace has taken 164 wickets in and 2011 – only Watson, Ricky role “homework-gate” scandal on that he was the preferred choice have remained steadfastly loyal to ODI debut in 2002 stand up to 182 matches at 31.29 and he has Ponting and Michael Clarke have the India tour of 2013. of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Watson – when he has not been toughest of scrutiny. shown over the years an ability to won the award more than once. “He is a handsome player of who is a key powerbroker in the suffering from one of the many With the bat, despite his pre- winkle out a batsmen in the mid- That Watson scored 41, 16 and abundant talent,” Gideon Haigh, board. soft tissue injuries that have dilection for being dismissed lbw, dle overs to break-up promising 82 in his three innings before his the current doyen of Australian Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal said blighted his career. he has averaged 50 in three World partnerships. golden duck against England in cricket writers, wrote of him at on Twitter that Dalmiya’s return In the dark days after the 2010- Cup campaigns and his overall “I think they should keep him,” the tournament opener could sug- the time. “He is also wealthy, as BCCI president “must count 11 Ashes humbling, that loyalty one-day average hovers around Brian Lara said on Sunday when gest the antipathy towards him in pampered, immature and self- among the remarkable turna- may have been down to a lack the 40 mark. It was Watson’s asked about Watson’s position in some quarters might not be just involved.” REUTERS round of fortunes”. AFP TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Ambitious Ireland face stern

De Villiers test in SA clash Mike Hesson Irish team eyes maiden ODI win over Proteas in Pool B match today Afghanistan

CANBERRA: Ireland go into today’s World Cup clash against FACTBOX Ireland no surprise South Africa in Canberra faced with a question that even fanci- South vs South Africa ful Test nations have struggled Africa’s Factbox on today’s World Cup for Hesson to find an answer for. middle- Pool B match between Ireland How does one tame the ram- order and South Africa at Manuka AUCKLAND: New Zealand paging AB de Villiers before batsman Oval, Canberra: coach Mike Hesson insisted yes- he destroys the rivals’ bowling Farhaan IRELAND terday that the high-flying Black attack, dents their morale and Behardien Captain: William Porterfield Caps will pay Afghanistan the leaves them dumbstruck by what practises Coach: Phil Simmons utmost respect having tracked just hit them? the Asian minnows’ astonishing in the nets Squad: Porterfield, Andrew Balbirnie, Peter The West Indies once more suf- progress at close range. for their Chase, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Ed fered at the hands of the South Hesson briefly coached Kenya upcoming Joyce, Andrew McBrine, John Mooney, African captain who, despite in 2011 and 2012 with the African 2015 World Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Max Sorensen, a stomach illness, smashed an side coming up against the Cup Pool Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson, audacious 162 off 66 balls with Afghans in second-tier events. B match Craig Young. 17 boundaries and eight sixes in The 40-year-old will renew his Sydney on Friday to fashion a against Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Beat rivalry with them in the World 257-run win. Ireland at West Indies by four wickets; beat United Arab Cup in Napier on Sunday. It was against the same team the Manuka Emirates by two wickets “They have three guys who that de Villers smashed the fast- Oval in Remaining fixtures: Zimbabwe (March 7), bowl over 140km/h and they est one-day century off 31 balls Canberra, India (March 10), Pakistan (March 15). can swing it,” he said of quicks at home in January, prompting yesterday. Top performers: Joyce (121 runs), Dockrell Shapoor Zadran, Dawlat Zadran former Australian dasher Adam (four wickets). and Hamid Hassan. Gilchrist to call him the “most SOUTH AFRICA “Generally, their batsmen don’t valuable cricketer on the planet.” Captain: AB de Villiers die wondering. It should be a good The Proteas, one of the pre- Coach: Russell Domingo contest. We have to show them tournament favourites, needed half-centuries from Paul Stirling ninth-wicket pair at the crease. where West Indies opener Chris due respect and make sure we put Squad: De Villiers, Hashim Amla, Kyle the brutal attack by their 31-year- (92), Ed Joyce (84) and Niall If other results go their way, Gayle hammered a World Cup in a good performance.” Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de old captain to steady the ship O’Brien (79 not out). even one win from their four record score of 215 against New Zealand have won all four Kock, JP Duminy, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, after they were stunned by India Simmons, the former West remaining games against South Zimbabwe last week. games in Pool A and have already David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, by 130 runs at the Melbourne Indies opening batsman, insisted Africa, India, Pakistan and South Africa’s only worry will secured their spot in the quarter- Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Cricket Ground a week ago. the result was not an upset Zimbabwe could see Ireland qual- be the underwhelming form of finals while Afghanistan can still Rossouw, Dale Steyn. De Villiers was run out for 30 because his team was now capable ify for the quarter-finals. pace spearhead Dale Steyn, who gate-crash the last-eight, stand- in that match by a brilliant throw of matching skills with the more However, past records favour has claimed just three wickets in Results so far at 2015 World Cup: Beat ing just a point behind Australia from the deep by Mohit Sharma, established teams. South Africa against the Irish, the first three games at a high Zimbabwe by 62 runs; lost to India by 130 after losing to Bangladesh and Sri which must make Ireland wonder “It excited me the way we who progressed from the first average of 47.66. runs; beat West Indies by 257 runs Lanka before edging Scotland by if that is the only way to see the played against the West Indies,” round in their inaugural appear- With de Villiers’ team almost Remaining fixtures: Pakistan (March 7), one wicket. back of him. said Simmons. “They played four ance at the World Cup in 2007 but certain to qualify for the knock- United Arab Emirates (March 12). Their next challenge is taking But the proud Irish, whose fast bowlers, thinking we would were knocked out in the group out rounds, Steyn will be needed Best performers: De Villiers (217 runs), on four-time champions Australia cricket has developed rapidly not be able to cope with the speed. stages four years later. to be at his best if South Africa Miller (180 runs), Tahir (nine wickets) in Perth tomorrow. under their West Indies coach It’s the best I’ve seen the team Ireland have lost all three One- are to have a shot at their maiden Ireland vs South Africa Indies head- “We’ll do our scouting on Phil Simmons, will look to run play and it augurs well for the Day Internationals against South World Cup title. to-head Afghanistan and we’ll prepare the mighty Proteas closely after future.” Africa so far. In their last meeting An unlikely bowling hero for April 3, 2007: South Africa won by seven the best we can. We’ve still got winning their first two games in Ireland overcame wayward at the 2011 World Cup at the Eden the Proteas is leg-spinner Imran wickets in Providence, Guyana a lot to achieve in the next few the tournament. bowling in their next game in Gardens in Kolkata, the Proteas Tahir, whose nine wickets so far weeks,” said Hesson, whose team June 24, 2007: South Africa won by 42 runs Ireland chased down a chal- Brisbane to allow the United thumped them by 131 runs. is only behind the New Zealand secured their quarter-final spot in Belfast lenging West Indies total of 304-7 Arab Emirates to pile up 278-9, Still, the Irish can be expected seam duo of Tim Southee (13) and on Saturday with a nail-biting at Nelson with four wickets and but the batsman kept their nerve to blast away at the batting Trent Boult (10) in the leading March 15, 2011: South Africa won by 131 one-wicket win over Australia in 25 balls to spare on the back of to win in the final over with the friendly Manuka Oval wicket bowlers’ list. AFP runs in Kolkata. Auckland. AFP

Irish captain upbeat ahead of SA game South Africa’s Dale Steyn CANBERRA: Irish captain qualify for the quarter-finals. during the William Porterfield is confident Porterfield said his team will Pool B 2015 his team will not be overawed take the confidence of those two World Cup by the mighty South Africans in wins into Tuesday’s game. “South match against Canberra today, saying they had Africa are a great side and we Zimbabwe in made good plans to contain AB have to be on the money again,” Hamilton, in de Villiers’ side. he said. “We’re taking each game this February The Proteas, who have won all as it comes and it’s not going to 15, 2015 file their three one-dayers against be any different for tomorrow’s photo. the Irish so far, are overwhelm- game. ing favourites to win the Pool B “It’s about going through the encounter at the Manuka Oval same processes and being in the that will bring them closer to the same mindset and getting yourself quarter-finals. prepared for the start of ball one Ireland’s hopes will rest largely tomorrow.” Mountain fires worry on how they keep the rival bats- Porterfield said he was not sur- men quiet, especially de Villiers, prised by the support the associ- who smashed an audacious 162 off ate nations like his have got after SA’s Steyn, Du Plessis 66 balls against the West Indies in Ireland’s Paul Stirling (left) and captain William Porterfield speak during a the International Cricket Council Sydney last week. training session ahead of their 2015 World Cup match against the United announced tentative plans to CANBERRA: Porterfield admitted it will be Arab Emirates (UAE) in Brisbane, in this February 24, 2015 file photo. reduce the next World Cup from South African mountain fires were not going to a challenge to bowl to the South 14 to 10 teams. fast bowler Dale Steyn plays his stop either Steyn or du Plessis African captain and other bats- “I think it was always going to 100th One Day International from celebrating the landmark men like Hashim Amla and Faf “The bowlers have got to back with four wickets and 25 balls be a talking point coming into this today looking to regain top one-dayer. du Plessis, but added the task to themselves and back the field to spare before edging past the tournament,” the captain said. form despite being distracted by “Of course it does affect you contain them was not impossible. that’s been set. We have individ- United Arab Emirates in a final- “You’ve got to grow the game and mountain fires raging near his in some sort of way, but we have “You can sit all day and talk ual plans for each of their batters, over thriller. I don’t see why it (the World Cup) home in Cape Town. quite a strong support structure about him and different theo- and hopefully we’ll see the back of If other results go their way, has to be cut down. “Massive fire behind my house around us, the people, the friends ries and plans and whatever, but them early.” even one win from their four “We are improving, every in Stonehurst! Plz be safe and and the family that’s here,” you’ve got to stick with your best Ireland have won both matches remaining games against South nation out here is improving. watch out for the mountain ani- Behardien said. ball and how you go about things,” so far in the tournament, chas- Africa, India, Pakistan and We’ve just got to go out there and mals trying to escape it, porcu- “If there’s any opportunity to he said. ing down the West Indies’ 304-7 Zimbabwe could see Ireland play well. ”AFP pines, tortoises.” Steyn tweeted. help them out or comfort them, Team-mate Faf du Plessis had we will do so, but I don’t foresee the same worries too, tweet- it being a problem at all for both Cummins to miss Afghanistan tie, Faulkner regains fitness ing “Crazy mountain fire near Dale and Faf. my new house. Hope they can “It’s just one of those things. stop the fire before it does more But the World Cup is quite impor- damage.” tant, it’s actually very important.” Steyn was slated to address the Steyn’s 100th one-dayer has Australia’s Pat Cummins bowls during pre-match press conference ahead come 10 years after his debut, the Pool A 2015 World Cup match of today’s Pool B match against indicating how he chose to pace against New Zealand at Eden Park in Ireland at the Manuka Oval in himself in the shorter format to Auckland on Saturday. Cummins is Canberra, but was replaced by concentrate on Test cricket. set to miss tomorrow’s match against Farhaan Behardien at the last Behardien said he had faced Afghanistan after he suffered a side minute. Steyn in domestic matches but strain during the thrilling one-wicket The 31-year-old Steyn, who was glad that they were on the Pool A defeat by New Zealand. On was down with flu a few days same side more often than not. the other hand, Australia all-rounder before the start of the World Cup, “It’s not fun facing Dale Steyn James Faulkner said yesterday he was has managed just one wicket in when he’s at full tilt,” he said. each of South Africa’s first three “One hundred caps playing fit and ready to make his 2015 World matches against Zimbabwe, India for your country is a massively Cup debut against Afghanistan. A side and the West Indies. proud moment. We will try and strain has reduced the hard-hitting There are small pickings for celebrate his 100th game with a 24-year-old, also a lively seamer, one of the most destructive fast win.” to the role of a spectator at the bowlers in the modern game and Steyn made his Test debut in tournament so far. Steyn will be needed to be at his December 2004 and played his best if South Africa are to have a first one-dayer eight months later. shot at their maiden World Cup He has claimed 396 wickets in 78 title. Tests and 154 wickets in 99 One- Behardien was confident the Day Internationals. AFP TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Nadal ends title drought with Argentina victory Former World No.1 wins first title in nearly nine months

BUENOS AIRES: Rafael Nadal won his first title in nearly nine months yesterday, beating Juan Monaco 6-4, 6-1 to win the Argentina Open. Nadal’s triumph was his first since he won a ninth French Open title at Roland Garros last June. It was Nadal’s 65th career Rafael Nadal crown on all surfaces, moving him (left) of Spain and into sole possession of fifth place Argentine Juan on the Open Era all-time list led Monaco posing by the 109 titles of American with their win- Jimmy Connors. ner’s and runner- He broke out of a tie for fifth with Bjorn Borg and Pete up trophies, in Sampras. Buenos Aires “They have an impressive his- yesterday. Nadal tory,” Nadal said of Sampras and won 6-4, 6-1. Borg. “That’s why it is an honor to be compared to them.” He claimed his 46th career Action from the Qatar Junior Open squash tournament organised by claycourt title, second-most in Qatar Squash Federation at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash the Open Era behind the 49 of Complex in Doha. PICTURES BY: BAHER AMIN Argentina’s Guillermo Vilas. Most importantly, the victory showed Nadal is headed in the right direction. “I’m coming off a season that delay after both held serve for route to a 4-0 lead, then broke The Spaniard, who battled has not been easy -- injuries, 1-1 in the opening set on the still him again in the final game, injury last year after his Roland accidents,” said Nadal, who had slippery court.“It was a tough day clinching the win on his first Qatar’s Amjad Garros triumph, exited early in to cope with wrist trouble and in the rain because no one knew match point when Monaco sent Qatar and fell in the quarter- an appendectomy in 2014.“The what was going to happen,” Nadal a forehand long. finals at the Australian Open in beginning of this year has been said. Nadal, playing in the January. a bit tricky after some time out, “I am very thrilled to win here. Argentinian capital for the first He had fallen to fourth in the but little by little we have found From the first day I trained my time in a decade, didn’t face a in semi-finals world after a semi-final loss to positive feelings.” best to achieve this goal. I’m break point in the contest before Italian Fabio Fognini in Rio de The 28-year-old left-hander very happy. I leave here with a packed crowd that included DOHA: Syed Azlan Amjad of along with finals of the Under- Janeiro last week, the first time needed one hour and 26 minutes an unforgettable feeling and Vilas and David Nalbandian, the Qatar will take on Sajad Zareian 11, U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 he hasn’t figured in the top three on court to notch his sixth victory memory.” last Argentinian player to win the of Iran in the semi-finals of the sections since August 2013. over Monaco in as many meetings After securing a tight first Buenos Aires title. Under-19 category of the Qatar Around 92 players from nine With this win, he’s projected on clay. set with a break of serve in the “All titles are special, but I’m Junior Open squash tournament. countries are taking part in tour- to return to third in the world, But the players had to wait out seventh game, Nadal stormed really happy because I have not Yesterday at the Khalifa nament held in five age group cat- again overtaking Britain’s Andy a two-hour rain delay before the through the second. been a champion for a long time,” International Tennis and Squash egories. Players are competing in Murray. match, and another 55-minute He broke Monaco twice en Nadal said. AFP Complex, Amjad defeated Marcus the Under-11, U-13, U-15, U-17 Sim Wei Jie of Malaysia 11-6, 11-7, and U-19 sections. 7-11, 11-5 in the quarter-finals Besides hosts Qatar, players while Zareian got the better of from India, Pakistan, Iran, Nepal, Armenia’s Ismail Rauf 11-7, 8-11, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Armenia Rafa bats for traditional clay courts 12-10, 11-3. and Egypt, are vying for the top The winner of the Amjad- prize in the event. BUENOS AIRES: Rafa Nadal Spain’s Rafael Nadal added Nadal, whose title in Zareian clash will take on the Qatar Squash Association wants tournament organisers Buenos Aires was his 65th but winner of the all-Pakistan clash (QSA) is hosting two back-to- speaks to maintain the tradition of first since a record ninth French between top seed Muhammad back tournaments for junior boys. during an interview clay courts on the Tour and said Open crown last June. Asim Khan and Israr Ahmad. The Qatar Junior Open will the growing number of events with Reuters after “Most of the players on the Muhammad defeated compa- be followed by the Doha Junior switching to harder surfaces he won the ATP Tour like sport in general so we triot Ahsan Ayaz Khan 11-3, 11-3, Open, which will also be a two-day could increase the injury risk Argentina Open in want to keep having chances to 11-5 while Israr got the better of event, and will take place from to players long after they finish Buenos Aires. practice sport and enjoying life. Abdul Basit also of Pakistan. March 4 and 5. their careers. “When I finish (my career) I The final will be played today THE PENINSULA Nadal, who won his first title would like to be able to play a of the year with a 6-4 6-1 vic- game of football with friends but tory over Juan Monaco in a rain- playing so much on hardcourts interrupted Argentine Open on complicates that.” Sunday, said it was also important Nadal, working towards to maintain variety on the Tour regaining his best form after to keep players and spectators injury, earlier told a post-match interested. news conference that he was The Argentine Open, now in its pleased with how his season was 15th year and a regular stop on progressing. the South American clay-court combine new and show events appendicitis. “You can check on “I’m playing a little better every swing, has flirted with the idea with traditional events. the tour (statistics) that many day,” he added. of a change to a faster surface to “We are changing more and players have injuries so there is “I said when I arrived in Buenos widen its appeal. more tournaments from clay to something we are doing badly, the Aires I feel closer to level than “Clay is a traditional surface hard surfaces but the hard sur- people who manage (tennis), that one month ago. of our sport, we need to protect face is more aggressive so there is not right. “Winning titles helps to con- that,” Nadal told Reuters after his are more and more injuries,” said “In my opinion, it’s important tinue working, the injuries are in victory over Argentine Monaco the 28-year-old, who played only to be healthy not only during the past, I have no physical prob- at the Buenos Aires Lawn Tennis seven matches in the second half your career but also afterwards lems,” said the 14-time Grand Club. of 2014 as he struggled to recover because you have a life outside Slam singles champion. A player attempts to serve on the first day of the Qatar Junior Open. “Sport is bigger when you from a wrist injury and then tennis and after your career,” REUTERS Top aquabiker riders set for Grand Prix of Qatar

DOHA: Less than a month ending his season atop the world Defending World Champion, Al Kuwari, who finished third in after the Qatar Marine Sports rankings. Jeremy Poret, will be out to Doha Bay last year. Federation’s (QMSF) hosted the Francois Medori won the title defend his Sky Division GP1 title. The weekend’s timetable starts successful UIM Qatar Cup, race in 2012 and 2010 champion Cyrille The four-time winner of with registration ands techni- officials will be back in action Lemoine starts the new season the coveted UIM-ABP honour cal scrutineering today and rid- again to host this weekend’s afresh after a run of bitter retire- faced stiff competition last year ers then take to the water on fifth UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand ments followed his success at the from the American racer Chris Wednesday for free practice and Prix of Qatar, which runs from Aquabike Grand Prix of Qatar MacClugage. Spain’s Nacho pre-qualifying in the morning March 4 to 6 and precedes the last year. Mattia Fracasso leads Armillas, Slovenian Tomaz Kete, and pole position heats in the UIM Nations Cup and the UIM the non-French challenge, with Italian veteran Alberto Monti afternoon. Further free prac- F1 H20 Grand Prix of Qatar the Poland’s Andrezj Wisniewski and and Poret’s brothers, Mickael and tice is permitted on the Doha following week. Sweden’s Lars Akerblom keen to Morgan, will not make life easy Bay course on Thursday morn- The QMSF is looking forward put a stop to the French domina- for the Frenchman. ing and the first of the World to hosting a provisional 46 com- tion of the discipline. The ladies will be mixing it Championship heats start with petitors from 21 countries to take Kuwait’s Youssef Al with their male rivals and last Ski Division GP1 between 2pm part in racing in the Runabout, Abdulrazzaq was the champion year’s Qatar winner Jennifer and 2.30pm. Freestyle entrants Ski Division GP1 and Freestyle in Qatar two years ago and has Menard joins a group in Doha take centre stage for 30 minutes competitions from Wednesday the pace and guile to match that includes Estelle Poret and from 2.30pm and the Runabout through to Friday afternoon on the leading Europeans. Qatar’s Sandra Fernandez Rodriguez. GP1 heats start at 3.15pm. There Doha Bay. Mohammed Al Haidus and The talented Slovenian will be a spectacular parallel sla- The Runabout category has Waleed Al Sharshani finished sec- Freestyle artist Rok Florjancic lom ski, runabout and freestyle been fiercely contested in recent ond and third in a respective heat cruised to both heat wins in Qatar show for spectators between 7pm years and French defending last year and Thamer Al-Darwish and went on to score a stagger- and 9pm on Thursday evening. World Champion Teddy Pons will is more than capable of pushing ing 99 marks out of a possible 100 Friday’s action starts with head a quartet of French stars towards the podium for the host during the season. free practice and the second set chasing glory on Qatar waters. nation. He is the firm favourite to of heats begin at similar times to Jennifer Menard of France in Ski Ladies GP1 action on Doha Bay in Jeremy Perez narrowly missed Also joining the tour in Doha win the spectacular Freestyle Thursday, with the Runabout GP1 this file picture. out on the world title last time will be the 2014 Karujet winner, category, while the host nation’s riders rounding off the action at out, but had the consolation of Ugo Fidelin, from Martinique. hopes rest largely with Sultan 3.15pm. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 MARCH 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Real Madrid Youth sports take centre held at home by Villarreal

MADRID: Real Madrid missed the chance to move four points clear of Barcelona at the top of stage at GCC meet in Doha La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by Villarreal on Sunday night. Development of the GCC youth is our major concern, says Al Dosari Cristiano Ronaldo’s early sec- ond-half penalty looked to have Madrid on course for a fourth DOHA: Officials represent- consecutive win, but Gerard ing GCC National Olympic Moreno’s thunderous equaliser Committees yesterday held an 26 minutes from time earned the extensive debate on ways to pro- visitors a deserved point. mote sports activities among the Champions Atletico Madrid youth of the region, it emerged failed to gain any ground on the yesterday. leaders as they battled to a 0-0 Abdulrahman Al Dosari and draw at Sevilla. Abdulrahman Al Hajri, repre- Fourth-placed Valencia are now senting Qatar Youth and Sports just a point adrift of Atletico after Minister H E Salah bin Ghanem they were comfortable 2-0 win- bin Nasser Al Ali, yesterday joined ners over David Moyes’s Real deputy ministers of the five GCC Sociedad thanks to a double from nations Abdulrahman Al Matieri Pablo Piatti. (Kuwait), Suleiman Al Misnad “The two halves were com- (Saudi Arabia), Khaled Issa (the pletely different,” said Madrid UAE), Hisham bin Mohammed boss Carlo Ancelotti (Bahrain) and Rashad bin Ahmed “In the first-half the tempo was (Oman). slow and we had to look for a lot After the two-hour meeting, Al of crosses because we didn’t move Dosari said the discussion centred the ball quickly. around the development of the “In the second the tempo was GCC youth. different. We had a lot of chances, “In general, the development but we weren’t efficient.” of the GCC youth is our major Villarreal were without a host concern. We talked about various of first team regulars as coach plans and programmes for engag- Marcelino continues to prioritise ing and empowering the youth in progress in the Copa del Rey and the region. We wish to empower Europa League. them in such a way that they family to make a good use of Deputy ministers of the five GCC nations Abdulrahman Al Matieri (Kuwait), Suleiman Al Misnad (Saudi Arabia), However, the visitors started can become decision-makers,” Al the Josoor Institute, which we Khaled Issa (the UAE), Hisham bin Mohammed (Bahrain) and Rashad bin Ahmed (Oman) are seen along with the brighter and should have been Dosari said. launched two years ago. This Abdulrahman Al Dosari and Abdulrahman Al Hajri, representing Qatar Youth and Sports Minister H E Salah in front on 12 minutes when Iker “Also we want to get them into institutes has a lot to offer to bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali pose for a group picture in Doha yesterday. Officials representing GCC National Casillas made a fine save from different career-building and the youth in the region and it Olympic Committees and regional sports ministers are in Doha for the three-day meet. BOTTOM: Qatar’s Moreno and then Dani Carvajal improving options so that they can really be quite useful in Abdulrahman Al Dosari. headed Moi Gomez’s follow-up can take care of their interests shaping their careers,” added effort off the line. and contribute to the society posi- Al Dosari. The European champions began tively,” he added. On Sunday, Sheikh Saoud bin to bombard the Villarreal defence “The meeting was fairly suc- Abdulrehman Al Thani, Secretary with crosses as the half developed cessful. We took up the challenges General of the Qatar Olympic and Gareth Bale came close to an that the GCC youth is facing. We Committee (QOC), welcomed opener when his header from Toni held discussion on the creative participating delegates at the Kroos’s corner flashed wide. programmes and courses that summit taking place at Sheraton From the German World Cup may attract the young genera- Doha Hotel. winner’s next set-piece deliv- tion today. Sheikh Saoud on Sunday said ery, Raphael Varane went even “We also proposed to other the meeting attended by the closer with a header that also just GCC States to prepare a joint Secretaries General of the GCC missed the target. programme about using the youth Olympic Committees will be mak- Ronaldo saw his first effort on force in meaningful and crea- ing recommendations on how to target of the evening well saved tive ways. We want all the GCC get more young people interested by Sergio Asenjo three minutes authorities to encourage them in sports. into the second-half. into playing roles of decision- The QOC Secretary General But there was nothing the goal- makers,” he added. said further discussions will be keeper could do to prevent the “The sports in schools are held in the next three days to World Player of the Year opening quite significant for all the GCC develop the sport sector at the the scoring from the spot after he countries. We talked about the GCC countries. had been pulled down inside the concepts of sport for all. Our Also yesterday, Mohammed Ali area by Eric Bailly. recommendations got a good Al Kamali, Secretary General of response from all those who the UAE Olympic Committee attended the meeting. praised Qatar’s National Sports PSG fluff chance “We also proposed the GCC Day. THE PENINSULA with goalless Monaco draw Schumacher Jr Ecclestone offers cash advance for smaller teams PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain fluffed their chance to go atop to compete in the French league with a frus- LONDON: Formula One “Whereas we’ve always been owing and now demanding pay- championship as the Manor trating 0-0 draw at Monaco on Formula 4 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has able to work with them and ment up front from other custom- Marussia F1 team. Sunday night. offered advance revenue pay- smooth it out over the period of ers such as Force India. Force India have also suf- Ligue 1 leaders Lyon suffered ments to Sauber, Force India the start of the winter, they sim- Silverstone-based Force India, fered delays to the build of their first defeat in 12 matches BERLIN: Mick Schumacher, and Lotus to help with cash- ply can’t. Whereas we used to get who use Mercedes engines and their new car, which made its on Saturday, going down 2-1 at the son of seven-time Formula flow problems ahead of the new 30 days credit, now we need 30 have Mexican Sergio Perez with track debut only last Friday in Lille to leave second-placed PSG One world champion Michael, season starting in Australia days in advance. Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg in Barcelona. trailing by just two points with a will appear in Formula 4 next week. “He (Ecclestone) suggested their driver line-up, contract out The agreement with Ecclestone game in hand. from April with Team van “Bernie understands we’ve had that we take an advance and much of their chassis work to came after a meeting between But the Parisians failed to capi- Amersfoort, the Dutch outfit these challenges over the winter smooth it out that way. That’s keep costs down. the so-called smaller teams, who talise on their domination of in- announced yesterday. because the (team) suppliers got going to help enormously.” While Caterham’s assets are spent much of last year calling for form Monaco, who managed an “He spent a full day in the so badly hurt by the Marussia and Marussia and Caterham went now due to be liquidated at a pub- a greater share of the revenues impressive 10th clean sheet in simulator at our headquarters Caterham issues,” Force India into administration last October, lic auction starting this month, and a more level playing field, their last 11 league matches. in the Netherlands. Then we deputy principal Bob Fernley told with unsecured creditors losing Marussia has fought back fom and the 84-year-old Briton last “We largely played well but in witnessed him during a test ses- said yesterday. significant amounts of money the abyss and entered the 2015 Thursday. REUTERS football you have to turn domi- sion at Valencia and eventually, nation into goals,” moaned PSG we reached an agreement to coach Laurent Blanc. compete together in this year’s “Scoring goals is the hardest ADAC Formula 4 series,” team Fans enjoy ride with Qatar’s Nasser thing in football and perhaps chief Fritz van Amersfoort told some of our players don’t do it the team’s website. enough. The 15-year-old was second in “We had five or six chances the German kart championship tonight but we didn’t manage to last season. get one on target or to score one.” He will make his first appear- Blanc added: “We’ll see at the ance in Formula 4, a series for end of the season if this will cost young talents, at Oschersleben MINI, together with Alfardan us. Given how we played, one in northern Germany on April Automobiles, the exclusive point is not enough.” 25 and 26, with the last race importer in Qatar, partnered The opening chance of the set for Hockenheim in October. with Red Bull Qatar to give night fell PSG’s way after 15 The Schumacher family’s a select number of VIPs and minutes. spokeswoman Sabine Kehm con- media the ride of their lives However, Marco Verratti’s firmed that Mick would be quit- with Qatar’s rally icon Nasser lack of height showed as he ting karting to focus on the Al Attiyah. Nasser, won the failed to get his head on a swing- single-seat category. gruelling 9,000 kilometres ing Ezequiel Lavezzi cross nod- Formula 4 was created last year ded on by Fabinho with the goal 2015 Dakar Rally, the world’s as a championship for young driv- beckoning. greatest and toughest motor ers hoping to eventually take the Earlier, Nice found the back step up to Formula One. race, in his MINI ALL4 Racing of the net for the first time in His father is continuing his car. five games but couldn’t keep rehabilitation at home in the their lead in a 2-1 defeat against Swiss town of Gland after spend- Montpellier. ing months in hospital following And a Yacine Bammou strike his skiing accident in December offered Nantes their first win of 2013. The elder Schumacher won 2015 when they beat Guingamp seven championships from 1994 1-0 in a hard-fought Brittany to 2004. AFP derby. Tuesday 3 March 2015 12 Jumada I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6358 Sport Price: QR2

Ireland face Nadal ends stern De Villers title-drought in

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Nishikori soars to world number four

German vaulter TOKYO: Record-breaking Thomas Brusewitz Japan superstar Kei Nishikori competes in men’s rose to fourth in new world individual class on rankings, equalling Kimiko the opening day Date-Krumm as his country’s of competitions highest-ranked tennis player. at CHI Al Shaqab, The 24-year-old, who is the yesterday. RIGHT: top-ranked Asian-born man ever, tweeted: “Just saw the new Danish vaulter rankings. Very proud of another gears up for the step...#4 this week.” competition. Nishikori, last year’s US Open PICS BY: ABDUL BASIT runner-up, now trails only Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal after leapfrogging Britain’s Andy Murray, meaning he will avoid the top three until the semi- finals at the major tournaments. “He has the touch of a genius,” said former Japan number one Shuzo Matsuoka. “He has the imagination and shots you just can’t teach.” Nishikori recently won his third successive Memphis Open, his eighth ATP Tour title. He is fast closing in on Nadal and trails the 14-times Grand Slam cham- ‘Perfect’ Harley dazzles as pion by just 260 ranking points. “It’s an achievement that’s almost impossible to explain,” Matsuoka told Japan’s Sankei Sports, comparing the skinny Nishikori to a sumo grand cham- Cavallaro tops Al Shaqab field pion. “He’s really playing ‘yokozu- na’-grade tennis.” Nishikori burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old by winning in Italian shines in individual female class, Brusewitz excels in men’s event Delray Beach as a 244th-ranked qualifier in 2008, and is a huge celebrity in Japan. AFP BY RIZWAN REHMAT International DOHA: Experienced Italian ATP Tour Singles vaulter Anna Cavallaro, yes- Vaulting terday topped a strong field in Standings her first outing as ‘reliable’ ride Competition Harley produced a near-perfect 1 (1) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) 13165 routine in the individual female Results 2 (2) Roger Federer (Switzerland) 9205 class on the opening day of com- Squad 3 (4) Rafa Nadal (Spain) 5675 petitions at CHI Al Shaqab. (Read under as country, vaulter, horse and 4 (5) Kei Nishikori (Japan) 5415 Cavallaro, 29, with expert lunger) 5 (3) Andy Murray (Britain) 5370 help coming from lunger Nelson 6 (6) Milos Raonic (Canada) 4980 Vidoni, managed an impressive Switzerland: Team SUI / Lütisburg, Will Be 7 (7) Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) tally of 8.284 points. Good, Monika Bischofberger 4595 Great Britain’s Joanne Eccles Kurt: 7.70600 also enjoyed a fruitful day as she Italy: Team C.I.M. Italy, Andokan, Laura 8 (9) David Ferrer (Spain) 4535 rode W H Bentley to second spot Carnabuci - 6.54200 Seasoned Italian 9 (8) Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) 4340 with lunger John Eccles. Joanne Sweden: Team Svea Vaulting, Achim, Ronja vaulter Anna Cavallaro 10 (11) Marin Cilic (Croatia) 3450 scored a tally of 8.070 from her Persson - 6.50900 competes at the 11 (10) Grigor Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 3055 routine at the indoor arena. Denmark: Team Denmark - VKT 1, individual female 12 (13) Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 2325 Germany’s, Corinna Knauf Goerklintgaards Donau, Betina class on the opening 13 (12) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) 2255 with ride Fabiola W and lunger Gaardsmand Nielsen: 5.81600 day of competitions 14 (16) Gilles Simon (France) 2050 Alexandra Knauf scored 7,972 at CHI Al Shaqab, points to secure the third spot in Individual Female 15 (14) Ernests Gulbis (Latvia) 2045 yesterday. the 12-entry field. (Read under as vaulter, horse and lunger) 16 (17) Roberto Bautista (Spain) 2020 ”Today my performance was Italy: Anna Cavallaro, Harley, Nelson Vidoni 17 (15) Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 2005 very good,” Cavallaro said. “Harley - 8.284 18 (18) Tommy Robredo (Spain) 1755 was perfect inside the arena. This GBR: Joanne Eccles, W H Bentley, John 19 (19) Gael Monfils (France) 1740 is an amazing arena. I am very Eccles, 8,070 20 (20) John Isner (US) 1720 happy how we performed,” she added. Germany: Corinna Knauf, Fabiola, ”Tomorrow we will have techni- Alexandra Knauf, 7,972 cal tests. These are new elements Individual Male WTA Tour Singles in the exercise. I will try to do all (Read under as vaulter, horse and lunger) these routines in a better way,” Germany: Thomas Brusewitz, Airbus, Irina Standings she added. “I think Joane is good. Lenkeit - 8.802 She is doing well,” she added. 1 (1) Serena Williams (US) 9592 Austria: Stefan Csandl, Nolan, Marjo ”The competition (today) will 2 (2) Maria Sharapova (Russia) 8215 Sneekes - 7.860 be very difficult,” Cavallaro said. 3 (3) Simona Halep (Romania) 6571 Germany: Erik Oese, Down Under, Andrea The Italian said she enjoys ‘per- 4 (4) Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic) 6395 Bassler - 7.776 fect’ understanding with Harley 5 (5) Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) 4730 who was brought into her camp 6 (6) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 4425 six years ago. of 7.776 points with lunger Andrea “I am confident how I would do being held under the patronage arranged for transport so that ”I have been riding Harley since Bassler. Brusewitz said he could my stuff tomorrow. Things are of H E Sheikh Mohammed bin fans could have easy access to the 7 (7) Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) 4306 2010. I’ve been doing vaulting for have done better. looking good,” he added. Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of venue,” he added. 8 (8) Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland) 4065 18 years now,” Cavallaro said with ”I feel it was okay today. I Csandl was lost for words when the Board of Directors Al Shaqab. Access to CHI Al Shaqab 9 (9) Ekaterina Makarova (Russia) 3420 a smile. could have gone better though,” asked to comment on Al Shaqab ”We are encouraged with the festival area is free of charge. 10 (10) Andrea Petkovic (Germany) 3190 In the men’s individual Brusewitz said. Arena. way the public has responded Access to the competition arenas 11 (15) Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) class, German vaulter Thomas “This is my second visit. Last ”This arena is amazing. I really to this event. We are expect- requires tickets, organisers said. 2995 Brusewitz sparkled with his ride year, compulsory was better,” he don’t have a word to describe this ing more fans coming in later Day tickets are priced at QR35 for 12 (12) Sara Errani (Italy) 2670 Airbus and lunger Irina Lenkeit added after watching brother venue. It’s just wow!” this week,” Jassim Mohammed adults (above the age of 12), QR15 13 (14) Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) 2660 to top the field with a score of Viktor finish in fifth spot with The annual event - sponsored A Telefat, Group Executive for children (above the age of 6), 8.802 points. ride Rockhard H. by ExxonMobil - remains the Director, Capital Projects and children below 6 years can access 14 (11) Angelique Kerber (Germany) 2650 Austrian vaulter Stefan Csandl ”I think he was good today,” only CHI-level competition in the Facilities Management at Qatar the competitions free of charge. 15 (13) Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) returned with second-best points Viktor said about his brother. “I Middle East and Asia, with jump- Foundation, said yesterday. Tickets are available at 2620 tally with Nolan as his ride. Marjo think his horse was a little fast ing, dressage, vaulting, para-dres- ”We have the spectator zone Virgin Megastores Villagio and 16 (16) Flavia Pennetta (Italy) 2560 Sneekes was the lunger with today,” he added. sage and endurance competitions. so that families can turn up at Landmark (or Virgin Ticketing 17 (17) Venus Williams (US) 2550 Csandle who finished with a tally Csandl said he was satisfied Meanwhile. organisers of the this event. There are special areas online), and at the main ticket 18 (19) Madison Keys (US) 2100 of 7.860 points. with his performance. six-day said they expected greater for kids. There are a lot activi- booth in the Al Shaqab Spectator 19 (21) Peng Shuai (China) 2080 German vaulter Erik Oese was ”I think we make a good match. number of fans walking in for ties planned. I would assume that Plaza since yesterday. just as impressive with ride Down I really, really happy with how I the action. The week-long event we will have bigger crowds in Action today kicks off at 5pm. 20 (22) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Czech Under and posted third-best score went about today,” Csandl said. - running from March 2 to 7 - is the coming days. We have also THE PENINSULA Republic) 2055